#seamonster talks

[itsaseamonster]

Replaying Baldur's gate 3 but thinking about Dragon age 2. In this essay-

[cyradius]

An extremely quick rough little doodle of my sona and blue from sea beast based on a shot from the film partly because I need to release my doodles more and also because blue from sea beast is very much the marketable small adorable animated movie side character for me. also very much like that the movie is decently enjoyable and comments on the dangerous othering of the other side that the cycle of war promotes and how the victors write the history books.

[vpofcookies]

Me when I think of my ocs that I never talk about or draw

[prisiidon]

Gurl that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen- Viscera! seamonster zora~ 💜 When talking her mouth doesnt move (may slightly part), tho her jaw unhinges wide if not wideR when eating/yawning!

[mobydykes]

Do we have canon ages for the main cast? I wanna know just what that age gap you were talking about with Jiminy is👀

It might not be rude to ask undead were-seamonsters their age, but you're not gonna exactly get an accurate age on account of "mostly living in the ocean and not giving a fuck" thing.

[discobiscotto]

“Signor Marcovaldo is my father, call me Alberto, Alby…or Maestro 😏”

If we’re talking predictability in design, adult Alberto was NOT easy. I had literally nothing to work from. No (living?) family to compare to, no hints at what kindof quirks he may develop. I had nothing!

All I had was that (assumed) deep-seated desire to be accepted, useful/helpful, and not left behind…..that, and yanno, that Charisma In Excess (as a KID no less, dude calm that shxt down or you’re grounded lol)

Alot of pawing around in the dark and just going with what felt right to me.

I took some cues here and there. Some pretty forward and commonly accepted (“You, the big strong one.” etc), others subtle and unassuming but I ran like the wind with it?

Anyway, here we go. What’s the deal with this walking bowl of spaghetti anyhow?

This will be a two parter. His seamonster form requires a separate post.

Alberto as I said is a bit of a wild card. He doesn’t have as much of an obvious blueprint compared to Luca or Giulia.

His physical appearance for his human form was based solely on environmental influence.

Physically I imagined him to be a bit rough around the edges. Kindof gaunt but not so much that he looks sick or weak. He’s pretty much just one big muscle. Not an ounce of fat on him. Nothing but sinew. Very toned and muscular but certainly not huge. He’s just solid and FIT.

He’s a guy from the docks. He’s a fisherman. He’s salty and peppered in scars. Heavy calloused hands. He picked up smoking at a young age. He spends endless hours in the sun, thus he’s still very freckly as an adult. His impulsive ass got a tooth busted out in a fist-fight. Five o clock shadow and untidy sandy facial hair. I imagined his hair growing more “out and up” than down. Tight coils suggest he’d likely have a ‘fro or pomp, so I combined the two, keeping that old Alberto “top heavy” hairdo lol.

Profoundly Italian, so he’s pretty furry everywhere. Being a hard worker for years, excessive sun exposure, substance use, he looks alittle “older” than he actually is. (Pushing 34 ish).

I made him very tall, 6’4” ish. I admit, I love a good “Tall Man x Small Man” dynamic, so that’s definitely a shameless “luberto-centric” choice lol But I also considered a funny “goldfish” concept where just like a goldfish only gets bigger when his bowl is bigger…perhaps nature was trying to make him “compete” and measure up or even end up bigger than Massimo. 😆

If there’s one thing I learned from “Ciao Alberto” it’s that Alberto has a deep desire to be useful and accepted. He tries through the entire film to impress Massimo and in turn hope Massimo accepts him and sees Alberto can be just as good at his knife-wielding barrel heaving badassery as he is.

Alberto ultimately ending up as a fisherman by trade was an easy choice. Not only do I write what I know (being a Mainer in the coast with a deep affinity with fishermen and shipbuilders) but it is the ultimate way to show his love for Massimo. To help carry on the legacy.

Alberto has mastered some unlikely skills as well. Not as unlikely as you’d expect though considering his desire to impress Massimo.

So consider this:

-Alright, Massimo is great at cooking. Alberto sucks EPICALLY at first but over time, his motivation to measure up to his hero and dad-figure makes him an amazing cook? Check.

