first of all, thank you for giving me the space to talk a little longer about the use of historical contexts in literature.
it's not new that violent historical contexts are used in literature and therefore, in fanfiction. it's difficult to bring out this idea in a thread of a few tweets, but the use of a particularly violent colonial context is not used for the purposes of romanticization : you're supposed to have that bad taste in your mouth because the overall story, apart from the love story, is deeply violent. using as reference two works of art that are known for dealing with violent and serious subjects (black butler and the handmaiden), i don't just want to focus on visual aesthetics; i want to address and preserve aspects that might be uncomfortable to read. because i think it's important and it gives space to historical facts that should not be forgotten, even if we could debate and question the ability of a fanfiction author to master such a subject. and it's a valid question!!! for my part, i'm a historian. and i'm confident in my ability to handle such a sensitive context with seriousness and respect while developing a story.
as for you and other people personal sensitivity, it's perfectly valid. and i will never judge anyone for being sensitive to certain subjects or even raising an eyebrow at artistic and literary choices. it's okay, it's your right.
i hope i haven't forgotten any important aspects in my answer, but i'm always available to discuss the subject in more detail here or in dms!