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peroxidepirateI just made a deal with myself where I have 30 minutes to write this. So.
Fight C is a lot like Fight A on the first week: two default contestants, a young man who Kel actually had a crush on in canon, versus an older man who played a major role in training her to become a knight.
In this case, Nealan of Queenscove is Kel's best friend, first crush, and -- for her 4 years as a page and her first year as a lady knight -- her near-constant companion. He's five years older than Kel, which is just enough to make a difference when they're pages, but not enough to really notice once they're adults. He's sarcastic and snarky and more academic-minded than most of those who choose knight's training, but since he's older than the other pages, he (mostly) escapes being ridiculed for nerdiness. Incidentally, Domitan of Masbolle (winner of Fight A) is Neal's cousin, and the two have quite a bit in common. At one time, it looked like a Kel/Neal romance was an obvious eventuality. Over the series as a whole, he remains the person Kel is closest to, and there are many points at which their relationship could have easily turned to romance. Also, most gen fics starring Kel -- and a lot of fics in which she is shipped with someone else -- feature Neal as a comedic foil or supporting character. Unfortunately, Neal's betrothed to Kel's friend Yuki, which can get in the way.
Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak is Kel's knight-master for the four years she's a squire. Though extremely competent as a knight, a commander, and a teacher, he's affable and easy-going as well. Kel goes into her squire years expecting a continuation of her training with Lord Wyldon, and is pleasantly surprised to find that she and Raoul (who really should be addressed as Lord Raoul, but prefers not to) can actually have fun together. Though single while Kel is his squire, Raoul eventually marries Buriam Tourakom. If not for this, he and Kel could have a real future together once Kel is a knight. Since fandom is fandom, maybe they still could.
I'm backing Neal on this one. Well, really I love them both, but I'm writing for Neal. I adore Raoul, as a character, but he's too easy going for Raoul/Kel to satisfy my snarky!mentor kink. And I wish Kel/Neal had actually happened (at least a brief thing) in canon; since it didn't, I'll write it any which way I please. And, oddly, Neal seems to be the underdog: I would have predicted a really close fight on this one, as in Fight A, but right now it looks like Raoul is probably going to win this. There's this crazy Old Man Army out there backing him, and I have to admit that they're doing a fantastic job. Anyway, my guess is that whoever wins this one is going to make it to the finals. But we'll see.
Fight F is between Lalasa Isran, another default contestant, and Vania of Conte, a wild card.
Lalasa is Kel's maid during her years as a page. She starts out as a very shy, nervous young woman, having been the victim of abuse as a child and assaults when she first begins working as a maid. Kel takes Lalasa under her protection, and slowly Lalasa blossoms into a confident, interesting person. When Kel leaves the palace as a squire, Lalasa leaves as well, and sets up her own shop as a dressmaker. I believe Lalasa is the only commoner in the competition (although Rikash the stormwing isn't exactly a noble), and I think she and her partner, Tian, are the only author-confirmed lesbians in all of Tortall (though in the books, it's a relationship you could read as just friendship if you choose). Lalasa's very aware of class, much moreso than Kel herself, so any relationship between the two of them would have to get past those hang-ups. But it would be easy to write unrequited attraction or something that toes the line between friendship and romance.
Vania is the youngest royal princess of Kel's generation. Her existence is author-confirmed, but absolutely nothing else is known about her. Therefore, she's entirely a fan creation. She's a few years younger than Kel and seems to be adventurous, smart, a little wild, and more or less promiscuous (though it varies, of course, based on who's writing her).
To me this is one of the less interesting match-ups of the Smackdown. If I had more time to spare, I'd be writing for Lalasa on this one. I expect Vania to win, because she has some pretty dedicated fans, but I think it will be close.
Fight C is a lot like Fight A on the first week: two default contestants, a young man who Kel actually had a crush on in canon, versus an older man who played a major role in training her to become a knight.
In this case, Nealan of Queenscove is Kel's best friend, first crush, and -- for her 4 years as a page and her first year as a lady knight -- her near-constant companion. He's five years older than Kel, which is just enough to make a difference when they're pages, but not enough to really notice once they're adults. He's sarcastic and snarky and more academic-minded than most of those who choose knight's training, but since he's older than the other pages, he (mostly) escapes being ridiculed for nerdiness. Incidentally, Domitan of Masbolle (winner of Fight A) is Neal's cousin, and the two have quite a bit in common. At one time, it looked like a Kel/Neal romance was an obvious eventuality. Over the series as a whole, he remains the person Kel is closest to, and there are many points at which their relationship could have easily turned to romance. Also, most gen fics starring Kel -- and a lot of fics in which she is shipped with someone else -- feature Neal as a comedic foil or supporting character. Unfortunately, Neal's betrothed to Kel's friend Yuki, which can get in the way.
Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak is Kel's knight-master for the four years she's a squire. Though extremely competent as a knight, a commander, and a teacher, he's affable and easy-going as well. Kel goes into her squire years expecting a continuation of her training with Lord Wyldon, and is pleasantly surprised to find that she and Raoul (who really should be addressed as Lord Raoul, but prefers not to) can actually have fun together. Though single while Kel is his squire, Raoul eventually marries Buriam Tourakom. If not for this, he and Kel could have a real future together once Kel is a knight. Since fandom is fandom, maybe they still could.
I'm backing Neal on this one. Well, really I love them both, but I'm writing for Neal. I adore Raoul, as a character, but he's too easy going for Raoul/Kel to satisfy my snarky!mentor kink. And I wish Kel/Neal had actually happened (at least a brief thing) in canon; since it didn't, I'll write it any which way I please. And, oddly, Neal seems to be the underdog: I would have predicted a really close fight on this one, as in Fight A, but right now it looks like Raoul is probably going to win this. There's this crazy Old Man Army out there backing him, and I have to admit that they're doing a fantastic job. Anyway, my guess is that whoever wins this one is going to make it to the finals. But we'll see.
Fight F is between Lalasa Isran, another default contestant, and Vania of Conte, a wild card.
Lalasa is Kel's maid during her years as a page. She starts out as a very shy, nervous young woman, having been the victim of abuse as a child and assaults when she first begins working as a maid. Kel takes Lalasa under her protection, and slowly Lalasa blossoms into a confident, interesting person. When Kel leaves the palace as a squire, Lalasa leaves as well, and sets up her own shop as a dressmaker. I believe Lalasa is the only commoner in the competition (although Rikash the stormwing isn't exactly a noble), and I think she and her partner, Tian, are the only author-confirmed lesbians in all of Tortall (though in the books, it's a relationship you could read as just friendship if you choose). Lalasa's very aware of class, much moreso than Kel herself, so any relationship between the two of them would have to get past those hang-ups. But it would be easy to write unrequited attraction or something that toes the line between friendship and romance.
Vania is the youngest royal princess of Kel's generation. Her existence is author-confirmed, but absolutely nothing else is known about her. Therefore, she's entirely a fan creation. She's a few years younger than Kel and seems to be adventurous, smart, a little wild, and more or less promiscuous (though it varies, of course, based on who's writing her).
To me this is one of the less interesting match-ups of the Smackdown. If I had more time to spare, I'd be writing for Lalasa on this one. I expect Vania to win, because she has some pretty dedicated fans, but I think it will be close.