#i don't mean romantic

[milquetoast-on-acid]

Mariska and Chris play firefighters for a day

#bensler #mariska hargitay #christopher meloni #chris meloni #robert john burke #denis leary #law and order organized crime #they really were firefighters 🚒🔥 for a day! #bro! look how cute they are! #look at her! she's a spider monkey. #they love each other so much y'all! #their love is so pure and they make me believe in soulmates #because these two are #i don't mean romantic #svu #law and order special victims unit #law and order: svu #olivia benson #elliot stabler #bro!!! they are so freaking adorable 🥰

[forget-me-ghost]

I know Valentine's Day was two days ago, but I have a slow brain okay.

Anyway, just like everyone else I just want to marvel at how perfect Alastor's Valentine's Day merch is.

Look at this, look at him. Everyone else's pinup was sexy and they had revealing outfits. But Alastor? Someone at this app said that he is a modern equivalent of a Victorian woman showing her ankle. I truly love it, he undone his bow tie and that's it, that's the most he's showing, his neck without a bow. He isn't even in any sexy pose either. He kinda looks as if he was laying on a couch and someone told him to pose.

And then his Valentine's card? It's not about love or anything like this, this is about friendship, about platonic love. It literally says 'On a day devoted to lovers I am glad to have you as a friend' and I'm over the moon with it.

As a fellow asexual I am beyond happy to see that none of Alastor's merch was romantic or sexual.

It means a lot to me and I just wanted to say it.

#hazbin hotel #alastor #hazbin hotel alastor #alastor the radio demon #asexual alastor #aromantic alastor #aroace alastor #aromantic #asexual #Tbh Alastor made me realise that I don't rly understand the concept of romantic love #I know that he is a serial killer cannibal manipulative psychopath but he means a lot to me

[knifearo]

i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as a binary i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as a sliding scale of "less" to "more" i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as the only two options i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as significantly different things i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as all encompassing i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as the two halves of a shallow concept of love that doesn't actually encompass anything at all i think we need to overhaul every popular conception about "types" of love so we can talk about things that are real and true for once

#in conclusion. alloromantics stfu up about love challenge #hate using the term platonic so much actually. cause even if it has a definition that is what it Should mean #you know that people don't actually think about it that way. #you say 'platonic' and you might Mean an all-encompassing love. but how it's interpreted is shorthand for 'just friends' #so like. the word platonic isn't Really for me is it :| #platonic gets presented like a consolation prize for aro people no matter where you turn #but fundamentally rn it comes from a concept of platonic and romantic as the two kinds of love #where platonic is for family and friends and nothing More. #and romantic is for the relationships that overhaul all else #so 'aros can still feel platonic love!' ok. what if it's not platonic as you know it though. #'oh then it's romantic!' k but it's not romantic either. will your framework explode if i say that #'aros can still feel platonic love!' why do you say that like it's a second-best option and expect me to identify with it... #again. platonic might Actually mean smth i experience. but it won't be Heard that way. do you get what i'm saying #i don't experience 'platonic blurring into romantic' cause i will never feel romantic love actually. those lines are still blurring though #ummmmm in conclusion. killing and biting #aromantic #aromanticism #aroace #arospec #talking

[waitineedaname]

not romantic or platonic but a secret third thing (bonded pair)

#I think more character dynamics should be described as bonded pairs #are two characters very attached to each other in a way that's hard to define? bonded pair. #are two characters rarely seen in a scene without each other? bonded pair #do two characters get anxious when separated? bonded pair #I don't mean this in a weird way I mean it in the way cats will be bonded when at a shelter together or something #this can apply to so many characters I think #regardless of whether they're romantic or platonic or whatever #most necrocav duos in tlt for example #and too many duos in fma to count #like obviously knowing me im thinking about greedling #but also the elric brothers or mustang and hawkeye #but also. many of the side characters. #doing my massive spreadsheet (almost done btw!) has shown to me that jerso and zampano are almost always in the same scene #that's a bonded pair babey #brosh and ross too. to me. #anyway. someone once left the tags ''bonded pair do not separate'' on a greedling post of mine and i haven't stop thinking about it #that's just how I conceptualize their dynamic now #two cats that have to be adopted together or else they'll start destroying furniture

