I don't even know anymore /headdesk
Fandom secrets: source
You remember that thing I said about the hiatus? AFTER THIS POST, I PROMISE.
So, in the last two days, I've developed this sudden inexplicable, horrifically strong need for Stefan/Caroline. And I don't even care how; platonically, romantically, sexually, in bunny hunting escapades, whatever. I just want them together. I want all the fic and videos and gifs and moments and ugh, I think it's exam pressure talking or something because I've always liked them a lot, of course (because how can anyone not? D:) but as of right now, I'm so intensely, obsessively into them.
But also, the progress of their relationship is just so insanely stunning; in the beginning she was the girl he completely refused "it's never going to happen", which paved the way for her getting hurt and her 'relationship' with Damon. That is literally the kind of girl she was, the one who always got rejected even though "[she] tr[ies] so hard". And this particular blow-off was through no particular fault of hers; Stefan barely noticed her, because he was already into Elena (he'd been stalking her since a year, heh). It's not that Elena was 'better' or prettier or nicer or anything, but just that she was the one Stefan wanted to know because of her resemblance to Katherine. But to Caroline, it had to seem like this really hot guy entered school and just went for her best friend immediately, without so much as looking at her. And in the beginning, Caroline is annoying, it's not just token. She actually says the wrong things, she's much too bitchy, much too insensitive, much too into boys and much too insecure. Of course, these are the exact things that make her my favorite character, because she's just so tragically a teenage girl.
If you strongly support Elena (which you're clearly supposed to do since she's the protagonist), there is a strong chance you'll dislike Caroline initially. And this is also because both; the show, as well as all the characters (Bonnie, Elena, Matt, Stefan), are explicitly judging her, which tends to color the audience's views. Her tragedy isn't like that of Elena's, the kind you can sympathize with easily, even if you've never experienced anything of the sort personally; the girl who lost her parents and then finds out she's dating a vampire, and is possibly the doppelganger substitute of the woman who turned both him and his brother, and feels responsible for the deaths around her. Caroline is so hard to like because she's the one whom everyone can most easily relate to and just wouldn't want to. She's that girl. The one that everyone wants to pretend they never were.
She's jealous of her best friend. She's the third wheel in the trio. She's the one people hide things from because they think she's too flighty and can't be trusted to react the right way, or maybe trusted, period. She's the one on all the organization committees, the one who does all the social work, and for not-always-altruistic purposes (like some of it has to be for the Miss Mystic Falls title). She's the girl who tries too hard for the boys. She's all those things which nobody wants to admit about themselves. She gets all the petty, insecure, insensitive moments; like being more concerned that Matt seeks comfort from Elena instead of her when they find out about Vicki's death. Which occasionally makes you want to say "god Caroline, that is more important, okay?" And that is kind of the problem; everything is always more important when you're dealing with witches and vampires and hybrids and what not, so all of the very real issues that everybody of that age faces sort of get relegated to the background.
Like, in There Goes The Neighborhood, when Matt is fangirling over Stefan's car, Caroline says something about how she doesn't like sports cars because they're "too hard to make out in", which just makes you cringe for her because she's so obviously trying too hard. But all she's really trying is to be seductive and grown-up and to draw the attention back to herself, since she's had a terrible evening where her best friend and boyfriend (and each others' exes, not to mention) flirted with each other and excluded her entirely. She just wants to be a part of the conversation, to remind Matt that she's there (and also hitting the sexual vein because that's kind of the only way she can think of to divert a guy's attention). And of course Matt counters with "I don't know, it wasn't that bad" (and then proceeds to apologize to Stefan, which is why Matt will forever be the actual worst). And in that moment, even as Elena tells her that she's 'overreacting' and Matt doesn't feel the need to apologize, Stefan's the only one who gets it. The one who tries to do something about it, because Stefan likes to fix things and mediate. That's what he's best at.
It's not even like Stefan's been exceptionally good to Caroline, "whatever her flaws are, when push comes to shove, you're going to want that girl on your side" is a terrible way to say why you're friends with someone. It just reiterates the idea of Caroline being exceptionally flawed, which she isn't. Her only real flaw is that she's very young and cares ridiculously much about things that just aren't important to people around her, constantly facing life-and-death battles. And yet, Stefan's possibly the only character who doesn't make Caroline feel like she's replacing someone for him (even though he overtly says she reminds him of Lexi). Which she does with Elena and Bonnie, since it's more of Elena-and-Bonnie and Caroline (or at least, it used to be, now it's pretty even, I'd say). She so happy with Stefan for "always looking out for me" (which, oh Caroline /pets) and that's all she really needs. Somebody to listen and not constantly be told that there are more important things than her and her silly life and her stupid issues. He's the one she thinks of calling first when she's in trouble, or when she needs to talk, and she just wants a little of his attention because she's always had to work so hard at making friends, and in relationships, that being with someone who promises (and much too soon as it is) that he'll 'never let anything happen to her' and accepts her completely when she's at her worst is just not something she's ever had before. She's exactly the same with him as she is with everyone else; she isn't trying to be different or nicer or less of a brat, and Stefan accepts it in a way that practically no one else in her life does. Which is why they should just be bffs forever.
I WANT TO SAY SO MUCH MORE. But I shall exercise some restraint. And I need to stop watching YouTube videos like it's my job, which is what brought about this insane obsession in the first place D: And maybe now I can stop thinking about it, catharsis, if you will.
I JUST WANT ALL THE SCENES. Paul apparently recently said he has scenes with Candice, and just, yes.
Always looking out for me.
Yeah, well, you don't exactly make it very easy on me.
Then why do you do it?
I don't know.
[This is not even them but they're still so ridiculously adorable]
Also, I am MASSIVELY regretting not asking everyone for an insane amount of Stefan/Caroline fic in their Holiday Fic lists. D:
Click to viewAnd just because this is the most fabulous ensemble video ever, and everyone even remotely interested in the show should watch it.
ETA: cassiehayes wrote fic you guys, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT S/C A FEW HOURS AGO AND SHE COMES UP WITH THIS. How so flawless? : I've got my veins all tangled close