- Joined
- Mar 6, 2016
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- 66
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- 4
In one of my YA novel wip's, a historical drama in psuedo 18th century Europe, my male 17-year-old MC is roofied and nearly sexually assaulted by a male villain after attending a ball.
Up to this point the MC was a bit naive and overconfident. The scene is meant to awaken him to the danger of moving against a certain powerful member of Society. The villain can't beat him up because it would leave evidence in the form of injuries; MC is still a noble and therefore protected and relatively privileged. MC has also resisted previous hints and threats. So they try to resort to rape.
The villains's goal is to psychologically scar him, isolate him, humiliate him into silence, and force the MC to give up his quest. It's treated as horrific and frightening (the villain is eventually maimed). MC's rescued before anything happens, though the intended assault is implied via dialogue.
Do you think this scene is an automatic turnoff for readers? And how would I give trigger warnings without spoiling the plot? Should I go for an alternative form of physical attack? I'm trying to gauge how essential to the story this is. He's a visitor to the country, so he doesn't have anyone close to him to threaten, but the villain can't straight up beat him.
I'm also very worried that this could be seen as demonifying gayness, even though there is another "good" gay side character and the second MC, his eventual ally, is trans, bisexual, and non- binary.
Thoughts?
Up to this point the MC was a bit naive and overconfident. The scene is meant to awaken him to the danger of moving against a certain powerful member of Society. The villain can't beat him up because it would leave evidence in the form of injuries; MC is still a noble and therefore protected and relatively privileged. MC has also resisted previous hints and threats. So they try to resort to rape.
The villains's goal is to psychologically scar him, isolate him, humiliate him into silence, and force the MC to give up his quest. It's treated as horrific and frightening (the villain is eventually maimed). MC's rescued before anything happens, though the intended assault is implied via dialogue.
Do you think this scene is an automatic turnoff for readers? And how would I give trigger warnings without spoiling the plot? Should I go for an alternative form of physical attack? I'm trying to gauge how essential to the story this is. He's a visitor to the country, so he doesn't have anyone close to him to threaten, but the villain can't straight up beat him.
I'm also very worried that this could be seen as demonifying gayness, even though there is another "good" gay side character and the second MC, his eventual ally, is trans, bisexual, and non- binary.
Thoughts?