#platonic relationships are JUST as profound as romantic

[legend-had-it]

im so miffed about sonadow fic writers that make shadow not want to get into a relationship with sonic because hes mortal then turn around and let him have a close relationship with rouge and omega

[littlespoonevan]

ngl I personally find it incredibly weird how many people on the internet are so staunchly against syd and carmy falling in love because ‘there aren’t enough male/female friendships on tv’ when there are characters with less chemistry and less potential than them that’ve been shoved together and shipped over and over for literal decades

[candied-cae]

I am so sad that it seems like they're really done with Teal Oranges. Honestly, that's one of the biggest weak points of this season so far.

Season 1 ended not just with Stede and Ed separated, but notably with Oluwande and Jim and Pete and Lucius torn apart. That was something so many of us were so eager to see fixed, we wanted all those couples reunited as they are the two relationships that takes a supporting role right behind Gentlebeard and is able to exemplify the easier and more simple or stable nature of the couples who stay out of the main pairing's drama.

And with the introduction of Zheng Yi Sao and Archie, I like the characters. They're pretty fun, Zheng is so smart and tactful and Archie is so comedic and earnest. Between the two, Archie def needs more building, but I did find the Oluwande and Zheng romance to be genuinely compelling. But only if I wasn't thinking about Jim.

It just feels so sudden to have Jim and Oluwande be done with each other (romantically) considering they were definitely still a couple at the end of the season and it only seems like it's been a couple months since they last saw each other.

Had they just been best friends who ended up hooking up and were probably going to decide they worked better as friends, I would be way more on board and down for these new couples! But it felt like they were pretty clearly written as a serious relationship that we'd see stick together through the end.

And the entirety of us getting closure on their relationship is just- "I've missed you." "I kissed someone." "Okay then." "I also saw her boobs." "Cool, I guess, but I think that's tmi."

And my bestie pointed out, though Olu def seemed to be flirting back with Zheng, he didn't take things to kissing until after hearing that Jim was already kissing someone else. And when Zheng asks him, Oluwande doesn't say yes or no on if he and Jim are over. He dodges the question and just says they're his best friend and family. Which would usually be a kind of line used to mean he was still planning to be with Jim and didn't want to lie, but still wanted to kiss Zheng in the moment so he omitted the reality with a little half-truth.

Which usually would keep my hopes up about a possible polycule (I'm really trying to keep my hopes up about a possible polycule) but we have that article with David calling Olu and Jim exes and saying he wants to use them to represent more complex relationship structures in the queer community with exes keeping healthy friendships and- come on man.

I really don't wanna give up on Teal Oranges, but the more I rewatch and the more I think about them, the more I worry.

[dusk-into-dawn]

my hottest arcane take

i think the writers were very purposefully NOT trying to write jayce and viktor as lovers

they explore 3 types of love: familial, romantic, and platonic

it’s important to the story and to real world social critique that two men in media can have deep, profound love for each other that is not romantic. women, of course, can have this too, but we see that portrayed all the time. men are socialized to hide emotions, so when male characters show love for each other, people immediately start shipping them. it’s really important for men to see that platonic love for each other is good. viktor and jayce’s bond feels a lot more flat when it’s written off as a ship.

arcane is clearly not afraid of gay relationships. if they wanted them together, they wouldn’t have to queerbait you over it. they’d just kiss.

ultimately, it’s fiction. do what you want. this is NOT to say gay ships shouldn’t exist, i’ve just observed a lot of erasure of real friendships and bonds due to ship culture.

sincerely, your local aspec friend

[moonfruito]

maybe this is a hot take but i think people's obsession with the found family dynamic and the need to call every friendship a "sibling dynamic" or something in that vein is not actually moving towards a better appreciation for platonic relationships as people like to claim that it is because people have just moved from framing everything as romantic because it fits into a nuclear family structure to framing everything as family-oriented because it fits a nuclear family structure as if friendship alone isn't enough. which is exactly the opposite of the point that people claim to be making. i have nothing against the found family trope inherently and i am never looking to police the way people enjoy media but i think the reason found family has latched on to the collective fandom consciousness so much is because it fits easily into the structure of relationships that we have been taught to see as the model just as with romantic pairings and i wish people would be happy to just call characters friends and understand that that is a meaningful and profound relationship in and of itself.

[starry-bi-sky]

DPXDC CFAU Headcanon: Ghostspeak Edition

Ghosts in the Infinite Realms who saw Jason and Danny together called them "luzdra", a term in ghost speak that directly translates into the words "shared soul". It's literal definition is; "two ghosts with a bond so deep that it was as if they had split their souls in half and given one to the other", but in general it just means two ghosts with a profound, indescribable bond.

