Rip it or Ship it?

The "Rip it or Ship it?" book tag was created by emmmabooks, and since I was looking for a fun OTP-themed blog post for Valentine's Day, I couldn't pass this one up.

For those who aren't familiar with the tag, the concept of "Rip it or Ship it?" is to mix up a bunch of different names from book characters, randomly select two of them, and smush them together to create a couple. These characters can be (and should be, if you want to make it especially interesting) from different series/book worlds. If you think the two characters would work as a couple, you "ship it." If you think they'll go down in flames, you "rip it."***

***Please note that I don't condone ripping books in any way, shape, or form.

I've picked 10 different combinations of characters (some good, some bad, some so very bad that they're laughable), so . . .

1. Diana Prince from Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Linh Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles.

Amazon warrior + cyborg mechanic. Both of them are fiercely loyal to their friends, have a natural ability to lead, and strive to do what's right for the good of their people. Where Diana tends toward the more adventurous side of things, Cinder is generally more careful and calculated. Like with most of my favorite ships, these two are similar in lots of ways, but complement each other with their opposites. My conclusion:

2. Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter and Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instruments

The most despicable of evil and condescending teachers at Hogwarts + angsty, muscular, demon hunter . . .

3. Inej Ghafa from Six of Crows and Tris Prior from Divergent

I can definitely see Inej fitting in with the Dauntless crowd, seeing as she's pretty much the tiniest and most terrifying acrobat you're likely to meet. Also, Tris has a strong set of morals, just like Inej. As for the chemistry, well . . . I suppose it could work? Maybe??

4. Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter and Isabelle Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments

Isabelle would completely intimidate Neville for a long time. In fact, Izzy would probably be the one to make the first move. She seems harsh at first, but underneath that callused exterior, she's kind and protective. And, as evidenced by the rabid Simon/Isabelle shippers, she works well with the sweet and dorky underdogs. I think Neville would benefit from someone with so much confidence who could push him to stand up for himself and go after things in life.

5. Cath Avery from Fangirl and Simon Snow from Carry On

I swear I didn't plan this.

As perfect as it would be for Cath, the biggest Simon Snow fan in the universe, to end up with Simon Snow himself, I think even Cath would be opposed to the pairing, seeing as she's dedicated most of her life to the idea that Simon and Baz were somehow going to end up together. Sadly, I have to do this:

6. Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games and Nina Zenik from Six of Crows

Um, he makes delicious baked goods and she's obsessed with waffles and various tasty pastries. They could grow old together in a cozy little bakery, feasting on waffles and bread. It doesn't get much better than that.

7. Henry "Monty" Montague from The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and Carswell Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles

I've been cracking up over my keyboard for the past few minutes imagining Monty and Thorne's inevitable meet-cute: they constantly try to one-up each other with their dashing good looks and charm with the ladies, but in their ridiculous competition end up falling for each other instead.

8. Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter and Reid from The Upside of Unrequited

This is a tricky one. On the one hand, Luna and Reid are both outcasts in their social circles, but for different reasons, so they'd probably find some common ground in that. On the other hand, while I find them both adorable, they're adorable in totally different ways. I'm not sure Luna's brand of weird and Reid's would necessarily mesh. So . . .

9. Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars and AIDAN from The Illuminae Files

Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.

10. Simon Spier from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Harry Potter from Harry Potter

Again . . . did not plan this.

I think I have to go with this one just so I can indulge Simon's Harry Potter fantasies.

Your turn to play! Pick two characters randomly (out of a hat, from a generator, or from the first two books you spot on your bookshelf) and tell me if you would "rip it" or "ship it." Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my fantastic followers (doesn't that sound like a superhero group--Fantastic Followers?)! To celebrate, I'll leave you with some cheesy "Hamilton" valentines below, as well as links to some of my other Valentine's Day themed blog posts. Enjoy! :)

-"Dear OTP (TCWT Blog Chain)"
-"What Makes a Great Fictional Romance?"
-"Beautiful People--February" (2016)
-"Beautiful People--February" (2017)

What Makes a Great Fictional Romance?