-Massimo likes to sing. Alberto picks it up and finds he’s an Unreasonably Excellent Singer and prodigious musician who plays by ear? DOUBLE CHECK.

(Note: The lore and reasons behind this and Alberto’s mandolin will be a blogpost on its own eventually)

-Alberto being a competent and prolific/productive fisherman resulting in the family biz growing and delivering outside of Portorosso? Definitely a proud moment for Massimo.

So to me it all checks out, and drives home Alberto’s strong gumption and the next generation being better than the generation before. As a parent, I subscribe to this goal. I want my boys to be the “Big Strong Ones.”

There’s also the bit that Alberto is a bit of a lush and a party animal. Charismatic, has a bit of a Casanova complex. Charm pouring out of his ears. Why? Well, dang, I really don’t know. I guess bringing it back to that “Charisma In Excess” statement at the beginning of this, it just felt right somehow. I had it so that he really wasn’t all that conventionally attractive but had a level of animal magnetism that’s hard to resist.

There’s lore behind that too…but will be reserved for his “Fish Form” post.

I dunno, it’s probably cus he’s Italian. It could be that simple. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[violetscanfly]

Here's part two of the mermaid au doodles!

The drama has arrived

More ramblings about what's happening under the cut!

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5

They're at some sort of a social event of the clans that takes place on a ship, definitely not lwj's wedding though since he wasn't engaged to mm in the first place (much to lqr's irritation.)

Jgy has been getting close to lxc in hopes of potentially advancing his status through marrying into the Lan clan because his future at Jin clan is seeming pretty dim at the moment. Whether he has actual feelings for lxc is up to you. There's only one problem, that being lwj who seems to know he's up to something and needs to be dealt with. Though the younger of the twin jades isn't known for either drinking or partying hard, quite the opposite, him drinking alcohol by mistake and stumbling over the edge is believable enough. The Lans aren't known for their high tolerance after all.

What jgy hasn't accounted for is that now there's someone practically glued to lwj's side. He waits for the right moment that just doesn't come, so he just decides to go for it. He can be subtle, distracting them with small talk (that is frustratingly hard when lwj only gives one word answers and his friend only communicates with sign language he doesn't understand,) but wwx ends up catching him slip the drug into lwj's drink anyway. He sees red and in a fit of protective rage he attacks jgy, slipping back into his original form.

The humans are horrified and nmj hauls wwx off jgy. (Ironic I know, but he hates the "seamonsters" more than he hates jgy.) Wwx slams into the railing of the deck and curls up in pain before lwj rushes to him. Wwx had not revealed his true form to lwj in fear of him seeing him as a "monster" and loosing him. As they stare at each other in other in horror (wwx bc his secret is out and Lan Zhan must hate him now and lwj because he is reeling from how is he going to protect Wei Ying in a situation like this) lxc comes to try and pull him back from the dangerous creature that's been hiding under their noses for weeks.

This is as far as I've drawn so far but there'll probably be more to come later!

[00queasy00]

20 questions for fanfic writers

me talking to my partner: wait am i fanfic writer??

partner: you literally have published stories on that fanfic website. you literally wrote a fic without art a few weeks ago.

me: hmmmm >__>

ANYWAYS thank you trippy <3 <3 <3

this was my first time looking at my own ao3 statistics :o ----------------------

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

16 works in total! most are art works for challenges or fests <3

7 written stories!! (wow wtf when did that happen?) one of them has art included.

2. what's your total ao3 word count?

10,845 words

3. what fandoms do you write for?

Mainly tomarry tbh, but also hazbin

4. top five fics by kudos:

ao3 is showing me a mix of my written fics and my art posting so...ç

in order:

Her silly speaker

(ART) the implicating scale

a very harry drawtober

Heaven

naughty pen and ink trolls

5. do you respond to comments?

i try to...like 80% of the time, but the 20% of the time i dont have anything additional to say - but i do read and appreciate every single comment <3 <3 <3

6. what is the fic your wrote with the angstiest ending?

none LOL i am a happy ending person

BUT maybe "haunting you", since theres no clear ending....i do think about finishing it.

