The icon speaks for itself

[windandwater]

You know, it's been a good long while since I've been embroiled in fandom... fandomness. I've always been in that sort of lurking part of the fandom, crawling out from the darkness only to review certain fics or answer the odd ficsearch. And even though I've been in the Gundam Wing fandom for 10 years (dear god, has it been 10 years already?), I didn't really start participating (albeit mostly on the GWAddiction board) and posting my fics until 2001 or so. Yeah, it took that long for me to gather my courage and post my stuff. XD;; That and I was mostly in the Sailor Moon fandom before then.

But, I was there for the gnarled and snarly beginnings, when we were trading VHS tapes with fansubs and wondering what the hell was up with the funky politics and changing mecha designs and OMG THE BOYS. And the claimings. And the character wars. And the ship wars. And the flame wars. And the in-fighting and growling and the "OMG STOP ABUSING MY BAAAAAABY". And you know what? I will freely admit that I more or less got interested in GW because of Duo Maxwell (or rather, his hair). Then I got into the politics of the plot of GW (especially when I took that Japanese history class and realized Relena was a metaphor for the Peace Party in Japan) and keeping track of the twists and turns and betrayals.

I started reading fics, trying to fill in the rather wide gaps that canon left so open and tantalizing. Duo and Quatre spent a month together in the desert, what did they do? Why did Wufei call his Gundam "Nataku" when it's obviously named "Shenlong"? If Trowa isn't really Trowa Barton, then who is he? Where does Heero go at the end of the wars? And, I'm not going to lie, I wanted to read the boys getting it on, because they were pretty obviously subtexty (helloooo flute and violin duet). And through the years, I've pretty much read it all. I read the safehouse fics. I read schoolfics. I read the blanket fics. I read the aphrodisiac fics. I've read the ZERO System insanity fics. I've read backstories and future fics and missing scenes. I've read AUs. I've read "Timeline What Timeline?" fics. I've read Heero self-destruct and not self-destruct dozens of times over. I've read brilliant and heart-rending fics. I've read utter and complete garbage. I've read the boys up, down, sideways, and hanging in Zero-G.

When the fics started talking about Solo and Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, I had to know who they were. When the fanon kept mentioning Odin Lowe, I wondered who this man was. When the name Long Meiran became important, I wondered why she wasn't in the show. And when I kept seeing the name Triton Bloom, I wondered if he was related to Cathy. I dove back into the canon. I found the manga, and the novels (or at least summaries), and then even more manga and technical manuals and interviews. Endless Waltz came into my greedy little hands and I practically wept with joy.

And then I threw myself back into the fandom. I knew what everyone was talking about now. I found a level of depth that I had completely missed in other fics. I found NEW fics and new situations. I read Trowa rape fics. I read Trowa not rape fics. I still can't tolerate the Original Trowa Barton. I read Quatre as a test-tube baby, and I read him as a natural born. Usually, Quatre ended up running Winner Enterprises, Incorporated no matter what he was. Wufei never let Meiran go. Wufei learned to let Meiran go. Heero went on to become Relena's bodyguard, a Preventer, suffered a traumatic mental break, changed his name to Odin Lowe, Jr., had a dog, painted for a living. Duo was a thief, a streetrat, a whore, a gangleader, the head of an underground L2 political movement, an ESUN senator, a priest, a mechanic, and a guy who wants to learn to crochet.

I've seen the GW fandom be born, crawl, start walking, and go through the awkward and gawky teenage phase. I watched the fandom be trained for war and shoved into Gundams. The fandom went on secret undercover missions in OZ boarding schools, got caught and tortured (because everyone knows Ozzies are Bad Guys), and blew their way out with a healthy amount of C-4 and rock 'n roll. And then things settled down, and there was peace.

