conversations i have with myself while reading fic: part 1

[schmerica]

Okay, so do you ever get pulled out of stories by some small detail and then realize what's weirding you out is that the story does something that weirdly contradicts your own personal fanon? Because let me tell you, it makes you feel REALLY GODDAMN DUMB.

My example from tonight: rhythmsextion just posted some very lovely priest!kinky F/K porn over at stop_drop_porn (which you should all go read, and give her feedback). And I'm reading it and enjoying it muchly, and then I come to this line:

Because Ray has never wanted to go to a confessional so badly in his life. And he isn't even fucking *Catholic*.

And then my brain goes, "But! Ray Kowalski IS Catholic!"

And then my brain goes, "Wait, they never actully say that in canon, I guess. The closest they come to religion is the 'Churches make me nervous'/human sacrifice thing in Say Amen."

And then my brain goes, "Yeah, but, but, but. It makes SENSE for him to be Catholic! And that's how I always think of him, so there!"

And then my brain goes, "Self, you realize that is the VERY DEFINITION OF FANON? Jeez. Dorkwad."

And then I went on and read the rest of the lovely story. The end.

Edited to add:

Talking to fox1013 while watching Alias just now:

pearl_o: What is the gen equivalent of OTP?

fox1013 : Jack and Sydney.
fox1013 : *helps*

Comments

[pocketmouse]

Name like Kowalski, in that time and place? He's definitely Catholic. Just treat it the same way we treat canon -- make it conform to your view. 'well, when he says he loves that girl, it just means he's covering for the fact he loves Fraser.' 'Well, he's not Catholic any more...' Good fanon isn't fanon. It's extrapolation. This we extrapolate from what we do know. If it was something like 'Ray failed his only college english course,' which then gets picked up and run with until it becomes fanon, well, that's not something that we can extrapolate from canon (er, quite as easily, that is, because I'm sure if someone wanted to they could give it a try).