Alt Pairing Reflections - What are your thoughts?

[Silent Moon Sphinx]

Hey hey! Since I'm in a reflective mood, I was just thinking about this forum and the different trends in pairings and such. And I noticed we haven't talked much about pairings, so I thought I would just open up a topic for discussion.

It seems as though Relena x Trowa or Relena x Duo is always a winner. And then I've noticed a lot more Trowa x Une lately. So I guess I just was wondering about people's favorite alternate pairings and why people seem to lean towards certain ones. Also, are there any pairings that at first surprised people, but then seemed to work? Are some pairings naturally more believable than others- maybe from slight pieces of evidence in the show- or is it the author's job to make a story believable? Also, what are people's reasons for liking Alt. pairings? Were you not satisfied with the Gundam Wing couplings, or did you just feel like something different?

I guess I'll just start with a thought about Trowa. He seems to be the star of the Alt forum. But is that because a lot of Trowa lovers are consequently Alternative fans? I know I like to pair him up with different Gundam girls because I was sad he never really had a girl counterpart at the end of GW. I guess I find the Midii Une reference to be a little too obscure. And I love the Trowa and Relena pairing- it's not that I'm not a hardcore Heero and Relena fan (cause I am), it's just T x R seem to work for me, too. Also, I think some people might have discussed this before, but I don't mind Relena being paired up with any of the Gundam pilots, but for some reason, I can't see Heero with anyone else. Do other people have weird quirks like this?

Just thought I'd give everyone some food for thought...and try to get people talking.

Can't wait to hear from ya!

~Sphinx

[Waking Dreamer]

Although I can see how Trowa and Relena pairings work, I personally prefer Heero and Relena. I don't mind the alternate pairing, but I guess, in my mind, the anime (and this point is not meant to provoke anything) seems to hint strongly at 1 x R, and I am usually a stickler for keeping to what is hinted..

At the same time, I immensely enjoyed Sphinx's story "The Unseen Pathway," which was 3 x Hilde. But I'm also biased towards Trowa, so yeah.

The Midi Une reference is obscure.. and I don't know what to take of it. I also have only seen about 10 GW episodes (though I've read all the manga!), so I don't think I've been able to formulate a well informed opinion.

What alternative pairing would I like to see... Heero and Lady Une.. ha ha ha =) It's late, and I'm going crazy. I think a Heero and Dorothy pairing would be quite hilarious. =) I can imagine the two of them trying to out scheme each other!

[Eienvine]

I'm definitely a Trowa/Une fan. I suppose there's really no good reason to put them together, other than that they're both significant other-less, but if you think about it, they could really work together. She's all serious and professional and older- she is older than the pilots, right? though not by that much, I think- and the only living character who I think really works well with her is our serious, stoic Trowa. And they just look good together.

I don't like the Dorothy/Quatre pairing, although I did write a fic about them once, because I don't like Dorothy and I loveQuatre. I don't think Dorothy deserves him. So, I like Quatre/anyone else. Catherine's always a nice choice.

As for 1xR, they're simply the best pairing there is- in GW, anyway. But if they had to be with anyone else, I like to see it being Relena. I can't really see Heero with anyone. It just doesn't work for me, with Heero being all anti-everyone. Relena, though, is fun to see with someone else occasionally.

Accordingly, based on my like of Quatre pairings and Relena pairings, it only makes sense that my second favorite alt couple, after 3x11, is Quatre and Relena. It's not a very common one, but I think it's really nice, especially in post-EW fics- not that there's many war fics floating about. But anyway, she's a famous politician and he's a rich businessman- the whole "attractive young persons forced into a high social sphere where their only friends are each other" is very conducive to romance, I think. Tee hee.

By the way, I agree, Sphinx's Trowa/Hilde story was an absolutely fabulous story with a very alternative pairing. So I guess good writing can make any pairing work.

[Silent Moon Sphinx]

I guess hearing Dreamer and Eienvine's comments, a lot of us here on Blissful are pretty much Heero x Relena at the core. Oh man, Dreamer, Heero and Lady Une? Say what? That would be a challenging story if there ever was one!

Eienvine, you make a great point on the Trowa and Une pairing. I think for me it was one of those that surprised me at first, but then I began to really think about it and it all made sense. And Quatre x Relena fics are actually one of my secret guilty pleasures, but you are so right, there are not a lot out there! I think Pout's fic "Choice is Overrated" is my favorite of that pairing- it's realistic yet has the right amount of sweetness in it. I wish there were more Quatre x Relena fics out there!

