~*~friendly reminder~*~ (◡ ‿ ◡ ✿) - FFA Post # 317

[sunnymodffa]

There's a new critter who's just moved into the compound. Please ignore him if he attempts to bum a cigarette from you. He's trying to quit, and the second-hand smoke aggravates Ginger's asthma something fierce. Please don't enable his bad habits!*

*He knows where the smoking section is. He's just not willing to pass the Kraken to get to it.

All

Comments

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Because the first impression you have of someone is always the one you keep? I mean, I'm not saying that there aren't loads of reasons to view the ship as OOC, but that's hardly a very good one. Some random kid comes up to you while you're looking at the most famous painting in England and starts hitting on you, of course you're going to be put off, but that doesn't mean that that's the impression he ended the film with.

By that token, Bond/M is OOC because he called her a bitch. Bond/Silva is OOC because he visibly recoils when Silva touches him sexually. Bond/Moneypenny is OOC because he expresses fear of her when they part at the end of the film. Bond/Severine is OOC because he doesn't flinch when she's killed. Bond/Mathis is OOC because Bond betrays him and gets him killed. Bond/Leiter is OOC because Leiter betrays Bond and nearly gets him killed. Bond/Vesper is OOC because of her betrayal at the end of Casino Royale.

That's the great thing about fanfiction: you get to write whatever you want, about whomever you want, and as long as you can argue your case, it's not particularly OOC, even if the characters show an initial distaste for each other in canon.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

No, I understand people changing their opinions when they get to know someone. I just find that Bond/Q fics go for the "Bond is obviously in love with Q and finds his appearance and demeanor attractive, who wouldn't?" approach to getting them together, which is not, predominately, what I see in fic for a lot of other pairings.

I think it's lazy writing and also a case of projection for a lot of the writers.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

I get that. I think it's because Whishaw basically scores on every single front a fangirl could possibly rate him on: adorable and small but bitchy and smart and just about as gay as a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. He's not at all Bond's type initially (though there are some great parallels to the "I'm the money" scene in Casino Royale, but not only will I out myself if I start talking about those, I might literally never stop talking about them), and I absolutely agree that any fic that starts with them at the end of that scene in any sort of relationship outside of A) Bond letting the thirsty twink suck his cock; B) truly epic hatesex in which Q tries to fuck the smarm off Bond's face; or C) fervent masturbation in the toilets because Q wants it and wants it bad--it's all going to read OOC. They don't have the relationship built up to support sex, and there's not enough interest on Bond's part to actively initiate it without it being a challenge or a no-strings (and likely no-reciprocation) offer on Q's part.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

DA

So can I get in on that "Bond letting the thirsty twink suck his cock" fic? Because that sounds delicious and I do fucking want.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Yep, pretty much! Hence the projection. It happens in a lot of fandoms, really, this is just the one in which I've been noticing it lately.

though there are some great parallels to the "I'm the money" scene in Casino Royale, but not only will I out myself if I start talking about those, I might literally never stop talking about them

There is. Craig!Bond likes women who throw shit at him and take him down a peg. I'm not entirely sure if I think that preference carries over exactly to what kind of men he's attracted to, especially since the attraction between him and Vesper was immediate (they didn't like each other initially, but there was a clear attraction), which I don't think is the case with Q in that scene. But I can definitely see an argument to be made about it, and one thing that boggles me the most about Skyfall fandom is that people haven't run with this idea and used it to say Bond/Q would totally happen. Instead, they bash Vesper and call her names and claim Bond never actually loved her. Um, counter-productive to your Bond/Q shipping, guys.

And it's just not explored in fic, and very few people seem to actually care enough to go from A (Bond is put off) to B (Bond and Q genuinely, really love each other forever and ever, omg). Which, you know, business as usual in fandom! But still makes me go "eh".

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

I can see where you're coming from, nonnie, because these are issues I struggle with as a 00Q shipper. Most of fandom is in it for the cute long-term relationship, but I actually do have a hard time conceptualizing that, and when I write it it's either a one-shot or only tentatively happy (at best) at the end. I prefer them as a fast, passionate, but ultimately shortlived affair, usually ended by death; I don't know that they have what it takes to make it to a longterm relationship (though the image of it happening is sweet and appealing, if they could ever get past the huge issues that would prevent it).

Most of all, I get annoyed when people tar the whole ship with the same brush. There are some really great fics out there doing some really interesting things, and I hate that what gets the attention is all of the samey romcom stuff that's out there. I've tried talking about it with other 00Q fans, but they don't approach the ship the same way I do--and heaven forbid I talk about how much I like Vesper; you'd think she'd killed Bond's dog or something for how virulent the hate is for her.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

I don't think they're cut out for a long-term relationship at all. But that doesn't mean I can't ship it or read fic about them, because there's other way to write a ship than long-term HEA, like you say. Bond/Q about angry sex, or sex just to relieve their tension, or even Bond/Q that happens more as a complicated on-again, off-again thing, I would find all of those things hot and/or interesting. (Which is why I go look at the ship tag in the first place, I'm not just looking up ships I hate to bash it.)

