101-201 Fictional Kinks
A long, long time ago (wow, LJ says 2006; I cannot even believe this), I made a list of 101 fictional kinks. I knew when I made it I had many more waiting in the wings, and it's interesting to see that since I've made it, some have changed. So, here is another list, which, instead of revising the old, just continues from it, though I think one or two are slight modifications of the old list.
The last time I did this,![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stultiloquentia memed it, and made her own list, here. I loved it, and was interested to see the ones we shared and didn't share. I think a couple other people did it; I would love it to get memed again if anyone wants to share their own.
As with the old list, the word "kink" is being used in the loosest sense: these things strike a chord with me, or push a button, not necessarily in a sexual way (though some of them, yeah.)
The word "fictional" is literal. These are things I enjoy reading about, or seeing on television, etc, not necessarily things I enjoy seeing or doing in RL.
For those who are interested, here is the list of the first 1-101: Fictional Kinks 1-101
102. Condoms
103. Teamwork
104. Competence
105. Platonic friendships that last forever
106. When Character A doesn’t know that Character B considers him/her a friend and Character A finds out (and is happy about it)
107. When Character A does something for Character B without the intention of Character B ever finding out, but then Character B finds out (and is happy about it)
108. People referring to each other by surnames
109. Affectionate and completely platonic characters dancing in each other’s arms
110. Lunar references
111. Girls who try to do the right thing and in so doing, annoy everyone
112. Ambiguity
113. Character A tying Character B’s tie. Or cravat. And actually, I’ve only ever read Character B as a male for this kink, but I’d love to see a girl tie a girl’s tie or a man tie a girl’s tie.
114. Eyelashes when a gaze drops down
115. Reeds as a metaphor or simile, the word “reedy”
116. When the existence of “destiny” is ambiguous, but a character believes he must fulfill it. (Absolute best example: Lawrence of Arabia. My favorite example, which I’m sorry, I know will offend many people: Jesus Christ.)
117. Character A noticing Character B’s throat
118. Light catching off a character or even objects
119. Extremely limited third person
120. In the first list I had “pet names”; I would add in particular that I like pet names when they are rarely used, and it just slips out because Character A thinks of Character B that way but doesn’t call him/her that out of a certain kind of respect or maintenance of dignity. Also, I like it when Character B loves being called that, but doesn’t like to admit it, maybe because they want to retain their dignity most the time except those precious moments in which they’d like to be rid of it completely.
121. The pet name “honey”.
122. Felching
123. Felching, like with food. Particularly honey or cream, but hell, I don’t know, strawberries. I understand this is problematic; I don’t like it to be problematized.
124. Someone getting (indirect, let’s say) sexual pleasure from giving someone (direct) sexual pleasure
125. Someone getting (indirect) sexual pleasure from the understanding that the person giving them (direct) sexual pleasure is getting (indirect) sexual pleasure from it.
126. Meta
127. Meta about meta
128. Meta about meta about meta
129. Family figures (daddy figures, mommy figures, sister figures, brother figures)
130. Recreation of family structure (kita0610 is really good at finding these; for instance, Angel Investigations sets up Angel as the father, Cordelia as the mother, Wesley as the son, etc)
131. Echoed scenes
132. Textually supported role-reversal (X-Files did not textually support it whenever Scully became the believer and Mulder became the skeptic, but for instance, Supernatural supports Dean becoming the one who says, “Tell me your feeeeelings and Sam being repressed all the time, even though it’s usually vice versa)
133. Strong characters going down on their knees in a willing show of submission—I don’t mean for oral sex, but for forgiveness, or similar
134. Martyrdom as a vainglorious choice, not a self-sacrificing one
135. When someone chooses not to be a martyr, because (s)he realizes (s)he will do more good that way, even if it is harder work
136. Consensual mind control (I’ve been unable to find any, except in my own head)
137. People finding/reading unfinished letters
138. Loyalty
139. Dramatic irony
140. Timey-wimey
141. Kisses on the brow
142. Characters who are religious who are open to other people's religions/beliefs
143. Gestures that are platonic and yet appear intimate
144. Freckles
145. Character A enjoying Character B’s natural scent—I don’t mean B has to stop washing or deodorizing or anything.
146. Men’s hairy legs
147. A shift in world view
148. Character A falling in love with Character B, who shifted their world view
149. People who make fun of each other and don’t get along at all, until there’s a job that needs to be done and suddenly everyone is serious and works together like a dream. Until work’s done, and the bitching starts again.
