The Recipe for Non-Yaoi Lemons

by Jenn Blackett

Essay 1

Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to the Gundam Wing series/movies/OVA/genre as a whole. This is non-profit.

Warning: Flagrant opinion stating ahead. Please do not flame, logical, intelligent conversation among your peers, people

It seems to me that whenever I read a lemon now-a-days, whether it be non-yaoi or yaoi, they all seem to follow the same sort of scheme. Not that I am saying I am exempt from this by any stretch of the imagination, but the quality of originality out there in concern with one of the most interesting (and sometimes shocking) genres in Gundam Wing fanfiction just seems to be lacking the pizzazz it once possessed.

You have to ask yourself �When was the last time I actually was riveted by a lemon, found it believable?� Or even �Why does this PWP not thrill me anymore?� For one of the self-proclaimed lemon/PWP addicts, I have to say I have asked myself both of these questions quite often already. I came into GWing fanfiction reading what was out there the most: 1x2 lemons. Then it naturally advanced onto the 1xR lemon, and finally the ones that often sustain me more then not: 2xH and 2x1. (Yes, I am a fanatic about Duo being the dominant. We shall not go into that presently.)

We�ll discuss 2xH Non-Yaoi lemons in this essay:

The recipe for a 2xH non-yaoi lemon seems to follow one scheme. Often Duo and Hirde are both in love with one another, but the other does not know the other�s depth of affection for the other (this varies in degrees, but you get the picture). Then one night, either Duo is bemoaning his lack of ability to love Hirde because of his fear of killing her/losing her because he is Shinigami/God of Death/Great Destroyer (*shudders at last name*). Hirde always just wants to �help� Duo, �make him see how she feels�. Duo must be �strong� and not �harm Hirde with his feelings like he always kills everyone around him�. Mostly, this is done in a highly melodramatic way until suddenly the two will confront one another, usually after Duo has a horrible nightmare where he spills all about his past to Hirde/or an angry confrontation about his not being able to see, where the two will mostly likely shout to the heavens, ��You love me�. � s/he whispered, wide-eyed and amazed. �I LOVE YOU!��

Then comes the sex�.

The formula for a 2xH scene is simple. They may be overcome with passion, longing, whatever, but more often then not, Hirde is a virgin. Fanfic authors love to personify the girl as a virgin, don�t ask me why. Duo is usually very experienced, but he doesn�t want to �hurt Hirde� so �must be very careful with her�. It doesn�t matter how it starts, but three things always happen: Duo touches Hirde between the legs and works her to near orgasm, before always withdrawing away; Duo whispers he won�t hurt Hirde before he slides inside her and they both ride to a thrilling/earth-shattering/life-altering orgasm; and they always, and I mean I have seen this happen too many times to not consider this a clich�, whisper, �I love you, Duo/Hirde, forever/always/eternally/until the end of time� blah, blah.� It seems one can not have a scene without the �I love you� spewed all over the entire fic before the characters, happy as love birds, settled down for a good night�s sleep with sappy hopes and wishes satisfied. Happily ever after�

Oh, pleaseeee.

Now, I am a huge 2xH fan, but this just seems redundant when that�s all is churned out in the Non-Yaoi Regular Pairings fanfiction world! I know, I know, this is all fantasy, but don�t tell me everyone has the same damn fantasy about this pairing! I know I sure as hell don�t, neither does a few other wonderful authors (who are of a much higher caliber then myself). So, people, please try and steer away from this recipe. It surely is a recipe for disaster when your fan gets so bored with the same cut and paste, insert your own descriptive adjectives, plot.

First off, I would suggest that you try reading other people�s points of view. Good authors are out there! Try Kate Tarascheau for example, Sabacat, Lyo, Marlene Amiano, SteelSong, Madam Hydra, Katsu! Even yaoi authors can give you different perspectives into the psyches of the characters with which you want to work. A yaoi author can see Duo from a whole different side then a non-yaoi author can, and it does help. �What the hell is she saying?� Basically, I�m not saying you should plagiarize and steal ideas (HELL NO, that is just a very base way to do things and you should write your own ideas, not something you steal from someone, or if you want to try something someone does, at least ask first to �borrow� or whatever.) I�m just saying that you see what other people think first before you try anything. Even go to �Gundam Wing Is The Victim of Fan Rape� (located in the links section). They have great psychological profiles of the characters that can give you a basis to work off of.

Secondly, see what motivates the characters. What is at the heart of the situation? Any actor worth their salt has to consider why someone could so this, how they could bring themselves to do it, etc. So should the writer. I mean, people, you love the characters for some reason, and I hope it�s not just because they�re drop dead gorgeous. So ask yourselves these questions when you�re writing: �Why does Duo not want to be with Hirde? Is there more then he lets on?� Alright, I�ll agree that the reason of not wanting to kill Hirde because of his track record with people he loves is good and I agree with that, but is that all that he cares about? Maybe the boy is bisexual or gay or whatever and he�s confused. Apply real life problems to the situation. You know that Hirde doesn�t always have to be a virgin. Besides, sex for virgins isn�t magical at all. Often times, it hurts and they don�t have any orgasm, let alone a �mind-blowing� one. Just try to base it more in reality. You know you probably would have a hard time saying �I love you� with all of these handicaps, so why don�t you look into how the character would react. Duo, with all of his masks to hide his deeper emotions, would have an easy or hard time admitting he cared? Hirde would actually want to be in love with a pilot who has blood on his hands? Think about it. As Kate Tarascheau says, "love {should} just be like a shadow in a dark room--there but you cannot see it"

And if you�re just writing a PWP straight out, at least vary the sex. Thanks.

Next Time: Yaoi Fanfic Lemons