luxken27 | Fandom Cliches Meme

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Fandom Cliches Meme

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doggieearlover: Name 5 cliches - from canon or fandom - that you'd like to see disappear.

In no particular order:

*The villainization of Kikyo (from the anime, carried into far too many fanfics). She's not the ultimate bitch from hell whose sole purpose in life (death?) is to screw with the Inu/Kag pairing. She's probably one of the most interesting characters in the whole series because she's so complex and layered.

*The age-old "Kagome sees Inuyasha with Kikyo and runs to Sesshoumaru" scenario. YES, IT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, IN NEW STORIES. It was stupid the first go-around, but now it's just lazy and ridiculous. We know the end of the canon manga, and that presents far more interesting challenges to getting this couple together than this tired old bag.

*Fanon!Sesshoumaru. There's nothing more telling about the level of an author's knowledge of canon, especially if you are of the Sess/Kag persuasion. If you've read more than one of the preceding stories, you know what I'm talking about. Nothing gets under my skin faster than making Sesshoumaru OOC unless there is extensive, believable, realistic explanation for it (within the fic, not the author's notes).

*Mating marks (biting). OMG I do not understand this *at all* - never have, never will. I actively seek out stories that don't use this fanon trope, coming up with a more clever - or logical - way to show a couple is officially together. I used scent-marking in Every Heart, which I thought I made clear was my "mate marking of choice", but I still got people reviewing or asking me when Inuyasha was going to bite Kagome and make her his "real" mate. *sigh* Didn't happen in that piece, and won't happen in the sequel - and guess what? I still consider them mated.

*Perverted-hentai-Miroku. Yes, he's a flirt, but he is much more than that. In a lot of ways, he keeps the Inutachi grounded and serves as their voice of reason and strategic planning. He is sold far too short in the vast majority of fics which even bother to mention him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh yes...

I agree with all of these!

I can understand using a blood exchange thingie for magical reasons on the joining of a human youkai couple. That makes good magical sense, counting on how you set up the parameters of your story universe...but the mating mark thingie supposedly is a migration from the Buffy the Vampire fandom that caught on like wildfire. It's not the blood exchange I bitch about...It's the biting. Many youkai in the Japanese mythic world aren't even animal types. Why would biting be the definitive sign of joining?

I won't even use the term mating. In all the Japanese folklore I have read, supernatural beings in their relationships with each other or with humans tend to seem to use the same terminology for pairing off that the human Japanese do. Calling Youkai pairs mates instead of husbands and wives is really itself a fanon convention, an early one, but still.

Lots of really bad Kikyou bashing out there. She's not much of an issue in any of my stories, since they all take place after her death, but I really dislike character abuse.

And you know I'm part of the Miroku Anti-Defamation League. He's never seen as a stupid comic relief device in my stories. A tease and a joker, yes, but wise and clever and loyal to his friends and who will put himself on the line for those who he cares for, and he loves Sango with a deep love.

Ah well.

I can understand using a blood exchange thingie for magical reasons on the joining of a human youkai couple. That makes good magical sense, counting on how you set up the parameters of your story universe...but the mating mark thingie supposedly is a migration from the Buffy the Vampire fandom that caught on like wildfire. It's not the blood exchange I bitch about...It's the biting. Many youkai in the Japanese mythic world aren't even animal types. Why would biting be the definitive sign of joining?

THANK YOU. I do not understand it myself. The first time I ran across it was in a parody fic, actually, and it immediately struck me as so odd. There's nothing in the canon to even remotely suggest such a thing happens when youkai mate/bond/marry-however-you-want-to-slice-it.

To me (and this is just me), it makes much more sense to exploit the whole "sensitive nose" trope, which has been used countless times with both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha to show how easily they pick up on various scents, and even what they mean. I actually 'borrowed' the scent-bonding idea I used in Every Heart from JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which is about *gasp!* vampires who don't bite their mates as a mark of bonding, but release a certain scent that even the humans in her universe can be sensitive to and understand.

I've used the blood oath idea as well, in 'Allegiance', with the consequence that the mingling blood allows Sesshoumaru access to human emotions. That's going to be fun to play with :)

I won't even use the term mating. In all the Japanese folklore I have read, supernatural beings in their relationships with each other or with humans tend to seem to use the same terminology for pairing off that the human Japanese do. Calling Youkai pairs mates instead of husbands and wives is really itself a fanon convention, an early one, but still.

