love shack, baby, love shack

[elapses]

Remember months and months ago, that sort of cross between a fanmix and a meme where you pick a song for ten of your OTPs? Well I have finally, finally gotten around to it.




Mulder/Scully
Travis - Closer
Keep waking up without you here
Another day, another year
I seek the truth, we set apart
Thinking of a second chance

I cannot never fully articulate how perfect I feel like Mulder and Scully are for each other, but as far as I'm concerned they are the ultimate everything. They're snarky and they're sweet and they're sad, and more than any other two people in any other situation, they really do revolve around each other (don't worry, I will avoid any and all cheesy celestial metaphors here!). I think it'd be nearly impossible to make a fanmix that was purely Mulder and Scully, because their dynamic in season one is completely and totally different from the one they have in season four or six or eight. They're both completely complex characters, and they have this completely complex relationship, and after a certain point I'm not entirely sure they remember exactly how to function without each other. It is a beautiful thing to watch and absorb.



Jim/Pam
Basia Bulat - Little Waltz
You and I, we make a grand salute
Stare at each other
Like lost little birds
Across the room

I can wax poetic about how awesomely comic every single character on The Office is with the best of them, and I could so very easily launch into an essay entitled "Why Karen Filippelli Should Stay With Us: Detailing the Ways in Which She Is Awesome!", but at the heart of hearts of my Office love, there is Jim and Pam. Jim and Pam, who were the best of best friends, who first kissed at the Dundies and then later at Casino Night, who make each other laugh, who swayed, who combined assume probably 85% of the responsiblity for unhappinesses in Dwight Schrute's life, who went ice skating, who understand each other, who are going on a date! It's almost uncool to love them unconditionally now, but I don't care if Jim is douchey or Pam is (well, was) too unassuming, they are lovely together. They bottom line, to me, is that they make each other happy, and therefore they should be together. QED!



Josh/Donna
The Format - I'm Actual
I placed you on a window sill
Cut notches up and down the door
My surprise I woke up one morning
And there in your place lay a note

You know! I don't think there's any couple whose ending I'm happier with than Josh and Donna. They fell perfectly into a relationship in exactly the way I think an OTP should, in an accidental-but-not-really way with lots of pretty sex and then an examination of how they both felt about it afterwards. The way they sort of tiptoe and then stomp around each other, one second totally insecure and the next secure in the other's affection, it's lovely and true and so completely right to Josh and Donna. I wanted to pick a happier song for them, but this one is so perfect for a self-emmolating season six Josh that I cannot separate it from them. Whatever, Josh and Donna! We all know you got your happily-ever-after anyway.



Ron/Hermione
Kate Nash - The Nicest Thing
I wish you couldn't figure me out,
But you always wanna know what I was about.
I wish you'd hold my hand when I was upset,
I wish you'd never forget the look on my face when we first met.

I know many of you, flist, are Harry/Hermione 'shippers, and while I totally respect your preference I don't understand it. Every little Ron/Hermione moment in these books has made me curl my fingers around the corners of the pages in glee, they make me grin the way through and they make the darkness of the last few books very light-hearted for me. I love the way they love little things about each other, I love the way they're embarrassed to admit how much they respect each other, I love their offhand bickering, I love the way they make each other blush, I love the way they are. I've heard arguments that they shouldn't be together because they make each other miserable, but honestly I don't think that could be further from the truth. Some people like quiet, easy relationships, but some people feed off of tension. And that is Ron and Hermione.



Tom/B'Elanna
Savage Garden - To The Moon and Back
Mama never loved her much
And daddy never keeps in touch
That's why she shies away from human affection
But somewhere in a private place
She packs her bags for outer space
And now she's waiting for
The right kind of pilot to come

This is a cliché song to pick, because everyone in this fandom seems to already know about how ridiculously perfect this song is for Tom and B'Elanna. I'm totally convinced that Darren Hayes (or whoever writes the songs for Savage Garden... I'm sure tashternal knows this!) was a closet Voyager fan, who spent every Wednesday night thinking about how fantastically complicated B'Elanna Torres was, because this song fits her every contour, her parents, the Maquis, and Tom. Oh you guys, this was my first OTP, my first fandom, the first television show I loved, and I honestly, honestly would not have cared a smidge for it if they hadn't dragged me in. They're lovely, lovely people, and it's funny how perfect they are for each other when they're so completely different and so completely wrong for absolutely everyone else.



