#beyond just romantic relationships

[psychologicalwarclaire]

Is this piece of classic literature actually gay or is the author so misogynistic that he wrote the men as characters who actually think and feel and make decisions, never considering that he could do the same with women, so of course we're going to see chemistry between the men because the women are nowhere near as deeply written?

[many-gay-magpies]

god what really gets me about dead boy detectives and what i think i love so much about the show and the relationships in it is that like. the romantic and sexual relationships aren't portrayed as being more unique or important than the platonic relationships. they're all just RELATIONSHIPS.

charles and crystal's attraction to each other and eventual hookup isn't this big end-all be-all relationship that shatter charles and edwin's friendship and draws charles' attention away from edwin; it's just a THING that happens. they're just two people that care about each other and happen to also be attracted to each other, and a hook-up happens, then they decide that neither of them are in the right place for it and it's nothing awful. crystal kisses charles, but it isn't some big spectacle of her declaring her love for him; it's just her saying goodbye and that she cares about him, like her hugs with niko and jenny and her handshake with edwin.

edwin realizes he loves charles romantically and tells him, and charles says he doesn't really love edwin romantically BACK, but it's okay, because they still love each other so much in so many other ways that this one tiny difference could never change them—and it doesn't!! they're still just as close, still care for each other just as much, still SHOW that care for each other just as much. their relationship didn't completely end because edwin loved charles in a way charles couldn't reciprocate, but at the same time it isn't "solved" by edwin getting over it, because there's nothing TO solve. it's just another type of love, added to everything that already exists between them. and they have LITERALLY FOREVER to figure out what it means.

the relationships between edwin & niko, crystal & niko, and crystal & edwin aren't given any less weight for being solely platonic, just as charles & crystal's relationship and edwin's feelings for charles aren't given (that much) MORE weight for being romantic. crystal and charles' conflict in the closet is about EDWIN, about how they're BOTH his friend and BOTH want to get him back; it has very little to do with the feelings between THEM, romantic or otherwise. similarly, the weight of charles' and edwin's relationship isn't diminished in the LEAST by charles not reciprocating the romantic side of his feelings (or SAYING he doesn't reciprocate, at least—we can all argue about the legitimacy of that in the notes).

i'm sure there are more examples than this, as well as probably some examples that CONTRADICT this, but like... by and large, it feels like dead boy detectives is a show where all the relationships are given equal weight regardless of platonic, sexual, romantic, or familial status, and as someone on both the asexual and aromantic spectrums who has struggled time and time again with shows casting out the importance of all other relationships in favor of prioritizing romance, that is INCREDIBLY refreshing to see.

[starryeyed-seer]

if you scroll down the next person to comment is also saying 'this isn't about them' and that person is me.

[crithaus]

Been seeing so many tweets abt it and I wanna get back on yonder soap box for a second cuz I have my own musings

I had always wondered if Vax would show up when Vex was drowning in Dalen's Closet and then when he didn't I wondered why and mused that barring the above table reasons of this being a game with set rules and Matt can't just deus ex machina their way outta all their scraps, that below table the Deal Vax had already made with RQ for Vex's safety was all the flexing she would allow him to do and then voila Vex comes back anyhow, and I think it's important to note that as Vex was dying Liam slipped out of Derrig's character, something he doesn't do much, and into Vaxbrain ("We had a deal, Matt.") to Express how unhappy he was that Vex was drowning and the deal he'd made was being routed and I think that's proof enough that Vax would if allowed absolutely come down there and rescue his family from any and all scrapes if he was able to,

Now with this latest episode, We saw Otohan bedecked Paragon's Call with RQ's symbols, we know Otohan has the poison that prevents you from being rezzed which is an affront to RQ's domain and position if I've ever heard one, we know the attack on Kiki was on purpose and possibly to get RQ's attention, get her looking and all, and this whole situation with Ludinus is the biggest threat yet faced to all the gods and all their domains,