I still consider Duo's eyes to be violet. I think Heero might not ever have a very good sense of humor, but he has his moments. Quatre should drink less tea and maybe go on a vacation in the tropics. Trowa will always be able to do the trapeze, even if he's hiding a six-pack under his ugly turtlenecks. And Wufei still practices his swordsmanship, but now he does it for himself and not as a tribute to Meiran. Zechs... might eventually not be crazy anymore, but it's a good thing he has Noin around to make sure he doesn't start running into doors or something. Relena's still awfully young to be Vice Foreign Minister, but Dorothy is on her staff and should be able to help or try to take over the world herself. Une, despite everything, is a very good mother to Mariemaia. Treize is still dead (except in AUs).

Is it fanon? Is it canon? I don't know, but I don't care too much.

GW became MY fandom. It's the only fandom that I consistently and continuously write fics for, even 10 years later. It's also the fandom that I consistently and continuously read fics for, even 10 years later.

I'm clinging to it to the bitter end.

Comments

[mmariep2.livejournal.com]

well said.

I've read the boys up, down, sideways, and hanging in Zero-G.

zero-g? any possibility they were haveing hot monkey sex at the same time? ;)

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

But of course! Zero-G sex is possible if you have a tether or a third person to anchor you. ^_~*

[samikitty.livejournal.com]

dude, seriously!

i consider duo's eyes to be blue, but i'm okay if you call them violet and i'll love you all the same(call them 'amaryllis orbs' though and i might have to take evasive action). i agree that heero might not ever have a good sense of humour but i think he'll be one of those people who try really hard and it's endearing. nevertheless i personally wrote a bizarrely quirky heero. it's okay~

i'm *all* for live and let live. however you want to see the boys, good on you. just don't put down other people's interpretations to lend yours legitimacy! 9_9

(ps - did you read the little thread on the comm where "all asians are short"? and someone fondly refers to heero as an "asian mutt"? that's classy.)

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Maybe Duo has those eyes that change colors depending on your mood. My friend has hazel eyes, but they're very green when she's happy. *only has plain brown eyes woe* I have been known to abuse the color amethyst. Because it sounds prettier and more exotic than "purple."

(yes, i saw that. it was... well, i've been in that "how tall" discussion before. only less wanky. and i might've been drinking at the time.)

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

I will freely admit that I more or less got interested in GW because of Duo Maxwell (or rather, his hair).

I wonder how many hundreds of fangirls followed the banner of that braid into the fandom...

I have never found more and better fic anywhere than I found for Gundam Wing. :( I miss it. I wish I'd gotten in the habit of keeping good records, without assuming that I'd always remember what it was and where it was, that one fic I really liked...

*sigh, tearwipe*

Oh well.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

More people followed the braid into the fandom than you think, but not so many will admit it, because THAT'S SHALLOW. *rolls in the shallow pool of shallowness*

And I do adore GW fics. There's a good thread of quality all across the board, better than in alot of fandoms. I want to stab my eyes when I think of the Sailor Moon, Ranma, and other fics I read early on that I thought were "good" but now realize are all mary sues, self insertion, or godmodding with characters.

And if you want a fic, ask! I can probably remember it and/or find it. XD

[kracken.livejournal.com]

That's so very well put and just how I feel. *luvs you*

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

*luvs you back*

I just had to say something before I splooged all over the place. ^^;;

[clarediva.livejournal.com]

excellent, sensitive and witty words, said on behalf of many!!
*hugs*

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

*whee hugs~*

Thanks. ^^;; It really kinda hurts to see more fandom wankery and stuff. I thought the fandom was over that phase by now. I guess fandoms nver outgrow their wank.

[vortex-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

Aaaah! *heeeeearts*

You and gwshenlong got me interested in Gundam Wing fics.

I watched 3 episodes of gw, and I called Quatre 'Blondie' because I didn't remember his name XD

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

#^^# It's nice to see I have managed to help convert yet another to the fandom. I thought those days were done for me.

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

*snugs you*
I was a braid follower too! ^____^ It's aaaaaaall about the hair!