I don't find it weird to use conventional human terms (marriage, husband, wife) for youkai unions, but I prefer to use the separate class of labels to show that it's not the same as the way we think of marriage today - as a loving, desirous union of bodies/souls/hearts. In my canon-set stuff, especially, I work under the general notion that youkai marriages - especially of Inuyasha's father's class - were more about political alliances and land treaties and the like, not so much love or passion for the other person.

*shrug* Just a personal preference :)

I really dislike character abuse.

Me, too. I'm actually surprised at some of the rampant hate I see for Kikyo in the Sess/Kag corners of fandom. I mean, WTF?! Shouldn't those people, of all the rabid fantwits in the world, love having Kikyo around to 'steal' Inuyasha? *shakes head*

But I hate what they did to her in the anime, turning her into little more than a two-bit villain. A lot of people - a lot more than I care to admit sometimes - write based solely off the animated arcs, and it is very obvious when it comes to their characterizations.

And you know I'm part of the Miroku Anti-Defamation League. He's never seen as a stupid comic relief device in my stories. A tease and a joker, yes, but wise and clever and loyal to his friends and who will put himself on the line for those who he cares for, and he loves Sango with a deep love.

Yes!! I loves me some Miroku, even if I find him hard to write. I'm trying, though - doing my part to help further the Mir/San love, hehe :) Maybe one day I will as be comfortable writing this pairing as I am with others.

--In my canon-set stuff, especially, I work under the general notion that youkai marriages - especially of Inuyasha's father's class - were more about political alliances and land treaties and the like, not so much love or passion for the other person.---

But that's what all high status marriages were...arranged for political/dynastic/power reasons marriages. That's what most upper-class Samurai and many middling class marriages were, and for sure true for up and coming merchant families and some of the upper peasantry.

Love matches were basically saved for the lower peasantry. Or between a man and his concubine. And that's the human norm for much of humanity both in Japan and Europe in the 16th century.

I see InuPapa's marriage to Sesshmom and then his relationship to Inumom reflecting very much the way the human world worked. In fact it reminds me a lot of one of the major Daimyo...maybe Tokugawa Iesu, but I'd have to look it up. Almost all of the Daimyo of InuYasha's time who had official wives weren't particularly in love with those women. Some they didn't even like...or trust, but they might be deeply attached to the concubines they actually spent most of their time with.

Thus, I can't see much difference. Sometimes I am cursed with knowing too much!

It's so interesting how I sweat blood to write Sessh and you have trouble with Miroku and I find him so easy to do. Life is funny that way...

But that's what all high status marriages were...arranged for political/dynastic/power reasons marriages. That's what most upper-class Samurai and many middling class marriages were, and for sure true for up and coming merchant families and some of the upper peasantry.

Love matches were basically saved for the lower peasantry. Or between a man and his concubine. And that's the human norm for much of humanity both in Japan and Europe in the 16th century.

I see InuPapa's marriage to Sesshmom and then his relationship to Inumom reflecting very much the way the human world worked. In fact it reminds me a lot of one of the major Daimyo...maybe Tokugawa Iesu, but I'd have to look it up. Almost all of the Daimyo of InuYasha's time who had official wives weren't particularly in love with those women. Some they didn't even like...or trust, but they might be deeply attached to the concubines they actually spent most of their time with.

Thus, I can't see much difference. Sometimes I am cursed with knowing too much!

:) Yes, I realize this as well - that when we're talking high class, love has nothing to do with marriage. I'd characterize InuPapa & SessMom's relationship the same way - it was an alliance, beneficial for one or more or both. That's not a "marriage" the traditional sense as we think of it today. For me, using "union" or "alliance" instead, I'm trying to emphasize this fact, to cut down on the "OMG!SCANDAL!ADULTERY!!" aspect of it all, whether it be InuPapa or Sesshoumaru who is so unjustly accused. Because let's face it, not every reader is the sharpest tool in the drawer, LOL.

I've played around with the notion that they aren't even married at all, in the sense we have of it. Hence calling each other "mates" instead of "husband" and "wife." I see vast more separation in these matters of the heart between humans and youkai and it's a dynamic I enjoy exploiting in my fic.

