When I was a teenager, all of the books I read about romance never actually described the female character being attracted to the male character. It was all about being “overwhelmed” by him and “surrounded” by him, maybe even “helpless to stop” whatever he might be doing. Never once did she admire his backside which is just…just a tragedy.
Now any description of actual attraction I write in for my leading lady towards her leading man seems almost transgressive.
That’s how het romance has shaped me as a writer and why, IMO, my gay romances—unburdened by ANY prior influence(which is its own problem)—turn out so much more loving so much more easily.
This is such a prevalent thing through our culture and the effects of it wind up being so bizarre. As a het guy these books and basically all other media you consume tell you that what is attractive about you is to be dark and brooding and aggressive, to be tall and powerful, to have a presence to you.
Then you come to the stage of your life where you deal with actual women who are attracted to you as opposed to just reading about it or seeing it in movies written by guys who never figured all this shit out for real, and by way of explanation they tell you “you’ve got a cute butt.”
And your brain has no response to this except “?????”
So figuring out what’s actually attractive about you is this whole bewildering process where you slowly piece together that you have a cute butt or kind eyes or a dopey smile and, in a way that your childhood media has left you entirely unprepared for, those things matter more than being some mysterious and hulking Adonis that looms over people.
Anyway we need to hold Hollywood accountable to stop teaching kids Weird Shit about sexuality and fucking them up for years is my two cents.
Think that fanartist draws your favorite character all wrong?
Wish you’d never hear about your least favorite pairing ever again?
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This is “amezaiku”, the Japanese art of beautifully sculpted lollies~ The sugar is worked similarly to blown glass, and the results are equally amazing in the hands of a skilled artist! Please visit https://www.mirainoshitenclassic.com/2017/08/a_31.html?m=1 for a look at some fearfully detailed sugar creatures, including a little cream-and-brown hedgie that just screams “John Watson”.
And now the Mystrade.
Mycroft thought Sherlock’s little joke was that his lolly was a goldfish. But the real laugh was in making Mycroft watch as Greg Lestrade sucked on the head of a bright red cock.
Sherlock also had the heat turned up ridiculously high in the flat when he called Greg over, for bonus rolled up shirtsleeves and an open collar. He knows what Mycroft likes. ;D