150. Characters who like schedules and flow-charts
151. A character fully clothed in a shower
152. Characters who are woe-is-me and think they have it worse than everyone, but who don’t sit around doing nothing, feeling sorry for themselves. I especially enjoy this when the narrator seems aware that said character can have it as bad as (s)he likes; doesn’t change the fact that (s)he’s a drama queen. (See Prince Zuko.)
153. Multiple orgasms
154. Issues regarding sexual orientation
155. Issues regarding sexual dysfunction
156. Dialogue
157. Dialogue during sex
158. Girls referring to themselves using idioms that refer to men, (e.g., a girl saying, “let’s talk man to man”)
159. Boys referring to themselves using idioms that refer to women, (e.g., a boy saying, “I’m not that kind of girl”)
160. Men who think that the popular perception of masculinity is stupid
161. People who get more articulately savage the more hurt and vulnerable they feel.
162. Descriptions, observations, or thoughts/feelings that seems disconnected from the situation, and yet feel connected in some way I can't quite put my finger on
163. Discussions of morality
164. People understanding that they don’t need to agree with each other to respect each other
165. The subversion of stereotype
166. Gloves
167. Intricate clothing that covers quite a good deal of skin, especially with lots of little buttons or fastenings
168. Morning (morning sex, morning coffee, breakfast, characters moods in the morning, how characters talk in the morning, sleepiness in the morning—I hate mornings in real life with the passion of a thousand fiery suns)
169. Textual experimentation (especially with linearity, rhythm, and rhyme)
170. Specific names for specific materials (e.g. “cambric” for a specific cloth and “linoleum” for a specific flooring, etc)
171. Words I don’t know (used appropriately)
172. People who try their very best
173. Figuring things out for myself (as a reader)
174. Serial narrative
175. Secret identity
176. Secret identity in which Character A knows who Character B is, but Character B doesn’t know who A is. It could be that Character B has a secret identity, or doesn’t, but I like it when B knows both who A really is and their secret identity, but doesn’t know they’re the same person. I love this way, way too much.
177. Physically strong girls
178. Negotiation. Of any kind, really
179. People admitting they were wrong
180. Apologies
181. Funny lines that no one treats as funny
182. People (or beings) of different cultures trying to understand each other, and sometimes failing
183. Character A comforting Character B after B has a nightmare. Awwww!
184. Crack premises treated with thoughtfulness and consideration
185. Sentences that begin as a cliché and end as something unexpected
186. Lists
187. When Character A’s surroundings don’t explicitly mirror their character, but Character B still thinks said surroundings say something about A
188. The places characters consider home, and their thoughts about what home means
189. Respect
190. Explorations of amorality
191. Redemption arcs
192. Bruises
193. Good parents who sometimes fail
194. When characters talk or argue about non-essential things
195. Science – discussion of science, or use of science, especially science that is complex yet comprehensible to the layman, and sense-making
196. McGuffins that manage to achieve some measure of believability
197. Outer space, either as a setting or object of contemplation
198. Metaphors about bread
199. Dragons
200. Exploration of other cultures, whether real or fictional
201. Discussion, anxiety, and fear about the ramifications of unsafe or emotionally unadvisable sex acts
The last time I did this,
stultiloquentia memed it, and made her own list, here. I loved it, and was interested to see the ones we shared and didn't share. I think a couple other people did it; I would love it to get memed again if anyone wants to share their own.As with the old list, the word "kink" is being used in the loosest sense: these things strike a chord with me, or push a button, not necessarily in a sexual way (though some of them, yeah.)
