META: Character Bashing Gives Me Rage

[campylobacter]

Wednesday was a long day at work; I was finally at home, decompressing, reading some hot Daniel/Vala smut... and then after leaving a review, I got the notion to try something new: a Daniel/Sam story.

Because I don't 'ship Daniel & Sam, I wanted to gain insight into their relationship dynamic from another segment of the Stargate fandom. What is it about their interaction that I might be missing? Because when I see MS & AT in scenes together, their body language is the same as my body language around my brother. Have I been projecting my perceptions as an older sister onto Sam's character? I wanted to see if the Daniel/Sam fandom handily destroys the fanon of Sam & Daniel as "just like brother & sister".


And now I'm pissed: there's Vala-bashing in the Sam/Daniel story.

Vala [....] could tell that something was up. It didn’t take her long to notice the furtive glances. The close proximity. Even the occasional drifting hand under the commissary tables. At first she was angry. This blonde harlot stole HER Daniel away. But as she watched them, she knew that Daniel was never really hers. And in true Vala fashion, she turned her sights to someone else.

Hello? "True Vala fashion" would be for Vala to ask if she could join them in a threesome. Vala doesn't think of Sam as a "harlot"; in fact, she respects Sam's authority as a leader (see "The Uninvited") and spends time shopping and drinking with her ("Family Ties").

Why does an author need to bash a character for the sake of focusing on their fave OTP? WTF???!!!!

I don't bash Daniel/Sam in my stories, or any other pairing. In fact, as a multi-shipper, I toss in innuendo for other pairings (Jack/Daniel & Sam/Vala being a couple favorites) because it gives the characterizations more energy and dynamism, and acknowledges the depth of their previous history together.

Anyone have any Sam/Daniel fanfic recs that don't have character bashing? Maybe there should be warnings on 'shipper fics if there's character bashing... LOL. "Sam/Vala antipathy" or something. Because it ruined my evening.

Comments

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

I'm not gonna ask who the author-who-shall-not-be-named is; I'm sure I may one day stumble upon her fic and break the Backspace button on my keyboard to exit.

Oh, poor Sam. She's so busy being a role model, astrophysicist, and kickass soldier that she neglects her own heart. ::huggles Sam::

BTW, I adore my brother & sister, if you need some data to start your research. ;-)

[cleothemuse.livejournal.com]

I have seven siblings, and have varying relationships with them all. For the most part, though, we're all pretty close.

My long-time beta, Nyx Ro, claims she doesn't "see" the sibling thing, but admits she's not close to her siblings.

She once challenged me--and it's still in my WiP folder--to write a CONVINCING story in which Sam and Daniel were actually siblings--possibly even fraternal twins--and one, the other, or both had been adopted.

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's SO do-able in a sci-fi universe. Ya might not even have to resort to the Ripple Effect or quantum mirror tropes.

I hate my plotbunny folder. It whimpers from procrastination.

[cleothemuse.livejournal.com]

Nothing so extreme as those, certainly... I'll be resorting to a crossover with "The Pretender". If you know the show, you'll get the gist of it.

My bunny hutch is Very Angry with me at the moment for taking time out to feed an already over-fed brabbit that got its chance three years ago. I did let a kidfic bunny slip out last night, but it was only a double drabble.