And that's why she let Vax through the gates this time, just in time to wrest that permadeath dagger away from the heart of the love of his life. I don't think Vax could have been there without the requisite chips falling where they did, without RQ letting him, I think the thought that he busted through all of those gates unprompted and w/o permission is a little disingenuous because Vax would want to do that for any and every one of his family members every day all the time forever, but it makes perfect sense that as the Raven Queen's champion he would be sent down to stop Ludinus from freeing Predathos and it makes perfect sense for Vax to veer off from his official business, to shirk his responsibility and use the opportunity given to go to her, to do such a grand and meaningful gesture for his one true love, and tl sound so unclouded and present while doing so, I mean

This is Vax we're talking about. The guy who looked death (death herself both times y'know, Otohan and her dagger and RQ, two sides of a coin or something) right in the eye, twice, clutching his girls to him and telling that nigh all powerful entity to fuck right off cuz they can't have these girls he loves more than life? Peak Vax behavior. To know he's been watching Keyleth for so long finally seized his moment to help her, and did so with gusto? True love. The purest kind, the Vax-iest kind. Not even death can stop his love for her, for Vex, for Vox Machina.

And I think after this all is over they need to renegotiate the terms of Vax's service so he can stay back past the gates with the rest of his family cuz RQ is a stingy bitch and should have been MUCH laxer with gate-crossing privileges, I mean Vax has more than earned it now

[incesthemes]

"their relationship is romantic" "their relationship is familial" "their relationship is platonic" you're thinking too narrow. their relationship goes beyond labels. the family is inherently queer. their platonic love is romantic. the erotic is familial. each one is the other and the other is them

[lloydfrontera]

no because i can't believe it took them this long to bring thia up but it doesn't matter i'm just delighted it got included at all!!

javier!! actually finding lloyd funny!! and being so mad about it!!

it's just. it's delightful. it's such a small and yet important part of their relationship, how despite his best efforts to the contrary javier does find lloyd funny and compelling and genuinely fun to be around. lloyd makes javier smile and laugh more often than anyone else in the world!! being around him is not,, a painful chore he wants to get over with or something he dreads at all times. he's annoyed about it but he actually likes him!! he throws a tantrum because he can't help but be charmed by him even when he doesn't want to be!!!

i just. i love them. they're so fun <33

[rinbylin]

君终如日光之芒 ... 却无法再伴君同行。 // 君武勇之处世所罕见 ... 然终有负君之所望。

me for months: i will forever be bugged by the oddly intimate manner of speech in lxy's farewell letter - particularly in the way llh somehow ended up addressing dfs as 君 jun

revisiting the letter qwm wrote to lxy in which she addresses him as 君 jun: OKAY...

[filmmakerdreamst]

They get it

[recitedemise]

𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵. That said, when speaking of his paramour with the mention of Mystra, it is not a slight. After all, Mystra, the goddess, wasn't just his lover; she, as she'll remain, controls the Weave.

As a scholar of magic for all his life, Gale is thoroughly enamored with it. He's always had the Weave, casting spells and enchantments for as far as his long memory goes, and there's no power on earth that can pale that devotion. When Gale says Mystra's name, in love, it is never with yearning. When he tells his lover that he forgets his goddess when he stands beside them, he means quite literally that he foregoes his faith. He doesn't mention her like a quality benchmark with which they've somehow surpassed, but to punctuate how wholly he has fallen for them. With a new, honest love, he is turned entirely from Mystra. In fact, so utterly bewitched, he's like a born again man. He isn't besotted by his goddess, held stalwart in her sway and seemingly, abundantly, and frustratingly stubborn. After that disastrous relationship, I promise you, Gale spares not a single thought toward her. She might have control of the Weave, and as such, stands still his only patron deity, but his new, doting lover? They become something of a new religion for him; he is most devoted, taken by, and so loyal to them.

He does not see Mystra. Do not assume he still feels for her.

He's a man of one love, and they will have all of him.

