Fulgrim having wives seems to always be ignored when it comes to the whole Primarch/Astartes thing about lust/romance. Like, dude had multiple and I think they also clarified they lived as long as was possible on Fulgrim’s home planet? Just a wild thing to ignore.
many of fulgrims good qualities/humanizing moments are ignored in favor of making the same three jokes about orgies, snakes, and "femboys."
don't get me worked up about how they should be making eel jokes since his first touch of corruption was on a planet with aquatic, eel-like creatures + he's TEN FUCKING FEET TALL-
but yes, he canonly did love his wives, for a while...
She nodded slowly. The primarchs were not human, she reminded herself. They were both more and less than that. But, like humans, they had their foibles. Fulgrim was arrogant, but it was an assumed arrogance. It was a mask he wore, a part he played. Soon enough, it might become the real thing. For now, it was simply another piece of armour. A way to protect himself from a galaxy all too quick to take advantage of his flaws. She smiled. 'My late husband - one of them, I forget which - had a saying. Forgiveness is unnecessary between friends.' Fulgrim chuckled. 'And are we friends then?' 'If you like.' She took a chance and patted his knee. Fulgrim laid his hand over hers. 'A wise man, your husband.' Fulgrim sat back. 'I was betrothed, once,' he continued idly. 'Several times, actually. Political marriages, of course. Made to seal binding agreements, or open negotiations with certain executive dynasties.' Pyke didn't reply. His tone had become sombre. A rare thing, for Fulgrim. The Phoenician seemed to always be smiling, laughing at some joke only he understood. But now, he seemed tired. He rubbed his face. 'I outlived them all, one way or another.' 'Did you love them?' Fulgrim smiled slowly. 'Some. I think. At first. After a time, I stopped. Love was a weakness I could ill afford in those days. A billion lives rested on my shoulders, and any hesitation on my part would have doomed them all irrevocably.' He laughed softly. 'Or so I told myself then.' 'And now?' 'Now, I know it would have. There is no room for weakness in this galaxy. No room for imperfection.' He set the cup aside and grimaced. (Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix, 2017)
of course, i think there is also something to be said about how while capable of love, it would be interesting, and horrifying, if the emperor just never allowed the primarchs proper ways to blow off steam except for violence, in order to steer them more towards the great crusade.
yes, many of the boys have hobbies and things that bring them joy, but it takes them a significant amount of effort to become intoxicated + if they are unable to have sex (not unable to love!) that means one of their primary forms of stress relief would be enacting huge amounts of violence/combat in general.