#uncasalice

When did you first see the movie? Have you read the book?

I first saw the movie when I was about 7 or 8 (which seems really surprising to me now, because of the violence, but apparently I’m more sensitive to it now than when I was as a child!). I don’t remember much from the first watch, only some vague images of the Cora and Hawkeye when they were in the fort (it all looks quite different in my memory.xD) and the ending scene on the cliffs. I remember clearly that that scene between Alice and Uncas impressed me extremely, especially Alice’s look at Magua. I didn’t really understand what was going on between the characters, but I was greatly moved and somehow it rang a chord within me.<3

I read the book some five years ago (no idea actually, I have no sense of time), because I had become interested in the movie again and I wanted to know more about the background. I was pretty disappointed, since many key things are different in the book (if I remember correctly, it was actually Cora who fell in love with Uncas in the book?) and it struck me as blatantly racist (the movie is racist too, imo, but the book even more so).

What was your first Uncas and Alice fanfiction?

Sorry, I tried, but I really can’t remember!:(

Favorite character and why?

Alice.<3 Because I identify a lot with her (for anyone who knows mbti, she’s the same personality type as I am (INFP)) – I’m also extremely shy, introverted, and an emotional observer, not an action-taker. I feel like she has the most humane reactions to the horrors around her in the movie. In general I feel very protective of characters who often get called “weak”, because they don’t fill the trending role of “bad-ass” in western movies nowadays.

Favorite part of the film?

Sort of overlaps with the question below. But if I had to choose another scene, it would be the cliff scene with Alice and Uncas. It’s terribly sad and brutal, but it’s so powerful. The music and the looks – just a masterpiece of film-making!<3

Favorite Uncas and Alice scene?

The waterfall scene, even though it was cut a great deal. I just love how protective and gentle Uncas feels about Alice, and I think we get to see that most in this scene.

What aspect of Uncas and Alice’s relationship is the most appealing to you?

That’s a good question!:) I did a “top 5 otps”-meme earlier this year, and it made me realise that I really seem to have an attraction to star-crossed lovers or just lovers whose meeting/coming together goes against all odds – mostly with the Romeo and Juliet-trope, but not always. I suppose a lot of people have a thing for this archetype, probably because we want to believe in love conquering anything. I think that’s a big appeal of Alice/Uncas, because their love is pure, in the worst of possible settings. But of course their individual characters are a big appeal as well. They are both very quiet, but their expressions speak a lot, and it makes you wonder what they think and feel. They aren’t your typical action-heroes, which you could expect in such a movie. Then I guess the fact that they are the “outsiders”, not the primary love story of the movie, makes me root for them – they appear to be outsiders both inside and outside the story.

Do you have a favorite Uncas and Alice trope? If so, what is it?

The “Everyone lives!AU”.:D I also really like crossovers and modern AUs. In general, I like fluff best, no matter if it’s a short one-shot, drabbles, or a long chapter-story.:)

How do you handle, as a writer, how limited their interactions are?

It is frustrating, but for writing I find it actually isn’t that bad – there is so much “scope for the imagination”, as Anne Shirley would say.:) Even though their interactions are so few and limited, everyone just knows that there is so much more going on underneath (or we wouldn’t have the cliff scene), which is inspiring. Also there are several gaps in the storytelling of the movie, which can be filled, as well as cut scenes – so I think all of that helps a lot with the writing.:3

What do reviews mean to you? Do they matter?

They’re very important, I think! The main reason to write is of course the love for the characters, but one publishes it because one wants to share that love with others. And without reviews there’s no way of knowing for the author what people thought about the story, whether they enjoyed it, etc. It’s what makes us keep publishing our work or be motivated to write it at all.

What keeps you coming back to the fandom?

I think it’s mostly because I love this ship so much, for the above named reasons.:) It’s so wonderful to see that there actually is an alive fandom for it – I remember how it was before having/knowing the internet (and what ships and otps are.xD), and before having tumblr, so I’m really grateful for this blog and the fandom here!:D

What’s the best advice you have for someone thinking of writing a fanfiction but is holding back?

Depends on why they’re holding back! But I think if you’d really like to write something about them, there’s a way to overcome any obstacle you see. For example, if you’re holding back because of the historical setting, you might consider trying a modern AU first. Or if you’re not sure about your characterisation, maybe start with something very short or drabbles, and ask for feedback. Through experimenting you can find your way and learn a lot, and that’s always worth a shot, I think.:) Besides it’s a very small fandom, and we’re always happy about finding new fans – everyone has something to contribute.:)

What is your favourite Alice/Uncas fanfiction?

When did you first seen the movie? Have you read of the book? I first saw the movie when I was 11 - it was the year it was released. After which, I read the book and was eternally glad Michael Mann was not totally true to the original! If he had been, there would be no love story between Alice and Uncas. What was your first Uncas and Alice fanfiction? Tender Will - I always wondered what could their future hold if they had lived. Favorite character and why? Uncas. Eric Schweig made so much out of so little - he was phenomenal. His Uncas was a wonderful combination of dauntless warrior, fierce protector and ultimately, faithful lover to the end. Favorite part of the film? My favourites were all the Alice + Uncas scenes but beyond that, I loved the scene where the Mohican trio swooped in to save the Munro girls from the Huron early in the show. Also, the part where Uncas was scaling the cliffs to get to Alice. Favorite Uncas and Alice scene? Must I really choose? Haha. I really can't pick one. I loved, loved all their scenes. But I do recall even at 11, I was mesmerized by how mesmerized Uncas was by Alice when she was struggling to scale the rocky uphill in the beginning . THAT GAZE... I guess it was a teaser of what was to come. What aspect of Uncas and Alice's relationship is the most appealing to you? The fact that they never said much to each other yet understood each other implicitly and explicitly. That last scene at the cliff, where they shared that one last all-knowing look before an injured Uncas went on to continue to challenge Magua...is forever seared in my memory. Beautiful. Do you have a favorite Uncas and Alice trope? If so, what is it? I don't have one. What’s YOUR favorite fanfiction? 

