He's the Baby Daddy

[lunabee34]

I am thinking about writing an MPREG. Probably with ariadne83, who is AWESOME, if I can convince her. Which I think I can. I have ways.

I love MPREG. Really, really love it. I dunno why. It's like Chad Michael Murray. Inexplicable and amazing. But even through my love, I find very few stories that hit all the right notes for me. I find very few stories that I can wholeheartedly and unabashedly rec. I want an MPREG that subverts the genre, that does unexpected and thinky things with the trope. I want to read something that makes me *gasp* and *epiphany* and *OMG* and I rarely find that in the genre.

So, here's my question for you, my thinky friends. What would you like to read in an MPREG? How would you like a fic to subvert the expectations of that genre? What would you like to see in an MPREG that you haven't seen before? In other words, what do you think Lorraine should write?

In related news, what should be tossed upon the refuse pile of fandom cliche? What would make you back-button out of this hypothetical MPREG? What should Lorraine avoid (besides referring to herself in the third person)?

Comments

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

Sorry no help here, I hate mpreg. Although there is a frightening amount of it in the Torchwood fandom...but that is likely because RTD made it canon in the very first episode...most fandoms don't get to have canon mpreg.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Yet, I still think you have things to tell me. *g*

Why do you dislike it? What about it turns you off?

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

I'm actually very surprised more Buffy slash fans are not into Torchwood. RTD loves Joss and wanted Torchwood to be like Buffy...All three male leads are supposed to be bisexual...a slash couple as the main canon ship...canon mpreg...why are you not watching this show?

I don't know why I dislike it...although Torchwood is forcing me to deal with it since it's everywhere. Am slightly baffled by the fact that canon says Jack can get pregnant yet most of what I see is Ianto pregnant...

But hey, until what, August, I hated slash in general...now I'm writing it. Gotta give me time to adjust to mpreg too.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Does he actually get pregnant on the show?

Wow.

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

No, he just says that he's been pregnant before. And not surprisingly the slashers ran with it...there was actually a very long meta post yesterday about whether or not it's physically possible (because someone obviously had too much time on their hands). Although in the new season he has a child (already an adult though) so...

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I don't like most mpreg, though I am not against stories about men getting pregnant. Just...generally I would only like the sort of story you wouldn't want to label mpreg because mpreg fans would probably hate it.

Most mpreg is too sappy for me, and is all about hurt/comfort, which is a genre I really dislike. It also tends to be really cliched versions of pregnancy, with immediate child-bonding kind of stuff. I also dislike how even if it's an accident that the guy got pregnant, there's rarely any thought of abortion, and even if there is a token nod to it, they always see the pregnancy through. (Because of course in mpreg written for mpreg fans, what they want is the pregnancy! Which is why it's not for me.)

The other thing that I can't get past is that there is usually no explanation of how it works. This is a big hurdle for me. I can accept vague handwavey explanations of how vampires exist or something because there is no such thing as vampires and thus I'm not running up against the "but that's impossible" block. With pregnancy, though, anatomy is real! And usually mpreg glosses over all that because the fans don't care. But for me it is a major issue. I need to have a good explanation for how it happens that is actually possible. (The worst are the ones where the guy gets pregnant through anal sex. No one ever explains how that happens!)

Things I would love to read in an mpreg story:

A transguy getting pregnant. Either on purpose or by accident.

A cisguy getting pregnant in a way that can be explained, and is explained in the story. Alien technology is fine, but tell me what it does to his body that makes this possible.

Serious consideration of abortion even if they go through with it. I would also like both stories where the guy immediately goes to get an abortion because they know they don't want to go through with it.

Lack of bonding at birth, either that ends with eventual bonding or he never does feel happy with having had the child.

Miscarriage that ends up secretly being a relief even if he'd decided against abortion.

...I'm sure I could think of more. I really find it to be a fascinating topic, just I really dislike the way it is written in fandom.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Yes! I hate the immediate child-bonding, magical baby thing (although now and again I do enjoy a story with that trope).

I love your suggestions. I would like to see more stories that featured things like abortion and miscarriage post-partum depression. Or stories where the baby makes things so shitty that they break up (which happens in real life plenty).

Thank you!

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those are all interesting ideas!

[tabaqui]

I agree with kyuuketsukirui. Most mpreg sucks. It's all stupid and cliche with the boy in question immediately all dewy-eyed and tender over 'my baby' and dumb crap like that. Plus, there's always the ever-so-boring mood swing/food craving type junk that doesn't even happen with *women* all the time.

Plus the partner, whoever it is, is always all loving and wonderful instead of running for the hills.

While the point of an mpreg to to have a child happen, i *would* like to see the main character actively and perhaps a little frantically trying to get rid of the fetus/end the pregnancy. A little terrified rage would be awesome, maybe even some self-harm in the hopes that it *stops*.