7. what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

mmmm maybe: The Golden Snitch Kiss ?

8. do you get hate on fics?

fortunately no.

9. do you write smut?

no lol

10. craziest crossover?

none since i dont have crossovers written :,0

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i know of.....

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

not that i know of..... x2

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

nope

14. all time favorite ship?

tomarrymort! the creators in this fandom are insanely talented and so passionate <3 thank you all for sharing your fancreations with us all!!!

15. what's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

seamonster bait AU / champions AU / Cedric bullying AU

16. what are your writing strengths?

writing short stories

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

writing HAHAHA

okay but for reals, writing "in character". i struggle with lowering my own voice and letting characters talk through me instead. how do you guys do that?

also editing after the "shit draft / first draft" -> it is why i keep my stories nice and very short in comparison to other published stories hehehe

18. thoughts on dialogue in another language?

i like when authors do this. yet i dont feel comfy to do it myself tho.

20. favorite fic you've written? i have three fics for different reasongs, i refuse to pick

- Her silly speaker -

i have wanted to write an uncommon POV via Nagini, and also i was attempting a twilight reference but i believe i chicken"d out last minute? Anyways I had Harry call Nagini "Bella" in reference of "where have you been loca??!!" hahahhah X

- haunting you -

an ambitious story that outgrew my intentions, yet not fully bloomed. I enjoyed figuring out a more "original storyline and setting" than following the canon world and its rules and plotlines.

like i have mentioned earlier, i wouild like to add more to this story and maybe flesh it out properly with time.

- the treactle tart chef -

in this one, my most recent written fic, i really sprinkled in a few of my favorite characterizations of tom that i enjoy seeing a lot. idk if these character traits and behaviors are evident to others besides me BUT i am glad i had fun writing this one a lot after a good while of not writing.

Tagging:

@liquidluckandstuff - answer these questions too! >: )

@albondiguilla007 @cealesti @catjar91 @isalisewrites @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger @tommarvoloriddlesdiary @valkyrie-chemist @chaos-bear and whoever else that wants to join !!!

[wolfstarshipping]

I’m in a reading slump, do you have any good fics that you can recommend me?

Hi, thanks for asking lovely anon! I've thought about this and I have several different approaches on how to answer your ask, so this'll be a longer list, I hope you find something you like!

First category: Texting Fics!

I love text fics because they're usually very fast-paced and easy to read, so I think they might be a good way to combat a reading slump!

You could either go with the iconic Text Talk by merlywhirls (141.250 words), a boarding school AU with a home-schooled, chronically ill Remus, a true classic and the fic that started the whole wolfstar texting fic trend back in the day!

Or, one of my personal favorites from the same era for purely nostalgic reasons, aesthetic: trash boys by Emaly/merlywhirls (89.473 words, everyone is super queer, strong chosen family vibes, with an HIV positive Remus and genderqueer Sirius).

Or if you want a modern text fic classic, there's always Staying Strangers by 3amAndCounting (319.368 words, university AU, this is one of those fics I've reread a couple of times already, just because I love it so much, especially the texting in the beginning).

Snow In June by BrigidFaye (25.561 words) is a magical AU set in the US that also has some texting elements, even though it's not as text-heavy as the fics mentioned above, but the worldbuilding and the setting is wonderful, and lumberjack Remus is everything I ever needed in my life!

Dear Your Holiness by @mollymarymarie (142.264 words) is a priest AU and band AU, with a bit of texting, though this one is also already kind of moving into the next category of fics mentioned below. Obviously the whole catholic priest theme is not going to be for everybody, but if you think you might enjoy that, I highly recommend it, it's so, so good! And if you don't think you'll enjoy the themes of this fic, check out literally any other fic by mollymarymarie, I think at this point I've read almost all of them and enjoyed every single one I read immensely!!

