asimplechord

Do you have different requirements, different squicks, different hot buttons for reading fan fiction than for 'commercial' fiction?

Thinking about this because I read a fic the other day that had a power dynamic that would disturb in real life or even a book.

I like cross generational relationships in fiction, in fan fiction. In RL, I don't think I dated anyone more than a decade older before I settled down.

I'm okay with power exchange in relationships on a personal level in RL, in fiction, and in fan fiction.

I have serious issues with the idea of a supervisor/boss/person in a position of authority having a sexual relationship with a subordinate. In real life. In fiction.

Apparently not in fan fiction. ETA: To clarify, I prefer not to read student/teacher even in fanfic. Post-Hogwarts or no-longer teaching, please.

I know, you're thinking, Huh?

I read an AU bandom fic in which one person was a professor, the other his TA. It said so right in the title. And the pairing makes it quite clear that their relationship will become decidely unprofessional.

Now, from an academic POV, the TA/prof thing is (possibly) less problematic than a prof/student relationship. But still. I wouldn't do it, myself. It was bad enough to fuck up a relationship with another grad student in my lab; I can't imagine doing that with the person who controlled whether I'd get the letters to sign after my name. It happened in my department while I was a grad student, and it's happened in my current department. It isn't pretty. Someone always gets fucked when that happens, and not in the hot, sweaty, lots-of-orgasms way.

If I were to pick up a book at the library or bookstore and see in the summary that the two protagonists were in this situation, I'd put the book right back on the shelf. Even though I know that fiction is just that, fiction, not real, I wouldn't read it.

When I saw the summary for this fan fic, I hesitated, then clicked the link.

I'm not sure if it's because it's an AU of RPS, and I know the power dynamic is imaginary, or what*. But now I'm curious to see if maybe there are other lines I wouldn't cross in my "regular" reading that I will in fandom.

What about you? Are you willing to read things in fan fiction that you wouldn't in other formats?

*It might possibly also have something to do with the fact that Gerard Way, who is not my favorite bandom person, is raised to an unholy level of hotness when he's dressed in the professorial vest and tie from THAT photo shoot.