I've been thinking a lot that if I'm not sure whether I want my two main characters to have tension, I should probably stop making them gaze longingly at each other.
Okay, so maybe "longingly" isn't quite the word for it. I think the phrase commonly used is "held gaze". But I thought they were best friends....Maybe not so much.
I have to wonder if this is the reason so many Beta Couples are preferred to the main pairing. The official couple of any TV show, book series, or movie series is usually intentional. Those who control the story world plan it. They do their best to make us ship it with all our hearts. And sometimes, they succeed. *cough* Scallison *cough* And other times...they don't.
Perhaps some of the best romantic tension in media was accidental. Too much chemistry between the actors, a fumble in the writing, or just utterly unintentional some other way. It seems more original, less predictable. Genuine, almost. These two catch your eye and suddenly, you're devoted to them instead of to the people the execs thought you were supposed to love.
It makes sense now that I think about it.
The longer I write, the more I think about the science of shipping. How it works. Why it works. And, most importantly, who any prospective fanbase might ship. I have to wonder if other authors spend time wondering if the fans will recognize that accidental subtext there...and there...and there...
This is probably the reasoning behind many non-canon ships(especially the slash ones), whether or not the ship itself is reasonable and/or not squicky. Truth is, sometimes the side show is better than the main. Your thoughts?
May your swords stay sharp and your chocolate stocks always plentiful.
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