Alright, so now the next category is fics with plots that will get you out of any reading slump:

I've recently become obsessed with @lynxindisguise's fics, so I'd also recommend checking out all of them, but since I've mostly recommended longer fics on this list so far, I'll go with a shorter one: in the dark, there is discovery (11.796 words) is a wonderful pirate AU that you can easily read in one evening, and it has beautiful world building, Remus Lupin as a seamonster and my new favorite trope - there was only one hammock.

Let Me Get What I Want (This Time) by Sierra_Sitruc (69.878 words) is a plot-driven and amazing fix-it-fic, that I keep thinking about even months after I've read it, and that had me stay awake at ungodly hours just because I couldn't put it down and wanted to know how it ended!

The Bent by @ebp-brain (40.257 words) is an incredible fic about queer lives, politics and art, oppression and resistance, so if any of those things sound like something you'd enjoy I highly recommend reading it, I always love earlybloomingparentheses' writing, it's so, so beautiful and powerful!

take me as i am (48.494 words) has one of the most unique settings I've ever read - it features Sirius as an (adorable) sleep demon, who is supposed to give Remus nightmares, and I also love the way this fic depicts various mental illnesses.

In saccharine by moonymoment (26.447 words) Sirius is a ghost haunting Remus's apartment, and this is another one of those fics I keep thinking about because it was just so so good.

full moon twofold by renaissance (12,031 words) is a Gothic-romance style AU and an incredible take on the question "what if Remus never went to Hogwarts?".

And now maybe a few shorter fics:

The first rec in this category is not even a specific fic but just a tumblr account: @wolfstarmicrofic, if you scroll through their blog you'll find lots and lots of really short fics which might just be what you need to get back into reading!

In You, I Count Stars by @wolfpants (1.540 words) is a wonderful hogwarts-era oneshot set in the Astronomy Tower with a pining Sirius.

It's Cold Outside by Remustrash (1.788 words) is a very fluffy and cosy there-was-only-one-bed fic, featuring the most oblivious of all oblivious puppies!

June, and Other Natural Disasters by montparnasse (5.524 words) is a beautifully written fic that made me feel all the feels and has great summer vibes!

Okay and the last category is fics with A+ vibes that'll make you forget all about your reading slump:

The Long Way Home by @hollyivydruzy (177.337 words) is a university AU and the kind of fic I didn't want to ever end, because the characters felt so incredibly real, and it's so easy to get completely immersed and lost in their wonderful, chaotic world and follow along on all their university adventures.

this desperate in love by drowsyanddazed (20.776 words) is a very cute high school AU, and reading it felt like watching a coming of age / teen movie in the best kind of way!

wading in waist-high water by @colgatebluemintygel (82.060 words) is a Great British Bake-Off AU that features Remus as a contestant and and Sirius as a host who's thirsting after Remus, and I just love the whole setting and atmosphere of the fic, as well as the writing! And this fic's Arthur Weasley needs to be protected at all costs, I love him a lot!

A Brief History of Dragons by @eyra (23.488 words) is an incredibly cosy and wonderful modern AU set in Cornwall, I absolutely ADORE Remus in this fic and love the way his and Sirius's relationship slowly develops, this fic has such a special place in my heart.

Alright I think I could keep going and add to this list forever but I'll stop now, let me know if you read any of these, and I hope they'll end your reading slump! x

[itsaseamonster]

My recommended did something

[mega-punani]

If you have too many questions feel free to delete this one, but I am curious: what are the 'bad sanses' doing in the pirate au, if they're there at all? Do they control some islands? Are they another pirate crew? Are they seamonsters? With the Marines maybe? So many options!

YARRRR! Very good question... honestly though, I don't know much about the bad sans. I'm pretty sure they all have lore that I am unaware of, but I've only seen fanon stuff (SO I APOLOGIZE IF IM VERY VAGUE/WRONG) (One Piece SPOILER ALERT!!!!)

So, I didn't really think they would be in the au, but now that I think about it, it would be really cool if they were warlords of the sea! For those who don't know, warlords are pirates that basically are super powerful and so they are basically allied with the government.

