My (non-FMA) OTP is awesome because...

[Artemis Day]

So, as most of you know, there's a thread under FMA Talk where you can discuss your OTP and why you ship it: www.fmaclubhouse.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=104.

I thought it was a great idea, so I decided there should be one of these in general discussion too. I mean, we can't talk about FMA all the time. XD

The same rules apply here. No bashing, just love. Any pairing is fine. Be it canon, fanon, yaoi, yuri, insanely crackish, even crossover pairings would be cool, I love those. Just not FMA, but that's a given...

Just be sure to list what fandom your ship comes from so nobody will be confused. Also, please put warnings for spoilers.

So, I'll start things off with my biggest OTP right now (yes, even bigger than FMA XD).


Why Tamaki/Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club) is awesome.

The thing about Ouran is that it's a satire of common shojo elements (reverse harems, ho yay, etc.). However, that's not to say that it can't be serious when it wants to be (I cried at the end of episode 13, mostly because I could relate).

Tamaki and Haruhi are the male and female lead respectively. There's a hilarious moment in an early episode where Tamaki breaks the fourth wall by outright declaring that him and Haruhi are going to be love interests solely based on this status. He even dubs the rest of the club, 'homosexual supporting cast.'

Despite this, two things are made very clear early on:

1. Tamaki is an idiot when it come his own feelings, because he's decided that his feelings for Haruhi are parental rather than romantic.
2. Subconsciously, he knows that he's in love with her, but is a lot more insecure about it than it seems.

Another interesting thing to note is the personality reversal present in the two characters. The common shojo stereotype is a sweet, starry-eyed girl going after (or being pursued by) an aloof, seemingly uninterested guy. With Tamaki and Haruhi, we have a brutally honest, snarky, education minded girl dealing with a naive, bubbly pretty boy who is a great deal more emotionally open (which isn't to say Tamaki doesn't have his own issues, and BOY does he ever).

Anyway, the reason I ship this is mainly because of their individual personalities. Haruhi, as previously stated, is completely closed off to her classmates. She wants nothing to do with them, not because she's mean or obnoxious, but because she feels that she came to Ouran to study and nothing more. She starts her time with the Host Club pretty openly disliking it and by extension the Hosts themselves.

Tamaki is a rich boy who looks at commoner life with all the excitement and joy of a five year old going to his first amusement park. He is kind and charming and honestly sees the good in everyone. Even the people who hurt him, he never shows a shred of negative emotion towards.

Now that I think about it, in the anime at least, Tamaki was only ever angry in a way that was portrayed seriously when Haruhi was in trouble, like when he thought she was being attacked in the fourth episode.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that Tamaki and Haruhi are a working case of 'Opposites Attract'. Sort of like Naveen and Tiana in Princess and the Frog; Tamaki is all play, Haruhi is all work. Tamaki is loud and vibrant, Haruhi is quiet and calm. So when they're together, they achieve a balance. One fanfic I read probably said it best:

'He brings Haruhi out, she calms Tamaki down.'

That's a perk of 'opposites attract' as a whole: when it works, the couple is able to cover each other's flaws with their strengths.

Sure, it may be too perfect for reality, but then again, this IS a shojo manga.

EDIT: Almost forgot. XD

If I had to pick a song to describe TamaHaru, it'd be this one, because if Tamaki were going to serenade Haruhi, this is definitely the sort of song he'd use:



**
So that's my mini-essay on TamaHaru. There are probably other reasons why I support it, but this is most prevalent in my mind at the moment.

Okay, who's next? Come on, don't be shy. We won't judge you.

[bespecledcow]

YAY A CHANCE TO GUSH ABOUT MY OTHER OTP!!!!!!!

Ahem, excuse me, but I don't get many chances to just talk about WHY I love a certain pairing so much.

Also, please excuse the following length, as in order to properly explain why I love this pairing, a lot of backstory is required.

Pairing: Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough from Final Fantasy 7.

Cloud is a mercenary; muscle for hire, doesn't really matter the job. He's a former member of Soldier, the Shinra Corporation's warriors, a company that pretty much rules the world and is killing the planet at the same time. His parents are dead, and his home town was burned to the ground by a madman named Sephiroth when he was a teenager. He's a strong fighter, and somewhat cocky, but overall very introverted and quiet. He puts up a front of not caring about anyone or anything but himself. Surprisingly, he finds himself caught up in a mission to save the planet and get revenge on Sephiroth (while Sephiroth wants to destroy Cloud too, for beating him once in the past). Eventually it is revealed that Cloud was actually a failed experiement himself- meant to become a clone of Sephiroth. He was never a member of Soldier. Instead, when the chemicals and such were pumped into his system, he was saved by his best friend Zack, a member of Soldier's First Class. The two escaped together; Cloud, disoriented from the expriments, teeters on the edge of conciousness. To his horror, Zack fights off all those chasing them, but dies of wounds before Cloud's eyes. His mind and body fractured, Cloud mixes up his identity with Zack's- believing himself to have been the First Class Soldier. His journey really starts when he meets Aerith.

Cloud/Aerith quote of relevence:
Cloud: No, Aerith, its too dangerous.
Aerith: Oh, so its okay for Tifa to be in danger?
Cloud: No, I don't want Tifa in danger either...

Aerith is a mysterious girl, living in the slums with her adoptive mother. She sells flowers that she grows to make a living; well liked by many who meet her. However, there is more to her than meets the eye, for she is targeted by the Turks, a branch of the Shinra Corporation known for kidnapping and murder. They want her because she is the last in the line of an ancient people called 'Cetra' who have healing powers, as well as the ability to communicate with the planet itself. She actually grew up in a labratory with her real mother (her father was murdered when she was a baby), being experimented on. When her mother managed to get them out, she was killed in the struggle and left Aerith in the care of a widow in the Slums. Ever since, the Shinra corporation has been trying to catch Aerith, their lost 'specimen'. Aerith is very much an extrovert; she is cheerful, independent, flirtatious, and optimistic. At the same time, with all of her power and the pressure placed on her to save the planet, at times she feels lonely and insecure.

