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

[ariadne83]

Hmmm. I'm an OTPer to the extent that I'd rather read McShep than gen, and John and Rodney are my favourite characters. That means I like seeing them with other people, if they're happy/stable (which I don't necessarily think they *would* be together). I'm actually sad when an author breaks up a viable pairing just so John and Rodney can get together - sometimes I just don't buy it. I'll read stories focusing on either of them, John without Rodney moreso than the other way around because Rodney's really come into his own on Atlantis and it's difficult (and sad) to imagine him without that influence. I really like the stories where they've stayed just friends because they tend to have greater emotional complexity - for example, the author has to deal with how close they are and address their partners' insecurities about that.
I happen to think that John and Rodney, as a couple, would fight a lot, and would be more likely than not to break up because they don't have the emotional tools to fight constructively; they hit below the belt, and they (sometimes deliberately, if they're feeling trapped) take things the wrong way, and most of all they have a tendency to run away instead of staying and working things through. That, to me, gives them ongoing tension, even in established-relationship fic, which is what brings me back to McShep time and time again.
Wow, I'd never really thought that through before

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Now this is really interesting, your vision of how they would operate as a couple. I like that interpretation of a possible relationship between them. As you are link girl this week :) do you happen to know of any stories that depict them acting this way in a relationship? I can't think of any off the top of my head, and I'd love to read one.

I've read stories where one or both of them are insecure or where they have traumatic issues and don't communicate, etc, but I can't think of a story where they just have normal people "we fight a lot and get on each other's nerves and this isn't working!" destructive issues. And now I want that story. LOL

[ariadne83]

I can't remember the name of the fic off the top of my head, but there was an Earth-side AU where John and Rodney lived together - I think John was a cop - and they broke up every single week. There was a hilarious line where I think John was really drunk and he was telling his partner (I want to say Ronon) that it was really over this time and they were like "Whatever, it must be Thursday." Will look for it!

Peter approves!

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

OOoooooh, yes! That sounds AWESOME!!!!!!

Re: Peter approves!

[ariadne83]

Courtesy of sga_storyfinders, where it was identified by the author *is embarrassed*
Days of the Week, or The Tango of Rodney by clockstopper http://clockstopper.livejournal.com/45347.html#cutid1

Re: Peter approves!

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

There is no shame in fandom!

:)

Thanks for the link, sweetie.