Sex in the Shadows

Who's Doing Who and How?
Sex In the Shadows

Okay, in keeping with the general tone set by Blaze and her site...(which inspired this one)

This bit isn't designed for you to get your jollies from. If that's your intent for wandering in here, please, go visit one of the tens of thousands of porno sites. Leave now. This is intended as a mature discussion, between adults.

What this section is all about is to give you an idea of what sex, attitudes about sex and the sex industry are like in the world of Shadowrun. Not only should it give you some very interesting ideas for potential adventures or for PC/NPC backgrounds, but used in a mature fashion, could add a lot of grit and realism to your Shadowrun campaign.

We've got a bit for the straightlaced.
Something for the leather and latex queens.
Nuyen is being made right here.
Living an alternative lifestyle? Got that here.
Even got a section for assorted other bits that didn't really fit anywhere else.

Once you're done here, you can wander on to the section describing some sex cybernetics and some shadowruns built around these themes.

Normal Sex
Sort of self-explanatory, don't you think? Basic human anatomy didn't change with the Awakening after all. It's still insert plug A into socket B. Men and women still go to bars, Laundromats, gyms and various other "meat markets" to try and pick up the opposite sex. Men and women still go to extraordinary lengths to attract their chosen partners. We'll go into that last point a bit more in-depth.

We all know that right now women will spend inordinate amounts of time with their clothes, their make-up, hair and all sorts of details. And while they may sometimes deny it, it is essentially a primal animal display of sexual availability. And while women may do all sorts of different things dependent on their cultures and their own individual beliefs and peccadilloes, they aren't the only ones.

The same powerful industry that has grown up around women's beauty products is right now working to expand their market share the only way they can - get men to buy their products.

So in the world of Shadowrun, I'm willing to lay odds that men wearing nail polish (even if it's just clear) is far more common and they aren't looked upon as freaks like Dennis Rodman. Things like eye-liner will move beyond the realm of freaks and goth-types and into a more mainstream position within culture. Jewelry, hair products, skin products, the whole kit and caboodle.

Now you can really only expect the moneyed corporate types to visit a manicurist on a regular basis, but rest assured, given 60 years time, the industry that demands that women purchase hordes of beauty products will securely have their hooks into the male population.

Sure, that's more than a bit odd to the late 90's male perspective. But think about it for a moment. Look at the cosmetics industry and what they are doing. One of the hot areas of expansion within the magazine publication arena are men's publications that have not a single naked woman, but instead are about music, technology, clothes and how to turn your flabby stomach into a rock-hard six-pack that'll drive the women wild. Details, Maxim, Gear and GQ (I subscribe to the former myself) are primary examples of this general trend.

Okay, so it's still basically the birds and the bees, but the bees are wearing a bit of make-up and visit the beauty salon now and again. So what's the really interesting stuff?

Fetish in Shadowrun
Here's where we can really let our dirty little minds (don't deny you don't have one yourself) run a bit rampant.

First of all, let's discuss fetish fashion. It's invading mainstream culture.

Paris fashion runways have been trying to get people to wear variations on leather and latex fashions for several years now. That is one of many factors that has brought fetish fashion and the general concept of "S&M" to the masses. When S&M can be mentioned in a major network sitcom and when my parent's know what it is, it's hit the masses.

You know those cute little belly-button rings all the twenty year old girls all seemingly have anymore? An example of this general trend. Hell, the general piercing and tattooing craze here in America is an example.

Now let's leap forward to 2050 (or whichever year you play Shadowrun in) and project what's going on there.

I strongly suspect that certain images of S&M and B&D have become rather commonplace. I doubt it would create much of a reaction, even amongst mom and pop, to walk into a local Stuffer Shack and see the sixteen year old clerk completely decked out in latex, covered from head to toe. Now that sort of outfit might be beyond the wages of a Stuffer Shack clerk (and he probably has to wear a Stuffer shirt over it), but the point is that the image doesn't shock anymore, it's become commonplace enough. Heck, I think it's in Rigger2 that there's some guy driving a car wearing a leather face hood and has a number of obvious piercings. I'd be willing to lay odds that in the "real" world of Shadowrun, the large majority of shadowrunners would have tattoos, be pierced at least once and probably own a non-shadowrun related latex or leather article of clothing.