Cloud/Aerith quote that fits this:
Aerith: I'm...all alone...
Cloud: But I'm...we're....here for you.

They first meet when Aerith sells him a flower, and then again when Cloud protects her from the Turks. She offers him the position of being her bodyguard in exchange for going on a date. Cloud doesn't object to this, and soon they are both fighting and running for their lives together. Along their journey, they grow closer, and get some friends. Cloud is more open and confident with Aerith than anyone else, even teasing her about how she can't keep up with him, but managed to avoid the Turks all these years.

The depth of Sephiroth's and Shinra's plans are soon revealed: Sephiroth, delusional, wants to summon a powerful force called "Meteor" to destory the entire planet. Aerith discovers that the only way to stop meteor is to summon the being 'Holy', an act only she can perform.

C/A quote again:
Aerith: Cloud...I want to meet you.
Cloud: I'm right here.
Aerith: No, I want to meet...you...

(The above hints that Aerith could see Cloud was confused about his identity)

While visiting a fortune teller, who later becomes a member of their party, they go on their date. They see a play together, and take a gondala ride. It should be noted here that Cloud could go on a date with a number of characters, even the male ones, but that Aerith is the default date. Unless you really try to get it otherwise, you will go out with Aerith.

Anyway, the fortune teller gives them what at first seems to be useless information (Cloud's favorite color is blue, for example) he finally tells the party: "What you pursue will be yours, but you will loose something dear."

However, they cannot guess what it is they will loose.

Cloud and Aerith are opposites in many ways, but also share a lot on common. Their parents died, they were both experimented upon, and they both feel lonely because of what they are. At the same time, they are happy when they are around each other. Cloud laughs and teases Aerith, while Aerith loves to tease Cloud in turn. ("Why Cloud, are you jealous?") He is always concerned about her safety, and she in turn shows endless faith in him, and continues to support him, no matter the obstacle.

Aerith is also not your typical damsel in distress. Though not a physical fighter, she has powerful magical attacks, and her healing abilities are what keeps the party, well, alive.

In the end, it is Aerith that saves the planet, not Cloud.

One night, Cloud dreams of Aerith. They are in a forest, alone. She tells him that she believes in him, that she wants to be there "so you don't have a breakdown." She also tells him that she is going off to face Sephiroth by herself, because she is the only one who can. She smiles, and tells him she will "be back when this is all over." She leaves, the shadowy figure of Sephiroth not far behind, and Cloud runs after her in a panic. He wakes, and the others tell him Aerith is gone.

Chasing after her, he can feel her wherever he goes- like something is pulling him toward her. And he can sense Sephiroth too. Finally they reach her, and find her engulfed in light, praying before an altar. Cloud waves the others away, approaching her by himself, relieved that she is safe. When he reaches the top of the stairs, several things happen at once.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Aerith looks up at Cloud, and smiles at him.

A shadow moves above her, and drops down.

With deadly accuracy, Sephiroth falls, his sword sliding right into Aerith. She dies instantly, still smiling.

Sephiroth smirks, and draws his sword out of her body.

Cloud/Aerith quote:
Cloud: *drops to his knees beside her body, shaking her* Aerith! This can't be real!
Sephiroth: Don't worry. Soon the girl will become part of the planet's energy.
Cloud: *shaking* SHUT UP! The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don't mean a thing! Aerith is gone...she will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry, or get angry...what about us?! What are WE supposed to do?! What about my pain!? *holds her close* My fingers are tingling...my mouth is dry, my eyes are burning! *bends his head over her body, crying*

Later, after Sephiroth escapes, Cloud alone bury's Aerith's body in the water, watching her sink, still smiling.

It soon becomes clear that Cloud is mainly fighting for Aerith, now.
"To unfreeze her smile."

Eventually, Cloud does kill Sephiroth, and watches in triumph as he dies. He suddenly finds himself surrounded in light, and looks up, reaching out his hand. Aerith's hand is there, in the sky, leading him out of the dark. Just before he can grasp it, he finds himself with the others, in danger, and they have to run. As he stands with the others, watching the world start to fall apart, he talks of meeting Aerith in the Promised Land.

Suddenly, everyone feels, and sees a flash of an image- Aerith smiling. All of the damage Sephiroth began starts to heal, for Holy has come, and it stops Meteor.

Two years later, in the movie Advent Children, Cloud is still suffering from the guilt of Aerith's death, and is unable to be happy. He's taken up a delivery service, (searching for Aerith, perhaps?) and his room is decorated with flowers that Aerith had grown in a church. Later, he even moves in there, sleeping beside the flowers.

Aerith starts appearing to him suddenly, speaking only comforting words.

Quote:
Aerith: You came. Even though you're about to break, hm? *touches his arm* So, why did you come?
Cloud: I think I...want to be forgiven. Yeah. More than...anything.
Aerith: *Smiles* By who?

In the end, Aerith is able to not only help stop the evil again threatening the planet (from the freakin' afterlife) but she is also able to help Cloud realize that she never blamed him.

Aerith: I never blamed you. Not once. You came for me. That's all that matters.

She even physically heals him and the others multiple times after battles. And in the end, after Cloud has been shot and is dying, floating in between life and death, she puts a hand to his forehead. Cloud, disoriented, thinks for a moment she is his mother, and is shocked to hear two beloved voices.

Cloud: ...Mother?
Aerith: *Laughing* Again? Why is everyone calling me their mother lately?
Zack: I guess they must be fond of you.
Aerith: Hmm. This one is a little too big to adopt.
Zack: Hear that, friend? Sounds like...you don't have a place here.

