*digs up this thread from the H/H archives*
Question: Are slash or near-slash scenes/pairings allowed in Portkey fanfics?

Slash = same-gender pairings, ie. male/male or female/female

Short Answer: To paraphrase NAPPA, yes, they're allowed as long as:
-- there are no graphic sex scenes between the slash pairings (or non-Portkey pairings) AND
-- the fanfic focuses on and ends in a Portkey ship.

Authors are encouraged to give warnings about slash scenes. Unless my memory fails me, this thread's first 14 posts was about msscribe's fic, "Requital".

Original topic title: "femslash breaking the rules? Upset with a popular H/Hr fic"

-gal-texter, Jun2008



I've been lurking for a while, but I decided to register to get this out there. I began to read one of the more popular fics on this site, which I thought was a H/Hr, G/D, and L/J safehouse - safe from the other stuff like slash (ick). And what did I find? SLASH! Hr/Cho slash to be exact and even though it was well written, doesn't this violate the spirit of this website?

No offense to anyone, the author is a good writer - but why is it that rules here only seem to apply to SOME fics.

D

H/Hr forever! Long sail the ship!

If you had closely read that story, you'd know that the Hr/Cho "slash" to which you're referring to has complete justification. It's an act the girls put on to achieve a certain goal. Unless I radically misinterpreted the text, it is never consummated, only hinted at and played upon quite tastefully. The story is well-written, has wonderful H/Hr moments and if you don't like something about it, don't read it. I'd like to think that even people who support straight pairings won't be narrow.

I won't argue about being open minded. To each person his/her own. But Hr/Cho were kissing and grinding and I don't think that this sort of thing should be posted on a clearly defined shipper site. Pretend or not, and from what I got, Hermione was enjoying it! I think it crossed the line, that's all. I stopped reading after that.

Again, I admit it was interesting (up to that point) but I just think if you are going to have a shipper site it should only be those ships. I'm not flaming anyone or saying the author isn't a good author. I didn't leave a bad review or anything.

I'm sure someone else shares my opinion. Maybe not though. I just thought it was worth discussing.

So...in a Harry/Hermione story, Hermione can only be a sexual creature for Harry? If he's not within three feet of her, she better just fold her arms and cross her legs and ignore everyone else? I'm sorry, I just never thought that "shipper" meant "exclusive". Until the author of this story we're discussing has Hermione running off with Cho for a long and happy lesbian life, the story is not crossing any invisible line from shipper to dangerous slash territory. I've read plenty of stories, and written one in this universe myself, where the main focus of the story is one couple, but there are moments with other couples, even pairings that include one person from the main couple. I think you're losing focus of the true pairing in this particular H/Hr story. Missing the forest for the trees, so to speak.

If I sound like I'm coming down on you, I apologize. I come from the harsh battlefield of the Gundam Wing fan archives where the slash vs. straight lines are too concrete and an author has to choose one and be whole-heartedly against the other. I don't want to see that happen here. An author should be able to create a story for one pairing, but not feel limited by it.

Final thought. Yes, Hermione doesn't mind playing it up with Cho to get the information they need. But isn't it Harry who she invites into her bed at the end of the day?

Nothing to do with me, I know, but I just wanted to wade in.

I find m/m slash frankly disgusting. Seeing it on the tv makes me flip immediately. Reading about it without warning is the fastest way to make me never read anything by that author again. I'm not saying that it's morally wrong, or anything like that. I'm not saying people shouldn't write it, certainly. Everyone has the right to read and write whatever they want. But I, and I'm sure davis, would like to know what we're about to read before the revulsion hits us in the face.

I don't just mean slash, though - the same could apply just as easily to graphic violence, rape, underage m/f sex, whatever.

Expecting flames now

Hi People,

Sorry Werrf, no flaming this time, but I've just been checking the site rules and so far there's no rule for slash pairings. So I think it's okay as long as H/H get each other in the end.
Anyway, I think it's much worse when Ron and Hermione kiss!

Obviously, without reading the story, I can't comment on how explicit it is, but the rules do say (paraphrased) 'no explicit scenes except between H/H, L/J and D/G'. From the sounds of it, this scene sounded pretty graphic.

Either way, I feel it's just good manners to warn people if there is going to be slash, or ship, or violence, or whatever.

To werrf. I'm sorry you're homophobic. But let me say it again until the author says it herself. The hint of girl/girl action is such a small part of the story. Why should she, or any of us, have to outline our stories before we tell them? "Okay, and in chapter two, there could be some slight Harry/Ginny implications if you look really hard. Be warned everyone!!! She gives him a kiss on the cheek! Just don't want to surprise anyone." That's ridiculous. I think you have to ask yourself, first of all, why am I afraid of gay people, and secondly, why am I commenting on a story I haven't read? I have read this story and I don't particularly like Cho. I'm not opposed to girl/girl action, but it's not my favorite thing on the menu. And this story so did not offend me. Cause I looked and saw what it was really about. Harry. Hermione. A complex and fascinating plot. I suggest the person who started this whole argument should do the same.

Count to ten...

Nope, still angry. Count to twenty...very slowly...

Okay. I'll try to stay civil here. And I’ll try to handle things one topic at a time.

I am not homophobic. I am not ‘afraid of gay people’.

My reaction to m/m slash is an instinctive and visceral one. I can't stand it. Some people can't stand blood, or the graphic description of violence or torture. Are people who have those reactions 'goreophobic'? Or 'torturephobic'? No, they simply have an adverse reaction to certain things. But if you say the same thing about homosexuality and you're homophobic! You're afraid of gay people!!

