#platonic (mostly?) male and female friendships

[superkooku]

The idea of mentioning Asclepius and Atalanta probably came from my posts, lol.

I'm a bit more skeptical and vocally voiced my preference for the "canon" relationships in multiple posts.

But I kinda agree with your point and can completely see where you're coming from.

Personality if the crackships are funny and/or make sense thematically, I'm ok with them. EXCEPT if the figure is explicitly virgin or monogamous (seeing Athena or Hippolytus shipped with someone, Hera cheating on Zeus... NOPE).

For example, I can see where the Polyidus x Asclepius idea could come from. They're both medicine enthusiasts who like snakes and have a link with prophecy (the former is a seer and the latter the son of the prophecy god).

In fact, they swap roles according to sources. It's so much of a coincidence that I headcannon Asclepius had something to do with Polyidus finding the cure to resurrect the dead.

Maybe he transformed into a serpent or gave the serpent the herb for Polyidus. Because a random-ass snake putting some herbs in its mouth CAN'T literally undo Thanatos' work, I refuse to believe that 😂. An animal randomly accomplishing a miracle, without divine intervention or something, never even happens anywhere else in Greek mythology.

So yeah, it's less out of pocket.

Asclepius being shipped with Atalanta made me upset but mostly because of specific context. Thinking about it, it isn't THAT bad or even this book's worst flaw.

But, in the specific retelling I'm reading, the randomness of it is also mixed with a personal pet peeve of mine : that a deep and affectionate male and female friendship tends to mean "future romance" That's why I'm so upset about it.

Idk, I just prefer seeing Asclepius with his doctor wife. Plus people actually have flexibility to invent her a personality since she's a minor character. And there are a few other choices for Atalanta.

Asclepius x Atalanta (or x Polyidus) could work as a thing before Epione but I don't see the retelling randomly cancelling on the couple it advertised, not even for myth accuracy. Especially since Epione isn't a popular figure. That's not how these kinds of stories usually work, they have to be endgame.

Perseus X Medusa is 1000 times worse to me, I won't deny it, because he killed her AND that's actually an insult to the beautiful romance with Andromeda

Also, if you want to be insane, come on ! At least dig deep enough ! Even the original sources (Achilles x Medea) and a fricking Google search accident can make more creative mythology crackships than that.

And ofc, I criticize the ship, not the shippers, I still respect them, they do what they want to do, bla bla bla.

(Also, Pasiphae cheating on Minos is a really ironic concept when we see how she cursed him for when he cheats on her with other women 😂😂)

tl;dr : I'm fine with discussing mythology crackships that could make sense, can be inserted in the timeline or are so insane it's funny and... platonic friendship between men and women as a focus point is underrated.

sometimes i gotta lock in and remember that I'm not even a mythology purist, I'm actually quite ok with crackships. i guess when the crackship or fanship gets too popular it becomes annoying as fuck or nonsensical. or peoples lust for money and using crackships to pursue that audience without caring for mythology. if a crackship becomes the main ship, its not a crackship and it sucks. Basically, I don't even really care if Atlanta's being shipped with Asclepius lmao. and I like those two characters. but I do care if Medusa is being shipped with perseus.

shout out to my personal ship ideas

Polyidus x asclepius pasiphae x Daedalus oh and danae x medusa

[jar-of-maise]

incorrect quotes with my new fav trio

starring wriothesley, clorinde and neuvillette bc i said so

Wriothesley: What do you think Neuvillette will do for a distraction? Clorinde: They’ll probably, like, make a noise or throw a rock. That’s what I would do. *Building explodes and several car alarms go off* Clorinde: ... or he could do that.

...

Wriothesley: How's the sexiest person here~? Neuvillette: I don't know, how are they~? Wriothesley: I- Clorinde, from across the room: I'm doing great, thanks!

...

Clorinde: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, Wriothesley? Wriothesley: … No. Neuvillette: I do! Clorinde: I know, Neuvillette. Neuvillette: I’m sad! Wriothesley: We know, Neuvillette

...

Neuvillette, to Wriothesley and Clorinde: *holding knife out in front of them* Are you or are you not an enemy of the people?! Wriothesley: ... Clorinde: ... Wriothesley: That is such an open-ended question. Clorinde: Yeah, it really depends on a lot of different factors-

...

Wriothesley: We need a diversion. I say Neuvillette gets naked. Neuvillette: No. Clorinde: Who are we trying to distract again?

...

Clorinde, at Neuvillette: Would you like to stay for dinner? Wriothesley, from the kitchen: Would you like to stay forever!?!

...

Clorinde: Ooh, somebody has a crush Wriothesley: Pfft, I don’t have a crush on Neuvillette I just think they’re cool, it’s not like I stay up at night thinking about them. *Later that night* Wriothesley, very much awake: Uh oh.

...

Neuvillette: There's no way they like me back. Clorinde: Wriothesley would throw himself in front of a moving car for you. Neuvillette: Wriothesley would throw himself in front of a moving car for fun.

...

Neuvillette: Why is everyone so obsessed with top or bottom? Honestly, I’d just be excited to have a bunk bed. Clorinde: Clorinde: I'm gonna tell them. Wriothesley: Don't you dare.

...

Wriothesley: Is there a cactus where your heart should be? Clorinde: What’s up your ass this morning! Neuvillette: *walks in* ...Hey. Clorinde: Hmm… nevermind. Wriothesley: WAIT NO!

...

Wriothesley: Do you cook? Neuvillette: I made a cake once. Clorinde: Yeah, it was good. Neuvillette: Really? Clorinde: Don’t make me lie twice, Neuvillette.

...

Neuvillette: Is letting someone win at chess sapiosexual bottoming? Clorinde: Can everyone in this godforsaken group please learn the skill called "Think Before You Speak"? Wriothesley: Ya know... it might be.

...

Clorinde: Did Wriothesley just tell me he loved me for the first time? Neuvillette: Yeah, he did. Clorinde: And did I just do finger guns back? Neuvillette: Yeah, you did.

...

Wriothesley: Where are my fucking keys? Clorinde: Wriothesley, Neuvillette is around, can you say it a little nicer? Wriothesley: May I ascertain the whereabouts of my FUCKING KEYS?!

...

*Neuvillette dies in a game with ships* Wriothesley: This ship is no longer a ship of love, it's a ship of vengeance, a gavel of justice against all that is wrong in the world, showing no mercy, as no mercy was shown to us. Wriothesley: The spark of love will now fuel the fires of destructive glory as I wage my war across the world with righteous fury. Clorinde: Legend has it that Neuvillette still haunts the ship, stealing my fucking drinks. Neuvillette: Of course I do.

...

Wriothesley: How do you tell someone that you wanna have sex with them in a polite way? Neuvillette: Excuse me [insert name]. Would you give me the honours of indulging in sexual activities with you? Clorinde: What the fuck is wrong with you two?

...

Clorinde: Hey, no, you stay out of this, this is between me and Wriothesley! Neuvillette: So Wriothesley knows about this? Clorinde, walking away: No, this is between me and me!

...

Neuvillette: *is wearing silk pants* How does this look? Wriothesley: Like its slips on and off really easily. Neuvillette: Wriothesley: No, I didn't mean it like that- Clorinde: We know what you meant.

...

Clorinde: What have you done with Neuvillette? Wriothesley: Nothing. Why, do you think I should?

...