I doubt that S&M and B&D (by the way, I'm not going to explain those terms; if you don't know what they are, you probably aren't mature enough or knowledgeable enough to make much use of this section anyway) would become commonplace enough to be considered "normal." But I would argue that these sorts of fetishes are no longer the sort of "extreme" thing or culture that they are generally perceived to be right now.

What about other fetishes? Certain things I see also becoming less extreme, such as foot fetishes. Others, like a fondness for "golden showers" (I know there's a scientific name for that, but can't recall it right now) will probably remain just as fringe as they are right now. I just don't see a fetish for Fluffy the Poodle or whatnot as ever being considered normal by really anyone. Perhaps I'm wrong, but to be honest, I doubt it.

A certain class of fetish deserves special attention. That of interracial "love." Right now, there's a certain fetish or mystique surrounding black men and Asian women. Supposedly black men are better endowed and Asian women are somehow all geishas that can please a man better than any other woman.

Pretty much all bullshit, but that's a certain sort of cultural fetish. Now in the world of Shadowrun, most people have moved beyond skin color and on to metahumanity.

So in 2050, the troll man may well have supplanted that of the black man of 1998 (see the next paragraph...). Elves are probably also thought to be desirable by most races. So you probably have fetish pornosims depicting all sorts of racial combinations.

A slight divergence before we move on. Having spent time myself in locker rooms, I can say with some certainty that most men, regardless of color are created mostly equal. Given the size of trolls in particular however, what is now a cultural myth is probably a reality. Think about it; what would be "imposing" on a six foot tall human will probably look a bit small on a troll over nine feet tall. There's gotta be a certain amount of proportion there. A good looking troll (which may be considered an oxymoron by some) probably has little trouble finding a partner at a bar, assuming he's not a total pig. Enough said.

The Industry of Sex

Right now, in California, the pornography industry grosses something like four billion dollars. The video game industry in 1998 grossed over six billion and the film industry grosses about seven. Porn, dirty nasty porn peddled by folks like Larry Flynt, grosses in total around four billion dollars. This is videos, web sites, magazines, phone sex lines, strip clubs, "marital aids," fetish fashion and nearly anything else you can think of. That's a massive amount of money. In the video industry alone, the porn tape category (I'm sure they have a niver name for it) pulls down more cash than the rest of the entire video tape industry. It was the porn industry that really pushed the cheap and inexpensive VHS tapes forward. Adult film actresses are now able to secure bit parts in mainstream music videos and films, without the general stigma of being a "porno" actress.

In other words, the industry and business of sex is big money and where's there's money, there's power. Today, it's only blunted by a strong social stigma...think about what it might be like in a more permissive society, such as 2060 Shadowrun appears to be.

We know from the various sourcebooks that stuff like prostitution is alive and well, since the various criminal organizations see fit to fight over it. We also know there is enough interest for specialized cyberware and software to be developed (no cheap feat) for the creation of the "bunrakus," those sex slaves/prostitutes that are physically and psychologically altered to become another person, usually famous ("You too can have sex with UCAS Vice President Nadja Daviar!"). Those specialized "toys" must cost a large amount of nuyen, easily tens if not hundreds of thousands of nuyen each.

We further know that sex is one of the main activities of simsense. Few human sensations, if we are honest, are quite as intense or pleasurable as sex. So sex acts within a simsense "film" is quite natural. It's almost certainly gotten to the point that nearly all of the major actors and actresses are the Shadowrun equivalent of adult film actresses. Now they have to be talented actors and they have to be able "give good urge" for the simsense recordings, but they are very often being paid to have sex with another actor for the benefit of the people buying the sim chips. I don't see how that's terribly different than adult films to be honest.