Cloud wakes very much alive, knowing that it isn't yet his time to die. As he looks around at his friends, he turns to see a stunning sight. In fact, I think you all have to see it to appreciate it:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQ9FN32f2s&feature=related

Keep in mind this was the first time we saw Aerith's face in the movie; they kept her hidden on purpose, so we'd be really wowed with the graphics at the end.

So, Aerith and Cloud are shown to be linked spiritually, and in the ending credits to this movie, Cloud is shown riding off to a flower field where Aerith is waiting.

This is actually my first OTP. I've liked them since I was five, when I watched my brother play the game.

Oh, and for a song, Dreaming with a broken Heart, by John Mayer, its so sad. Actually, I have a good C/A AMV for it I'll use...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TJNcTWby1w

[helle is a SLYTHERIN <3]

I have four. Two from Harry Potter (this post) and two from Doctor Who.
SHUT UP I KNOW THE O STANDS FOR ONE BUT I CAN'T CHOOSE DAMMIT.
First:

Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood.

In short: They're both awkward and adorkable, and would be adorable together. Normally I stare blankly at the movies and repeat "WOT." over and over akin to the Tenth Doctor, but the scene in DH part 2 made my inner fangirl squee.

Second:

Remus Lupin and Lily Evans.
Okay, honestly, this one stems from my hatred of James Potter, and my inability to comprehend how someone as nice and lovely as Lily Evans would ever fall for an asshole who mortally embarrassed her best friend and drove him to call her a mudblood in front of most of their year.
Remus and Lily are both shown to be intelligent individuals. True, Lily is shown to obviously be much more outgoing than Remus, but she's also very loyal and accepting, which I believe Remus would greatly value. She's one person who would undoubtedly be able to keep his lycanthropy a secret, and she could offer him a fresh view of things. (Because, let's face it: James and Sirius are reckless and lack any common sense, and Peter's a tagalong.)
They were apparently both prefects, which meant that they would have spent a lot of time together. (Unfortunately, I'm currently on dial-up, so I can't check the validity of Remus's being a prefect, however, I know for a fact that Lily was head girl, and heads are almost always former prefects).
I WILL WRITE MORE ONCE I COVER THE BASES FOR MY NEXT SHIP

[helle is a SLYTHERIN <3]

OKAY.
POST #2.
DOCTOR WHO.
HOLY CRAP HOW I LOVE THIS SERIES. I HONESTLY EXPECTED IT TO BE KIND OF CRAP, BUT NO. EVEN WITH ROSE (WHOM I LOATHED AND STILL LOATHE) I WAS HOOKED.
SO.
FIRST OFF.

THIS ENTIRE POST IS FULL OF SPOILERS BECAUSE I GET TOO EXCITED TO PUT WARNINGS OR TAGS. IT'S DOCTOR WHO. THERE ARE A LOT OF SPOILERS EVERYWHERE.


Doctor/Romana.
Particularly, the Fourth Doctor and Romana I.
He's a mad old man with a blue box that's bigger on the inside. It took him multiple tries to graduate from the Academy and become a Time Lord (contrary to popular belief of the fans of New Who, one is not born a Time Lord. Gallifreyan is the race - one only becomes a Time Lord once they graduate from the Academy). She's a snarky, beautiful genius who has no practical experience whatsoever. Together they form a wonderful team, and, as much as I love Amy and Rory - WAIT I HAVE FIVE OTPS - The Doctor just goes with Romana.
She's smarter than him, at least when it comes to books, something which none of his other companions can boast. What's more, she's not afraid to tell him that he's just plain wrong.
Of course, sometimes she has no idea what she's doing and he has to swoop in to save the day.
Just. Again. I will write more when I don't have dial-up.

NEXT.

Amy and Rory Williams Pond
Okay. Let me say that since he became a companion, I have shipped this. Because he's sweet, adorable, a huge dork, and he's... almost like a puppy, really. And Amy's this (seemingly) strong girl who's not afraid to get what she wants.
When he's first introduced, it's sort of a "I'm her boyfriend." "...No, he's not really." sort of thing, which leads me to believe that he was sort of awkward and flaily and that she was obviously holding out for the Doctor to come back.
But somehow, two years later, she's getting ready to marry him.
A bit after (and long before) that night, he's waiting outside of a box (which she was trapped in to save her life) for her - for 1000 years. (Yeah, okay, you won't get it unless you've seen it. It's too complicated to explain).
He waited for her for one thousand years. He never left her side, and he risked his own life (well, sort of) multiple times just to protect her.
Then they got married and flew away in a blue box and concieved a baby whilst the TARDIS was in flight and proceeded to go on many adventures.
But let's back up. "Let's Kill Hitler" showed us that Rory has always, always loved Amy. Amy, Rory, and (apparently) "the best friend" Mels go back to primary school.
When they're in primary school (anywhere from 8-11) Amy and Mels are talking about the Doctor, and Rory comes in the room, claiming that he's been hiding for over an hour. "We still haven't found you yet," is Amy's way of explaining it. So he goes back to hiding and Amy goes back to ignoring him.
In the next scene, Amy and Mels are walking the playground, and Rory's in the background, blindfolded. "Am I getting warmer?" "Yes!" and then Amy walks away with Mels, again, discussing the Doctor.

Amy and Rory (and Mels) are (ostensibly, in Mels' case) eighteen. They're talking in her bedroom (or, rather, Mels is talking), and Rory announces that he has to go.
Mels, obviously trying to get the two of them together, announces that Amy has "Mr. Perfect" Amy responds that the Doctor's not real, and Mels rolls her eyes, and says, "I was talking about Rory."
Rory is about halfway out the door at this point, and you can see from the look on his face that he really wishes that Amy did feel that way about him.
Then the pair proceed to ask Mels how, exactly, does Amy have Rory.
Amy: Nice thought, okay. But completely impossible.
Rory: Yeah. Impossible.
Amy: I’d love to. He’s gorgeous. He’s my favorite guy. But he’s, you know—gay.
Rory: —A friend. {to Amy} I’m not gay.
Amy: Yes you are.
Rory: No. No I’m not.
Amy: Of course you are. Don’t be stupid. In the whole time I’ve known you, when have you shown the slightest interest in a girl.
Mels: Penny in the air.
Amy: I’ve known you for what? Ten years. I’ve seen you practically every day. Name one girl you’ve paid the slightest bit of attention to.
Rory, being sensible, is more or less o/////o and turns and runs away.
And it hits Amy then. She yells for him to wait and calls his name as she leaves the room, running after him.