Neuvillette, gardening: Hey, can you bring me the hoe? Wriothesley: Yeah, sure. *A few minutes later* Wriothesley: Here you go. Neuvillette: Wriothesley: Clorinde: Why am I here?

...

Wriothesley: I’m this close to falling in love with Neuvillette. Clorinde: Your fingertips are touching. Wriothesley: Exactly.

...

Neuvillette: Would you take a bullet for me? Wriothesley: ...yes? *Clorinde angrily burst into the room* Neuvillette: *running away* Great, thanks!

guys i love them a healthy amount i swear. NOW DIE ON THIS HILL WITH ME

PART II is now up!

[fabled-lady-twilla]

Twilla's Ever Growing ShigaDeku Fanfiction Recommendation List

Before diving in, please be advised that this list has everything from platonic friendship, soft and fluffy romance, omegaverse fics, problematic or dead dove content, fantasy, scifi, and horror fics, some fem Izuku and fem Shiga, and of course, plenty of smut. I'm open to reading (mostly) anything as long as I think it's well-written and it's something I find interesting or compelling. These fics are just the ones I've found so far, and eventually more will be added.

Please read the warnings on the fics themselves! All of the following recommendations can be found on AO3. I hope you enjoy! 😊

Queerplatonic Friendship

FGAP (Four Games about Pain) by 13thStep

reconcile by whatagoodegg

Cherry Milkshakes by smol_bird

Marks and Ties by GrowingAHead (shelleyk0503)

ShandMan18 by ShotoTodorhoeki

Rebuilt Anew by em_proxy

it's all fun and games till somebody falls in love by orphan_account

The Push And Pull Of Death And Life (But Which Is Worse Depends On Your Perspective) by Otaku6337

Some Degree of Romance

Baby Spice by MidnightTrashGoblin

Logical Ruse by AngeliaDark

Ask me if you dare by Niftyhope

Losing Definition by LittleLady95

Reach for me. by Lubylu1989

Lovers of Lost Dimensions by miss_nighteye (terryh)

A Home Within The Light by MissMidnightsPlace

Lusus Naturae by TenkonoTama

answer me. by supercrunch

To Depend on the Enemy by AMedicalMistake

What the Heart Wants by erza_mikazuki

Sleepwalking (When You're Gone) by ReadingToMusic

Total Simp Behaviour by ReadingToMusic

Mind-melting by ReadingToMusic

Red Ledger by AdoxographicGrim

What Baking Can Do by ACafeofSandandBones

Resthaven by StarsGarters

Don’t give strangers on the internet your name (you might fall in love with them) by IchiroIsCoolGuy

Don’t give strangers on the internet your name (you might want to marry them) by IchiroIsCoolGuy

Dead Dove, Problematic, or Smut

Wicked Ties by A_Single_Cactus (Dub-con)

Push and Pull by A_Single_Cactus (Dub-con)

good boy by a_sentimental_man (Dub-con)

Prince and Pauper by 13thStep (Obsession)

Hatakikomi by 13thStep (Captivity)

Made for me by overwhore (Captivity)

Corrosion by ReadingToMusic (Corruption)

Step It Up by AdoxographicGrim (Step-siblings)

Omegaverse

How to Court a Broken Omega by StarsGarters

Changes by A_Single_Cactus

“Can’t You See That You’re Lost?” by DerpressoResso

It's Called Public Service by AdoxographicGrim (Mild Dub-con)

Dear Agony by miss_nighteye (terryh) (Dub-con)

praying mantis by adipocere (Non-con, probably the darkest fic)

Adventure, Scifi, Fantasy, Horror

What Grows Here by Aravis

The Last Dragon by celebisaur

Castaway by StarsGarters

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by StarsGarters

Hidden in Plain Sight by A_Single_Cactus

Female Izuku + Male Tomura

According to Persephone by MamaDonovan (Very Dub-con)

Queen of the Underworld by MamaDonovan

Beautiful Disaster by miss_nighteye (terryh)

Female Izuku + Female Tomura

tell me lies, lies, beautiful lies by miss_nighteye (terryh)

i’m yours to keep by miss_nighteye (terryh)

A Familiar Sensation by A_Single_Cactus

Sad or Tragic Ending

and my one true love called me a monster by orphan_account

Nothing Else in the World but One Another by tristeza

Let me know if you have a recommendation to add! 💚💚💚

[blackynsupremacy]

black!chloe sullivan: kelly rowland

x

clark kent: tom welling

note and disclaimer: if you don’t know i love the ship between clark kent and chloe sullivan in smallville. their relationship is so complex, yet it’s comforting and raw. i was having a conversation with @yugiohio, we agreed that if pete ross wasn’t casted as an african american, we thought that chloe’s role would’ve been filled with a poc actress to add ✨diversity✨. let me tell you chloe’s bob, clothing style, personality, and chemistry with clark were off the chain. i felt deep in my soul she would’ve been black (my opinion/head canon) and her character would’ve had some substance. so we came up with the hc for black!chloe.

even though chloe’s character is portrayed by a white actress and i love her too! she falls in that sad trope of (mostly poc) female best friend of a male mc that’s written to be undateable to him even though she’s known him for years and she falls for him because they have been through so much in life together as it is. with that type of friendship and trust, there’s gonna be some feelings that are beyond platonic! then that line is crossed and it fails miserably or that line is never thought of because the mc would be considered out of that female character’s league because she is a poc…that’s where the ball is dropped sadly.

so in conclusion:

this is a HEADCANON/AU/WHAT IF! if you don’t like it, get off my blog. i pay the bill on this phone and i’m gonna say what i’m going to say. ofc ik chloe sullivan isn’t black canonically, neither is pete ross in the comics, so i don’t wanna hear that shit. stay tuned because i got more ocs and hcs coming.

[epickiya722]

Where does that weird characterization of Izuku being a whiny nice guy incel even comes from anyway?

Just because he is kind that doesn't mean he's constantly doing that out of malice to get into a girl's pants, that's literally the antithesis of Izuku's whole ass character.

People say no one is against boy/girl friendships but they can't even handle platonic Iz/och as a concept.

I wish I knew where that came from, Anon! Actually on second thought, no the heck I don't.

I really hate that, just in general for these kind of characters, how some people will flip Izuku's niceness into something else that is entirely not him.

Oh, he's nice? Pushover.

Wrong, you're wrong.

He's nice? Trying to get into a girl's pants.

Disgusting, how dare you.

Seriously, they can't handle nice characters like Izuku without twisting them into some OC with the same name and completely misinterpreting the story.

Those same people as you said can't even handle M/F pairs being friends. They whine about same sex relationships and "people can't see them as friends" but BEHOLD! Here they are losing the damn mind over a canon friendship between a male character and a female one.

They also act as if people are stopping them from shipping a girl and a guy. They whine about people shipping characters of the same gender (mostly males) and mischaracterizing them. Yet turn around and do the same thing with characters of different genders! Projection, no better.

I guess they're mad that Horikoshi didn't make their "Deku Harem" concepts canon.

[waitlexist]

anyway I want to write more. A LOT MORE‼️‼️

I forgot some of the original lines from the game, so forgive me if it’s not 100% accurate. These are mostly the same if Luna is a male, with the exception of one of the conversations about Robin and the event where you sit on her lap(it pokes you) changing. Please give feedback, darlings(said platonically) <3

The < indicates the selected choice! Ask nicely and I might write the other choices 😈

-*-

You are in the canteen. The loud chatters of other students drowns out most noise.

1) Sit with Luna | + Luna’s love <

— If the player has less than 30% love, Luna will be incredibly awkward, blushing and stammering and giving short responses. You think it might take a while for her to warm up.

-*-

— If the player has 30% or more love:

You slide into the seat across from Luna, who looks up at you with a smile.“Hey, you. Thank you for sitting next to me, friend.” She happily munches on her salad.

The two of you talk throughout lunch about random things.

- Lunch Dialogue (friendship edition)

“You’re friends with Robin, right? She/He plays a bunch of video games, right? What kinda games? Do you play any? I’d love to play some with you sometime. I’m the not the best, but I’ll try my hardest for you.”

-

If Robin’s confidence is low and the player is not in a relationship with them:

“I ran into Robin earlier today. We have English together. It was awkward, but, um, we talked about video games. An RPG, called Jaldur’s Door III. We apparently played the same class. But s/he hasn’t played any of the earlier games. I recommended her/him Divine: Untouched Evil 2, but s/he said s/he couldn’t play it for whatever reason…” Luna frowns. “Shame, I really would have liked to have someone to talk to about that…”

(AN: this is supposed to allude to the fact Robin is a poor mothafucka! Since Luna is a LI and not a PC, she would not be aware of his financial issues)

-

If Robin’s confidence is high and the player is not in a relationship with them:

“Robin, um, talked to me today. S/He’s more social than I remember. We talked, and—”

If Robin is male: “He asked me if I could take his measurements and help him tailor some old dresses he got from some orphans. I didn’t know he was into cross dressing! It surprised me, but I’m happy to help.”

If Robin is female: “She asked me if I knew how to tailor suits. I was surprised, but, I told her I’d happily help if she or someone else needed any adjustments made to their clothes.”

-

If Robin’s confidence is low and the player is in a relationship with them:

“You made a good choice, you know. In partner. Robin is sweet. S/He’ll treat you well. Er… I just worry s/he wouldn’t… well, fight for you. S/He’s kinda, too.. meek. So… maybe call me instead if you get into a bad situation.”

-

If Robin’s confidence is high and the player is in a relationship with them:

“You know… based on what little I knew about Robin before you started dating… I think you’ve really changed her/him for the better. I’ve seen her/him stand up for you in the hallways. Even seen her/him stand up for her/himself occasionally.” Luna smiles and gives you a friendly pat on the shoulder.

-

If the player’s clothes are frayed or in worse condition:

“I really like your outfit today, you know? The color suits you… oh, you have rips in your clothes. Here, let me patch that up real quick. It’ll only take five minutes. Better than having to buy new ones, yeah?” Luna reaches over and holds your arm. She looks up at you for confirmation.

1) Accept | + Luna’s love <

2) Decline

You nod and hold out your torn clothing, and she quickly procures a sewing kit from her bag. Luna happily fixes up your clothes.

“Y-you know, don’t you think the ability to mend clothing makes someone a good housewife…? Hm, oh, um, no reason… just thought about it.” She blushes and looks away.

(A/N: Luna would be a bit disappointed if PC said no here, but she wouldn’t be upset with PC, hence why she loses no love. She understands some people might be sentimental about their clothing or would prefer not to be touched.)

-

“You know, that greasy black/brown haired kid stares at you a whole lot. Are you two secretly dating or something..?”

1) Confirm

2) Deny

You shake your head vehemently, voicing a small complaint on how s/he’s a teensy bit obsessed.

Luna frowns. “If s/he ever bothers you, please tell me. I will kick the shit out of her/his tiny ass.” She turns to shoot her/him a glare across the cafeteria, which Kylar returns. | + + Jealousy

-

If player’s love interest is Kylar:

“So, uh… I heard a rumor that you and, um… Kylar was her/his name? That you two were dating. You, um… like her/him? Is that true? ‘Cause I’ll tell people otherwise if you’re not.”

You shake your head. “Kylar is my (girl)boyfriend.”

“Er… um, wow, okay. I mean… I get it, I’m also freaky like that, but… I’m a bit worried for your safety. You’re a good, er… friend of mine, and I don’t want you to get hurt. So, if s/he makes you uncomfortable or hurts you… let me know. I will kick her/his ass.”

-

If player’s love interest is Great Hawk:

“So, how is Bird Brains doing? I haven’t seen her/him in a while. If s/he’s making you uncomfortable at all, please feel free to let me know. I’ll go over and scold her/him well and good.”

-

If player’s love interest is Whitney:

“So… how are things going with cig master? Good, right..? I know s/he makes you happy and all, but if s/he ever hurts you or makes you uncomfortable, I’ll happily kick her/his ass. Er.. hurt as in domestic abuse. Please don’t let me know if you do any kinky shit…” She looks away awkwardly.

You reassure her of your relationship, and she quickly lets go of the topic.

(AN: Since Luna is not a PC, she doesn’t really know Whitney’s vulnerable sides. And since she doesn’t, she thinks he’s just an asshole. Which is why her opinion of him is drastically lowered compared to how she views him as a PC.)

-

If player has triggered Whitney’s dismissal event and intervened:

“I, um, heard that there was a thing with you and Whitney… I, um… I just think what you did was… amazing. Like… wonderful. You are a beautiful person. I just… I wanted to let you know.” Luna smiles, gazing at you adoringly. | + + + Love

“I’m not a fan of him/her myself, but… I kinda realize now that s/he’s like the rest of us. Fucked up by this place. So… yeah. You’re wonderful. I know I wasn’t the one who got saved, but, um, thank you. For putting more good into the world.”

-

If Sydney is pure and isn’t in a relationship with player:

“You know, Sydney is pretty cute. If s/he wasn’t so vehement on glazing the temple, I’d pine after her/him happily. And an absolute sweetheart. I would love to hold her/his hand and watch the stars.” She sighs dreamily. “You think s/he’s into polyamory..?” Luna wonders aloud, before shaking her head. “Never mind. Anyways.”

-

If Sydney is neutral and isn’t in a relationship with player:

“Is it just me, or has Sydney been a bit… ya know… freaky-er than normal lately. Like… maybe I’m crazy. I don’t fuckin’ know… still cute, though. And I still want to hold her/his hand, though…”

-

If Sydney is corrupt and isn’t in a relationship with the player:

“Sydney’s been working at the store every time I do. I thought s/he preferred to spend her/his time at the temple…? S/he even coerced a customer to get a bigger, er,.. toy the other day. I like this change. I feel like he’s more… free now? Mm, maybe not the right word… open? Unrestrained…? It’s kinda… hot, you know?” She fidgets with her hair.

-*-

— If Luna is in a relationship with the player:

You slide into the seat across from Luna, and look up to see her pouting. “I, um… I’m new to relationships and all, but… I want to sit closer. I’m… clingy, sorry.”

1) Scold her for apologizing and invite her to next to you | + Love

2) Invite her to sit next to you | + Love

3) Invite her to sit in your lap | + + Love, + Lust | Promiscuity 2

4) Ask to sit in her lap | + Love, + Lust | Promiscuity 2 <

5) Shake your head and say you want your space | - Love

If the player is submissive/meek: “Um…” You manage to stifle a blush before looking up and fluttering your eyelashes at her. “May I… sit in your lap, please?”

If that player is neutral: “Hey, Luna…” She looks up, biting her lip nervously. “Let me sit in your lap, please?”

