Friends to Lovers?
I was discussing this theme on Twitter with lozenger8 and said I had sufficient thoughts that I would write a blog post. And then promptly didn't - in part because that was the day I then went to see Titus Andronicus, which isn't condusive to such thoughts. But now it's come up again as the Trope for the Day on DW's ushobwri and brumeier has asked for our thoughts. So no escape.
It's not a trope I'm that keen on, partly because two of the fandoms I belong to seem desperate to make it happen. Yes, one is Sherlock (principally the BBC version) and also Lewis. If that's the way you like things that's fine, I'm not saying it's wrong at all, just that it doesn't appeal to me. I have come across too many fics where the writer has contrived to bring the two together and suddenly it's wonderful. There are times when remaining as friends would be perfectly acceptable.
So where does that leave me, and my most written pairings? Which isn't to say I don't write other pairings for gift fics or for friends, but here I'm concentrating on my favourites.
My first fandom was Life on Mars - the UK version. And the classic Sam/Gene. They snark, they argue, they get to know each other better, and the relationship begins. Now it may be my age, or my outlook, but I don't see that the relationship has to immediately include sex, but this is more than just friends.
Onto BBC's Sherlock. I don't see Sherlock/John. John/Greg yes - they see each other in a professional context and realise they want to get to know each other better. For me it's fairly quick. I'm currently not writing this pairing. Sherlock/Stanley Hopkins - again a professional interest moves on to something deeper quite quickly - of course, this is Hopkins of the Met River Police, entirely my own creation based on ACD's Hopkins.
ACD Sherlock Holmes - Nothing will ever take Mary Morstan/John Watson away from me. This post-hiatus Holmes/Watson is one of my few real friends to lovers, but as the relationship is described only in the Sussex Retirement 'verse it all happened in the past, so doesn't really count as a trope. Watson reflects on the relationship in the first in the series A Quiet Retirement.
So to Lewis. I liked Laura Hobson/Robbie Lewis, until the series seemed to spoil it for me. In Oxford Tales I have Lewis and Hathaway working together and then moving in together, but there's never any description of how it happens.
Two of my other fandoms are both rare pairs. Adam Carter/Lucas North in Spooks - there's a spark between them from early on, it takes time to catch light because Lucas is mentally scarred, but it's more slow burn than friends to lovers (some might say I'm being pedantic, but they both know what's happening). And Guy/Much in Robin Hood (BBC) - in my world there's an instant attraction, and since I'm the only one who writes it, I can claim it's the only interpretation ;)
So no, as a trope friends to lovers doesn't particularly appeal. Friday's Trope of the Day on ushobwri is Established Relationships and I shall be sharing my thoughts there ;)
It's not a trope I'm that keen on, partly because two of the fandoms I belong to seem desperate to make it happen. Yes, one is Sherlock (principally the BBC version) and also Lewis. If that's the way you like things that's fine, I'm not saying it's wrong at all, just that it doesn't appeal to me. I have come across too many fics where the writer has contrived to bring the two together and suddenly it's wonderful. There are times when remaining as friends would be perfectly acceptable.
So where does that leave me, and my most written pairings? Which isn't to say I don't write other pairings for gift fics or for friends, but here I'm concentrating on my favourites.
My first fandom was Life on Mars - the UK version. And the classic Sam/Gene. They snark, they argue, they get to know each other better, and the relationship begins. Now it may be my age, or my outlook, but I don't see that the relationship has to immediately include sex, but this is more than just friends.
Onto BBC's Sherlock. I don't see Sherlock/John. John/Greg yes - they see each other in a professional context and realise they want to get to know each other better. For me it's fairly quick. I'm currently not writing this pairing. Sherlock/Stanley Hopkins - again a professional interest moves on to something deeper quite quickly - of course, this is Hopkins of the Met River Police, entirely my own creation based on ACD's Hopkins.
ACD Sherlock Holmes - Nothing will ever take Mary Morstan/John Watson away from me. This post-hiatus Holmes/Watson is one of my few real friends to lovers, but as the relationship is described only in the Sussex Retirement 'verse it all happened in the past, so doesn't really count as a trope. Watson reflects on the relationship in the first in the series A Quiet Retirement.
So to Lewis. I liked Laura Hobson/Robbie Lewis, until the series seemed to spoil it for me. In Oxford Tales I have Lewis and Hathaway working together and then moving in together, but there's never any description of how it happens.
Two of my other fandoms are both rare pairs. Adam Carter/Lucas North in Spooks - there's a spark between them from early on, it takes time to catch light because Lucas is mentally scarred, but it's more slow burn than friends to lovers (some might say I'm being pedantic, but they both know what's happening). And Guy/Much in Robin Hood (BBC) - in my world there's an instant attraction, and since I'm the only one who writes it, I can claim it's the only interpretation ;)
So no, as a trope friends to lovers doesn't particularly appeal. Friday's Trope of the Day on ushobwri is Established Relationships and I shall be sharing my thoughts there ;)