~Sphinx

P.S. Thanks for your comments about my story- but I am sooo embarrassed! *blush* I didn't mean for it to be talked about here, but thank you so much for your kindness.

[lilac310]

Now that I've read what most of you have to say, I think I'm going to put some input as well...Although I agree with most of your opinions, sad to say, I disagree with some....first off, I'm a hardcore fan of 1xR..there's no doubt in that..but when you've read several fics about them in a single day, it can get quite monotonous and somewhat boring that you feel like reading a different kind of story, which in my case would be an Alt Pairing fic....and my favourite would have to be RelenaxTrowa or RelenaxDuo.....

..I echo Einvine's opinion about seeing Heero paired with other GW girls...It just doesn't work for me although I've read some good ones, wherein he was paired with Hilde..I've even read a fic wherein Heero was paired up with Sylvia Noventa..I mean, the story worked for me and it was very plausible..However, it was WAY too plausible to happen that it scared me to death!!!..REALLY!...I felt like Sylvia's trying to snatch Heero away from Relena and that thought made me dislike her...Relena's position in Heero's heart was being threatened...I think the story that I'm talking about is also posted in this forum..The title is "The Secret Romance of Heero Yuy"...It was wonderfully written but the idea of it is very frightening..I want Heero with Relena!...and for Relena, I like seeing her with Trowa & Duo just to have some sort of variety to the courtship leading to romance sort of thing..but with Wufei or Quatre?...umm, I'm not quite sure...Wufei's definitely a no-no...I just can't visualize them having any sort of attraction...the idea of it just irks me a lot...and as for Quatre..he's ok but he's such a goody-too-shoes, which would then mean that he's so similar to Relena and that kind of chemistry/connection doesn't appeal much to me...I'd rather see Relena with Treize rather than those two pilots -- a good example of that would be "The Illusion of Innocence"....although, I must admit that there had been some sort of OOCness on Relena's part....the plot, itself was realistic enough to be considered as something that can actually happen (if you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do...It's a lemon! ..lol)

I'm not really convinced on seeing Heero and Lady Une together...It's just too farfetched....but HeeroxDorothy would definitely pique my interest! ..(anyone up to that?)..hehe...Just like Waking Dreamer said, I think they would be such a hilarious couple...a comedy/romance would probably be the best genre to put them in....a serious fic about their 'supposed attraction' doesn't quite cut it for me...

..there I guess, I've said it all...whew! that was a long one...

[RyanEX2000]

Alt pairings, eh.

Well most of the ladies here know of my opinion on Trowa. As I'vetold Wicked during our discussions, I'm of the opinion that the makers ran out of ideas for characters so they just took Heero, made him a little nicer, weaker, taller and hey presto, a fifth pilot. I never really cared for the clown.

Now then, onto the pairings.

Can you guess what mine are?

Come now, I only have two alts and they're both on the same pairing.

I don't know why but Heero x Noin just truly interests me, Maybe I guess that Heero needs an older woman to truly draw him out of the gundanium shell he wraps himself in. (shrugs)Or maybe, just to quote all the Trowa x Rel fans, they just look so good together.

Trowa x Rel just doesn't work for me I guess, because they never interact,during or after, the show, manga, or movie. the only ones to ever spend any time with her were Heero, and Quatre(during their brief stay in the Sanq Kingdom).

Likewise the reason I(at least) can see Heero with just about everyone of the Ggirls(minus Une) because he interacts with all of them to a lesser or major degree and one or two, like Dorothy actually comment or show some hint of attraction (I swore during the series that Dory-chan was foing to try and seduce Heero(shrugs), too bad).

Or perhaps to put it simply, since I'm a guy I have to problem seeing Heero play the field, but it erks me whenever Relena is portrayed as doing such. And considering what's been said so far I can assume that most of you ladies feel the same, vice versa.

Now if Silent has no objections how bout a trailer discussion.

What''s your opinion on three-way couples?

Personally they bug me a bit, since all are usually Rel x two Gguys. I maintain that there's no way Heero'd share Relena. He'd either

a)walk out and make his own life, or

b)shoot the competition and hide the evidence .

What do y'all think?

[Midii Une]

Drat! I don't post here enought and posted this as a separate topic, anyone know a way to delete a post???
Anyway, here's my reply...

I guess this is on topic since Sphinx brought this up in her reflections above.

