Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer
| Moresome · Ship · Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Relationship: | Alec Hardison x Parker x Eliot Spencer |
| Alternative name(s): | Leverage OT3 |
| Gender category: | M/M/F |
| Fandom: | Leverage |
| Canonical?: | Word of God |
| Prevalence: | Popular |
| Archives: | whitepawns |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer is a popular OT3 ship in the Leverage fandom, between the characters Alec Hardison, Parker, and Eliot Spencer. It is commonly referred to as the Leverage OT3.[1][2][3][4]
Canon
While the OT3 didn't go explicitly canon during the show's run, many fans read subtextual evidence for their relationship in the canon.
Word of God
Shortly after the series finale, one fan tweeted:[5]
[@rsadelle, Dec 27, 2012]
Um. Did John Rogers just use his series finale to make the OT3 basically canon? #Leverage
[John Rogers (@jonrog1, verified account), Dec 27, 2012]
@rsadelle You're welcome.
Some fans have interpreted this as word of god confirmation that the ship is canon.[6] Others are still unsure, or vaguely confused.[7]
In 2016, John Rogers had the following interaction with a fan in a less well-known tweet:[8][9]
[@shellygurumi, 8 May 2016]
If I could, I would edit the definition of "Rude" to include "John Rogers - The Long Goodbye Job" @jonrog1
[John Rogers (@jonrog1, verified account), 8 May 2016]
@shellygurumi hey, we made the OT3 canon. That should buy us a little back.
John Rogers continued to reference the popularity of Parker/Hardison/Elliot after Leverage went off the air.[10]
Exec: What would you say your specialty is.
Me: Apparently, creating strong OT3's.
Exec: I have no idea what that means.
Me: kids today.
In April 2020, a Leverage continuation/reboot was announced. In the excitement directly after the announcement, John Rogers assured longtime fan LJC that her "OT3 was safe"[11]
[John Rogers (@jonrog1, verified account), April 22, 2020]
Ah, *that* was announced. Well, here we go here we go here we go now...
[Tara O'Shea (@tara_oshea), April 22, 2020]
@jonrog1 So it's a brand new sequel to the original, not an actual BSG-style reboot, right? As in new characters, not new actors playing the original characters? The article said re-imagining/reboot rather than picking up 8 years later with updated premise.
/*clingz to her ot3*
[John Rogers (@jonrog1, verified account), April 22, 2020]
@tara_oshea Your OT3 is safe.
As of July 9th, 2021 and the release of the first 8 episodes of Leverage: Redemption, the OT3 is not canon. While there are some things that can be read as subtext, there is no explicit confirmation of a romantic relationship between the canon coupling of Parker & Hardison with Eliot. Some fans are staying optimistic, hoping there will be canonization in the second half of L:R season 1 or in season 2. Other's are hopeful that it is queer-coding (the show runners and writers wanted it but the Network would allow it). There are many fans though that are resigned that the promise of the OT3 being safe was queer-baiting.
Fandom
As of May 16, 2021, 23% of the Leverage fanworks on Archive of Our Own are tagged "Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer."[12] It is the most popular pairing in the fandom on AO3.[13]
Fandom of the OT3 is also active on Tumblr.
Common Tropes
Common tropes tagged on Hardison/Parker/Eliot fanworks on AO3 include:[14]
- fluff (267 fanworks)
- established relationship (188 fanworks)
- hurt/comfort (164 fanworks)
- post-canon (154 fanworks).
Example Fanworks
Fanfiction
- your body is a war zone but you are not a ruin by postcardmystery
- something good can work (and it can work for you) by queenklu
- The Not Your Teaching Tool Job (Ao3 link) by BlackEyedGirl
- Motion Parallax by Laughsalot3412
- Odd One Out by thingswithwings
- The Romcom Job by samyazaz
- like a map of a place you've never been by bydaybreak
- Shelter Me Series by thingswithwings
Some of the most popular Parker/Hardison/Leverage fics are crossovers with other fandoms, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- The Cyborg Arm Job by copperbadge
- Chuck Roast by galwednesday
- The Job Between Here and There by Pohadka
- The Holy Relic Job by hansbekhart
- That Awkward Moment When Your Ex Is Captain America by Innytoes
Or with other TV shows and movies featuring detectives, spies, and/or criminals.
- I Lie, I Cheat, I Steal (and I Just Don't Get Any Respect) by fiercelydreamed (a crossover with White Collar)
- Press Zero For Assistance by sarcasticsra (a crossover with Marvel Cinematic Universe, Person of Interest, NCIS, and Criminal Minds.
Fanart
- untitled; Hardison and Parker comforting Eliot by megalania-prisca
- me: i have lots of important deadlines and so much work to do / also me: screw work draw more leverage by boopliette. (archive)
Vids
- 45 reasons to ship the Leverage OT3 by Airuna, a shipping manifesto.
- Parachute by thingswithwings
- Fun Lovin' Criminal by Zen
- You're the Two by absternr
Memes
Meta
- How to defuse a bomb: OT3 Edition: gifset with accompanying meta additions ruminating on the nature of the OT3 and how the characters perfectly fit together, as encapsulated by the scene in question
Resources
- Archive of Our Own tag: Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer
- FanFiction.Net: [Alec H., Eliot S., Parker]
- whitepawns, a LiveJournal community of works that center around Parker, Eliot, and Hardison.[15]
References
- ^ ao3-feed-leverage-ot3 tumblr. A tumblr feed for Hardison/Parker/Eliot fic called "ao3-feed-leverage-ot3". Archived link. (Accessed February 22, 2019)
- ^ Twitter search for "Leverage OT3" brings up discussion about this ship. Archived link. (Accessed February 22, 2019)
- ^ Leverage OT3 (pre-relationship) the AO3 tag "Leverage OT3 (pre-relationship)", which is synonymous with "Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer". Archived link. (Accessed February 22, 2019)
- ^ leverage ot3 tag on tumblr. The Tumblr tag for "Leverage OT3", which features Hardison/Parker/Eliot content. Archived link. (Accessed February 22, 2019)
- ^ John Rogers. "Tweet". Archived from the original on February 17, 2019.
- ^ nethenclawpuff. "Tumblr post". Archived from the original on Jan 24, 2021.
- ^ u/girlwithethebooks on Reddit. "Elliot/Parker/Hardison confirmed??". Archived from the original on Jan 24, 2021.
- ^ John Rogers. "Tweet". Archived from the original on March 15, 2019.
- ^ "Tumblr post about the tweet". Archived from the original on April 5, 2018.
- ^ John Rogers. "Tweet". Archived from the original on May 16, 2021.
- ^ John Rogers. "Tweet". Archived from the original on May 16, 2021.
- ^ There are 1,756 fanworks in the "Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer" tag on AO3, out of 7,817 fanworks in the Leverage fandom. Accessed on May 16, 2020.
- ^ "Leverage on AO3". Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ ""Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer" tag". Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ Archived link. Second archived link. (Accessed February 22, 2019)