The use of "marriage"/"husband"/"wife" doesn't bother me at all, no matter how it's used. Neither do the terms "mate" and "mating". I see them as two sides of the same coin, more or less, and use them in a highly selective way to emphasize differences in classifying relationships for the benefit of readers moreso than my own personal taste.

The word "pups" on the other hand...just, no. Kagome (nor Rin, nor your poor unsuspecting OC, heaven forfend!) is not going to have a litter of puppies. Hanyou =/= youkai =/= domesticated dog. NO THANK YOU.

It's so interesting how I sweat blood to write Sessh and you have trouble with Miroku and I find him so easy to do. Life is funny that way...

Well, I don't know about you, but I find that I relate far, far too much to Sesshoumaru and his hangups than I care to admit sometimes. Miroku is so...free, easygoing, flirty and confident, and he *does* have a witty sense of humor. Comedy is my weakness, and trying to blend it successfully with other character traits...is mostly an ugly experiment in my hands.

That, and I tend to sweat over my characterizations more than is healthy, probably :P

I might use pup from time to time as a pet name...(and because it's so everywhere in the fanfic, so my ear's gotten used to it, and it might sneak in to a line)...after all, we call our children kids, which is the name for baby goats...but if we're following the manga, pup should not be the generic at all. Inu normally refers to children by words which probably runt or brat are better translations..LOL.

I sort of work under this assumption, anyway: Inu's been socialized by humans (i.e., his mom in particular) and although he might do some of the things he does which are the result of having Inu Youkai heritage, he thinks in labels of the human world. Even if Inu Youkai thought of their children as pups (which I kind of doubt), I really doubt if InuYasha would think the same way.

I think I relate a lot more to Miroku...I've known people like him and maybe share at least some of the same characteristics...so he comes easy to me...

Interesting tidbit...on the interview that RT did that's floating around, RT said Sessh ws hard for her too, cause he's always so serious...LOL. I'm not alone!

but if we're following the manga, pup should not be the generic at all. Inu normally refers to children by words which probably runt or brat are better translations..LOL.

That's what I mean...the male characters thinking in terms of the females carrying/birthing pups, much less saying it. It just seems so unnatural. I'd take kids over pups, but generally write in terms of children, child, baby, etc.

Even for full youkai like Sesshoumaru or InuPapa, I don't think they consider their offspring pups.

I think I relate a lot more to Miroku...I've known people like him and maybe share at least some of the same characteristics...so he comes easy to me...

Miroku is alien to me in some ways, which is why I'm drawn to him. Opposites attract, and all that...but it's harder for me to justify his actions and understand his behavior because his situation is so far removed from my own.

It's an interesting thought experiment, if nothing else, but as I said, I probably spend way, way too much time thinking about these characters and trying to tweak their characterizations juuuuuuuust so.

Interesting tidbit...on the interview that RT did that's floating around, RT said Sessh ws hard for her too, cause he's always so serious...LOL. I'm not alone!

Yes, I saw that LOL, but mostly put it down to the fact that she usually writes comedy and not serious, dark, angsty stuff. I've yet to see someone who can artfully blend both angst and comedy and not look like a pretentious twit, if they somehow managed to not fail miserably. It seems we're either good at one or the other, but not both :P

Oh Kikyou...

I'm not going to lie. When she died in the manga for the final time (how many times can a person DIE anyway?!) I literally did a happy dance. I felt a little bit bad when Inuyasha was crying over her and their last moments together were all nice and sentimental, but I will never deny that I'm a Kikyou hater.

I found her character SO IRRITATING in the anime to the point where I FWD parts where she's in it. Most of her time was spend wandering around to the same music asking quasi-philosophical questions about her own existence. Ugh - please. I'd rather fork out my eyeballs that watch another minute of that poorly scripted garbage.

Once I started reading the manga my opinion of her got marginally (I emphasize the marginally) better. I think it came down to RT needed a plot device and Kikyou was it. Whenever she needed the story to go somewhere and didn't have any original ideas she just threw Kikyou back into the mix to stir up emotional angst between her and Inuyasha (and Kagome).

I have so many issues with Kikyou's character I really could go on forever but I'll stop now. Bottom line - she is the character I despise most out of any anime/manga I've ever watched/read. Ever. :)

Interesting post. Thanks for sharing!

LOL :) Well, love her or hate her, it doesn't excuse the horrible abuse she takes in fanfic (or the way her character was mutilated in the anime).