[vivenecii]

I still remember the day when I accidentally saw the spoiler and people were like "oh, but it was without a context, we have to wait for it!" and it made me truly curious and excited to see what the whole scene was about

And let me tell you it turns out I was perfectly happy not knowing what it was about

(But you know, curiosity killed the cat. And I loved this scene, it was positively heartbreaking, angst in its truest form. Exactly opossite to what I expected to happen knowing this season was supposed to be quiet and gentle and romantic, really.)

#good omens #good omens 2 #good omens season 2 #good omens spoilers #go season 2 spoilers #fanart #digital #animation #crowley #david tennant #aziraphale #michael sheen #ineffable husbands #not exactly quiet and peaceful and romantic #wonderful scene though by the way #definitely worth watching and crying over it #and yes I rotoscoped otherwise it would take me days #I don't have days #I also didn't have good quality pictures #so by rotoscoping i mean marking position of the body and guessing how should I draw and shade it #you can see it by the awful quality of some frames

[wyllaztopia]

thank you guys for the explanations i still don't ship it LOL

#don't get me wrong the dynamic is interesting #i also prefer them to be a non-romantic pairing #i mean the gratitude though thank you for giving me ur rad insights #my artwork #doodles #dreamtale #nightmare sans #ink sans #inkmare #nightmare x ink #undertale au

[1004knightingale]

Shadowheart: *banging a dagger on the table out of frustration*

Lae'zel: Stop that. How would YOU feel if I banged you on the table?

Shadowheart: I—

Shadowheart: I don’t know the correct answer to that question.

#shadowzel incorrect quotes #source: tumblr #i saw this and laughed #and by laugh i mean blew air out of my nose #so i shoehorned #shadowzel #into the scenario #lae'zel: respect thy weapon istik #shadowheart: stfu gith don't tell me what to do #it's romantic

[celluloidbroomcloset]

Y'know, I was rewatching pieces of both Season 1 and Season 2 for an analysis I was considering, and it struck me that there is indeed a tonal shift between seasons (without it violating the development of the characters or the overall ethos of the show) as love and desire stop being marked by fantasy and become...real.

So much of Stede and Ed's early romance is framed with romance and fairytale tropes - the meet-cute/deus ex machina, the Prince and Pauper switch, the full moon "fine things" conversation, the break-up/divorce speech Stede gives the crew when Ed leaves with Jack, the casting of Izzy as the villainous complication and the English as the encroaching threat.

Then something shifts with "Act of Grace" and the kiss on the beach - the physical and emotional declaration that "this is real" between them. It stops being fantasy - it stops being Stede's fantasy, which was romantic and clean and largely sexless, and it stops being Ed's fantasy, which was to get to be a part of a different world and change what he thought was his fate - and becomes true. It becomes untidy and complicated, but deepens with every moment. There are hints of it building throughout the first season, but with the end of "Act of Grace" and "Wherever You Go," the fantasy falls away and leaves desire and heartache and hope.

Season 2 makes them messy and hurt and angry and so deeply joyful with each other. There's no more wealth and no more toy boat and no more full moons, but there is a dream that saves Ed's life, a kiss under a gibbous moon, passion born from pain and such intense love, and a home where neither thought a home could be.

The fantasy breaks, but pieces of it remain, and what's underneath is so much better.

