Pairings Discussion- Likes and Dislikes

[himiko]

Got the idea seeing as the favourite character thread was becoming pretty pairing related, thought it was as good a time as any to make a thread specifically for pairings. Not so much for an indepth discussion, I guess, because I know some pairings already have threads devoted to them in various areas of the board, but just to discuss what you like or dislike, with reasons, maybe?

OK, and for my part:

PAIRINGS I LOVE:
Mab/Mordred- Adore it senselessly beyond all reason (No? Really?!), But attempting to look at it rationally, I guess it's because it's my two favourite characters, it's sort of hinted at in the book, and there's something (as I've said many times) sweet, yet twisted about the whole thing.
Mab/Loke- OK, yeah, technically incest, and yes, Loke isn't technically in the film or novelisation, but again, I really like both characters, it was fun to write (no idea whether it's fun to read, but if anyone else is tempted to help me in that respect by writing some more, I give you great encouragement). Also their relationship in Jim (brother/sister, I hasten to add, it hadn't turned shippy the last time I read it, at least), is rather more... light-hearted, maybe, than Mab has with most of the other characters.
Mab/Idath- I do really like this pairing, though admittedly, JimIdath is being rather emoish lately, and needs to stop doing so if he is ever likely to have a hope with her again, LOL.


PAIRINGS I LOATHE:
Mab/Vortigern- This one's odd, if you'd asked me about it a couple of years ago, it would probably have sat pretty firmly in the "firm indifference" section of my opinion, but since then, I've really gone off Vortigern, and as a side effect, the pairing has sunk into the dislike section. And alas, the more I read of it, the more I dislike it (NOT because of those who write it, it's all been very well written, exposure to the pairing just makes my feelings towards it worse, I guess).
Mab/Frik- Just because I find the pairing generally icky. I don't think I could ever bring myself to write it, LOL, but judging by Tosca's drabble, it can be interesting to read when done well.
Mab/Uther- See above, and multiply by 10
Jack/Anyone- Two good reasons- 1) In the case of mf pairings, the possibility of Jack breeding appears. This must be avoided at all costs, and 2) I wouldn't wish Jack on my worst enemy.

PAIRINGS I DON'T LIKE AND YET FIND ODDLY APPEALING
Mab/Merlin- Yeah, I find Merlin irritating, and the idea gives me vague icky feelings, but at the same time, it's really interesting, and almost fun, to read and write the various fanfics about the pairing.
Mab/Nimue- again, Nimue's a character I don't like, but the pairing is fun to read and write about
Mab/Arthur- mostly because of Incapa's fantabulous fic over on MRAP. Go read.

PAIRINGS I'M FAIRLY INDIFFERENT TO
Ummm, yeah, this encompasses most of the other pairings, LOL. As you can probably tell, most of the pairings I feel particularly strongly about tend to revolve around Mab. As to the remaining Mab pairings, most notably MabMorgan, I've not really thought about it one way or the other, it may be it begins to grow on me or repulse me with time, LOL.

Everyone else?

[Lane of Magic]

OPK, I'll cpomfess I hven't read everyting you've listed, biut I do LVE MV - I don't lnow why, it could be because I jsut love both characters, ot because they fit do damn wel together.

Anyway, I also lkike the oidea of MI - however, this cannot really last very long... (see Jim. where I've had it with Idath).

*shall edir somewhere in the future*
*is grateful for your undersanding8

EDIT: Oh dear, I didn't even remember this one...

"OK, I'll confess I haven't read everything you've listed, but I do love MV - I don't know why (...) well together.

Anyway, I also like the idea of MI (...)

Yeah, that would pretty much be it with the editing... I think. (hope?)

[Zoicite]

Like: Mab/Morgan, Mab/Morgan


Hate: Mab/Uther or Arthur or Frik

[Zocha]

I don't support any couple really aside from Morgan/Frik, and that's already a couple. I guess it's just that way because I had finally created Mab's 'first love' in my novel, so that guy I made up is the only guy I can see her with. xD

Though, I'll admit I have read some Mab/Mordred lately out of curiosity, though I still find it kinda odd.

