[ SECRET POST #2825 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2825 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 065 secrets from Secret Submission Post #404.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

03. http://i.imgur.com/z4yfgI2.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

I'm the same. I can't read established relationship fics because it doesn't not appeal to me at all. I'm interested in the part before they get together (I'm even a big fan of slow burn and seemingly one-sided crushes), the part where they get together, but the aftermath is just... Meh...
Basically I want to read hot first time kisses and sex, but I don't care at all about the 'I love you's and the 'couple' stuff...

[(Anonymous)]

This x million. Getting together is where most fun is.

[dancing_serpent]

I won't necessarily stop reading when I've come that far, but yeah, I'm a lot more into the getting together part of the story, too. I usually skip established relationship fic for that reason, too.

[(Anonymous)]

Yep, same.

I'm here for the slow build. For the slowly interacting and building their feelings, falling in love, pining, awkward "he/she wouldn't like me back", misunderstandings, almost confessions, all that brilliant stuff.

But when the couple confesses their feelings and get together, the story ends there for me. Payoff happened. I'm not interested in anything else (I never read the obligatory sex scene either). (Unless it's an otherwise plotty story and the romance is a side thing then I'd continue reading)

I also am so bored by established relationship fic. I won't read them at all. (Unless it's a rare pair that doesn't have much because at least it's something.)

I just find it really dull, and I can't care about the pairing if I didn't see their journey to falling in love. Plus the drama used in them I find pathetic. (The common one: jealousy. If the pairing is already established, and one of them gets jealous by the other hugging a friend - how the hell am I supposed to buy them as a couple?? Huh? Tell me!)

[visp]

Slow build fans, unite!

[(Anonymous)]

Same. My ideal TV series would have six seasons of UST and the very last episode would have only a suggestion that the two could end up together in the future. Basically, eternally unresolved UST, but with nothing to indicate the characters wouldn't ever be together after the story ended. That way I could have fun enjoying their relationship in the show AND imagining all the future scenarios after the show.

And, uh, if anyone can rec any TV shows that involve this exact setup between two characters, feel free to mention them!

[ketita]

I think half the problem is the "romantic comedy syndrome" where the story ends with the confession. It's such an odd idea for me, because I'm far more interested in the couple working out all the issues they will surely have trying to build a life together than endless UST and awkwardly refraining from confessing for silly reasons.
Thing is, most fics don't do that well, and the relationship issues will either turn into a soap opera that's just a more dramatic form of will-they-won't-they (break up), or it looks like ship bashing.
Or the relationship is just schmoopy and utterly lacking in tension.

In my longest romance fic, I actually had the characters confess in like the second chapter, and they spent the next 40 dealing with the plot and trying to make their sexual attraction into an actual relationship. tbh I wish I could find more fics like that.

[(Anonymous)]

God, yes, I am such a ust junkie.

[solticisekf]

Usually I'm like that too, but there are certain fics where that's not the case. Come to think about it, I've read a few drabbles with est. relationship and zero normal lenth fics. Some fandoms/ships are so fluffy that sweet est. pair moments is a thing for me.

I'm reading this Mystrade fic, a drabble or two at a time and like it so far
http://archiveofourown.org/works/1278532/chapters/2645731

[(Anonymous)]

This. Though with some pairings it's fun to read other characters' reactions to their relationship, too, so those fics I sometimes keep reading (also if it's a plot-driven fic, of course).

[skippydelicious]

Yep. With you there.

[diet_poison]

Maybe it's just me, but I actually really enjoy all parts of the relationship story. I like the crushes, the buildup, the UST, the getting together, the working-out-of-problems, the day-to-day routines, the issues that come up, the happy fluffy romantic moments, the happily ever after, and even the kids if applicable (definitely not a requirement, though). I like it all! And I like couples that have the whole package in a story.

[(Anonymous)]

I think that's because
-it gets written more often
-many writers and readers are too young/inexperienced to have been in a relationship. for them the mystery is "how do I get together with somebody, how do we fall in love?" and sex.
-even if they have the experience it's an aquired taste

-it has "conflict" that doesn't threaten the end goal "happy relationship". to have conflict in the relationship itself it has to be shown as flawed. somebody has to be shown as not 100% content and forgiving of every mistake of their partner, or not 100% realizing and atoning for their flaws. a reality which is either not acknowledged, doesn't get enjoyed as much, or gets treated before they get together

-getting together is an inherent plot for romance stories. an established relationship fic needs another plot. many writers are mostly interested in the romance and can't come up with anything (s. the first point).

