So, I've been thinking.... (RPS)

[allana]

So, I was talking with evaine last night and found myself wondering why few writers touch on happy relationships within Metallica RPS. Now, I know the guys do lend themselves very well to angst and destructive relationships--we have tons of interviews and comments--but at some point they must surely be happy?

I don't buy into the assumption that all of James's future happiness was destroyed the moment Cliff died on the bus, or the thought that he and Jason never had a pleasant moment between them. That's fanon speaking, in the same way as Kirk's assumed OCD and even Lars's supposed ineptitude with anything mechanical. (Yes, I know I just wrote a story that touched on the last, but I know it's fanon.)

So, why are 90% of the Metallica RPS stories out there dark, broody and dismal enough to be worthy of a Batman comic? Other fandoms manage to have a good variety of stories ranging from utter fluff, through beginnings of relationships, PWP, established relationships, heavy romance, BDSM, tons of kink, angst, and death-fic. due South is a good example of this, both FPS and RPS, as is the LOTR RPS fandom.

We're only using one side of the coin.

I can only really speak for myself here. I'm one of those dismal writers who likes delving into angst and dark emotions more than happiness and love. Which is odd, if I sit down and think about it as my own relationships are solid and happy, perhaps sickeningly happy by some standards. On the other hand, maybe that's why I tend towards gritty angst? Because I don't have any? (Not that I want any. :P)

I did, however, very much enjoy writing a happy James and Lars recently. (That story may have given me fits, but those were all technical rather than any concerns about how to write the characterisations.) I think I have less of a firm grasp on how to deal with a happy James and Jason, but at the same time, my brain assures me that they must have had at least a happy five minutes and exploring them could be a fun challenge and also provide a way for me to round out my vision of their characters.

Is there some basic belief in the fandom that m/m relationships have to be dark to work? Do we believe that their happy relationships are with their wives only? Can we only get them to a happy place if we work in an AU? Just throwing out wild theories here....

There's nothing wrong with dark and dismal--I've written lots and happily read even more--but on the other hand, neither is there anything wrong with love and happiness. There are two sides to the coin, and both can be equally as rewarding to work with. Heck, the coin blurs when you flip it, so you could even meld dark with light. I'm just wondering why we as writers don't do this more often.

Discuss!

Comments

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

I thought of more on this....

I had the best time writing "Live Wire" (all, what, three or four times I've written the damned thing now?) but it falls apart every time because there's nowhere for it to go. James and Jerry discover a mutal attraction and have sex, and more sex, and more sex, and they're so cute, and isn't it great for James not to have a one-sided, frustrating relationship like he had with Jason in "Fuse", and...argh! I've always complained that the fact that they get along so well keeps ruining my story. They have no obstacles to overcome unless I manufacture them (Jerry's using drugs, Jerry cheats, Jason nearly gets himself killed and James has to intervene, etc.), and then they feel manufactured.

I fear I will never figure out a way to save that story.

[evaine.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's the resolution. James' realisation that he CAN have a good relationship.

I'm just sayin'....

*grin*

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

I did that one with "Breathing Lessons", and it worked because throughout the story it was questionable whether they could a good relationship.

The relationship in "Live Wire" is good from early on. As a sequel to "Fuse", it's...there's something else it's gotta do. I just know not what.