Pairings (a small survey)

[Sage]

Have been musing about this, so thought I'd get your thoughts too. Will nail my colours (as it were) by going first.
Would be interested to see if there is a diffrence between the perspectives of reader and writers.
Please do elaborate on your answers, am really curious about this.
Should go without saying, but will to cover myself, let's keep this mature and civil. No naming names unless they're characters or you're being nice.

So here goes ...

Who is your OTP?
(one true pairing, favourite couple)

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?

Any pairings you thank your diety of choice have never been put together?
(again keep it civil)

A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...

Blue and ... Scarlet or Symphony *
Destiny and ... Grey or Magenta
Rhapsody and ... Ochre or Scarlet
Scarlet and ... Destiny or Rhapsody

Finally...
Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
(hark, is that plot bunny I see before me ?)

Feel free to add anything.

*Sorry, can guess the general consensus, but just couldn't resist. :p

[chrisbishop]

Who is your OTP?
(one true pairing, favourite couple)

Blue and Symphony. If why, because it's the only one which can be considered canon - more than hint at in the original series.

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?

Scarlet and Destiny.

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?

Scarlet and Rhapsody. The reason for those two answers is the same: I saw how much more probable a relationship between Scarlet and Rhapsody could be. Not only from other writers' fics, but ALSO after reading official stuff, like the John Teydon books.

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?

Me and Scarlet?

Seriously, there might be two. Ochre and Melody. Like fire and ice, these two. And White and Amanda, the name I gave to Symphony's mother. Kind of fun to imagine that he would be interested in one of the Angels' mum.

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?

Scarlet, or any of the other Captains, with any kind of MarySue characters.

Any pairings you thank your diety of choice have never been put together?
(again keep it civil)

...
...
White and Green? *shudders*

A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...

Blue and ... Scarlet or Symphony *

Symphony, of course! Scarlet?! What a thought, for me! I personally can't see what might suggest they might end up together. Friends don't necessary end up in bed.

Destiny and ... Grey or Magenta

Grey. Or Magenta. Then again... Grey? Or Magenta...
Maybe she's seeing both?

Rhapsody and ... Ochre or Scarlet

Scarlet. Ochre is far too different from her. But the idea is interesting. He might carry a torch for her.

Scarlet and ... Destiny or Rhapsody

Rhapsody. For above reason.

Finally...
Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
(hark, is that plot bunny I see before me ?)

I don't know... I have to think about that one... (Would *I* give away my plot bunnies?)

[Sage]

Think it's only fair to declare, off the bat, that I'm a slash fan. Respect the wishes and preferences of the general readership, so as a rule don't make a thing of it here. Still can't quite fight my funny little kinks.

Anyway ...

Who is your OTP?
Blue & Symphony
My first 'ship ever, from way back when I was 8, aww makes me all nostalgic.
You could argue they are the only pairing [actually] justified by canon, and are really good together; the relationship has potential for lots of lovely angst/conflict but you know they are truly in love.
That and they'd make utterly gorgeous babies.

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?
Scarlet & Destiny
Put them together before I'd read any fanfic, so there must be something in that.
Gave it up because ... hmm can't say I have, but it's definetly evolved. I like to play with the concept of them having once been together and the repercussions.
He and Rhapsody make a good couple, so will play along.

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?
Probably all the others, just because of the fandom and it being suggested.
Guess the main one is Magenta & Destiny, think their personalities suit, and they look good together. Oh and there's this one teeny scene when she's stood practically breathing down his neck in .. umm can't recall. Anyway it obviously made a big impression.
Also rather like Ochre & Melody for entertainment value alone. It's rather refreshing for the whole thing to be unpredictable and a bit dysfunctional.

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?
Scarlet & Blue
The OTP of CS slash; because they would just make such a cute couple, and if you squint right it's almost canon, lol

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?
Ochre & Harmony
He's so extrovert, sociable and a flirt; where as she just strikes me as the polar opposite. Could see it all turning sour and her doing some kick-ass judo moves by way of saying 'I think we should see other people'. Which I confess would make a good story.

Any pairings you thank your diety of choice have never been put together?
As a say, am not adverse to slash, but so very grateful nobody has really deviated from Scarlet/Blue. With a couple of exceptions anything else is just icky and wrong on too many levels.

A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...

Blue and Scarlet or Symphony
Have this whole kinda parralel universe going with those 'ships. Write more B/Sy obviously, but B/Sc is just oddly compeling.

Destiny and Magenta
Well she can have a really steamy fling with Grey, but Magenta is better marriage material. .

Rhapsody and ... Ochre or Scarlet
Scarlet to marry, Ochre as a fling.

Scarlet and Rhapsody
Though of course he has the history with Destiny.

Though to be honest I can totally see and enjoy any of those, have written each in various forms too.

Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
Fawn with somebody, because then he'd get some well deserved love and attention.

[Marion]

Who is your OTP?
Blue and Symphony - that will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me or has read a word of anything I've ever written. Its canon and that's good enough for me. Mind you, I don't imagine it's a match made in heavan and they can both make each other suffer for it - but somehow, they just can't live without each other when it comes to it.
Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?
Scarlet and Destiny. That always seemed like canon too - from the TV show. There are hints that Scarlet and Rhapsody are close in the Theydon books - and she featured far more in printed stories than on TV. Besides, when I discovered the website and the stories there - it seemed that Scarlet and Rhapsody were an accepted couple, so I assumed the writers knew more than me - which they might well have done - I'd only read the 'Creeping Menace' Theydon book at the time. I joined in with the prevailing storylines, in the hope it would get my stories accepted. . Personally, I don't like Rhapsody much - as a character - but then, I don't like (the TV version of) Scarlet much either, so that's okay!
In my early stories from way back when - Grey and Ochre were both married with children before they joined Spectrum...
Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?
Not really. Although, I have given Ochre an unexpected son in one short story... does that count?
Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?
Don't really have one of those, either. They're grown-up characters - they can do what they like - and so can I and my fellow authors when we write about them.
Mind you, I did - in unposted early notebook ramblings - have one of the Colour Captains harbouring affections for his partner (at the time of the story). But nothing ever happened - it just seemed a nice angle to investigate.
And of course, in 'Valediction' Melody quits Spectrum in the company of another woman.
Are there any pairings you have read but just cannot see together?
Well, I do have a slight aversion to stories/scenarios where all the Captains are romantically linked to an Angel. I don't see that it would naturally follow they'd all fall in love with a suitable character just to even things out tidily.
I prefer Grey and Destiny as a couple (rather than her and Magenta, for example) perhaps because I see Grey as being most like the buttoned-down Scarlet she used to have a thing with - but mostly because (I admit) of the irrelevent fact that the models for them - Sean Connery and Ursula Andress - got it together in 'Doctor No'. Well, no one said I had to be logical about these things.
Besides, Captain Magenta's got the hots for Symphony and Captain Ochre's a determined flirt, with a hidden past..
Any pairings you thank your diety of choice have never been put together? [I mis-read this as THINK your Diety would never have put together - but I've left my original comment in anyway ]
Scarlet and Blue. Or, in fact, Blue and anyone but Symphony - if it came to that. He's a one woman man - damn her eyes!
As to being thankful I haven't seen it.... Captain Scarlet and Andre Verdain?
Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
I can't imagine... besides, who knows what plot bunnies lurk in the undergrowth of my mind...
A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...
Obviously - Blue and Symphony...
Destiny and Grey
Rlhapsody and Scarlet - after some hesitation on my part and - maybe - a passionate affair with Ochre on her part. (Is that cheating? )
Scarlet and Rhapsody - again, after a past that includes on his part - Destiny, and on her part - Ochre...
Is that the right answer?

[TRK]

[quote="Sage"]

Well, the short answer to this would be "none", because I hate romance, but I might as well explain:

Who is your OTP?
(one true pairing, favourite couple)

Nope. Couldn't care less.

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?

No.

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?

Hm...no, not really?

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?

Can't say I have one.

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?

Either Gray/Harmony, or Magenta/Destiny. They're blatant leftover pairings, and have zero chemistry.

Any pairings you thank your diety of choice have never been put together?
(again keep it civil)

White/anybody. Ew.

A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...

Blue and ... Scarlet or Symphony *

Symphony. It's canon.

Destiny and ... Grey or Magenta

::flips coin::

Gray.

Rhapsody and ... Ochre or Scarlet

I'll choose Ochre, just to be different.

Scarlet and ... Destiny or Rhapsody

Destiny. No real reason.

Finally...
Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
(hark, is that plot bunny I see before me ?)

Don't know, don't care.

Feel free to add anything.

Okay, how about this: All of the pairings I see in Captain Scarlet fanfiction assume that all the characters on the show are heterosexual. Suppose this isn't the case? (Please keep all further discussion civil. This is a hypothetical question, not a flame.)

[Marion]

Rabid Kookaburra says:
Okay, how about this: All of the pairings I see in Captain Scarlet fanfiction assume that all the characters on the show are heterosexual. Suppose this isn't the case? (Please keep all further discussion civil. This is a hypothetical question, not a flame.)

No they don't.

Sage says in one of her answers:

'Blue and Scarlet or Symphony'
'Have this whole kinda parralel universe going with those 'ships. Write more B/Sy obviously, but B/Sc is just oddly compeling .'

I said in one of mine:

I had (in unposted stories) 'one of the Colour Captains harbouring affections for his partner (at the time of the story). But nothing ever happened - it just seemed a nice angle to investigate.'

and in 'Valediction' (a story that was posted on the website)

'Melody quits Spectrum in the company of another woman.'

I'm assuming that 'woman to woman' does count in your question; although the predominant 'gay pairings' do all seem to be men, there is no reason why that should be the case. I know it was never criminalised as male 'gay' partnerships were (it may only be apocryphal that this was because no one dared explain to Queen Victoria what the term meant ) but it's the same thing, surely?

Ultimately, the deciding factor is that Chris's site does not accept what is termed 'slash fiction' (apparantly from the convention of writing the protagonists names separated by a / for example Scarlet/Blue) and fanfiction writers must accept her rules if they want to get their story posted.
But 'slash' CS fiction is out there - a fair bit of it too - if you want to look...

I'll just add that most fanfiction writers that I know, write because they enjoy it and they hope that some other people might get enjoyment from reading their efforts. It is a hobby - or possibly an addiction, the jury is still out on that one! - but no one's obliged to read anything, nor accept what's written as valid in any way whatsoever.
Some people make models or collect toy cars and planes - we poor saps spend our leisure time slaving over hot keyboards

[Captain Indigo]

Who is your OTP?
(one true pairing, favourite couple)

Sorry, I have to agree with the general consensus on this one - Blue and Symphony.

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?

I used to have Scarlet and Symphony together - that was way back, before the '01 repeats. I was only 7 in 92, so I hadn't really picked up on the Blue & Symphony thing then.

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?

I've got Green a wife, who will be appearing soon. No, she's NOT an Angel...
Why? He always seemed to be left out of the romance on base, and I thought that he, out of all of them, was the most likely to want to have a family.

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?

Guilty pleasure? Indigo and her two guys, I suppose - Amber (who looks a lot like his uncle) and Vermilion (who looks a lot like his ancestor). I think everyone's noticed by now that Indigo is a bit of a Mary-Sue character, and I always had a bit of a thing for Green when I was younger...

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?

I know I wrote it, but Ochre and Harmony - I was young and stupid, and I got my Angels mixed up (right Angel, wrong name).
I think that Scarlet and Destiny have been written as an up-to-date romance too. They're much better left in the past.

Any pairings you thank your diety 'deity' of choice have never been put together?
(again keep it civil)

Any slash parings - I can't see any of the captains being gay!

Blue and ... Scarlet or Symphony

Symphony!

Destiny and ... Grey or Magenta

Magenta. I think that Grey's a little to staid for her (although I can also see Marion's perspective)

Rhapsody and ... Ochre or Scarlet

Scarlet

Scarlet and ... Destiny or Rhapsody

Rhapsody - leave Destiny where she belongs, as part of his history

Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?

Ooh, now there's a thought. I'm having images of Ochre and Symphony - can you imagine the fights they'd have? I'm not sure if they would be a 'great' couple, though...

[Elentari]

Who is your OTP? (one true pairing, favourite couple)
I can’t say they are my favourite couple (because I’m not much of a fan of Symphony Angel) but it’s hard to go against canon - Blue and Symphony would probably be the closest thing to a true couple. Honestly I can’t imagine them with any kids though - people can have relationships without having children.

Do you have any pairings that you have given up for whatever reason (who and why)?
Except for Blue and Symphony and Scarlet and Rhapsody (see next para), most of them I had simply never paired off at all. I never saw the need to.

Or perhaps taken up, again who and why?
I quite imagined Scarlet and Rhapsody as a couple when I was young - I must have taken up the implications in the John Theydon books - or the fact that they were both British and might have more in common. Can’t remember which (…well it was a long time ago!)

Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?
An almost pairing maybe - Generally I found Scarlet quite a cold and remote character - except for his friendship with Blue. But I think that’s all it could be because I could not imagine Blue being interested. Oddly enough it seems that most stories on this subject never seem to be from Scarlet’s POV which seemed to be to be the most likely way to tackle the idea.
(…and my most sincere apologies to all the Scarlet fans for the above par).

Are there any pairing you have read but just cannot see together?
Agree 100% with Chris on this one - any of the captains with those darn Mary Sues. I can’t stand them and I just don’t buy into those kind of stories. Some Sues are so one dimensional I can’t imagine any of the captains falling for them - but especially Captain Scarlet who I think would be a very complex person.

Any pairings you thank your deity of choice have never been put together?
Actually if you just watch the episodes (and ignore the fan fiction), any of the characters apart from Blue and Symphony seem at first glance to be very unlikely pairings. It’s just not what the show is about. It’s taken me a while to get used to some of the combinations in fanfic (and I still have doubts about a few of them).

A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...
Just Blue and Symphony / Scarlet and Rhapsody
They seem safe enough choices.

Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
Umm. I don’t necessarily see why every Captain and Angel HAS to be paired off but…. There’s lots of other personnel on Cloudbase to chose from if you go by the specs for the place - there are hundreds of people working there. And though I imagine most would be at ‘other ranks’ level, there are probably enough officers to chose from if Spectrum still kept to the rules about fraternisation that currently prevail in many of the armed forces. (There’s your plot bunny, if one was needed!)

[Marion]

What rules about fraternisation?
Do I sense unexplored territory here?

[Sage]

Oh yeah, that's a point.
This is rather unexplored territory. Though should imagine Ochre has 'dabbled' in it (otherwise he'd have run out of women a long time ago).

[Carrie]

Just to make a comment on the last three posts....
I wrote a story where Ochre and Rhapsody have a bit of an affair...pre-Mysterons... but they decide not to pursue it...partly becuase of the 'no fraternisation rule..' partly - oh hell..you'll just have to read it to find out the rest....

I'm sure it's been alluded to elsewhere in earlier stories on Chris's website..or am I imagining things?

[Sage]

Yup that's the one
It is one of my fave fics, can never pass on minoritry pairings. Ended up running with that idea myself, after a fashion.

[Carrie]

Who is your OTP?
Well, who am I to argue with the force of nature...and Marion..oh..is that the same thing??? <runs away>
I couldn't even begin to match the incredibly tru-to-life partnership she has created between Blue and Symphony.
Who is your 'guilty pleasure' pairing?
Well...for some reason it always seems to be Ochre and Rhapsody...in whatever universe...don't ask me why..it's just one of these strange things that happen to you and you have no reasonable answer for...'I plead guilty m'lud.'
Are there any pairings you have read but just cannot see together?
Well, I guess my feeling is that anyone is entitled to put a new angle on whatever they like..with the understanding that it has to be done with style and plausibility. I guess Elentari has a very valid point...that in a military organisation the possibility of EVERY captain having a romantic relationship with EVERY angel..or even with junior members, would put a strain on the day-today goings on BIG TIME!!!...But then..shock horror...where would all our fun go???
And I have to agree about the whole Mary-Sue thingy..unless she's me of course....ha ha..But then I'd NEVER EVER post that!!!
Any pairings you thank your deity of choice have never been put together?
None...if it's written well enough, .mind you...that probably goes for all the other questions as well, however I'm not a great fan of slash...waste of a good man if you ask me.....
Which pairing haven't you seen together, but think would make a great couple?
Hmmm..I'm thinking about it...dont want to give away any plots just yet...
A little 'this or that' straw poll type thingy...
well..for me..probably just Ochre and Rhapsody..in any universe..oops..did I say that already?
or how's about Symphony and Andre Verdain..you seen the look those two gave each other in Model Spy??
I kinda like Destiny and Grey as well...for all those good reasons Marion said...
If I think of anything else..I'll sure let ya all know...

[Elentari]

OK here’s a few ideas about fraternisation... (dusts cobwebs off brain…)

I don’t think the main rules about fraternisation would be a big concern between the Captains and Angels as they could probably be considered of similar ranks. But if such a relationship caused any impact on their normal working routine then there’s a problem. EG: I can remember an episode of ST_TNG when Captain Picard became very over-protective of a woman he'd fallen in love with (a scientist maybe? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this show!) and didn’t want to send her into potentially dangerous situations with the away-team. His feelings for her therefore directly affected the performance of her duties. (Anyway, it was a neat way to ensure she was only a guest star - such was the emotional conflict, she had to apply for a posting elsewhere!)

Fraternisation could really be an issue when relationships form (for example) between; officers and enlisted personnel, instructors and recruits/trainees, relationships between a senior person and someone at a junior level directly under his/her chain of command…that sort of thing.

It need not be a physical relationship - close friendships between personnel of quite disparate ranks and especially teacher/pupil relationships also have the capacity to cause conflict, even when the people concerned have not let their friendship affect their work - eg: there could be a perception by others that someone is being accorded ‘special consideration’ - and that perception could undermine work situations. If the regulations re fraternisation have been broken then both people concerned could face disciplinary action.

It’s a potential minefield - and probably quite an untapped fanfic resource when you think about it.

[Marion]

I was revisiting this thread and it seems to me that working on Cloudbase must be a potential minefield of relationships, if even your friendships are proscribed.
The rules about 'not putting your colleagues' safety before your mission' always seemed rather harsh to me - especially as a child - but I guess it has to be that way? I mean, is it the same in most military organisations? And does it come as part of the training? There seems to be a mythos of the 'band of brothers' type of set up amongst the military.
Does it vary from service to service, I wonder - are the naval regulations stricter than those for the land and air-based services, because they might be cooped up on a ship (boat? I never know which is the right terminology ) for long periods of time? (That'd be relevent to the situation on Cloudbase, of course.)
I ask because it has made me wonder how people from non-military backgrounds would cope with that aspect of it all?
Even in the TV shows, we see Captain Blue breaking ranks and going to look for Captain Scarlet after he's been cashiered in 'Special Assignment' (although the colonel blithely admits at the end of the episode, that he expected him to do just that and neither Blue - nor Green, who covered for him - seem to be in trouble for acting as they did. )
Blue's also the one who wants to disobey orders and rush off to rescue Symphony, of course, in 'Manhunt' and 'Attack on Cloudbase' (which might well be part of a dream, but in that case it could still be an indication that it was the type of thing Blue WOULD do)
I know very little about the military ethos and this rule strikes me as a possible major area of conflict. It is probably going to be the most frequently broken regulation, given that Blue, Magenta and Ochre are all from non-military backgrounds; as are Harmony, Symphony and Rhapsody Angels.
I wonder what happens when it does cause a problem? Colonel White must be holding disciplinary sessions all day!
:wink: