Eyepatch - sexy or scary?

c.e.lawson · Apr 7, 2009

As the thread title already said: Eyepatch - sexy or scary?

Discuss.

Actually, a little background - the character I'm considering giving an eyepatch to is a male in ancient Sparta - introduced in his early twenties, but takes a more prominent role later in the story in his thirties. He's not a bad guy and will be a temporary love interest of my main character.

Thanks,

c.e.

Jynical · Apr 7, 2009

If there's an eye behind the patch, sexy.

If there's a gaping hole behind the patch, scary.

c.e.lawson · Apr 7, 2009

Thanks, Jynical,

I hear you. There's no hole, but the eye has to be damaged enough to be blinded - he has a scar through his brow down to his cheek, so it's not going to be pretty.

shameless · Apr 7, 2009

I know I'm odd, but I keep picturing Kurt Russell in Captain Ron. :roll:

shokadh · Apr 7, 2009

I met a guy a long time ago who was rugged, ruddy and muscular--not at all bad-looking and he had a tragic accident when he was about 22 years old. A horse kicked him in the head, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He wore and eye patch after that and I couldn't get over the fact that it added such a mysterious charm to his face, but he obviously did not see it this way. His life descended into a world of alcohol and drugs for several years after and when I saw him next, his face showed the effect of it. He was no longer handsome and ruddy. His cheeks had a hollow, sunken-in look and his skin was riddled with purplish sores. He looked like the walking dead, to be honest, and the only reason I even recognized him was because of the eye-patch. It was a tragedy.

dragonjax · Apr 7, 2009

Jynical said:
If there's an eye behind the patch, sexy.

If there's a gaping hole behind the patch, scary.

This sums it up beautifully.

girlyswot · Apr 7, 2009

Doesn't do it for me, I'm afraid. I'd always be imagining what was behind the patch - and it would be bound to be Much Worse than the real thing. Plus there's also something a bit creepy about it - like he's hiding something. Definitely not sexy.

scarletpeaches · Apr 7, 2009

I would just like to say:

"YARR!"

LaurieD · Apr 7, 2009

c.e.lawson said:
Thanks, Jynical,

I hear you. There's no hole, but the eye has to be damaged enough to be blinded - he has a scar through his brow down to his cheek, so it's not going to be pretty.

Scars are okay, as long as some kind of major deformity isn't involved. I second the others regarding the eye - it should still be there, whether it can see or not, otherwise it's gross. If your guy is studly and otherwise good enough to eat, he could carry the facial scar you mention and the eye patch, IMO.

Jynical · Apr 7, 2009

"No hole" is good... although, it could be useful space. Eye Socket Feng Shui for Dummies.

Seriously though... in the right context, patches can be intriguing.

Jenny · Apr 7, 2009

Would a Spartan have worn an eyepatch if the eye was still there? I mean, practically, a patch would stop stuff falling into an empty socket, but would a Spartan try to hide an honourable scar if the eye was there?

The idea of an eyepatch isn't sexy to me unless used in the pirate manner of covering a healthy eye for the purpose of increasing the speed with which the eyes adjusted to the dim lighting below deck. Then the eyepatch is sexy because the eye under it can wink at you

scarletpeaches · Apr 7, 2009

Eyepatch = makes me wonder if maggots would crawl out of the socket were I to take a peek behind it.

lmz · Apr 7, 2009

Is there any eye underneath it? That would be my determining factor.

c.e.lawson · Apr 7, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Eyepatch = makes me wonder if maggots would crawl out of the socket were I to take a peek behind it.

I think the maggots would slip on out whether or not you peeked, so no surprise there.

scarletpeaches · Apr 7, 2009

It's a tight-fitting eyepatch and the maggots are weak.

Lucy Joseph · Apr 7, 2009

In real life: scary. In fiction: potentially intriguing. I think there is a difference.

c.e.lawson · Apr 7, 2009

Jenny said:
Would a Spartan have worn an eyepatch if the eye was still there? I mean, practically, a patch would stop stuff falling into an empty socket, but would a Spartan try to hide an honourable scar if the eye was there?

The idea of an eyepatch isn't sexy to me unless used in the pirate manner of covering a healthy eye for the purpose of increasing the speed with which the eyes adjusted to the dim lighting below deck. Then the eyepatch is sexy because the eye under it can wink at you

I bolded your excellent point, Jenny. I have a feeling a Spartan soldier might not. But this character is a helot slave and the house servant of a Spartan woman who insists that he wear it.

I like the way you think! Thanks.

c.e.

PortableHal · Apr 7, 2009

In contemporary fiction, not scary, not sexy. Silly.

Horseshoes · Apr 7, 2009

Try two eye payches.
Or maybe this is a case where more is not better.

shokadh · Apr 8, 2009

Horseshoes said:
Try two eye payches.
Or maybe this is a case where more is not better.

He was a doubly-honoured Spartan

c.e.lawson · Apr 8, 2009

shokadh - what a sad story. I'm sorry about your friend. But I love your phrase "...I couldn't get over the fact that it added such a mysterious charm to his face." Depending on the entire package -I agree.

shameless - you're only a little odd. But well-loved, from what I see around here.

girlyswot -

Plus there's also something a bit creepy about it - like he's hiding something.

But that's the entire purpose of the patch, my dear - to hide something. LOL.

LaurieD -

If your guy is studly and otherwise good enough to eat, he could carry the facial scar you mention and the eye patch, IMO.

I agree with this.

Imz - yes, his eye is still there, although scarred.

PortableHal -

In contemporary fiction, not scary, not sexy. Silly.

Yes. Fortunately my story takes place in 450 B.C.

Horseshoes -

Try two eye payches.
Or maybe this is a case where more is not better.

OK, now we're just getting silly.

Thanks for your input, everyone. I've got a lot to think about now.

c.e.

lmz · Apr 8, 2009

i would say that...why have an eye patch at all? wouldn't the scar add the mysterious, sexy, and somewhat scary element all on its own? how did he get it? it would keep the other characters guessing (and the reader)

fringle · Apr 13, 2009

scary

trocadero · Apr 14, 2009

eye patch = scary. scar = can be hunky

I really like a person's eyes. They tell so much about a person. A pair of gorgeous eyes can make up for a lot of other things.... I'd hate to see one missing.

Stlight · Apr 14, 2009

In this day and age you'd have to have a reason why he didn't have a 'replacement' eye from a surgeon. Didn't like the way it felt? Philopsophical reasons? My favorite is no insurance, or the insurance company said no and handed over the patch.

My own take is the Van Hussen shirt model. Anyone else remember him/them? Cute to hot guys, neat, clean, looked like they had money. I guess they did the ads were in the New Yorker magazine back in the day.

Eyepatch - sexy or scary?

c.e.lawson

Jynical

c.e.lawson

shameless

Superlative Type A

shokadh

Now serving Table for 300

dragonjax

I write stuff and break boards.

girlyswot

scarletpeaches

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

Jynical

Jenny

Who should be writing ...

scarletpeaches

lmz

c.e.lawson

scarletpeaches

Lucy Joseph

c.e.lawson

PortableHal

Not-so-new

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

shokadh

Now serving Table for 300

c.e.lawson

lmz

fringle

always abroad

trocadero

Stlight

ideas are floating where they will