just another variation of that pairings meme

[annwyd]

Select a fandom of choice, and you, that is the commenter, get to ask me to ramble/rant/squee about your pairing of choice.

Or you could pick two pairings, preferably conflicting ones though not necessary, and ask me to pick one of them and argue for why the pick.

My fandoms: Naruto, Bleach, Gundam SEED, Fullmetal Alchemist, D.Gray-man, Final

Comments

[askerian]

hohoho. NaruSasuSaku plz? and combinations thereof. I am still trying to get an image of your position on the subject. :3

whee spam

[annwyd]

Oh, this is a complicated one. *cracks knuckles, dives in* :D

Team 7, these days, is why I read Naruto. I love the three of them and how they've made each other grow. Ultimately I prefer them as I see them in canon:
Naru+Sasu (mostly platonic) rivalry-friendship with a lot of fanservicey NaruSasu (not so platonic) hints
&
Naru+Saku (platonic) having evolved into a strong, reliable friendship from Naru->Saku (not so platonic)
&
SasuSaku (romantic) having evolved into an almost unfathomably deep connection from what was once shallow Saku->Sasu

When I'm reading the manga, that's what I expect to see (and in fact what I do see), and when I'm writing something set in an 'ideal ending' continuity, that's what I write

whee spam (cont'd)

[annwyd]

With NaruSasu, the intensity of the connection between the two of them grows almost unbearable (not necessarily in a bad way where fic is concerned, mind) when romance is introduced into the equation--and Sakura is often pushed aside and forgotten on the edges of that bright light. It's a problem she has in canon, too--the NaruSasu bond and rivalry overwhelms the boys sometimes. Think back to the rooftop fight before the bucket arc. It's not really healthy for the boys, either--they need to remember Sakura. So while NaruSasu works just fine for me as a temporary affair, for the health of the team as a whole it must eventually either break up or include Sakura and become a full-blown threesome.

NaruSaku as romance does not work within the confines of Team 7, period, unless it is part of a threesome. If it isn't part of a threesome, then that means that Sakura has broken off her romantic bond with Sasuke. This leaves her with no relationship with Sasuke at all except a vague, inconclusive "oh she cares for him as a teammate." But that'

Re: whee spam (cont'd)

[askerian]

Aaaand finally I get off my ass and reply to you. XD

I think part of what took me so long is that I agree entirely with almost everything you said (and mrrr, that was very well-put) -- except about the SasuSaku.

I'm gonna be lazy and copypaste stuff I said once about the pairings I like XD

Pairing I love but which also gets on my nerves when their issues aren't adressed or they're OOC:

-NaruSasu (Naruto: not a weepy uke, not a moron. Sasuke: not that good at caring for people, not secretly a romantic, not about to decide that his brother matters less than some buttsex and flowers. Also see: rivalry and why it won't magically stop after a bout of "lovemaking", and, if post-timeskip, betrayal issues)

Pairings I don't read

[annwyd]

I actually like Squall/Rinoa. It's endearing how both of them are flawed--Squall emotionally stunted and terrified of other people, Rinoa self-centered and needy but at the same time wanting to help and fix people--and yet they connect through these flaws and form a bond. The way the coma freed Squall from worrying about what she'd think and instead made him worry about her, and realize he cared, was touching despite its corniness. The pairing wasn't perfectly developed, because a lot of things in FFVIII weren't, but I really do see it and appreciate it.

That said, I much prefer it with Seifer in the mix (although not necessarily having sex with Squall), because he fascinates me, and I really wanted to know more about him and his motivations and his relationship with both Squall and Rinoa. Plus, everything gets messier and more complicated when you get up to three people, and that just makes it more interesting!

[heron_advocate]

For Naruto...hmm...*tries to think of something at least semi-unique*

Ino/Chouji?

[annwyd]

Ino/Chouji! *_* Okay, for one thing, it's just plain adorable. Chouji is the cutest ever (except for Hinata and Lee, of course, who are Even Cuter), and it'd be great to see him wind up with the prettiest girl around.

Of course, it only works if Ino loves Chouji, too. As a matter of fact, I tend to like the idea of Ino developing a crush on him first. It'd really force her to reexamine her vanity and her priorities about love and friendship.

In the end, I like the idea of the pretty, popular girl who was once all about appearances falling for the fat kid who was once a laughingstock but has now learned to love who he is. It's a neat irony, and one that ends well for both parties involved, because Chouji will always be there for Ino, and Ino will always fiercely defend her loved ones.

Also, post-timeskip Chouji and Ino? Hot.

[a_white_rain]

Iruka/Naruto vs Kakashi/Naruto, which is worse and why.

[annwyd]

You are a cruel, cruel person.

My gut reaction is that Kakashi/Naruto is worse, because I actually give a damn about Kakashi, whereas eh...I don't really care about Iruka. But whereas Naruto didn't even know Kakashi prior to being put on Team 7, he'd actually developed a bond with Iruka and started to see him as a father figure. (Although let's face it, Iruka is more of a mother figure.) So while IruNaru has extra father/son squick to it.

But that's just from the viewpoint of Naruto's mental health. From the side of the adults...actually, no, while I suppose there could be some ways to make KakaNaru work, there really is no way to make IruNaru work without raping their existing relationship. No matter how far into the future you get with those two, there'll always be that parental vibe from Iruka.

Both pairings still suck ass, though.

[a_white_rain]

Both pairings still suck ass, though.

They do.

But at I can at least like Kakashi/Naruto in a Team Seven OT4 fic. Although, it's sadly not been done often.

I could never like Iruka/Naruto. Ever.

[annwyd]

Yeah, KakaNaru could work as part of KakaSasuSakuNaru, that's true. IruNaru, though, just no.

[ashchan]

Put down the Harry Potter and pick up the One Piece. D:

But I want to hear your ideas on:

Faggot and Furious (you should be able to tell who I'm talking about and if you don't, I'll explain)
Hanatardo and Ganju Suave (his real name is Rico Suave, i bet you didnt know that)
Tsunade and Shizune.

GO

[annwyd]

I know, I know. D: But nnnnh I don't wanna go on IRC and I don't wanna download all that chapter by chapter. D:<

Faggot and Furious: Is this Yumichika and Ikkaku?

Hanatardo and Ganju Suave: I never really got much of a "slash them!" vibe off these two, but then I don't get "slash them!" vibes off the males all that often anyway. However, it is super cute how the tiny nurse and the big tough guy wound up getting along and showing each other so much strength and courage. ♥ So while I don't really ship these two, I certainly can't see why anyone would have something against this pairing. Also, it is essentially canon in the ridiculous anime fillers now

[ashchan]

Yessums, it is those two.

[ashchan]

as for op, how about i send you some good chapters to start off with and if you like them i'll send them to you little by little ok??