Sydney/Vaughn
Azure Ray - November
So we're speeding towards that time of year
To the day that marks that you're not here
And I think I'll want to be alone
So please understand that I don't answer the phone

More than anything else about being a Sydney/Vaughn 'shipper, I remember season three. We were so happy for a while there, and then season three came along and it was just so anguishing. So, so much worse than your normal shippy whatever mess of will-they-won't-they or can-they-can't-they, because they would and they had, and then they were back to square one, except they weren't even really because he was married. It's funny how the feelings associated with that come swishing back up when I think about it (I bet you could tell! I'm sort of incoherent about it and I'm italicizing a lot!), but I don't know. Alias still feels sad for me, even though I've heard tell of a happy ending.



Mal/Inara
South - Nine Lives
You say you will come home soon
We'll see you most the weekdays
Miss you at the best of times
You help me walk that fine line

My sister, who has always, always agreed with me on 'ships, never got Mal/Inara. HOW CAN YOU NOT GET MAL/INARA? I feel like they are they kind of 'ship where you can put on almost any episode of Firefly, and at some point Mal will wander into Inara's (technically off-limits) shuttle and mention some dilemma, and they'll disagree and then they'll argue and then you, the audience, kind of get it and go "oh hey! They're kind of in love, aren't they?" And then you go off and watch Heart of Gold or Shindig or Our Mrs. Reynolds or something, and it'll hit you that this isn't a "kind of" sort of thing. Somebody should tell my sister this.



Dawson/Joey
Kite-Flying Society - Groundflower
For just one moment
You and I collided
And the night breathed my name
It came in disguise
As the groundflower dies.

When I wandered online after watching endless hours of Dawson's Creek, I was shocked and dismayed to find that fandom is mostly Pacey/Joey. WHAT. The first two seasons of clueless best friends first discovering love >>>>> the last four seasons of cynical ruminations on whatever. They Pacey/Joey mess tore everything apart, and I can't, can't love them together. I would much rather listen to Dawson compare his relationship with Joey to a movie than listen to Joey tell Pacey how much more important to her he is than Dawson, since clearly he is her future when Dawson was her past. UNCOOL, FANDOM.



Taylors
Hanalei - John Hughes Endings
He broke the stare shyly, she brushed her hair from her face.
They were pulled to each other by the center of the room.
And with his heart jumping he tried to try hello,
She blessed his cheek with a kiss before he could speak.

I love love love established adult relationships. I always have. I was the girl who'd spend as much time squealing over Sandy and Kirsten as Seth and Summer, and if I had to pick a television relationship I myself would like to end up in, I'd absolutely go for Jed/Abbey over almost anything. And yet, like almost everything else, Friday Night Lights has taken it up a notch. Eric and Tami have this indescribably lovely relationship, and it's strongest point is it's realism. The argue about things I've seen people argue about, and then they turn around and they are so unbelievably tender with each other. It's an unbelievably beautiful thing to watch.



JD/Elliot
Jump, Little Children - Vertigo
Leaning from this precipice.
That only love would dare
Spining in a gravity
That only love could bear
were I to tumble to from this cloudy high
How would I fare

It's really funny to me how quickly I fell for a couple I hadn't really ever 'shipped before. Scrubs is one of those shows I watch to watch, and I've never really 'shipped anything (except, okay, Dr. Cox/Jordan) so much as just gone with the flow. The JD/Elliot plotlines in the first few seasons were interesting, sure, but I would have been totally fine with them ending up apart in the end, and then this season happened. I don't know, Scrubs is starting to wear around the edges, and Elliot and JD especially are victims to what I call "sitcom degradation": where the quirks the characters have always had are suddenly too prevalent, and they become caricatures of the characters they once were. But together, they're true to themselves again, and I love that. This season has suddenly convinced me that they are perfect for each other, and I cannot tell you how much I want them to say "to hell with everything!" and run off together.