#ofmd meta #ofmd season 2 #our flag means death #ofmd season 1 #gif #stede bonnet #edward teach #ed teach #rhys darby #taika waititi #gentlebeard #i dunno if that made sense #but there's such a beautiful shift that in no way undercuts what came before #just deepens it in a natural way #it actually pulls off what a lot of romantic comedies don't

[skull-turtle]

for the LAST TIME, what does "having a crush" even mean

#im so confused #i think i might have a crush #but maybe i just want to be their friend?? #but they make me feel giddy in a way none of my friends do #BUT i wouldn't really mind if they never saw me in a romantic light as long as I get to be close with them #BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF DOING “DATE' STUFF WITH THEM #but i couldn't care less if that doesn't happen #i don't even really want to do anything to make that happen #but if they asked me out I'd say yes immediately #this is something i wouldn't do for my other friend so does this mean this is a crush??? #help #aroace #aromantic #arospec #qpr #mmm crunchy #lgbtqia

[idealest-of-ideals]

The besties ever btw

#Kyouka Izumi #Kenji Miyazawa #Bsd #kyoukenji #? #Bungou Stray Dogs #Idk I don't really mean it in a romantic way but it's open to interpretation #My art #Stupid low quality doodles are back at it again #I don't think I can physically make a good quality digital art piece #Digital art is NOT for me #Anyway yeah

[linktotheheart]

I feel like so many people misunderstand BOTW/TOTK Link especially (Zelda too, but that's another topic entirely)

His lack of expressiveness IS a personality trait. It's a direct result of the pressure on his soldiers to be a perfect soldier, hero, and savior. No, he's not Skyward Sword Link, and never will be, because his story is completely different.

"But [other Link] hugged Zelda when he got her back!" and this Link maintained a respectful distance as his princess's subordinate - but ALSO out of respect for Zelda as a person, because she spent her whole childhood having her agency denied and he wants to let her initiate even something as simple as platonic contact whenever possible. He's being kind!

(And yes, I know that primarily only the "he is a knight and she is a princess" part is directly supported in the actual game, but I'll remind the people making comparisons that the dynamic was COMPLETELY different in their favorite comparison game, Skyward Sword. But also... look at the gentleness with which Link interacts with Zelda, the tenderness that he shows so few other characters - Mipha probably being the closest example. Look at the way he looks to her first to see what to do in every scene they're in together, unless he's protecting her from an immediate threat to her life. Notice how outside of that, Zelda IS usually the one to initiate any physical contact)

I also personally hate it when people describe quiet, not very expressive people as "lacking personality" because... my partner IRL is like that. If she expressed herself at all around most people, it's in a very flat, reserved way. I've seen how it hurts her that people treat her like she doesn't have a personality, like she isn't even a full person - and I know that's real life and Zelda is fiction, but come on, do you think all the people that aren't highly expressive and extroverted don't hear that about very popular characters and internalize it?

Being reserved is a personality trait. Being cautious and not impulsive is a personality trait. In fact, I'd even say just because you as an expressive, extroverted person see Link as a blank slate to project your own personality onto, doesn't mean he actually is or was even intended that way.

(I also think this is a very US-centric point of view, honestly. There's plenty of cultures where even BOTW Link would be considered at least close to average - Finnish culture specifically comes to mind, even if he's still slightly exaggerated in that regard as, y'know, a character.)

Idk, this is as much a silly little vent post as anything, it's not that serious, etc, but whatever

(and don't get me started on "oh Zelda got no agency in TOTK and she learned the powers she was struggling overnight". No, it's called a time skip, and just because she learned her powers before the 13th hour this time - which yeah, she would get them easier this time with a mentor who could actually use the same powers, and having already learned to use her light powers - doesn't mean it just "happened overnight". And... she didn't express agency? She was actively influencing the entire flow of the timeline, changing the actions of her ancestors by convincing her ancestors to act, learning to control her powers and fighting Ganondorf, and finally expressing the ultimate form of autonomy in choosing to sacrifice herself to save the world. Some of the criticisms of TOTK didn't even seem to play the same game. Just because a heroine isn't a pop feminist badass who *gasp* wears pants and easily and perfectly kicks every villain's ass, doesn't mean she "has no agency" and is being sidelined. Like, a princess engaging in courtly politics is neither powerless nor "doing nothing")

