#platonic life partners

[asciuto]

on the way home, I wrote a poem, you say "what a mind", this happens all the time

[sunandmoonseisai]

I know it's only my second post on this blog but I felt the need to ramble about wander over yonder.

Specifically, about the relationship between wander and Sylvia.

I don't usually use words such as "queerplatonic" but I think wander and Sylvia embody this concept really well.

What I mean is that they're not lovers but you can hardly write off their relationship as "just friends". I find it fascinating the way their relationship constantly stretch out the limits of what is conventionally acceptable for platonic friends.

They share drinks

They sleep close together

They casually go to a romantic restaurant together (granted, maybe wander was just here to stalk hater lol)

Most blatantly, their relationship awake the romantic jealousy of a crazy planet.

A lot of their moments are very intimate sweet. They also say "I love you" to each other multiple times.

What's more, they constantly put each other first, they're very touchy with each other, I could go on.

A lot of their moments can be traditionally interpreted as romantic. Does that make them lovers? Of course not. Love is often understanding as a binary between "friends" and "lovers" but wander and Sylvia goes way beyond that. There's nothing to understand other that they love each other and are very comfortable with expressing it regardless of the limits of "Platonic display of affection".

Wander over yonder portray platonic love as it own form, as powerful as romantic love. And I think it's both refreshing and important.

[turnaboutfix]

The correct way to represent Phoenix and Maya are like the Ice Climbers they always enter together and they always leave together do not separate ok

[silver-ink-iron-words]

“So you’ve heard, then?”

“That our parents want us to get married? Yes, I’ve heard.”

The protagonist lounged in their travelling tent, a glass of wine in hand. They were, in their mind, the very picture of regal despondency. 

“You don’t seem happy about it,” said the protagonist’s friend – their fiancé, now, they supposed.

“Are you?”

Their friend meandered further into the tent, looking over the protagonist’s books. “I don’t know. I guess if I have to be with someone . . .” A shrug. “It may be my best option for it to be you.”

“Your passion is overwhelming,” the protagonist deadpanned.

Their friend gave a wan smile. “I’m just trying to face facts.”

“Do you love me?”

Their friend looked up in surprise. 

It normally would have been embarrassing, to ask such a question so bluntly. But now, more than ever, was the time to have all their cards on the table.

To their friend’s credit, they didn’t shy away. “No,” they said. “Or . . . yes. But not how you mean.”

The protagonist took in a breath. “Explain.”

Their friend settled onto the sedan across from them, and was silent. The protagonist thought for a moment that they wouldn’t answer at all. But then they said, “If I could love anyone like that, it would be you.”

“But you can’t.”

Their friend cast their eyes over. “I’ve long suspected you of being the same.”

The protagonist leaned back, staring at the tarp ceiling. “Somewhat. I don’t feel romantic love, this is true. But I do feel . . .” They smiled to themself. “I find people sexually interesting, you could say.”

Their friend stilled. “Oh.”

“Do you think me a whore, for this?”

“No.” Their friend’s response was quick, and certain. It startled the protagonist.

A small lock of dread released in their heart. They smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Their friend cleared their throat. “Do you find me . . . interesting?”

The protagonist raised their brows. But, well, fair enough. Cards on the table.

“Yes,” they said, in all honesty.

Their friend nodded, seeming to pay close attention to the woven rugs splayed on the grass.

“I take it the feeling is not mutual.”

Their friend rubbed the back of their neck. “Do you think me cold, for not being able to feel any of it?”

“Never.”

Their friend nodded again.

But that did leave one question . . .

“Marriages usually involve sex,” the protagonist said. They placed their wine on the end table, leaning forward. “How were you planning to deal with that?”

Their friend shrugged. “Every station comes with its chores, I suppose.”

Horror washed over the protagonist.

“The wedding isn’t happening,” they said, bursting upwards. “I will speak with my father, I will – ”

“You will bring your country to ruin,” their friend said, rising to meet them. “Your kingdom needs this alliance even more than mine.”

“I will not take someone who is unwilling.”

Their friend stepped closer, and took the protagonist’s hand. “I would be willing.”

“Would you? Would you truly?”

Their friend faltered.

“I could not do that,” the protagonist said. “Not to anyone.” They squeezed their friend’s fingers. “And never to you.”

“So what, then?” Their friend met their gaze. “You’ll resign yourself to a life of celibacy? Because this marriage is happening, whether we like it or not.”

Now it was the protagonist’s turn to falter for words.

They both stayed like that for a time, stuck.

Then, a light flicked on in their friend’s eyes. “What if we got married, but as friends?”

The protagonist huffed out a laugh. “That’s an oxymoron, if I’ve ever heard one.”

