Opinion Question

[lyriel]

Greetings, everyone. Hope this question is appropriate for this comm; if not then feel free to delete.

I would like to hear people's feelings on the following issue. I know it's subjective, so there's no "right answer", probably:

How would you handle warning/tagging for a fic where it *seems* like a major character has died, but it later turns out that he didn't? Think of a Sherlock Holmes type of situation where someone disappears, is presumed dead, then comes back a few years later.

Would you use the "Major Character Death" warning on AO3? How can I warn/tag this story properly without giving away the plot twist? Would you feel disturbed/squicked/annoyed if you read a story like this and there was no specific warning for "major character death"?

Can I get away with using a vague warning like "dark themes"?


Assume that the death is not graphically described, and this is a canon where death and violence are not common occurrences.

Thanks in advance; this one has been puzzling me.

Comments

[lunabee34]

For that story, I would choose not to warn and then put the relevant information in the author's note at the end of the story with directions to look there if you want to be spoiled in the summary.

For stories in which character death just happens or is the point of the story, I use the character death warning and relevant tags. But for a story in which the point is that you think a character is dead and then they aren't, having that info staring you in the face just ruins the surprise IMHO.

[agilebrit]

"Author chose not to use warnings" is a lovely catch-all for all kinds of things.

[lyriel]

"For that story, I would choose not to warn and then put the relevant information in the author's note at the end of the story with directions to look there if you want to be spoiled in the summary."

That's a good idea.

[lunabee34]

:)