Happy Valentine's Day! It shouldn't come as a surprise that I love my OTPs. Watching my adorable ships sail makes me happier than a baby elephant in a mud puddle.

JUST LOOK HOW HAPPY IT IS

But what exactly is it that makes a ship so . . . shippy? I have a few ideas.

(And yes, I will be using actual ships as examples to each of my points, but I won't give any spoilers as to whether they've sailed or not! So don't worry if you see a couple listed that you think is spoilery, chances are I've covered my ears and gone "lalala, you can say it won't happen all you want, I BELIEVE IN THEM.")

1. They make each other laugh

THIS IS A BIG ONE. The fictional world can be so dark and dreary sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), and these characters are little balls of broken cloudy days. (Is this true of all stories? Probably not, but I primarily read/watch things that make me cry. Fangirls are gluttons for pain!) So when the couple of one of my many OTPs can get each other to crack a smile or burst into laughter despite all the crap they're going through, it makes my little shipping heart squee.

Ships that make each other laugh (and me, too):

-The 10th Doctor and Rose from "Doctor Who"
-Chandler and Monica from "Friends"

2. They can be total dorks together

This goes along with #1. If you can find someone who gets your weirdness and wants to be weird right along with you, you've found a special someone, whether that be romantic or platonic. Adorable dorks make the world go 'round! What's more fun than pulling faces and making stupid jokes together?

Ships that are adorable dorks:

-Nick and Jess from "New Girl"
-Barry and Lainey from "The Goldbergs" (well . . . Barry more than Lainey, but still)

3. The slooowww burn

Don't get me wrong, the slow burns are sooo frustrating. All of those almost-kisses and longing looks when the other's back is turned and secretly confiding in friends and family about their true feelings for person A or B is enough to make any shipper insane. BUT. If/when those ships finally start thinking straight and get together, you know it'll be that much more satisfying. Plus, all those years they've known each other as friends means they already know most of each other's quirks/flaws/likes and dislikes!

Ships that just need to freaking kiss already:

-Sherlock and Molly from "Sherlock" (and this is ten-thousand times worse because we only get an episode like every two years!!)
-Niles and Daphne from "Frasier"

4. You know they'd do anything for each other

This can be anything from cooking a favorite dinner just because to diving into a burning building to save the other to person A watching a show person B loves despite A knowing he/she's going to hate it. No matter how small, each gesture is another shove of the ship out to sea.

Ships who would probably fight a dragon with a toothpick for love:

-Four and Tris from Divergent
-Hook and Emma from "Once Upon a Time" 

5. They excel at driving each other crazy one second and making them giggle the next

I don't know what it is about this that I find super cute, but endless teasing from one or both of the people that makes the other roll his/her eyes (even though they're totally amused on the inside) is something I love in a ship. It's the playful banter I'm always a huge fan of in dialogue. They may pretend to be annoyed, but you know they miss it whenever they're apart for too long..

Ships who love to drive each other up a wall:

-Castle and Beckett from "Castle"
-Lilac and Tarver from These Broken Stars

6. They challenge each other

My least favorite fictional couples are the ones where the characters are basically the exact same person or completely and totally different. If they're the same, they're bland and boring and overall just "meh." If you have to go into a ship with the "opposites attract" belief, you usually end up with a lot of angst and friction and a couple that isn't right for each other at all. Instead, there should be a good balance where the differences work to help each person change in a good way. (And I'm not talking about a ship where one of the characters becomes a "project" for the other person. Those are awful and never end up well. The ship should have mutual respect for who each person is right then and there, above all.)

Ships who challenge each other:
-Simon and Isabelle from The Mortal Instruments
-Steve and Peggy from "Captain America"

7. There's actual chemistry

There's nothing worse than forced romance. I've heard the good rule of thumb is to never go into a story with the mission to eventually set two people up with each other (unless you're specifically writing a romance!). The best fictional couples emerge on their own along the way because they just can't stand not being together any longer. There are definitely some ships with chemistry so strong, it's like a buzzing in the room that makes you flail with the hopes that they'll eventually realize their true love for each other.