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

How could anyone deny The Braid? You follow it into the fandom, and then get sucked in by the rest of the boys. XD

[jade-sage.livejournal.com]

but it's a good thing he has Noin around to make sure he doesn't start running into doors or something

TOTAL SPIT TAKE MOMENT. XD XD XD

And it's all so TRUE.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Zechs managed to be a little bit sane during EW. ^^;; I think it was because he was wearing a uniform and taking orders again.

[rageboxalice.livejournal.com]

I'm clinging to it to the bitter end.

*applauds loudly* Well said, all of it. And I agree, I'm clinging with it until the end. And tehn I shall hide it's corpse under my bed so that I'll always have it near me... *coughs*

But I must say, I came into the fandom in the wake of a temper tantrum. Long black hair, even in a ponytail, has been a weakness of mine for a long time. #^^#

[rageboxalice.livejournal.com]

Can't type correctly. Forgive me.

[nanthimus.livejournal.com]

That was, quite possibly the best fandom speech I've ever written. *claps* There was something almost bittersweet about it. Especially the last line. What brought this on, have you been seeing wank in the fandom?

I only got into GW around, say 2000. Have never been much into the fandom. The fanart I've done in the past....month or so is the most I've ever done with it.

GW fandom is a classic. For seriousness. *throws confetti*

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ^^;; I was mostly just rambling, since the current kerfluffle was making me think of the fandom again. And I've sorta been a part of the wank occurring lately. Ahaha... bad Sera-bunny. Bad.

[okaasan59.livejournal.com]

Amen to everything you said.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Praise the GBoys! Praise~!

[trowacko.livejournal.com]

so well put that you gave me shivers, m'dear. i've only been in the fandom for five years, yet as much as i don't write the fandom these days, i'm very much still in it. it's the fandom i always come back to no matter what XD

the wank... *has* there been new wank? i find myself believing i truly do live under a rock when wank passes me by and i just wonder what i'd missed XD i wonder right now, but it's probably for the best wank misses me :D

[windsorblue.livejournal.com]

*has* there been new wank?

That's what I was wondering! Maybe your rock is a duplex. ._.

[degeneratelyre.livejournal.com]

Things were so much easier before the fandom could walk. It cried a lot, but it certianly wasn't quite this irritating and it never asked for the car keys on Friday nights. This is why I *hid* from the public fandom for so long. I wasn't quite ready to get involved in the public debates and the 'how could you possibly not agree with me' craziness. Now that I do write where everyone can see, it's good to know that people still enjoy the fandom for its own merits, instead of just the drama.

*hugs you* Well said.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

It's sad because I always used to laugh at other fandoms that had wank like, all the damn time. I would say: "Well, GW went through all that already, we outgrew it." I guess I spoke too soon. ^^;;

*hugs back*

[thefeifei.livejournal.com]

A+

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

T___T I haven't had such good grades since high school.

[cerusee.livejournal.com]

Now I'm rilly rilly nostalgic.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

You shall never escape your past. NEVAH.

[chronolith.livejournal.com]

I think I was never in the fandom. I sort of played around the edges until I wandered away with Relena stuck under one arm and Dorothy tagging along behind.

I can't honestly say I miss it that much. =/

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's funny how you can like a series and such, but don't necessarily have to be part of the fandom. Some people try to avoid fandom completely. x___X I like GW fandom for the most part, just not when unhappiness happens.

[zalia.livejournal.com]

Fantastic speech Sera!! Although I'm not really in GW fandom anymore, I still read fics. Listening to Just Communication or White Reflection still makes me shiver slightly with anticipation. I go back and watch the episodes and remember just how damn good the series was ^____^

You hit it right on the head.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

*squishes* Fics are wonderful, and I flutter back and forth between different fandoms myself. And I still have the GW Best Collection and the image songs in my ipod. XD

[aikonamika.livejournal.com]

HERE HERE! *lifts a glass of sparkling cider to that*