Shipper's Manifesto - Elena Gilbert/Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
Fandom: The Vampire Diaries
Pairing: Elena Gilbert/Damon Salvatore
Blurb: I know that chemistry is all in the eye of the beholder: that's why in every fandom there's almost always a triangle that universally has two deep factions of fans. Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert are no different. Those that love them see the sparkly, dynamic, passionate pair that they are, and we swoon. We flail. We commit all manner of socially unacceptable but fangirl necessary sounds, such as guh, gah, and OMFG, just do it already!
When we think of them, we get that melty look on our faces, just like Damon does when he looks at Elena.
And the idea of them never consummating that THING between them is, to us, the stuff of Greek Tragedy (you know, GROSS AND WRONG). We just can't see the future clearly unless we envision them together.
While season three of The Vampire Diaries definitely seems to be leading to the very thing that we most desire, in the mean time, we have fic. So here are some recs from my shipper heart to yours.
Fic Rec #1: Inevitable
Author: abvj
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17/sexy times
Why This Must Be Read: Doesn't the title say it all? Damon and Elena from their first moment of connection have been in my mind, inevitable. This fic captures that, plus it's written in future-tense which gives it such a hopeful tone. It will melt your heart (and your loins).
Fic Rec #2 who knows (but the world may end tonight)
Author: youcallitwinter
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): R/wishes for sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: This fic captures the push and pull of their relationship so beautifully that even though they don't actually do anything, it feels like it happens anyway.
Fic Rec #3: Drown in the Moment With Me
Author: lit_chick08
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/epic stuff that doesn't require explicit sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: Because Elena calls Damon a vampire starfish because they start sleeping together. [Legit, just SLEEPING together.]
Fic Rec #4: Laughing All the Way
Author: ThreeJays
Link: FF.net
Rating/Warning(s): R/almost sexy times that leave you knowing they are finally going to get there.
Why This Must Be Read: Because Damon has the internal dialogue: I am so fucking drunk I feel like I have muppet fingers, but somehow I manage to answer the call. Also: Elena tries to make Damon love Christmas (of course, she succeeds).
Fic Rec #5: looking something close to tragic
Author: ever_neutral
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): PG/angst
Why This Must Be Read: Because, at the end of the day, Damon and Elena's biggest tragedy is Stefan, and will always be Stefan.
Fic Rec #6: drinking the ink from my pen
Author: jezebelz
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/multi-chapter (the link takes you the last chapter, but all the previous chapters are linked at the top of the entry.)
Why This Must Be Read: This is a fun S3-set fic with great characterization of all the characters, particularly Rebekah. It's a well-paced story with DELIGHTFUL Damon/Elena goodness.
Fic Rec #7: You're in My Veins
Author: Kagome
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17/sexy times
Why This Must Be Read: This is an alternate scene to the Naked!Damon scene in 3x01. Written before the episode aired, so no details were known, but it's wonderfully in character, and HAWT.
Fic Rec #8: Anger Management
Author: semele
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/angst
Why This Must Be Read: I have a weakness for all fic that shows the reason for Elena's affinity for hitting Damon.
Fic Rec #9: Things You May Allow
Author: stainofmylove
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): R/dubious consent
Why This Must Be Read: You know how Katherine is always impersonating Elena? What if Elena impersonated Katherine? One word: YUM.
Fic Rec #10: Slow Burn Summer
Author: ThreeJays
Link: FF.net
Rating/Warning(s): M/angst & sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: This is a great hiatus fic (between S2 & S3). I recced another story by this author, and her standard first person stuff is really, really good. I don't usually care for first person, but her voice is so spot-on, I can't help but love it.
An additional note with regard to shipping Damon & Elena:
It starts in Elena's kitchen in 1x03 and bleeds into every interaction they share from there on out. This is something I could wax poetic about until the end of time, really. I could give you a blow by blow (scene by scene) read of how his awakening was spurred by her compassion (and is continually edged forward again and again by what he feels because of her) and how her understanding of him and his motives is what has made her able to look past his vampirism and see the man beneath it - and fall in love with him (because Nina said it in an interview - Elena loves TWO vampires, not just one). They will never have an easy road, but who cares? The fact is, they're on the road, together, and it's the most enjoyable thing I've watched in my whole life.