BY THE WAY, happy birthday yesterday to spentayearinla!!! This month I swear I'll get better at this.

Comments

[modernthirst.livejournal.com]

This is my favorite meme ever!!! I'm so glad you did it, I really like your choices. AND ALEX, your description of Ron and Hermione made me CRY, it was so exactly what I believe and see in them too.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

It is the best meme! I don't understand why it has not spread far and wide to every eensy little corner of livejournal, because it should. Forget this seven random facts about me, pick songs for your 'ships!

I REALLY DON'T GET HARRY/HERMIONE, ANNA. It doesn't make sense to me!

SHE IS FANTASTIC, she's been on repeat all week. I'm also going to get off my butt and buy that Kite Flying Society CD, because my love for that song is pervasive and whole.

[spentayearinla.livejournal.com]

I totes need to do this meme sometime. I love love love the Jim/Pam, Josh/Donna ones and I'm totally in love with your Josh and Donna explanation. They're so hot.

Thaaanks for the birthday wishes! :D ♥

[elapses.livejournal.com]

You totally must, I know you would pick fantastic songs! And Josh and Donna are every possible synonym for hot, and not having season seven of the West Wing is sort of killing me.

♥

[book-babe.livejournal.com]

i don't have a coherent comment, because i'm drowning in ap summer homework and realizing i'm fucked and can't finish and will have to finish and everything else, but i just had to comment and say i loved your blurb-y things for lack of something better to call them. even for the otp's that i don't know, don't watch the show of, etc, the descriptions made me want to love them. i just love the way you write, because it's very similar to how i think but i am nowhere near that eloquent about things like this (or anything else for that matter) so there you go. and i don't know, i just felt the need to tell you that, because i'm feeling very ineloquent right now and you're just so not and i think that's amazing.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

melissa, this comment totally made me smile a lot & a lot. i'm glad you thought so, even though you totally articulate yourself too :)!

i'm sorry you have so much summer homework.

[tenacious-err.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I love this meme/fanmix thing. I like your choices a lot, and I might steal it later. :D

[elapses.livejournal.com]

You should you should! I'm convinced everyone should do this. I'd love to see your choices!

[vintagejoy.livejournal.com]

Oh, Alex. This is wonderful. I love these and I wish I could articulate it more than simply sighing happily and saying oh, Alex. But I'm tired and looking at these caps and the songs and your descriptions it all just makes me SO HAPPY. I especially love that you included a song by Basia because I've been listening to her nonstop lately aaaaaaaand that you included JD and Elliot in your list of couples because OHMYGOD everything you said right there, my thoughts = written by you. Even though I hate almost everything about season six I'm really really excited for season seven (unless of course things don't go my way, in which I'll proclaim it all WORST EVER).

(Also, I feel like I haven't talked to you in ages. I'm glad you're enjoying college! Remember, you're lovely!)

[elapses.livejournal.com]

My list of things I liked about season six goes about like this: JD and Elliot and the musical episode (honorable mention to moments involving Jack Cox), and yet I too am terribly, terribly excited for season seven, although thanks to a slightly spoilerly vague comment from whoever runs Scrubs (I should know this!), I think I've basically figured out what's going to happen with this particular plotline. Have I mentioned lately how very, very glad I am that you love this ship the exact same way I do? If it weren't for you, I'd be rambling ALL BY MYSELF.

And thank you thank you! I'm so, so glad you liked it anddddd Basia! Is fantastic! I've been playing her so much that I think the people in my hall are entirely sick of that girl who always has that soft, airy folky music playing in the background.

(And oh I know, Zoë! I miss hearing from you! When are you getting broadband back?)

[leucocrystal]

Wow, no wonder you've been wanting to do this meme for ages -- it's completely awesome! I'm probably going to have to give it a try, but I'm not sure if I've got enough ships to qualify, lol!

That said, um... WORD on everything -- everything -- about Mulder and Scully. To me they just are, and always will be, pure perfection. ♥

(Funny coincidence: I totally rambled for like, two paragraphs, in my latest entry about the episode you got that cap of them from! Small world!)