I feel like Nightmare would definitely be a sea monster that lives in his castle in the depths of the sea, like the edge lord that he is. Error would be tormenting (more like pranking) marines for fun and would definitely get a kick out of fighting the main crew. He fucking HATES when the Marines tell him to do something. Dust is lowkey obsessed with getting stronger. He will literally kill anyone in his path for the sake of becoming greater. Even his own brother... Although, he seems remorseful and is often found talking to himself. Killer is... scary. No remorse, no way to contain him. He has nothing he cares for and will kill mercilessly. Whole ships will be blasted into high hell just cause he can. Is it so he could get stronger? Maybe? Who knows... (Found out Cross is technically not a bad sans, but I feel like ppl would still want to know sooooo) Cross would fo sho be brooding hella whenever there are meetings, Sometimes, he just doesn't show up. Cause why??? He doesn't really like going out and about talking with people so once in a while he'll actually listen to the Marines and take out weaker pirate crews.

BONUS: Dream is a Marine Admiral! Always looking to change his brother's heart, he is found visiting Nightmare only to be kicked out. He's a nice guy and finds the crew to be an incredibly charming bunch! Even if they are pirates,,,

[vaults-of-zin]

Kull of Atlantis miscellaneous thoughts

Being an earlier prototype of Conan the Barbarian most of the sotories are just straight up worse versions of later Conan stories.

There's about a dozen or so stories yet they all end up repeating themselves a lot. Probably a result of how they were/weren't published.

Like a full 50% are about scheming nobles sneaking into the palace to kill Kull and Kull beating the shit out of them.

Conan gets a lot of pre-kingship adventuring stories but every Kull story involves him being king so when he decides unseal ancient evils and plunder their cursed treasure he has a full royal court coming along with him telling him this is a bad idea.

Conan also gets to have a sexuality whereas Kull is wrtten to show how resiliant he is to the manipulating charms of womankind.

This comes off as very gay.

The only type of women in the Empire of Valusia are whiny teenage noblewomen.

The only type of political issue Kull everdeals with involve said whiny teenage noblewomen running off and having affairs.

For all Robert E. Howard loves to prattle about the degeneracy of civilisation, the only example of this he can throw out is scheming noblemen plotting to assassinate Kull. Which doesn't really contrast well with Kull since he also assassinated the last king.

The best story is The Cat and the Skull. Kull gets tricked into diving into a cursed lake full of seamonsters on the advice of a talking cat.

I think the best way to read Kull stories is to imagine them as a strongman dictator's propaganda puff-pieces. That's why the writer is so concerned with describing Kull as strong and virile. That's why every second story is about a consiracy to murder Kull. That's why they never discuss any of Kull's actual policy decisions.

[separatist-apologist]

Hi hi! First of all, I just finished Vanmerman and I am absolutely obsessed! I love it whenever Lucien is ready to commit murder just as soon as Elain gives the word. I hope you don't mind my asking, and please know it's no pressure and just genuine curiosity, but I noticed Vanmerman was in the same series with Erina and Feysand sea monsters. Does this mean we might get a Cassian sea monster?

You are DEFINITELY getting a Cassian!seamonster. @c-e-d-dreamer brought this up today? Right? Was that what we were talking about? Monster Cassian and his shiny, blood red tail?

[prisiidon]

Dealing with deep seamonster Bon 101

Also an open invite for your fish to be chill with him or aggro him lol 💜✨

• He’s a wanderer, giant ocean zola (zora variant), semi-passive unless aggro'd at first and speaks in short broken sentences. When coming across him he’s cautious, circles, stays his distance in the dark water, and may do an intimidation display/dragon-like screech while trying to distinguish whether you’re a threat. He’d rather avoid a fight.

• Do nOT flee!! As doing prey behaviour triggers hunt mode. Only do so if you have the means to get away!

• Don’t draw your weapon he could aggro! Although you could swing your sword around and scream to show you’re not worth fighting lol but he may rush at you. If you get him he’ll stay tf away and whine dhdjdjf

• If you offer him something, talk or look unbothered (to show that you’re chill) you’re more likely to be safe. Just keep the injured away (easy-meal brain activated lol. just a nibbl)

• Be prepared to do the redirect maneuver incase he goes in for an investigative bite.

