I'm only coming to you because you're so open about being black and I feel like you would understand....I read a fanfic where Tarquin was used to further Nesta and Cassian. And sorry to come to you about Nessian but...I feel sick. Thoughts? Advice?
Hello! Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to come to me. And it’s okay that it’s about Nessian, because I would do anything for my mans Tarquin.
Honestly, I haven’t read the fanfic and I probably never will. For two reasons:
1. Nessian
2. The black man furthers the white ship (and yes I’m aware Cassian is not white, but what do you think Nesta is? An avocado?)
This trope is used a lot and it makes us feel useless as people, as black people. (If you don’t live in the US, you’ve probably never experienced this). Every time you read when a black man or woman is used to further a white ship, it hurts. Every time the white man chooses the white girl over the black girl, it hurts. It sends a clear message: the white girl (boy) will always be better. And I’ve been told so multiple times. To my face.
Obviously Nessian is endgame in whatever fanfic you’re reading. Obviously this may be for plot, and the writer never thought of the hurtful consequences of using Tarquin. Sometimes you can’t do anything about it. Tarquin is a character and the fandom has deemed him someone who is shippable with everyone. And with that, comes being a way to bring two ships closer together.
Tarquin is also someone who doesn’t have a significant other. What if they had used Helion? They would be using a light skinned man to further a white ship. What about the High Lord of the Dawn Court? They would have been using an Indian man (I see the Dawn Court Fae as Indian) to further a white ship. There’s truly no win. Some way or another they would have been using a colored man for a white girl’s agenda (even if they used another Illyrian).
My advice to you? Either contact the author or stop reading the fanfic. If you love the fanfic, then just tell the author how you feel. They won’t change the fanfic, but maybe they’ll take it into consideration for the next time.
Stop reading, baby, if it’s harmful. I know if I read anything about a black man/woman furthering a white ship, I would throw up. My stomach isn’t strong when it comes to this sort of stuff. Plus I’m not into Nessian so no way in hell would I read Nessian and ON TOP of that Tarquin is being used? Yeah, no, not for me, Janet.
The next step is your step, I can’t help you cross the road. The next choice is yours and I can’t help you make it. But I hope this helped.