Ships with palpable chemistry:

-The 11th Doctor and River from "Doctor Who"
-Hazel and Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars

8. They're friends, first and foremost

Some of my absolute favorite ships are the best-friends-turned-romantic-couple. That doesn't mean all of my favorite ships have to fit the criteria, it just means underneath every date and kiss they care most about looking out for each other, like any good friend would. They're honest with each other, caring, thoughtful, always there when you need them, etc. etc. etc.

Ships who are best friends:

-Luke and Lorelai from "Gilmore Girls"
-Eleanor and Park from Eleanor & Park

9. They make a great team with everything they do

Whether they're making breakfast or catching criminals or saving the earth from destruction, they do it best together. You know two people are made for each other when their best (and worst) traits mesh together to form an awesome team.

Ships who should wear matching outfits and become a superhero dream team:

-Dean and Jo from "Supernatural"
-Jack and Ianto from "Torchwood"

10. They love each other for who they are, no matter what

The most important thing you need! There's not much more I can say about it other than I think once a ship has this, everything else I've listed above will follow.

Ships who love each other unconditionally:

-How can I even pick between them all?!?! Basically everyone I wrote down earlier. Plus more. Every single one.

What do you look for in a fictional romance? What are your favorite OTPs? Leave a comment!

My Favorite "Platoniships" and Why it Should Be a Word

Shipping is the best. It's one of my favorite things to do while fangirling over my favorite fandoms. But all too often we focus on the romantic ships and forget the other, just as important relationships. Don't get me wrong, I love my adorable OTPs as much as the next fangirl, but what about the friendships? I've been calling these "platoniships," and I have just as many of these ships as I do my romantic ones, if not more. A few examples . . .

Harry, Ron, and Hermione from the Harry Potter series

I so wish I could find an illustration of these three by Jim Kay, because his drawings are GORGEOUS.

This trio was the perfect balance of mischief and heroism. Sure they broke the rules sometimes, but you always, always rooted for them. And no matter how often any combination of the three fought, they stuck together when it mattered most. Harry wouldn't have been able to do 90% of the things he did without help from the other two. Teamwork at its finest!

The Marauders from the Harry Potter series

OKAY BUT LOOK AT HOW CUTE LUPIN IS WITH HIS CHOCOLATE

I. Love. These. Guys. So many fan-fiction possibilities with these four. And before, you know, Peter betrayed everyone, they were the best friends any of them could've asked for. James, Sirius, and Peter all broke the law and became unregistered animagi just so Remus wouldn't have to be alone! If that's not love, I don't know what is.

Calvin and Hobbes from the Calvin and Hobbes series

These two may be at the top of my list. Even looking for a picture was difficult because there were so many different ways to portray them! I could've gone for sweet, silly, fun, etc. Ultimately I decided on this one, because I think at the heart of it, Calvin and Hobbes were about laughter. They wanted to goof off and smile and imagine whole new worlds they could have a blast in. This is my favorite comic strip series ever for that reason.

The Doctor and Donna from "Doctor Who"

How awesome are Ten and Donna?! The answer is SO AWESOME. They're hysterical, fun, sassy, gutsy, and make a fabulous team. Not to mention a couple of the kindest hearts to ever walk the Whovian earth. The Doctor showed Donna wonders and Donna made the Doctor more human in the best way. They had some of the best chemistry any two people have had on TV ever. I'm still so sad they only lasted a season.

Sherlock and John from "Sherlock"

THESE TWO. However you ship it, you can't deny that they're brilliant together. Solving murders and giggling at the crime scenes while they do it? It's the perfect blend of drama and humor. And can we talk about how much Sherlock has grown over the seasons thanks to John's friendship? (And John because of Sherlock's, for that matter!) Yay for character development!