Luzdrus is the singular form of the word, and refers to only one ghost in the bond. While "luzdra" is plural and either refers to both of them together, or the relationship as a whole. It depends on the context of the conversation and who they're saying it to.

There is no romantic, platonic, or familial connotation behind the word. It just means "someone who shares a deep bond with someone" and can be between anyone.

It also does not mean soulmate, and if you say that you'll be corrected. Soulmates implies that their bond was destined by the universe, luzdra are two people who developed and built that bond themselves. It's a relationship forged between two (or more) people.

Some of Danny's rogues -- like Kitty and Johnny, who might've seen the two together and are possibly luzdra themselves -- still call him 'luzdrus' even after Jason's disappearance from the Zone. Danny doesn't know how to feel about it.

[genderkoolaid]

do any other aroallo people feel alienated from the concept of platonic love. or like it doesn't really fit you?

people so often use "platonic" as something inherently oppositional to sexual desire. even though people have the concept of "friends with benefits" it's always presented as a casual (& implicitly short-lived) relationship. there's this idea that if platonic love is profound, it's non-sexual, and if sexual desire is profound, it's inherently romantic.

trying to label attraction types is just weird for me. wtf is "platonic" "romantic" "sexual" bitch we are on a tiny rock in space why do i need any other reason to want to be your friend and kiss you

[insomaniacat]

orv spoilers

tbh I'm so happy there is no explicit romance in orv (minus the brief stuff that happens with jhw and lhs) and because of that I feel like I've been able to appreciate kdj in such a profound way as a character

like sure i like joongdok and yoohankim but to me at least kdj has this level of asexuality to him that I don't usually associate him with anyone that romantically. And their relationships are still as complex and has such a great depth that they are like THE foundest of families and I can return to the kim dokja company at the end of the day as all of them being my comfort characters. you know that saying like 'i love you so much i'd make the world burn for you'? it's meant to be this dramatic line about how much you love someone (romantically), but kdj's company fully encapsulates this in a platonic way that just isn't cringey or anything like that

they are all so platonic but they love each other to such an unconditional way that they ALL decide to relive through all the scenarios again in the hope of finding kim dokja again. and later, they all help to write and spread a story - stories, the thing the reader loves - again, in hopes of bringing kdj back home. they aren't sure if it'll work, but it is through this love they all have that they don't give up and put their hope in this seemingly impossible method

and this is also what makes them fundamentally different from kdj. unlike kim dokja in the apocalypse, they do not have any sort of proof their methods will work. kdj has twsa - the novel he grew up reading, the novel he fantasized living in, the novel that he's spent 13 years following, learning every nook and cranny and probably even planning out his own way to survive the apocalypse from this lengthy novel. he has some sort of assurance his methods will work, with the amount of time hsy put into describing the settings (remember that twsa was not popular and one of the complaints was that tls123 put too much emphasis on the settings that deterred people from reading it, when really, that too was a way to ensure kdj survived the apocalypse later on). he has had time to reassure himself and plan for it, and probably had yjh case test them all

but kdj's company had no assurance - they did not grow up with a book that confirmed their methods of bringing kdj back would work. they did not have any 'third plans', no 'ressurections', no 'restarts', that kdj had in the apocalypse. all they had was their own hope - something kdj didn't have when he was fifteen sitting in that hospital bed after that failed suicide attempt, feeling like the whole world was against him. Until he searched up those three words on his phone. Those three words that were probably 'Ways of Survival'.

And then he found his hope in twsa. he found his hope in yjh, the protagonist made just for him. he found hope in the story that he believed in for the next thirteen years. the story that got him through high school, the CSATs, the military. his hope was in this tangible book that carried him through the apocalypse.

kdj's company had none of that. they only had their hope in kim dokja - the man they survived the scenarios with. they could only put their hope in their memories of surviving with the man that saved them, even though there was no evidence he lived in their world anymore. they had to put their hope in the fact that they remembered he existed, even though they had to acknowledge that they didn't know everything about him.

sing shong touches upon this idea a lot throughout orv - does something really exist if no one knows about it? or, in a more modern saying, did a fallen tree in a forest really fall if no one heard it? what proves the existence of something? what proves that something truly happened? sing shong seems to make it pretty clear that the existence of something can be represented metaphorically like a 'story', and stories need a 'reader', some sort of spectator that witnesses it, for the 'story' to exist.

for kim dokja, his final sacrifice, where he split into infinite little pieces scattered across the universe, was to ensure that everything existed. that open ending, as tragic as it was, was meant to be comforting. that his sacrifice was supposed to be so existences like you and me, are real. no matter how lonely we may feel throughout our lives, a metaphorical 'kim dokja' is looking at our own stories, spectating our own stories, even living our own lives himself.

and what i hate to say sometimes is that kim dokja is not really a character - he is an idea. he is an idea of some being affirming our lives, that it's real, that what we do from day to day, even something as simple as getting up in the mornings and brushing your teeth, or thumbing through a store catalog, matters. and this is why kim dokja sacrificed himself. for all the stories that may have not 'existed' if no one was watching it.

and it's out of love. this tragic, terrible love for the world, that eats away at yourself until you are nothing. but at least you exist.

[divinationsanctuary19]

What does your soul desire? Pick a picture reading

1 2 3

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1. Ace of cups

You find yourself at a pivotal moment, where the whispers of your heart beckon you to open up and embrace a new wave of emotions. There is a profound desire within you to connect deeply, to share the essence of who you are with others, and to receive the same in return. You yearn for experiences that are rich with love and compassion, moments that fill you with warmth and inspire you to see beauty in the mundane. It’s as if your spirit is awakening from a long slumber, urging you to let go of past hurts and insecurities that have held you back. You long for an emotional rebirth, a chance to explore the depths of your feelings and allow them to flow freely. This surge of vulnerability can be both exhilarating and frightening, yet you are ready to embrace it, to dive into the depths of your own heart and experience life in its fullest form. You crave meaningful relationships that resonate with your soul, connections that nourish you and allow you to express your truest self without fear. The idea of love—whether it be romantic, platonic, or a deeper connection to your own self—calls to you like a siren song, inviting you to take the plunge into an ocean of possibility. In this journey, you seek not just to love, but to be loved in return, to feel seen and understood in a way that transcends words. This is a quest for a profound emotional experience, one that nurtures your spirit and fills your heart with a sense of belonging and purpose. As you stand on the threshold of this emotional awakening, you feel a sense of hope and excitement coursing through you, ready to embrace all that love has to offer.

2. The magician

You stand on the precipice of transformation, feeling the exhilarating energy of potential coursing through your veins. There is a growing awareness within you of the immense power you hold to shape your reality. You are ready to harness your skills, talents, and resources, understanding that everything you need is already at your disposal. This is a moment of profound clarity; you recognize that the universe is not merely a series of events that happen to you but rather a canvas upon which you can paint your life. Each thought, each intention, becomes a tool in your hands, empowering you to manifest your desires. You feel a surge of confidence as you consider the possibilities before you, realizing that you are not just a passive observer but an active participant in your own story. The realization that you possess the ability to influence your surroundings ignites a fire within you, fueling your ambition to create something remarkable.

As you delve deeper into this sense of empowerment, you find yourself reflecting on the importance of clarity and focus in your endeavors. The magic lies not just in your capabilities but in your ability to direct your energy with intention. You understand that true creation requires not only talent but also the discipline to refine your skills and the courage to pursue your visions despite challenges. This journey demands that you align your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, forging a path that resonates with your true purpose. In this quest, you become both the architect and the builder of your life, capable of transforming abstract ideas into tangible outcomes. You embrace the responsibility that comes with this power, knowing that your choices shape your reality, and you are committed to making decisions that honor your highest self.

However, with this newfound power comes a reminder of the balance that is essential for genuine mastery. You must remain aware of the potential distractions and illusions that can arise as you navigate this creative landscape. The thrill of your abilities may tempt you to rush forward without contemplation, but you know that patience and reflection are equally vital. You are called to remain grounded, ensuring that your ambitions align with your values and your authentic self. As you explore the depths of your capabilities, you recognize the importance of integrity in your pursuits. Your soul seeks not only to manifest your desires but also to create with purpose and meaning. In this way, you cultivate a profound sense of fulfillment, realizing that true magic lies in the harmonious interplay of your inner vision and the world around you, inviting you to create a life that resonates deeply with your essence.

3. The devil

You find yourself wrestling with an inner tension that is both exhilarating and confining, a powerful force that pulls you toward desires that seem irresistible yet leave you feeling trapped. There is a seductive allure in what you crave, whether it be material success, intoxicating relationships, or the thrill of indulgence. You are drawn to experiences that awaken your senses and challenge your limits, yet you also recognize that this same pull can lead you down a path of obsession or dependency. Your soul seeks to understand this duality—the fine line between enjoying life's pleasures and being consumed by them. This internal struggle prompts you to question what truly fulfills you, as the things you desire might bring immediate gratification but often leave a lingering emptiness once the initial excitement fades.

In this exploration of your desires, you are confronted with the shadows of your own psyche, the parts of yourself that you may have suppressed or ignored. You sense that beneath the surface of your cravings lies a deeper need for freedom and authenticity, a longing to break free from societal expectations and self-imposed limitations. This journey compels you to confront your fears and insecurities, those chains that bind you to patterns of behavior that no longer serve your highest good. You begin to realize that true liberation comes from facing these darker aspects of yourself rather than avoiding them. Embracing this shadow side allows you to reclaim your power, transforming fear into understanding and obsession into passion. Your soul seeks to navigate this complex landscape, inviting you to explore the richness of your emotions without being defined by them.

Ultimately, you long for a balance between the allure of temptation and the wisdom of restraint. You seek to transcend the immediate thrill of desire, finding deeper meaning in your pursuits that resonates with your true self. This journey challenges you to redefine what fulfillment means, shifting your focus from fleeting pleasures to enduring satisfaction. You are learning to cultivate a sense of awareness that enables you to make choices rooted in self-love and growth, rather than those driven by fear or scarcity. Your soul yearns to transform this inner conflict into a journey of empowerment, where you can embrace your desires while remaining anchored in your values. Through this process, you seek to uncover a profound sense of freedom, one that allows you to dance with your passions without becoming enslaved by them, ultimately guiding you toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence.

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

Intimacy is important. It fosters healthy, happy relationships and those are important for your mental health (and may even improve your physical health) - but what is intimacy exactly? 

The first thing that pops in your head may be sex, and while that can undoubtedly be an important aspect of physical intimacy for many couples, that’s not all intimacy is! You can have great intimacy in any kind of relationship, including sex-free romantic relationships, queerplatonic relationships and platonic friendships. 

That’s because there are different types of intimacy: 

Physical intimacy: this can be sex, but it can also be kissing, cuddling, hand-holding, hugging… any kind of physical touch that gives you a feeling of safety, closeness and comfort in each other. 

Emotional intimacy: this means feeling comfortable sharing your inner feelings and being vulnerable with each other, for example being able to share your worries and hopes, feeling safe to ask for comfort, knowing you can celebrate your accomplishments with them without being criticized etc.! 

Intellectual intimacy: this doesn’t have anything to do with being super smart, it just means being able to share thoughts, opinions and ideas with each other. It doesn’t matter if you agree, just that you can openly and honestly express yourself, and try to understand each other’s viewpoint. 

Experiential intimacy: this means shared experiences! Spending time together, participating in hobbies together, trying new things together, even just running errands together! 

Spiritual intimacy: you don’t need to be religious or spiritual to experience this, it just means you share values and beliefs with each other and bond over them. This can be as simple as feeling safe to discuss beliefs with each other without fear of rejection or judgement, or it can be profound, awe-inspring experiences you experience together.

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[maomao-words]

Fell into the Wind Breaker fandom, got my heart stolen, so I decided to write about (some of) my favorite boys.

Also, Kiryu is my beloved, and I think he deserves more attention and love in this fandom (please).

No TWs. Just endless fluff.

How they act when they have a crush on you:

Sakura Haruka:

Oh. Oh.

Brace yourself for a whirlwind of profound confusion. You will simply not be able to tell if Haruka hates your guts, wishes to never lock eyes with you ever again, or actually wants to smother you with affection to the verge of death.

The way Haruka instantly blushes at your mere sight, crimson seeping all the way down to his neck and collarbone, will make you dizzy with fondness for him. But the way he equally proceeds to stammer at cheery greeting, before spitting something along the line of "I wasn't waiting for you or anything!" before huffing and puffing and disappearing, will make you feel dejected and abandoned at times.

Haruka will spend his mayhem-like crushing stage both near you, always protecting and watching over you, and from a distance, panicking at these strange feelings welling up within his heart and filling him with a warmth he has never experienced before.

My dear, be patient with this foolish child, for he has suffered so much. He likes you so, so, so much that he does not know what to do with himself. But do no fear. Once Haruka's heart is set, nothing, and no one, can make it sway away from you.

Umemiya Hajime:

If you thought spending time with Umemiya was enjoyable before, time filled with nothing but his tender smiles and light jokes, wait until you become the only person reflected in his eyes.

Umemiya will simply refuse to let you leave his side. Wherever he goes, you have to be there, hand entangled in his.

Expect to be enveloped in hugs at all times of the day, and for seemingly no reason at all. If Umemiya is happy, deep in thought, sleepy, or even hungry, he will first reach out to squeeze you in his arms before beginning to whine about whatever state he is currently in.

Brace yourself to be considered as the boss' girl, even if Ume has yet to tell you about his feelings. Umemiya will ensure you get treated with as much respect as he receives, and will make it clear for everyone in the school that you are not to be touched.

Umemiya will try to gauge your level of comfort before attempting to start any kind of romantic relationship with you, which might lengthen the crushing stage by a while. But once he feels that only an affectionate yes will be your answer, Ume will not waste any more time.