The word "fictional" is literal. These are things I enjoy reading about, or seeing on television, etc, not necessarily things I enjoy seeing or doing in RL.
For those who are interested, here is the list of the first 1-101: Fictional Kinks 1-101
102. Condoms
103. Teamwork
104. Competence
105. Platonic friendships that last forever
106. When Character A doesn’t know that Character B considers him/her a friend and Character A finds out (and is happy about it)
107. When Character A does something for Character B without the intention of Character B ever finding out, but then Character B finds out (and is happy about it)
108. People referring to each other by surnames
109. Affectionate and completely platonic characters dancing in each other’s arms
110. Lunar references
111. Girls who try to do the right thing and in so doing, annoy everyone
112. Ambiguity
113. Character A tying Character B’s tie. Or cravat. And actually, I’ve only ever read Character B as a male for this kink, but I’d love to see a girl tie a girl’s tie or a man tie a girl’s tie.
114. Eyelashes when a gaze drops down
115. Reeds as a metaphor or simile, the word “reedy”
116. When the existence of “destiny” is ambiguous, but a character believes he must fulfill it. (Absolute best example: Lawrence of Arabia. My favorite example, which I’m sorry, I know will offend many people: Jesus Christ.)
117. Character A noticing Character B’s throat
118. Light catching off a character or even objects
119. Extremely limited third person
120. In the first list I had “pet names”; I would add in particular that I like pet names when they are rarely used, and it just slips out because Character A thinks of Character B that way but doesn’t call him/her that out of a certain kind of respect or maintenance of dignity. Also, I like it when Character B loves being called that, but doesn’t like to admit it, maybe because they want to retain their dignity most the time except those precious moments in which they’d like to be rid of it completely.
121. The pet name “honey”.
122. Felching
123. Felching, like with food. Particularly honey or cream, but hell, I don’t know, strawberries. I understand this is problematic; I don’t like it to be problematized.
124. Someone getting (indirect, let’s say) sexual pleasure from giving someone (direct) sexual pleasure
125. Someone getting (indirect) sexual pleasure from the understanding that the person giving them (direct) sexual pleasure is getting (indirect) sexual pleasure from it.
126. Meta
127. Meta about meta
128. Meta about meta about meta
129. Family figures (daddy figures, mommy figures, sister figures, brother figures)
130. Recreation of family structure (
kita0610 is really good at finding these; for instance, Angel Investigations sets up Angel as the father, Cordelia as the mother, Wesley as the son, etc)131. Echoed scenes
132. Textually supported role-reversal (X-Files did not textually support it whenever Scully became the believer and Mulder became the skeptic, but for instance, Supernatural supports Dean becoming the one who says, “Tell me your feeeeelings and Sam being repressed all the time, even though it’s usually vice versa)
133. Strong characters going down on their knees in a willing show of submission—I don’t mean for oral sex, but for forgiveness, or similar
134. Martyrdom as a vainglorious choice, not a self-sacrificing one
135. When someone chooses not to be a martyr, because (s)he realizes (s)he will do more good that way, even if it is harder work
136. Consensual mind control (I’ve been unable to find any, except in my own head)
137. People finding/reading unfinished letters
138. Loyalty
139. Dramatic irony
140. Timey-wimey
141. Kisses on the brow
142. Characters who are religious who are open to other people's religions/beliefs
143. Gestures that are platonic and yet appear intimate
144. Freckles
145. Character A enjoying Character B’s natural scent—I don’t mean B has to stop washing or deodorizing or anything.
146. Men’s hairy legs
147. A shift in world view
148. Character A falling in love with Character B, who shifted their world view
149. People who make fun of each other and don’t get along at all, until there’s a job that needs to be done and suddenly everyone is serious and works together like a dream. Until work’s done, and the bitching starts again.