I actually don't get why people write the fic they do. Except I come back to that same thing, Ben Whishaw is pretty and people want to write fic about him being loved and wanted by hot men and getting to live happy ever after, no need for him to change or make compromises or have to deal with complicated, difficult people or decisions. Which, eh, people can write whatever wish-fulfillment they like, but it's uninteresting and it's certainly OOC.

and heaven forbid I talk about how much I like Vesper; you'd think she'd killed Bond's dog or something for how virulent the hate is for her.

I know, right? That's why I never look in the tumblr tags, Vesper is in my top 3 favorite Bond characters.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

...now I really want very badly to nudge you in the direction of my AO3 profile, but I've been recced here before and don't want anyone to think I'm a self-reccer. Just know that there is fic out there in which Q does deal with the consequences of his claims in that first scene, as well as fic out there with unhappy Q not getting what he wants, fic in which Bond and Q deal with the side effects of their jobs, and fic where Bond's behavior with women is a major obstacle in any relationship they may be able to form. Most of it's filthy porn, but when I do relationships, it's rarely uniformly happy. And now that I've probably outed myself....

I'm glad to hear that there are other people out there who do see the ship the same way I do. You're right when you say that it's almost all sweet and cutesy, usually Bondlock and fluffy or happy AUs in which everyone shows the proper amount of reverence for Whishaw's ass (though it's a very nice one!). Sometimes I do wish more people embraced the dark ship I see when I look at them, but in the end I keep shipping it my way, and I will until something changes how I see them. It's gratifying to run into others who feel the same way, though!

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Whishaw basically scores on every single front a fangirl could possibly rate him on

So where's my Hour fandom? :(

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

I know, nonnie, trust me. I keep fighting valiantly to bring people in and also to contribute to the fandom with fic and meta, but there really aren't enough people willing to give it a go. I mean, I don't get why not--Freddie's birthday party in the first season is basically everything I've ever wanted in fiction ever. Between Whishaw's tearful eyes as he's slugging back whisky while the girl he's in love with (was about to confess his love to!) ignores him at his own birthday party to hook up with their coworker and Anna Chancelor taking him home to pity-sex the hell out of him, it's like the very, very best origfic ever, with all the parts played by stupidly attractive people. More people need to discover and love The Hour so I can have more people to scream about that episode with!

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Freddie/Lix was ridiculously hot. I thought the show wasn't going to go there, but it did!!! The show has ridiculously pretty people in ridiculously pretty costumes being filmed in ridiculously pretty ways. It has the traditional "Let's put on a show!" kind of plot that people love, now with bonus Soviet spies! Why is this fandom not bigger?

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

na

Freddie/Lix!! I liked Bel fine, and I wished her all professional success, but Freddie/Lix was what I shipped, and I shipped it a LOT.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Hnnng, Freddie/Lix. I just wish they'd gone into the loving detail they did with Bel/Hector, with the thrusting and the orgasmic gasping. Mostly because I'm a perv, but also because compared to the scene that was the two of them going at it, a little bit of shirtless kissing felt unbalanced. Then again, it's my headcanon that she spent that night teaching how to give truly championship-level head, so I can see why they wouldn't go there (you know Freddie would be the kind of man who'd happily use his lips and tongue to service--ah! but that's a fanfic for another time....).

Fandom for The Hour ought to be huge, but for some reason it's one of those series that people feel oddly satisfied watching and don't seem to need fic the way they do for other things. It's also one of those that people don't seem to feel a need to write for (except for me, apparently, who likes to spin aeroplanes in my own little field and write all the fic I possibly can). Not to mention I don't think it's as well known as it ought to be? I've had conversations with people about how wonderful it is, and most of them have said the same thing I'd said before I actually watched it: "I've heard of it, but there's always something else to watch instead."

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Too heterosexual.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Sadly, I think you're right. I saw where Freddie/Hector made a go at taking off, but it just isn't in the cards for this one, and a het-focused (though there are some really fantastic toeholds for lesbian storylines, too) series with such a small viewership isn't likely to be a hit, for sure.

Re: Unpopular Opinions

[anonymous]

Freddie/Hector so could have been a thing. Their dynamic with each other was great, and there was that awkward Freddie+Bel/Hector thing in the first season. I ship all combinations of the characters on The Hour and wish there could be a fandom for all of them.