This isn't to say all simsense is nothing but rampant shagging and snogging, rather that what are today major motion pictures are far more sexually graphic than they are today. Imagine, if you will, "Titanic" with graphic sex. A lot shorter in length also, due to the time limitations of simsense (according to Shadowbeat, the most underrated Shadowrun sourcebook, simsense chips can only hold a maximum of one hour of material). So "Titanic" is a lot shorter and the sex scene (there is one right? I haven't seen it, but I'm told there's something in the backseat of a car being ferried across) probably takes up a minimum of 10% of the sim. Everything else, like the "I'm flying!" bit on the prow of the ship to the long drawn out sinking of the Titanic are probably amped up also. The point is, there probably isn't a major release simsense that doesn't have at least one extended graphic sex scene.

Now let's talk about distribution. Look at the absolute explosion of pornographic web sites of all stripes and flavors. Good old fashioned sex has driven the Internet farther forward in technology and in overall growth than all the corporate and vanity sites combined. It's also given a new means for distribution for all manner of things

With the Matrix, it can really only get easier. For most things, like sex toys/aids and hardcore sex simsense, it's probably much as it is now. But for the really nasty SOBs that deal in slavery and pedophilia, it's probably a major boon. Right now, the Internet has made it possible for nearly anyone with a modem to see photos of any sexual act imaginable, no matter how deviant. Run a list of newsgroups; you'll see groups devoted to all sorts of things, even some that are patently illegal in many if not most jurisdictions. The Matrix makes much of that easier for the sick fucks that peddle in shit like pedophilia. Sorry for the language, but I find that sort of thing extremely offensive. The Matrix and the bewildering confusion of law and jurisdiction surrounding the world of Shadowrun probably make their lives just a bit easier though.

But suffice to say that the industry of sex is certainly making billions of nuyen every year in the world of Shadowrun. I'm sure I don't have to point out to you what should be obvious 'run material, do I?

Alternative Lifestyles
It's easily possible that someone right now reading this is either gay or lesbian. Sorry folks, but I honestly don't see you being accepted much more than you are right now.

Here's how I see it. From the late 90's right up the Awakening of 2011, the gay rights movement slowly but surely gathers steam. Laws protecting homosexuals the same as any minority begin to pass, and even a few states make homosexual marriage a legal and binding contract, just like heterosexual marriage. You probably even have an increase in high-profile homosexuals and homosexual couples like Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche. Then all hell breaks loose, literally.

I seriously doubt politicians and the average citizen have much time to think about homosexuality when their child is turning into a troll or starts casting spells. The Crash of 2029 and the various waves of VITAS also divert public and governmental attention.

By the time 2050 rolls around, things have calmed down a bit. So from 2050 to 2056, there's probably a general re-energizing and general re-emergence of gay rights activism. And probably having an easier time of it than their pre-Awakening forebears; I mean, who would you fear more, a gay man or a giant troll?.

Then the movement almost certainly takes another hit when the election of 2056 is declared null and void, triggering the election of 2057 and the eventual election of Dunkelzahn the dragon to the presidency. Since his death, I seriously doubt much progress has been made by the movements. Far more "important" things have taken precedence. Now in 2060-61, things have calmed down for a bit and progress is being made, but the drek is about to hit the fan again (check FASA's list of upcoming products and you can make the same guess I did) halting their progress once again.

So while homosexuality is probably better accepted in general than it is now, I don't see it advancing dramatically forward. This may appear to be in conflict with my earlier comments regarding fetishism, but I don't really see it that way myself. For whatever reason, many people have an easier time understanding becoming aroused by being spanked than understanding homosexuality.

A slight divergence under the general topic before we move on, and that's the "transgendered." Well, I figure that if modern medicine can implant cyberarms and wired reflexes and various forms of bioware, I'm pretty damn sure they can turn a man into a women and the reverse, possibly even fully functioning (as in being able to have children of their own; going that far probably cost insane amounts of nuyen though). And further, do it so well that it's nearly impossible (except probably genetically) to be able to tell what the birth gender was. Potentially a very interesting "Dark Secret" Flaw...

Assorted Other Bits

Virtual Sex
If we are honest, this is little more than mechanical masturbation. But I'm positive it's also quite popular in 2050. There are probably Matrix bars and Matrix whore-houses that offer this sort of thing for a fee, which is probably quite popular amongst deckers of all stripes.

