Polly want a... poll-y?
Apr. 23rd, 2011 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spinelstarHave a poll question! *chucks it*
What are "counterparts," and what do they have to do with who you ship in this story?
First you have to know that astromancers are divided into two groups: Sun Signs and Moon Signs. The Signs under the Sun are Saturn, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, and the Signs under the Moon are Uranus, Mercury, a forbidden sign, and Neptune.
Sun Signs have "positive" energy, which means that they basically generate their own power. Moon Signs are "negative," which means they have to draw it from somewhere. Ideally, they draw it from the Moon Priest (who draws energy from the Sun Ruler), but they can also get it directly from the Sun Ruler or any Sun Sign. (Side note: at the beginning of the first novel, there is no Moon Priest, which has been throwing things out of balance for years, causing all Moon Signs to be running low on energy.)
Every Sun Sign has a counterpart Moon Sign, in the order I had them listed (Saturn/Uranus, Venus/Mercury, etc.). This means that their energies are especially compatible. When they come in contact with one another, they resonate, and energy flows more rapidly between them. The transfer goes both ways, but since Sun Signs tend to have more energy, the flow goes mostly from the Sun Sign into the Moon Sign. And so it is often said that the Moon Sign is "feeding" off of the Sun Sign's energy.
Some people (like Captain Abrams) view this act as objectionable, almost a form of "vampirism." Others theorize that it's beneficial for both parties, while still others simply argue that it feels pleasant. It's impossible not to view it as an intimate act—a bonding of souls, really, since an astromancer's magic is basically indistinguishable from their soul.
So… I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this in terms of shipping. :D
Canonically, the only pair of counterparts that are explicitly said to have done this are Captain Abrams and Isaac Wilmington, the Knight of Saturn. This is shown when the main character overhears a mildly scandalous-sounding conversation going on in Mr. Wilmington's chamber, in which the Captain seems annoyed that he "made her do that." His logic seems to be that she's been pushing herself too hard, since she's the Captain and uses her powers extensively by heading up all of their missions. (Julian and Frederick, meanwhile, do not come along on missions unless it is absolutely necessary.)
"Off-screen" canonically (as discussed with the author, of course), it's likely that Frederick has also taken part in this sort of behavior, with his dear friend Becky, the Knight under Venus. This seems to be implied by the way they both playfully flirt with each other in several scenes. Julian, however, likely has not, because Nick is rather new to astromancy and Julian has certain hangups about asking. (At least, it probably hasn't happened during or before the first book. Heh.) Abigail, the Knight under Mars is not involved in this, because there is no Knight under the forbidden sign.
So, yes. I ship all of these pairings hardcore. Nick and Julian have been fascinating to me lately, because my sister and I threaded out them sharing energy for the first time. Becky and Frederick are adorable too, and we did something with them as well. But I think my favorite pairing in this area has to be the Captain and Mr. Wilmington. There's something very fated about the two of them canonically, and I'm almost suspicious that they might get together in the actual series (my sis isn't spoiling things for me, lol). Also, the locations of both of their convergences must make sharing energy an… interesting experience. *whistles*
What are "counterparts," and what do they have to do with who you ship in this story?
First you have to know that astromancers are divided into two groups: Sun Signs and Moon Signs. The Signs under the Sun are Saturn, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, and the Signs under the Moon are Uranus, Mercury, a forbidden sign, and Neptune.
Sun Signs have "positive" energy, which means that they basically generate their own power. Moon Signs are "negative," which means they have to draw it from somewhere. Ideally, they draw it from the Moon Priest (who draws energy from the Sun Ruler), but they can also get it directly from the Sun Ruler or any Sun Sign. (Side note: at the beginning of the first novel, there is no Moon Priest, which has been throwing things out of balance for years, causing all Moon Signs to be running low on energy.)
Every Sun Sign has a counterpart Moon Sign, in the order I had them listed (Saturn/Uranus, Venus/Mercury, etc.). This means that their energies are especially compatible. When they come in contact with one another, they resonate, and energy flows more rapidly between them. The transfer goes both ways, but since Sun Signs tend to have more energy, the flow goes mostly from the Sun Sign into the Moon Sign. And so it is often said that the Moon Sign is "feeding" off of the Sun Sign's energy.
Some people (like Captain Abrams) view this act as objectionable, almost a form of "vampirism." Others theorize that it's beneficial for both parties, while still others simply argue that it feels pleasant. It's impossible not to view it as an intimate act—a bonding of souls, really, since an astromancer's magic is basically indistinguishable from their soul.
So… I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this in terms of shipping. :D
Canonically, the only pair of counterparts that are explicitly said to have done this are Captain Abrams and Isaac Wilmington, the Knight of Saturn. This is shown when the main character overhears a mildly scandalous-sounding conversation going on in Mr. Wilmington's chamber, in which the Captain seems annoyed that he "made her do that." His logic seems to be that she's been pushing herself too hard, since she's the Captain and uses her powers extensively by heading up all of their missions. (Julian and Frederick, meanwhile, do not come along on missions unless it is absolutely necessary.)
"Off-screen" canonically (as discussed with the author, of course), it's likely that Frederick has also taken part in this sort of behavior, with his dear friend Becky, the Knight under Venus. This seems to be implied by the way they both playfully flirt with each other in several scenes. Julian, however, likely has not, because Nick is rather new to astromancy and Julian has certain hangups about asking. (At least, it probably hasn't happened during or before the first book. Heh.) Abigail, the Knight under Mars is not involved in this, because there is no Knight under the forbidden sign.
So, yes. I ship all of these pairings hardcore. Nick and Julian have been fascinating to me lately, because my sister and I threaded out them sharing energy for the first time. Becky and Frederick are adorable too, and we did something with them as well. But I think my favorite pairing in this area has to be the Captain and Mr. Wilmington. There's something very fated about the two of them canonically, and I'm almost suspicious that they might get together in the actual series (my sis isn't spoiling things for me, lol). Also, the locations of both of their convergences must make sharing energy an… interesting experience. *whistles*