NOW LET'S FAST FORWARD.
Rory dies. It's in a dream; he and Amy are living the perfect (to him, at least), domestic life, and have a baby on the way. All of a sudden, the old people go crazy and Rory gets killed.
At that point, Amy decides that it has to be a dream because Rory can't be dead. So she steals an old Volswagen van and rams it into the side of her stone house.

Then Rory dies again. (The boy is like the Kenny of Doctor Who, I swear). He and Amy aren't married yet, and he doesn't just die. He's erased from all existance. As he's being pulled away, she is sobbing because she can't imagine her life without him. She loves him.

He comes back as a centurian (in approximately 1000 AD), but... she doesn't remember him. And then, when her memories of him return, she's crying and telling him how much she loves him when, due to the nestene consciousness, he involuntarily shoots her.
As he's sobbing and trying to save her, the Doctor appears out of nowhere and tells him that he can save Amy - she simply needs to be locked in a box for 1000 years. The box has life support, and the Doctor's in it at the moment (wibbly wobbly, timey whimey), and if Rory uses the sonic screwdriver to get the Doctor out, he can put Amy in and save her. Of course, he won't see her for 1000 years. So he does it. And he waits. He saves the box from a burning warehouse during the Blitz, disguises himself as a security guard at a museum.
The Doctor reboots the universe, brings Rory back, and it's their wedding.
Amy manages to remember the Doctor and brings him back and HEY! It's time for amazing space adventures!
WILL DEFINITELY WRITE MORE WHEN I DON'T HAVE DIAL-UP.

LASTLY. OMG.

DOCTOR/TARDIS.
NO. YOU GUYS. THIS ISN'T A CRACKSHIP.
THIS IS THE WHOVIAN OTP.
LIKE LEGIT.
THE OTP.

"The Doctor's Wife" cemented this ship for me. I'd always sort of shipped it, but... that episode.
Okay, for those of you that don't know:
The TARDIS is the blue box that's bigger on the inside.
It's symbiotically linked to the Doctor.
It's a she.
He calls her sexy when they're alone.
She always takes him where he needs to go, not necessairly where he wants to go.
He stole her (or she stole him) from Gallifrey. They both wanted to get away.
Every one else leaves, gets old, or dies. The TARDIS remains.
Oh, in case you didn't catch it: the blue box is sentient.

Only she can't communicate with him, really. It's quite sad.
EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT during "The Doctor's Wife" when she's MADE INTO A HUMAN.
These people took the spirit of the TARDIS and put it INTO some random woman.

Best. Ever.:


He loves her. She loves him. It's not the hot and heavy hormonal love. It's not sweet but shallow love. It's deep, meaningful, wondeful love.

And now you can all think I'm crazy for shipping an alien with his equally alien blue box whilst I go to add more to the Amy/Rory section.

[Rainbow-Lord Crowmunculus]

Anyone who stalks me on tumblr should have seen this coming:

Nezumi/Sion from No. 6: The most beautiful canon pair Crow has ever shipped

(Mild plot setup spoilers and tl;dr lie ahead)



I started watching No. 6 around mid-August because all these adorable gay gifs started showing up on my tumblr dashboard. Here, have an example - Sion is the white-haired one, Nezumi is the dark-haired one:



Yes, they are boys. Yes, they are slow-dancing. CLEARLY I had to watch this anime. And I did not regret it: They. Are. So. Gay. Within the first few episodes, we get hand-holding, hair-stroking, slow-dancing, crossdressing, and Shakespeare, just to name a few examples.

But that's not why I ship it so much. Sure, I love how blatantly homosexual they are, but that alone doesn't make a ship an OTP on par with Ed and Alfons. For me to call it an OTP, I need to be in love with them being in love. So what's so great about these two? Let's start from the beginning.


le basic background info
The city of No.6 is a utopia, one of six affiliated city-states created after the last apocalyptic world war. The story starts by introducing Sion (also spelled Shion, as his name is pronounced SHEE-on) a child prodigy just starting the Advanced Track in school. It's his twelfth birthday and a typhoon is blowing into the elite section of No. 6 where he lives. That night he makes the fateful decision to leave his window open in the midst of the storm. And then this happens:



So there's this other kid who looks about the same age with raggedy clothes and a bloody arm. First thing the other kid does is run up and grab Sion by the throat. The first thing Sion does as his windpipe is being crushed is ask to fix up this stranger's arm. Completely unafraid, Sion does just that, and learns that this other kid calls himself Nezumi (generic term for rat or mouse, could mean either.)

Sion leaves the room to pick up dinner and when in the kitchen his mom tells him to check the news alerts, there's a message from the safety bureau about Prisoner VC103221, who escaped en-route to the correctional facility - guess who it is? Sion goes back to his room and calls Nezumi by his prisoner registration number, and then, still not caring, offers him dinner.



The next morning, Nezumi is gone. And the police are there.

Sion saved Nezumi's life, but lost all of his privileges as an elite - he's kicked out of school, he and his mom have to move to a different part of town. Fast forward four years: 16-year-old genius Sion is working a dead-end job as a guy using robots to pick up garbage in a city park, and then he finds a dead body that's been sucked dry of all its fluids. Fun! The authorities cover up all traces of the death, forbid Sion and his coworker from talking about it, and tell nothing to the victim's family. In the park maintenance control room, Sion stupidly says to his coworker that he doesn't think they can trust the government of No. 6. And then the coworker doubles over and dies the same way the dead guy in the park died - he suddenly ages, his hair turns white and falls out, and he shrivels up. And then a BEE comes out of his neck. (This show will make you terrified of bees. Just sayin'.)

