Towards a new plot bunny

[Handley_Page]

A 'pill' for men takes a step closer. See here

I get the impression that there's a world of new confusions with the potential.

 

[Hypoxia]

A 'pill' for men takes a step closer. See here

I get the impression that there's a world of new confusions with the potential.

Trust, but verify.

 

[sr71plt]

That's interesting and good news, certainly. I don't consider it a plot bunny. Protection is mostly an erotica killer, I think. I can imagine (and have tried to do it) making condoms erotic in a story. I think it would be much harder to make a male pill erotic. So, not much of a plot bunny, I don't think. Would like to see stories woven around it that are erotic, though, rather than anal retentive medical clinic can't-grasp-fantasy-fiction arousal spikers.

 

[49greg]

I did get a comment on one of my stories complaining about the absence of birth control. I can't remember the exact wording but I think the person mentioned me getting a low score from him/her because of it.

But I also agree that condoms tend to ruin the mood in a story. If I absolutely had to mention birth control I'd have someone comment afterwords, saying something about having been protected, or even before hand, saying "It's ok, I'm safe (or on the pill)" or something. Hopefully something subtle so most readers wouldn't lose the flow.

I'd prefer to leave it out, unless it's central to the story.

 

[sr71plt]

I did get a comment on one of my stories complaining about the absence of birth control. I can't remember the exact wording but I think the person mentioned me getting a low score from him/her because of it.

But I also agree that condoms tend to ruin the mood in a story. If I absolutely had to mention birth control I'd have someone comment afterwords, saying something about having been protected, or even before hand, saying "It's ok, I'm safe (or on the pill)" or something. Hopefully something subtle so most readers wouldn't lose the flow.

I'd prefer to leave it out, unless it's central to the story.

Sometimes it's convenient to include pulling out a condom--and can be made part of the tension of anticipation. When that's the case, I do it. More often than not, it's just assumed, like so many other preps that need to be done and are rarely if every mentioned. Sometimes it would deflate the story to bother with. And sometimes, not using protection is an integral part of the story--like when the relationship reaches the point of total and sole commitment and going bareback symbolizes that--or when it's part of the risk or domination tension of the story.

I think a reader who can't get past not including protection just can't get into the purpose of fantasy fiction, probably shouldn't be reading on this site, and certainly doesn't need to be catered to.

 

[Handley_Page]

I had in mind the potential for humour when she says "condom" and he says "I'm on the pill".

 

[JackLuis]

I had in mind the potential for humour when she says "condom" and he says "I'm on the pill".

Then she says, "So am I!"

Fight Over ‘Female Viagra’ That’s Been Raging For Years Pits Scientists Against Feminists

 

[49greg]

....

I think a reader who can't get past not including protection just can't get into the purpose of fantasy fiction, probably shouldn't be reading on this site, and certainly doesn't need to be catered to.

You're right, and those readers that can't stand for a wife to cheat are the same.

I had in mind the potential for humour when she says "condom" and he says "I'm on the pill".

Good one!

 

[Hypoxia]

Then she says, "So am I!"

But is she truthful? Is *he*? Whole sagas can be (and have been) written on folks lying about their reproductive status. He says he's had a vasectomy; she claims her tubes were tied. Right. Then there are counterfeit medications. "I'm on The Pill!" "Umm, are you sure?" Think of all those phony herbal supplements in the big-box stores and health-food chains. Are you *sure* your pill is real? You'll find out in a few months, eh?

 

[sr71plt]

You're right, and those readers that can't stand for a wife to cheat are the same.

"Can't stand for a wife to cheat" and "can't get to the purpose of fantasy fiction" aren't the same thing. Which is the point some folks can't see.

 

[3113]

Protection is mostly an erotica killer, I think.

I've never forgotten this one gay male story about a man in the mid-80's with a latex fetish.He pairs up with an AIDs worker, very militant about protection. As they're preparing to have sex, the militant guy is apologetic but insistent on condoms, thinking our protagonist would rather go bareback. Meanwhile our protagonist with the latex kink acts very understanding, never revealing how excited he is by all the rubbers they're going to be using. I recall it being a darn good bit of erotica. And I appreciated that the author had taken up the challenge transforming condoms (as you say, usually an erotica killer) into something sexy. And for the most part, succeeded.

 

[3113]

I don't consider it a plot bunny.

Not in regards to creating a sexual situation, no, but it'd be a good twist for a story involving something like the Muary Show with a guy being sued for paternity insisting: "Can't be my kid, I was on the pill!"

 

[sr71plt]

I have them fluorescent and hanging from fake trees on a stage (and pulled down and used) in a sex club in one story and sometimes convey the debauchery of a scene that has transpired by having them strewn around the floor thick as slugs--to try to make use of them erotically in a story--and then, again, as noted, I sometimes pointedly have them not used to symbolize the seriousness of a new commitment.

So, it's not a question of me not using them--it's just trying not to let them intrude in the mood. There are other things a character should do to prepare for sex too--but we rarely write about those because it's very difficult to make them erotic and we're writing fantasy fiction here. If a reader can't suspend clinical necessity to get into the mood for fantasy fiction, they really are reading on the wrong story site here.