If the player is defiant: “Your pillowy thighs call to me. May I?” You grin and tilt your head.

Her face flushes bright red, and she sputters for a moment before covering her face. You hear a muffled “yes” escape her lips, and you stand, moving your tray next to hers and crawling into her lap.

If the player is tiny/small: You fit pretty well in her lap.

If the player is average: You’re a bit big for her lap, but the softness of her legs makes up for it.

If the player is large: You’re barely able to squeeze into her lap, but surprisingly enough, it’s quite comfortable despite your size difference.

You see her giddy, shy smile only for a moment as she wraps her arms around you and buries her face against your shoulder/neck(whichever is closer, depending on PC’s size). You can feel the warmth from her face seeping into your shoulder/neck. Your heart feels fuzzy. | - Trauma, - Stress

1) Continue with lunch <

2) Reach under her skirt | + + Lust, + Arousal | Promiscuity 5

- Lunch Dialogue (dating edition)

First time PC sits in Luna’s lap or Luna sits in PC’s lap:

She spends most of the time hiding her face, too embarrassed to do anything. There’s a mix of both relief and disappointment on her face once you finish eating, knowing she has to now let go/get up. You think she’d like to do this again, but it might take her a while to not be so embarrassed when doing so.

-

If player has another LI:

“H-hey, so… I know we already talked about my boundaries and all. I’m still polyamorous, of course, but, um.. er… never mind. It’s nothing.” Luna shakes her head. You have a feeling even if you asked, she wouldn’t open up.

-

If player has another LI and it has been more than a month of dating:

“Soo, tell me about this other person you’re seeing. I want all the details. I’m going to need them if we’re going to share, of course.” She hums, leaning against you.

-

If player’s LI is Robin:

“Soo, um… Robin. Do you think, um… s/he’d be into, a, um… th.. th… n-never mind!” She quickly finishes eating and darts out of the canteen. Odd.

-

If player’s LI is Robin and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“Mmm… so… Robin would be hard for a threesome, no? … that joke was unintentional.” She snickers behind her hand. “I don’t imagine her/him being into it… you’d have to give her/him puppy dog eyes. But it won’t be fun if you coerce her/him into it and she/he doesn’t really want to… maybe I should just ask her/him myself sometime.”

-

If player’s LI is Whitney:

“So, um… Whitney… s/he’s, um… h-h-hot. Yeah. And probably kinky, so, um, do you think… oh, never mind.” She quickly changes the subject.

-

If the players LI is Whitney and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“Okay, so, I have an idea. I flash Whitney my tits. Coerce her/him into threesome at my place— don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s safe for her/him. No angry animals. Besides, I’m not really into the public degrading shit s/he does… I want those pretty faces of yours to only be seen by people I deem worthy.”

She raises a brow. “Yes, I deem Whitney worthy. S/He’s still an ass, but s/he makes you happy and occasionally treats you right. Anyway— thoughts on the plan?”

-

If the players LI is P!Sydney:

“Sydney… d-did I ever mention I thought s/he was, um…” she hesitates. “.. n-never mind…”

-

If the player’s LI is P!Sydney and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“So. I know you’re promised to Sydney and all… but I want in. I’m thinking… I can watch you two? Or maybe— ooh, that’s too kinky to say in public, never mind. Syd’s too innocent for that anyway.” She sighs.

-

If the player’s LI is C!Sydney:

“Um… you know, sometimes when I’m working at Sirris’ shop, I catch, um, S-Sydney, um… looking at some…” She’s too embarrassed to continue. Luna quickly takes a long sip of water before talking about something else.

-

If player’s LI is C!Sydney and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“Ok— darling. You’re not gonna believe me. I mentioned the idea of threesomes while I was working, and Sydney fucking said s/he’d try anything once. I’m going to ask straight forward, but, isn’t this exciting?” Luna clasps her hands together and picks her feet under the table. Somehow, in this kinky town, she didn’t expect anyone to be down for one.

-

If Luna is the player’s only LI, the player has expressed they have no desire in polyamory, and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“You know… I was wondering. I know I mentioned to you that I was polyamorous when we started dating. I’m probably just being dramatic, but… if you’re ever worried, I’m not unhappy or unsatisfied with this relationship. You are more than enough. I just like loving multiple people. I’m perfectly fine if I can’t.” She plants a kiss on your cheek, staining it with purple lipgloss. Luna snickers and wipes it away with her sleeve. “I love you, and only you.” Her green eyes stare at you like you’re the only thing in the world.

-

If the player know’s her secret and it’s been more than a month of dating:

“Ah.. canteen food is so boring. Ooh, you want some dust? Non-addictive, and will only get you slightly high.” Luna grins, leaning forward.

-*-

If player has let another school LI write on them:

“I, um… heard that you sometimes, let, um… other people write on you. I was wondering, um…” She bites the inside of her cheek and stares down at her lap, fidgeting with her hair nervously.

1) Offer | + Love + Lust <

1) Shake your head | - Lust

You hold out your arm and she happily takes it, pulling out a glitter pen from her bra and scribbling onto your arm. | + Arousal

—

List of various things Luna may write:

Anytime-

If the player has the fallen angel transformation: ‘Still worthy’, ‘Beautiful’, and ‘it’s ok’

If the player’s trauma is high: ‘Breathe’, ‘it’s ok’, and ‘I’m here :)’

If the player’s stress is high: ‘breathe’, ‘I’m here :)’

Not in a relationship, mid love-

‘Notebook’

‘My best friend’

‘Forest friend’

‘Pretty’

-

Not in a relationship, high love-

‘Perfect’

‘(Platonic!) soulmate’

‘Darling’

If player has bird transformation: ‘Bird brains #2’

If player has angel transformation: ‘Godsend’

If player has demon transformation: ‘Silly imp’

If player has cat transformation: ‘El gato!’

If player has wolf transformation: ‘Perrito!’

If player has fox transformation: ‘No swiping’

In a relationship-

If player has fox transformation: ‘stole my heart’

If player has bird transformation: ‘my songbird’

If player has cow transformation: ‘My Moo-n’

‘Mine <3’

‘My love’

‘Queen of my heart’ (regardless of player gender, said gender neutrally)

‘My __’ can be human, angel, fox girl, etc., whatever the PCs current “race” is.

‘My favorite person’

[mythicalgeek]

The Dark Crystal Age Of Resistance is a tragically underrated work of art.

If your a fan of fantasy like Lord of the rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars please give The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance a watch.

Its a prequel series to the 80s movie and it's one of the best fantasy shows in recent years and goes back to classic fairytales and mythical storytelling.

Everything is mostly done with practical effects and only uses CGI where it's really necessary. The show also brings back puppetry and even though none of the character's are humans there's more humanity in this show than most media we get today.

The world of thra is a magical and strange place that you find yourself immersed in, with all the creatures and beuaty of the natural world at full display you find yourself encanted by it.

The gelfings are really adorable and you can't help but care about them, the main three protagonists have well flushed out personalities and each one has a interesting journey they go on that lead them to start the resistance and the quest to save there world.

The Skekies are really creepy and make for some pretty great villains. There motivation and interactions are giving just as much time as the heros, they rule thra with cruelty and manipulation, stealing the live force of the planet and the then the gelfing. There some of the most terrifying villains we've gottan in the last few years and I gotta say, I was absolutely horrifying by them.