Sion passes out. When he wakes up, the police are there and Sion is blamed for his coworker's death, in addition to being in deep shit for expressing doubts about No. 6. As they're driving him to the correctional facility - SUDDENLY, NEZUMI! 16-year-old Nezumi hijacks the car and dramatic chase scene ensues. Nezumi and Sion escape through the sewer system and come out on the other side of the city's fortress walls, into the slums of the West Block where No. 6 dumps its garbage, and where Nezumi - and everyone who has been exiled or escaped from the city - lives.

So Sion saved Nezumi's life, and now Nezumi has saved his, and they both live in Nezumi's little Ratcave full of classic literature. Plot stuff happens, including but not limited to Sion getting a bee makeover, crossdressing, Shakespeare, robot mice, and BEE JESUS. You'll have to actually watch the show/read the novels if you want to find out :B





le reasons to ship it
People unfamiliar with the story are quick to discount this couple as just another "bishie yaoi" pair. In some ways, they fit the stereotypes: Nezumi has dark hair, he's taller, he's stronger and more experienced, he's quick to anger and prone to violent outbursts, he acts cold and emotionally detached; Sion has light hair, he's shorter, he's physically weak and naive, he puts up with Nezumi's bullshit and lets him push him around (to a point) and he loves and cares for Nezumi unconditionally, even when Nezumi treats him badly.

They have those traits, but they are not defined by them. They're so, so much more complex than that. There's not a "dominant" person and a "submissive" person in their relationship; they each have their own strengths and weaknesses, their moments of strength and their moments of vulnerability. They even one another out, and stand together as equals.

Something I really appreciate about No. 6 is that no big deal is made of Sion and Nezumi both being boys. They're just two people in love who happen to be two boys. It's not the focus of their story. That is extremely rare and also very refreshing.



Nezumi is messed up. He has spent nearly his entire life unloved and alone and on the run without a home. Sion was the first person to reach out to him.





No. 6 took everything from Nezumi and hunted him down like an animal. The luxuries afforded to the people living within No. 6 come at the price of people like Nezumi. Nezumi hates No. 6, everything about No. 6, everything it represents and everyone who lives there in innocence and bliss. He plans to destroy No. 6, even if that means killing innocent people. He tells Sion this, and he revels in the thought of the parasite bees slaughtering everyone come spring.

Sion is so much of what Nezumi hates about No. 6 - he's innocent, he's naive, he's lived a privileged life free of pain and worry and fear. Nezumi calls him an airhead and says he has the linguistic capabilities of a chimpanzee. Sion wants to find a way to save both the people of the slums and the people of No. 6, while Nezumi insists that it's impossible, that people like him and people like Sion could never get along, that the two worlds can't coexist without one destroying the other.

Nezumi should hate Sion, the symbol of everything that has destroyed him and everything he can never have. But he can't. All his attempts to distance himself emotionally from Sion are met with Sion's equal attempts to become closer.

“What you want is information,” he said icily. “My birth date, my development history, my height, weight, index of my intelligence, DNA data. You just want information that you can convert into numbers. That’s the only way you ever try to understand other humans. That’s why you can’t understand the living people that are standing right in front of you.”

Sion stood up as well. He clenched his fist harder.

“You’re big on sarcasm, and love to make fun of people. You don’t like fish, and you’re a restless sleeper.”

There was a moment of silence.

“―Huh?”

Sion continued.

“You have an enormous amount of knowledge, and a wide range of it too― but none of it is systematic. Sometimes you’re fickle and over-sensitive, but other times you’re lazy and careless about the details. You adore piping-hot soup, and you get really grumpy when it doesn’t have the right amount of salt. And last night, you kicked me three times in your sleep.”

“Hey Sion, wait a minute―”

“Since coming here, this is what I’ve learned about you. They’re not numbers. I would never substitute you for numbers. That’s not what I want to do.”

(from one of the novels)

In many ways Sion is much more emotionally mature. Sion is the one open to change and growth while Nezumi is the one opposed to it; Nezumi wants to believe in a black and white world, good and evil, friend and foe, inside the wall and outside the wall, while Sion pushes him to see the shades of grey inbetween.

Nezumi is used to hating everything about No. 6, but he can't hate Sion. Sion's very existence is an affront to all of who Nezumi is and everything he believes in, but he can't hate him. Sion is the exception, and Sion is the factor that makes him change. Nezumi has never had anyone love him before, and he's never had anyone to love in return. They need each other.

"Nezumi, there's so much that I don't know, but I'm at least clear on one thing... to me, losing you is an incredibly frightening thought. I think, more than anyone else... more than anyone else, I'm afraid to lose you. I'm so afraid that it's unbearable. I just want to make sure that you'll never disappear from my sight. Maybe you'll laugh at me, maybe you'll mock me, but these are my sincere thoughts."

It was an honest, simple love confession.

"I can't live on without you."

This is a narrative about how love changes people, for the better and for the worse. Sion is also changed through knowing Nezumi. Here's this kid who has never felt a need to distrust or hate or mourn suddenly thrown into a world where sadness and pain are facets of day-to-day life. After Nezumi and Sion first escape No. 6 through the sewers and reemerge on the other side, Nezumi tells him "Welcome to the real world." The real world that Sion has been sheltered from is brutal: homelessness and prostitution and dead bodies in the street. Sion is forced to realize that everything he was raised with was a lie, to realize that his lifestyle in No. 6 was only made possible by the suffering of everyone outside of the walls.

