Knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend

If you're here because I've reviewed your fic and then stopped reviewing it may be because of one of these things:

• No really, what's the fascination in the fandom with "pets?" It's not in the books I've read (perhaps you're thinking of other books). Eric doesn't seem to have any interest in a human he'd have complete control of and have to take care of all the time. If anything he seems to value Sookie's independence because she can get things done without his input.

• Eric repeatedly rapes Sookie. Do I think Eric has done terrible, terrible things? Oh yes. Do I think he would let Sookie know about them if he can help it? Oh no. Eric also knows that since he can't glamour Sookie he has to finesse and manipulate her. If he forces her he gets a pissed off telepath who has killed more than her fair-share of vampires. Eric has to sleep sometime. Seriously, if your options are: daily rape or killing your attacker (even though you might not get away) you're going to give killing your attacker some serious thought.

• This rape is shown in a positive light. There is a theme in fanfic where women grow to enjoy their rape. This is never a source of shame, it's just part of the master/slave relationship and Sookie needs to learn her place. I think this is (in part) because young women are the primary authors of fanfic and they feel guilty about wanting sex because society tells them this makes them a slut, having a forced relationship helps remove this guilt.

• Sookie gets pregnant -- WHY? Better still, HOW? Nothing makes me stop reading faster than this trope. "I lead a dangerous life and everyone is out to kill me...know what would make this situation perfect...a BABY!"

• Use of the term "my bonded."

• Talkative Eric. Eric is not a talker, he doesn't offer long explanations - probably because he thinks Sookie will better-deal him to a boyfriend who isn't going to get her killed.

• Kind, thoughtful, nice Eric. Eric is many things. Nice and thoughtful aren't among the words I'd use to describe him. Cunning, jealous, possessive, high-handed, ruthless - those are the words I would use. I feel when fanfic writers tart up Eric and make him "nicer" it's cheating. It removes Sookie's reasons for not being with him - or at least for hesitating to proclaim her everlasting love for him and it makes her look stupid. Sookie is anything but stupid. CH has said only a stupid person would be with a vampire so she gave Sookie the kind of disability that would explain the kind of person who would be with a vampire - and not be stupid. Think of all the lives and mysteries Sookie has solved in the stories. Things that stumped Eric (our resident genius) she's at least as smart as he is. If your aim is to write a story where a beautiful, kindly, saint of a man takes up with a shrew - well I guess you're doing it right, once you've made all these changes.

• Finally: I am a fan of women. I'm not coming out here, I mean, most of my friends are women, most of my mentors are women, I identify with the trials of being a women - and I don't really understand the hate some of the fandom feels for Sookie. There is an idea here that Sookie needs to give up her independence for what Eric wants. Sookie is the good person here, she is the one who has been dragged into the Supernatural world, she is the one who protects people in need of protection, she is the one with morals and a conscience. Eric and other vampires just use people up until there is nothing left of them and then, when that is done, they throw them out. Sookie would never in a million years do that to anyone. I would want Sookie as my friend. Eric - I would be very smart to keep at a distance.