Countdown to small gifts 1/7: Introductions

[smallgiftsmods]

Welcome to Small Gifts! Every year as we count down to December 1, we post some discussion questions so that you can get to know your fellow participants and watchers--and talk about R/S, of course! We'll have one question a day through next Monday, and the festivities begin on Tuesday, December 1!

Today: introductions. Tell us how you became an R

Comments

[llaeyro]

Hello everyone!

In school, my group of friends were mad on Harry Potter. we waited eagerly for the last 4 books together and cried together when Sirius died. I don't know how a couple of them discovered it, but they told me about this Remus/Sirius website (I think it was called Red Moon Rising, but I could be wrong). At first I was like 'eww, why?!' but curiosity took over and I fell in love <3 They then got into H/D, and I followed, then started exploring pairings on my own. I now have more pairings than I can keep track of, but Remus and Sirius will always be the first, and always have a special place in my heart =)

[mindabbles]

Hi! Oh, crying when Sirius died is a sign of good sense. :) Remus/Sirius is an excellent gateway pairing, right? There's a connection to your first. I also have written more pairings than I can count, but they are still special.

[lhazzie]

I also shipped H/D for a while back in the day - But I am ashamed to say it featured in some really terribly written fic that I posted on ff.net. Really badly written. Just terrible. I like to think that i am older and wiser now!

[shiftylinguini]

Ah, we have such similar origin stories!! <3

[museinabsentia]

Wow, that's probably a much longer story that will fit in a comment. But the short of it was I did a reread of all the books a few years ago and when I finished them I wasn't ready for it to be over yet. So I went poking around online for something to keep me entertained, and stumbled onto fic. I had always sort of internally shipped R/S anyway, but finding fic and reading everything I could get my hands on sort of started a long running love affair. I lurked for (probably a creepy number of) years, before I finally worked up the nerve to join all you lovely people about a year ago. I've since branched out a little, but R/S will always be home.

[mindabbles]

And we're so glad you joined! That jump from lurking to being a presence is much harder than many would think, right? "R/S will always be home" made me grin. :)

[museinabsentia]

That leap from lurking to joining in really is hard. I still haven't made it in all of my fandoms yet, but making it in this fandom was easier. Everyone here is just so nice!

[lhazzie]

I still lurk for most of the time in most fandoms I'm involved in! Nothing wrong with a bit of lurking :)

But I'm glad that you came out of hiding and joined us!

[nerak_rose]

I've low key shipped R/S since I was about 14 probably, when I read the books the first time (2001). I didn't get into the fandom until around 2010, when my best friend sent me a link to a fic... I'd left another fandom a couple of months prior and wasn't really in need of another one, but here I am. I also do other fandoms (like marvel, or the volstovic cycle) but I always come back to HP and R/S.

[mindabbles]

Haha, I got into fandom the same way -- my best friend sent me a link. I am so impressed with people who can keep track of more than one fandom. Glad you always come back. :)

[lhazzie]

I also blame my best friend for getting me into fic - although in those days she was into X files, which i didn't like all that much. The love of fic stuck, and we've shared some fandoms along the way (mostly HP and not many others), but I don't think we've ever both been into the same 'ship!!

[nerak_rose]

brilliant. :D it's a bit tough being a multifandom person, but then again i don't have THAT many fandoms. and it seems i do fandoms in waves. this year is the first time in a long time i'm back to R/S properly (i did to two short fics last year for the games and small gifts, though), i think the last time i spent this much time in these corners and writing this much fic was in 2011...i'm modding a new R/S fest next year, so that's exciting too. :)

[lhazzie]

R/S was my gateway to fandom!

Way, way back in the annals of time (i.e. 2002), I went on holiday, and ran out of books to read, and so my friend handed me her copy of PoA. (I'd read the first two books, but wasn't sold on the whole concept). I read it. Then I read it again. And I've never looked back!

Fandoms have come and gone. My time available to read and write fic has waxed and waned. But still R/S remains. The 'ship that got me into this in the first place.

And without it, I'm not sure I would have become the person I am today...

(Also, hi! I'm Lhazzie - though I've also got myself on AO3 under the username McG these days. I'm in my late 20s, I live in the UK, and I've just gone back to university to do a PhD. I'm excited to be back for Small Gifts this year, and can't wait to see all the lovely fic and art!)

[llaeyro]

Hi Lhazzie, I'm also in my late 20s and live in the UK =) It's the first year I actually managed to sign up on time so YAY! Can't wait for the 1st!

[lhazzie]

Yay for the UK! (i often feel very outnumbered by the americans in fandom!)

(ETA: I totally have an awesome icon for a bit of patriotic glee!)

[leontinabowie]

I am also from the UK, so there's three of us now :D

[brighty18]

Hi! I'm Michelle and can't wait for this fest to begin. Aside from the one I Mod, this is my favorite fest of the year.

I've been involved in fandom for years now, mostly with this pairing. It's long been my favorite. I read the books as an adult and was discussing HP on LJ one day when someone suggested I check out remusxsirius - and that was all it took.

I think I'm attracted to the pairing for many reasons. I love how complex the characters are, they've not led easy lives and are not at all simple. I also love that, though canon exists, it is a loose construct of benchmarks (Hogwarts, discovering Remus was a werewolf, Willow prank, etc.) and lots of room to play in between. But then, I also love AU. I just really enjoy this pairing, I suppose.

[mindabbles]

Hi! And we're so glad you're such a faithful participant. I agree that the complexity, imperfection, and strengths of these characters is what makes them so compelling. For me, it's also the friendship -- I mean, that's all through the series, but it's also complex with these two.

[magnetic_pole]

I also love that, though canon exists, it is a loose construct of benchmarks (Hogwarts, discovering Remus was a werewolf, Willow prank, etc.) and lots of room to play in between.

That is such a good way of putting it, B. The benchmarks lend a kind of structure to the experience of reading and writing these characters.

So delighted to be celebrating with you again this year! *hugs* M.