I Like My Pining With A Side Of Sex

[redbrunja]

musesfool and melusina were talking about the stories they repeatedly write, here and here.

Years ago, there was a meme that went around LJ where writers wrote about their one true story - the plot or theme that they keep coming back to over and over again across multiple fandoms and characters.

Reading back over my fics, it's clear that that One True Story - or at least, the story that has kept reoccuring in the fics I've written over the last year, is the 'I want more of you than I currently possess' story. Basically, where Character A has a relationship with Character B (often sexual) but Character A wants to level that relationship up to 'sex PLUS emotions' but thinks that that is not even a possibility, for various reasons.

What's your one true story?

Comments

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

I love that sort of emotional entanglement.

What's your one true story?

Back from the Dead, in its many incarnations. Heroic death brought back by greater powers to aid in a final battle. Accidental death fixed by sheer willpower of those left behind. Brutal death that Came Back Wrong. Someone who died and then finds out the world has moved on without them. Any combination therein. It doesn't even have to be a literal death - a character losing everything and being stripped down to nothing and rising from those ashes is also really appealing to me (so Loki falling from the Bifrost counts imo). Obviously, literal resurrection is unrealistic, and when it's done wrong it can cheapen death in a universe. But I think part of what's so appealing about it is that it's not something that happens in real life. It's one of those things that can only happen in fiction. It's completely alien, and it's fascinating to think about what those characters go through.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It doesn't even have to be a literal death - a character losing everything and being stripped down to nothing and rising from those ashes is also really appealing to me (so Loki falling from the Bifrost counts imo)

Interesting. That is totally not a trope I would have thought of, but I can see why it's something that really speaks to you.

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

"I sort of hate you and sort of admire you and sort of really am annoyed to shit by you but we need to work together and oops, I may have feelings I don't want to feel-- LALALALALA, YOU'RE ANNOYING AND I HATE YOU."

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Do you, by any chance, watch Young Justice? Because there a main pairing in that show which your comment PERFECTLY sums up.

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

NO, but now I am intrigued!

[anat-astarte.livejournal.com]

OMG GO WATCH YOUNG JUSTICE NAO! XDDDDD

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

This is the rec post that got my watching the show.

http://het-reccers.livejournal.com/669118.html

NO REGRETS.

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about this meme a couple days ago!

I think my one true story involves both road trips (being on the move) and substitute people - even if Character A isn't with OTP Character B, they're going after people who remind them of Character B. Basically, scarred for life.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about this meme a couple days ago!

It's such a fun question!

I think my one true story involves both road trips (being on the move)

That is because roadtrips = the best.

and substitute people - even if Character A isn't with OTP Character B, they're going after people who remind them of Character B. Basically, scarred for life.


Could you give me some examples?

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

Of course. I'm not sure if you've watched these shows, so there may be spoilers.

The Killing - peace slips through his fingers (http://prefer-my-life.livejournal.com/62797.html#cutid1); Alexi's love interest is dead (er, killed), and this fic ends with He hitches a ride from a pretty brunette.

Heroes - just a substitute (http://prefer-my-life.livejournal.com/6174.html#cutid1); Sylar killed Elle (played by Kristen Bell) so he He always kills the hookers when he’s done with them.

These petite blondes who are boring and plain

T:TSCC - gone to meet your maker (http://prefer-my-life.livejournal.com/60439.html#cutid1); John ends up in a relationship with Allison. The end.

The Hunger Games - the woods are lovely, dark and deep (http://prefer-my-life.livejournal.com/58027.html#cutid1); Gale/Katniss with Gale and Katniss stuck in different districts.

His eyes fall on a girl with dark hair and grey eyes. Maybe this time.

**I also think of VMars, where Logan is dating girls who look like Veronica but aren't really like her.

**In Skins, Cook accidentally hooked up with an Effy look-a-like. Love it.

Etc, etc etc.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, I get what you're saying. And yeah, that kind of sublimation of desire can make for FASCINATING reading.

[sharkflip.livejournal.com]

Two characters from two cultures. I don't want to call it "culture clash" and it's definitely not "overcome their differences" but is instead "see the world from a different angle". The moments I'm always working for are when character A sees character B, who has been awkwardly trying to fit in, suddenly in their own element, and that character makes more sense within that context.

Or something.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

but is instead "see the world from a different angle". The moments I'm always working for are when character A sees character B, who has been awkwardly trying to fit in, suddenly in their own element, and that character makes more sense within that context.

Or something.

That makes sense to me! And I think the idea of two people from different cultures falling in love often functions are a very good metaphor for ANY time someone falls in love - I feel like kind of by definition that changes your world view.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I think mine is very close to yours! I definitely am all over yours.

see icon. Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. The queen and king of Attolia. Even Booth/Bones, until the show "will they or won't they"'d them to death and so when they finally got together it was basically too late.

Some level of the girl wanting control and keeping herself cold and aloof because she doesn't want to get hurt again while the man loves her desperately and will take whatever he can get from her while giving her everything in an attempt to help her see that if she does let go he'll keep her vulnerability safe and they'll both be happier for it because love is better than being alone. And meanwhile she's trying to be in complete denial about his feelings and especially the possibility that she might have feelings too. And there's a breaking point where it's either going to go one way or the other. Even my happy stories have an element of caution in them.

This is probably to make up for the fact that I personally wear my heart on my sleeve all the time; my women tend to be very guarded characters.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Some level of the girl wanting control and keeping herself cold and aloof because she doesn't want to get hurt again while the man loves her desperately and will take whatever he can get from her while giving her everything in an attempt to help her see that if she does let go he'll keep her vulnerability safe and they'll both be happier for it because love is better than being alone.

Oh my fucking god this. This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

This is probably to make up for the fact that I personally wear my heart on my sleeve all the time; my women tend to be very guarded characters.


I'm the opposite - I probably love this dynamic because I AM a very guarded, logical with my emotions woman, so the idea of someone getting to know me, accepting that, and being safe to fall in love with... catnip.

[bellonablack.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't think of anything lol.

But since I ship enemy ships, I guess trust issues and vulnerability issues with an enhanced sense of risk involved even though there is a mutual connection usually a dark one. Also with a side of you do care about them but your views do not align in a big way.

Also how far can you go with someone before you lose them.

And my favorite, love makes you vulnerabile in some way, do you embrace it or turn into a worded version of yourself? Like I hurt you because I care kind of messed up thing that adds up with the second one there.

For individuals I like to write about exploring your darker impulses as a rule, it's always interesting.:)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

guess trust issues and vulnerability issues with an enhanced sense of risk involved even though there is a mutual connection usually a dark one.

*nods*

I especially like enemy!ships for that mutual connection that is usually a negative... and then how often secondary connections (of a more positive nature will form, and then the characters have to deal with that.)

And my favorite, love makes you vulnerabile in some way, do you embrace it or turn into a worded version of yourself?

Do you mean "wounded"?

[bellonablack.livejournal.com]

Wow what a typo lol. At teh time, I meant worse version, because of how sometimes, especially in darker characters but lighter ones too, you can become controlling, scared, etc...but it can be a good thing too. It just depends.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

At teh time, I meant worse version, because of how sometimes, especially in darker characters but lighter ones too, you can become controlling, scared, etc...but it can be a good thing too. It just depends.

It does. And honestly, I wish more writers had good characters having unflattering reactions to being in love - either ignoring friends or getting possessive, and having to check their own actions a bit.