#or queer platonic obv since that's what I'm going for

[cheruv-ii]

My Opinions on Bengia(+A borderline character analysis of CT Ben)

(Obviously, JWCT s3 Spoilers ahead)

Okay, a couple disclaimers before we get into this:

•I like Gia. This has less to do with her as a character and moreso how the relationship itself comes into play.

•I try not to let any hcs/bias get in the way here, there obv may be some because that's just how the human brain works, but this is mostly my opinion with any of those biases put aside.

•This is my opinion as someone whose favourite character has been Ben since the day s1 dropped, and therefore has put a lot of time into "analyzing" him.

Okay, into the opinions.

To put it blunt, I don't like Bengia, wow shocker lmao, but my reasoning is more than just basic hcs.

For starters, when they're together they feel like different people to when they're apart, yeah, couples can seem different together versus with others, but its to the point that their relationship feels like an act to me, something they're trying to make seem perfect and over the top. It feels disingenuous to me. Comparing their "chemistry" to other characters with Ben feels very flat, it feels unnatural. Once again, trying not to let biases get in the way, but fuck dude, Benji's chemistry this entire show has felt more natural (which is a rant in itself), as was Benrius in s1.

I would like what they had in terms of matching each other's freak more if it was platonic, tbh, they just both seem like they're pretending they're something they're not when it comes to a romantic relationship and I don't fw that.

As for how Ben's writing comes into this, this entire show he's been played as a joke character, he hasn't been taken nearly as seriously as the other's, in terms of his trauma, his emotions, how he's allowed to feel about everything going on, etc. The closest things we got to him being taken seriously were his panic attack in s2(which— even that was played as a joke, dwrks writers, not everything to do with Ben needs to be funny !) And his fight with Kenji, which barely lasted and there was never a real, serious resolve, other than ig the plane crash and Kenji protecting Ben just to protect the egg, which I don't like, there was no actual conversation, it was just there, played as a joke, and then it was gone. In s3, when the egg hatches, he's emotional, which is valid, but it's for external reasons. When he has the talk with Gia, he's finally allowed to express some sort of emotion, but it's just to do with their relationship, and I do not like that one bit. This season he felt like he was played down to being Gia's boyfriend, their entire arc felt like watching that couple in the hallway blocking your locker make out and just knowing that as soon as the puppy love phase is over they're gonna break up.

Ben has trauma, so much of it, and yes, people grow up, however when you're ripped out of a moving monorail and face a near death experience, then proceed to NOT get therapy for it, it's still going to resurface as trauma, which we haven't seen at all in CT. I saw someone on twt say that CT feels like the writers never actually watched CC, just read the scripts or something and went from there, and I gotta say that to an extent, I agree. So many characters have had their personalities dumbed down to plot points, and Ben takes a major hit in that area.

Now aside from the character analysis and everything, I *really* hate how the queer relationship was treated, not simply because of the breakup, but because in order to highlight how badly yasammy were fighting, they almost always followed it up with/used it to follow up how "perfect" and happy the white, het passing couple was. I'm sorry, but that's just in poor taste. Using your poc wlw ship to make your m/f ship look better is gross, I'm sorry, like I could be that friend that's too woke but it just leaves a terrible taste in my mouth overall.

I have more opinions surrounding how this show treats queerness, but that's a rant for after s4 comes out to see if they can pull off a miracle and fix it, but for now that is my rant. Yk its bad when I prefer CC Kenlynn's writing over a ship.

[isa-ghost]

Would go crazy over any q!phil hc's, but may I request some about phil's harem I mean qsmp server polycule?

OHOHOHOHO YOU'RE INDULGING MY STUPID SILLY HAREM. YESSS.

Previous qPhil Headcanons

SO ANYWAY. QPHIL AND HIS INNATE TALENT FOR PULLING BAD BITCHES ON ACCIDENT.

Reiterating initial mentions of this for context:

--He's married to the Goddess of Death (Kristin) and Missa (a reaper). He's also fuckbuddies with Fit (no one can look at their interactions & tell me there's no homo there) and Etoiles. Strictly fuckbuddies; Fit has something blooming with Pac, and Etoiles is aromantic. --Everyone who Knows(tm) about the polycule has turned calling it a harem into an inside joke they only reference when Phil either isn't around or isn't paying attention enough to be like WHAT. --In fact, it's unfolded into a sort of joke folklore around Phil made up by the islanders closest to him that he has this inexplicable charm to him that makes any man-attracted person weak in the knees. (Baghera totally started it. Cellbit, Foolish, & Fit perpetuated it & it spread from there) --All this fruity silliness in mind, I have no fucking clue what queer label I'd slap on Phil, if one at all. Part of me wants to claim him as pansexual bc I'm Pansexual So Therefore So Is My Cubito + the way he'd explain how he experiences romantic & sexual attraction is exactly what I described *my* exp as in high school and my friend was like "yeah that's pansexual." But I also feel like Phil's the kind of guy to purposely not define his sexuality & remain an enigma both as a "mind your business" & a "It's Funny To Not Elaborate" thing. (As of rn I'm rolling with "he's pansexual but in a font you've never seen before")

