[ SECRET POST #5030 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5030 ⌋

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


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 21 secrets from Secret Submission Post #719.
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

[(Anonymous)]

Alternatively: AUs prove that a ship is so strong and meant to be that no matter what the circumstances (angsty or otherwise) and history, the couple will end up together. Also not all AUs get rid of history in exchange for meet-cutes. And the possibilities are endless, even if there are common tropes. You seem to have a very limited understanding or definition of what AUs are.

I mean, you also seem to think that everyone shares your opinion of what the appeal of a ship is and so what would "kill" it. That is so ludicrous, it's not worth commenting on further.

[(Anonymous)]

AUs prove that a ship is so strong and meant to be that no matter what the circumstances (angsty or otherwise) and history, the couple will end up together.

Yeah, this is how I tend to see a lot of those kinds of AUs, too. I do love stories that explore the characters' history as it stands in canon, and I agree with the secret that a lot of my favorite ships are the sort that tend to have a history of some kind, because it provides a great foundation to build on. But yeah, it can be very interesting sometimes to see what would've happened had they met in another way, or another lifetime, or whatever, too.

[(Anonymous)]

Yep. My current ship obsession is Joe & Nicky from The Old Guard. There is SO GODDAMN MUCH history there that it is fun to explore, but the amount of history is also overwhelming in a way, so it's also extremely fun to consider if they would still have found this epic love under different circumstances. (Answer: Yes)

[(Anonymous)]

Same anon. And on the specific example of J&N, for a while there, all that I saw was "the backstory of how they went from enemies to lovers!!" fic (and of course, PWP). I was thrilled when more AUs started popping up because it was something NEW instead of every author trying to tell their version of the same story over and over again. Extend that to other fandoms: how many stories covering canon events and interactions do we need? Variety is the spice of life and fanfic!

[philstar22]

But if they aren't the same characters and don't have at least somewhat similar history, to me the ship isn't the same ship anymore. It is something original with the characters names stuck on. It doesn't show that the characters are always meant to be together because it isn't the same characters.

[(Anonymous)]

I think it takes an extraordinary amount of skill to keep realistic (not necessarily the exact same) characterization and relationship dynamics in an AU setting. It shows a writer has far greater understanding of what makes the ship "work" compared to someone who happens to write a canon-based story.

[(Anonymous)]

Can you read? “So many AUs” doesn’t mean “ all AUs” or even “most AUs” so what is this definition nonsense about? Also it’s an opinion expressed in a secret, of course it’s subjective and why would there be an expectation for everyone to share it? You’re taking it so personally it’s blinded you to text and reason apparently. Are you guilty of deluging fandom with shitty AUs by any chance?

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, I read the OP switch from talking about their preferences to asking why people write AUs that kill the majority of the ship's appeal. Since the answer to that question would be obvious to anyone who recognizes that opinions are not shared, it would seem OP has difficulty grasping that concept...

And yes, I have read and written many AUs. There are so many fantastic ones - and so many shitty ~canon-compliant~ stories to make AUs very much worth my time.

[(Anonymous)]

I mean, when it comes to shipping I fundamentally disagree that two people will always end up together no matter the circumstances. Even without long histories, a lot of my ships are ships because a particular set of events in canon forged the dynamics that I perceived as shippable. I legitimately believe that a lot of my pairings wouldn’t work out if they just met in uni or something.

[(Anonymous)]

Fair enough, and if we were talking about "real life" couples, I would agree with you. But I prefer to think of my OTPs as epic and inevitable, able to overcome any odds. It's a refreshing change of pace from most canons that insist on throwing dumb obstacle after dumb obstacle at them because, apparently, it's "boring" to have happy couples in love with each other.

[(Anonymous)]

...okay. I don't think resenting writers not writing happy couples and thinking relationships are inevitable really track though. I get invested in romantic relationships too, but outside of them characters also have their individual arcs, other relationships, etc. Some of my favorite characters are basically one bad day away from going full villain, but it's their ability to rein that impulse in and constantly make the hard decision to do the right thing that a) makes them my faves and b) makes their ships truly pop. If they ever fail, well, the love might still be there but it ain't gonna work out.

[(Anonymous)]

Again, fair enough. Crazy how fanfic serves different purposes for people, huh? Thus explaining why there are people who like AUs and those who don't, and those who find different things "appealing" about ships.

[(Anonymous)]

It's weird for you to be going on about that, when you yourself think AUs are meant to prove characters "will always find each other", which doesn't strike me as a top reason for most people to seek out AUs.

[(Anonymous)]

No, I gave an alternative explanation for the popularity of AUs, and one reason I particularly like them. I never said that this is what they are meant to do for everyone and in fact made a point of acknowledging your different opinion that you insisted on sharing not once but twice.