What's wrong with using their name?

Okay. We write RPS. We're already considered the lowest of the low in some eyes. Do we really need to compound matters by using sloppy writing habits?

I'll concede that some readers may read a Metallica slash fic without much idea of what characters look like, but in a multi-chapter story you don't need to continually give descriptions of the characters looks or their role in the band. I can just about deal with it in chapter one, but when it persists to the end of chapter two... I get somewhat cranky. Which means, dear crap-author, that you can dispense with shit like this:

James turned and looked down into the almost black eyes staring back at him. "Show you. I can do that." He leaned down and pressed his lips against the dark-skinned man's gently.

A few lines later "dark-skinned man" is repeated. Personally, I've never found Kirk to be that dark skinned, but that's probably just me. Throughout this fic, it's peppered with "the tall man", "the guitarist", "the small drummer" and so forth. You could halve instances of this jarring nonsense by actually using the characters names. Why do people hate using character names so much? Outside of dialogue, there's nothing wrong with it. (My problems with names in dialogue are this: I don't know anyone who continually uses their significant other's name when talking with them.)

Also, madandy pointed me towards this gem: The noble profile upturned, long eyelashes covering the light blue eyes, and golden mane flowing next to his toned arms, newly bronzed by the Florida sun. Noble profile, eh? In a rockstar? It sounds more like a sodding lion.

This rant was brought to you by some bad chocolate beer, which didn't have even the vaguest hint of chocolate in taste or aroma. I suspect a bar of chocolate was simply waved past a vat of beer....