S O

Obv Mrs. Goddess of Death Kristin came first, she's been with him since long before Quesadilla Island. Strangely enough, she can't recall too much prior to the island just like Phil, but there's no way the Feds know she exists let alone know how to fuck up the memory of a deity. But yeah, she was his first & is his ONLY romantic dynamic within his weird polycule

She's an avid fan of Phil being his best unintentional whore self with them nice ass shoulders on display all the time and that accidental man magnet charm. Loves watching him pull bitches nonstop without even realizing. And loves watching him be a total fruity dork with his besties. She knows if Phil was forced to choose ONE person out of the polycule to be monogamous with forever, he'd pick her. She's not worried at all about his yaoi island adventures

Next came Fit. Hough, what a man. They WERE, until recently, strictly fwb. They fucked nasty behind that gym and I'll die on that hill. The way they talk to each other sometimes? Big boy?? FitMC people are watching?? They fucked behind that gym. Their fwb was called off as soon as Fit got serious with Pac though. Phil was totally chill with it & actively encouraged it. He loves seeing Fit so invested in the romance he's got blooming. They're still more than friends, not lovers, but a secret third thing, the sexual aspect was just removed from the equation. Truly the most QPR of the polycule

Then came Missa. Oh Missa. Their dynamic IS platonic like Phil has stated & restated countless times, but Missa has a (not yet brought to Phil's attention) massive romantic crush on him. He hasn't spoken up yet to keep their relationship from getting rocky at all. But tbh that prob won't happen. They're platonic in the Kiss The Homies way. So what if they make out sometimes and are husbands? So what if they go on adventures that could be considered dates by some? They aren't a romantic relationship, even if Missa secretly kinda wants to be.

And finally, aromantic king Etoiles joined the fray. He and Phil started out as friends and that has Barely changed if at all, but sparring matches get a little too homoerotic sometimes and neither of them can resist the other when they're popping off extra hard. Things have. Escalated a few times. If yknow what I mean. Of all Phil's harem members polycule partners, he & Etoiles have absolutely ZERO emotional investment in the Spicy(tm) things they do together. It's simply a very intimate way of showing each other their respect & admiration for the other. What they have going on is a "*spanks you* good game, let's hit the showers team" kinda deal. They're the type of mfs to finish in bed then shake hands like "gg." Casual sex is >>>> to these two, but it happens waaay less between them than it did Phil & Fit, Fitza was habitual. Codebreakers is a once in a while thing

Btw once Fitpac gets more stable together and whatnot, Fitza could potentially reignite with Pac's consent. That's the key to healthy poly, all parties are informed & consenting. Pac would be like. An honorary harem member. He & Phil would have absolutely 0 intimate relations, they're strictly friends in the most basic sense of the word. They just also fuck the same guy (& would totally talk about it together if alone)

Phil sometimes tries to gauge if Missa only likes men or if he likes women too. If he does, he's going to ask if he'd like to hear about his lord & savior, Big Woman(tm).

Etoiles has 100% asked Phil who fucks the best out of the polycule bc like everything else, it's a competition & he Must win, he Must have the best dick game. This amuses Phil very much

*incoherent but clearly passionate noises about how Phil hasn't done anything spicy with any of the polycule in a hot second because of Ender King Situation stress*

GOD he wants to open up to them about it so bad. Like yeah he did w Fit that one time but he didn't go into detail and hasn't said anything since and bc Phil is an idiot that feels guilty easily, he doesn't want to tell Fit more atm bc he doesn't want to dampen Fit's high spirits or take away his time with Pac

OK BUT CONSIDER: POLYCULE GROUP EFFORT TO GET THROUGH TO ENDER KING POSSESSED PHIL AND HELP HIM FIGHT OFF EK'S INFLUENCE. OUGH.

Phil attracted all four partners with his raw skill and talent btw. If you even care. Literally was just going about his business being himself and it bagged him three dudes in addition to the literal goddess he already had

Although his feelings are platonic, Phil is attracted to Missa because Missa is a) the other father of his children and b) such a genuine and sweet person. And funny, even if a lot of the times the reason he's funny is bc he's like 2 seconds from having a stroke over whatever shit he missed hitting the fan this time

Phil is attracted to Fit bc. Well. That's FitMC of 2b2t, baby. Raw skill and talent sees raw skill and talent. Fellow anarchist. Also muscles. And that razor sharp stare. Fit's just dreamy as hell ok, let a man drool a little

Phil is attracted to Etoiles the same way he's attracted to Fit, HOWEVER, the reasoning is different. Etoiles has raw skill and talent, but it's the way he wields it and demonstrates it that makes Phil wanna act up. Also Etoiles is fucking hilarious. Who can resist a good sense of humor? Those dramatics make Phil swoon

[12neonlit-stage]

The day I first felt free like the wind - @2022sonelise