Xena

Pretium Silenti by Spyrel is Gabriator (TMtheholyinnocent), MATURE. theholyinnocent and I had a (relatively) long discussion about this fic and I'm still not sure what to think about it. Let me say up front that it's an incredibly good story with excellent writing. The Conqueror is in Rome when she sees the Gladiator, Gabrielle, in action. Yes, you've seen this story before, but never like this. Xena takes Gabrielle back to Greece and all Hades breaks loose. My uncertainty about this fic has nothing to do with the writing, but the violent content. There is rape, non-con het sex, and Gabrielle survives just HEAPS of violence. And yes, she's on the other side of that equation quite a bit as well, but still, it's a bit much. On the one hand, I'm very much in favor of more 'realistic' versions of what life would have been like for women in that period. And Gabrielle is not just a woman, but a Greek 'barbarian' (to her Roman masters) and a slave. She is completely owned and used by her masters. Also, any romance between Gabrielle and the Conqueror is only hinted at (a sequel hopefully?). Essentially the same level of subtext as the show. Was this confusing enough? Basically, I think it's an incredible story -- one I can't stop thinking about -- but it's not for everyone. This is the violence you don't see in the movies. Violence that debilitates and maims. It's difficult at times, but a cracking good story and well worth it.

eta: okay theholyinnocent reminds me that this is not one of those horrible 'Conqueror tortures Gabrielle in horrific and sexually degrading ways' fics. It's nothing like those fics. Then again, once I realize that I'm reading one of these monsters, I tend to stop reading and tag it with a warning so I don't make the mistake of re-reading it.

of course theholy says it all better than I could:
Well, the level of violence in the story did not bother me as much. (Maybe I am just desensitized to it? After all these years of reading XWP fic? I don't know.) That being said, it's not an easy story to read, particularly for someone who may have triggers/issues about rape and physical violence/abuse. And I would say that if one does have those issues, you should give it a pass. I understand why the content would bother some readers.

But I believe I have read considerably worse stories in terms of violence--worse, in one sense, in that it's the Conqueror who perpetuates the violence/sexual abuse against Gabrielle. (And I've certainly read stories where the Conqueror is a lot more vicious than in Spyrel's story.) In fact, there is one I'm thinking of--it was either a Conqueror story or an AU one--that is so ugly and horrific I don't even want to describe it to you. What makes the difference for me with Spyrel's story is that the violence doesn't seem glamorized or gratuitous. Although I will admit that the story did kind of go off the rails toward the end, in that it seemed a little hard to believe Gabrielle was still mobile, let alone alive. (Ditto for Xena.) You're correct in mentioning that it was a very violent time, and sexual abuse toward women, particularly slaves, was part and parcel of that culture. I think if you want to write a realistic story, you have to incorporate all aspects of the period, even the ugly details.

And a Gabrielle who has suffered that level of sexual abuse is not going to jump into a sexual relationship w/Xena right away despite what pop culture tells us about rape, and despite the fact that by the end, it does seem clear (to me) they're heading in that direction. So I'm hoping that Spyrel writes a nice long sequel that deepens their relationship, both emotionally and romantically/sexually.