I have my own reservations about why she was resurrected, and I do agree that the whole death thing got out of hand, but mostly what I dislike most about it is that after her final death, the Inu/Kag relationship didn't noticeably progress that much further. It was like her ghost always lingered between them, even after she was actually gone.

But I find her quite the fascinating character nonetheless. Female antiheroes are rather rare as far as I know, and she is the perfect example of one (even in her more sympathetic manga portrayal - she's never totally good nor totally evil, and you're always questioning her motives).

mostly what I dislike most about it is that after her final death, the Inu/Kag relationship didn't noticeably progress that much further. It was like her ghost always lingered between them, even after she was actually gone.
This, right here, is what bugged me the most. Especially after the crying-tears-of-blood thing... I'm like "Okay, you're mourning, understandable... but c'moooon..."

It did progress...but you have to look at it through Japanese eyes. They are so damn subtle in their relationship cues. If you compare the arc where Kagome was captured by Akago and compare it to chapter 557 (a very easy comparison to do) you will see how much their relationship had progressed. And in fact, it had been progressing even before Kikyou's death.

But we're talking about a culture that didn't have a polite word for kiss until after they had contact with the west in the 19th century...and kissing is still not done nearly as much as is in America, and a language where words like darling and sweetheart had to be imported and still aren't used that much. You shouldn't expect the same type of demonstrative signaling that would happen in an American story -- particularly in a Shonen story.

Shoot, it gets worse in the anime...they even weakened what was in the manga to make it even less demonstrative.

As far as RT is concerned, I think in her opinion, they worked all the bugs out of who they were to each other in chapter 494. That's absolutely the last time Kagome showed any angst about her relationship in Inu.

Definitely easier to do romance in English. The signals are much clearer.

Shoot, it gets worse in the anime...they even weakened what was in the manga to make it even less demonstrative.

THIS. So hard. That bugs me to no end! I realize its a shounen series, but don't sap out what little romance you have already!

I know things are subtle in Japanese culture, but even in the subtleties, the progression was not enough for my liking. Just a personal preference, of course, and it doesn't really explain the rushing of the ending, either.

Definitely easier to do romance in English. The signals are much clearer.

No kidding. No wonder lemons and angst are such popular subgenres! :P

This is a really good point. I have a friend studying over in Japan right now and we got into a huge discussion with one of her new friends over relationship cues in Japan. *Very* different.

we're talking about a culture that didn't have a polite word for kiss until after they had contact with the west in the 19th century
I actually didn't know that... thank you! I feel educated!

"It was like her ghost always lingered between them, even after she was actually gone."

Yes, definitely. Kikyou was the constant wedge between them which is part of why I think it was necessary (and admirable) that RT gave him 3 years to "think about it" so to speak. You can bet when Kagome returned through the well it wasn't Kikyou he was missing, but Kagome - just for being Kagome.

Honestly, I felt sorry for the poor girl (Kagome). All throughout the series she was being compared to Kikyou in a way that's unfair by anyone's standards. There was no possible way for Kagome to live up to the standard that had been set by her predecessor - Kikyou was the all powerful perfect miko. Kikyou was the only one who had the power to take down Naraku. Kikyou was supremely beautiful by everyone's standards. Kikyou was the woman who held onto Inuyasha's heart....

Especially where Inuyasha was concerned - he put Kikyou on a pedestal. Kikyou could do no wrong even when she quite obviously DID do wrong. Even when she operated under her own solitary self gratifying motives she was still 'Kikyou' so in Inuyasha's eyes everything she did was forgivable. Eugh. I just found it all so nauseating. I'm all for hero worship when it's warranted but I didn't think anything she did up until she died, giving up her life for Kohaku, warranted the level of admiration she received from the Inuyasha cast of characters.

I realize there are about a billion arguments that could be made along the lines of - "but they were in love and when you're in love you see things differently" to justify Inuyasha's actions when it comes to Kikyou. I'm sure a lot of people see it that way, actually. Unfortunately I'm one of those sort who think people do a lot of stupid things and make a lot of bad decisions using 'love' as an excuse for their indiscretion. :)

Actually I went through this in my story "Burden of Guilt" for Inuyasha fanfic. Inuyasha knows who he wants in his life from the time that he was almost dragged into hell. He tells Kagome about this several times in the manga. He feels an enormous guilt towards Kikyou because he feels responsible for her death. As a result he feels that he feels that he is not entitled to be happy.