This show does a lot of things right and one of them is how it writes the female characters. Deet and Brea (the two female leads) are very feminine heroines who are kind, empathetic, intuitive, clever and strong without it being showed in our faeces. Even when the female characters are warriors or soldiers there femininity is not devalued or see as a weakness. We also have more complex characters like Seledon and the gelfing leaders (who are all female) and it's just so nice to have a fantasy show that handels the female reputation so beautifully.

At the same time the male character's are also written with the same amount of care and respect, for example Rian (the main male lead) is a soldier who after finding out the truth about the skekies, is faced with the hard challenge of spreading the truth while dealing with loss and trauma, we see plenty of moments where his aloud to be vulnerable and we see him grow into a strong leader for the resistance.

We also have Hup who even though he is a side character, is a lovable podling who steals every sence he's in. He dreams of becoming a hero and has such a heartwarming friendship with Deet it's hard not to love him and want more of him.

All the relationships between the gelfing feel so intimate and pure, wheater there familial, platonic or romantic the show gives us so many beautifully written relationship and dynamics, that add to the emotional core of the story.

There's also some political drama with the gelfling clans and the skekies as they try to hold on to there power, it's done in a way that both kid's and adults can follow.

The action is surprisingly good for show with only puppets, we have sowrd fights, flying gelfings dropping booms, wild carriage rides and it's really exciting and done well.

There is only 1 season unfortunately but it's still worth the watch, I do have to warn everyone that there is a lot of scary and truely horrifying moments so if your sensitive maybe give this a pass, but there's a balance between the dark and whimsical and there's so many funny and sweet moment's that allow you two catch your breath.

This series is a hidden gem in the world of fantasy and that's a dame shame because it is everything you could whant from a epic fantasy story that we just dont see a lot of anymore.

I like shows like The Witcher and Rings of power but none of those shows have captured my imagination or sense of wonder like the dark crystal aor did. I have so much love for this beautiful, weird, creepy, wonderful, magical puppet show and I wish it got more recognition for the work of art it truly is.

The Dark Crystal Age Of Resistance is pure magic and deserve so much more attention. It's on Netflix so check it out if your looking for some good fantasy.

[anonymous-venting-space]

Why do romantic couples have to be all like "I married ✨💕my best friend💕✨"?

Like, I get the idea (sort of), but I really kinda hate it.

It might make things awkward for best friends, cause now there's an expectation they might develop romantic feelings to each other (especially male & female friendships)

But mostly it's just kinda saying that your romantic partner is all you need or care about. It's just a reminder that you'll always be just a friend to them, you can't even be their best friend.

I know this is just a petty nitpick, and it's probably not that deep, but you can call your romantic partner so many other things, spouse, lover, partner, etc. why do you need to take this from platonic relationships?

Imagine you're someone's best friend and when they get married they're all like "yeah, my partner's great, they're my best friend!" and you just know if you were to be like "I thought I was your best friend" they'd be like "Well yeah, but like you're just my friend, not like a partner or something."

And you can't even complain about it, because if you were to say it to anyone they'd just be like "I mean yeah, that's their partner, of course they care about them more than you, stop being so sensitive about it."

[kaliido-s]

Well, the kaiju ship I ship most is Mothollante, but everyone’s already given their thoughts on that so yeah. Has a lot of the pros of Mothzilla with few of the cons, as well as the wonderful aesthetic of a genetically-engineered abomination and a goddess of nature. There’s also the obligatory puns about flowers and butterflies, and Mothra-based hurt/comfort and fluff which is one of my favorite kaiju fan plots.

Mothzilla’s… alright when handled in a certain way, but it’s a “the ship is fine but why is it everywhere” type of thing. And with the MonsterVerse especially, their relationship is better if it’s platonic. All in all, I don’t really ship it, unless a particular person’s take leans to the “humanity’s sins and nature’s virtues” aspect of both of them.

Gong’s pretty good. Tired old men being tired together.

Rodorah’s pure arson and anarchy and I value it for that, but no way is that dynamic anything approaching healthy. I ship it for the lolz.

I’ve jokingly shipped Legion from Gamera and Destroyah together before. Two big buff arthropod ladies.

Angzilla has the same benefits as Gong, really, but with more Showa craziness. I find Kongzillra to be a funny threesome, esp. because GvK would have been over in ten minutes if Mothra was there to slap some sense into Goji, to calm Kong down, and to alert the humans to Mechagoji/Ghidorah.

2MUTO is the kaiju ship I like second most, it gets points for being the only canon kaiju couple I can think of outside of the two OG Rodans, and also because I just love the MUTOs in general. Fr though, those two bugs were so sweet together, and I do think they had as much if not more chemistry than the human leads. Anyone who says that Femuto would have committed mate cannibalism on Hokmuto can face my wrath. MUTOs are clearly designed to fight, hunt, and live in pairs (therefore it makes no sense for her to kill and eat him), and it’s entirely possible they’re like crocodilians (i.e. female raises the kids and protects the nest, male brings her and the wittle babies food. Babies stay with the parents for several years until they can live on their own, and may stay within the parents’ territory for several more years. But now I’m going on one of my MUTO ecology headcanon rambles again…)

That’s all I can think of for now, have fun with these and have a nice day!

ooh this is a long one

- I think the funny thing about the hurt/comfort fluff is I only really like it with the Heisei Mothra. For some reason, maybe because she starts out as a larva, she always seemed a bit less like a goddess to me and more like a really caring person just fighting for what they love. While I read other Mothras as more closed off and unsure in social situations because of their attachment to world peace, Heisei Mothra feels more sociable and peppy, and thus capable of committed relationships

- continuing that, Mothzilla I have never really been a fan of, and I think Goji and Mothra being friends is far more interesting. They care so much and mean so much to each other, but it’s because they value their friendship, and neither of them have really had a relationship like that before. They started off as a business relationship and got closer over time, and I think their friendship is very sweet.

- Kongzilla is (usually) very relaxed old man yaoi and I like that a lot

- If you read my other previous ask about Rodorah, you’ll know how I feel about it. Very wacky very goofy very arson.

- Y’know what, I totally think Legion could get it. She’s pulled tons of arthropod ladies before.

- Again, relaxed old man yaoi, I like that a lot. For them it’s way more like, they’ve been friends for so long and have only gotten closer over time, and everyone’s wondering whether they’re official or not, and maybe they won’t say it out loud cause they don’t want the attention, but they are.

- I had a pretty brief Kongzillra phase and that was pretty fun. Mostly used for laughs and silly shipping dynamics where there’s no bad blood. They’re a power throuple.

- The MUTOs are so cute to me, the part where they meet each other in Chinatown, call to each other, nuzzle, and sync up their vocalizations when they kiss lives in my head rent free. It’s too bad Godzilla hates straight romance, because they were a very adorable and committed couple. (I also would be super into any MUTO ecology posts if you’re offering)

(this clip. this clip right here. the sound design, the cuteness, chefs kiss.)

[justsomerandomfanfic]

can i request a matchup for my hero academia? platonic and/or romantic. male or female. (preferably a villain lol)

physical: height 5'3, brown eyes, short black hair, glasses, alternative style, piercings

personality: i'm a sagittarius if that means anything lol. i like video games, music, and anime. my music taste is mostly metal. i'm an introvert, it takes me a while to get close to people and show my true personality, but once i do i'm funny and a ride or die friend.

Hello!

Of course, you can have romantic and platonic matchups for MHA!

Villains as requested ;)

I hope you enjoy them!

Romantic and Platonic Matchups; My Hero Academia

~~~

Romantic;

~~~

My Hero Academia;

Tomura Shigaraki -

You first meet Tomura during a chaotic confrontation between the League of Villains and a group of heroes.

You were caught in the middle.

Oof.

You had accidentally stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time.

And here you were hoping for a nice day where you could go out and buy yourself a new video game.

Tomura noticed you immediately when his eyes met yours - he wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about you that made him pause.

For a split second.

In that moment, he made sure that his League didn’t harm you, even though he didn’t know you at all.

Something about you being there, so... Unafraid of the chaos surrounding you, intrigued him.

Despite the fight, his attention stayed on you, silently guarding you from the attacks around you.

When the fight ended and everyone retreated, he didn't say much.

He stared at you for a good minute or so, and you stared right back.

He then simply told you to "Get lost" before walking away.

You were the first person in a long time that he didn't want to destroy.

And that realization was both confusing, irritating, and fascinating for him.

It wasn't an instant friendship, but over time, you managed to get closer to Tomura.

He’s not one to trust easily, but you didn’t ask for anything from him, not at first.

Instead, you listened when he vented, no judgment.

Even when he didn't vent, you listened.

It wasn’t about him being some villain; it was about him being Tomura.

Tomura starts to soften around you, but he doesn’t admit it or show it.

There are moments when he lets his guard down without even realizing it - like when you sit with him during a particularly bad day, or when he is playing video games, just silently sharing space, and he starts to crave it, even though it scares him.

His feelings are complicated at first.

Tomura doesn’t understand why he feels this intense pull toward you, and it frustrates him. Annoys him.

It isn’t like the usual adrenaline-fueled obsessions he has with destroying or making chaos - it’s more subtle.

He finds himself thinking about you when you’re not around, questioning why you care for someone like him, and why you make him feel things he can’t explain.

Why?

You’re different from anyone he’s ever known. You’re calm and laid-back, but still, you have this fire about you that matches his own.

When he sess your piercings, he admires them, which is actually just him staring at them - which would either confuse you or make him even more endearing to you.

He might not admit it for a while, but he slowly realizes he’s falling for you - little gestures that you do, like brushing your hair from your face, leaning in closer when talking to him, or holding his gaze a little longer than usual, make him feel something he’s not ready to acknowledge.

There was no confession, but an unsaid deep understanding, where one moment, you were friends, and the next, you were dating.

Tomura isn’t the most romantic, but he’ll surprise you with small things: a weirdly thoughtful gesture like bringing you an obscure video game he thinks you’d like, or a new movie he thinks you’d appreciate.

When you’re having a bad day, Tomura might show up unannounced with your favorite candy or snacks, without saying much.

Oh, yeah, he was totally just in the neighborhood. And he totally didn't just happen to steal that candy from a baby beforehand.

He might act like it’s no big deal, but the softness in his actions betrays his desire to make you feel better.

He loves the way you laugh.

On rare occasions, you’ll catch him showing genuine affection.

He’ll rest his head against your shoulder during quieter moments, something he only does when he’s too tired to pretend anymore.

Sometimes he likes it when you run your fingers through his hair- out what is he kidding? He loves it.

Pet that hair! Pet that hair!

Touch-starved.

I bet he purrs...

You’d keep him grounded in a way that no one else can.

You’re one of the few people who can manage to get him to open up, even if it’s just a little bit.

Toga, Dabi, and the others like to make fun of him sometimes. :(

Your loyalty is undeniable.

You’d be his safe space - a person he can confide in without fear of judgment, even if he doesn’t show it all the time. He's not so good at being vulnerable.

You’d support him in ways that no one else has. You’d take care of him when he's hurt (mentally or physically), bandaging him up after an intense fight or just being there to listen when he feels overwhelmed.

Sometimes, on rare days, Tomura would sit behind you, (gloves on, obviously), with his hands covering you on a gaming controller; his chin resting on your head as you both game.

Tomura’s acts of affection are always subtle, but that makes them all the more meaningful.

If you're upset, he might say; "Do you want me to kill somebody for you?"

Tomura will listen to music with you, he'll allow you to show him all of your favorite bands and songs.

He likes music too.

If you make a joke, a really funny one, you might see the corners of Tomura's lips twist up in a very, verrrrry slight grin.

Deep down, he loves and appreciates you.

:)

~~~

Platonic;

~~~

My Hero Academia;

Kurogiri -

You met Kurogiri because of your relationship with Tomura.

You weren't particularly close with him at first, but you’d always been curious about the quiet, mysterious figure that kept to the background.

It didn’t take long for him to notice you, especially as your bond with Tomura grew.

Kurogiri doesn’t interact much with the others outside of his duties, but there was something about your easygoing nature that intrigued him.

He observed you from afar, seeing how you interacted with Tomura and the rest of the League. You didn’t try to force anything. You were just yourself, which he admired.

Seeing you slowly break out of your shell was nice to see.

With Kurogiri, friendship comes slowly, but it’s deep and meaningful when it happens.

He’s not one to casually open up, but he enjoys the way you make him feel understood, even without words.

You can tell that Kurogiri values loyalty and responsibility.

He’d never show it directly, but he’d often go out of his way to make sure you were okay, especially after stressful missions.

You quickly learned to enjoy the quiet moments with him - when he’s not being the voice of reason for the League or using his quirk, he’s surprisingly down-to-earth.

He enjoys your humor and subtle sarcasm, even if it’s hard for him to express it outwardly.

Kurogiri’s affection for you is subtle but profound.

Despite his cool exterior, Kurogiri is protective of you, especially after witnessing the risks you take for Tomura.

He silently watches over you, ensuring that no harm comes to you, even though you’re no longer directly involved in their schemes.

Honestly, Kurogiri thought of you as a daughter.

Teleports you to fun locations!

You and Kurogiri share a mutual understanding of the complex world around you. He’s seen and done things that others would find difficult to fathom, and you never try to judge him.

This unspoken bond grows into a comfortable friendship, one built on mutual respect.

You’d offer Kurogiri the same silent understanding he offers you. When he needs a break from the chaos, you’d be there, no questions asked, giving him a space to just breathe.

Kurogiri would do anything for you. Being his adopted daughter and all.

Oh, and he cares a lot, obviously!

:)

Really though, this is the chillest guy on the planet.

[roniinoodles]

Hello, Noodle here. I’m 29 and do not have a preference for pronouns, comfortable with just about any. I write mainly on discord and am most comfortable doing so. I tend to make servers for myself and my partner(s) for organization. 

I am looking for a writing partner(s) who is 21+, who is also interested in having a solid foundation of communication and maybe even a good friendship outside of our writing. I genuinely like to know the person(s) I am writing with as it makes me more comfortable to write with them and come to them with ideas/plots. 

I’m looking for mainly ship partners for romantic settings and plots. I don’t mind writing platonic ships in the background of the plot's main ship. I do not have any triggers or anything that is super off limits, I’m willing to explore out of character what kind of things my partner is interested in or uncomfortable with. I am comfortable with writing most types of nsfw content, such as smut and other assorted topics. My writing length can vary from one paragraph to multiple. I also prefer at least a base plot idea before beginning to write together. I’ve written primarily m/m or m/f ships. 

Currently I’m mostly interested in writing in the GOT fandom, the tv series specifically as I have not read the books. I have several canons and oc’s. Looking primarily for m/f ships, but could also be interested in m/m. 

