#but oh to have a friendship like aera and the squad....i too want to commit heinous deeds against my friends

[always-a-joyful-note]

On that note, you know?

I think the reason I enjoy Rapunzel and Eugene's whole ship dynamic is because it is EXACTLY the whole "I will not give up my dreams for romance but they're not in conflict anyway"....except that, at the same time....

It's like. Eugene and Rapunzel will absolutely give up their dreams for the other. They DID in fact, do that. However, they won't let each other do that...so they have to reach a compromise where their self-sacrificial natures can meet in the middle.

And not only that, really....what makes them such a fun couple to ship is because they kind of toe that line between fiction and reality for me (which the series actually did mostly right). They are instalove. They are a slow burn. They are what is commonly known as the perfect fairytale romance. They are working HARD for their relationship and going through their ups and downs. They would give up their dreams for the other. The nature of their relationship would never allow that to happen.

It's seriously just a fascinating construction of the classic fairytale storyline with the nature and meaning of what love and sacrifice are inserted into it.

Okay so I'm watching Fight for My Way and realising some things.

One is that I really, really enjoy it when you have a friendship that's so strong, you can commit small criminal acts against each other (sometimes, you just have to pinch your friend's nose until he gives up his seat on the bus to you. Or strangle your bff until she stops with the aegyo).

Another is that romance that's based off friendship where the two people have goals and dreams independent of each other, are just so.....special? It's like "I'm not choosing my goals or this romance. I'm not even making it about both. We're just people with dreams and lives and struggles and one of them happens to be this stupid love" (so far, anyway....sparks haven't fully fluttered yet and it's absolutely hilarious to watch them be so angry that the other is sparking The Feelings in them). And I'm not reallyyyyy into many romances (I tend to read a lot and a lot of romances where both are treated like people), but it really is kinda nice to see that

Also, I LOVE that wanting to be a spouse is treated a valid dream, as much as wanting to be an anchorwoman or mma fighter or whatever Jooman has going on.

Finally, I think that the biggest flaw in these "treat both of them like people" romances is that when you stick them in tropes (like the guys fighting over girl trope), it's gonna be awkward.

Either way, love the banter. Love the fact that they're bullying each other relentlessly. Dynamic is peak....