People forget that they were killed on what was to be their wedding day. (Romeo and Juliet) Each of them thought that the other had betrayed them. It is no wonder that when Inuyasha was revived and Kikyou was resurrected they were still angry at their betrayers.

One of the most interesting lines in the entire manga is in Jealousy. Kikyou is trying to explain why Onigumo wanted Inuyasha dead. Kikyou explains that Onigumo was jealous of Inuyasha. This baffles Inuyasha who cannot understand why anyone would be jealous of what he had with Kikyou and she agrees that the jealousy was ridiculous but so very human of Onigumo.

People forget that they were killed on what was to be their wedding day.

Wait, what?

That's probably pretty accurate. If not that day, shortly thereafter. Inu was going to become human and be with Kikyou who would be able to give up her miko status.

...

Again, with the differences in marriage between then and now. That certainly feels like a stretch in my understanding, but WTF. Learn something new everyday, I suppose!

With Inu/Kik I still feel so much distrust and uncertainty, even in their original relationship. I guess that's why I'm ...? about the idea of them being married.

Well, even the Kami were iffy about that one...and thus we have a whole manga to play with because of it!

That was the day that they were going to live together as husband and wife which was all that was required to married in the Sengoku. Jidai.

I understand how you feel. I had a very hard time accepting Kagome going back through the well after spotting Inuyasha & Kikyo together, and begging to stay by his side. That's something I could *never* do - I'm very much a cut-your-losses type of person. I consider myself as having been in love before, but not with such kindness and patience as to ask to stick around someone who was obviously not over their past relationships.

The Inu/Kag/Kik dynamic is interesting and I can see the sympathies on all sides, but ultimately I fall into the Inu/Kag camp, unquestionably. I was very much disappointed when, after Kikyo was finally written out for the last time, there was no movement at all onscreen to make Inuyasha and Kagome closer or more "open" about their feelings.

I see why the ending was necessary, but it felt rushed. There was no sense that 3 years had passed, that they thought about each other and made such a serious decision (especially on Kagome's part - to give up her modern life completely for her beloved still leaves a sour taste in my mouth). I wish she'd devoted more time to the final chapter, maybe broken it up a bit more, but *shrug* what can you do?

Of course Kikyou is a plot device. RT even says so. "Kikyou is always by my side making me good." She does control the plot even when she not in the scene. But all of the characters in manga are plot devices.
RT was asked why the love story between Lum/Atartu and Ranma/Akane seemed similar she said that she felt that there was only one love story and you will see many of the same characteristics between Inuyasha/Kagome. Rin and Jaken were created as comical characters to contrast the serious nature of Sesshoumaru. The love triangles are traditional manga devices to create tension between couples.

Once Kikyou resolves her love hate relationship with Inuyasha she is doggedly trying to purify Naraku and the Jewel. She tells Inuyasha that he will have to keep himself alive because she will not help him. She steadfastly refuses his help. Once Inuyasha figures out her plan he goes on
a sword upgrade spree to prevent her from using Kohahku's shard to purify Naraku. She is Naraku's nemesis. He is in love with her. Mt. Hakurei is all about killing her. He takes back his heart at Mt.Azusa in order to finally kill her. Her soul is only saved at the end because Kagome is truly willing to get the bow to save her no matter how much she hated her. She passed her duties to Kagome, gave up her powers and became what she wanted to be at last, an ordinary woman. Then she is able to die happy in the arms of the man she loves. Kikyou is happy for the first time as she dies.But her light is used to revive Kohaku and is what Kagome uses to finally purify Naraku.
A lot of the last part of manga deals with protecting Kohaku's light and trying to use the light in the jewel to purify Naraku.

I can appreciate why you like Kikyou, but none of what you said there changes my opinion of her character. It's just a personal preference :)

The villainization of Kikyo

You know, especially after all RT did to torment InuYasha and Kagome with her... I felt her death was SO INCREDIBLY ANTI-CLIMATIC. It *killed* me. There was so much that could have happened... I mean, yeah, I was glad InuYasha and her had a happy moment and all but... gaaaahhhh...

(within the fic, not the author's notes).

*snickers* Oh but it's soooo much easier to just tell the whole story in the author notes rather than... like... actually writing a story, right?

