Fandom Eye-wear

[gabrielleabelle]

I do have an actual substantial post for today. Because I have a lot of thoughts churning in my head, and I want to kinda put them in words and see if they make any sense

Comments

[mabus101]

Well, that does explain a lot.

Specifically, inasmuch as I don't seem to have shipping lenses at all. When I watched the original show (as with most shows I watched), I really wasn't looking for any couples to pay attention to. Wherever there was subtext, I missed it; where there was sufficient text, I simply noted it as "something that happened in the show". I might or might not like certain pairings, but I never feel it's my place to decide what "works" or doesn't.

So if I come across a noncanon pairing, unless there's some direct contradiction of an obvious part of the show (eg, Buffy cancels her movie date with Angel so she can hang out with Faith), I generally just kind of accept it and read on.

[gabrielleabelle]

Yeah, that's typically how I am while watching shows. I'm not a romantic at all, so the couples don't appeal to me any more than the rest of the show.

Buffy/Spike just snuck in there and took hold somehow. Funny how that can sometimes happen. :)

[mabus101]

Well, I should talk...I seem to get more and more into Xander/Illyria as time goes on, and I can't justify that in any way from the show.

Although people do keep telling me how well it works, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[speakr2customrs]

Of course you can justify it from the show. Xander is a demon magnet, and Illyria is the ultimate demon.

[lynnenne]

It's funny, because I can buy just about any pairing for the length of time I'm reading a fic. Suspension of disbelief is not that hard for me. Buffy/Willow, Buffy/Faith, Spike/Andrew, Xander/Dawn, etc. etc. etc. - I can see merit in just about all of them. Hell, I've even written Angel/Connor.

But the one ship I've never been able to buy into, which is hugely popular, is Spike/Xander. I do not get it. I don't get it even when it's really well written - and there are lots of great Spander fics out there. And it's not that there isn't any subtext in canon, if you know where to look for it. The writers gave them plenty of slashy moments. Even Jane Espenson shipped them! I just - don't have any Spander glasses.

Also, I love the term "fandom eyewear." It's awesome!

[gabrielleabelle]

It's funny, because I can buy just about any pairing for the length of time I'm reading a fic. Suspension of disbelief is not that hard for me.

Hee. You have rather flexible lenses. :)

I'm enjoying the fanfic I'm reading. Even if I don't buy the pairing or get enthusiastic about it in a "shippy" sense, I can recognize that what I'm reading is a good, solid work of fiction. But that shipper investment I have while reading a Spuffy fic just isn't there.

But the one ship I've never been able to buy into, which is hugely popular, is Spike/Xander.

Yeah, I'm still working on that one, myself. I was reading a longfic by Herself that was Spike/Xander, but even that wasn't doing anything for me so I stopped. Maybe something else on my to-read list will appeal to me more...

Also, I love the term "fandom eyewear." It's awesome!

I just wish I had an icon of Willow wearing glasses...

Willow should SO have worn glasses at some point!

[lynnenne]

She totally should have.

[lavastar]

Willow should SO have worn glasses at some point!

OMIGOD THIS.

After all, she is a geek! And a shmexy one, too.

[deird1]

...and weirdly, I now kinda want to read the Buffy/Willow version of that fic.

*is odd*

[gabrielleabelle]

lol! Somebody else will have to take up that bunny. Buffy/Willow is a bit incestuous for me.

*dislikes pairing up any of the core Scoobies with each other*

[deird1]

For me too. (And yet I still occasionally find fics that I like.)

[foreverxkisses]

I totally agree, but with that scene, it kinda just worked.... hmmm.
My brain hurts.

[waddis]

Oh look! She's rambling again!

See? You just gotta add a little spice.

Also, sometimes, when you ramble, your topics wax a little on the sexy side. Nothing wrong with sexy rambles.

::Glances at topic::

Um.... yeah, I got nothing. I like pairings involving the core three, but not necessarily in a romantic way.

[gabrielleabelle]

Also, sometimes, when you ramble, your topics wax a little on the sexy side. Nothing wrong with sexy rambles.

...are you hitting on me?

I like pairings involving the core three, but not necessarily in a romantic way.

I didn't know there were unromantic pairings. Well, I suppose romantic pairings are "ships", and there could also be friendship pairings or somesuch. But it's fandom, and we're all focused on our ships, so nobody really notices the other stuff too much.

[waddis]

"Pairing" might not be the right word. Think of it as more liking Willow & Xander stories than necessarily liking Willow/Xander stories. I typically just use the latter descriptor, no matter the intent of the story. So, I guess, I wasn't quite clear on that.

And fear not. I don't know how to hit on women. Even if I did, my aim would be off, and I'd end up hitting on the dude standing behind you.

Which... would be awkward.

[gabrielleabelle]

THERE'S A DUDE STANDING BEHIND ME???!!

*prepares to bust out L337 ninja moves*

[mediumajaxwench]

I think you just explained my inability to read any fic with that just jumps into a story with an established relationship that wasn't in place in canon at the moment the story is set. I don't really get into OTP, so every time I need to get sold on the relationship again. I always scratch my head when people say they want fic where the relationship is established, because I have no shipper glasses. Some pairings have to do a lot more to sell me that others (*cough*Angel/Oz*cough*), but they all have to sell me at least a little bit. I love when people come up with new terminology to describe stuff.

I might be a little bit too excited about this revelation.

[gabrielleabelle]

Yay! I'm glad it resonated with you. I was happy to piece things together and "get" this whole thing because I've spent years trying to figure out noncanon pairings and why they just don't work for me.