[atlasisntdead]

Can people stop asking dumb questions like "Which one of these women is the best romantic fit for Joe Goldberg?" none of them. Literally that's the whole point no one is a "fit" for Joe except for jail. How do some people miss the point so badly. I don't understand.

[houndfaker]

i dont think ive flat out drawn kikumitsu before but the beast awoke tonight i guess

[themotleymirage]

Convincing Glass Heart moments as a member of the newly converted:

Suvi writing her name on Ame's hand and taking the time to tell her why she chose her name cloak, forehead to forehead. Choosing to tell Ame about the worst night of her life for the first time in that moment.

Suvi entering the bar and being greeted by Ame and Eursolon, calling Eursolon brother while thanking them but calling Ame by her name. And I know they were in front of people and have been maintaining that Suvi and Eursolon are related, but they were doing this by allowing the wizards to make assumptions and neither confirm nor deny. Both Suvi and Ame repeatedly call Eursolon their brother behind closed doors, to themselves, and each other, but refer to each other as best friends despite having spent more time together that summer than either spent with Eursolon.

Suvi choosing to bring Ame with her to cool down after overhearing other wizards shit-talking Eursolon, when Suvi herself has acknowledged that Ame doesn't always have great impulse control.

Suvi's choice to avoid "she's just a friend" -ing Ame while clearing the air with Silver, and instead explaining it in terms of who Ame is felt very significant to me. "Ame is a witch, and apparently that means witch things can happen at strange moments."

Ame and Suvi's various heart-to-heart chats over the ep at various levels of sobriety mostly consisting of them reassuring each other. Suvi literally walking to her hookup thinking about Ame and wishing she'd had more time to talk (as Ame goes to sleep hugging Grandma Ren's shawl that smells like Suvi's incense) took me out.

Even in the previous ep when Eursolon told Ame that Suvi had been by her bedside, after Ame had already recognized Suvi's presence by her smell???

Hey Suvi girl, I know you're getting great sex from a pretty man but I think you're maybe in love with your girl next door witch friend

[beevean]

Me having a normal one: OUHGUOHGOUOUOGHOGUOUGH the way Hector speaks so softly to Julia when she asks him to free Isaac of his curse... he apologizes for getting angry at her (hint hint) and empathizes with her...... he bows like a gentleman...........

why is the residential gigachad so fucking cute

[citnamora]

Growing up is realizing you don't hate shipping, you just really wish the execution of it was less amatonormative

[willowbirds]

I want to specify about me shipping Callowmoore!

Similar to how I shipped Imogen and Laudna Queer Platonically, I also ship Fearne and Ashton Queer Platonically. However, unlike Imodna where I ALSO shipped it romantically, I DO NOT ship Callowmoore romantically.

Fearne has always come off to me as Aro or not wanting to be in monogamous/dedicated relationship, and Ashton has really seemed like he doesn’t want to be in a relationship.

My interpretation of the ship stems from their already existing one. They have a playful stealing contest, they both deeply care for each other and missed each other when they were separated, just your good ol platonic relationship.

After the most recent episode, when Fearne nonchalantly jumped into lava to go help Ashton and Ashton saying that Fearne should be the one to bare the power of the fire Titan, their relationship still does not feel romantic to me in any way.

The two are a duo, there is no denying that, and their relationship will definitely grow with them sharing a similar power, but I highly doubt it will be romantic and I hope it won’t be.

Imogen and Laudna really came across as a genuine lesbian romance, while Fearne and Ashton don’t feel like a relationship that would come across as anything other then platonic. Unless the players want the characters to be a romantic couple (and based on how Ashley is playing Fearne and Tal with Ashton it doesn’t feel that way to me) these characters are perfectly fit for an open QPR.

As an AroAce, although I am really happy Imogen and Laudna got together, I really do wish we got a QPR with some of the characters. It is probably just me projecting onto Fearne, but I do really hope that her and Ashton’s relationship stays platonic.

[butchford]

Funny as fuck having a headcanon that's kinda part of your fundamental read of a character but if you see someone else saying that shit without explaining it in the wild you raise an eyebrow.