Mating marks (biting)

Like KK, I can understand the exchange of blood and stuff... but I don't understand the biting, either. I was unaware that the InuYasha fandom is actually a vampire story -_-;;

Perverted-hentai-Miroku

This is such a sad use for Miroku. He can be soooo much more - Yeah, he's hilarious, but he's also wise and helpful and well-educated (he *has* to be to be able to scam people!)

*snickers* Oh but it's soooo much easier to just tell the whole story in the author notes rather than... like... actually writing a story, right?

It's easier to write two lines explaining why your characters are OOC than to justify it within the story space, yes :) Because that takes no effort at all, which apparently is the way most fanauthors operate. They want all the glory but don't want to put in the work to earn it.

Like KK, I can understand the exchange of blood and stuff... but I don't understand the biting, either. I was unaware that the InuYasha fandom is actually a vampire story -_-;;

Blood oaths are one thing, but the mating marks stories I've read haven't mentioned the mingling of blood at all. It's practically biting fetish!

This is such a sad use for Miroku. He can be soooo much more - Yeah, he's hilarious, but he's also wise and helpful and well-educated (he *has* to be to be able to scam people!)

He does get the short end of the stick, along with Sango. Which is sad because they are both interesting characters, and much less of a 'secondary pairing' than most people want to admit.

"I love you baby!" *chomp*

I've told my husband before. There's a difference between love bites and actually biting to draw blood... I dunno, maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but if my husband nommed on my shoulder hard enough to leave a mark, I'd probably smack him in the face.

Miroku and Sango rarely get the love they deserve. Their backgrounds and reasons for chasing Naraku are almost as crucial to the entire story as InuYasha's. I mean, heck, Miroku's really gave them the time-frame to work with. "You must kill this hanyou before the hole sucks everything in its path."

if my husband nommed on my shoulder hard enough to leave a mark, I'd probably smack him in the face.

Agreed. There's this fascination with bloodplay I don't quite understand or share, though it has been fun to dance around the edges with (I wrote a hint of bloodplay into one of my contest shorts).

If someone tried it IRL, though, they'd find it was not worth the pain inflicted on them by me, LOL.

Miroku and Sango rarely get the love they deserve. Their backgrounds and reasons for chasing Naraku are almost as crucial to the entire story as InuYasha's. I mean, heck, Miroku's really gave them the time-frame to work with. "You must kill this hanyou before the hole sucks everything in its path."

Well, and Miroku is the one who introduced - literally - the whole Naraku plotline to begin with. He'd be an interesting one to do a character exploration about, because so much is unknown. Who was his mother? What was his childhood like, before and after his father died? What about all the scams he pulled between leaving Mushin's care and finding Inuyasha & Kagome?

O.o;;

*looks to the left* Damn it... more plot bunnies...
Edited to add: OMG I just sort of got my idea for the fic I owe you... I <3 you forever... Uh... am I limited to drabblesque word limits?

There's this fascination with bloodplay I don't quite understand or share, though it has been fun to dance around the edges with

As a kink, it's definitely kind of interesting to explore (especially at the idea of InuYasha with Kagome's blood... I'm inclined to say he'd probably freak "Fuck! You're BLEEDIN'!" but as a way to tie two lifelines together? I just get a visual of InuYasha asking Myouga if they can use rope instead.

"So, I'm gonna bite you and draw lots of blood and leave a mark, and we'll live happily ever after!"

"Uh, I'm fine with my human life-span, thanks."

Edited 2009-01-31 22:59 (UTC)

OMG I just sort of got my idea for the fic I owe you... I <3 you forever... Uh... am I limited to drabblesque word limits?

LOL, certainly not! :) I utterly failed in writing a drabble for the one request I've fulfilled so far, so take as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to flesh out your idea.

As a kink, it's definitely kind of interesting to explore (especially at the idea of InuYasha with Kagome's blood... I'm inclined to say he'd probably freak "Fuck! You're BLEEDIN'!" but as a way to tie two lifelines together? I just get a visual of InuYasha asking Myouga if they can use rope instead.

LOL!! :D All of my bloodplay/blood oaths have been limited to Sess/Kag, where there's a greater disparity between them and something more obvious is needed to bind them together than the idea of mere human "love", since they don't have the same history as Inu/Kag do. I'm really looking forward to exploring the path I opened with "Oath", where mixing their blood gives Sesshoumaru the overwhelming first glimpse of human emotions.

so take as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to flesh out your idea

*wipes brow* Whew! Word counts are seriously my enemy.