I also find it quite likely that "liberal" moms and dads may very well hand over their duties of sex education for their children to a virtual sex instructor/partner. A whole lot safer, right? To be quite honest, I can't think of that much to say about this particular subject, since much of virtual/matrix sex is simply a digital analog to what goes on in the real world. Not to mention all the groundwork is out their on the Internet today; amplify and make it "virtual" and you have 2060.

Sex Magic
Well, there's almost certainly Tantrix Sex Magic, but that's probably really only proper for Ritual Magic. And I'm sure variations on the Stimulation and Entertainment spells have been done. I suspect that this is an area of rampant hucksterism. "Buy this fetish and it'll make you last longer, guaranteed! For only 20 nuyuen!" "This fetish won't make him fall in love with you, only want to worship your naked body! Only 20 nuyen!" That sort of thing, which we have now with stuff like Spanish Fly and whatnot that you see advertised in the backs of some magazines.

Someone sent me an e-mail a while back and said I had left out "Astral Sex." To which my response is, "Huh?" Now, on one side of things, I'm sure sex can be quite fascinating to watch via the Astral Plane. There are probably different "vibes" or "flavors" one might get from a couple in deep passionate love and a couple having a blazing hot one night stand. Being an "Astral Voyeur" probably is a dirty little secret more than a few magicians have.

But is it possible for two (or more...) Astral bodies to engage in physical relations? My understanding of the Astral says no. Sex is a physical act; an Astral body is rather insubstantial. I just don't see that it's possible. Now, if your interpretation of the rules is different and would allow this sort of thing, well then it's probably a mind-blowing experience. Probably along the lines of the perfect Ecstasy-fueled shag. It's my understanding from stories that X-induced sex probably isn't all that great, but the stories are heavily idealized; Astral sex, if possible, probably at least meets that idealization.

Disease
Sorry folks, but they are probably still around. Now I can imagine that most sexually transmitted diseases have been eradicated; there's a large nuyen potential in that market. But certain nasties like AIDS are almost certainly still around, even if people are more concerned with VITAS or whatnot. I doubt that AIDS is as much of a problem, both socially and in real numbers, but it and perhaps potentially more lethal, Awakened sexually transmitted diseases are still causing problems for the sexually careless. Think about "Awakened AIDS" for a moment; damn scary thought. FASA hasn't said much about disease outside of VITAS, but things like this are certainly possible.

Pregnancy and Abortion
Both still happen. Birth control pills are available for both genders and the process of abortion, when still needed, has probably evolved to be much more painless, both physically and psychologically. Considering the population levels, as given by FASA are lower than they probably ought to be all things considered, both birth control and abortion are probably relatively inexpensive and commonplace. Hell, in some corporate cities and arcologies, the corporation may regulate population via water-borne birth control (like Flouride in our water today). A woman at home pregnant or with a small child isn't being profitable after all. I doubt this is terribly common, but it is certainly possible.

Marriage and Divorce
Also still happens. Now that there are so many legal jurisdictions, not only municipal but corporate, I'm sure divorce can get very nasty and quite odd at times; a pre-nuptial valid under UCAS law might not be worth the paper it was printed on in a Mitsuhama court. All this may also be true for weddings. FASA doesn't really indicate that corporations really mess about with their employees personal lives, but I can imagine a couple getting married in the UCAS, then being told that as far as Shiawase is concerned, they aren't married (and have to pay singles taxes, can't live together on corporate property, might be required to marry a "more compatible" co-worker, that sort of thing). Another thing of potential interest that I can think of would be the fact that cross-cultural weddings are probably more common; the European bride in virginal white may not be 100% guaranteed in the West anymore. Other customs from other cultures have probably invaded this arena and hold sway for a season or two, just as any other fashion trend. Think about a bride and groom in traditional Western garb being married by a real shaman...that makes for some interesting wedding photos!

Gettin' Lucky
Sorry folks, but I seriously doubt that the average shadowrunner can walk into a bar and score with ease, even you Charisma 8 elf types. I've spent lots of time in bars and parties and left by myself (and so have my buddies) the vast majority of time. Despite what television sometimes portrays, the vast majority of singles "shopping" at the meat market don't go home with a "purchase." Perhaps an "order" for a later "purchase," but not for that night... But for more on that, check out what Blaze has to say.