150. Characters who like schedules and flow-charts
151. A character fully clothed in a shower
152. Characters who are woe-is-me and think they have it worse than everyone, but who don’t sit around doing nothing, feeling sorry for themselves. I especially enjoy this when the narrator seems aware that said character can have it as bad as (s)he likes; doesn’t change the fact that (s)he’s a drama queen. (See Prince Zuko.)
153. Multiple orgasms
154. Issues regarding sexual orientation
155. Issues regarding sexual dysfunction
156. Dialogue
157. Dialogue during sex
158. Girls referring to themselves using idioms that refer to men, (e.g., a girl saying, “let’s talk man to man”)
159. Boys referring to themselves using idioms that refer to women, (e.g., a boy saying, “I’m not that kind of girl”)
160. Men who think that the popular perception of masculinity is stupid
161. People who get more articulately savage the more hurt and vulnerable they feel.
162. Descriptions, observations, or thoughts/feelings that seems disconnected from the situation, and yet feel connected in some way I can't quite put my finger on
163. Discussions of morality
164. People understanding that they don’t need to agree with each other to respect each other
165. The subversion of stereotype
166. Gloves
167. Intricate clothing that covers quite a good deal of skin, especially with lots of little buttons or fastenings
168. Morning (morning sex, morning coffee, breakfast, characters moods in the morning, how characters talk in the morning, sleepiness in the morning—I hate mornings in real life with the passion of a thousand fiery suns)
169. Textual experimentation (especially with linearity, rhythm, and rhyme)
170. Specific names for specific materials (e.g. “cambric” for a specific cloth and “linoleum” for a specific flooring, etc)
171. Words I don’t know (used appropriately)
172. People who try their very best
173. Figuring things out for myself (as a reader)
174. Serial narrative
175. Secret identity
176. Secret identity in which Character A knows who Character B is, but Character B doesn’t know who A is. It could be that Character B has a secret identity, or doesn’t, but I like it when B knows both who A really is and their secret identity, but doesn’t know they’re the same person. I love this way, way too much.
177. Physically strong girls
178. Negotiation. Of any kind, really
179. People admitting they were wrong
180. Apologies
181. Funny lines that no one treats as funny
182. People (or beings) of different cultures trying to understand each other, and sometimes failing
183. Character A comforting Character B after B has a nightmare. Awwww!
184. Crack premises treated with thoughtfulness and consideration
185. Sentences that begin as a cliché and end as something unexpected
186. Lists
187. When Character A’s surroundings don’t explicitly mirror their character, but Character B still thinks said surroundings say something about A
188. The places characters consider home, and their thoughts about what home means
189. Respect
190. Explorations of amorality
191. Redemption arcs
192. Bruises
193. Good parents who sometimes fail
194. When characters talk or argue about non-essential things
195. Science – discussion of science, or use of science, especially science that is complex yet comprehensible to the layman, and sense-making
196. McGuffins that manage to achieve some measure of believability
197. Outer space, either as a setting or object of contemplation
198. Metaphors about bread
199. Dragons
200. Exploration of other cultures, whether real or fictional
201. Discussion, anxiety, and fear about the ramifications of unsafe or emotionally unadvisable sex acts
no subject
106-114. ♥
117. Ahhhhh, yes, yes, yes.
120. Mmmmm.
134-135. Um, can I borrow these for real life, too?
...I feel like I've encountered 136 somewhere, and now I can't remember where, curses.
150. All hail the administrators and project managers of the world, I say.
166-167 (and others). You know, I've been holding out on reading your North and South fic until it's finished, but I'm seeing a lot of things on here that would fit Margaret and John so. very. well.
185. Ooooo, nice.
no subject
102. Condoms
This might just be the fandoms I've been moving through, but it feels like I've been reading more stories lately in which a gay couple meets, pulls, goes home together, gazes into each other's eyes and utters some variation of, It probably says a lot about my background and education that this throws me right the hell out of a story, and in some cases is enough to make me thump the back button. I mean, in some scenarios, barebacking can be incredibly hot -- but so can condoms! Come on, you stupid smut writers, use your words!
