Defintion
Lavendershipping is the name for the ship between Malik Ishtar (Marik Ishtar) and Siegfried von Schroider (Zigfried von Schroeder) from Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters. It references both characters' use of lavender and shades of violet in their appearances/motifs.
History
It's impossible to say who first thought of it, but the ship name was allegedly coined by user nyami_rose1 on Livejournal sometime between 2007 and 2009. Due to the passage of time and the LJ Strikeout, the original comment no longer exists. But nyami_rose1 joined Livejournal in 2007 and the ship name first appeared on shipping lists in 2009, so the time frame is correct.Nyami_rose1 now goes by NyanbinaryRose, and is who created this website! :3
But Why?
Why not?! But really, this ship began as a result of a roleplay adventure back on Livejournal where Malik and Siegfried were often interacting with each other and showed compatibility. While they never became romantically involved in that RP, it set the stage for further exploration of the dynamic.Dynamics
There are several takes on this ship, all fascinating in their own way, but they all tend to lie on a scale from Wholesome to Toxic. Let's explore the extremes:
Wholesome
Who knows how they met, perhaps at a tournament or at a nightclub, but Siegfried finds himself enraptured by Malik. As their relationship develops, they begin to relate on the pressures of expectation, and the shortfalls of duty. Malik's origins as a Tombkeeper left him with scars both physical and mental. While Siegfried can't relate to the intensity, he knows full well the cost of obsession and the burden of upholding a family legacy. Their shared desire to break free leaves room for healing, and love.
Toxic
Malik is an enchanting creature of darkness, a gorgeous monster forged by his father. Siegfried is always devoted to beauty and tolerant of uncouth methods. Together they feed each other's worst habits: Siegfried can indulge in his obsessive nature, and Malik finally has someone who sees him for the Pharoah- no, the god- he is.