#totk #botw #tears of the kingdom #breath of the wild #link #zelda #I'm a multishipper so I can see Zelda and Link as romantic or platonic tbh #vent post #I mean you can reblog but like #even if you disagree don't be an asshole about it #botw/totk haters tho just like. don't. criticism is fine but I'm not interested in debating w/ppl who don't bother to engage in good faith

[upsidedog]

i am so charmed by a lumax wedding because it’s not even something max thought would happen. like she assumed weddings were something the girl makes happen and the guy puts up with. and because she had no desire for one, so there’s no reason it would happen.

among other things weddings are an exorbitant and performative show of love, max loves lucas and she doesn’t care whether or not other people know or believe this. at it’s best marriage to her has been a representation of failed dreams and at it’s worst it’s been a tool to manipulate people who need to get away to stay. maybe they will get married for the tax benefits, she thinks.

this is until max and lucas are older and living together, they’re chilling on the couch and lucas mentions his family has been asking when he’s planning to propose and if that’s something max even wants? max doesn’t care, she doesn’t plan on going anywhere, a certificate won’t change anything and she's not crazy about parties. she doesn’t ask how he feels, he brings it up, that “actually i want a wedding.”

that is saying the least, lucas wants a wedding more than anything. he loves max and he doesn’t need to prove that to anyone, but he’s happy and he wants to share that with others! he wants to work with max to make marriage a positive thing to them, he wants to celebrate their love, everything they’ve been through. also, hell, he’s only human, he wants to show off! he wants to dress really cool and go to a really cool place and show the world know how awesome he and his girlfriend are. HIS WIFE!!!

most of all, lucas wants the moment near the end of the night, where the party’s getting loud and everybody wants his attention, but max asks if he wants to get out of there and he says yes. not out out, just outside the venue. it’s dark and the once booming music is now faint, they sit and catch up, complain about their families, laugh about their friends. max holds lucas’s hand and plays with his wedding ring, she whispers something sweet before asking him to dance. it’s the best part of the night and nobody will know about it but them.

suddenly max decides she wants a wedding.

#lumax #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #stranger things #to be clear i think it isn't really that max becomes excited for a wedding - i think it's more that she is incredibly touched by what it #means to lucas and wants to give that to him #i don't think she would ever be crazy about all that attention on her but she loves that it makes lucas happy and loves how much he cares #about her #and i also think lucas is aware of this. he loves weddings and the idea of being married is romantic and beautiful to him and he loves that #max understands where he's coming from and feels loved by his explination but also he knows it's something he will enjoy more and that's ok #lucas would be a very good wedding planner #also they would have this discussion then formulate oppisite plans catering to the other's love language #lucas would be like 'i'm gonna do something so private and sweet for max to propose' and max would be like 'i am going to go all out in #public to propose' and luckily max gets to hers first because it was way harder to do #nonetheless i am being cheesy ignore me

[crownspeaksblog]

People are so used to the idea that queer romantic relationships matter so little to the story til the point they will call romantic displays of affection and domesticity fan service in a character driven show, a show where the main queer relationship is THE plot.

Ed and stede having moments of affection and love is not fan service. You're making it sound like the show is pandering to the fans when this is literally just a continuation of the story, this is just the next level of their relationship, the next phase of the story.

To me calling it fan service is just diminishing the show and when you call it that, it just validates what people who completely missed the point of the show are saying.