103. Teamwork
104. Competence
Oh, hello, two biggest fic kinks of all time.
105-109
OMG, please write ALL the friendship stories, okay?
111. Girls who try to do the right thing and in so doing, annoy everyone
This is amazing.
115. Reeds as a metaphor or simile, the word “reedy”
"Kurt sees again so clearly what he has always known: that Blaine's heart is water and reeds and so much more feminine than his own. And because no one else seems to get it – not their friends, not their fathers – Kurt thinks it must be a very hard thing for Blaine to carry sometimes." --
118. Light catching off a character or even objects
Nice descriptions of high-contrast, cinematic lighting in general.
120. In the first list I had “pet names”; I would add in particular that I like pet names when they are rarely used, and it just slips out because Character A thinks of Character B that way but doesn’t call him/her that out of a certain kind of respect or maintenance of dignity. Also, I like it when Character B loves being called that, but doesn’t like to admit it, maybe because they want to retain their dignity most the time except those precious moments in which they’d like to be rid of it completely.
Yeah! I read an adorable story recently where Dude A blurts, "You're really pretty," mid-coitus, then immediately follows up with, "Uh, gendered adjectives, do they work for you?" Bwee.
121. The pet name “honey”.
"Sweetheart" has been doing it for me lately. It's funny how sometimes one story can trigger a kink that sticks around forever after.
123. Felching, like with food. Particularly honey or cream, but hell, I don’t know, strawberries. I understand this is problematic; I don’t like it to be problematized.
D'you mean politically problematic? Why?
128. Meta about meta about meta
Fic about meta. Meta disguised as fic. Fic disguised as meta. Meta that rambles its way into fic in the middle of a sentence.
131. Echoed scenes
You wrote really good meta on this once, using Angel and Connor and portals to hell as illustration. It's had a big influence on my own writing.
134. Martyrdom as a vainglorious choice, not a self-sacrificing one
135. When someone chooses not to be a martyr, because (s)he realizes (s)he will do more good that way, even if it is harder work
Yes.
136. Consensual mind control (I’ve been unable to find any, except in my own head)
You should drop this on
143. Gestures that are platonic and yet appear intimate
Oh, man, you've really got to read that Hermione/Snape story I sent you. It's got the most amazing Harry-Hermione friendship.
146. Men’s hairy legs
And chests.
147. A shift in world view
148. Character A falling in love with Character B, who shifted their world view
Oh, neat. Well observed. That's what's so incredibly fun about these lists: all the kinks I never noticed I had, until you articulated it and I went, "WOAH that is my kink!"
149. People who make fun of each other and don’t get along at all, until there’s a job that needs to be done and suddenly everyone is serious and works together like a dream. Until work’s done, and the bitching starts again.
YES. So much. Also, goofball jokesters who assume leadership when things go wrong.
151. A character fully clothed in a shower
It's kind of great that I know exactly what you mean, because this is such recognizable shorthand for a certain set of scenarios and attendant emotions.
152. Characters who are woe-is-me and think they have it worse than everyone, but who don’t sit around doing nothing, feeling sorry for themselves. I especially enjoy this when the narrator seems aware that said character can have it as bad as (s)he likes; doesn’t change the fact that (s)he’s a drama queen. (See Prince Zuko.)
Yes! I can take solace from my theatrics and be goddamned effective, dammit! Like Richard Cobham, who sobs and begs and screams at the top of his lungs while he's being tortured (seeing no benefit in stoicism), then picks himself up and goes to steal a horse.
153. Multiple orgasms
Mmm, I'd never have thought to put this on the list, but yeah, I've read some gooood ones.
