What makes you "ship" a pairing?

[darkone4587]

A mix of chemistry and seeing potential in their interactions as a pair. It dosen't take much to send the shipping radar off but once it pings it pings hard.

[vothnthorvaldson]

I'm not a huge shipper, but under certain circumstances I may be interested in a ship.
Generally, it is when there is good alchemy, but unlikely circumstances. It can make the romance interesting without the usual annoying tropes such as misunderstandings, love triangle, lovers against the whole world (that last one can be good if really, really carefully thought).

For eg. I feel about the same as @EmmyPax about enemies to lovers; I very strongly dislike the bully&victim become lovers dynamics, but enemies soldiers can work as a good alchemy/unlikely circumstances, so in that context I can like the enemy to lover trope.

[joannekwan]

I'm weird, I like to focus on secondary/tertiary characters for shipping, like roles that won't get much screentime? Like main cast characters in romance plots/subplots have plenty of screentime to show relationship development and sometimes it becomes canon. I suppose I like to imagine more or lay down a runner for greater possibility, so perhaps crack ships are more my thing? xD

There still has to be some level of amicability for me though and at least one or two interactions between the characters. For example, while watching the Hunger Games movies I thought, "Oh, wouldn't it be nice if Haymitch and Effie got together "

Per enemies to lovers: I hate the bully/victim ship. And the only time I can really stand an enemy to lover is if the two aren't personal enemies? For example, say one is a resistance fighter and the other is just working for the hegemony. They're only enemies on paper, as dictated by their society, but really they get along if given the chance.

[Penni]

Chemistry!

There are time when I see ships and I think other ones would have been better, in ATLA I could totally see Zuko and Katara together.

I usually just run with my gut on this matter lol

[VibrantFox]

I think the only time I've been big into shipping was Sonic and maybe She-ra but other than that I'm like super duper casual about character ships unless it's something that really grabs me (or my own ocs which is like the highest level)

But answering the question it almost always boils down to chemistry and character interactions! It kind of makes me think about the ship dynamics meme on twitter but the way the characters compliment one another can also totally play into it as well (like the loud x quiet or small ray or sunshine x big scary) how the characters act as a foil to one another can really get me.

Most of my favorite ships are usually cozy where the relationship has been built over time and there super close and kind/loving to the other, some variation of mutual pinning, or a good rivals to lovers. i'm like 50/50 on enemies to lovers because it depends on how it's played.

[DiscountedArtist]

I think it's their chemistry. I didn't know what shipping was when I was watching Bleach, which was one year ago so I don't know how I didn't know. While watching it I thought that Ichigo and Rukia liked each other, but later I searched up if they get together and google said no. And then in the show Orihime liked Ichigo, which I wasn't too big a fan of because almost all their interactions were just Orihime being nervous, while Rukia nad Ichigo actually talked to each other.

[MrOwl]

in the show Orihime liked Ichigo, which I wasn't too big a fan of because almost all their interactions were just Orihime being nervous, while Rukia nad Ichigo actually talked to each other.

Rukia > Abyss > Orihime, that's one of those moments when I like fanon way more than the canon... I won't read anything that Kubo touches post-bleach, that final pissed me off lmao.

[indagold]

I've only done it if the story is a garbage fire and the characters deserve better.

[ChaoticConstellation]

It depends on the characters. I tend to like characters that seem to genuinely like each other (as people before lovers) or that can just be goofy dorks together. But I ALSO love a good enemies to friends to lovers trope. But above all else people who form a good dynamic. Like allows the other to use their strengths to the benefit of both, knows when to let the other shine too.

[inubasket]

Most of my ships are like:
(I don't ship these two though)

[ButterflyEmpress]

I think it's cute when pairings look out for each other. They each can bring something to the table.

Ex.One person could be stressed all the time and the other teaches them how to chill. Then that person might struggle with procrastination and the other could help them develop a healthy work ethic. Or they both help each other cope with hard ships they went through.

This is a dynamic I'm trying to shoot for in my comic, although it's my first time writing a romance.

[Stargazer31]

A healthy relationship and good chemistry.
Favourite pairings: Percy and Annabeth ( Percy Jackson), Crowley and Aziraphale ( Good Omens).

[artemficta]

Chemistry! How the characters interact with each other is key, what their banter is like, and that their relationship be non toxic, lol. I wish there were more series that focused on characters together vs the will they won't they stage though. My mind is blanking on a favorite couple at the moment The Maid Sama manga is a really nicely done romance though I think. The anime follows it pretty closely but stops before they really get together which is sad since you do get to see them together in the manga a lot. W Juliet is also a nice romance manga.

Maybe Professor Venomous and Boxman from Ok Ko? lolol

[jcmraz]

I don't ship. But I will note when characters have better chemistry than a shoehorned romantic interest. Such as Rem in Re:Zero

[Dogss]

A lot of people have talked about foils, and characters contrasting each other and having lots of chemistry. All thing I agree, are AMAZING. I like them to contrast each other, and be complementary opposites.

I think an additional element I like is a sense of longing, which is very common but hard to do right. By the time they are finally together, I want it to feel EARNED, not rushed. I can appreciate slow burn for this reason. I want the characters to get to know each other.

[MorganaMevil]

I love good chemistry. But I think what really sets good ships apart from the rest is the relationship the characters build. I love the friendship/partnership first where the characters eventually get together after forming an unshakeable bond, trials and tribulations, and a great deal of “almosts”.

For this reason, I think the best pairing is Booth and Bones in the show Bones. The characters start out with animosity between them, develop an understanding, then friendship, then something that everyone else is calling a relationship (but the characters aren’t physical with one another) then (after trials, tribulation, and sorrow) they finally end up together. The show even managed to continue on for another SIX seasons as their relationship continued to develop as they got married and had two children. Most couples lose the sizzle after they are together, but they continued being adorable because they still bickered and teased each other and they still operated as one another’s foils. He was the “heart” and she was the “brain”. They weren’t opposites—they united by their sense of justice, and they were both struggled with their family histories. But where one of them struggled, the other was strong. And they pushed each other to grow in those areas.

That’s what makes a ship eternal. Two people we initially like because of their banter and their chemistry but then we fall in love with because they really are suited for each other. Chemistry without that relationship of mutual benefit just ends up being like cotton candy—sweet but lacking substance.

[ratscout]

Weeeeelll, chemistry, but I would also like to add that, sometimes, the writer just writes really distinctive and beautiful scenes for their characters. Like, I dunno. Cloud and Aerith have a crap-ton of really moving scenes together. He's like this clinically depressed dude and she actually made him happy for a time. XD

I also like character relationships to have, y'know, actual depth. I have not nor will I ever be a fan of characters who have nothing between them other than physical attraction.

[Dogss]

I really like how you elaborated on this. Its true, chemistry is just the start, but if the characters aren't good together and help each other grow as people, if they don't support each other then what's the point?

[snailienz]

1. I care a lot about both characters.
2. I think their dynamic is fun to explore.
3. They have a reason for that dynamic to lean towards romance.

Any of the three, honestly.

[MorganaMevil]

YES! This is why YA romance sometimes makes me want to scream! Too often it’s just “he thinks she’s hot” and “she thinks he’s hot” and BAM they are perfect for each other. If there is nothing else, it’s a recipe for a short-lived relationship and nothing else.