-the potential of a happy relationship (plus sex) is more of an ideal to us than the realized relationship, because we can live through it.
I would actually say that "falling in love, confess, get together" is more relatable than "dating and living together in a partnership".

[nayance]

What gets me is when it's obviously written as a shipping fic with the point being to hook up characters A and B, with some extra plot to move things along. When they get together, the main plot is resolved, but we're left with a bunch of loose ends that need to be tied up... and then you get several chapters wrapping things up, even though the point, the reason we're here, is done.

[elaminator]

I prefer fics that show the couple getting together, then working at being a couple. Established relationship fic doesn't usually do much for me because I'm always wondering, "But how did you get together?!". I can read get together fic that ends after the actual getting together, but as long as the writing keeps being good and the characters keep being interesting I'm fine to continue.

[anonymous4]

I'm exactly the opposite!

I hate 'slow burn' because, to me, it always seems to be one step forward, two steps back, with a similar scenario played out in every episode/chapter, and after a few cycles I lose interest. My ideal is "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am... Now let's have an adventure together, with sex whenever we get the opportunity." (And it doesn't matter whether that's explicit or fade to black).

[(Anonymous)]

I lose interest if there is shipping in the fic at all. God, just get on with something else instead and stop trying to be the next Barbara Cartland.

[(Anonymous)]

The impetus for fic is often a desire to explore things that were not (or have not yet) been explored in canon - at least not to their full potential - and to fix things fans don't like. If the desire is to see two characters get together, once the fic does that, the desire has been met and the whole point of reading or writing the fic has been reached. In theory, whatever else drew you to the canon can continue on being as interesting as ever with the added layer of the characters being involved with each other, but you still have canon for that other stuff and you don't necessarily need fic for that unless the canon is over and closed. Also, not all fic writers can pull off that other stuff well, and few may be interested in trying once they've fulfilled their desire to put the characters together.

[intrigueing]

*shrugs* I'm the opposite. I vastly prefer established couples when I'm reading shippy fic. On an entirely personal level, I find them 1000000000000X more interesting and fresh and unique. With established couples, there are just a million more ways to make their relationship interesting that haven't been done a gazillion times before.

Of course, this is mainly because there is such a massive overload of the exact same goddamn cookie-cutter UST and will-they-won't-they and ~slow buurrrrn~ cliched stuff in almost EVERY SINGLE PIECE of mainstream media ever produced that I'm just completely done with first-time couple-y BS for the time being. It's started to set my teeth on edge just to see it mentioned -- even with couples I really ship.

I don't think there's anything inherently inferior about first time romantic storylines -- I used to like them a lot -- but well, I like chocolate cake a lot too, yet if I ate chocolate cake every day for a year I'd get sick of it too and start craving some baklava instead.

[(Anonymous)]

For once, I'd like to read a lengthy multi-chapter romance about an established relationship that slowly falls apart and slowly rebuilds itself. I find smut hottest when the people involved have a lot of shared history and possibly even a little mutual grudge.

good established-relationship fics?

[(Anonymous)]

Post 'em here

[(Anonymous)]

There's a few pairings I'll enjoy watching or reading fic for that goes beyond the 'getting together,' but they're, say, B-couples for the former and pairings in dead canons for the latter. Everything else, canon or fic, I just lose interest and want to move onto the next WTWT/UST heavy pairing. Slow burn all the way for me!

[(Anonymous)]

In the case of fic, I won't stop reading after the characters get together, but I'll definitely stop reading after the end of that particular fic. In the case of original media (books, shows, movies) though? Yeah, I'm out after the will-they won't-they is resolved (usually with pregnancy). Established relationships are handled so badly so often that I don't even try anymore. :/

[dahli]

Ahaha same here. On the other hand I like to read about them getting together but still having unresolved issues they need to work on. Like tying all the plot lines (or not, but at least having the feeling they are being acknowledged) before the story ends.

On the other hand, I really hate when the couple gets together and completely lose their individuality and respective personalities. It's like they become a four arm-four-legged monster which occasionally stops to make out somewhere.