#it's late and i'm tired and emotional about cockles

[lulu-zodiac]

how do we know that it's not platonic? because jared and jensen's friendship is platonic

EXACTLY. It's just the same as how we know Cas and and Dean's relationship isn't platonic because Cas and Sam's is platonic.

So, we all know Jensen is super close to both of them, but the relationship he has with Jared is completely different to the one he has with Misha - and, like you say, comparing the way Jensen relates with both of them really illuminates the non-platonic nature of his relationship with Misha.

Here are some important big differences I've noticed:

Jensen and Jared have a lot of banter. They mess about with each other onstage and make outlandish innuendos and suggestive comments. But Jensen and Misha? Jensen and Misha flirt. They make heart eyes at each other and quietly rile each other up and tease each other and touch each other entirely more than necessary. There's an intensity, a sexual chemistry to the way they interact that is ENTIRELY absent from the affection between Jensen and Jared.

There's also a big difference in the kind of intimacy Jensen has with Jared versus the kind of intimacy he has with Misha.

Jensen and Jared hug and clap each other on the back and are generally quite physically affectionate with each other, but not the way Jensen is with Misha is entirely different.

Jensen seems to touch Misha just because he wants to, wants to be close to him. Most of the times Jensen touches Misha are entirely unnecessary, completely subconscious; there's a kind off automatic reflexiveness to them that shows physical intimacy is a fundamental part of their relationship - in a way that just isn't the case for Jensen's relationship with Jared. Tellingly, Jensen also often gets super self-conscious after touching Misha in public in a way he never does around Jared, showing again how entirely different his dynamic with Misha is compared to his dynamic with Jared.

(I mean, look at this and tell me it's not classic having-a-massive-crush-on-someone-and-panicking-behaviour)

I think this parallel great way to see the wildly non-platonic overtones of Misha and Jensen's relationship, because Jensen and Jared have SUCH a close friendship. They've worked together for over a decade and grown up together and lived together, they live in the same city and their families are close. They clearly love each other a whole lot and have played super important roles in each other's lives.

Thanks to Jensen's friendship with Jared, we know what Jensen looks like in a close platonic relationship, the way he behaves. And it is ENTIRELY different to the kind of quiet, deep intimacy Jensen has with Misha. Although it's incredibly clear that both men mean the world to Jensen, the way he relates with Misha is so profoundly different to the way he relates with Jared. And I think, honestly, it's perfectly clear why they have such a unique dynamic...

Honestly I could write a whole goddamn essay on this, but I feel like I've rambled about it enough already lol. Thank you for your ask and giving me the opportunity to talk about one of my favourite topics!