Sam and Dean from "Supernatural"

Who says siblings can't be friends? And these brothers have one of the BEST sibling relationships I have ever seen in fiction ever. EVER, I TELL YOU. Sam and Dean behave just like normal siblings would (teasing each other, pulling pranks, getting into heated debates about music and other pop culture stuff, etc.), and they would literally sacrifice themselves for the other in a heartbeat. Eleven seasons of this show and it's still going strong, all because of them.

Charlie and Dean from "Supernatural"

Dean once described Charlie as "the little sister he never wanted," and I think that's the perfect way to sum up their friendship. He's definitely an older brother figure to her, and that's exactly what Charlie needed in her life. After all the pain and loneliness she went through, Dean became her rock. And not only have they shared some sweet moments, but plenty of fun ones, too. (Who can forget the famous "Walking On Sunshine" montage?)

Lorelai and Rory from "Gilmore Girls"

I totally think kids can be friends with their parents, and Lorelai and Rory are proof of that. They're supportive of the dreams of the other, they encourage and inspire each other, and they're so close they can practically finish each other's sentences. And when they do talk, it's hard to get a word in edgewise. The dialogue is constantly fast-paced. The wit is unreal. Watching them interact on screen is addictive. It's like opening a package of M&M's and just eating one. Which is absurd, because you never eat just one. You have to eat the entire thing, clearly. Watching a few minutes isn't enough to get your Gilmore fix. You need to watch an entire episode (or three).

Chandler and Joey from "Friends"

And for those of you who haven't watched "Friends," yes, yes they are riding on a statue of a dog.

Ah, Chandler and Joey. Once of the best TV bromances. Watching them crack each other up and go through life together is a joy. Most of my favorite scenes involve the two of them getting into all kinds of mayhem. ("What kind of scary ass clowns came to your birthday?") Could they BE anymore awesome?

Scott and Stiles from "Teen Wolf"

Out of all the possible ships, romantic or otherwise, in this show, Scott and Stiles are my favorite. They remind me a lot of Chandler and Joey in some ways, Stiles being the sarcastic one, although Scott is wayyy smarter than Joey. The unconditional support and friendship they have for each other gives me all the feels. I can never have too much of them in a single episode.

Cinder and Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles

Ermahgerd, I can't even with these two!!! Thorne is a fabulous Han Solo/Captain Jack Harkness/Dean Winchester type, the perfect blend of cockiness and sarcastic humor (even though everybody knows he's a total teddy bear on the inside). Cinder is smart and impatient and can totally kick butt in any situation. Watching the two of them collide and go from bickering to . . . well, more bickering has been one of the best parts of the entire series. I love them. I need more. Now.

Rey and Finn from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

This is the best picture I could find considering how new the movie is.

Can I get a round of applause for brother-sister type friendships? Because that's exactly what this one is, in my mind. Banter and teamwork and protectiveness, FTW! I'm sooo freaking excited to see more of them in future movies. (And BB-8, of course, who's just a little ball of adorable sunshine.)

Parker and Hardison from "Leverage"

Parker and Hardison are a tentative addition since I'm only in the middle of season one and Cait has suggested I might end up "shippy shipping" them (her awesome words). But for now, how sweet are they together?! Apparently I'm a sucker for brother-sister friendships. Parker deserves all the hugs, and Hardison has the best ridiculous scenes. I love it so much.

Your turn! What are you favorite platoniships? Leave a comment! :)

Dear OTP (TCWT Blog Chain)

I am so freakishly excited for this TCWT prompt (thank you for your genius, John). The hardest part was picking just a few couples to write about (decisions!). Let me start off by saying that I hate ship bashing. The rudeness I've witnessed (especially from aggressive Johnlock/Sherlolly shippers . . . calm down, guys) is just plain mean. Each fangirl/boy is allowed his/her own opinion without judgement or cattiness. This has been and always will be a hate-free blog, so don't be afraid to leave a comment!

(Why yes, yes I have made a list of my OTPs--all 50 or so of them--and yes, yes I did consult it as I wrote this post.)

Prompt: “Write a letter to a fictional couple.”

Dear Tenrose,

Why must you hurt me in this way? I spent an entire season squeeing over your adorableness and you had to go and break my heart. Thanks for the week I spent wallowing in my grief with tissues and chocolate, grumbling over the first few episodes of S3.

