DPP: In the beginning...

[workerbee73.livejournal.com]

Good morning, Shipper Nation.  Welcome to day two of my reign of terror the land of rainbows and kittens.  I have one question for you:


How did those crazy kids meet?

Disregard the lame-ass flashbacks in Daybreak for a moment.  I know that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU has their own version in their head of how Kara and Lee met.  So guess what, peeps?  I want to hear it.
 
Was it funny? Angsty? Silly? Did sparks fly? Was it the traditional rom-com meetcute or a full-out confrontational exchange? Did the earth move and angles weep?  Did they know each other as kids?  Meet at the Academy?  Attend band camp together?


Whatever it is, I need to know, so spill, m'kay?  *g*

NOTE:  For purposes of this discussion, I'm asking you to forget about the DB flashbacks and go back and remember what your theory was before we were bombarded with all that.  (Not just because of the controversial table scene but because the meeting and subsequent early interactions of K/L deserve their OWN FRAKKING MINISERIES-- NOT FIVE MINUTES IN A HASTILY-WRITTEN FINALE.) 

Comments

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

I adore all Academy fic, it's probably my favorite pilots genre, but in my personal canon she met Zak first. They got to know each other through him, so there was always that sense of necessary restraint between them.

I like to think that the three of them hung out together a lot, knew each other for years before the accident. I think they 'got' each other surprisingly quickly ~ she figured out he wasn't just a textbook soldier and he figured out she wasn't just a bad-ass adrenaline junkie very early in their relationship. I think it helped that around Zak they both relaxed and showed a lot of love and humor; he showed them sides of each other that most strangers would have had to dig for years to find.

As for when/how they started falling in love with each other, I like the stories in which Kara realizes how much Lee has shielded Zak from their mother, and understands his anger and damaged qualities, and that she has him to thank for how confident and carefree and joyous his younger brother turned out to be. I think of suffolkgirl's "First Impressions," for example.

Also, I fell in love with Lee because of Bastille Day ~ the moment when he took charge and found an unexpected solution and stood up to *everyone* in order to resolve the situation peacefully without compromising himself or his mission. I would love to think that some less life-and-death version of Bastille Day gave Kara a chance to see those qualities in him before the end of the worlds. I don't know, maybe they had to handle a family crisis (with his mom, maybe?) or maybe he was visiting her at the Academy and something went wrong with one of her flight students. In any case, I want them to automatically take charge and rely on each other and trust each other's judgment and think outside the box and take risks and be responsible for protecting someone else together. And I want Kara to be surprised both by how gutsy Lee turns out to be, and how easily he defers to her strengths. And I want her to surprise herself by following his lead unthinkingly when the situation calls for it. I think maybe they began to realize they loved each other when they recognized their equality - the way they were cut out to handle the worst situations with competence that other loved ones, like Zak, simply lacked.

And, honestly, I think they got a kick out of each others' personalities from day one. Perhaps a few lines from Pride and Prejudice might sum up their teasing opposites-attract rapport:

"Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted him to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. 'How could you begin?' said she. 'I can comprehend your going on charmingly when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?'
'I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I *had* begun.'
'My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners - my behavior to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil...Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?'
'For the liveliness of your mind, I did.'
'You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for *your* approbation alone. I roused and interested you, because I was so unlike *them.* Had you not been really amiable you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just, and in your heart you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There - I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it, and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me - but nobody thinks of *that* when they fall in love.' "

[ninjamonkey73.livejournal.com]

Ah... The one true Darcy, Colin Firth springs happily to mind. Never could read the book, but that BBC mini is IT!

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Word. As my grandma likes to say: "He can have me."

:) I love BBC miniseries. P & P, Hornblower...so many great adaptations!

[thegreenkitty.livejournal.com]

I love all of this. I agree, I think K met Z first. Otherwise, I doubt there would've been K/Z if there was already K/L. Also agreed that K/L became good friends...sparring and joking and being the best pilots around...through their K/L/Z interactions.

And YES they remind me of Elizabeth and Darcy too. Both so intelligent and coy and amazed that they love each other as much as they do b/c it would be so much easier to hate each other. ;)

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

It's great to hear from you, thanks! I'm glad I'm not the only one who made the P & P connection ~ I think it's just something about the way that these people's extremely different manners mask a fundamental similarity of mindset...it's fun to watch them realize that they are kindred spirits.

[cosetteferaud.livejournal.com]

I love the Darcy/Elizabeth connection too! The push and pull nature of their relationship certainly reminds me to Kara and Lee. So compelling. It is so true that despite being apparent opposites, deep down pilots are so much alike.

[thegreenkitty.livejournal.com]

Agreed, Rachel and Cosette. I adore stories of kindred spirits finding love with one another despite superficial differences or societal norms. I also love the intelligence of the banter back and forth that both Lizzie/Darcy and Kara/Lee share. What can I say? Intelligence is hot!! (BTW, yes, Jamie Bamber, my last sentence applies to you too!!)

Also, Rachel, I've been loving your comments and am so glad you've joined in the fun! May I friend you?