Other than that, I also love Jim/Pam and Ron/Hermione are just very cute. :)

[elapses.livejournal.com]

I think it'd still count if you narrowed it down to five or three :) Not everyone is as crazyshippy as me, I don't think.

As far as I'm concerned, Mulder and Scully are the OTP to end all OTPs. Perfection is the perfect word for them.

Great minds think alike! I'm actually really curious to hear your thoughts on TFWID now, I'll have to go take a look when I'm done replying to comments.

[leucocrystal]

Okay, first off, I just downloaded and listened to "Closer" (I've like Travis a lot ever since I heard "Sing" on The Office, but admittedly haven't heard much else he's done), and that song is just awesome! Very great for MSR, too.

I think it'd still count if you narrowed it down to five or three :) Not everyone is as crazyshippy as me, I don't think.

Heh, it's not so much "crazy" as "I don't watch that much TV, and get into ships even more rarely." I couldn't even tell you why -- I honestly don't know!

As far as I'm concerned, Mulder and Scully are the OTP to end all OTPs. Perfection is the perfect word for them.

Yessss. OTP to end all OTPs about covers it for me!

And I realized I didn't quite comment on anything specific you wrote in the comment above (FAIL), so I'm totally going to do that now! Win! (Not.)

I think it'd be nearly impossible to make a fanmix that was purely Mulder and Scully, because their dynamic in season one is completely and totally different from the one they have in season four or six or eight.

People have often suggested I make an MSR fanmix, but I've always felt reluctant to do so, though without ever being sure why I was hesitant to try. You just totally articulated why, though!

Season One they're tentatively feeling one another out, Season Two oscillates between their missing working together (without outwardly admitting it), then Scully being GONE and Mulder pretty much losing all ability to work, and then they're just really glad she's back. Season Three they're really settling into that perfect dynamic I think, both having recently lost so much. Season Four is tricky as hell -- they're strained but they don't even seem to know why, but then Scully getting sick makes them both want to die, and ultimately brings them closer than ever. Season Five is so perfect, I cannot even, even when they swap roles for a bit and are more confused than ever. Season Six they're finally getting really forward and flirty (which is awesome), but there are also issues that crop up in the background that quickly move to the foreground and test their mutual trust (*coughDIANAcough*) that aren't fully resolved until Season Seven rolls around. And by then, no one can convince me they're not having The Sex, and that it is not Awesome. In Season Eight Scully is pretty much rudderless without Mulder, not to mention very weepy (and who can blame her?), until he comes back, and they're just relieved as hell to be back together, and Nine, well... the end of The Truth has always screamed perfection to me, I don't care what anyone else says.

They're both completely complex characters, and they have this completely complex relationship, and after a certain point I'm not entirely sure they remember exactly how to function without each other. It is a beautiful thing to watch and absorb.

WORD. They reach that point of no return, where it's like they just can't do anything without the other. I LOVE IT.

And I'm going to shut up now, because this is the longest comment ever constructed. *runs*

[elapses.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like the song & find it appropriate!

WOW, that is exactly it. I was thinking today that I show draw a chart to illustrate how they fluctuate -- because sometimes they're close and sometimes they're rifty (although whatever the internal state of their relationship, they always present a united front) and sometimes it's hard to pinpoint exactly why they act that way. The infamous season three "rift" seems to sort of come out of nowhere, and they recover from it relatively fast (only to nosedive again in season four) and really the relationship is so damn complicated it's hard to ever completely understand it. We try, though, and that summary of it all was nearly perfect.

That said, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and tell you that you really should, at some point, make an MSR fanmix. Just pick a season (or a theme -- there's one song I love that perfectly expresses the sexual side of the tension between them and I secretly feel like making a mix centered around that)! That's sort of what I've always intended to do. Someday I'll get around to it!

And I'm going to shut up now, because this is the longest comment ever constructed.
Lies! I've had to split one into three separate ones before.

[leucocrystal]

I was thinking today that I show draw a chart to illustrate how they fluctuate -- because sometimes they're close and sometimes they're rifty (although whatever the internal state of their relationship, they always present a united front) and sometimes it's hard to pinpoint exactly why they act that way.

