Subtext? We don't need no stinkin' subtext!
Textless but Teeming
A Gunn/Lindsey Essay
By Dana Woods | www
| email
Note: All fic referenced in this essay can be found on the fic page.
There is no text.
There isn't even any subtext.
There also isn't any layered interaction specifications provided by the show,
as Gunn and Lindsey had only a few shared scenes over the course of the show,
all of which contained negligible interaction between the two.
Despite all of this, one can extrapolate and postulate on behavior and interaction
and find that...well, Gunn and Lindsey, together, are rife with a multitude
of possibilities, and complimenting contrasts.
My first encounter with Gunn and Lindsey was in writing it. Without anything
established to work with, either in canon or fic, I had to toss the two together
and set up interaction that was true to each of them. I feared they would
clash so significantly as to be impossible to write. Instead I found the closest
thing to an OTP that I will ever have. And in others’ hands, I’ve found a
thread of similar interaction and dynamics that needs to get far more attention
than it does.
There are a variety of ways in which a Gunn/Lindsey can be established, and
one of the interesting aspects of the ship as a whole is that their opposing
morals stances have to be addressed in some manner.
Gunn spent many years in his old neighborhood fighting vampires and there
were never any shades of gray for him until he met Angel. He has little use
for gray and prefers to keep everything as close to black/white as possible,
and Lindsey is the embodiment of gray who has very little use for those firmly
entrenched in the white.
The navigation of moral stances may not be shown in a fic, but the author
still has to sit down and figure out what would make Gunn be willing to even
speak with Lindsey, have Lindsey not just scoff and walk away.
In Cold Comfort (by far the Gunn/Lindsey story that gets me in every way)
by [info]justhuman relegates the morality issues to the backseat in favor
of a more pressing and personal issue; that of Gunn and Lindsey’s shared experiences
in the Wolfram and Hart holding dimension, which bring them together however
briefly.
The moral stances cause interesting and fascinating dynamics. Imagine Lindsey,
faced with the steadfast clarity of Gunn's take on morality, while mired in
his own confused and ever changing stance. Think of Gunn, who must consistently
assess himself to ensure that he's as firmly entrenched in the white as he
wants to be, interacting with the gray and gaining a firsthand understanding
of it.
Does exposure to an opposing moral stance shift either or both of their stances?
Are the moral stances reinforced by comparison to the opposing stance? Do
they question their chosen stance? Does it make them pick one and stay with
it?
Any of these can be made to happen within the confines of the pairing, believably,
and the result is an intricate study of both characters, the overarching moral
spectrum of the show, and the characters as they relate to one another.
Looking beyond the moral stance issue, Gunn and Lindsey's contrasting personalities
make for fascinating interaction and relations.
Gunn, as mentioned, led other young people in his old neighborhood, and dealt
with them at Anne’s shelter, as we discovered in season two. He has experience
with petulant adolescent behavior. As much as I adore Lindsey, the fact of
the matter is that much of his behavior falls into this category.
Gunn has little patience for the petulance. Lindsey has little patience with
superior attitudes. But with the interaction adjusted to compensate for whatever
circumstance was used to bring the pair together, these same traits can be
sought after and welcomed by both. And in that case, these traits fit together
like interlocking pieces, which is the case for most, if not all, of their
other personality traits.
Another interesting dynamic is that of Gunn as a steadying influence on Lindsey,
through force of personality. Conversely, Lindsey as a confusing factor on
Gunn, clouding things Gunn was once very sure of, is another dynamic that
works. And, once again, depending on the handling of the scenario, it could
very well be that Lindsey needs just a little more steadiness, and Gunn just
a little more cloudiness, making them interlock once again.
Taking them further into the realm of a relationship that encompasses something
caring or loving, there are still more contrasts that interlock.
Gunn loves easily and loyally, as we saw with Fred in seasons three and four.
He was protective, but not overprotective, and he respected her thoughts and
opinions. Lindsey loves fiercely and selfishly, which came to light in season
two with Darla. A great deal of what he offered Darla was rejected as not
good enough when compared to Angel.
More contrasts that compliment one another, as Gunn's protectiveness would
prevent him from rejecting anything that Lindsey has to offer, be it love
or something approaching it, because it would demean Lindsey as a whole. And
Lindsey would be able to give all he wants and have it accepted in a way that
it wasn't with Darla, in a way that maybe it hasn't ever been accepted.
The conflicts that arise from personality traits that don't align within the
story, and the outside forces of Angel, Darla, and Wolfram and Hart, do nothing
but add to the layers of the character and bring out a truly complex situation.
Especially in season five when Gunn's moral stance slipped slightly.
But, of course, I speak of layers and complexities that are not widely delved
into. Despite the possibilities in the pairing, there is far too little fic
for it. What there is, though, serves to examine both characters and connect
them believably.
The first ever Gunn/Lindsey story was Lost by Pet. This story is set
pre-series, neatly circumventing the moral stance aspects, and taking a completely
unique look at both characters when Gunn is "persuaded" to assist Wolfram
and Hart. Forced interaction, a darker look at their personalities, and some
brokenness that still manages to weave something "more" between the pair that
provokes Lindsey to help Gunn escape Wolfram and Hart's clutches.
Moosesal tackles the pairing in A Pound of Pennies set during season
five, post-"Shells", but Jossed before "Underneath". Gunn has been on the
outs from the gang for a few months, and he gets Lindsey knocking at his door,
trying to curry protection from Angel. In the messiness of season five, Gunn's
black/white view is somewhat skewered, allowing a lot more ease in actually
bringing them together even briefly.
Much to my pleasure, Justhuman tackled Gunn/Lindsey more than once. Set post-"Not
Fade Away" with Gunn and Lindsey both surviving. For that aspect alone she
became my hero, but the story itself is just lovely and real. In Precision
in an Imprecise World, JH does the extrapolation and positing that's required
for this ship, and draws parallels between Gunn and Lindsey's mutual need
for control and the somewhat similar reasons for it in both of them.
Done well, with inspired extrapolation and honest characterization, Gunn/Lindsey
can be a beautiful and wonderfully ship that's not in the least neat and simple,
and has very little chance of them settling down into something easy and smooth,
or even something long-lasting in the least. It can be something heart-wrenching
and thought-provoking.
Disclaimer: The characters/concepts of Angel belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, et al. No infringement is intended and no profit is made. All fic and essay are copyrighted to their authors.