#also I do still love the idea of Heathcliff and Sherry being friends that move towards romantic partners over time

[throughpatchesofviolet]

I've been doing a lot of thinking, lately, and I ended up reflecting on my identity a bit, yesterday--mainly through Sherry, since she's my conduit for self exploration and reflection, but specifically in a situation where she's trying to explain herself to Heathcliff.

Specifically, I was thinking about how I experience romantic attraction, and how Sherry--even just based on her source material--is very much some flavor of aromantic and asexual. I don't really use any labels, and neither does she, but that's because I have had negative experiences with them.

Anyway, something about Sherry trying to explain to Heathcliff that she doesn't really feel romantic love is very cathartic to me. I project onto her a lot, so she's maybe had an inkling of romantic attraction once or thrice (one of her little crushes was Hubert, to keep it in line with my canon lore), but it's never gone anywhere, and usually fades pretty quickly.

I feel Heathcliff wouldn't really understand what she means--he'd have a hard time wrapping his head around someone not feeling (romantic) love, especially since he's known that feeling pretty much all his life--but he'd also be the first to defend her from anyone who thinks her lack of interest in romance is "weird." Even if he doesn't completely understand her feelings, he cares about Sherry, and he knows how it feels to be treated differently because of who he is, so why wouldn't he stick up for her?

Like I said above, Sherry doesn't use labels--she simply knows romance isn't something she needs to be satisfied with herself. Yes, she may eventually find someone she feels genuine, long-lasting romantic attraction towards (Heathcliff--much, much later on), but she's come to terms with the fact that, if she doesn't, she'll be okay on her own.

[jils-things]

Wait, wait--I forget you're my Pokémon Mutual™ (/lh) so I could maybe mention my Pokémon AU for Heathlock ... I base my stuff more on the games (as you probably know from our past convos), so my current AU for them is based on Scarlet/Violet andnis the only reason I'm getting through the game-- (the graphics and stuff can be a bit rough on me, unfortunately--it's because of my bad eyes ;;)

ANYWAY. I love the idea of Sherry and Heathcliff attending the academy and accidentally ending up traveling together during the self-guided adventure portion of the year ... Sherry's goal is to just catch Pokémon, while Heathcliff is ... uh ... coasting. He's only really passing home ec and I think it's cute because he ends up going with Sherry since he has nothing else to do, but she helps him catch new Pokémon and Heathcliff helps her by making sandwiches.

Sherry's team is still a WIP, but her main Pokémon is Pachirisu!! Also thinking Meowscarada since Sherlock is a master of disguise, and it has that mask ... it's a fun Pokémon, too. Heathcliff has Mightyena, of course, but he also gets a Maschiff!! And a few others I can't remember off the top of my head asdfghjkl ( <- is at work).

OH. And I know you like Ishy, so she and her friend Queequeg are in this AU, too!! I found out Dondozo's shiny is white, so my friend and I joke their goal is to find the White Dondozo (since their literatary source is Moby Dick and that was about hunting a White Whale).

Sorry--this is random but I have been thinking of playing more, after school gets out ... I miss the AU and imagining Heathcliff frantically doing the quizzes and midterms in-game asdfghjkl

~ throughpatchesofviolet 🪻

'TIS I, YOUR LOCAL MUTUAL IN THE GAME WE ALL KNOW 🔥🔥 always a pleasure to see you pop here 😋 HEHEHEH HALLOOO

adorable au actually???? love how they just eventually go along with each other and providing mutual benefits to each other. that's honestly really adorable and most definitely sustainable as its a self-guided experience. wouldn't hurt to have company and help around... 🥺

IMMEDIATELY LOVED THE MEOWSCRADA REASON THAT'S SO CLEVER 😭😭 definitely the trickery type. love that. i wanted to suggest a few mons for your team maybe but all i can think about is a stoutland because pokemas steven has a sherlock inspired skin and... yes he has a stoutland as his pair HSHSHAJAAKKAAHS AND KNOWING THAT SHERRY'S BASED OFF OF SHERLOCK... I couldn't help it 😖 /lh but moving on - heath with the dog mons!!! love that! the mightyena fits so well (dare i say, looks like him too? /pos). I'd love to see the rest of the team you come up with, especially for sherry!

ANDB OUSHGFSIGS MY JAWS DROPPED THATSSO CLEVER!!! shiny dondozo being the "moby dick" figure for ishmael is so?!?! bro that's so smart 😭 i can imagine her being like... wanting to find that shiny dondozo.... looking super determined about it plss that's so. 😖 i love her... /p

heathcliff sounds like he'd struggle big time in the midterms, that's not to say he's not smart but he probably wasn't prepared ... im cheering for you best friend 😭😭😭🙏🙏