Unhappy Endings

[nakeisha]

In fanfic what are unhappy endings?

Does the term 'unhappy ending' apply to the characters? Or to the reader? Or to both?

Take the two following scenarios (I'm not going to make it fandom, pairing or even gender specific, just imagine they are your favourite pairing or any other two fandom characters in a longish term established relationship).

Comments

[aingeal8c]

I think the warning is for the reader and to me both of those fics should have an unhappy ending label because as readers often we want our favourite pair to be together for forever pretty much (I know I do) so yeah any ending that splits them up whether they are happy or not is going to make the reader unhappy (of course the reader might like to have the angst I wouldn't but I am a sappy, fluffy sort).

So yes it’s the reader. The reader might feel better about scenario 1 because there's still friendship whereas scenario 2 is full of bitterness and sadness. Scenario 1 has the possibility of there being something of the two of them together beyond the break-up, even if it’s not a relationship whereas scenario 2 breaks them totally forever with not the comfort of friendship. But that’s my personal opinion so the warning should be the same.

I know speaking personally I would not want to read either. I read a scenario 1 once. I cried. I'm just not cut out for endings that split the boys up. I can read the angst, the pain but they have to be together at the end for it to be worth it, for me anyway.

/waffle.

[nakeisha]

I do agree, that the warning is for the reader, thus indeed I'd give both endings a warning. And yes, I want my favourite pair to be together, always.

As a reader I'd feel dreadfully let down with either scenario, I must admit, and have felt that way when the story has ended with them not together.

So . . . Confession time. Are you sitting down? You better be, because otherwise poor Pilchard might get landed on.

I have actually just written and posted a story with Scenario I.

*Pokes Aingeal*

*Waves smelling salts under Aingeal's nose*

*Dispatches Ducky with tea and sympathy*

Are you back with me? Good.

It's all right, EB6 has not completely taken me over. It's not G/D nor is it F/V (Aingeal breathes a sigh of relief). It is actually Starsky & Hutch. It's a story that I've had in mind even before I stopped writing S&H, so when I did the 12_stories challenge, it seemed an idea time to write it. Originally it was going to be very long and take me over a whole season, seeing how things changed, etc. etc. but at the end of the day the ending was going to be the same. So . . . I even had the title 'Sometimes Love Isn't Enough' sorted out in my mind all those years ago too.

[aingeal8c]

I do agree, that the warning is for the reader, thus indeed I'd give both endings a warning. And yes, I want my favourite pair to be together, always.

Ah well GMTA ;-) Of course see I would never write it...

As a reader I'd feel dreadfully let down with either scenario, I must admit, and have felt that way when the story has ended with them not together.

Same here. I did read one fic that had them break up because Fraser relaised he didn;t love Ray and was using him as an excuse to ignore his feelings about Thatcher. I was traumitised with that one.

So . . . Confession time. Are you sitting down? You better be, because otherwise poor Pilchard might get landed on.

Yep I am sitting down.

I have actually just written and posted a story with Scenario I.

*Pokes Aingeal*

*Waves smelling salts under Aingeal's nose*

*Dispatches Ducky with tea and sympathy*

Are you back with me? Good.

*Aingeal slowly regains consciousess*

I'm okay...

It's all right, EB6 has not completely taken me over. It's not G/D nor is it F/V (Aingeal breathes a sigh of relief).

You will not know how big that sigh of relief was! Okay maybe you will...

It is actually Starsky & Hutch. It's a story that I've had in mind even before I stopped writing S&H, so when I did the 12_stories challenge, it seemed an idea time to write it. Originally it was going to be very long and take me over a whole season, seeing how things changed, etc. etc. but at the end of the day the ending was going to be the same. So . . . I even had the title 'Sometimes Love Isn't Enough' sorted out in my mind all those years ago too.

Oh yes the 12 stories prompts are the dark EB6 style table aren't they? I feel sorry for them all the same. The phrase 'Sometimes Love Isn't Enough' is so sad I mean it should be...*sniff*. I feel for poor old Starsky & Hutch. But it's good you've been able to use something from all those years ago.

[nakeisha]

I did read one fic that had them break up because Fraser relaised he didn;t love Ray and was using him as an excuse to ignore his feelings about Thatcher. I was traumitised with that one.

Oh, yes. That rings a vague bell *shudders*

Yep I am sitting down.

Good. Good. I didn't want Pilchard hurt.

I'm okay...

I'm glad to hear it.