In one episode Sion thanks Nezumi for showing him the real world. Sion realizes that he was never truly happy in No. 6, always knew it was artificial, always wanted something more. Living with Nezumi he is able to see the world for what it really is and feel real, undiluted emotion: anger, happiness, sadness, pride, love. Nezumi teaches him how to live, and how to love; in turn Sion teaches Nezumi the same things.

Just as Sion is the only person in the world Nezumi cares about, Nezumi becomes the most important person in Sion's world. Sion would do anything to protect him, he'd die to protect him, he'd kill to protect him. He'd sacrifice his ideals that Nezumi ridicules to protect him. Sion is willing to sacrifice everything he stands for, for Nezumi's sake.

But Nezumi doesn't want him to. He wants Sion to stay Sion. In the beginning, when Nezumi first brings him to the slums, he wants him to change, change into something rougher around the edges who can survive the rough world of the streets. But as time goes on Nezumi realizes that such a transformation would destroy Sion, destroy everything that draws Nezumi to him.

Nezumi used to live by the creed that the person who has something to protect always loses. But he's let himself go, went and let Sion change him; his claws aren't as sharp as they used to be.

Sion is everything Nezumi should hate and everything he can't help but love. All the things Sion does that make Nezumi call him an airhead - taking in a stray dog, reading to orphaned children, giving names to the robotic mice, loving Nezumi despite everything Nezumi does to try and drive him away - are all the reasons why Nezumi needs him. Nezumi has been so, so hurt, he's seen the ugliest side of humanity and he's been the ugliest side of humanity himself; Sion is such a genuinely good person and Nezumi needs that. It keeps him human.

"Only one feeling emerged from Sion’s heart then, and that was love. It wasn’t friendship, it wasn’t yearning, it wasn’t a romantic love and it wasn’t awe. It was just love."— No. 6 Vol. 7 Ch. 5





le other stuff


No. 6 ED - Rokutousei no Yoru (Night of Sixth Magnitude Stars)

Stars visible from Earth can be categorized based on the level of their brightness. This categorization is called "apparent magnitude" (m). Sixth magnitude stars are the dimmest stars still observable by naked eyes.

lol they're never this happy in the actual show :c

Trasnlated lyrics for the full version of the song:

SPOILER: Click to show

I couldn't find a full version of the song anywhere on YT, but here is a download link if anyone is interested.


When I'm wounded, it would make me really happy
if you could gently embrace me.
When I stumble and can't stand up,
please give me some of your courage.

My thoughts still can't reach you;
I'm still wandering alone in this cold street.
I can't even remember where this place is.

In this endless night, I have only one wish:
"Let there be shining light in the starless sky."
Even the things I threw away into places of no return
will eventually radiate and illuminate tomorrow.
I was able to meet you in the stardust.
It would have been great if my feelings had stayed unchanged.
I wept to my unreturning past, but my tears will eventually radiate and illuminate my tomorrow for me.

When I'm unable to sleep,
it would make me really happy if you could gently grip my hand.
Please quietly assure me that morning will come, even if it's a lie.

My wish is still unfulfilled.
Tonight, I have taken the constellation with me
and disappeared completely. It's already impossible for me to go back...

In this endless night, I have only one wish:
"Let there be shining light in the starless sky."
Even a star too distant to be visualized clearly will eventually radiate and illuminate tomorrow.
Our miraculous encounter in the stardust will be blurred out by the crowds of people again.
I bid goodbye to my unreturning past and the nights of weeping, so that tomorrow I'll be able to shine.

I thank you, for having found me even though I am such a small constellation.

In this endless night, I have only one wish:
"Let there be shining light in the starless sky."
Even the things I threw away into places of no return will eventually radiate and illuminate tomorrow.
I was able to meet you in the stardust.
It would have been great if my feelings had stayed unchanged.
I wept to my unreturning past, but my tears will eventually radiate and illuminate my tomorrow for me.

(from here, not sure of how accurate they are.)

Official art appreciation!
-Official art. Seriously.
-I'm not kidding this is official art.
-THIS SHIT IS OFFICIAL
-Yes, this is official art. Yes, that's Nezumi in drag. No, this didn't happen in the actual show. (Nezumi changed out of drag before the dance scene.)


Fanart appreciation, because this fandom is full of really fucking talented artists!
-Aster flowers. Sion is the Japanese word for aster.
-Flawless.
-As constellations: the wandering star and the fixed one.
-Boys and their scars.
-Cuddles!
-Nezumi as Eve
-Wings.
-Darling kiddos.
-BEST COSPLAYERS. Eve and His Majesty Sion
-wait no this one's official art


...I'd apologize for the spam but I'm not sorry :I

Fellow 6ers, did I do our boys justice? I felt like I was just babbling after a while XD;

[bespecledcow]

^I want to read/watch this now. Where can you read it? Watch it? HOW HAVE I MISSED THIS.

Srsly, it sounds amazing.

[Rainbow-Lord Crowmunculus]

^ MY PROPAGANDA, IT IS SUCCESSFUL

The last novel only came out in June, and the anime only started in July. It's a BONES anime, and as is the curse of Studio BONES it got a crappy episode count - 11 episodes for nine novels. The last episode was this last Thursgay (aka Heterosexual Thursday) which is why my screenname is FEELINGSMUNCULUS. Because I am full of FEELINGS.

But because of the episode count the ending is really rushed and doesn't do the series justice, and everyone went and read the fantastic novel ending to feel better :I

The novels haven't been officially translated yet, but there's a fan in the middle of translating each novel, and there are novel summaries and a translation of just the ending online. I'm going to wait until more is translated to start reading...also wait until everything stops hurting from the anime ending XD; I've only been in the fandom what, a month? But it grabs onto your heart real quick. It's a great fandom too, aside from the pockets of people who hate the BAMF lady Safu because she dares to exist and like Sion. But uh, the good news is, no ship wars!

