antagonists are a curious thing to rp, especially in public - but i've always taken to asking for permission, to putting a lot of qualifiers, before putting the most villainous or antagonistic or uncomfortable parts of my characters out there.

i think that's smart, but i think the thing of villains can be twofold in that people roleplaying with villains can often forget there's someone roleplaying on the other side, too.

there is an extent of IC antagonism that can feel really bad to be on the receiving end of.

when i did a lot more public stormwind rp on my villains, i didn't really get asked much at all if people wanted to do something shitty or antagonistic IC.

a lot of the IC antagonism felt.. OOC.

people who would throw rocks at my characters, spit on them, call them actual sexist slurs or imply they were "whores" for the men around them (despite said characters being lesbians)

it doesn't feel like a mutual rp experience. it was not good faith.

it wasn't fun, and it absolutely did drive me out of doing public rp on those characters. i just don't.

there were times when there would be an attempt to go to them and be like "hey this makes me uncomfortable" but i don't think people care.

there is some extent of belief that - since someone is playing a villain - you can do whatever you want.

that they're there to be used for your stories and to get your laughs and your kicks with your pals, and that's.. not fun for me, without the consideration of my comfort

much as my villains are partially here to be a part of other people's stories, they're also here for me to play.

to enjoy, to explore their character - i'm still a person, writing on the other side. so idk.

i can only hope someone reads this and derives something from it