LOh yes the 12 stories prompts are the dark EB6 style table aren't they? I feel sorry for them all the same. The phrase 'Sometimes Love Isn't Enough' is so sad I mean it should be...*sniff*. I feel for poor old Starsky & Hutch. But it's good you've been able to use something from all those years ago.

Indeed. But not all of the stories are dark, as you saw with 'your' story. What surprised me so much is that I had the idea for the story when S/H were still my one and only OTP. I could have understood it had it came when I was no longer in the fandom as such, but to have it whilst still heavily into them. Hmmmm.

[aingeal8c]

Oh, yes. That rings a vague bell *shudders*

Yes sadly really hard to forget that one without scrubbing the brain. WHich i did. Repeatedly.

Good. Good. I didn't want Pilchard hurt.

Hee hee thank you. She's fine. Worn out after all that prompting work though ;-)

Indeed. But not all of the stories are dark, as you saw with 'your' story.

That's true it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling...

What surprised me so much is that I had the idea for the story when S/H were still my one and only OTP. I could have understood it had it came when I was no longer in the fandom as such, but to have it whilst still heavily into them. Hmmmm.

That is odd. Very strange and you've never had it with any of your other OTPs? Hmmm that is odd indeed I wonder why...must be a reason..

[nakeisha]

Yes sadly really hard to forget that one without scrubbing the brain. WHich i did. Repeatedly.

I know. Why is it that it's these kind of stories that say with us, far more than the good ones. I mean I can still vividly recall Gibbs begging DiNozzo to f*** him!!!!!

She's fine. Worn out after all that prompting work though ;-)

I'm not surprised. She did a grand job - you both did.

That's true it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling...

I'm glad. I like warm, fuzzy feelings.

That is odd. Very strange and you've never had it with any of your other OTPs? Hmmm that is odd indeed I wonder why...must be a reason..

I know. And I certainly haven't had it with my other ones. The only reason I can think of is that my mind was already moving towards the fact that both men, whilst clearly loving one another, actually loved women more. But that's almost too simplistic.

[aingeal8c]

I know. Why is it that it's these kind of stories that say with us, far more than the good ones. I mean I can still vividly recall Gibbs begging DiNozzo to f*** him!!!!!

*Aingeal goes to scrub brain again* I suppose it's the trauma...

I'm not surprised. She did a grand job - you both did.

Thank you.

I'm glad. I like warm, fuzzy feelings.

Me too :-)

I know. And I certainly haven't had it with my other ones. The only reason I can think of is that my mind was already moving towards the fact that both men, whilst clearly loving one another, actually loved women more. But that's almost too simplistic.

sometimes the simplest explanation is the best one. I thinkt he canon in S&H does (my fuzzy memory trying to recall) have an emphasis on the women thing. HWich isn't to say it's slashy but it was both of them whereas with G/D only Gibbs ever shows an interest. And F/V as Fraser not showing that much interest. Although M*A*S*H kinda blows that theory out of the water...

And ooo I see you've been metafadomed.

[nakeisha]

*Aingeal goes to scrub brain again* I suppose it's the trauma...

Joins you with brain scrubbing. And yes, I think it must be *sigh*

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Me too :-)

I'd never have guessed :-)

sometimes the simplest explanation is the best one. I thinkt he canon in S&H does (my fuzzy memory trying to recall) have an emphasis on the women thing. HWich isn't to say it's slashy but it was both of them whereas with G/D only Gibbs ever shows an interest. And F/V as Fraser not showing that much interest. Although M*A*S*H kinda blows that theory out of the water...

It's the only one I can really think of that fits and explains it all. Nods re: G/D and F/V. Ah, but M*A*S*H, like it or not is always going to be tragic *sigh*

I have indeed :-)

[aingeal8c]

Ah brain scrubbing cures all ills.

It's the only one I can really think of that fits and explains it all. Nods re: G/D and F/V. Ah, but M*A*S*H, like it or not is always going to be tragic *sigh*

Yep there is no happy ending for M*A*S*H, very sad and not even I could find a way out of it.

[nakeisha]

Ah brain scrubbing cures all ills.

:-) It'd be nice if it lasted though :-(

Yep there is no happy ending for M*A*S*H, very sad and not even I could find a way out of it.

Nor can I. And if the likes of you and I can't . . .

[aingeal8c]

Yeah I could do with an automatic brain scrubber so whenever I saw something like that it woulld scrub at the slightest hint of it. Save us getting the full impact...

And yeah if you and I can't find a happy ending...that's really really tough.

[nakeisha]

Now that would be perfect. We should invent one.

Indeed. Indeed *sigh*

[aingeal8c]

And we'd make a fortune.

[nakeisha]

We would indeed!