So I watched the series here. If any of the links aren't working or have slow subtitles, go to the Video Mirrors tab and choose a different mirror. I know that for episode 5 you need to go to the Video Mirrors tab and click on part one because it auto-starts on part two for some reason, and the first link for the last episode had crappy subtitles that were slow and sometimes didn't come up at all.

BE CAREFUL OF SPOILERS! The fandom is in mourning at the moment and spoilers are eeeeeverywhere. If you watch it and enjoy it, come hang out at the No. 6 thread going on here. But only after you watch it all, because spoilers! XD

I AM SO EXCITED I'M REALLY GLAD I CONVINCED YET ANOTHER PERSON TO WATCH IT XD; It's ridiculous how much I love these boys. I just - ARGH. So much love. SO MANY FEELINGS.

One more warning - this show is dark, moreso in later episodes. Don't watch it before bed and don't watch it when you're eating anything. I still have bee nightmares ;

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA! \/ <3


ETA: Can't believe I forgot to mention - the last few episodes are a serious emotional roller coaster ride. Prepare to have your heart torn out, chewed up, then repaired and put back in your chest only for it to be ripped out again a few more times :B

SON OF ETA:



I'll just leave this here.

[amythista]

This is the part where I get tomatoes thrown at my face, BUT IT'S OKAY.

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter



IT'S ONE OF MY TWO NON-CANON SHIPS. BE PROUD.

I read the Harry Potter books when I was in third grade, having previously hated them for some reason. Anyway, I finally had to read the first book for a book club and I was like WAIT NEVER MIND THIS IS AWESOME

But really, I've shipped these two before I knew what shipping was. xD

SO. WHY I LOVE THEM.

(Except I'm going to finish this later because we're going somewhere so I shall return)

[Artemis Day]

Sept 17, 2011 9:09:57 GMT -5 amythista said:

This is the part where I get tomatoes thrown at my face, BUT IT'S OKAY.

Don't worry, I will shield you from the tomatoes!

In all seriousness, you don't know how happy it makes me to see another H/Hr shipper around here. *hugs*

Looking forward to your post on them!

[Rainbow-Lord Crowmunculus]

@thista: NO TOMATO THROWING ALLOWED. Tomato-throwers will be forced to EAT their tomatoes, and then their words > THIS IS A HAPPY PLACE.

I don't ship it, but why on earth should that stop anyone else from shipping it? No worries, you are always welcome here, and yes I am proud of you for shipping noncanon XD; /oneofusoneofusoneofus

Looking forward to your post! It's always interesting to read about how other fans interpret the canon differently. Different isn't wrong, and if all fandoms as a whole could GET that I think we'd solve about 95% of fandom problems :B



aaaand some quick ass-o-clock in the morning follow-up to my supermassive NezuShi spam because I seriously love these boys, it's like falling in love with HeiEd all over again god I have no life -

“I’m drawn to you.”

“Huh?”

“You know things that I don’t know. You’ve taught me things that no one has ever taught me before. I can’t say it well, but―” he hesitated. “I’m drawn to you. A lot. That’s why I want to stay here. I want to see what you see, eat what you eat, and breathe the same air as you. I want to hold in these hands what I would never have been able to get in No. 6.”

Nezumi slowly blinked twice. Then, he placed a palm on his forehead and shook his head slowly in exasperation.

“Sion, I’ve been noticing this for some time now, but―”

“Yeah?”

“Your language ability is worse than a chimpanzee.”

…

“Was there something weird about what I said?”

“Don’t use words like ‘drawn to’ so easily. It’s a very weighty, important word. You’re only supposed to use it for a special, irreplaceable person in your life.”

“Then how am I supposed to say it? Do I say I love you?”

Nezumi heaved a long, exaggerated sigh. “Never mind,” he muttered. “It messes me up when I talk to you.”

-Sion and Nezumi (No.6//Vol. 2 Ch. 1)

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.


ALSO: AMV. There are no endgame spoilers, but be warned that there WILL be spoilers in the comments (le duh) and there's stuff that could be considered spoilery for episode 7 but to be fair it was that scene in the preview for episode 7 that got me to watch the show, so it won't RUIN EVERYTHING FOREVER if you watch it before knowing the show :B

This is totally worth watching HD and full-screen. My envy for this person's AMV skills, let me show you it.



They're in love. You don't need the music or the editing or even the context to know it. Just look at them. -melts-

[amythista]

So in lieu of actually finishing my HHR post, here's a post about my current OTP because, well, they really don't require much of an explanation.



...well, maybe a better way of putting it is that there isn't much of an explanation that I can give.

Wheatley/GLaDOS -Portal

For those of you who haven't played Portal (you totally should, by the way, just putting that out there) I don't want to give away the plot of Portal, so I'll just give you a quick rundown:

GLaDOS is a giant, slightly psychotic AI who runs Aperture Laboratories. She's sarcastic, cynical, and altogether hilarious.

Wheatley is a personality core, a BRITISH personality core (his accent honestly makes everything he says about 10 times funnier) who's not exactly bright, who talks a lot and is also generally awesome.

They also despise one another.

Wheatley hates her for the obvious reason that she's kind of insane, and she hates him because he's generally a moron. To be more specific, he was designed to be a moron. To dampen her intelligence. Needless to say, she's not especially thrilled by this.

Throughout the whole game, they literally refer to each other by 'Her' and 'that moron.' They do horrible things to each other, and then you as the player are the one dutifully left to put the pieces back together.

So why do I ship them?

Well.

It all started with a fanfic, really. Someone wrote it and it was GLaDOS/Wheatley and I thought 'what the hell' and ever since then, I've shipped it obsessively. xD

Sure, it couldn't work in the near future. But they're both AIs, for godsakes. They'll live forever. They've got time to figure it out.

Besides, their bickering is hilarious. xD

Oh, and by the way, the picture above isn't how it usually is. The blue sphere glaring at the potato is Wheatley. The potato is none other than GLaDOS herself.