As for my favourite Alice/Uncas fanfics, it would be Into The Forest and Second Chances. 

When did you first seen the movie? Have you read of the book? Let's see. I first saw the 1992 version of Last of the Mohicans after buying a copy of the movie when it first came out on VHS. At the time, I lived about an hours drive south of Lake George, NY, which is where the original Fort William Henry was located. I instantly fell in love with the movie, and being an avid hiker, it was easy for me to envision Uncas and Alice traveling through the frontier as I hiked along forest trails. As for the book, I read it once when I was in high school. It was a good story, but I nearly pulled my hair out trying to struggle through the way it was written! What was your first Uncas and Alice fanfiction? My first Uncas and Alice fanfiction was Second Chances. It was my first ever attempt at writing fiction, and I was so proud of it! At least until I reread it some time later, and saw how crude it was, and how many grammatical errors there were. That is why I decided to remove the original version from the FanFiction website, and post a rewritten version of it instead. The new Second Chances is almost complete at this point, with only two more chapters to go. Favorite character and why? Without a doubt, my favorite character is Uncas. His character was so beautifully portrayed by actor Eric Schweig, who brought the character to life for all of us. Uncas was a young man who had his whole life ahead of him. He was totally devoted to his father and brother Favorite part of the film?My favorite scene is when I watch the movie, is the ending credits. The music is hauntingly beautiful. And it is so sad to listen to it while the fog covered mountains pan by in the background. As I watch it, I think to myself, this is the land where Uncas once lived. He once traveled through those mountains, and his presence once filled the forest. This was his home. But now he's gone. And it always leaves me with a profound sense of loss. Uncas was totally devoted to his father and brother, to the point that he remained with them instead of settling down with a wife, which I believe he wanted to have. But he knew that marriage meant giving up the wandering lifestyle he loved, for one which meant settling down in a village, and I don't think he'd met a woman for whom he was willing to do that. Until he met Alice. For her, he was willing not only to give up his wandering life, but to give up his life altogether. Favorite Uncas and Alice scene? My favorite Uncas/Alice scene is when they look at each other up on the cliff after Uncas was cut across his abdomen. There were no words spoken between them, and none needed to be. Their faces spoke volumes. He knew then that he wouldn't be able to save her, and she didn't want him to die. It was an amazing performance, so beautifully done. What aspect of Uncas and Alice's relationship is the most appealing to you? What appeals to me about Uncas and Alice is how similar they are to each other. Both are quiet and unassuming, almost to the point of going unnoticed. I think they were kindred spirits, and I think Uncas saw that in her. Do you have a favorite Uncas and Alice trope? If so, what is it?As for a favorite Uncas/Alice trope. I'd say they represent the classic tragic lovers. 

What’s YOUR favorite fanfiction?As for my favorite fanfiction? I have so many, but one that stands out is The Red Horizon, by LadyOfGlencairn. It was so beautifully done, especially the three epilogues at the end. And my favorite author is most definetly Sullieyan. All of her stories are also favorites of mine. She has a way of capturing the true personalities of Uncas and Alice, even in her modern story. She both inspires me and humbles me with her talent. 

How do you handle, as a writer, how limited their interactions are?To me, the limited interaction between Uncas and Alice is a blank canvas waiting to be painted. It inspires me to wonder about what we didn't see. What happened between them during the trip to the fort. Did they talk? And what happened in the burial ground after the danger had passed? Uncas had just thrown himself on top of Alice with his hand clamped over her mouth. There had to have been some interaction between them after that. And what about at the fort? Supposedly, they were there for three days before it was evacuated. What did each of them do during that time? Did they meet up with each other? Surely Uncas would have been curious to know how she was doing. Especially since his brother was sparking up a romance with Alice's sister. That's what appeals to me about them. The mysterious missing pieces of their relationship. As a writer, their characters do not pose a challenge to me. On the contrary. They inspire me with countless new story ideas for them, including two upcoming trilogies, and something that might become a series. What do reviews mean to you? Do they matter?I am glad you asked about reviews. Reviews are the life blood of a fanfiction author. It lets us know what our readers think of all the hard work we put into our writing. And it is hard work, as anyone who has written FanFiction can tell you. In each story, the author is putting a part of themselves out there for their readers to see. As FanFiction authors, we spend hours, days, weeks, even months to produce these stories, juggling the time we spend writing around living our lives. Some authors are full time students, while others, like myself, work full time jobs. And we fit our writing into what spare time we have. It's not easy to take an idea and develop it into a multi chapter story. And during the writing process, we all at some point develop writer's block, which is so very frustrating. Finally, we produce something we are able to post, and we wonder, "will anyone like it?" We're not looking for an ego boost. We just want to know if all the blood, sweat and sometimes very real tears we put into our writing has created a story that is being enjoyed by those who read it. What keeps you coming back to the fandom? As for what keeps me coming back to the fandom? Part of it is the sense of community among the FanFiction authors. We support each other, and offer our advice, a good laugh, or maybe just a shoulder to cry on when a story is giving us trouble. I also enjoy the outlet it provides for me to develop my skills as a writer.