Vote Bitches (affectionate) This Is Important Information

holy hell I just started reading In Memoriam by Alice Winn, and I've already cried like twice in the first 50 pages.

Im doomed. There's no way I'll survive this book, I can already tell

Polycule but it’s just two people in a romantic relationship with each other and their third who’s pretty obviously aroace but also somehow so deeply intertwined in their lives that it’d just be wrong to not count them as involved. Is this anything.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

I fell asleep in my friends' arms. It was eleven at night, we were tired, curled up in a small pile on my tiny bed. I had my head buried in my roommate's side, and one of my closest friend's hand on my shoulder, steadying me. It was quiet and nothingness and peace and their heartbeats in my ears, my hands in their hair.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

We pack four people to that little bed, you know. Laps used as footrests, collarbones as pillows, little lights like moonlight in rustic yellow bathed on their faces. The TV plays an anime. The words are repeated by my dear friend on my shoulder, curled close. My legs are asleep; my roommate may be, too.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

The cat curls on top of our criss cross mess of legs and arms and heads on chests to absorb the warmth of us all. She purrs in contented peace. When my roommate and I are left alone in the quiet, she cries, and watches the door for our friends' return.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

I will never kiss them but the top of their heads. I will never touch but the warmth of their arms. I will never take more than what's freely given, and in return I put my glasses on the bedside table fashioned from a guitar amp, and when I lean into their sides, I pick up my vulnerability and place it in their capable, tender hands.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

I sing for them. I cry for them. I work and I run and I withstand the worst of the world for them, because some days I get to cradle their forehead on my shoulder and some days I get to see their shining eyes.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

Maybe to you. But look beyond explanation. I love them. With my heart in my unsteady hands, with my nose pressed to the side of their head, with the buzzing in my feet and the warmth all around Iike the sunset pushing into the window.

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

Is it enough to say I love them? With no strings attached? With reckless abandon and utter devotion and freedom and kindness and fear?

"there is no platonic explanation for this--"

I cannot explain it any clearer. I love my friends. There is no more to say.

No, because what do you mean Arcane has completely rewritten the rulebook on queer representation in media, and it did it so effortlessly that it puts so many other shows to shame. Like, how are you going to tell me this animated series—ostensibly a spin-off of a video game—has given us some of the most nuanced, unapologetically powerful sapphic characters ever without reducing them to stereotypes, side plots, or, worse, trauma porn?

Vi and Caitlyn? Their dynamic is ELECTRIC. You’ve got Vi, the rough-edged, fiercely loyal, scrappy brawler with a tender side that could wreck anyone emotionally, and Caitlyn, the sharp, principled, deeply empathetic enforcer with a heart of gold. The way their relationship is built on mutual respect and trust while navigating all the insane, tragic chaos around them? Literal chef's kiss. And not once do we get the tired, lazy "coming out" narrative or the "but what about the gays?" rhetoric. Their queerness isn’t the story—it’s just a beautifully natural part of who they are. And THAT is revolutionary.

And let’s not even stop there. This show handles gender like it’s been waiting for everyone else to catch up. Characters like Sevika, who could give you chills with her sheer badassery and gender-nonconforming energy, exist unapologetically without the narrative ever feeling the need to spoon-feed us explanations. It’s just there, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the world.

So many shows claim to want to "normalize" queer relationships or push the envelope, but Arcane has quietly dominated the space by just writing characters who feel authentic. Their struggles are about class, power, loyalty, trauma, not token representation or forced diversity. This show said, “We’re just going to make some of the most layered, compelling characters you’ve ever seen—and oh yeah, some of them are gay. Keep up.”

Like, the bar wasn’t just raised—it was launched into the stratosphere. What do you mean this level of representation isn’t the norm yet? Arcane said, “We’re not asking for permission to exist. We’re just existing.” And that? That is art.

You know, Valentine's Day is super overrated and objectively sucks, especially for me since I'm aroace, but like. My grandma did just send me $100 so maybe it's not that bad.

"Ice, is my character a stereotype?Is my story stereotypical?"

Lesson 6: "Let's Have a Talk, First"- Stereotypes, pt 1

Lesson 6: “Why’s she so rude?” (She’s Not)- Stereotypes, pt2

Lesson 6: "Is He the Threat (Or Are You?)"- Stereotypes, pt 3

Application Example: How to spot a Stereotype: An Example

Before you ask me this, I need you to read every lesson and click and search through every single link!

There are as many ways to accidentally (or purposely!) scribble up a stereotype as there are stories to tell. It takes our entire lives to learn and keep up with the ways media (fiction and nonfiction) will find ways to depict us negatively in a narrative. Why would it be any easier for you? 😅

If you actually want to develop the skill to see what and how stereotypes manifest in your media, you have to study it. It will take you time! You will have to read, and then you will have to apply what you've read! That's part of media analysis and comprehension! Because at the end of the day, I could present you with a surface level, lovely story containing a stereotypical narrative, but if you didn't know what to look for and why, you wouldn't see it.

And again, I will always tell you to engage with Black stories. Why do you want to put me in your stories, but you don't want to engage with anything created by me? Why do you want to know how to write my voice, but you're not willing to read anything spoken by my voice? How else do you plan on figuring that out? What is your intention, here? Let's ask ourselves these questions!

can someone just. explain to me what romance is. please. cause I really got no fucking clue and I wanna know but every time I google it I'm met with "picnics and dancing and stargazing and GENERALLY PLATONIC THINGS"

or is this just me being. really fuckin aroace.

This is exactly why he's my favorite fantasy character of all time.

guys do you get it when i say aragorn is the definition of the words "gentle", "love", and "beauty". not in the conventional way, but i think aragorns existence itself defines those words. the ranger in him grins, as free as the winds and you see that chaos in him and yet you also feel his quiet strength that makes him uniquely aragorn. the whimsy of the elves as estel grew up to be the man now known as aragorn. gentle as he sings to the trees, sings to his horse.... his calloused hands cradling everything with such tenderness someone might wonder how he does that when it's been hardened by years of fighting with a sword and shouldering burdens.... aragorns love at the same time is something beyond either romantic or platonic, its the type of love that you just give out to the world. love built on courage, and kindness, and faith, and hope, as what his name estel means.... and to be able to love like that..... i think is what you call a being who embodies beauty.....

WE GOT AROMANTIC TRENDING BOYS!!!! (gender neutral)

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Also if anyone cares I just updated literally my entire intro post, so go check it out; it's wayyyyy better now lol