I'm really looking forward to exploring the path I opened with "Oath", where mixing their blood gives Sesshoumaru the overwhelming first glimpse of human emotions.

Oooohhh that sounds incredibly cool, actually. *snickers* Poor Sess suddenly has to deal with emotions in a whole new light, eh?

LOL, mine too. I sweat serious bullets when I see the word limits at

dokuga_contest and

iyissekiwa.

Oooohhh that sounds incredibly cool, actually. *snickers* Poor Sess suddenly has to deal with emotions in a whole new light, eh?

Yes, but it may give him just the push he needs to move on...*own plot bunnies running wild*

I have to torture my characters, just a little bit :)

If my husband nommed on my shoulder hard enough to leave a mark, I'd probably smack him in the face.
...Is this a bad time to mention that some people kind of get off on it? *looks around*

*grins* Now see, this I'm fine with. Some people like this sort of thing, and more power to 'em! :-D

But as a way to tie a lifespan together? When InuYasha is, like, half-magical being?

(That being said, I have a ridiculously low pain tolerance. The husband knows this and is un-allowed to exploit it.)

But as a way to tie a lifespan together? When InuYasha is, like, half-magical being?
I have to admit, I have the urge to dabble in it, at least once. Maybe it's because I just haven't been into IY fanfiction for very long, but I still don't mind the mating marks thing, and I will utilize it in at least one story. I understand that it's a turnoff for some, if not most, people because it's been GROSSLY overdone, but if someone doesn't like my interpretation of it, no skin off my back. I will continue to write what I enjoy, not what I think others want to read.

With that being said, there are a few I've read that are just...dumb.

*grins* I'll usually read it... hell, a couple of my favorite PWPs being with "OMG Kagome's in heat" and while it admittedly makes me *headdesk*... I mean, hey - there's worse things in the world (*cough*inucestmpreg*cough*)

Plus, at least with some, there's like... you know, more than just *chomp* "You're mine forever, bitch." There's like, magic and blood and youki and reiki and stuff involved.

The whole *nomnomnom* "You're mine and you taste like chicken" is really what confuses me.

...Is this a bad time to mention that some people kind of get off on it? *looks around*

LOL, not at all :) To each their own. It's just that it usually comes out of nowhere in these fics, and chomping down hard enough to draw blood, generally in the middle of their first time together?...Yeah, no thank you.

I like people who are creative, if they must have some sort of "special" way of demarking an "official" couple.

I definitely see your point. Sometimes it is a bit bizarre the way it comes up so abruptly and without much meaning, but like you said, to each his own. Creativity is definitely a plus in this department, as it is in all aspects of fandom.... Maybe sometimes it takes some people a while to figure out their own perspective when it comes to a lot of things, including mating. In the meantime, they may choose to fiddle around with what others have done, and whether they decide to put their own spin on it or not is obviously entirely up to them. Yes, it's been done to death, I agree, and nothing is worse than reading something that is so much like five thousand other stories you've read. And I can also imagine that it would be a huge disappointment to see it at the end of a story that you otherwise really enjoyed. Looking forward to the conclusion of an awesome fic, and then... "Oh, damn - not this again! There goes my hard-on!" XD I can understand the frustration on the reader's part.

However, I think most people (hopefully) aren't writing to make other people happy, but themselves. If readers don't like my work and tell me so, I might get my feelings hurt a bit, but it won't change why I do it. I would hope that most people feel the same way, but alas such is not the case. Some people are just WAY too hung up on getting all the reviews they can so they can feel better about themselves, and to this end, they will alter everything they post in the hopes of making people happy. Confidence issues, really.

But I digress....

I pretty much don't disagree with you about any of your points. I certainly write for my own enjoyment, which mystifies others when I gripe about how bad some story or another is, and they're like, "...WTF are you talking about? It's not *that* bad!"

I just prefer, as a reader, to enjoy an author who tries to be inventive and creative instead of falling into the same old cliched traps. I certainly have used my fair share of stereotypes, God knows, but I try to bust them as much as follow them, if that makes any sense.

And yeah, don't understand people who are in it for the glory, because fandom is a fickle mistress. You can be hot one minute and ice cold the next...

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neat!

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