Fandoms as lovers...

[fajrdrako]

This was a nice challenge. I got it from fandom_me.



[The one who seduced you, fucked you over and broke your heart in a million pieces then laughed about it.]

X-Files. So good, and then so... empty. Mulder, whom I loved as I've seldom loved a hero, because he was so different, because he was so quirky and clever and curious and fucked-up... He turned into someone ordinary. He discovered the fate of his sister and he didn't care. It all came to nothing. Krycek died for nothing. Mulder married Scully. I was bitterly betrayed - not by what happened, but because the creators didn't care any more.

[The old flame you don't see very often any more but whom you still really enjoy getting together with for a few drinks and maybe a pleasant nostalgic romp in the sheets.]

Highlander. Such fun while it lasted. The delights of the first season stories. The exquisite joy of Methos - all the better that he was elusive. But in the end? Not very meaningful.

[The mysterious, dark, gothy one with whom you used to sit up talking until 3 a.m. at weird coffeehouses and with whom you were quite smitten until you realized he really was fucking crazy.]

X-Men, the comics. This ebbs and flows. At best, it's dark and captivating and fascinating. At worst - confusing.

[The one you spent a whole weekend in bed with and who drank up all your liquor, and whom you'd still really like to fuck again although you're relieved (s)he doesn't actually live in town.]

Frank Miller's Daredevil or 300 or Sin City. Such intensity cannot be sustained but it's beautiful while it lasts.

[The steady.]

I've gotta be polyamorous here.

The love of my life is Francis Crawford of Lymond.

Then there's Lord of the Rings. Beautiful and heroic, always reliable. Always so full of love and hope, even through the darkest hours. Such language. Such world-building. The movies as much as the books.

Then there's Shakespeare.

All of these go somewhat beyond my normal definitions of 'fandom', and seep into other territory involving life-changing tastes and choices: being a historian, being in theatre, wanting to write.

For 'fandoms' - The Professionals, the fandom in which I've written more than anywhere else. Horatio Hornblower, with those lovely sailors and heroic acts. Season 1 Smallville, with its intense slashy sexiness and character contrast. Firefly because what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality.

[The alluring stranger whom you've flirted with at parties but have never gotten really serious with.]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Intriguing but we've never spent any time together.

[The one you hang out with and have vague fantasies about maybe having a thing with but ultimately you're just good buddies 'cause the friendship is there but the chemistry ain't.]

I only watch shows where the chemistry is there. I have no half-hearted fandoms.

[The one your friends keep introducing you to and who seems like a hell of a cool guy except it's never really gone anywhere.]

Farscape

[The one who's slept with all your friends, and you keep looking at him and thinking, "Him? How the hell did he land all these cool babes?"]

Stargate SG-1

[The one who gave you the best damned summer of your life and who you measure all other potential partners against.]

Torchwood - a hard act to follow, for a slash fan. Especially when you include the Doctor Who episodes with Captain Jack. After you've seen "The Parting of the Ways" and "Captain Jack Harkness", what can compare? The slash standard is raised so high it's ridiculous. And beautiful. And captivating.

[The one that you will cheat on your steady with.]

I'm totally into the sharing. Besides, this presupposes a single entity as my steady, which isn't going to happen. No fandom lasts forever. No fandom should stay forever in place of honour, without rivals - that would be stagnation.

And let me add:

[The first one.]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; which tweaked my hormones and set me on the path.