[Libitine]

Oh My.
This shall be a long post.
Maybe.
I always say that, and then my posts aren't long.
Damn.
Wait.
No!
I mean EVIL-WORD!
Damn I screwed that up.
Damn! I said 'damn'!
AHH!
I said it again!
I forgot what the point was.
I should just sto--- Oh! Pairings! Right! Hrmph. . . ?
*is in NO WAY ADD ;D *

[glow=red,2,300]TEH LOVEY:[/glow]
1. Mab/Vortigern - Oh. My. Gods. Think about it. The two most powerful evil villains in the entire film. Both with the same fears and problem,s both not admitting to it. Think about it. I think Mab is the female Vortigern and vice versa. I mean really. The power they could have together is amazing to think about. Oh it makes me droool. . . A power-hungry warlord and the Queen of Battle! (traditional myth has Mab as Queen of Warriors and Battle BTW).

2. Mab/Morgan - I just love it. Love the idea. WOULD love fanfics if there were any. *pokes Zoi*.

3. Mab/Merlin - I cannot explain it. It is so twisted. So diabolical. So very Mab to sleep with her son. Like she owns him in every way. It is sick! But in the best way.

4. Mab/Frik - Pure disgusting master/servant sex. Bloody fantastic. Because we alllll know Frik has a secret Mab obsession and that she doesn't really hate him. She just likes to toy with him. *thinks she remembers a quote in the book about Mab liking to toy with Frik and not truthfully disliking him*

*ponders*

5. Mab/Idath - Just because they are the classic lovers and the pair is so perfect. Probably because they are polar opposites. I have always imagined Idath as this really tall, buff hunter (and I mean FREAK tall, like seven foot. Like crazy!) with wild red hair and eyes. And then Mab as teeney (smaller than in the movie. Like five foot two or three) with dark dark dark long hair and dark eyes. But the magic they would make *faints ded*.

6. Mab/Loke - Incest. Irresistible.

TEH HATE:

1. Merlin/Anyone (but Mab) - No explanation. Guess.

2. Nimue/Anyone (but Mab) - I hate Nimue. Imagining her in that setting give me nightmares.

3. Arthur/Mab - The ficlet I read was good, but it cannot bring me to like the pairing.

4. Uther/Anyone (including Mab) - Ewwwww.

[shadow=red,left,300]TEH QUESTION MARK:[/shadow]

1. Mab/Mordred - I know how many MM fanatics there are here *pokes Himi* but it just don't thrill me. Probably because it is predicable and overdone. NOT that I am bashing the fics. . . I mean gawds, every fic I have read is fantastic, but I just am not that excited about it.

2. Mab/Nimue - I hate Nimue. You all know I hate Nimue. But the setting in Avalon with her and Mab gives me chills. Not chills enough to like it (not close to loving it) but chills enough to make me read whatever fic might pass by.

;D

Let me know if I forgot a pairing . . .

[Zoicite]

I'll try! For the sake of my new fetish, I SHALL TRY! *poses heroically*

[Lane of Magic]

Yay for the prospect of new fic(s)!

And onto the main topic of the thread...

OK, pairings. I shall reply to this one again, and try to be more specific this time (I do know why I like things, most of the time).

I shall start with the ones I love… which might be just one, in fact.

Mab/Vortigern – I’ve always seen this as a pairing, for whatever reason (maybe because of the famous tent scene, which was not rehearsed enough times). It just seems very real, and it’s believable without any need for special circumstances, as is the case of most pairings.

I’ve also noticed that each is a perfect version/reflection of the other, only of an opposite sex – I completely agree on that one, Libitine.

And then there’s the fact that they’re at the very least strongly intrigued with each other, which is sure to lead to more. *is tempted to just throw in an essay and cause everyone to get to an ophthalmologist/optician with their eyes hurting like hell before they’ve finished reading it* Ahem, well, just to cut the story short, the fact that they’re so very much alike is sure to cause their personalities to collide, and it just results in love/hate. (srsly, do I have to list more reasons?)

The fact that I love both characters might have influenced me to like the pairing as a whole (but if I’m to be completely honest, I initially got more interested in V. because Mab “liked” him, so it’s started from the pairing towards the characters, not the other way around). In the end, it’s the relationship between them that weighs the most in this.


Mab/Idath – I quite liked it, but it’s lost some of its magic after a while (perhaps there have just been too many events… OK, this one will probably be based on Jim mostly, since the novelisation did not explore it). This pairing seems to work on a similar principle. He seems very detached and teases her, she gets annoyed, and there we go. Trouble usually appears when Idath starts to take things too personally and tries to show just how much he cares – that’s when he truly starts getting on her nerves. Good thing they’re both immortal, so they’ve literally got all the time in the world.

