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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/24729
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I've been sending my fourth-ish novel through the my writing group. It is about a trio of teenagers running away from some mercenaries. One of them (Maris) is a girl who has only had a year of formal education but grew up on a crowded lumber mill. She has a rather blunt way of speaking.

In the story, the POV character (Kanéko) is rescued by the other two.

> Kanéko worried her lip. "Why?"
> 
> "You were in need."
> 
> Maris' ears drooped and she looked sad. "And Ruben said you were in trouble. And Pahim smelled like he wanted to fuck you. And he's mean. And I don't think he liked you. And I don't hate you."
> 
> Kanéko opened her mouth, and then closed it. She found herself unable to look into Maris' wide eyes and looked away.

And other example:

> "Pahim," snapped Kanéko, "That horrible bastard. I mean... we slept together and what does he do?" Kanéko's voice rose up as rage filled her. "Then he kidnaps me and tries to sell me off like some slave!"
> 
> Maris gaped. "You fucked Pahim?"
> 
> Kanéko gasped, and then blushed hotly. "No! Not like that. I mean, we were in the same bed but we... didn't do anything. I swear!"

The part that the writing group got hung up was the use of "fuck" in this context. I intended it to be used purely as a verb to describe a specific set of actions with the connotation of not doing it for procreation. I thought about using a different phrase ("mount" or "hump" would be appropriate for the Maris).

My question is: does this throw the reader out? I believe there are some fantasy authors who do use it but I'd just like to know opinions. Is "fuck" so encumbered by today's meaning that it can't be used without dragging in a whole lot of negative connotations?

Original score: 3