I don’t like reading graphic m/m. That’s all.

Okay, that’s the insult dealt with, on to the specific topic.

I wasn’t trying to comment on a story I haven’t read. I was trying to comment on the suggestion that apparently there’s no need to mention things that are likely to cause offence. It’s not that difficult to put in a little line saying “suggestions of F/F slash in later chapters” or whatever. There's a difference between 'a little kiss on the cheek' suggesting H/G and 'Hermione and Cho kissing and grinding'.

Torture...graphic violence...warnings are expected for all those situations, but apparently not for slash...why is that? Because treating homosexual sex as exactly identical to hetero- is PC? Sorry, but the fact is that it isn’t the same, and can very easily cause offence if it’s encountered without any warning.

By now, I fully expect to be kicked out for honesty, but frankly I don't care.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you Kristen for your eloquent response. This fic is exactly what I say it is. H/Hr, D/G. The ships aren't a mystery. If you don't like what you're reading, stop reading it. Period. But please don't make snap judgements about something you haven't actually read.

It's funny that you keep coming back to m/m slash...when it's not even part of the discussion. And yes, people who get physically sick, silly as that is, to the sight of two men or women in love is called "homophobic." If you can find another one-word term for it, by all means, tell us.

I hate it when people say that being a person who accepts all types of people regardless of who they choose to sleep with are being "PC." Wtf? When did being a human being come under that classification? Just because I have felt all my life that love is love is love, be it between man and woman, man and man or woman and woman, and that love in any form CANNOT be wrong, all of the sudden because of this, I'm trying to be PC and liberal? Whatever. I'll be "PC" then. It's better than being ignorant.

This has turned from a discussion about shipper rules to one that cuts a lot deeper. If you're so worried about being kicked off the board or whatever, does that maybe mean that you acknowledge that the things you are saying are inflammatory and, dare *I* say, wrong? No, probably not. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine and an author has the right to put in a scene of two undercover agents putting on an act with each other if she wants to without having to warn everyone in the world that she's going to do it just in case she turns the stomach of a handful of people who should just stick to reading fluff from now on.

Yeah, I've been pretty vocal on this topic today. It takes a lot, but the one thing that pushes my buttons above all else is bigotry in any form. I make no apologies for that;)

To msscribe....cause I haven't figured out how to do that cool quote thing yet...you're welcome. I haven't reviewed your story before now, I apologize, but I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Keep up the fabulous work!

MOD NOTE
NO INSULTING!

The Site Rule:
You're not allowed to do anything EXPLICIT with other pairings involved than the ones that we ship on the site. That is the rule. IE. Nothing EXPLICIT between Ron/Hermione or Harry/Fleur, if they are like that at that moment. This does not mean hugs, or kisses. It means about the sexual side of the relationship.

We don't see the author intentionally trying to break the rules - or for that even breaking the rules. What happened between Cho and Hermione is to be considered mild. Previous sexual partners could be likely in a post hogwarts enviornment.

The rule is there stop people from thinking this is a general NC17 site, and post NC17 level scenes between ANY characters. This is a shipping site so - only ones allowed are Harry/Hermione, Lily/James and Draco/Ginny. Idea here is to promote the NC17 writers of the ship.

We can't rule out even a suggestion of these kinds of pairings, as that would mean severely handicapping the authors. The site is NOT going to FORBID previous relationships for each character who are involved in a ship. It would be rather childish of us expect ONLY Harry/Hermione to be each other's first kiss, first hug and in somecases first time sexually. In some cases it's good, but in others, it would not leave much to write about.

It should be noted most authors do put up warnings about these, as these kinds of choices tend to effect the number of reviews they will get. When reading a NC17 be careful. We don't think the scenes were offensive, but you should take care to what you read as EVERYONE's opinion as to what is appropriate is not the same.

Werrf
You will not be kicked out.


IN THE FUTURE!
We're working on a system that would let people make a formal complaint against a fic. Till that is done, we would like the readers to either send an email or PM to ME or JAMES about this. We will investigate and decide on an action promtly. Please include the reasons why you think the story has broken the rules.

MOD NOTE: merging this with a related thread.
~gal-texter / Pen Jun2008


I was thinking about joing here, and posting the fic I have up on Fanfiction.net here as well. However, I'm not sure if a particular part of that fic would be allowed are not.

See my fic is going to have mild Slash between Remus and Sirius. Nothing more than heated kissing probably. Since I'm not even sure how adult rated scenes between Lily and James will be..

So my question is, is Slash allowed here on Portkey?

That's what I want to know too! Have you found out yet? Becuase, er, I'm writing an H/Hr and a side pairing is Seamus/Dean. And I have NO idea if it's allowed. I've read the rules over and over again, and it's not against the rules...I really want to know, and none of the forums are helping... So have you found out yet? It's driving me crazy!

I think as long as there's no hugely graphic scenes between the slash pairing and if it doesn't disrupt our main pairings than it's fine.

hmm...I agree with Werrf.

Is it really all that difficult to mention that there would be a girl on girl moment in the story?

I'm sure some people wouldn't like it if I didn't warn them that there would be a gory rape scene in my fic.

I'm not a homophobe, either, I'm just saying that maybe some people should take a bit more care to protecting the innocence of others.

Although I don't think I would totally flip if I read a story with girl on girl moments. I wouldn't read any further...I just don't think I'd freak out. Just find another fic.