quillsshadow

The subject of an action defines whether or not an action is okay. In this case, everyone is fine, but that's only because the subject is not upset by it. It is always better to ask for permission first, since it's not guaranteed that they wouldn't object. Real life doesn't work like fiction, and while I try to treat issues of consent with respect, this is definitely a grey area that I would not recommend crossing into in real life.

Today, I get salty at the author's note. 'But why?' you ask. 'That's a completely reasonable note!'

My problems with this completely reasonable note are twofold. Part the first: The issues of consent are centred around the formation/strengthening of a magical empathic bond. Saying you understand what real-life consent issues are becomes vastly less relevant when you're talking about something which is literally impossible in real life.

Part the second: There is a massive amount of emotional manipulation and abuse, all from SwapPap to FellPap, all of which is left completely unremarked on. Talking about how healthy or otherwise an impossible aspect of a relationship is, while completely ignoring the actively unhealthy and possible in real life dynamics... it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

Now that I've ranted for three paragraphs about the author's note, let's start the chapter!

“I do. I have to. It’s my job. My duty, and I’m not abandoning anyone under my charge.”

“yeah? since when was slim your problem, huh?”

Because fuck helping someone because it's the right thing to do, huh? I'd just like to emphasise to everyone that this is FellPapyrus wanting to help someone in danger, and SwapPapyrus trying to say he shouldn't bother.

In other words, the Fellverse monster has more compassion than the Swapverse monster.

Holy fuck, I hate LadyKit's SwapPap.

He didn’t want to do what he’d done last time. It still sickened him, sometimes, remembering how he’d marked the other skeleton without his prior consent.

But FellPap is totally as bad and at fault as SwapPap, everyone! Kicking someone in already-broken ribs for saying a truth you didn't want to hear (and then never so much as apologising for it) is on the same level as marking someone as yours as a last-ditch effort to prevent other people from raping or killing them! #neverovertheribkicking

“—please, edge, please please please touch me please just—“ He babbled incoherently, and even though some distant part of himself knew that he probably shouldn’t — ~~this was the kind of thing that should be discussed ahead of time; there should be ground rules and limits and~~ — he reached inside Paps’ ribcage and cupped his soul.

Yeah. Consent issues. Isn't FellPap just terrible for doing what his lover begs for instead of insisting on negotiating all the aspects of it first? I mean, it's almost like he's trusting his lover to be honest with him about what he wants!

Just gonna mention here that I am so fed up with the 'acoustic meatus' instead of 'earholes'. We have all realised that you are very proud of your ability to google anatomical terms, LadyKit. Feel free to stop using them any time now.

Love how SwapPap demands a promise to come back safe when he knows FellPap can't give it, but SwapSans asks for a promise to keep in contact as much as he can. Which of these is less controlling? And which of these does the author seem to prefer? (Second and First, in case you didn't know.)

Ohhhhh, Gods, I hate this.

He liked Blue. He liked him a lot. He didn’t want to hurt him. And — the memory of the kiss lingered, making his bones prickle. But Paps bore his mark and his collar, even if he didn’t fully understand the meaning of that. If he had to choose, then the choice was easy enough.

Yeah, because he feels he has a duty to SwapPap. He puts a lot of his self-worth on carrying out his duties to protect and look after others. I'm getting from this that if things were equal, he'd prefer SwapSans to SwapPap. (And it'd probably be a hell of a lot healthier for him.)

“We are talking about all of this when I return. You both understand?”

Blue nodded, looking solemn but hopeful. Paps just cocked his head, searching his eyelights. “whatever you say, edge. ball’s in your court.”

With the context of the rest of the story, I can only read this as, 'I've decided I'm okay with it, so I'll let you think you get to have a choice.'

“Yes, yes, you overgrown—“ He could feel his sins crawling on his back, from multiple angles. “—worrywart.

Isn't it so cute and wonderful that everyone is using their powers to bully FellPap into babying TalePap like they do?

And I'll end as I started: whining about the author's notes.

Also, don't just kiss people without clearing it with them first. Very much not okay. But this is fiction, and while I usually try not to play too fast and loose with consent, this seemed right. It's not going to be without consequence, though.

I'm really starting to feel that LadyKit is just trying to make SwapSans and FellPap look bad so she can think SwapPap looks less terrible. It doesn't work. Telling us all how bad they are and ignoring everything SwapPap does wrong doesn't work, either; it just highlights that the author's playing favourites with the characters.