I think the Trowa/Midii connection is a very strong one, of course I do, being their most vehement cheerleader If you read Episode Zero I don't think you can discount some type of relationship hints in it for these two: Midii's thoughts on loving Nanashi and wanting to stay beside him and Nanashi's putting aside his knowledge that Midii is indeed a spy to go back and save her from the attack before considering his comrades or his own safety. It's a long shot but the hints are there, plus I like the idea of a relationship coming back from such a sad beginning and the espionage tangent that goes with it.

For alternates I'd prefer Une for Trowa over Relena or Dorothy, which seem most prominent. With Une there is the whole storyline with Trowa's time in OZ to fall back on and the vague connection with Midii hinted in Ep. Zero notes as well.

As someone mentioned above Relena and Trowa have little to no interaction in the story so it irks me a bit that people would prefer them over 3xMU (we all have our foibles and protective streaks I guess ) Hilde and Trowa could be cute too , because of her little comment at the circus.

I try to be accepting of Alt pairings and I really like to write them as an exercise of Gundam Wing minutiae. *notices mention of Secret Romance of Heero Yuy above* Wow, thank you for your comments on my story. I really take your words as a compliment. I think it is a writer's job to make the story plausible and realistic, although I don't think Sylvia in the story was "stealing" Heero away, she had no knowledge of anything between him and Relena, it was totally innocent on her part. I write quite a bit of HxR in my ongoing stories, it was just an experiment on my part to see if I could make it work since I like the character of Sylvia and her grandfather and that whole storyline with Heero apologizing, etc.

One thing I would not accept in an Alt pairing would be bashing of the "canon" pairing. That destroys total credibility for me.
_________________
"When it comes to emotions, even great heroes can be idiots." ~~ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

[Waking Dreamer]

Wow! This discussion developed quickly, was very interesting, and well-informed! I have to admit- I forgot who Sylvia was, so thanks for that reminder as another alt pairing!

I have to go with choice B, Ryan. I think Heero would definitely shoot the competition and hide the evidence. =) No doubt in my mind!

I do like Relena x Quatre in the fact that they seem they should belong together. As Eienvine eloquently wrote, the whole forced social sphere does make for a believable reason why the two would become a couple!

As for Trowa x Relena, I believe black rose wrote a story about them that Sphinx recommended. I can't remember the title, but it's the one where Trowa is a vampire. It's well written (as her stuff is!), though it does carry a R rating.

I see Dorothy x Quatre pairings a lot, as well as Dorothy x Trowa... I wonder- who do you all see Dorothy most likely paired up with?

Lastly, I have to give comedic laughs to lilac-- you are right! Wufei is definitely a no-no! =)

[War Dove]

As an author who has written Relena paired with everyone of the other pilots and Treize, I can see Relena being compatible with any of the other males besides Heero.
She has different traits that work well with the different traits of each of the pilots.

Though 1xR is my absolute favorite I enjoy any well written story with her paired with other males.

Just as I'm not a fan of Heero paired with males of the show, I'm not a fan of Heero paired with other females, especially stories I've come across where Relena is bashed and made to look 2nd rate to the female competition. In my mind no other female takes top billing where Relena's conerned. I think this comes from years of defending the girl as to why she deserves respect and Heero's sole affections. I'm very protective of her character and she will not take a back seat to any other female character in my fics, especially where Heero is concerned.

I'm a fan of threesomes, foursomes etc. and yes, I've written them, be they good or bad. Mostly because I don't like Relena to have to choose between the male characters. So if she's in a fic paired with 1 or more guys I'll most likely read it . Also why shouldn't Relena be worthy of all their affections.

Well in my mind anyway.

[RyanEX2000]

I'm a fan of threesomes, foursomes etc. and yes, I've written them, be they good or bad. Mostly because I don't like Relena to have to choose between the male characters. So if she's in a fic paired with 1 or more guys I'll most likely read it . Also why shouldn't Relena be worthy of all their affections.

That works both ways Dovey. And I do agree with both Dove and Midii.

Character bashing is a no-no. In my opinion that's just a half-rate writer's way of hiding his inadequacies.

Harsh?

Maybe. But if the writer goes around spouting crap about how Relena is stupid because he likes pink, I think it's well deserved.

And having to choose is often one of the best points in a fic, Dove. It is is not possible (in my mind) for you to love two people equally. One always takes a back seat. And I can't see Heero, or any of the G-boys(except maybe Quatre) accepting that kindof situation.

Lastly I've been becoming found of the VERY obscure alt pairings.

Quatre x Une
Heero x Sally
Duo x Dorothy

I dont know why but the more obscure, the more interesting it turns out. Probably cause of the differing personalities.

Zeroes Lost Soul has the right idea.

Heero x Mariemiea...I'd never have thought up that one.