Ares/Xena

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Pairing
Pairing: Ares/Xena
Alternative name(s):
Gender category: Het
Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Canonical?: aspects of the relationship are canonical; it is considered mostly one-sided, with Ares being canonically in love with Xena
Prevalence: popular
Archives: Born For War, Illyandria's Xena and Ares Page, Shipper Seasons, Xena/Ares Fan Fiction Library
Other:
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Ares/Xena is the het pairing of Ares and Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess fandom.

The character of Ares has been positioned romantically with Xena since his introduction in episode six ("The Reckoning") of the series.

History

1998

  • Silk publishes "Ares' Curse," followed by its sequel/companion piece "Ares' Chosen." This begins the fanon theme of Xena being referred to as Ares' Chosen.
  • AdmralCleo's Xena and Ares Page, reputedly the second ever website dedicated to the Ares/Xena pairing, is created.

1999

May

October

2000

May

2001

August

  • Illyandria's Fan Fic Board implodes and many shippers abandon the forum, including AresXenaFan (Dixie), Cressid, LadyKate, Roxy, Skkye Blue, Something Royal, and Tango.

September

2002

February

  • The actor who portrayed Ares, Kevin Smith, tragically passes away aged 38, during an accident on set following the wrap of Warriors of Virtue 2. This tragic event rocks the fandom and fans place digital memorial candles on their websites and in their signatures. For many Shippers and fans of Ares, this is a moment where they take a brief or permanent step back from the fandom, as it is considered too painful for many to re-watch Xena: Warrior Princess episodes.

Fandom Terms

  • Shipper: a person who ships Ares/Xena. While the show was airing, the use of "shipper" in the Xena fandom was almost exclusively used for the Ares/Xena ship. This history is still evidenced today by the Shipper Heaven forum, part of the AUSXIP Talking Xena message board that is dedicated exclusively to the Ares/Xena pairing, as well as the Shipper Seasons, a site dedicated to writing seasons beyond the end of Xena: Warrior Princess with a focus on the Ares/Xena relationship.
  • Subber or subtexter: a person who ships Gabrielle/Xena.
  • Subtext-friendly: a website or community that primarily identifies as shipper-centric, but is welcoming (rather than critical) of the Gabrielle/Xena pairing.

Homophobia and Sexism in Shipper Culture

During the peak popularity of Illyandria's Xena and Ares Page as well as Illyandria's forum, it was common for shippers to be against subtext. Reactions to subtext ranged from outright disgust to "it's just not for me."

During these peak years, it was common for shippers to refer to Gabrielle as "the irritating blonde" in fic as well as in communication with one another. In shipper fic, a common trope was for Gabrielle to be conveniently away (for instance, visiting Potidaea) so that the main focus could be on Ares and Xena.

The Ares and Xena Shippers Yahoo Group excluded discussion of subtext or slash:

Also, any other, non-subtexters and non-slash chat welcome! I have no problem with subtext or homosexuality in general, but I feel that there needs to be a Xena club for those of us who don't see it that way.[1]

Subbers were originally not welcome on Illyandria's Fan Fic Board, although this eventually changed.[2] Arguably, supporters of subtext were not welcome in the final days of the forum, when Piscean was made moderator.[3]

Influential Ares/Xena Fans

  • Ares' Chosen, author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Arianwen P.F. Everett, author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Aurora, prolific author and producer of the Shipper Seasons.
  • Carly, prolific author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Delenn, prolific author and archivist of Born For War.
  • Electra, author of early fic for the pairing and archivit of Scarlet Skies.
  • Ephy, author of early fic for the pairing and member of the Shatomlic Amazons (Amazonian RPG forum).
  • Illyandria, prolific author and archivist of Illyandria's Xena and Ares Page.
  • Jade, author of early and influential comedy fic for the pairing.
  • Juxian Tang, author of early and influential NC-17 fic for the pairing (including Skin Tight).
  • LadyKate, prolific author (including of The Joining) and producer of the Shipper Seasons.
  • Larissa, author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Lasca, author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Maureen, the Greek Amazon, author of early fic for the pairing.
  • Nancy Lorenz, author of epic fic for the pairing (Children of the Gods series).
  • Silk, author of Ares' Curse and Ares' Chosen, some of the first Ares/Xena stories on the internet (1998).
  • Skkye Blue, author of epic fic for the pairing (Dark Revelations).
  • Something Royal, author of epic fic for the pairing.
  • Tali, prolific author of early fic for the pairing and archivist of Ares and Xena Together Forever.
  • Tango, author of early epic fic for the pairing (including The Outsiders)

Shipper Communities

Archives and Links

References

  1. ^ aresandxenashippers Yahoo! group. (Accessed 18 August 2022.) (offline, archived)
  2. ^ "Message Board Rules," Illyandria's Xena and Ares Page. (offline, not archived)
  3. ^ Piscean. "Skkye Blue, Piscean and bumps," response posted at 9:09:44 PM on 24 August 2001 at Illyandria's Fan Fic Board. (offline, not archived)
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