Gay Ships? Yes or No

[Tien]

So as in any fandom, there are the groups of those that ship same sex relations. Most creators in anime nowadays use this as a way to sell since the market for same sex relationships is bigger. As a result creators create anywhere from subtle" maybe they are, or maybe they aren't" style connections between characters in anime and manga that is't even under the Yaoi tag.

Thus, I couldn't help but wonder what kinds is same sex ships people in this community may have. I don't know how touchy of a subject this is here, so please don't attack me if this is more or less taboo in this community.

I do ship yaoi but I have never really thought of that sort of thing for Watership Down. So that got me wondering. What do you guys think?

[Chipster-roo]

I have no objections to same-sex ships in general.  I rather like some of them, such as Hyzenthlay/Thethuthinnang, Clover/Haystack, Holly/Bluebell and (in the series) Hawkbit/Dandelion.

If I think it would have a chance of working, I probably wouldn't object.  However, I would not support ships such as Blackavar/Vervain or Bigwig/Fiver.  I really don't think these would get anywhere...

[Hammy]

I don't see why not. Never been terribly invested in WSD ships myself, since I don't tend to ship any animal characters, but I have my fair share of slash ships. More than my fair share. Way too many. I've written a lot of fanfics.

It's kind hard not to like Hawkbit/Dandelion as far as the show. If I had to have a slash WSD ship myself, though, it'd probably be Campion and Vervain, also of the show. I like an enemies to lovers dynamic. Feel free to give me funny looks.

[florapaw]

With all the clashing personalities and sweet, sweet relationship development with some characters, I find it hard to not ship some of them. Personally I adore Bigwig/Hazel, Silver/Buckthorn and Holly/Bluebell. As for femslashes, if there's a possibility I can ship it, I will. Clover/Haystack and Hyzenthlay/Thethuthinnang are the most logical, but I headcanon Thinial (which is said to be predominantly female-run, I believe) to have a high number of lesbian couples.

(I'm also a huge fan of Nelthilta and Nyreem, which is a ship that pops up later in my Bus Route human au)

As for the series, it's more or less the same. Dandelion/Hawkbit is solid ship that everyone enjoys, and I quite like Campion/Hazel and Spartina/Blackberry.

[Myrkin]

If I had to have a slash WSD ship myself, though, it'd probably be Campion and Vervain, also of the show. I like an enemies to lovers dynamic. Feel free to give me funny looks.

Now there is a ship that would have to develop over a long time, as turning them from enemies to lovers wouldn't be easy. Maybe it would have to start even before Woundwort took over Efrafa and established his system. I think it would have to require Vervain to become a little braver and less "I'm here to chew grass and find traitors to Efrafa, and I'm all out of grass".

(I'm also a huge fan of Nelthilta and Nyreem, which is a ship that pops up later in my Bus Route human au)

I'm curious what do you like about this particular ship?

[florapaw]

I'm curious what do you like about this particular ship?

Well, the biggest thing is that their individual characters are very different from each other. Nyreem, in my reading, comes off as softer and a little shy and uncertain (although she does relax once she gets to Watership Down, I think. I can't quite remember. Tales isn't really worth remembering most of the time), whereas Nelthilta is headstrong and mouthy, and she tries hard and fails at being "one of the big kids", more or less. This ship is cute to me, because I can imagine the two settling in nicely with Nyreem managing to calm Nelthilta's big mouth and allow the two to live peacefully and happily.

It doesn't sound particularly fun or interesting when I write it down, but I do like the whole dynamic regardless.

[Tien]

Like I said above, I never thought much about gay ships for this particular fandom but I really am starting to, and I like all the pairings you guys are throwing out XD

I kinda like the idea of Campion and Bigwig to be honest or even Bigwig and Fiver

[Magic-Rabbit]

Well rabbits do like to "get some" in reality so maybe it could happen if people really wanted it to occur.

I don't really much care personally but there are fans I assume that invest time thinking about this subject.

[Acacia Heartstrings]

Which is something that is becoming more common than it seems, although somewhat imperceptibly, especially in the Japanese anime. Personally, I love it.    
https://watershipdownclub.deviantart.com/art/Watership-Down-Caught-You-Napping-599160201

[Hammy]

If I had to have a slash WSD ship myself, though, it'd probably be Campion and Vervain, also of the show. I like an enemies to lovers dynamic. Feel free to give me funny looks.

Now there is a ship that would have to develop over a long time, as turning them from enemies to lovers wouldn't be easy. Maybe it would have to start even before Woundwort took over Efrafa and established his system. I think it would have to require Vervain to become a little braver and less "I'm here to chew grass and find traitors to Efrafa, and I'm all out of grass".

That'd be a grand idea, actually. Even before Woundwort, they find each other impossible and hard to understand, and they butt heads and kinda challenge each other as such. Vervain is a enormous coward, but he's perceptive and clever, most of the time anyway. Campion is brave and strong and pretty smart too, but he's more Black Rabbit than Elahrairah here. Both of them want Efrafa to improve, and they probably have to work together, but they operate in different ways. I can see them really complementing each other's personality and methods in their younger years. They cover each other's bases, Campion pushing Vervain to be brave and keep his chin up, and Vervain coming up with tricks to get them both out of trouble.

Then once Woundwort arrives on the scene, Vervain gets more cowardly as he clings to Woundwort and Campion gets more uncertain of the entire ordeal, and you know how that goes. I'd have loved to seen Vervain and Campion reunite post-Campion's death. I don't quite remember the timeline, haven't the show in a while, but imagine that, Campion finds Vervain instead of the Down rabbits, and he drags Vervain out of his own mess, the way he used to when they were young. Vervain asks Campion what happened to him, and Campion asks "Whatever happened to us? And the warren?" and they talk. If nothing else, it's an interesting angle for character development, especially on development starved Vervain. I admit my biases on this one.

Stop giving me ideas. This sounds interesting and full of potential and I've already got fanfics to write.

[Myrkin]

Well, the biggest thing is that their individual characters are very different from each other. Nyreem, in my reading, comes off as softer and a little shy and uncertain (although she does relax once she gets to Watership Down, I think. I can't quite remember. Tales isn't really worth remembering most of the time), whereas Nelthilta is headstrong and mouthy, and she tries hard and fails at being "one of the big kids", more or less. This ship is cute to me, because I can imagine the two settling in nicely with Nyreem managing to calm Nelthilta's big mouth and allow the two to live peacefully and happily.

That sounds interesting. I can imagine Nelthilta being the one to keep other rabbits from walking all over Nyreem, thanks to former's defiant attitude. She was the one to call Bigwig an oaf when he was officer in Efrafa (and he hadn't yet revealed he was there to help does escape), if I remember correctly. That takes some guts, although she could use somebody like Nyreem who will keep her from being unwisely bold.


EDIT:

I don't quite remember the timeline, haven't the show in a while, but imagine that, Campion finds Vervain instead of the Down rabbits, and he drags Vervain out of his own mess, the way he used to when they were young. Vervain asks Campion what happened to him, and Campion asks "Whatever happened to us? And the warren?" and they talk. If nothing else, it's an interesting angle for character development, especially on development starved Vervain. I admit my biases on this one.

If Campion was the one to save Vervain from that wire in the stream (instead of Watershippers), then maybe the latter wouldn't be so quick to rejoin Woundwort? After rabbits from the Down told him to never show up, he had nowhere to go and he needed somebody to protect him, so he had no choice but to join Woundwort. However, if Campion was there with his unwillingness to go to WSD, then maybe they could survive together for a long while. It would be an opportunity for Vervain's character to grow and possible change for the better.

Stop giving me ideas. This sounds interesting and full of potential and I've already got fanfics to write.  

I can't help it!

[Carnation264]

It's really interesting to see everyone's ships! Especially the Campion and Vervain one, that one's pretty interesting and I never really thought about that one before.

Just like about everyone else, I do like DandiHawk/Dandelion x Hawkbit, and I really like Fiverweed/Fiver x Silverweed. Actually, it's my favorite ship in the whole series. Those two are the only ones I can think of right now that are gay ships I like.

[Hammy]

If Campion was the one to save Vervain from that wire in the stream (instead of Watershippers), then maybe the latter wouldn't be so quick to rejoin Woundwort? After rabbits from the Down told him to never show up, he had nowhere to go and he needed somebody to protect him, so he had no choice but to join Woundwort. However, if Campion was there with his unwillingness to go to WSD, then maybe they could survive together for a long while. It would be an opportunity for Vervain's character to grow and possible change for the better.

Stop giving me ideas. This sounds interesting and full of potential and I've already got fanfics to write.  

I can't help it!

That's the ticket! I always thought that just sending Vervain away like that was asking for trouble, given that Vervain seems to easily glom onto the nearest powerful figure. Vervain is shown mercy by the Watershippers, and he seems to take that to heart. Vervain finds Woundwort again, and he's right back where he started, though, like you say, probably more for protection than out of loyalty. I can absolutely see Campion finding Vervain and saving him, and the two of them being fellow outcasts for a good while. Maybe sooner or later, Vervain ends up with a healthy respect for Campion, and even vice versa, assuming Vervain is helpful along the way. Heck, I can see them both growing from the experience. They probably have a lot to talk about, having lived under the same Efrafan regime.

Maaaaan, the more I think about this idea, the better it gets. Now I might have to write an outline or something short at least. Gotta rewatch the show again.

[Myrkin]

Maaaaan, the more I think about this idea, the better it gets. Now I might have to write an outline or something short at least. Gotta rewatch the show again.

Then my work here is done.

[Tien]

Maaaaan, the more I think about this idea, the better it gets. Now I might have to write an outline or something short at least. Gotta rewatch the show again.

Then my work here is done.

Look at you making people wanna go back and rewatch XD

I watched the movie again recently and I gotta say I am kinda starting to ship El Ahrairah Rabscuttle. I know Rab isn't in the movie but I can see them being that close. Look at what they did together? Not to mention El had a legon of wives. Plural. So who's not to say they "frolicked" on occasion XD