There was one in Buffy fandom, and it's been so long that I can't vouch for its quality anymore, but I remember Spike making Buffy come over and over, and then finally making her get up and go to the bathroom, and she's all, "What? No, you freak," and he's all, "Just do it," so she goes and has one last orgasm when she starts to pee, and she yells back at him in the other room, "You bastard!"
Which (there's a "but whatever" at the end of this sentence) I suppose might be somewhat at odds with my current rant about men in fic knowing women's bodies, specifically their sexual reactions, better than they know themselves, and the romanticization of same, but whatever (thar she goes!). It's connected to your, "What shall we problematize and in which instances?" issue.
(I am totally not problematizing multiple orgasms. Just so we're clear. I'm really a big supporter of multiple orgasms.)
154. Issues regarding sexual orientation
Heh. Sure, totally, in the right context, but I was thinking about this, testing it in my head, and I realized I have a bigger kink for...non-issues regarding sexual orientation. I.e., guys you assumed were straight saying, "Oh yeah, I'm totally up for an m/m/f threesome night," or the ex-Marine father figure saying, "Son, I owe both my legs to a flaming homosexual; it was a bit hard to maintain my prejudices in the face of that. Now are you gonna bring your boyfriend home to dinner or what?"
156. Dialogue
ALL the banter!
157. Dialogue during sex
I note that it's a good way to keep one's sex scenes character-driven, which is a struggle for many otherwise fantastic authors.
158. Girls referring to themselves using idioms that refer to men, (e.g., a girl saying, “let’s talk man to man”)
Heh. I tell people all the time that I like driving stick because it makes me feel more manly. I enjoy the reactions I get.
161. People who get more articulately savage the more hurt and vulnerable they feel.
Ooh, good one. Deceptive facades in general -- people who holler all the time, but go quiet when they're truly angry, people who can talk and laugh and flirt like a pro at a party, but are actually incredibly private.…
165. The subversion of stereotype
Also, the subversion of the subversion of stereotype. I have all kinds of fantasies of what I'd do if I were in charge of Glee; here's one: First I'd cast a butch dyke. I mean the kind of stocky, strong-featured butch dyke who's smoking hot, but in a way totally incomprehensible to straight men. Then I'd make her dance a floaty Viennese waltz with Kurt, and it would be the queerest fucking thing ever seen on network television.
168. Morning
Mm, me, too. Crack-of-dawn, especially. (Though I love getting up early irl.)
170. Specific names for specific materials (e.g. “cambric” for a specific cloth and “linoleum” for a specific flooring, etc)
171. Words I don’t know (used appropriately)
I love being sent to the dictionary. As a writer, though, I'm usually smacking the big words out of my stories, shoo! begone wit ye!, because they're just drawing attention to themselves. The other day I saw someone use "hirsute", in seriousness, in a sex scene. I giggled, and then thought how much I would like to make them bury their thesaurus in the back yard, so it would be available if they really needed it, but they'd have to dig.
172. People who try their very best
Oh my gosh! I'm currently reading a novel jammed with id candy (dystopian slave AU, yadda), and I love it with a fiery love, but #172 is why. Not the slave kink or the h/c or the anticipated sexual healing or any of those obvious things, but the absolutely gripping, masterful way the author writes about effort. It makes me love her characters like nothing else would.
184. Crack premises treated with thoughtfulness and consideration
Glee has more than its fair share of these right now. My current favourite premise has got to be, "Kurt turns into a red-headed girl when splashed with cold water." In a meme stuffed with you-passed-extreme-ten-miles-back sexual kinks, it's so...mischievously innocent. And the fill is oddly tender.
195. Science – discussion of science, or use of science, especially science that is complex yet comprehensible to the layman, and sense-making
YES!!! (God, I love Fullmetal Alchemist fandom.)
198. Metaphors about bread
My favourite description of bread is in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Dreams: "It had a hard, brown crust and a heavenly, steaming interior, and it tasted like love."
201. Discussion, anxiety, and fear about the ramifications of unsafe or emotionally unadvisable sex acts
Yesssss. Talking things out. My kink is talking.