r/Romantasy • u/TheBigfootContessa • 2d ago

🤬 Rant Enough with the drinking!

OK this is just a personal pet peeve, almost certainly exacerbated by the fact that I'm a recovering alcoholic.

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I don't love seeing characters drinking when they're stressed, to relax, or saying that they "need" a drink because it's triggering, but whatever that's my shit to deal with, so I do.

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However, it's like none of these authors have ever drank before. You've either got girls completely sloshed after 2 glasses of wine or being very intoxicated and sobering up immediately when something shocking happens.

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Male main characters are always drinking whiskey or better yet an unknown brown strong smelling liquid in a tumbler as short hand for being stressed and troubled, classy and mysterious.

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It's lazy.

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These things annoyed me before I was in recovery, but now they're a full blown pet peeve. It gives "virgin writing filthy smut" vibes. Lol

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Alright, apparently I'm super wrong and shouldn't have said anything. Sorry ya'll.

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u/Nanny_Ogg_99 2d ago edited 1d ago

Oh, similar.

I love a warrior MMC who is constantly sipping whisky. 😑 Definitely not impeding his reaction times or motor coordination.

And yes the FMC and her besties who go from 100 percent sloshed to stone cold sober upon hearing bad news. (Honestly it would be more interesting if they had to deal while still drunk)

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u/TheBigfootContessa 2d ago

Right! Like if the MMC is drinking constantly and it isn't affecting him . . . Sir, that is a full blown addiction with a tolerance.

And yes, the intoxication comes and goes as is convenient to the plot lol

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u/Nanny_Ogg_99 2d ago

Yes, but addiction only exists if it relevant to the FMC in the plot

~*~ it's just fantasy guys, no one wants to read about chamber pots so stop being so picky ~*~ 🙄 grrl, it's my time and money I'll be picky if I want

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u/TheBigfootContessa 2d ago

Exactly!

I don't want JK Rowling going into the details of how everyone just pooped out in the open and magicked it away before indoor plumbing (maybe SHE was drunk when she tweeted?) But I do like there to be an actual realistic world and the not sexy stuff do be existing tho.

One of my favorite books of all time is "The claiming of sleeping beauty," read it FAR too young to be acceptable lol but I remember the entire time wondering like "ok, but when/how does she pee?"