“No, I’m serious.” Their friend took their other hand. “A marriage in name, but in practice . . .”

They dropped down to one knee, grinning. “[Protagonist], will you do me the honour of being my friend?”

The protagonist had to smile, in spite of themself. “What are you even suggesting?”

“We do the ceremony. Our kingdoms join. But we have separate beds. Separate rooms, even. And you can have a harem, with as many interesting people as you’d like. And I . . .” Their smile changed from scheming to sincere. “I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.”

The protagonist blinked. The idea sounded crazy, but . . .

“It could work.”

The next day, the two of them informed their parents the betrothal was happily accepted.

[spiderbae2319]

Who else loves platonic life partners in media? Like Captain Cold and Heatwave, Fennec and Boba, even Perry and Doof! I just love chaotic found family/friend combos and we deserve more of them!

[dadwhosagirl]

thinking about platonic life partners 🥰

[lilyginnyblackv2]

Just some Buddy Daddy thoughts.

I’m getting big Platonic Life Partners and Queerplatonic Relationship vibes from Kazuki and Rei, and that is honestly so exciting. For those that may not know the definitions, here they are.

Platonic Life Partners:

Text:  What is a platonic life partner? A platonic life partnership is a deep, committed relationship in which two people have chosen each other as their primary partner in much the same way as de facto or married couples – but without the romance and sex.

Queerplatonic Relationship:

Text:  Queerplatonic typically refers to a relationship that bends the lines between a romantic relationship and a non-romantic relationship.

In one of the interviews that came out recently, the creators talked about how they wanted to explore and show that a same-sex couple could raise a child together. It’s a modern idea and theme that they wanted to explore, and I praise them for that. While some of the ideology still falls into heteronormative concepts (Kazuki = the mom, Rei = the dad), it is still refreshing to see them want to tackle this concept. 

They are also approaching Miri and child-rearing from personal experience, wanting to depict it realistically, not glamorize it nor depict it as something uncool or awful either (this is something else that they talked about in the most recent interview). I hope they continue to show Kazuki and Rei grow into good fathers, and that series keeps some of the humor, but also heads in a more serious direction too. I think if they keep it too humor based, then it will lean a bit too much into the whole “bumbling men, can’t take care of kids” stereotype, but if we see the series head in a bit of a more serious direction, then there will be more of a message of “men can be great parents too,” which I think it is what the creators are going for (based on the interviews). 

Buddy Daddies has a lot of really great potential, and I am excited to see where it goes!

[laf-outloud]

Just saw someone say destiel is a groundbreaking ship

How?

Let's say dean is bi and in love with Cas, and Destiel get into a relationship, and they are boyfriends and all that

How would that be groundbreaking?

The only thing groundbreaking about Destiel and its shippers is it's connection with the increase in toxic shipping and harassment towards real people.

Not to mention that other shows actually highlighted canon queer relationships long before SPN was ever on the scene. If anything, SPN was a powerhouse for having its core relationship be platonic life-partners instead of romantic partners.

[agressivelyaro]

The title originally made me think it was about qprs but they were unwilling to actually say it, however it turned out to be something completely different

it's a rlly interesting read! It's a bit long, but it discusses heteronormativity/amatonormativity, misogyny and the importance of friendship!

[asciuto]

Elementary (Taylor's Version) // I believe that we were supposed to find this

honorable mention:

[ramp-it-up]

Bay Boy Love 💙

[classycalcifer]

I don’t want a relationship but I want to be someone’s one and only best friend in the same way as a monogamous relationship

[turnaboutfix]

yeah sooo 2-4 was absolutely perfect but it should’ve ended with this js js

[punster-2319]

Because I’m bored, here are some of my favorite and least favorite tropes:

FAVORITES:

- Hetero Life Partners/Bromances

- Platonic Life Partners

- Karmic Trickster

- The Calvary

- Final Battle

LEAST FAVORITES:

- Plot Mandated Friendship Failure

- Third Act Misunderstanding

- Liar Revealed

- Love Triangles/Will They Won’t They

- Mind Control

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE/LEAST FAVORITE TROPES?

[mycrazynewobsession]

I like radioaple and radiostatic

[gayofthefae]

If Steve Harrington’s arc isn’t that he doesn’t need a romantic partner to depend on for happiness and a platonic soulmate like Robin can just absolutely be enough and he can still have that wife and kids eventually but he doesn’t need to hold onto it so hard and can just live in the present moment and focus on his friendships like Dustin and to my preference even platonically including Nancy and Jonathan but most prominently that his search for a soulmate has ended and it’s allowed to be Robin then I don’t know what I’ll do.