Because I'm nosy

[turps]

I was thinking about pairings yesterday, about how when I post stories different people will comment depending on the pairing I'm writing about.

This got me wondering how deep OTP reading goes. Personally I only used to read the Chris pairings, but that's changed and I'll read most things now. Admittedly I much prefer stories where he's the focus, but there's many great non-Chris focussed stories out there, and I was missing out by passing them by.

So, I thought I'd poll and see what others think. You don't have to explain anything but feel free to discuss in comments. Same if I've missed something, which no doubt I have.



[Poll #965020]

Comments

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I don't consider myself to have an OTP, and I never have. I started out in XF and was an equal opportunity Mulder/Krycek, Mulder/Skinner, and even Skinner/Krycek reader. Each pairing brought something different to the table, and I enjoyed them all. Next was TS, which is one of the fandoms with a built-in OTP. But I certainly never minded the occasional Simon story.

That said, with popslash, I have several favorite pairings, several levels of favorites, but once again, I'll read anything. I can't imagine limiting myself to one pairing, or even one guy.

Lance is my OTP, obviously. When I first got here, JoLa was my favorite, as it was everyone else's at that time. Then I decided to love Lambs, mostly because that's when Sandy and Tiffany Rawlins were writing a lot of Lambs. Then after the Reel Nsync, we all wrote and read Trickyfish. (Yes, yes, I am apparently a sheep.) I loved what everyone was writing, but I also love TrickC and Bassez and Timbertrick. Today, I'd put Timbertone and JoeC and Choey and JuC, (even though I write a lot of JuC), near the bottom, and anything with Lance or JC near the top, but I love it all, really.

It took me a while to read Backstreet, except when I couldn't avoid them in a crossover, but I like Nick, AJ, and Kevin paired with anyone. I don't really love Howie or Brian, but that doesn't stop me from reading them.

I don't mind a bit of het thrown in, I don't mind deathfic, there's really nothing that bothers me except apologyfic. There are some things I love more than others, but like I said, why would I limit myself? Who knows what I could be missing by being fussy?

As far as writing is concerned, I've only ever written Lambs, TrickC, Bassez, JuC and Timbertrick. It looks like I don't love Joey, but I do! Actually, I wrote a Timbertone back in 2001 that will never see the light of day, mostly because I have no idea where it is.

And I haven't read your Choey ficlets from yesterday, but I'm off to do that right now.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You've made me think of my other fandoms, and I always follow the same pattern of having someone I love and will slash with anyone, but with one pairing being the top of that pile.

I love hearing about old reading trends and am always surprised that Jola was so popular back then. Especially as it's a pairing that doesn't seem to be written much now.

From the answers I'm reading it seems Brian gets the raw deal in terms of people reading him. I wonder why that is? Not that I go out to read Brian stories either.

why would I limit myself? Who knows what I could be missing by being fussy?

I think that's a great attitude. It seems such a shame to limit yourself in terms of what you'll read.

Obviously you need to write more Joey. I'm sure you have time after Remix ;)

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

From the answers I'm reading it seems Brian gets the raw deal in terms of people reading him. I wonder why that is? Not that I go out to read Brian stories either.

Were you there at the kitchen table in the cottage when we discussed this at Camp Sparkle? I think we came to the conclusion that Brian was just too nice to do anything bad to in fic. Or something like that. I don't know, I can't remember much of it. It might've been the day that nopseud broke our brains.

[rikes]

I *think* we came to the conclusion that Brian's too Christian, too nice and too married, and has a kid. Somebody pointed out that most of this applies to Joey as well but that doesn't keep us from slashing Joey. So somebody, maybe pensnest, said that Brian is too open, that he's not hiding anything about his life, and that's why you can't write believable slash about Brian. I think this was how it went.

[bubbleforest.livejournal.com]

You can't write believable slash about Brian? Really? *peers at my stack of fic* Wow, that's not so reassuring. :D

[rikes]

Well, Brian's one half of my Backstreet OTP, so. ;)

[bubbleforest.livejournal.com]

Hee! I knew you were awesome for more than the obvious reasons.

[pensnest]

Indeed - Brian is (a) a good boy, and (b) happy. These are good things, but it's much easier to write about somebody with flaws, somebody who has to be *made* happy - or who can be tortured a bit more, I guess! And a lot of people find it too difficult to characterise Brian, given that the obvious things to work with are 'Christian' and 'wholesome'.

Joey has a less wholesome vibe, and a reputation for slutting around - whether deserved or not - and did indeed produce his kid pre-matrimony, so he's at least a little bit tarnished.

[nopseud]

These are good things, but it's much easier to write about somebody with flaws, somebody who has to be *made* happy - or who can be tortured a bit more, I guess!

Aww. Writing about happy people is fun! It can be a bit harder, sure, but a challenge is good too. Or you can just pair him with someone miserable!

Also, I have no problems with torturing Brian and then making him happy. In fact, surely the fact that you can inflict moral dilemmas on him without trying too hard ought to make it *easier* to write him, not harder?

And a lot of people find it too difficult to characterise Brian, given that the obvious things to work with are 'Christian' and 'wholesome'.

Don't forget goofy, fun, and prone to mischievously molesting bandmates on stage.

Y'all are not feeling the Brian slash love. I will now go into a corner and CRY.

[pensnest]

surely the fact that you can inflict moral dilemmas on him without trying too hard ought to make it *easier* to write him, not harder?

Indeed, it should. We must all be Dreadful Slackers, too lazy to try it. Hmm.

Mind you, I feel more inhibited about writing BSB fic of any kind that isn't a pure PWP because I'm much less familiar with the BSB timeline than that of Nsync, but that's an argument against writing any of them, not against writing Brian.

[nopseud]

I *think* we came to the conclusion that Brian's too Christian, too nice and too married, and has a kid.

Obviously I was not at the table for this discussion, or I could have explained to you all that you are quite clearly wrong. Very, very wrong indeed. {firm nod}

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

When I started reading, it was All About the JoLa. Very popular pairing. Synchronik was writing a lot of it, as were a lot of other people. Map of the World was new at the time, and lots of people were really into that story. It was such a sweet, sometimes bittersweet pairing.

And now I want to go and find all the classic JoLa stories.

Hey, maybe after remix, I'll write JoLa!