Choji Tomiyama:

You might think Choji's friendly attitude and cheery aptitude will make differentiating between his platonic and romantic affections highly difficult. But once you start experiencing being the target of his fondness and devotion, you will realize how extremely wrong you were.

If you thought Choji was touchy before, brace yourself to experience true clinginess.

Choji has to be touching you at all times. A hand at the small of your back as you walk with the team, an arm around your waist as you sit together on a bench, and even a hand tightly holding yours as you cross a busy street.

Choji's smile, bright as the sun, will increase in intensity each time you make your way to him after finishing up your tasks for the day. Expect to be showered with straightforward compliments, and seemingly never-ending praise, as you fight off a deep blush from dominating your features.

Rest assured. Choji will not be able to keep his crush a secret for long. So hang on tight and wait for him.

Kiryu Mitsuki:

Oh, to have Kiryu pine over you. What a literal dream.

Expect to be pampered. Lots and lots.

Kiryu will offer his arm to you whenever you have to walk down a flight of stairs, gently hold your hand in the crowded areas of the town, and offer you the most honeyed praises about your clothes, style, face, and everything.

Do not ever be afraid of walking home in the dark after finishing a late study session. Kiryu will always be there, leaning against the wall opposite your building, waiting for you.

His face would instantly brighten under the street lamp as soon as he spots you. He would greet you with his usual cat-like grin, before starting to ask you about your day. Kiryu will distract you with the conversation as he takes away your bag, heavy or not, and slings his own jacket on your shoulders, all within the span of a few seconds.

Late night walks have never felt safer than with him by your side, ready to send anyone, who would even do as much as glance at you, face first into the floor.

Reciprocating a crush has never felt this easy before.

[theofficialpresidentofmars]

zuko and katara have genuinely SUCH an interesting dynamic and relationship to explore when you don’t have a bitch in your ear trying to tell you they should kiss.

like there’s nothing objectively wrong with shipping zut4ra but i CANNOT find any proper duo content of them that isn’t romantic or romantically implied and it annoys me. no i don’t think they would work. no i don’t think Katara would give up her man for that guy of all people. no I don’t think Zuko would be romantically interested in Katara. yes i do think that reducing all of their feelings towards each other into ‘romance’ oversimplifies and undermines the depth of the platonic relationship that they actually do have in established canon. yes whatever I’m sure there’s something sweet about a boy trying to get a girl to forgive him by helping her get revenge on the guy that killed her mom but don’t you think that it’s actually much more profound if there are no romantic ulterior motives whatsoever and it’s actually just a demonstration of the lengths Zuko will go to because he cares deeply about his friends and their feelings and what they think about him and he wants Katara to like him and he’s genuinely sorry that he broke her trust by warming up to her slightly before betraying them and to make sure she knows that he was being sincere and he actually was touched by what she said he tries to find a way for her to heal a wound that he knows tears her apart and it’s a wound he wishes he could heal in himself. and he does it because he’s trying to earn her forgiveness, not her love. he’s trying to earn himself the right to look her in the eye, not to hold her hand. he’s trying to amend for the mistakes of his people for nothing but the better of others.

and when Katara offers to heal him in the cave, it’s not because she’s fallen head over heels at all, or even in the slightest. she’s the first to see the light in him, and she sees a boy who’s been hurt by the fire nation in a similar way to her. she recognises that if she can convince him to come with her now, the gaang is up by a firebending teacher and a friend at best, and down an enemy at least at worst. for a moment she sees him for who he is and what he’s been through and it’s not because she likes him. the thought doesn’t even cross her mind, it’s just in her nature as a person to be caring and understanding and she has the help she can tell he needs, so she extends a hand.

and when they face Azula together? Katara was the first to reach out when it was almost the right time, and she’s the one who’ll be there to help him see it through. When he takes a bolt for her, isn’t it more profound that he jumps in front of the bolt not out of romantic love, but because Zuko is the kind of person who would put himself in mortal danger for anyone he cared about? Because his heart’s too big and because he’s seen those he love get hurt too many times to stand there and let them take it?

anyway I’ve spent too much of this post refuting romance but not actually expressing what it is i do like about their platonic dynamic but it’s late and i don’t have the words. so i’ll just say it’s such in that it would be really funny if Zuko instead dated Katara’s brother. and they yap together and she gives him a list of interests and he tells her embarrassing date stories. they also yap a lot about Aang because like. Zuko’s bff and Katara’s bf he’d probably come up a lot. also Maiko’s platonic shit-talking exes/close friends dynamic solos their romantic dynamic but that’s a discussion for another day ^-^

ship name censored because I don’t intend for any negativity to actually intrude upon certain shipping spaces lmao. i’m rarely opinionated but i don’t really care tbh i just wish there was more platonic stuff out there or i saw less romantic stuff el oh el

[jerreeeeeee]

more and more i find myself interested in the period of time where barry and lup were best friends and sort of both knew they were starting to have romantic feelings but also were both not ready to act on them and continued to be close friends.

like so often i’d resist that sort of story, because they end up in a romantic relationship, and so it feels like that feeds into that narrative of “inevitability,” it feels like it retroactively cancels out the “platonic explanation” for how close they were before, but i don’t think that’s actually true for them? the “inevitability” isn’t that they’d develop romantic feelings, because any friendship that close must eventually become romantic, rather it’s that they happen to develop romantic feelings, and so it’s inevitable that they trust and love each other enough to take their time and change their relationship as they want to, because their friendship means so much to them.

there was a platonic explanation for how close they were before they started feeling romantically and before they started labelling their relationship as romantic, because before all that, their relationship was platonic. they were close friends who loved each other and then they fell in love romantically. they still loved each other equally as much when they were “””just””” friends. if they’d never developed those romantic feelings they’d still be close and love one another. (case in point; their respective relationships to taako, or at the very least lup’s relationship to taako, which is equally close and deep and loving, yet platonic, and in fact directly mentioned as remaining just as important to lup) (and really, case in point their relationships to everyone on the starblaster. in the monologue about lup and barry, griffin takes care to mention that the relationships between everyone on the crew had become indescribably close, and never positions their romance as being “more” than any of the others’ friendships).

the reason i dislike friends to lovers is because usually those stories imply that romance is the inevitable end to a close friendship, that romance is a deepening of a relationship, but taz balance so pointedly does not say that about all its other myriad deep and profound platonic relationships; the narrative, at every turn, fully respects its friendships and platonic bonds, so this one happening to be a romance doesn’t actually bother me. it does actually feel like a choice people made because they felt like it and wanted to, rather than being forced in, and it doesn’t reinforce amatonormative bias, because the story doesn’t.

their ending up as a romance doesn’t invalidate the friendship beforehand, because the friendship was already so deep and valuable to both of them. and honestly, from the way the monologue goes, it seems to me that they weren’t exactly pining, they weren’t longing to deepen their relationship, they didn’t experience distance before becoming a couple; they were together every step of the way. it was already deep and close and loving before they decided to change it, and they took their time because that was how they wanted to do it. not being together romantically never stopped them from spending time together or valuing their relationship or loving one another.

[slaaverin]

One of the things that confuses me about jikook possibly being a couple is they don’t read very romantic to me these days. They absolutely do love each other, I have no doubt about that, and multiple times they will do things that are bizarrely sexual and wouldn’t fit well in a purely platonic relationship but there’s still something missing imo. It’s funny, they used to come across as more romantic when they were younger (particularly 2017-2021) but not so much in 2022 and 2023. Maybe it’s that they’ve known each other for so long that some of the romance has died down the same way it does with other couples or idk maybe they’re just better at hiding it now?

I half agree with you and half not.

I think they still read romantic.

As you said, maybe not like before.

But I think our vision is skewed because before chapter 2 we saw them more too. We had interactions almost every day. Jikook jikooked all the time. So to us it felt more, whereas after the start of chapter 2 we saw them way less, but in my mind I have no doubts those interactions were still happening behind the scenes.

I don't think the romance has died down or that they are hiding per se.

I think that simply after a certain amount of years in a long-term relationship the affection is shown in a more quiet and simple way. It shows they are very secured in the relationship.

They kept saying "this is romantic" "this is romance" and all, so I'm sure they had this idea in mind during those trips.

Of course it would be romantic, they are together and they share a romance. I don't see two friends saying something like this, it wouldn't even cross their minds.

I think during AYS they shared very tender moments. Very affectionate moments. There was also a lot of flirting and weird sex jokes. I don't think their romance is dead at all, simply that they didn't have to scream it on rooftops. Those trips were for them two above all.

I also would like you to keep in mind that they showed only a limited amount of hours per day. And were also mindful to what they showed or not. I believe they were somewhat careful not to show too much in front of camera (even if some things that was shown were already really shocking to me).

I think jikook see each other a lot outside of schedule, and that allows them to be a normal couple. They've come a long way. So now in front of cameras they have nothing to prove anymore, not to themselves or to us, because they've already shared everything that was politically correct to share with us during all those years.

Now they can simply be casual in their interactions, with a sense of deep love and care that breathes normalcy without any need to show off, because they don't need to. They both know where they stand. They both know what they mean to each other.

I personally didn't see their relationship having less romance than before in AYS, in truth I saw that their relationship evolved into something even deeper and more certain than ever.