And yeah - immediate cooing and cuddling and loving of the baby is a little blech, too. And think how utterly fucked a guy would be coming into and then off pregnancy hormones? Suicidal, or having rages, or catatonia, or ......just...all sorts of shite because frankly, i don't think guys would handle it well, especially if it's a world where it's totally not the norm.

And please god. The perfect cherub baby makes me ill. How 'bout a squalling little squished demon that they don't even wanna *touch* for the first couple of weeks? I mean - hello, women go through that all the time.

Anyway - fluffy/lovey mpreg is boring and a bit sick-making. So something with some real *teeth*. Some edge.

Bet you're sorry you asked. :)

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

No, no. I'm not. Because that's exactly the kind of story I want to write LOL. I just wasn't certain anyone would want to read it. (And they might not besides you and me and Grace and Ariadne. LOL)

I think post-partum would be really awful in that situation. Really, really awful. It would be a renegotiation of a man's complete identity and expectations.

Thanks for the answers!

[ariadne83]

Did you not see my reply? Dude, I've already been trying to write mpreg for a year and Failing. Clearly I need you!! There is no convincing needed here! And looking at [info]kyuuketsukirui's comment those are some of the things I've been trying/hoping to tackle.

I have a huge soft spot for mpreg BUT I have a list of peeves:
- When it's automatically assumed that being pregnant is awesome, even an unplanned or unwanted one.
- When it's assumed that pregnancy will have a positive effect on an existing romantic relationship.
- When the physical realities are glossed over (never mind the guy thing; we could handwave that. How about the fact that the SGA folk are pushing 40?)
- When the baby is the most awesome, perfect baby ever.
- When the author doesn't explain why the hell the IOA would ever let an Earth citizen go through with a pregnancy and/or raise a child on Atlantis. Teyla is different; she makes her own rules. The Earth people are subject to insurance, and workplace safety!
- The parents sometimes stop being people in their own right.
- I don't like that in SGA it's almost always Rodney who's pregnant. Mostly because I think he'd snap and kill someone.
- I don't like it when they gloss over the legal realities either. IRL, even if the two genetic parents were of the same sex one of them would have to adopt the child. Hell, the lawcourts haven't even caught up with in vitro and surrogacy yet!

I have Ideas about writing a story where they're in a relationship that *works* until one of the guys gets pregnant, and it brings up all sorts of issues about where they're headed and what they want. How would John, with his rocky relationship with his father, cope with being a single parent? How would Rodney, who condemned Jeannie for compromising her career, cope with contemplating doing exactly the same thing?

[ariadne83]

Also, I figure it'd be helpful to write something like this along with someone who's actually *been* pregnant.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Yes! I did see your reply. Finally. When I got out of my coma. LOL

When it's assumed that pregnancy will have a positive effect on an existing romantic relationship.

Yes! People break up all the time because having kids is hard and it sucks. I'd like to see that reflected more in fic.

I have Ideas about writing a story where they're in a relationship that *works* until one of the guys gets pregnant, and it brings up all sorts of issues about where they're headed and what they want. How would John, with his rocky relationship with his father, cope with being a single parent? How would Rodney, who condemned Jeannie for compromising her career, cope with contemplating doing exactly the same thing?

That sounds like a story I'd like to read. And write. :)

How about the fact that the SGA folk are pushing 40?

Yes! A forty year old woman is at risk for all kinds of birth defects and etc because of her age; I know we are mitigating that risk somewhat with technology, but it's still very real. You never read a fic where John and Rodney are worried about Down's Syndrome.

I think John being the pregnant one would be fascinating because, as I said in a comment above, it would be a renegotiation of his identity. How would a male soldier, particularly one in command, handle becoming a mother? How would his subordinates react? How would a man who has likely never been treated like a damsel in distress handle his body becoming the only protection the baby has against the outside world? I didn't word that right, but when you're pregnant, there's this weird care-taking that isn't for you--it's for the baby. People giving you advice and opening doors and, "Should you be drinking that Coke?" and they don't care about YOU. Also, the stuff you can't do--like walk down the stairs. LOL Even before I gained any weight, my balance was just so off that I became very, very clumsy.

[executrix.livejournal.com]

Cf. with "Y'know what we could use? Some GRENADES" y'know where these would be awesome prompts (and, when written, increase audience share)? LGBTFest! Prompt posting runs until Mar. 3

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Good idea, Exec!!

[ariadne83]

*glee* I think I must be evil because the bit I most want to write? John, struggling with a newborn that won't sleep. And Teyla & Kanaan coming to the rescue (there's no-one so pragmatic as the experienced parent). I want to see John & Kanaan bonding over their difficulties with being the primary caregiver (Kanaan had trouble getting Torren to sleep in canon) and Teyla talking about what it's like to be a parent on Atlantis, surrounded by all these high-achieving but not particularly empathetic people (she had always expected to have community support when she had a child).

[ariadne83]

BTW I already have the perfect icon for it, by gnine.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwwww.