lunabee34 | To OTP or not, that is the question

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You are absolutely right. I didn't definte OTP very clearly (or at all!) in my original post and all the commenters have brought their own definitions to the table, which has been really interesting to me.

I think the way I would define OTP is the pairing a person likes best, writes/reads most often, feels is inviolable, can read other pairings that don't contain these two characters but would really rather not, never experiences pairing fatigue from immersion in these two characters but instead enjoys the repetition, has certain expectations for fic about the OTP (happy ending, etc) that must be met.

Re: Jayne. I love his character and while I love reading fic that pairs him with Simon or Mal, I suspect that like you, IRL he would horrify and disgust me. LOL

Edited 2008-04-14 12:27 (UTC)

That's a neat and comprehensive OTP definition you have there.

I think that you're right that most people "can read other pairings taht don't contain those two characters," but I'm not sure they'd "really rather not." (Ex: I love to read many other Firefly pairings, as well as gen -- slash, het whatever, I just love the fic!)

What I think is really interesting to think about is how different people deal with one half of their OTP paired with someone else. I mean, in my case, I can definately see the slashy potential of Jayne with Simon or Mal (you'd have to be pretty dense not to) -- but I just. can't. read it. And I can see where the Mal/River folks are coming from, but that freaks me out mightily, too.

I have no idea why I react that way ... I mean, I've read Hermione with every other living male in the HP verse, and a few who don't fit those criteria. And, like I said, if Jayne and River started any sort of relationship pre-Miranda, it would be just plain wrong (although I have read it.) After all, she's twenty years younger than him, seventeen, and insane. But after that -- I think I might just be in love with the way Rayne authors interpret the characters an their interactions, because all Rayne fics are pretty well based on the same set of character ideas.

After all, she's twenty years younger than him, seventeen, and insane.

Ahahahahhahahahaahahah.

Oh, that's awesome.

You come on like a dream,
Peaches and cream,
Lips like strawberry [!] wine,
You're seventeen,
You're bugfuck nuts,
And you're mine

hahahaahhaahahahahahaahahah

Ahem.

Yes.

And also, this particular icon never goes out of style.

Lorraine (lunabee34) replied to in which you said

LJ has been tres Lolcats lately--I feel like changing my journal title correspondingly, to "Don't Even."

To OTP or not, that is the question

Ramble on!

Jayne and Rayne

Re: Jayne and Rayne

Re: Jayne and Rayne

Re: Jayne and Rayne

Re: Jayne and Rayne