Characters I write:

Jon Snow Daenerys Targaryen Tormund Giantsbane Sansa Stark Jamie Lannister (haven't yet but would like to try) A few original characters (both male and female) I am willing to explore with anyone interested.

If you are interested, my dm’s are open or react to this post and I’ll seek you out.

[officialgleamstar]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Oxventure (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lilith Cappellanaga & Edvard Lumière Characters: Lilith Cappellanaga, Edvard Lumière Additional Tags: Post-Episode: Murder at Volisport Academy (Oxventure: Blades in the Dark), Fluff without Plot, Male-Female Friendship, Platonic Cuddling, Vulnerability Summary:

Lilith lays her head in Edvard's lap. For the sake of scientific curiosity, but mostly because it's been a long day.

sorry i was gonna write like, something about the fic here, but the number for this fic is 54995599??? thats so cool to me for some reason. what a pleasing number. um. anyways. these two are fun :]

[thehobbitwithstickyuppyhair]

Love Is Weird

Love Is Weird - Inkelf - Hunger Games Series (All Media Types)

Rating: T (content is mostly G, save Johanna's single F-bomb lol)

Johanna Mason stopped abruptly after just having come round the potted foliage. Her sharp eyes flicked once over Finnick's suddenly panicked expression, Annie's pale and tearstained face, and their hands woven together when they shouldn't have allowed such touches in public to linger.

Johanna finds out about Annie.

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

F/M & Gen

Relationships: Johanna Mason & Finnick Odair, Annie Cresta/Finnick Odair

Characters: Johanna Mason, Finnick Odair, Annie Cresta

Additional Tags: Mild Hurt/Comfort, Johanna Mason & Finnick Odair Friendship, Secret Relationship, Platonic Female/Male Relationships

[generalluxun]

Speaking of Féligami (or what I refer to as Grayfencer), I kind of ship Kagami with Félix Agreste, the original Félix. To explain further context, I began conceptualizing a fan remake of Miraculous Ladybug based on the original concepts (i.e. anime OV, first 3D concepts) long ago. And in my fan concept, while there are hints of Love Square here and there, the main duo will eventually grow a stronger friendship over a romantic one, as Marinette and Félix would then move onto other people, like Luka (or Chloé) and Kagami respectively. Plus, it would be interesting to see the main male-female leads as best friends, as well as two rich, talented, but repressed youths bonding together through their struggles and interests, unlike the show's version of Féligami.

That's definitely a plotline worth writing about, and yeah the main leads not getting together romantically but bonding platonically would be a nice twist.

I know Very Little about the pre-canon variants. Mostly just art and snippits.

[jasontoddiefor]

I absolutely adore your Jiang Fengmian and Cangse Sanren just being friends posts so much because my personal theory is that they were great friends and people were weird about platonic-male female relationships and shitty about how a beautiful, renowned women married someone insignificant in their eyes. It’s so nice and refreshing and I’m tired of the whole he’s creepy and obsessed with a dead woman instead of his two best friend died and he’s trying to give their son a good life. Let the man be complex! Is he is a great parent? No, but he was arguably a better dad than attic wifer and lecher, a C level parent and someone who was kind to common folk and let their kids play with his disciples, that making him into this villain character that’s either super creepy and gross or apathetic and completely neglectful and letting Madam Yu do inhumane abuses in front of him without retort is so weird.

Sorry for the tangent, I just love you having a platonic friendship of two souls both a little bit in awe of each other’s worlds. Let him be a lowkey depressed man with his two best friends gone and dead and is now just trying his best to be a good Sect Leader and still failing at times. Let him have some complexity.

Anon you made my day with this ask.

Like, I think the "grieves the idealized version of someone he loved (romantically)" is fine, like, whatever, but it's also kinda basic?

And if they were genuine platonic friends only, it would also add to the narrative IMO? MDZS very much works on a "things left unsaid and left unacknowledged" kind of theme, and a friendship that isn't allowed to be seen as such would fit just right in. From what we see, JFM is a very mild man as well, so of course there'd be questions, misunderstandings and such messy ugly rumors.

And I think the fandom also just generally exaggerates JFM? Like while reading and watching either adaption, I mostly got a sense that this is a man who has resigned himself to living alongside his wife and mostly doesn't know how to parent any of his kids in a way that doesn't infuriate YZY so he decided that being more hands off in general is better. But not this mess of obsessive to neglectful?

Like, thos interpretations can be fun, love me a good dark fic, but that's just not what canon gives me?

But yeah!!! you're right!!! Let him be a lowkey depressed man with his two best friends gone and dead and is now just trying his best to be a good Sect Leader and still failing at times.

Also here take a snippet of friendship bc I couldn't find much on AO§:

Cangse Sanren knocks on his door until Jiang Fengmian drags himself out of bed. He doesn’t know it is her or he wouldn’t have answered the door in his sleeping robes. She doesn’t notice, of course she doesn’t, and Jiang Fengmian is relieved that nobody else is up this early.

If he didn’t know any better, he’d claim Cangse Sanren only got up early to spite Lan Qiren and his expectations of her, but she came with the habit.

“Fengmian, I need you to go shopping with me,” she declares boldly. He knows that her expectation is now, although most shops won’t open for another two hours most likely. She probably wants to go exploring the area early – and ditch the disciples accompanying him, except maybe Wei Changze. She behaves even stranger around him and Jiang Fengmian is glad to have finally found something to tease Wei Changze about.

“And why do I need to go with you?”

“I need someone to tell me when the sellers are ripping me off!”

He knows that she has gotten a much better understanding of average prices now, and doesn’t have the heart to tell her that he knows as little about the prices of average street food stalls as her. Sect heirs, generally speaking, do not go shopping in the places Cangse Sanren finds her most favorite trinkets.

Still, she grins at him and Jiang Fengmian finds himself smiling back. He kicks her out of his room to get dressed, for his sense of propriety more than hers. Cangse Sanren has a rather tolerant view on partial nudity, even to a Yunmeng native. He considers waking another disciple to tell them that it is not last night’s curse that made him disappear, but settles on writing a quick note instead.

“Where are we going?” he asks Cangse Sanren the moment they’re out of the door.

She grins again, tellingly, and takes him by the hand to drag him into a street of craftsmen he’d have never seen without her. She hardly shuts up, praising every piece of art, the food, and Jiang Fengmian whenever he points out a piece of jewelry that would be particularly unpractical for nighthunting. Most of them look like gifts one of Jin Guangshan’s terrible cousins had tried to give her.

He thinks it’s the closest he’ll get to having a sister, but he’ll keep that thought quiet, least of all it betrays something else.

[suzieburself]

Mike and El’s Opposing arcs in Season 3 and how They Will Lead to the Downfall of Mileven

This will mostly cover season 3, but I’m going to briefly go through the first 2 seasons as well for a bit of context to the overall analysis

Season 1

The milder version of the born sexy yesterday trope. A lot of smart  people have already analyzed this but it’s basically when the nerdy male protagonist that’s easy to project onto gets the superpowered woman who knows nothing about the world. The Duffers faced some backlash for this and said they were subverting the genre by giving El some independence. 

Season 2

Separates the two to give El a new arc not centered around Mike at all while Mike is centered around both her and Will. At the end, they still have had pretty much zero real conversation but they do share a kiss. 