But in all seriousness, you two are the ultimate OTP. You're funny, you're sweet, you're cute, you kick butt, and you save the universe time and time again. What more could a ship ask for?

Love,

A Dedicated Whovian Surrounded By Empty Boxes of Tissues

Dear Luneville,

You two should totally have been canon. I can't think of a better pairing in the entire series. You're both quirky and often considered misfits. But I think more than anything, what would've drawn the two of you together is that you're unconditionally kind. You love your friends like family and would do anything to help them. You're the perfect match. Fan-fiction doesn't lie.

Love,

A Potterhead Who Thinks You Two Should Just Kiss Already

Dear Sherlolly,

THE FRUSTRATION. You two have had three seasons of sparks and chemistry and nothing?! Sherlock, you idiot, say something to her. For a genius detective, you sure are oblivious to her attempts at romance. Even John sees it. Molly is willing to do anything for you, including pretending you were dead for two years.

If nothing happens in S4, I'm sending another letter of protest.

Love,

A Sherlolly Shipper With Too Many Feels

Dear Megstiel,

Yes, yes, I am in the minority here with the Supernatural fandom, but I can't help it. I never would've expected to ship an angel and a demon in this show, especially a demon whom I'd previously loathed with every fiber of my body. How in the world did I ever end up squealing over you two? Oh yes, because the writing is brilliant. Ahem. But that's another letter for another time.

Cas is undeniably sweet and adorable, and Meg, while rough around the edges, was willing to stay by his side when he was crazy!Cas and stuck in a hospital bed. They take care of each other, which is probably the most important thing a ship can have, especially in the Supernatural fandom.

But, like all the best OTPs, it must either never have existed at all or end in tragedy. *sighs heavily* But this is Supernatural, after all, so there's hope for you yet . . .

Love,

A Shipper Who Hopes Meg Finds Her Unicorn

Ignore the confused moose in the background. He knows nothing of your love.

Dear Hazel & Augustus,

Apparently you don't have a ship name because you're just too awesome to even need one. That's pretty cool, but it is a mouthful to say "Hazel and Augustus" when I could be saying "Haugustus" or something to that effect.

You two are smart, sarcastic, funny, and adorable together. You even fangirl/fanboy over books together. How cool is that?! And Gus bought Hazel plane tickets to Amsterdam using his wish from the genies in order to get her to meet her favorite author?! Yeah, he's a keeper.

Love,

A Fangirl Trying Not to Cry

Dear Cress & Thorne,

Corne? Thress? Do you even have a ship name? It doesn't really matter. You guys are awesome. And hilarious. And cute. I pretty much spent the whole time reading the book with a smile on my face. Cress is adorable. Thorne is awesome and reminds me of Captain Jack Harkness. Basically you two are my favorite characters in The Lunar Chronicles. The end.

Love,

A Huge Fan Waiting Impatiently For Winter

There are SO many cool pieces of fanart out there, it was hard to choose just one!

I could go on and on and on, but I won't for the sake of keeping this post at a relatively normal size. I would like to give a shout out to Javajunkie, Sizzy, Malec, Rumbelle, Dean/Jo, and Niles/Daphne.

Who are your OTPs? Please share!

Psst. Remember the "Bean Bag's and Sofa's Writer's Group" I talked about a little while ago? Well the site is finally up! Check it out!