Just look at them. They're magical. *sigh*
Pairing: Elena Gilbert/Damon Salvatore
Blurb: I know that chemistry is all in the eye of the beholder: that's why in every fandom there's almost always a triangle that universally has two deep factions of fans. Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert are no different. Those that love them see the sparkly, dynamic, passionate pair that they are, and we swoon. We flail. We commit all manner of socially unacceptable but fangirl necessary sounds, such as guh, gah, and OMFG, just do it already!
When we think of them, we get that melty look on our faces, just like Damon does when he looks at Elena.
And the idea of them never consummating that THING between them is, to us, the stuff of Greek Tragedy (you know, GROSS AND WRONG). We just can't see the future clearly unless we envision them together.
While season three of The Vampire Diaries definitely seems to be leading to the very thing that we most desire, in the mean time, we have fic. So here are some recs from my shipper heart to yours.
Fic Rec #1: Inevitable
Author: abvj
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17/sexy times
Why This Must Be Read: Doesn't the title say it all? Damon and Elena from their first moment of connection have been in my mind, inevitable. This fic captures that, plus it's written in future-tense which gives it such a hopeful tone. It will melt your heart (and your loins).
Fic Rec #2 who knows (but the world may end tonight)
Author: youcallitwinter
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): R/wishes for sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: This fic captures the push and pull of their relationship so beautifully that even though they don't actually do anything, it feels like it happens anyway.
Fic Rec #3: Drown in the Moment With Me
Author: lit_chick08
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/epic stuff that doesn't require explicit sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: Because Elena calls Damon a vampire starfish because they start sleeping together. [Legit, just SLEEPING together.]
Fic Rec #4: Laughing All the Way
Author: ThreeJays
Link: FF.net
Rating/Warning(s): R/almost sexy times that leave you knowing they are finally going to get there.
Why This Must Be Read: Because Damon has the internal dialogue: I am so fucking drunk I feel like I have muppet fingers, but somehow I manage to answer the call. Also: Elena tries to make Damon love Christmas (of course, she succeeds).
Fic Rec #5: looking something close to tragic
Author: ever_neutral
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): PG/angst
Why This Must Be Read: Because, at the end of the day, Damon and Elena's biggest tragedy is Stefan, and will always be Stefan.
Fic Rec #6: drinking the ink from my pen
Author: jezebelz
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/multi-chapter (the link takes you the last chapter, but all the previous chapters are linked at the top of the entry.)
Why This Must Be Read: This is a fun S3-set fic with great characterization of all the characters, particularly Rebekah. It's a well-paced story with DELIGHTFUL Damon/Elena goodness.
Fic Rec #7: You're in My Veins
Author: Kagome
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17/sexy times
Why This Must Be Read: This is an alternate scene to the Naked!Damon scene in 3x01. Written before the episode aired, so no details were known, but it's wonderfully in character, and HAWT.
Fic Rec #8: Anger Management
Author: semele
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/angst
Why This Must Be Read: I have a weakness for all fic that shows the reason for Elena's affinity for hitting Damon.
Fic Rec #9: Things You May Allow
Author: stainofmylove
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): R/dubious consent
Why This Must Be Read: You know how Katherine is always impersonating Elena? What if Elena impersonated Katherine? One word: YUM.
Fic Rec #10: Slow Burn Summer
Author: ThreeJays
Link: FF.net
Rating/Warning(s): M/angst & sexytimes
Why This Must Be Read: This is a great hiatus fic (between S2 & S3). I recced another story by this author, and her standard first person stuff is really, really good. I don't usually care for first person, but her voice is so spot-on, I can't help but love it.
An additional note with regard to shipping Damon & Elena:
It starts in Elena's kitchen in 1x03 and bleeds into every interaction they share from there on out. This is something I could wax poetic about until the end of time, really. I could give you a blow by blow (scene by scene) read of how his awakening was spurred by her compassion (and is continually edged forward again and again by what he feels because of her) and how her understanding of him and his motives is what has made her able to look past his vampirism and see the man beneath it - and fall in love with him (because Nina said it in an interview - Elena loves TWO vampires, not just one). They will never have an easy road, but who cares? The fact is, they're on the road, together, and it's the most enjoyable thing I've watched in my whole life.
Just look at them. They're magical. *sigh*