With these two seasons in mind, it seems obvious to the GA that they are in love, but in reality, there is a lot to question in their relationship. Is it really love if El is the first girl that’s ever shown interest in Mike? Is it love if Mike is the first person her age to ever show her any kindness? Is it love if they’ve never had an emotional talk? Is it love or is it still just the born sexy yesterday trope?

Queue season 3 answering these questions…

This is where I can see people disagreeing, but here is what I believe to be El’s arc first throughout season 3, how she gets her independence to throw off the trope and proves her genuine love for Mike. 

Eleven

The season starts off with the Mileven makeout where they playfully disagree and then Mike has to leave, already opening up the illusion that this season is going to be full of Mileven. Then what happens? They break up the next episode and stay broken up for pretty much the whole season. The breakup opens up for the Max and El friendship and for El to become her own person away from Mike.

With Max’s advice, she dumps Mike, not because she doesn’t want to be with him, but because there is a clear lack of communication in their relationship. And although El seems generally happy broken up with Mike and hanging out with Max, Max does have to reassure her that Mike will come crawling back to her. 

The most interesting El line from the season is “How do I know what I like?” 

This holds a lot of significance in terms of Mileven because again, El is very new to the society and all relationships. She’s still figuring herself out and I think this line perfectly captures her arc this season of figuring out what she likes or in this case, who?

Through the season, we see her warming back up to Mike during the sauna test, at the hospital, and then when she overhears him at the cabin. Max gives her a lot of advice, but ultimately, no one tells her whether or not she should get back with Mike. That is her decision that she comes to at the end of the show. 

So, where does El’s arc wrap up?

Now she has a female friend which is one of her strongest platonic relationships, she has a father, and she gets to act more like a normal teenage girl and discover what she loves, in other words, she’s starting to fully figure herself out. She’s now a more fleshed out character that doesn’t fall into the born sexy yesterday trope with complicated relationships and real interests. So that leaves the ultimate question… Where does Mike fall into all this?

And that leads us to the closing of the season. This is where El decides that she does know what she likes and even with everything else in her life, even with her independence, she still wants to be in a relationship with Mike. 

Whether you ship Mileven or not, the break up was absolutely necessary for El’s narrative, allowing her feelings to finally be truly confirmed and real. “I love you, too,” she says and this is absolutely genuine, at least based on the rest of her arc. 

So if El’s romantic love of Mike is genuine, then it must be true for Mike as well, right? Obviously, he wants to get back with El just as much as she does with him. Obviously, they are the main couple and so what if they have a small fight? Clearly Mike and El would have similar arcs since they are soulmates and meant to be, right? Right????

Mike

It’s all in the opposing narratives of Mike and El in this season (and honestly the other seasons as well) which is laid out for us in the first scene where they want different things (Mike singing and El telling him to stop). Sure it could be not that deep, but let's look at the two characters narratively speaking. 

Mike is in the perfect nuclear family, he has interests, personality, and good friends. Sure he’s not popular, but like he says in season 4, what if he doesn’t want to be? The only thing he’s missing? A girlfriend, obviously. We all know in order for someone’s life to be complete, they need a romantic interest. 

Original pitch for Mike’s character for the Montauk Project (now Stranger Things)- “Mike Wheeler is twelve. He is a cute kid, but a birthmark on his left cheek leads to much bullying and near-crippling insecurity. He has never had a first kiss, much less a girlfriend. He escapes his insecurities through reading fantasy novels, spending time with his three best friends (Lucas, Dustin, and Will), and retreating into his own vivid imagination. The Dungeon Master of his Dungeons and Dragons group, he writes sprawling adventures with fantastical monsters. When he finds himself on a real adventure, facing real monsters, he will discover a courage he didn't know he had. By the end, he will even kiss a girl.” (Taken from Stranger Things Wiki) 

His arc surrounds a lot of things, but kissing and being with a girl to fight his insecurity is very obviously one of them. 

If we look at Eleven, her arc isn’t about romance at all. Her arc is about discovering the world and finding friends and family who love her, things Mike already has. This comes to fruition at the end of season 3 where she gets everything, friends, family, and romance. When El is without Mike, she actually grows her other relationships such as with Hopper in Season 2 and Max in Season 3 (one could even argue Will in season 4). 

The opposite ends up being true for Mike when he’s with El. Season 3 is the first time we actually get to see them act as a real couple (excluding the Snow Ball) and it is also the first time we see a rift in the party, specifically caused by Mike.  Mike and El are the first ones to leave Dustin and the others in the first episode, he’s the one late to the movies, prioritizing El who he sees every day, over his friends. Sure Lucas is also responsible for making fun of Will’s campaign but that’s not who Will calls out…

“You’re ruining our party!” 

“You’re destroying everything and for what? So you can swap spit with some stupid girl?” 

Everyone is putting the blame on Mike and his prioritization of El over everyone else. So while El is making friends, Mike is losing them. 

Another difference between the two is how they receive relationship advice. This is both of their first relationships so obviously it’s normal to go for advice, but the key is when. Max gives El advice on breaking up with Mike, sure, but she follows her heart in terms of getting back together with him.

In the hospital scene, this is the first time after their break up that they are interacting alone. This only ever happened because Lucas pushed Mike to talk to her, to give her the olive branch. Without him, Mike would have continued to do nothing and let them be broken up.

Through all of this, we still don’t quite have a grasp on Mike’s real feelings. Sure we know he thinks getting back with Eleven would be “logical”, but does he love her?  Well, just like El, Mike does get a moment similar to El’s love confession at the end of the season that is supposed to prove Mike’s true feelings, but just like everything else, it is pretty much the opposite of El’s.

“I love her and I can’t lose her again!”  This is loud, this is panicked, this is public, and this wasn’t even supposed to be something Eleven heard. 

Compared to El’s “I love you, too,” which was quiet, something she took time considering saying, during an intimate moment, and something that was only supposed to be for Mike’s ears. 

Hm, I wonder which one was more genuine?

And if you think just saying he loves El is enough, well look at season 4. Why would they reuse the plot of Mike not being able to say he loves El if it’s so obvious he does love her and already said it? Just the fact that that was an actual plot line proves this one wasn’t enough to prove Mike’s real feelings. 

So still, Mike’s true feelings in his relationship with El are hidden from us. 

And this brings me to the other differences in Mike and El’s actions at the very end of the season when the Byers move. 

All of the romance in this goodbye is initiated by El. Mike’s being friendly, sure, but he doesn’t make any romantic moves on her. El even tries to flirt with him and he is so friendly with her, it becomes incredibly awkward. 

And as El fulfills her arc and initiates a kiss with Mike, saying how she loves him, and making it her own decision, what does Mike do? 

Absolutely nothing. He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t kiss her back. He doesn’t even close his eyes. 

Thus ends El’s arc. 

And thus opens Mike. 

Thus answers the question of El loving Mike with a “yes”.

And answering the question of Mike loving El with an “I think so?” at best, a “no” at worst, but more likely than not, and “I’m not really sure yet”. 

I’m not going to go into detail surrounding season 4, but his arc only continues from there. We still don’t have that moment of “oh, he loves her” (and if you think it’s the monologue then I don’t really know what to say…). I want to go into more detail of this in a different post and how Byler ties in to that. 

In conclusion, after season 3, we are able to determine El’s feelings as genuine and are not able to yet figure out Mike’s. 

The question still stands, how do we know what he likes?