Very true! It would be a pretty nifty (albeit pretty complicated) project, trying to make like... an MSR flow chart, lmao. But still, awesome.

The infamous season three "rift" seems to sort of come out of nowhere, and they recover from it relatively fast (only to nosedive again in season four) and really the relationship is so damn complicated it's hard to ever completely understand it. We try, though, and that summary of it all was nearly perfect.

Aww, thank you! I tried, but I'm sure I missed a lot of things. It's weird how they fluctuate in S3, isn't it? I think, without putting too much thought at this moment into it, Scully may have finally been questioning things she'd repressed for some time (as we all know, Scully is the Queen of Self-Denial), and it was starting to take its toll on the relationship. They briefly patch it up due to extreme circumstances forcing their way to the forefront, but I think they didn't really fix anything, which is why everything kind of goes KABOOM! in S4. The end of "Never Again" always makes me just completely anxious, because they don't even know what to do with each other, let alone themselves. It's brilliant, but damn is it stressful.

That said, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and tell you that you really should, at some point, make an MSR fanmix. Just pick a season (or a theme -- there's one song I love that perfectly expresses the sexual side of the tension between them and I secretly feel like making a mix centered around that)! That's sort of what I've always intended to do. Someday I'll get around to it!

I may do just that! Problem is, there are SO many XF-related projects I'm either working on, or want to do in the future. First and foremost, capping the entire series and hosting it (xf-caps.com WILL happen, I swear to God!), and I even have a couple of fanvid ideas (but have no clue what I'm doing, so I need to learn a thing or two so as not to look like a complete and total ASS). But I may squeeze a fanmix or two in there somewhere, you never know. ;)

Lies! I've had to split one into three separate ones before.

Heh, I've had to do that a few times in the past, too! Because I am rambly and never know when to shut up, and LJ and its comment character limits can kiss my ass.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

It's weird how they fluctuate in S3, isn't it? I think, without putting too much thought at this moment into it, Scully may have finally been questioning things she'd repressed for some time (as we all know, Scully is the Queen of Self-Denial), and it was starting to take its toll on the relationship. They briefly patch it up due to extreme circumstances forcing their way to the forefront, but I think they didn't really fix anything, which is why everything kind of goes KABOOM!
This seems completely true! I've always thought they sort of thought that the patch-up moment is Wetwired, but it's absolutely an extenuating circumstances sort of thing and then he ditches her the next episode, which is really just leaving them open to exascerbate each other at the next possible opportunity.

The end of "Never Again" always makes me just completely anxious, because they don't even know what to do with each other, let alone themselves. It's brilliant, but damn is it stressful.
That episode makes me so sad and... I don't even know at the same time. Well done but SO SAD.

I may do just that! Problem is, there are SO many XF-related projects I'm either working on, or want to do in the future. First and foremost, capping the entire series and hosting it (xf-caps.com WILL happen, I swear to God!), and I even have a couple of fanvid ideas (but have no clue what I'm doing, so I need to learn a thing or two so as not to look like a complete and total ASS). But I may squeeze a fanmix or two in there somewhere, you never know. ;)
Yes, I absolutely know what you mean. My fandom project to-do list is nearly as long, and xf-caps.com is for the great good of the many! If you ever do get time, I guess!

Because I am rambly and never know when to shut up, and LJ and its comment character limits can kiss my ass.
EXACTLY.

[leucocrystal]

I've always thought they sort of thought that the patch-up moment is "Wetwired", but it's absolutely an extenuating circumstances sort of thing and then he ditches her the next episode, which is really just leaving them open to exacerbate each other at the next possible opportunity.

Heh, yeah, Mulder and his ditching. He never really learns, does he? But we love him anyway. It's funny, with the myriad of episodes in S3 that I love, where they work well together ("Clyde Bruckman," "Jose Chung" -- to an extent -- "Oubliette" and "PUSHER," OMG, and even "Quagmire"), there are also the great ones that show a lot of strain ("War of the Coprophages," no matter how hilarious it is, "Syzygy", etc.). Those times, they're almost at each other's throats, and you're like, "Wow, this has become slightly dysfunctional."

That episode makes me so sad and... I don't even know at the same time. Well done but SO SAD.