It's like going from new couple to married couple, there is a different feel to it. But it's not less. It's a love that is more profound but doesn't need to be as loud.

I don't think there is anything missing, they've given us everything I personally wanted and more. Yes in 2022-2023 we saw them less but the times we did they were jikooking as usual. It's safe to say the relationship didn't change behind close doors and with what we saw in AYS I think it evolved way more than any of us could have expected or imagined.

During all this time they were still on their journey as a couple even if we didn't see it.

And the cherry on top is MS, they were the only one enlisting together, going to great length to remain together.

I'm not saying that MS is romantic in any way, I don't believe they would be much in a romance mood in there at all. But the act of enlisting just to be sure they can have each other's presence and support is a very romantic move to me, very telling of how much they really care. Which is a lot.

Wait until 2025 to hear them incessantly yap about all their military stories and all the behinds of AYS, wait for all of their insides jokes that will turn into flirting as usual and you'll tell me again if they are not as romantic as before lmaooo

We're going to see them way more and the jikooking will be back full force and I pray the lord that people will stop constantly doubting them and we can go back to regular program

Some romantic shots to finish off:

Straight out of a romance movie 🥺

Take care anon 💜

[anxietycheesecake]

I'm sorry that you're being attacked and blocked for having valid criticisms. It's really weird to be new to this fandom and watch it go from a fairly positive space to fans being as nasty to each other as Star Wars fans in such a short period of time, especially when the crumbs people are cobbling together and calling a canonized ship is what we scrape for in other fandoms with ships we know will never be canon and we KNOW we're stretching the material we're given. I love my queerplatonic ships, found families, and platonic soulmates. I can absolutely enjoy Nandermo through that lens, but the gaslighting and mental gymnastics here is raising such a fucking eyebrow and you don't deserve to feel like you've done something wrong for recognizing it.

Being allosexual or alloromantic is as valid as being asexual or aromatic and it's actually so fucking unchill to conflate being gay or pan with being ace or aro just because they are all under the queer umbrella.

Ace =/= celibate, but half this fandom thinks Guillermo is a virgin and I can't help but think that's being bundled into the hot takes that are coming out right now when it's canon that he's uncomfortable due to being in the closet and his Catholic upbringing. Yes, he could be ace, but that means at best were batting 1/4 for aroace Nandermo.

Nandor has sex with Gail onscreen and is very clearly not ace. The vampires would have MINIMALLY mentioned Guillermo being a virgin and wouldn't have eagerly asked about his sex life in Atlantic City if they thought he was one and they practically have radar for it. He was panicking over Jeremy being a virgin and having brought him into the house and the only thing that saved the guy was losing his virginity. Nandor and Guillermo are both romantic in romantic relationships, and both are expressive about it and tell others they love them.

When you speedrun the entire series and the notable interviews with fresh eyes and not over a stretch of years the leap between 'My Nan- Master' vs. best friends, cuddling a Nandor puppet at night, the I'll make you a vampire speech vs. the vibe in the warrior speech is SO visible and it fits perfectly with Simms' public discomfort with fans shipping Nandor and Guillermo. He is openly uncomfortable with them being in a romantic relationship or having sex with each other and uses every homophobic gaslighting tactic in the playback when speaking about it.

“No, I do think there’s a small subset of very vocal people on Twitter who are like ‘We want to see Nandor and Guillermo hook up,’ and we’re always like, I think their love is bigger and more profound than that,” Simms said. “And also do you really want to see that? Do you?”

This is literally how straight people talk when they're uncomfortable with queer shit. What haven't we seen in this show other than that? Is Nadja and Laszlo's love lesser for it?

“Times that we’ve talked about it and explored it, the power dynamics seem so problematic,” Simms continued. “I mean, that’s his boss.”

In a show where the main couple started with nonconsensual sex (it's still noncon if it turns out that they could have had sex without hypnosis) and Laszlo fucks Colin Robinson after raising him for a gag. Sure, keep telling yourselves that the power dynamic is what makes Simms uncomfortable.

"I mean, it's a nice thought, for some...I don't know about these guys" Kayvan says as he nods toward Simms.

I've seen the Harvey interviews and talking heads from earlier seasons on the subject of Nandermo. The 2024 panel couldn't have been more different, and Harvey seemed completely subdued when the others were discussing Nandermo fanart and them being a ship.

This isn't a person who deserves applause for queer representation and it seems toxic af that Harvey has been stuck in a workplace where he has to hear this drivel when he's openly gay. Yes, I am side eyeing the fuck out of this and it's not because I'm crying over wanting my blorbos to smooch.

