Fannish 50 & Snowflake Challenge #11

[snowynight]

Challenge #11

In your own space, Talk about your favorite trope, cliché, kink, motif, or theme. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

My favourite trope is pining, as long as the person doesn't think they're entitled to being loved back. I love it in all favours: Mutual but both are unaware/can't do anything about it, one-side that grows into mutual, a person who stoically pines and cares for years resigned to the hopelessness, denial of feeling breaking out... It's a great source of angst that can be resolved happily.

Rec list:

Star Trek: the Original Series (James T. Kirk/Spock)

Bitter Glass by killabeez: A story about regrets and second chances. Faced with the news of Kirk's death in Generations, Spock tells the story of a thirty-year friendship that defied all categorization. (Crossover with Star Trek: TNG) Originally posted in 1996.

The Diver by Carolyn_Spencer: One does not need to be well trained in the paths of logic to discern the meaning of the vision. I am the diver, and he, of course, the sea.

Catching Light: His mother did not think Spock understood loneliness for what it is, that he did not understand the way it creeps unbidden into a heart and splits like a wound. She did not think he felt its socketed mouth twisted open and yawning at the heart of him, hungry to be fed.
 

Comments

[makamu]

I am also a sucker for pining, which I think you captured perfectly. And I also went through your recs despite not having seen TOS (yet).

[snowynight]

It's such a great trope! I hope you enjoy the fics.

[shipperslist]

Ahhh, pining and mutual pining. *sighs happily* And also, pining while fucking as the subgenre.

It's a great source of angst that can be resolved happily.

Yes.

[snowynight]

Pining when they are married/fucking, pining when the other think they are dating... The possibilities are endless.

[cornerofmadness]

Cool, you are the first I've run across with this one and it is such an interesting one too (Honestly several of my favorite characters fall into this trope). Thanks for sharing!

[snowynight]

Thank you! Which of your favourite fall into this may I ask?

[cornerofmadness]

Sure, no problem.

Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye (points to icon) from Fullmetal Alchemist. He is her superior officer which rules out a relationship (though it is suggested it might be happening). Both seem to think they aren't worthy of being loved. His whole sell slaughter as part of the war machine weighs on him (and ditto her really)

Gil Arroyo and Jessica Whitly from Prodigal Son. They have 20 years of pining, especially on her end. He moved one after she rebuffed him for not being in her world. (she's a 1 percenter, he's NYPD) But also she feels unworthy of him seeing him as a loyal, kind and forgiving man and she has such bad taste in men she married a serial killer and her latest boyfriend has orchestrated many murders (though the show was leaning toward them being together just at cancelation)

[snowynight]

Mutual "you're out of my league" ships are so angsty and fun to read about. I am sorry to hear that Prodigal Son is canceled.

[cornerofmadness]

Yes they are and I have been having fun writing Gil and Jessica (seriously, Prodigal Son's cancelation hurt because it had such good mental health rep. Covid and Fox being Fox did it in)

[snowynight]

Covid and Fox being Fox are awful. At least we still have fics.

[cornerofmadness]

Fox does seem to love canceling shows. Yes we still have fic at least

[peaked]

Pining is so, so great. It's one of my favourite tropes. But I like that you specifically added as long as the the person doesn't think they're entitled to being loved back because it's very, very true and makes the experience of reading them coming together all the more fun.

[snowynight]

I like it when the object of affection freely decides to return the feeling (or not) on their own. It's OK if they think they need to out of a misunderstanding/weird concept of duty and love but makes their decision at the end without blame.

[svgurl]

Pining is so good and I am with you on the entitlement caveat. I really love all the variations you mentioned .

It's a great source of angst that can be resolved happily.
Yes, totally. Angst with a happy ending is definitely something I love in fics and it contributes to that perfectly. :D

[snowynight]

It's such a good trope, and can be resolved easily when the other side love them back /happy sigh