Their immortality can also be a great disadvantage – the thought of (not even being but) ending up with the same person at the end of time can be fuc..g scary and annoying, and you stop appreciating the time you have together. (I suppose that a few centuries/millennia apart could make things better for when you cross paths again)

Mab/Loke – This one’s somewhat reminding me of a perfect match, although it’s mainly the elements of Air and Fire that go together so well that I’m thinking about, not the actual characters. As for the characters, hm… does light and intense at the same time cut it?


I can’t understand some other pairings.

Mab/Mordred – It could be OK-ish, when one-sided (*wonderful* fics), but it’s not something I would have thought of, really. I’ve just happened to grow less and less comfortable with it, ironically enough, but I didn’t really have a logical objective reason to explain it. I might have found that reason now.

(As hinted at) Mordred seems to develop quite an obsession for her, which is all good and nice, but I can’t see Mab be very impressed by it – it surely wouldn’t be a first, although it might be a slightly more special case, since she’s been around him all his life. And it could work, as long as there’s a war to fight, and she needs him to fulfill her plans etc. However, it still doesn’t seem that appealing – to be more concise, she already has him, there’s nothing to conquer, no challenge => a very bored Mab. IMHO. And his love/obsession could well turn to hate/wish for revenge, if she suddenly stopped giving him any attention.

Mab/Nimue – I’m fairly neutral to this one. It’s great as femslash in all the ficlets, but unlikely in a more canon universe. I suppose it would be interesting to explore it more, although there really isn’t much I can say about it.

Mab/Morgan – I don’t see how this might come about, tbh. Mab only kept Morgan around so that Mordred wouldn’t turn against her the way Merlin did. And Morgan has never seemed to either like, nor dislike Mab. *shrug* Get them drunk and see what happens?…

Mab/anyone else – I’m going to spare my brain certain traumas, and just say that most other pairings involving Mab are either not compelling enough to get into them or downright sick, or gross, and I don’t see much point in going there. Still, should I have missed any notable pairing, nudge me

As for the other couples in the movie in general, I’m pretty much OK/neutral to most. The only thing I would point out is that I haven’t really seen much (any!) chemistry between Merlin and Nimue – only that kiss at the end of the movie seemed to have a little bit of meaning to it.

Also, I initially liked Lancelot/Elaine better than Lancelot/Guinevere, but there’s no notable difference now. If I were to analyse these couples, the idea of something being forbidden must have been very appealing in the latter case.

[himiko]

Few things in response to Lane's comments:

Mab/Idath- I agree about the idea of immortality being a disadvantage. In the novel, they USED to be lovers but no longer are, and then in Jim (because yeah, not having the films to work from makes it tricky, LOL) they become lovers again, briefly, then parted again. That's always the thought I had about their relationship- I should add, based on no real proof in the novelisation, and for no real reason other than my own thoughts on the idea- the two of them ARE drawn to each other (when Idath is not being quite so emo), and it seems almost inevitable (again, just my impressions based on no logical reasoning, LOL), that they will be lovers again in the future. But at the same time, they're certainly not a joined-at-the-hip type pairing- years pass, they change, Mab takes other lovers (I believe Frik makes a reference to Mab's "seven year stands"? or something similar at one point in the book), it's entirely possible Idath does too, as, whilst he's rather mopey at the moment in Jim, in the novelisation he didn't come across as having spent the last however-many-years pining for Mab.

Basically, what I'm trying to say, and making it very convoluted and confusing, is that when it comes to Mab pairings, this is the one I can see "lasting", not because it's my favourite, though I do like it, simply because of the way it comes across to me. But even so, it's not a constant thing, they drift apart and back together, repeat as neccessary, and with an eternity ahead of them, I can't see that changing.

Mab/Mordred- LOL, I guess you and I discussed this last night at some length. Fair enough, no pairing is for everyone's tastes, LOL, but I have to say in this case that some of the things you dislike about it are what makes it interesting to me in a way. The two sides of the ship are completely different. On the one hand, there's Mordred, who's feelings towards Mab (whether you take them as romantic/lustful or not) do seem to be bordering on the obsessive- perhaps understandably, she's been a huge part of his existence since even before he was born, after all- and then on the other hand, you have Mab, who is either unaware of Mordred's feelings, or is aware and just not responding.

