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[veleda_k]

I said I was was trying to post content other than memes, but... I am weak. (And I like memes that run the chance of giving me an opportunity to meta.)

Give me one or ships, and I'll give you my honest opinion/take on them.

(Note: it says honest, so only ask if you're sure you want to know.)

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.

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Part one

[veleda_k]

My honest feelings on Neal/Sara?

aj;adskjksadfjksl;!!!!

Okay, I love them a lot. They are this complex, adult relationship, and they are not flawless, and the relationship is not flawless, but when it works, it works.

Neal/Sara feels like a very real relationship to me. I have a lot of ships that are melodramatic and over the top, so that is something I enjoy, but I love Neal/Sara so much because they aren't like that. They don't need each other to live. They don't even need each other to be happy. If Neal and Sara never get back together, then I have no doubt they will build happy, meaningful lives apart. (I mean, I hate the idea of a world in which Neal and Sara don't get back together. I believe they do! But if they didn't, it wouldn't destroy either of them.)

And they deal with their problems like adults. I will never be over how they addressed the fallout from Neal's Cape Verde misadventure. Sara makes it clear that she realizes that Neal fleeing the country wasn't about her, but that it still hurt her, largely because it triggered wounds that Neal is not responsible for. And Neal for his part validates and even encourages Sara's right to be angry at him. He fully acknowledges her inner emotional life. (Oh, if fandom could only do the same. But more on that.)

Even their breakups are mature. The first time, Sara doesn't scream, she doesn’t make ultimatums, she doesn't try to change Neal. She simply makes it clear that he's gone somewhere she can't follow, and sadly, gently breaks it off. And Neal accepts her decision, and never tries to turn the blame back on her. And the second time is honestly even better, in that it's two adults making hard choices that they know are for the best. Sara can't give up her dream job to stay with Neal. That's not fair to her. And Neal wants her to be happy more than he wants her to be with him. (Shut up, I'm not crying. It's raining on my face.)

They have fun. I can't tell you how important this is to me. Watching two (or more) people simply delight in each other is shipping catnip to me. Neal gives Sara the thrill she craves, and Sara is the perfect mix of grounded and adventurous for Neal. Because Neal's never going to be someone who can just stay still. But he still wants a feeling of safety and security. And Sara is someone who can match him on both those desires.