Top 5 Wednesday: OTPs that Don’t Involve the Protagonist

gfg

So, somehow I completely forgot about Top 5 Wednesday last week. Ordinarily, I’d just skip it and go on to the next one, but it was such a good topic, I have to do both today. Last week’s top five topic was your top five side ships. These are the OTPs you have that don’t involve the protagonist. I have a lot of these, but I think I can narrow it down to the ones that make my heart go “boom” the most. So, let’s just do it.

Liraz and Ziri from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor: They were so awkward and inexperienced, it was adorable. Liraz spent a lot of time being angry about her feelings for soft little Ziri and it warmed my heart. She was one of the first people he told his secret to and she was sad when she thought he’d died, even when she didn’t know him. When she did, she did everything she could to keep him alive. Plus, it’s a good example of a non-sexual romance, as Liraz is canonically asexual. It some ways their inter-species relationship takes away from the specialness of Karou and Akiva’s, but it also shows how much impact they’ve had on others. Anyway, Liraz and Ziri are soft and I love them.
Irsa and Rahim from The Rose & the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh: These two were so precious. They were genuine friends and found solace in each other. They fell in love innocently, providing a peaceful foil to Sharhzad and Khalid. They deserved a happily ever after.
Mark and Cristina from The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare: Technically they’re main characters, but Emma is the one billed as the protagonist so they count. They listen to each other and understand each other on a level no one else does. Hell, she chose her entire field of study because of him! And Mark was so jealous of Diego. He didn’t even try to hide it! And when they danced… They’re just so soft for each other and I love them so much.
Lily and James from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: I will never not be bitter we didn’t get more content for them. They’re such an iconic, hate-to-love ship. A genuine power couple. The Jock™ and the Genius™. They both care so much about what is right and those they love and are such a team. Plus, they made Harry, so, like…
Sebastian and the Seelie Queen from City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare: I hate to repeat an author, but these two were my messy ship. They weren’t in love, but had a mutual respect for each other. Plus, they boinked like crazy. And now they almost definitely have a son, so they’re parents too. I wish we got more from them. They were so bad, it was good.

And there you have it! This was my belated top five list for last week. Do you have any side ships you love and want to laud? Let me know in the comments!

Adios, muchachos!