• Have enough chill and careful interactions you’ll gain his trust and he’ll be curious! May even be able to pat his head, play or stick ur head in his jaws for a cool pic lol. Likes those who aren’t trying to kill hiM, and rumbles like a really low muffled motor when he’s happy.

• At this point he can help you traverse deep dark water as he knows to avoid nasti sea monster territories.

• closest to Seamonster Specialist Niles, so for any pointers, ask Niles.

• Bon is currently bringing specimens to him to pass onto Caeruleis alchemists/scientists! Give them specimens and they’ll give you stuff in exchange via Bon.

(Full bio here!)

[aswallowimprisoned]

Restless far from a Wine Dark sea - Exhaustion

Interrorgator Logan is watching the sea monster die of blood loss, but the show must go on.

Set within first 3 days of Nathaniel's captivity

Tw blood loss, injury, fainting/unconscious, threat, interrogation, drug mention, dying whumpee, captivity

@medwhumpmay snippet. I think I am aiming to complete the month because I am just stubborn like that. Today is short.

Masterlist

≪ °❈° ≫

“Do you want some water?”

Every line of the seamonsters body was lined with pain and fatigue as he leaned ever so slightly to accept a drink. He probably wasn’t dehydrated - he was on a constant drip to help compensate for the volume of blood loss he had gone through. But he seemed to enjoy sipping from the cup to wet his lips.

Logan waited for Fogal’s thirst to be quenched before asking;

“Can you tell me where on your body is hurting the most, and if you are experiencing any numbness anywhere?”

“Pain in my broken arm. The stab wounds at the top of my tail. My ribs hurt when I breathe.” Fogal listed, not making eye contact, “My tail muscles ache. I don’t know why. So do my hands I think.” He opened his tail fin out to its full massive size, shifting uncomfortably. “No numbness I don’t think. It’s difficult to tell.” He flexed his fingers. “I think maybe in my fingers. I don’t think I could hold a pencil right now...” Fogal looked down at his hand. His fingertips were tinged purple, his wrists swollen. His posture was filled with grief and acceptance. There was little Logan could do to soothe that.

“You used to give me opium.” Fogal spoke quietly.

“We did, but now it is going to make you sicker.” Logan said, with a calculated dose of real sympathy. He did not envy the dying merman’s predicament. “I don't wish to be cruel, but we need answers. You understand I want to keep people safe…” 

Fogal nodded and closed his eyes.

Logan asked his questions.

The merman answered questions, his voice coming in short bursts, becoming weak and thready, till his eyes were half shut and glazed with pain.

Fogal answered questions till he passed out.

Logan didn't want to be cruel. Maybe next session the sea monster could have his morphine, and Logan could get more information. He would have to talk to the doctors.

[discobiscotto]

Just Guys Bein’ Dudes: A Needlessly Huge TED-Talk About Luca & Alberto’s Relationship

Ready for some big-brain BS?

Well, ready or not, here’s a “little” dive into how I interpret/perceive Luca and Alberto’s relationship.

Note: I’m referring to them as my own headcanon versions of them as men. It can certainly be applied to them as young adults and teens for sure, but I’m diving into ‘Ciao Luca’ territory specifically. So, there, just being clear on the who’s who.

What’s their deal anyhow?

Are they romantic partners? Are they attracted to eachother, yanno 👉🏻👈🏻? Buddies? Buddies with benefits? Are they even a couple? Are they husbands? What’s their deal?

So, a couple years ago when I was starting to get really busy with the headcanons, I went on a tear about their relationship to lay down some kind of clear foundation for it. I felt alittle conflicted at the time about how their relationship was going to feel/act like.

To me, because I love ambiguity, I wanted to keep that energy going from the original source material…but with alittle “oomph”…considering there’s been time and maturity tacked on. They can’t just be Pallin’ Around forever, something’s gotta give with chemistry that strong imo.

If I’m being honest, them being point-blank romantic partners felt too cliched and predictable/boring. Courtship, wooing, marriage…snore. It just didn’t feel like ‘them’ to me. It bordered heteronormative somehow. I was just …PUTTING MYSELF TO SLEEP.

