starsandsea | Question Responce!

mithen asked me:

What draws me to a pairing? What makes it a OTP?

I am very frustrated with my response to this question. I found it very interesting, but very frustrating to answer, because it's something I've never really thought about before, but there is certainly a theme! I found it incredibly frustrating, because I simply could not, and can not, find the words to explain something that is... well, so emotional? So... This is my best reply, but I don't think it ever truly answers the question - both of them!

Male friendships.

The first slash pairing I shipped was Aragorn/Legolas, purely on the basis of their very deep friendship - movieverse! (Not that they aren't very good friends in the books, but in the movies it's clear they knew each other, were already close before the Fellowship was formed). It fascinated me, this deep connection they had, even though they were so different - an immortal elf prince, who always looks perfect; a mortal uncrowned king, who always looks scruffy! And yet, they clearly had a very deep bond of friendship, which was beautiful both in a platonic sense, and also in a more romantic sense.

The same goes with Batman/Superman. I can remember, waaaay back when I only had the very basic pop culture comics knowledge, being utterly surprised to discover that actually Batman and Superman exist in the same universe! LOL. When I saw, on the wikipedia article about Batman, that there was a special section decided to his friendship with Superman... I was fascinated, because even knowing the very, very basic facts about them (Superman is the best super hero ever, who is always good! Batman broods on gargoyles all the time!) I knew enough to know they were two very opposite people, yet they were best friends, best friends enough that Superman had trusted Batman with a weapon that could kill him... And that was before I started reading comics, and all the subtext that in them (I'm looking at you, Public Enemies!)

Again, it was the same with my next pairing, which was Mr.Terrific/Dr. Mid-Nite. On the face of it they're these two characters who don't have anything in common - or rather they do, but on entirely opposite sides. Dr. Mid-Nite is a devote catholic. Mr. Terrific is a atheist. Dr. Mid-Nite was drugged and blinded and put behind the wheel of a car, which crashed and killed a young woman. Mr. Terrific's young wife was killed by a drunk driver. And yet... They became best friends - and seeing their friendship evolve through the JSA arcs was lovely and beautiful to see, very organic, how they ended up BFF.

So... with these particular pairings (and several others), they're as much, I think the phrase is, BROTPs as much as romantic OTPs. I'm equally happy to read and write gen fics about them as I am slash fics. Two immensely strong, apparently complete opposite people, forming a friendship, becoming best friends - and more, in our eyes. :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The "opposites attract" scheme is working with my OTPs as well (incidentally, Aragorn/Legolas was my first one too, I think).

Works beautifully with my other OTPs as well:
Sentinel Jim/Blair (macho cop and hippie grad student)
Smallville Lex/Clark (morally ambiguous millionaire and innocent alien/farm kid)
Jeeves and Wooster (controlled genius and carefree lovable fool)

:-)

Edited 2014-05-18 19:35 (UTC)

It's such a great trope - especially when it's done well! I wonder if it will be used a lot in the new Batman/Superman film... I hope it will, but not too much, perhaps! :)

I haven't had much time to thiknk about the upcoming film, but I am all excited now!

I really like the way you explain that sort of "On the surface you'd think they'd have nothing in common" sort of feeling! It's a really lovely theme, and you explain it well with each of the examples that you have--though if I went for anything in movieverse LotR, it was Aragorn/Boromir (he dies in his arms, I'm so predictable!) ^-^ But you're right, the respect and affection Legolas and Aragorn have for each other is completely palpable in the movies (is it not clear in the books that they're old friends? Because you're right, it totally is in the movies!)

if I went for anything in movieverse LotR, it was Aragorn/Boromir (he dies in his arms, I'm so predictable!)

Ah, Boromir! I have such a complicated relationship with him! When I first saw FotR, he was introduced to me as 'a guy who tries to steal the ring and dies, don't bother about him'. And I was just like "Okay!". So because of that I've struggled, ever since, to really appreciate him - though I'm doing much better now, thankfully (fanfic helps a lot! Boromir being a awesome big brother to Faramir! *wibbles*). But that's why I'm so biased towards Aragorn and Legolas...

And no, in the books it really isn't clear if Aragorn and Legolas even knew another before the Fellowship! I mean, they probably did, but it's nothing like in the films, how Legolas leaps up and gives his "This is Aragorn son of Arathorn" line - he clearly knows exactly who and what Aragorn is...

I did actually enjoy thinking about my response to this question, I just found it very difficult to... translate my thoughts into words, lol!

Ah, Boromir! I have such a complicated relationship with him! When I first saw FotR, he was introduced to me as 'a guy who tries to steal the ring and dies, don't bother about him'. And I was just like "Okay!".

Oooh, I have just the opposite relationship, in some ways! When I read the books, I despised Boromir--he's the only person who really actively tries to take the Ring, and so I always kind of saw him as weak and evil. I'd never read such a long, complicated book at that age, so I never really comprehended how he was related to Denethor and Faramir--I knew he was a son and a brother, but I didn't understand what was being revealed about his character through seeing his father and his brother, if that makes sense. So the movie (even without that extended scene, which was amazing!) really brought home to me how much he loved Gondor and his father, and how desperately he wanted to save them, so I liked him SO much better...

I never really comprehended how he was related to Denethor and Faramir--I knew he was a son and a brother, but I didn't understand what was being revealed about his character through seeing his father and his brother, if that makes sense. So the movie (even without that extended scene, which was amazing!) really brought home to me how much he loved Gondor and his father, and how desperately he wanted to save them, so I liked him SO much better...

YES. It took me ages to see it, but when I did-! That flashback scene in the EE of TTT is just... *wibbles* I don't like all of the changes made in the films (FARAMIR!) but I do love how much they've shown that Boromir truly wants to save Gondor, that its for Gondor that he tries to take the Ring, not himself...

I can remember, waaaay back when I only had the very basic pop culture comics knowledge, being utterly surprised to discover that actually Batman and Superman exist in the same universe! LOL. When I saw, on the wikipedia article about Batman, that there was a special section decided to his friendship with Superman... I was fascinated, because even knowing the very, very basic facts about them (Superman is the best super hero ever, who is always good! Batman broods on gargoyles all the time!) I knew enough to know they were two very opposite people, yet they were best friends, best friends enough that Superman had trusted Batman with a weapon that could kill him... And that was before I started reading comics, and all the subtext that in them (I'm looking at you, Public Enemies!)

Exactly! You pretty much wrote my own experience with Superman/Batman, their reletionship, friendship, pairing Star. :)
I liked Batman and I loved Superman. But for a very long time it didn't occur to me to put these two heroes in the same universe too. :) And when I saw them two together as M/M pairing in the first fanfic I read, I was like "WHAAAT???" Then I started to read comics and learn more about them as friends and talk about it all here on LJ. And my life's changed forever. :)
Thanks to Bruce and Clark and their pairing in fanfics I found new amazing friends (yes, it's you and Jen :)). This is totally amazing and I never cease to be grateful for it! xoxo

I liked Batman and I loved Superman. But for a very long time it didn't occur to me to put these two heroes in the same universe too. :) And when I saw them two together as M/M pairing in the first fanfic I read, I was like "WHAAAT???" Then I started to read comics and learn more about them as friends and talk about it all here on LJ. And my life's changed forever. :)

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was surprised to discover that Superman and Batman existed in the same universe, lol! That discovery changed my life too, so much for the better! To have made such wonderful friends like you and Jen... :)

*hugs* I'm thinking of you!

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