Oh, excellent. :) This is my favorite FFXII ship!

1) The awesome: 1. All their great subtle and not-so-subtle interactions in the game. 2. The vast differences in their personalities and the paths they travel in life; the possibilities of negotiating that is what most intrigues me about writing their relationship.

2) The not-so-awesome: 1. The difficulties of a happy ending. 2. The way that so many people who write them handwave all the differences in 1.2 to try and force said happy ending.

3) Some ways I'd like to write them: 1. In love triangles! Basch, Al-Cid, Vossler, Fran... 2. Alternate universe where they aren't captured by the Imperials after the raid on the palace, and Balthier either doesn't know Ashe's true identity, or pretends that he doesn't.

Paine/Nooj!

1) How do I limit the awesome to just two? 1. All that lovely UST in canon, and the different directions it can be taken 2. They're hot.

2) Not awesome: 1. Hardly anyone ever writes them. 2. Too many people don't have any kind of handle on Nooj: they either write him like a block of wood, or they take him totally OOC.

3) So this is tough, because I've written so many stories about them that it's hard to think of a situation I haven't looked at yet, at least not off the top of my head. Not that I'm bored with them ;) but I have fewer bunnies waiting to be released -- I have to be struck by inspiration and mood. That all said, here's a couple of thoughts: 1. Airship 'verse: The CS4 get their airship and have adventures in Spira 2. Somewhere on my computer, I have the start to an AU where Paine is a photojournalist and Nooj is a former soldier in the war in Afghanistan. I really ought to finish it someday. Other P/N AU WIPs in various states of progress: a Kingdom Hears crossover; on the run from the maesters... IN SPACE!!

Baralai/Gippal:

1) Teh awesome: 1. I love both these characters and their dynamic, either as friends or as more-than. 2. All the intriguing potential for culture clash! They come from vastly different worlds.

2) Teh sucky: 1. Uke-ified Baralai. Words cannot describe how much I hate it when Baralai is forced into a meek, submissive role, whether they're writing him with Gippal or not. But it's particularly bad in some B/G fic. Soft-spoken and polite, yes, but Baralai has a temper, a strong will, and possibly a lust for power. Please to be remembering this. 2. Gippal the really easy lay, although admittedly I do this one a little bit myself. He's clearly a flirt in canon, but in some B/G it's taken a little far.

3) Ways to write them: 1. Airship verse, as above! 2. Renegotiating a relationship after the Battle of Vegnagun and two years apart.

P.S., and on a completely unrelated topic... gentle reminder?

And yet I see that you totally neglected to write it for me. ;)

1) Awesome! 1. Two totally fascinating characters with a backstory that intertwines in intriguing ways. Kinoc, especially, I feel like there's a lot to be explored in terms of his character. He's not a simple villain. 2. Strong emotions between them, both positive and negative. Why, if Auron seems to think so little of Kinoc's character, does he swear to avenge Kinoc's death?

2) Unawesome? 1. Did I say that no one writes Paine/Nooj? They might as well be the canon OTP compared to how much is written for this pairing. 2. When people do bother to write Kinoc, too often it's a fairly shallow take on his character.

3) What I would write... 1. Kinoc's unrequited love for Auron was the cause of the trouble that drove them apart, took them from friends to enemies. 2. AU where Braska doesn't complete the pilgrimage, and Auron's return to Bevelle and the warrior monks is less than glorious. How does he deal with Kinoc as his commanding officer?