So this is how it usually is.



And I just like this one.



Usually, people put them into android bodies (including me) but I'm too lazy to scan any of my stuff or look for any pictures so I'm gonna go to bed instead.

yep.

[Artemis Day]

So since I'm bored and have writer's block, I'm going to write about a couple more of my OTPs (I have a lot). Starting with my most recent:


Why Discord/Celestia is awesome.

I started shipping this the first time I saw Return to Harmony Part 1. Something about the way Discord spoke to her ("Did you miss me, Celestia? I missed you.") just screamed foe yay.

I just think it would make for a wonderfully hilarious and insane romance. The fact that they both have reputations for being trolls also helps. I swear, there is so much potential here for pre-series romance and even post-series.

SPOILER: Click to show

Once you get past the whole turned back to stone thing.

Granted, this one is pretty much crack and wouldn't make sense in canon, but as Discord says:



;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

**
Okay, that's all for now.

[samrow]

Because they embraced. Okay no, really.



Merlin/Arthur ( aka Merthur) is my OTP. They are from the BBC's Merlin.

Background: So I'm sure most of you know the story of King Arthur and the greatest wizard of all time Merlin. Arthur is a young boy in most of the legends who is guided by Merlin who is a old man and helps him become the greatest King of Albion (England).

So in the BBC's show Arthur's father already founded Camelot, so Arthur is a Prince. As for Merlin he isn't an old man any more more, he is the same age as Arthur (or close enough). Arthur's father, Uther hates magic for ~reasons~ and has banned it in the Kingdom, doing magic is a crime that is punished with death. Merlin, lives in a village and discovers his magic and his mother sends him to Camelot to live with a old friend of hers, Gauis- who is the court Physician (and used to practise magic) in hope that he can care for Merlin and teach him to keep his magic a secret.

So Merlin is walking the streets on day when he sees a bunch of Knights training, however they are bullying a Servant. Merlin tells them to stop and offends one of them. Turns out the person Merlin insulted was the Prince. He's thrown in jail for a night. Merlin already, dislikes Arthur and believes him to be arrogant. They bump heads again before Merlin starts hearing ~voices~.

Here we have Merlin, thinking he can beat up Prince Arthur. Oh Merlin.

Note how Arthur looks very turned on.

The ~ Voices ~ belong to none other than the ~last~ Dragon, his name is Kilgarrah. The Dragon lives under the Castle, locked up by the King. He tells Merlin that one day, he will be a great Wizard, and Arthur a great King. He also says, it is Merlin's DESTINY to protect Arthur.

"You and Arthur are two sides of the same coin"

Merlin is of course shocked but thinks the Dragon has it wrong, because Arthur clearly sucks right? Later on there is a feast and an evil witch tries to kill Arthur, Merlin uses his magic secretly to slow down time and push Arthur out of harm's way and kill the Witch. The King, thinking that Merlin was just at the right place at the right time, says Merlin needs to be rewarded...and makes him Arthur's Manservant, to both boys dismay.

Why ship it?

Okay first reason, Other pairings are awesome and everything, but does a DRAGON ship you paring? Because Kilgarrah totally ships Merthur. The fans refer to him as “The Slash Dragon” because he truly is just that. Here is a photo of our said Slash Dragon (in the tag to save room)

SPOILER: Click to show

Okay but really. Merlin and Arthur really don’t like each other at the start. Merlin isn’t the greatest Servant, and Arthur is a a selfish arrogant Prince. However as time goes on, Merlin sees that the Prince is in danger, and maybe if he saved Arthur’s life, Arthur’s opinions on magic could change, and Magic would be allowed in the Kingdom. For now Merlin keeps his magic a secret (which causes A LOT of angst, because Merlin feels he can’t tell Arthur anything).

As I was saying, over time Merlin does become a guide to Arthur. Arthur tells Merlin everything and Merlin tells him what he believes is best...and Arthur listens. He stops being that arrogant young prince and becomes a great leader to his Knights and a Just Prince the people love.

As for Merlin, he can't do the same. He can't tell Arthur about his magic and it upsets him. he wants to believe that Arthur would die for him, just as Merlin would for Arthur. Really Merlin has drank poison for Arthur, amongst MANY MANY other things, just to save Arthur's life. And almost every time, he does not get credit for it. Because he uses magic most of the time, he can't let anyone see. Arthur therefore believes Merlin to be just a cowardly servant who can't do anything in battle. And it HURTS Merlin.

Arthur however DOES care for Merlin. The poison I mentioned eariler? there was only one cure for that, a flower in a very dangerous forrest, Arthur's father fobides him from going to save the life of a servant, but Arthur goes anyway. because it's Merlin it's not any servant, its one that would die for him. And you know what? Arthur saves him. Arthur also, has drank poison (or what he thought was poison) so Merlin would not die.

ALSO ONE TIME MERLIN LITERALLY UNDRESSED ARTHUR WITH HIS EYES. As you can see here (I swear this isn't altered in anyway, that is what happened):

SPOILER: Click to show

And then they just rolled around and were gay and stuff.


Okay now the Embrace thing. In season 2 Merlin saved the King from marrying a troll (long story!), Arthur thanks him and we got this:
Merlin goes for the hug, while Arthur claims he was just going for a pat on the back. It was awkward and gay.

THIS IS THE ALMOST HUG THAT HAS TEASED US MERTHUR FANS FOR 4 YEARS. How ever today on the 5th of November we finally got it. THE EMBRACE. So yes. There was much rejoicing. And it was ARTHUR who did it. Because Arthur always shows his feelings less which makes it wonderful <3

But really Merlin/Arthur is wonderful because its about two guys who dislike each other, but then over come their faults, learn and grow together and would die for the other over and over. Plus Merlin is Arthur's servant you guys, this means he has to dress him and bathe him and it's awesome.

I'm so not doing this pairing justice but just remember, they are DESTINY and chicken!