into the back, underneath the ribs, and twist

[lunabee34]

Fiona is sleeping, Ems has a friend over for a sleepover, my husband is barefoot in the kitchen making some kickass leek/potato/cod chowder for tomorrow, and I don't want to grade at all!

So let's talk about betrayal in fiction, gentle flist.

I was reading a HP story last night that I'd read before (one in which Draco and Charlie are forced to bond by the Ministry), and while I haven't gotten there yet, I know the part where Draco betrays Charlie and Harry's trust (or starts to betray and then aborts, I can't remember exactly) is coming up. AND I LOVE THAT PART. Like a lot. All Draco's control has been wrested from him; his life has beaten him into submission, and he just wants to feel like he is in charge of himself again for once. I sympathize hard with him, and the move feels so in character for him while generating all the lovely angst I could ever want to read.

I realized while I was thinking about this idea that I really enjoy reading about betrayal in fiction. I don't so much like to be betrayed in real life, but I eat it up with a spoon in stories. I love it when the betrayal is a misunderstanding, a mis-perception on one character's fault, and no betrayal at all has truly occurred. I love it when the betrayal is, as in the HP story I reference, something the character is driven to, something he may not even want to do, but something that feels necessary in some way. I love it when the betrayal is intentional and meant to hurt, and is either something the characters cannot get over or begins an arduous recovery process.

I know a lot of people don't read stories about sexual betrayal, but I enjoy those as well. I don't really encounter a lot of them in fandom because the prevailing sentiment seems to be against them, but as an angst lover, they're right up my alley.

So where do y'all stand on betrayal in fiction? In general, do you like reading about it? Only certain kinds? Only for certain characters? Only if there's a happy ending?

*chin hands*

Comments

[karmageddon]

I also love the thing that appears to be betrayal, but isn't. I guess it's a subgenre of hurt/comfort now that I think about it, or at least it can be. I like to get on the angst train now and then.

[lunabee34]

I think you're right. The whole misunderstanding trope is a subgenre of h/c.

If I could, I would never get *off* the angst train. Maybe I'd take lunch in the dining car of hilarious crack now and again, but mostly, I'd be wearing sackcloth in business class. LOL

[karmageddon]

And I pretty much always want a happy ending. On everything. :-)

[lunabee34]

I think you are in the majority. I think most people reading fanfic are looking for happy endings. I would prefer to stumble across more *unhappy* endings, but that's just me. Because I am contrary.

[karmageddon]

I love that Supernatural fic you wrote where Dean is dead.

[lunabee34]

You mean the Roadkill one where Sam is dead and Dean meets him every year at the motel?

Or the one where Dean is in hell?

I live up to my angsty potential! Yay!

[Also, thank you!!!!]

[karmageddon]

I meant SAM! Sorry, drunk type. They meet every year in motel. You earn the angst merit badge DEFINITELY.

[lunabee34]

I sincerely hope it flashes like the Potter Stinks badges from HP. Ahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahaha

Also *flattered*

:)

[havocthecat]

I can't stand to be betrayed. I've had it happen all too often in real life. But reading about it in fiction, well, that I don't mind. I like those kinds of stories, so long as it's misunderstandings, and no one's being an idiot.

[lunabee34]

Sadly, I even enjoy the ones where everyone is an idiot and the suspense of disbelief is out of this world to even maintain the misunderstanding. I've even written a story, my most popular one in terms of hits, in which keeping the misunderstandings going was in exercise in unreality. LOL

[torachan]

Like you, I'm a big fan of angst, so betrayal is definitely something I enjoy. It's not something I necessarily seek out, though, mainly because I'm extremely lazy about finding fic and that sounds like a lot more trouble than I'm willing to put in.

(However, I generally like my angst understated and the same goes for betrayal.)

[lunabee34]

Oh man. I love melodrama. It's like a sickness. Forget understated. Ahahahahahahahaha. Shout that angst from the rooftops. :)

[thady]

I really don't like reading about betrayal. I'd rather read about character death than that.
Almost-betrayal on the other hand is quite interesting to me to read about.

Do you have a link to this story?

[lunabee34]

Yes!

http://asylums.insanejournal.com/hp_yule_balls/18075.html

Enjoy!

[thady]

Thank you!