You can actually have a romantic pair not kiss or fuck or say I love you without pulling a very clear 'no homo.' That would have been totally fine, but they didn't do that. Copy and paste that scene into anything starring Andy Samberg, or literally anything bro centric and tell me it's a romantic love confession. Or rather, try taking it off tumblr and see if anybody thinks it isn't deep platonic male friendship.

It's okay for people to be upset when they've been hoodwinked. It's okay to separate fanon from canon and still enjoy your ships. But ffs stop gaslighting each other and saying non-romance is romance or that non-romance has more worth than romance and that people are shallow for not valuing it when that's not the problem people have with this, and when that isn't the bill of good audiences we're sold in earlier seasons.

The call is coming from inside the house it shouldn't be.

(Also SO sorry for how long this was).

Never apologize for articulating this better than I ever could. I'm too lazy to look for all the recipes I know are out there, so most of the shit I say is like "source: trust me bro"; I'm glad someone else did it.

The aspec thing makes me so mad because, as a writer, I'm always going out of my way to properly and respectfully represent aspec folks. Like, I've got two novels starring an ace woman and an aromantic man. Do I deserve a medal for that? Of course not! It should be normal. But it's kind of infuriating that people are willing to give aspec rep credit to a show just because it made two male characters stay platonic after teasing their relationship for years and call me aphobic for pointing out that's not the case.

[arcaneconfessions]

Remember the joke "jayvik's last moments feels gayer than caitvi sex"? I personally think it's funny ,but I can understand why someone, especially a caitvi shipper, finds it annoying. Though yall gotta remember it's mainly joke and is not meant to be an attack against wlw ship so don't claim that someone saying it, is lesphobic immediately.

I must say though that I honestly think why a lot of people resonate with this joke is because, yeah it's funny to say, but I think it's mainly because the implications, or rather the emotions it brought out to the people. CaitVi sex scene is good and all, but feels very fanservice and it doesn't help the mood at all when you remember the whole Jinx situation. If the intention is to create a parallel similar to what happened with the "JayMel Sex that keeps cutting into Viktor" scene, well it didn't work that well.

Anyways, continuing on, the whole JayVik scene just screams love, whether it's platonic or romantic, where it gives you more emotional impact. It also helps with how Jayce and Viktor's dynamic is and their interactions with one another. Also, despite the difference in upbringing, they try and see one another as equals. There is some hiccups, but they always go back to one another as equal. The scene also feels wholesome or rather you can feel the understanding and connection between the them. Lastly, the lines they both said to one another. You know the feeling when you feel ashamed of something about yourself and what you did but someone you care about still accepted you and stayed with you or you acknowledging and deciding to stay with someone despite their flaws or possible hardships you'll face together due to uncontrollable circumstances. That whole scene feels like that (atleast to me), it's emotional, vulnerable, and very heartfelt. The JayVik end scene is not gayer literally, but rather what it really shows us is how the JayVik end scene has a more emotional depth, because it showed the viewers the profound undertsanding and care they both have to one another, making it more impactful compared to the CaitVi sex scene.

Another ship that gave a better emotional impact is TimeBomb. Their relationship dynamic for one another is always in the bg, except the whole s2 ep7 and part of ep9. And man, they make use of their time for those scenes effectively and efficiently. Powder and Ekko's dance and kiss scene has more impact then CaitVi's sex scene as well.

If any ya'll think it's this is just a complaint of someone against a sex scene in general hence not vibing with it, the JayMel scene gave a better impact that feels natural and not fanservice. Like yeah, they had sex like CaitVi but that moment is perfectly done and didn't feel out of nowhere. It served the narrative and symbolism. It showed us that, Mel can and will manipluate the situation in her favor, but also showed to us that she became attached to Jayce emotionally that she feels hurt by Jayce not being beside her when she woke up. At the same time, shows us Jayce, despite being well meaning, is turning into a politician rather than a scientist the closer he got with Mel, which unintentionally is like betraying Viktor in some way. The whole CaitVi scene also, supposedly, does the same thing and idea, but feels uneasy, offputting, underserved, so sudden or like " oh.... ok. This is happening" typa way. You can remove the scene and it wouldn't change the story. There isn't a direct effect on later scenes, like the scene where Mel is upset with Jayce and Jayce saying he went to Viktor bc he's dying. It also serves as a set up to show Mel's different side that's not political or scheming and manipluating something into her favor, but her emotions or personal stance in things.

Basically, the CaitVi sex scene does not properly serve the narrative or gave a major emotional payoff/impact as big as other scenes for other relationships to the viewers, unless if you're looking forward a CaitVi sex. It might have given a big impact for the wlw ship community, but for the character arc or the story's progression, it's very fanservice. Nothing wrong with fanservice, but don't be surprised if it doesn't affect other people the same way, especially if they're not as heavily invested on it.

Anyways, love ya'll. 💙💙💙

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