So Long and Thanks For All the Fish

I love mages and I love Anders and if you have a problem with that, the unfollow button is in the upper right hand corner

reanimatrix:

I know I don’t talk about it much, but still. Someone else is getting hate for it and that is not okay. 

Tagged: andersfabulous magemy boyfriendodragon age

Fenders Friday!

So, foxghost commissioned me for a story some months back and I FINALLY finished it. She said I could share it with tumblr/AO3, so I shall post the link here for AO3.

Enjoy!

http://archiveofourown.org/works/833873/chapters/1587113

Tagged: Fenders FridayFendersAndersFenrisfoxghostcommissionstorywritingfanfiction

Dear Non-Shippers of Fenders

cypheroftyr:

commandercritical:

With shipping memes growing in popularity recently and the Reverse Big Bang around the corner, I’ve been disappointed to find out that many of my followers are not fans of this pairing. In fact, some of you are downright against it, and as an author that primarily writes Fenders, this saddens me for many reasons. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - the fact that people I respect and idolize will never give my writing a chance based on pairing alone is disheartening.

Firstly, I want you to know that I have no intention of attacking anybody for their preferences in this post (or ever), but I would like to ask a small favour: Will you read what I have to say? I’d like to address some common misconceptions about the Fenders pairing that might be keeping people away.

I’ve seen a lot of people justify their dislike for this pairing by saying that “hate sex can only go so far”. I’d like to clarify that the majority of Fenders shippers do not write hate sex. Most of us write from the angle of a slowly-growing tolerance that eventually becomes something more. Believe me, the “I-hate-you-let’s-fuck” premise holds little to no water for me, either. Give us some credit.

I know what you’re thinking: But they hate each other! Do they really? By the second and third act of the game, the two of them have perfectly civil, arguably friendly conversations in party banter. In Act 2, if Anders is allowed to kill Ella, the resulting conversation between Anders and Fenris is unexpectedly kind. In the Legacy and Mark of the Assassin DLC, they openly joke with one another. Familiarity doesn’t appear to have bred contempt in their case.

If you still think they hate each other and can’t be convinced otherwise, consider that hatred is a passionate emotion. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not the opposite of love. That claim belongs to apathy. I would be less inclined to ship Fenris and Anders together if they were completely indifferent toward one another, but they are not. It can’t be denied that they have strong feelings concerning one another, whether negative or positive.

Still have a problem with the idea? If you ship Fenris/mage!Hawke, Sebris, Sebanders, Meresino, or ANY rivalmance, I see little logic in refusing to give Fenders a chance. These relationships, while primarily antagonistic, absolutely can work when written by a talented author. You may be surprised to learn that Fenders is the second-most popular DA2 slash pairing on AO3. It is not a rare ship.

If the idea of Fenris being in a relationship with a mage bothers you or seems too reminiscent of his previous life with Danarius for your liking, let’s consider something: Anders is a healer. He helps people whenever possible in the only way he knows how, and he does it out of the kindness of his heart, expecting nothing in return. He lives among the downtrodden and the unfortunate and treats them with respect. He despises the idea of people not possessing the freedom to which they should have a natural right. Do you truly believe he would treat Fenris as lesser or expect him to assume a subservient role? Do you think Fenris would allow him to do so, considering their initially combative exchanges? We know that both of them are comfortable expressing their discontent with one another. It wouldn’t happen, and if by some bizarre turn of events it somehow did, it certainly wouldn’t go unsaid or denied.

Anders and Fenris both spent the majority of their lives in captivity. They were always kept under a watchful eye, likely beaten, possibly raped, regularly insulted, degraded, and made to feel worthless. They were told their lives have no meaning and that their existence is of no consequence. They are both members of marginalized groups and at one point, were segregated from the rest of the population because of it. They share a great deal of similar experiences and have much in common. Is it not possible that they could commiserate or help each other to heal?

“What about Justice?” You’re thinking. What about Justice? The spirit is problematic, yes, but it doesn’t prevent an Anders/Hawke romance from happening if you, the player, feels so inclined. It doesn’t stop all of the fans from loving Anders as the man he is beyond his possession. Is he not endearing and worthy of love as a character even despite Justice? Is Fenris not capable of that kind of love?

If Fenris came to recognize Anders as a man rather than a mage or an abomination, then what? Would the pairing become acceptable? Is it so unreasonable that two men with such comparable pasts would come to understand one another? To care for one another? To love one another?

I don’t think it is.

If you have an open mind and are willing to try some Fenders fic, I recommend checking out AO3.

Volutions is a wonderful place to start, if a little long.

My work, Concurrence, has become quite popular. I’m proud of it and would love to share.

The lovely cypheroftyr put together a rec list for Fenders not long ago.

Check the most-kudosed works on AO3 and pick one that stands out to you.

Try the Fenders tag here on Tumblr.

For the love of God, though, please try something. This pairing warms my cold, black heart and got me writing again. They’re worth your time, I promise.

Well said! <3 

I’m definitely in the camp of loathing the hate sex is the only way trope. Haaaaate it like burning because it minimizes the potential of the pairing to me. It’s an easy out to write that and be done. 

I think it takes skill to write them a) well, b) convincingly and c) in a way that doesn’t skip over critical parts of their backstory. IE stories where Fenris’ past as a slave and Anders being in solitary for a year are just inconvenient and overlooked.

It’s part of what makes them, well them. They both are fucked up there’s no denying that. But where there’s a will, there’s a way and that is the glory of fan fiction y’all. Making non-canon pairings work since forever.

But you know what, don’t knock it till you try it. Or at least if you won’t try it, don’t be an unrepentant dick to people who do ship something you don’t like.

Tagged: fendersandersfenrisdragon agewritingfanfictioncommandercritical

Source: commandercritical