#the relationship between ed and stede is the plot and it has been the plot since the moment we met ed! #please don't call it fan service. it's not! #as someone who's still taking back with how open the show is about ed and stedes romantic relationship. i still don't think it's fan servic #because it makes since because this is the FUCKING PLOT!!!! #ofmd #ofmd s2 #our flag means death #ofmd spoilers #blackbonnet #tv shows #queer media #👑

[beanghostprincess]

Luffy not knowing about Zoro promising Sanji to kill him if he ever ends up losing himself makes me go feral because that's something they can only know about. Because Zoro's respect for life and death goes beyond anything, and Sanji knows he understands. Sanji knows that if somebody has to kill him, it's him.

And I don't even think it's because Sanji assumes Zoro's opinion of him is hatred and it would hurt less for him to do this, but because Sanji knows only Zoro would be able to treat the promise as it is. Because he would put Sanji's wishes before any feelings he has for him. It's not that Zoro doesn't care, but I think he respects people's ideals and decisions to the extent of being able to kill Sanji if he so desires.

That being said, he'd do it if there's no other way to fix it. If it's either dying or living as an emotionless machine, which is the same as dying for Sanji, Zoro would fulfill his promise. And there is just... Something about Luffy not knowing. Their captain. The man they're devoted to the most as if he were their God. Luffy doesn't know. It's something only the captain's wings are aware of and the thought of these two keeping this from Luffy until the end is just insane. Not even trying to make it romantic here, but the bond and respect these two have for each other is crazy.

Maybe it's the poetry of it all, too. Somebody like Zoro, who has looked at Death in her face multiple times and said "no", ending Sanji's life, who wants to give in to death to not experience a fate worse than death for him.

#bean posting zosan this is so rare and weird don't get used to it sweeties #kind of tired of people jumping to extremes with these two btw like- #they don't hate each others but they're also not best friends-- respect is something they value even more than those things #they're not good for my mental health they make me go insane #this wasn't meant to be in a shippy way but idk if you wanna see it as romantic you do you bc it could def be #it depends on my mood #i consider myself a zosan shippers on random days #you could also say sanji thinks zoro doesn't give a fuck about him and that's why he tells him bc we know this guy's self-worth is awful #but i also like to think it's because zoro's views on life and death are exactly what sanji needs #luffy would try to look for a way to fix this and they others wouldn't be able to do it tbh #i mean if it ever got too serious i think luffy could do it but do you really think sanji's gonna make him go through that #if zoro has to die he wants to die by luffy's hand but if sanji has to die he wants to die without involving their captain #idk if that makes sense okay i haven't slept at all tbf #one piece #black leg sanji #roronoa zoro #zosan

[dollopheadsandclotpoles]

Merlin and Arthur just casually being in sync is so *chef's kiss*

That bit in crystal cave when Merlin brings Arthur his breakfast and while talking to each other, Merlin tosses an apple nonchalantly and Arthur just catches it equally nonchalantly?? It's these small things that really tell you that despite all the secrets and the complicated emotions they are hiding from one another, there is that underlying understanding, like their souls are so synchronised!!!

#bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #merthur #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #I don't mean this in necessarily a romantic way just... THEM ya know

[enbeemagical]

normalize being a little bit in love with your friends

normalize being not at all in love with anything

normalize love being confusing and weird as hell

normalize love not being romantic

normalize love not being

normalize not loving

normalize loving in the wrong way

just. normalize being unapologetically yourself

#sleepyposting #i 100% should not be awake right now #i'm a little bit in love with a lot of things and people #aromantic #actually aromantic #lovequeer aro #loveless aro #this post is loveless aro inclusive #cuz it's awesome #it's like being around people who say they don't do bad things bc god says not to and rhen not understanding why an athiest doesn't do them #and by it i mean: being around people who think love is necessary to be good or a person or whatever #and oh it doesn't have to be romantic. and then they get confused by loveless aros and they go #like oh you actually do feel love you just don't call it that. oh you actually do believe in god you just don't call him that #like no actualy #god and love are unnecessary for goodness and personnenes and uh. *draws a big line around everythung* that #OKAY GOGOD NIGBT NOW <3 #i primise #probanly