5^th – http://www.adventuringthroughpages.wordpress.com/

6^th – http://www.theworldofthewriter.wordpress.com/

7^th – http://musingsfromnevillesnavel.wordpress.com/

8^th – http://freeasagirlwithwings.wordpress.com/

9^th – http://miriamjoywrites.com/

10^th – http://erinkenobi2893.wordpress.com/

11^th – https://introspectioncreative.wordpress.com/

12^th – http://whileishouldbedoingprecal.weebly.com/

13^th – http://nasrielsfanfics.wordpress.com/

14^th – http://unikkelyfe.wordpress.com/

15^th – http://ramblingsofaravis.wordpress.com/

16^th – http://www.juliathewritergirl.wordpress.com/

17^th – https://clockworkdesires.wordpress.com/

18^th – http://horsfeathersblog.wordpress.com/

19^th – http://from-stacy.blogspot.com/

20^th – http://semilegacy.blogspot.com/

21^st – http://themagicviolinist.blogspot.com/

22^nd – http://www.pamelanicolewrites.com/

23^rd – http://arielkalati.blogspot.com/

24^th – http://irisbloomsblog.wordpress.com/

25^th – http://theboardingblogger.wordpress.com/

26^th – http://allisonthewriter.wordpress.com/

27^th – http://stayandwatchthestars.wordpress.com/

28^th – http://butterfliesoftheimagination.wordpress.com/

and http://abookishflower.wordpress.com/

29^th – http://gallopingfree.wordpress.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-Gap/603228309718111

30^th – http://hautehealthhails.blogspot.co.uk/

and https://teenscanwritetoo.wordpress.com/ (We’ll announce the topic for next month’s chain.)

OTPs

Having recently started using Pinterest more often, I've had fandoms on my mind. Specifically OTPs.

What is an OTP?

An OTP--or a One True Pairing--is a couple from a book or TV show that you "ship" (meaning that you support an existing couple, or want two characters that aren't in a relationship to fall in love). However, I don't think you should be forced to choose just one, so here are my several true pairings.

Couple: Rose and the tenth Doctor

Book/TV show: "Doctor Who"

Couple name: Tenrose

Why I ship them: He showed her the universe, she held his hand. The Doctor has a dark side, a tragic past, and is often lonely, but Rose was the bright spot in his world. They battled aliens, saved lives, and protected the future. They made the perfect team, and might just be might top OTP.

Couple: Sherlock and Molly

Book/TV show: "Sherlock"

Couple name: Sherlolly

Why I ship them: Similar to Sheldon and Amy's relationship on "The Big Bang Theory," Sherlock is oblivious to Molly's attempts at romance, and it frustrates us Sherlolly shippers like nothing else. Molly is willing to do anything for the consulting detective. Heck, (highlight for spoiler) she even helped him fake his own death and managed to keep it a secret for two years. And while it seems as if Sherlock will never come to his senses (such as in the embarrassing Christmas scene in "A Scandal In Belgravia"), shots of Sherlock giving Molly tender looks that she doesn't notice, such as these, gives us some hope.

"Sherlock" headcanon

Couple: Neville and Luna

Book/TV show: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Couple name: Luneville

Why I ship them: The two oddballs, the misfits, the ones who never really had friends before Hogwarts and the DA. They're both so sweet and kind and brave. They'd be perfect for each other.

Couple: Hazel and Augustus

Book/TV show: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Couple name: None (because most of the TFIOS fans say that Hazel and Augustus are so great together, they don't need a name.

Why I ship them: These two are smart, sarcastic, funny, and adorable together. Gus was the first person to get Hazel to do things since she was diagnosed. They even fangirl/fanboy(?) over books together. How cool is that?!

***SPOILERS FOR "Gilmore Girls"***

Couple: Luke and Lorelai

Book/TV show: "Gilmore Girls"

Couple name: Javajunkie (quite possibly the best couple name ever)

Why I ship them: This explanation could be kept to simply, "he makes the coffee, she drinks the coffee," and that would be enough. But I think part of the reason why these two are so freaking perfect for each other is because they're both extremely loyal and willing to drop everything they're doing to help the other. Luke kicked customers out of his diner and closed it in order to give her a ride to the hospital when her father collapsed. Lorelai worked at the diner for no pay so Luke could plan his Uncle Louie's funeral. Luke is like the father Rory never had, and Lorelai is usually able to get him to crack a smile, or at least wear a different baseball cap. And they both put up with each other's annoying quirks, which is probably one of the most important things in a relationship.

You can totally see it in the way he looks at her . . . and she's completely oblivious.

***END SPOILERS***

What's your OTP?