Boy-kinks....

[fajrdrako]

I was about to do something useful (like eat breakfast) but thamiris' question caught my eye: Oh, here's another question for anyone out there: what do you like best in your fictional boys, the ones you most like to read and to write? Your top boy-kink, the one most likely to send your brain interstellar? Innocence? Decadence? Irony? Rage? Passion? Humor? Vulnerability? Another one I can't think of?

I love questions like this. Endless pondering on a subject dear to my heart.

And I think there is no real answer for me, except maybe, "All of the above, and more."

Not that I don't have favourite things. Physically, for example, lean, dark-haired guys with large noses. Think Methos. So then why my fascination with Lex's looks? The way I love his mouth, which isn't usually a kink of mine, and I usually prefer a quite different kind of look?

Okay, the physical doesn't really matter. I have boy-kink BSOs in instances where I don't even particularly like the actor's looks - Ioan Gruffudd, for example. Yeah, I know, everyone says he's gorgeous and he probably is, but I don't particuarly like his looks. It doesnt' stop me from being mad over Horatio Hornblower.

But Tham wasn't asking about looks, she was asking about types. I'm digressing because I don't know how to answer and I want to try.

Yes, I like innocence especially when it is contrasted to the other character's jaded experience. You can see why I love the Clex scenario: Clark is so innocent, so desperately learning about life, so eager to be good. Lex is so worn out and used up emotionally, so hyperintelligent, so ambitious, so angry and conflicted. Perfect.

I also like twisting innocence - not in terms of corruption but in changing expectations of how the innocent would act. One of my beta-readers recently remarked how she's noticed I like to take the young, virginal character and make him aggressive, put him on top, have him dictating to his much more experienced partner. Yup, I love doing that.

With Clark, I love the innocence. With Lex, I love the decadence.

I like writing and reading good banter. Don't get it much.

I like passion: scenes where the guys just can't keep their hands off each other, regardless of risk or circumstances. Conversely, I don't like stories where they can control their passions and willingly postpone sex till a more convenient time or place.

This goes double when one of them is inexperienced and the other isn't.

But I know what my favourite thing of all is, and it's difficult to describe. The scenario I love above all else is when it's heroic - when one does something self-sacrificing, particularly in a psychological or ego-oriented sense, for the good of the other. koimistress did it in "A Friendly Little Game", which is why I love that story so much. Im trying to think of another example in Smallville fic, but can't. They may exist. I'll have to think about my other favourite SV stories and see if any fit the paradigm.

A classic case is the ending of the Professionals slash novel "Heat Trace", and I forgave that novel for a hundred flaws because of that magnificent ending.

Comments

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Well, you already know mine ;-) I too like the younger, theoretically more innocent and inexperienced lad to be....more than you would expect him to be in the relationship, and not just as far as the sex. I also like guys who are brave enough to verbalize their feelings to their partner. Vulnerability is very high on my list. The 'tough guy' being needy; being able to accept that he's needy and allowing himself to take what he needs.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You write this sort of thing nicely, too.

I've yet to see what patterns I like to pay with, with Jack and Will, but I can already see psychological similarities.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)

Psychological similarities between Jack and Will, you mean?

I would enjoy a vulnerable Jack, but not too vulnerable, it'd go against why we like him. And I'd rather seem him vulnerable emotionally than physically. I'd like him to yearn for things that he'd deny that he yearrs for, or deny that any pirate ought to yearn for.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Psychological similarities between Jack and Will, you mean?

No, though those exist. I meant (rather vaguely) between the interactions and pairings I've written in the past: I can see similiarities between Jack/Will and Lex/Clark and Pellew/Horatio.

I agree about Jack and vulnerability: he needs to be rash and reckless. But I see a vulnerable side to him that goes with his pirmal cuddliness. He's overexperienced but also oddly unsophisticated in some ways and that implies something like vulnerability to me. He's unquenchable, but has to struggle against odds, and he doesn't like being marooned while someone else sails his ship away without him.

When it comes to love, I can see him needing and wanting it like any man, but hesitating to admit need out loud.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I'm listening to the PoTC soundtrack right now; listening #4 since it finally came in the mail Saturday. I'm going to have to come up with a PoTC icon, I can see that... What a pain it'll be looking for one (eg).