Not to say they aren’t romantic, because they certainly are in their own right! It just isn’t the defining Vibe of their relationship.

As a queer lady with a pretty open mind in terms of what defines a relationship and/or bond, I believe that love expression is on a spectrum. Different strokes for different folks, yanno?

I scooted myself over to that old filing cabinet in my brain with random Greek Philosophy tid-bits (that I was impressed wasn’t put thru the incinerator) and I got polishing.

I remembered a few terms, like storge (family love), Eros: romantic, mania: obsessive/stalkerish love, agape, philia, the list goes on.

We’re gonna focus on PHILIA, typically deemed affectionate and/or “brotherly love”, I think also falls under platonic love.

We’re going to come back to this later☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻

As a couple of seamonsters (first and foremost) the human concept of love may not necessarily compute to them. Not that they get confused or turn their nose up at it, but rather it’s more boxed-in and rigid than, I guess, fish love? Haha.

Example: homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality as concepts are human inventions to help humans navigate their life and their identity in the world, be part of a tribe, and potentially find mates.

They’re social constructs, like gender conformity, and Mondays.

Seamonsters really don’t have that. They’re similar to humans in alot of ways, but in terms of attraction, love, and social awareness, they just kindof ride the wave and go where the current takes them.

Opposite sex pairings likely happen more often because [gestures] instincts and Makin’ Fries. But just like humans, same sex relationships happen just as much!…but seamonsters have no concept of homophobia (strictly a human invention) so there’s no discouragement or imposed fear of the relationship…it just happens if it’s meant to and the world keeps spinning. [deep sighs]

Luca and Alberto are aware of human society and customs (especially now that they’ve been living amongst them for atleast 15 years). So, they still try to do-as-the-humans-do sometimes. They know that they feel a strong bond to eachother that can’t be ignored, and when humans sense a similar bond between each other they express it by being physically intimate, or giving gifts, or creating things for eachother, etc.

So, basically, it boils down to “I love my friend, so I wish to express that love for him like that [gesture].”

Now bringing it back to Philia up there!👆🏻

That particular source defines philia as brotherly love, both must be men (in the Greek system), they respect and take pleasure in eachother’s company, bond through exploring philosophical truths, and sexual intimacy or attraction is optional.

This other source takes it a bit further saying that we could be diving into “friends to lovers” territory which is the aforementioned “oomph” I was referring to. The bridge into Eros stuff without being completely rooted there (ie your usual romantic pair).

Their relationship isn’t based on physical attraction, but began as a close friendship that progressed into something more. Not built on lust, but on mutual affection and respect for eachother.

They are an “unlikely” pair. Where a hockey hug became alittle tighter, and the joined hands in a good old “Piacere Girolamo Trombetta” started to linger.

They feel safe with eachother, they love and prefer eachother’s company, they share eachother’s worlds and feel deeply connected in them. Alberto cooks meals for them because he loves Luca, and Luca gives Alberto [SPOILER] because he loves him back.

They share a “I can’t quite put my finger on it but I feel safe, warm, and happy with you, I enjoy your company and what we have, I love the feeling of you being close to me, exchanging warmth and heartbeats, and I feel like this is more than going out on dates or ‘picking out curtains’.” kind of thing.

They’re roommates who kiss and “play house”. They are in love…but express it in their own unique way. They are openly affectionate. They keep people guessing, they confuse the neighbors, they have an “inside joke”.

Alberto lays on the housewife schtick: straightening Luca’s tie and sending him on his way with a packed lunch.

They call eachother heteronormative terms of endearment, mostly to be cheeky. Sarcastic “Honey” or “Dear” followed by someone affectionately ending up in a headlock.

They love to play with the human version of “married life”, little do they realize they’ve grown genuinely accustomed to it.

They’re queer but have no name and nowhere they’d rather be except each other’s arms (that one place that makes perfect sense).

They aren’t married…they never can get married…but that doesn’t stop them from sharing their homes, their beds, and a last name written on their Christmas cards.

In conclusion, humans say they’re gay.

The Paguro’s say “They built a farm together.”

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