turps

Challenge #9

In your own space, promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom). Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I've been pondering on this, and while I have a lot of fandoms I could have gone for, I'm going for popslash, especially Nsync.

The weird thing is, Nsync were never that popular here, so it was pure chance I found them and the fandom. Basically, I'd always liked Kevin from Backstreet Boys, so was reading BSB fic. One day I read a fic where he was pairing with this guy called Chris from Nsync. I had no idea who he was, what he looked like, but decided to find out.

Nsync as a group changed hugely over the years, but my love for Bb!Nsync will linger forever, especially for Chris and his stupid dreads and braces. He was short and mouthy and never sat still and honestly, if I ever had to spend time with him he would have driven me mad. But in fic and footage, he was catnip to me. Brought up by a single mom with a load of younger sisters, living in such a way he had to snuggle under clothes to keep warm. Seriously, catnip.

Though that upbringing was good practice for when Nsync first toured Europe because you know, it always snows in Europe and that means huddling in beds together or DYING! of hyperthermia, because say it after me, it always snows in Europe.

Now, Chris was the oldest of the group by quite a few years, but somehow had this great relationship with Justin who was a lot younger. But this Justin wasn't the Justin Timberlake of now. This was Juppy with adorable curly hair or cornrows and bandanas and had a ~~really really probably too close including creepy tatoos~~ good relationship with his mom who toured with them in the early years. Whether she also got hyperthermia due to all that snow in Europe is unclear, but she probably did, being as they toured barren wastelands of frozen lands.

This relationship should be a bit squicky if you're writing/thinking about BB!Sync, but the thing is, Justin always had his head screwed on and Chris was ridiculous and childish, so it never seemed to matter. Though, Justin also had his moments of being childlike, which always makes me laugh when I think of him today. He also ~~has sex with~~ collects sneakers, lots of sneakers.

Added to this we had JC. Dreamy, beautiful voiced JC who wore penis pants and seemed to get turned on by a look and went on to write and release an amazing album that included songs about sex. Sex with aliens. Sex with himself. Dreams about sex. All the sex. Don't believe me, Watch the below.

Watch on YouTube

But back in bb!Sync days JC was also dorky and slightly mysterious with a past that wasn't elaborated on much but also included time on the Micky Mouse Club, along with one Justin Timberlake. Fannon says he also went to LA where he didn't make it but spent time working in burger bars and trying to make a living singing but something terrible happened! I'd say he got hyperthermia, but he wasn't in Europe so who knows?

I also loved Chris paired with JC the most. I'm not even sure why they just worked for me. And okay, Chris with anyone worked for me but trickc was special in all the right ways.

Then we have Joey with his strong family and parents who loved him and his bright red hair at one point. He has a lovely voice that tended to get lost unless you're looking for it, but miss if it wasn't there. Laughed often and was just this solid man who was the perfect friend. He didn't have the mysterious backstory, or sad backstory, or a mother he loved beyond anything. He was just, Joey with the thighs and the laugh and also Lance's bestie.

And oh man, Lance. You look at Lance now and he's a million miles away from BB!Lance. Back then Lance was all awkwardness and terrible hair and this amazing voice, as for his dancing. Let's not focus on that. But what we will focus on is behind that awkwardness Lance was an evil genius, and hints of that have been there since the beginning. He was the last to join the group but I can't think of them without him. I mean, he even made dungarees look good.

When Lance officially came out people in fandom clubbed together to send him flowers which remains such a lovely memory.

In fact, the fandom as a whole leaves me with lovely memories. I've never been in a more cracky, amazing fandom where anything goes. From serious to the utterly cracked out. Which reminds me, I missed out someone who is very important to the group and the fandom. Lamp. Lamp is a lava lamp. Lamp had its own archive of stories at one point. Lamp famously had sex with Chris, and then went on to pair with all of the others after. Lamp is a bit of a goer to be honest.

Yes, the lavalamp story is a real thing. Yes. Cramp is an actual pairing in popslash. Yes. The story has been read out loud, on occasions acted out, and on the best occasion, read from a pulpit at many Camp Sparkles. Lamp is amazing.

The whole fandom is amazing really, and while some of my best and long-standing friends are from that time, I miss popslash when it was mega busy. People still write now and I encourage anyone who wants to investigate to read the popslash SeSa stories because there are a load of them and they're great. really great

And you know if you get inspired you can write fic where BB!Sync tour Europe, get snowed in, have to huddle together for warmth while battling hyperthermia and wielding off a sex-crazed lava lamp. Because you know, if any fandom would read and embrace that story, popslash would.