To OTP or not, that is the question

[lunabee34]

As part of the fascinating discussion over in sga_talk, one of the things we've been talking about is OTP and it got me to thinking (which, yes, is dangerous).

I am not an OTPer. In the beginnings of my fannish days, I was very devoted to Spike/Xander but after some time I began to suffer from Spander fatigue and had to search out other pairings. While I always enjoy the popular pairing of a fandom (Sam/Dean, Jack/Daniel, John/Rodney), my propensity for pairing fatigue still remains. At this point in my fannishness, what I am mostly coming to the table for is to be convinced that these wonderful things (whatever they may be--plot, backstory, pairing, secret, possible future) that never occurred to me are indeed plausible and OMG WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THEM? For that reason, I am very interested in rare pairings and in tangential characters; I think that predilection is neatly summed up in my Bates/Kavanagh fascination. :) So while I love to read and write McShep, I also really wish Sheppard was doing it with Caldwell. (I will not again subject you guys to that detailed fantasy.)

I do not approach fandom through an OTP lens. I'm okay if John and Rodney aren't together; I'm okay if they are angry with each other or mean to each other or if they break up with each other or if *gasp* they never even meet each other. I like for my characters (both written and read) to behave in ways that can be extrapolated from their canon characterization, but that's really about it for me in terms of requirement.

I like to be *surprised* by fanfic. The way I define fanfic for myself is taking the bare bones of canon and building up layers of new flesh so that the animal I create is subtly (or sometimes drastically) different than the animal canon gives us. And after awhile, if all I am reading is one pairing, I stop being surprised. Does this keep me from writing or reading said pairing? Hell no. :) But it does make me long for a wildfire of Lorne/EVERYFREAKINGBODYOMG to sweep through fandom and it does make those main pairing fics that manage to do something completely unexpected that much sweeter.

The only pairing that perhaps approaches the OTP for me is Sam/Dean, mostly because at this point in SPN canon I have a very difficult time believing that either of them could have successful relationships with anyone but each other. But, boy, do I like to read about them trying! LOL

So my question for y'all is this: Are you an OTPer? If you OTP, do you have only one (METHOS!) or do you have an OTP for each fandom? How do you think being an OTPer affects your fannish experience? If you're not an OTPer, why not? How do you think not reading/writing through that lens affects your fannish experience?

Comments

[lwbush.livejournal.com]

Heh - the icon says most of it.

But honestly, in my last fandom (Xena) I started out all OTP for Gabrielle/Joxer, but there was so precious little Joxer anything but Joxer/Ares being written that I began reading that, leading me into the deep waters of slash for the first time. Then I started adding Xena to the G/J mix, landing finally at an OT3. I even wrote a couple of Joxer slash pieces. Rob Tappert always said "Bring your own subtext," and most people in that fandom could, and did.

Now, I see that there are those who OT3 the youngest 3 Original Scoobies, but I'm not enough of a Willow fan to go there. I do love Spander, but can't write it to save my life. And my OTP is becoming a sinking 'ship. As the once prolific Serenity Goddess pointed out in the last story she wrote before quitting entirely, "7 years is a long time to want something." Most people just gave up. Joss seemed to dictate the relationships Buffy was allowed to have, and we were never one of them.

I do think being a 'shipper has affected everything I write. I need to love and care about the characters I write, and nothing makes me do so more than two unhappy people who clearly need each other to make their world a happier place (YMMV). In both my fandoms, I've seen this and tried to write to that need. I think that drives a lot of 'shippers to their chosen pairing, in my opinion.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I think your comments about your motivation are really interesting. I think my motivations are different. What really drives me to write is finding a some way to slide something under the canon radar; what piece of backstory can I write that puts present canon in new light; what happened when the scene faded; what are these peripheral characters doing while everybody else is getting screen time. These aren't my only motivations for writing, but the pieces I truly care about that I've written mostly fall into that category.

Your writing motivation is so romantic! Mine sounds so cold and analytical LOL It sounds like you are coming first and foremost from the characters emotions which makes a lot of sense as a writing motivation.