Yeah, I feel you on that. I mean, it's definitely a great episode, and even has its very funny moments (Mulder saying "moose and squirrel!", Mulder dancing around trying to get cell phone reception, MULDER IN GRACELAND), there's all the extremely anxiety-inducing, creepy stuff with Ed Jerse, and all the tension between the better moose and squirrel, of course. I still can't believe how effective that ending line is, despite (or maybe because of) the fact that it's cut of: "Yes, but it's m--" GAH.

Yes, I absolutely know what you mean. My fandom project to-do list is nearly as long, and xf-caps.com is for the great good of the many! If you ever do get time, I guess!

Oh, I will have time -- xf-caps.com is #1 on my priority list right now. I own the full series, I have all the software I need, and I've already capped several episodes and am working on more. The bigger problems are more like, "Gah, I don't know anything about Dreamhost!" and "Ack, I know nothing about using Coppermine!" You know, basically, I'm a website-idiot. Whee! This bodes SO WELL.

[forthesky.livejournal.com]

This a wonderful meme! I don't even watch X-Files, but (mostly due to leucocrystal) I ship them anyway. They're awesome.

Your description of Ron/Hermione was perfect. They make me teary, they're so perfect, and that summary was amazing. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND H/Hr. I used to know a few H/Hr shippers but they've gradually become R/Hr shippers, too. HOW CAN YOU NOT. They're so so awesome.

JD/Elliot are also awesome. I don't watch Scrubs very much, but I love watching these two interact when I do.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Bahahaha, that is the power of persuasion! I feel like I should add "you should watch it sometime!" here, but you've probably already heard that.

I'm glad you agree! I don't know, I seem to attract H/Hr 'shippers like glue: which isn't a bad thing, because despite their obviously misguided 'shipping preferences, they really are absolutely lovely people, but I don't know! I don't get it at all! Ron/Hermione, to me, are so completely right that I don't understand loving anything else.

See, I never really loved JD/Elliot until this most recent season, but my love for them is suddenly pervasive and encompassing.

[leucocrystal]

You WILL watch X-Files one day! THIS I VOW. *runs off cackling*

[tashternal.livejournal.com]

A song I know, used for a fanship that I sort of recognise (but really don't!). I've never heard of Darren Hayes being a Voyager fan, but I believe he's a Star Wars fan, but that's not the same thing, is it? And knowing a little about Voyager, that song does fit the situation of the characters perfectly. Because it is about Space, after all!

And I love Ron/Hermione! I love the picture you used, especially. It's so perfect that it gives me the warm fuzzies. ;)

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Noooo, they're totally different but you can sort of see how love for one would lead to love for another? It's just that -- and I know you can't see this, being unfamiliar with the show! -- every little line explains another condition of B'Elanna's life. Which is weird, because trekkies are a rather small constituency among the world, and even most of the trekkies never liked Voyager, so it seems weird that of all the 'ships I have, this one would have a song written about it. BUT I DON'T KNOW, I'm really just rambling at this point.

I spent forever looking for OotP caps for them, because I didn't want to use GoF and PoA clips are crazy overused when it occured to me that obviously I should use something adorable from the first movie! Ron/Hermione are lovely.

[lovecycle.livejournal.com]

You did a lovely job.
I'm a little disappointed in you that Seth/Summer isn't on here, because they were super important to us for a while there. Come on, man.

Ally, I realise Mal and Inara are in love. I get it. I've seen the episode with the stupid whore who kisses Mal and special hell. I just don't like them that much is all.

YOU HAVE SHIPS FROM SHOWS I HAVEN'T WATCHED YET
WHAT THE HELL

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I really really considered putting Seth/Summer on here, but I just... ugh. I felt so bitter about them. The last O.C. episode I watched was the finale... and Hannah, I didn't even think it was cute that they got married. The whole fourth season (and to a lesser extent, the third), just made me so sick and tired of them, I just... uck. I need to rewatch the first two before I can reinstate them to their previous position of love and revere.

:(

BY THE WAY, QED = some latin thing meaning proved (didn't you take geometry last year?), UST = unresolved sexual tension, RST = resolved sexual tension.