Helloooo, I saw your posts about VaniGrey week!!!!
I would like to take part in it, but this is my first time dealing with relationships with Vanica and Greyπππ
Can you pls explain their chemistry and history or send a link to a post where this is explained?πππππ
I love Vanica sososososooo much and I usually like any content with herππ₯Ή
Hi there! I'm happy you're interested in these two! It took me a little while to kind of figure out how I was going to explain VaniGrey because they are a bit out of left field, aren't they? You would think I'd know them inside out because I birthed this ship, but they're still quite the enigma. But I will do my best to break down the main dynamics and chemistry, using a few excerpts I've picked out from fics I've published/am writing, to explain a bit of their history and what's going on with them. Buckle up, because this is a long one!
Of course, due to the fact that they've literally never met, this is a ship that lends itself really well to all kinds of AUs, so there are some common themes but also some differences between versions depending on the context. The thing that always sticks out most, no matter what world they're in, is that VaniGrey is very much a case of opposites attract! I'll share an excerpt from a modern AU fic I wrote (called Opposites Attract) that neatly explains what kind of dynamic this often results in for them and why it works:
A common theme is that Vanica's insistence on pushing Grey's limits (because she'd never date a weak woman) helps her confidence and self-esteem, while Grey is always watching Vanica's back and helping her out whenever she's being reckless. The fact that they are so different is what brings them together. They help each other out.
Another common thread is POWER. Because of course this is Vanica we're talking about. Canonically, the only thing she's interested in/attracted to is strength. Now, canon Grey doesn't tend to use her magic for destructive purposes, but there is no denying that she has one of the most powerful magic types in Black Clover, since theoretically she can do literally anything. In fics I've written that involve the canon universe and its magic system, it is Grey's magic and its potential that Vanica notices first. I'll show you two excerpts from Herald of Megicula, a canon-divergent AU where Grey is Vanica's devil, where you can see this interest in Grey's magic and in bringing out its more destructive potential:
Even without Black Clover's magic system, I also have another AU (depicted in the fics Glass Slippers and We'll Write Our Own Stories) where Grey is instead a shapeshifting eldritch horror from outer space. Though she is just as sweet and kind as she is in canon, Vanica's attraction to her stems from the innate sense of danger and vulnerability that comes from putting her life in the hands of something that is far deadlier and more powerful than any human. She likes the feeling of the adrenaline, you see. I have here another excerpt:
And this interest in Grey's power translates to interest in Grey herself and an ability to see beauty in the unconventional, which is really good for Grey's self-esteem. Even though Vanica is largely thinking of her own entertainment in these cases, it is indirectly beneficial to Grey. From the same AU, see here how it's reassuring to have Vanica so intrigued by her and lacking the fear that other humans would have, while Grey struggles to find her place in the world:
Of course, they do have clashes arising from their very different personalities, which is perfectly encapsulated by this piece I'm writing for VaniGrey Week:
Vanica is ultimately a free spirit, and Grey will never be able to rein her in. Grey stays anyway because she is supremely patient, perhaps more than she should be.
And even when they're at odds, there are times when they each find they really need the qualities they find annoying. Vanica can be really stubborn and reckless, and Grey can be really insistent on playing it safe and fussing over her like a mother hen, so they can drive each other up the wall - but check out this near-death experience in Herald of Megicula where they're suddenly relying on the qualities they find the most annoying to keep Vanica alive:
So basically, in all of these cases it boils down to: Vanica's interested in Grey because she's strong (even if Grey herself doesn't realise it), Grey finds that Vanica's belief in her potential is really good for her self-esteem, and their differences can be a source of friction but can also complement each other in times of crisis.
But these are mostly AUs where they START on good terms. With the exception of Herald of Megicula, I don't tend to explore the toxic yuri potential, and even in Herald they can have perfectly nice moments with each other. If someone were to, say, do a perfectly canon-compliant version of the ship, their relationship would no doubt be an absolute trainwreck. Since this is a ship that will only ever exist in AUs, there are all sorts of directions to go in because we have zero precedent for how they would interact save for what we can pick up from their personalities and their interactions with other characters/potential ship partners.
I've described MY interpretation of their chemistry and dynamic, but there will of course be others who disagree. You yourself might choose to go in a different direction if you disagree with my take on them. That's the beauty of fandom - we all have different ways of interpreting the same characters, and we all have different ideas for them.
I've done my best to give some background and explain what I personally see in them and explore with them, but ultimately we can do anything we want with them so I can only suggest you go where your heart takes you with this! I do hope this was helpful for providing a starting point to launch off of, and let me know if you have any more queries and I'll do my best to answer them. I hope you enjoy VaniGrey Week, and have a great day!