But I see a vulnerable side to him that goes with his pirmal cuddliness. He's overexperienced but also oddly unsophisticated in some ways and that implies something like vulnerability to me

"Primal cuddliness" - LOL, I love it! I like the way you've put that, about being overexperienced but unsophisticated....yes!

No, I can't see Jack admitting it in so many words. He'd hem and haw and say just about anything *but* (like Garak in DS9); you could only tell from his actions.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm listening to the PoTC soundtrack right now

Me too! I love it. I'm such a sucker: let me fall for a pair of kohl-rimmed eyes and I want every product on the market, every picture of the guy, every multiple viewing I can cram in.

PoTC icon... What a pain it'll be looking for one

What fandoms force upon us!

"Primal cuddliness"

It's the way I see him. I was struggling to find ways of describing it - the sort of unique quality I see in him that I don't see in other heroes, that puts him apart. It isn't just being crafty and eloquent and cute and so on. There's uniqueness to him, and it's soul-deep, not assumed.

The Inner Jack....

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I think it's an innate innocence, a sweetness of soul, if you will.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

a sweetness of soul

What a lovely way to put it. Yes. It's what makes Will at the end of the movie call Jack 'a good man' and I really like that. (So, of course, does Jack.) There's a bit of the 'noble savage' about him actually - the 'wise fool' is part of the type, but it's also the person who is outside regular society or civilization, for whatever reason, who becomes better - sweeter - than the normal civilized person because he sees life without the same blind spots.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

...and I think Jack admires Will, too - for being good with his sword, and for being brave enough to fight for and stand up for what he believes in, even if he has to buck authority to do it.

I was into the 'wise fool' type once upon a time, as I was a Vila fan, and he was very much the clever fool.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I have no doubt that Jack admires Will for a lot of things - including just plain courage. And probably commitment, too.

I was into the 'wise fool' type once upon a time, as I was a Vila fan

Yes - me too - for exactly that reason. I never really liked B7 and can't be said to have been into the fandom, but I liked Vila very much indeed, for that very reason: he was an unusual but ingenious character.

When done right, that kind of hero is endearing and irresistible.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

...and I suspect that Jack perhaps envies parts of Will's 'normal' life, even if he wouldn't want to admit it.

B7 was my first fandom, but I was strictly an A/V girl, didn't care about any of the other pairings. I find I'm often drawn to characters like Vila as the 'sidekick' - not the pretty one, not the flashy or obviously sexy one, but the intelligent, sensitive, often deeper one. One reason I found Bracey so interesting, I think, and Bush.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't think Jack wants a 'normal' life or could handle it if he had it, but if he did, he'd want to be what Will is - creative, respected, honest, a man with a good reputation. Until he consorted with pirates, that is.

I don't know if there's a particular pattern to the characters I'm drawn to - usually not the fair-haired, if they're male. I usually give my BSOs the qualitites of being intelligent, sensitive or deep in my fic, but that's subjective, to some extent. Though perception of intelligence is a big deal to me in a hero.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely drawn to wit along with intelligence. Not clownish wit, but the Jack and Edrington sort of wit. I think one of the problems I have with Will is that he's so deadly serious.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Will does seem over-serious, but I think he learns to appreciate Jack's wit and Jack mellows him. He needs the kinds of lessons Jack can give him.

That's my take, anyway.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree - which is one reason I'd love to see the sequel if it will also star Johnny D and Orlando, because I've said all along that I think I'd like the "new" Will Turner, the one we get to know *after* he's been exposed to Jack.

Re: The Inner Jack....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I believe Depp and Bloom have both signed for the sequel.

Yes, I think we see some rather good character development in Will Turner. There's hope for him yet!

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth, I was going to start highlighting and responding to observations you make in this post, but I very quickly realized I'd have to highlight the entire thing!

Word, word, on everything you said, right down to the lean, dark-haired guys with large noses.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Ben Cross, Robin Ellis...just for starters, of course. Can you see me and raise me?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd have to highlight the entire thing

Grin. We know we think alike about a lot of things.

I conceded that Robin Ellis is a good call, and I'll raise you all right: Ben Kingsley, Christopher Plummer, Ralph Fiennes, Hugh Jackman, Alan Rickman, Nick Mancuso...

Your turn.