I don't think it's entirely out of the realms of possibility that something could happen between them- whether Mab hopes to use it to further gain control or manipulate Mordred's feelings, or simply because she can, or she's bored- but I could never in a million years see Mab feeling the kind of dependency and obsession Mordred seems to feel towards her, towards anyone, lover or not, nor can I see her "settling down" with anyone. And yes, these two different outlooks could well foster frustration or anger in Mordred. They're never going to be a happy-ending pairing, more's the pity for Mordred, but that's part of what's so interesting about them.

Lancelot/Elaine/Guinevere- The main problem I have with this is simply the characters weren't developed enough for me to care. Lancelot and Elaine have one, really brief scene together in which they seem sweet and happy enough, but that's it, TBH I wasn't really bothered when she died. Lancelot and Guinevere had more screen time, and more chance to develop, but whilst I felt sympathy for Guinevere to some extent, what with Arthur buggering off for several years and all, it was hard to muster up liking for a couple that were knowingly committing adultery and (inadvertantly) causing the death of Elaine. Because yeah, Mab let her know, but methinks if Lancelot and Guinevere had been chatting over a cup of tea rather than having sex, the image in the mirror might have caused her a bit less upset. I can understand, they weren't the focus of the story, so the lack of the characters and pairings as a whole doesn't bother me that much.

[Lane of Magic]

Yup, I agree with the Mab/Idath thing (guess I wasn’t clear enough in the other post). So yeah, they do get together and apart again, and I suppose that’s the only way it can be, considering “eternity” DX

“Seven year stands” *DED* I don’t remember this one, but it’s priceless! I just love it, for whatever reason. *snickers to death*

OK, what else? Well, obviously Mab is not the type to “settle down” (and it’s not a time thing, it just seems that all things can only last this long, and then something else comes up, and she’s not intersted anymore, or simply has to focus on something else), I couldn’t agree more on that one.

As for Lancelot/Elaine/Guinevere, I also think the characters didn’t get enough screen time. However, I was never bothered about the affair betweem Lancelot and Guinevere. For one thing, it didn’t happen randomly – they lived together for like 7 years (?), so obviously they tried to avoid something like this from happening. I suppose they just couldn’t. And I certainly don’t feel sorry for Arthur, seeing he was the one to leave “chasing shadows”. Elaine was the one to get the short end of the stick, but there you go, life ain’t always fair…

[himiko]

Hang on, I shall try and find the passage for you, Lane.

Ah, here ye go: Book One, just before Merlin's arrival in the Land of Magic (he's interested in getting to know Merlin, which turns into musings on getting to know mortals in general):

"Of course, Her Highness was always bringing home these seven-year stands, like that Thomas whatsisname, who'd wanted to be a poet. Remarkably bad verse, if Frik remembered, and eventually Mab had gotten so tired of him that she'd put a curse on him to tell nothing but the truth. THAT had sent the fellow packing! But that sort of interlude wasn't like getting to know a mortal..."

[Lane of Magic]

Ooohyay! I don't suppose it's from the first two books?... o__O

Edit: Ah, yeah, I remember that one about the poet... DX Heh, I wonder what he kind of truth he ended up saying. *dies sporfling*

[himiko]

Indeed tis, in Book One.

[Lane of Magic]

Yeah, I've figured it out, upon reading it. Thanks again)))

[hilloneko]

Hmmmm...I guess it is my turn to say which pairings I like and don't

The ones I like are

Mab and Idath - Well for the reason that was stated in the posts above, it is the only pairing that has a chance of lasting unlike the others.

the ones I don't like are

Mab and Frik - I dislike this one since I don't really see this happening. I think Mab in a way is a little disgusted by Frik and I doubt she would want to have anything to do with him other than throw him against walls.

Uther and anyone - lets face it nobody should be paired with Uther. Even if he was paired up with a pig I would feel sorry for the pig.

indifferent

If not listed above then those pairings are listed in here.

[Zocha]

Mar 21, 2008 7:11:25 GMT hilloneko said:

.. I doubt she would want to have anything to do with him other than throw him against walls.

Ooh baby baby.

Lol, sorry, I just had to do it. xD