I personally feel that Stolas, Fizz, and Angel Dust within the hellaverse (helluverse? Sorry I’m unsure) aren’t very good examples of mlm relationships. I understand your thoughts on Stolas and how much hate you’ve heard about his character so I won’t dive into him as much.
I apologize if I come off as rude I personally would just like to share my feelings on the subject matter.
I am an mlm person and a historian. I understand that other mlm people enjoy the mlm relationships in vivziepops shows and I’m merely showing my personal experience.
Many other mlm people I know also have problems with the representation so I am not the only person but I do not speak for us all.
My main issue is that it feels like the mlm ships cater to fujoshis due to the stereotypes written in as well as how overly sexualized the relationships are compared to wlw relationships and „straight“ relationships (ex: Moxie and Millie, Charlie and Vaggie)
I feel like the ask is getting long so I’ll respond to you again with more of my thoughts but I feel like the helluverse is fetishizing main mlm relationships (and characters) and it makes me uncomfortable. I would genuinely like to see your thoughts on this and understand why you have your own opinions! :)
And others instead feel there's nothing wrong with these ships, and feel seen in these characters BECAUSE they're imperfect and controversial.
When it comes to representation, especially the LGBT+ or disabilities kind, I feel like there's this need that the characters involved have to be so perfect and flawless that it won't be demonized by the public and EVERYONE will be able to see themselves in said characters.
The truth is, that's impossible. You can't write a single queer or disabled character that can speak to all queer or disabled people, because they all have different experiences.
And why shouldn't an LGBT+ couple be unproblematic? Just like any straight couple it deserves to have its contradictions and nuance.
Talking about said couples: what makes them "fetishes", exactly? Especially considering other LGBT+ people wrote them? Because, as biromantic asexual myself, I'll tell you what I see.
Huskerdusk? It's about the relationship between Angel Dust and Husker. One is a porno star in an abusive contract with a perverted pimp and feels the need to drunk himself to death hoping to finally numb himself to the pain, the other was once a powerful soul owner that ended up with the wrong deal and is now a slave to another Overlord, and grew significantly bitter and cynical as a result.
Both of them are broken souls that were able to see each other and bond over their scars. Husk is the only one that truly sees Angel's need to mask himself, calls him out on it, and tells him "We all suck, but together we can make the best of it." Therefore they'll slowly be able to heal together.
Two scarred people that start opening up thanks to each other. That seems like a positive message, huh?
And what about FizzarOzzie? We've got Fizzarolli that went through a horrific incident inadvertently caused by Blitzø that ruined his career as an entertainer, one that meant the world for a perfectionist with an imposter syndrome like him.
Now disabled, he constantly feels the need to work himself to death to show to himself that he deserves Mammon's attention and Ozzie's love. And then Ozzie comes and says "Why are you so hard on yourself? You don't need to win my love: I love you for you, with all your flaws and virtues".
This is about Fizzarolli that was able to rise from the ashes of the incident and insecurities thanks to people that still believe and love him. Ozzie utterly adores him, and Blitzø could finally go past the trauma and make amends, and is absolutely supportive of him, wishing he'd let go of Mammon's influence that's feeding his insecurities.
It's a story about accepting yourself thanks to the love that comes from people that truly care about you. Again, a positive message that comes from flawed people.
And finally, the piece de resistance! Stolitz, Stolitz, Stolitz.
What can we say about these two walking disaster areas that hasn't been said yet?
Blitzø, the scarred assassin, who got abused by his father, lost his mother in a fire he caused without meaning to, ruined so many relationships out of self sabotage because he's so sure that he's too broken to be loved, despite the fact he craves affection like a moth to a flame.
Stolas, the caged prince, neglected in childhood and abused in a loveless marriage, imprisoned in a system that would always look down on him, his daughter his only light in the dark tunnel that's his life made of depression and numbing medications and wine.
They found each other through dubious means that would benefit one another: sex work, a form of transaction that's very demonized, but Blitzø was fine with it, as he sees his body as his biggest offer, and it's detached enough that he can have Stolas' grimoire without much of a trouble. And Stolas can see his first ever friend again, and finally find some joy again.
And Stolas gets to show his classist views on him, which IS aggravating, don't get me wrong, but it's not born out of malice, as the bird grew up sheltered in a blue blood environment AND, considering he's never formed any kind of relationship, his social skills are abysmal. Still, both let this slide: after all, it's all a transaction, nothing serious.
But then the worst happened: they caught feelings. The transaction went deeper than Blitzø intended, as Stolas truly wanted to know him better, and so... Blitzø does what he knows best: he creates distance, insisting Stolas only wants him for his body. It hurts less to pretend Stolas' love is fake than to admit his feelings are genuine and break him too.
Yet, Stolas was broken already, and his sense of self was starting to heal thanks to Blitzø, so when he sees his beloved create distance, he tries to give it to him, as he figures, why would he want someone who constantly demeaned him? No wonder he doesn't want to see me anymore.
Both completely misread the situation, and ended up hurting each other as a result. These two are able to destroy each other from communication issues, and yet... through a show of total love, AKA willingness to give their life on the line to save the other, are shown they can also build each other up.
Now Blitzø is on a roll, as he's able to be open to show affection and be more confident about people caring about him. While Stolas lost everything from his grand proof of his love for Blitzø, and his depressed state won't allow him to truly believe he's worthy of any kind of love, at this point.
But, they're a work in progress, both of them. As communication starts to improve, so their bond will. One bright and indomitable as light, the other gentle and sentimental like a heart. In all the disasters around and in them, they couldn't be more perfect for each other.
So, again, I only see troubled individuals that are healing thanks to love. I don't see that much "fetishes", here.
Maybe you think M&Ms or Chaggie are less "problematic"? Maybe it's because they're better at communicating, and even then, these couples also go through their hardships.
Moxxie and Millie are a power couple, of course, but one could say they're overly tied to one another, and it's been shown they're not always eye to eye. Which is perfectly fine, not all couples have to be on the same page always. And now that Millie is going through a pregnancy she didn't plan, we'll see how this plays a part in their bond.
And Charlie and Vaggie are also a power couple, but again, they too have their blind spots. Vaggie feels the need to be "of use and support" to Charlie, as she tries her darnest to show the gratitude for saving her after Heaven banished her (something she couldn't reveal to Charlie). And Charlie needed to acknowledge Vaggie's position and opinions. But, again, they're so secure about the love they have for each other that these problems get resolved more quickly.
Really, man, a ship being "problematic" or "consisting of flawed people" isn't a "fetish". We're talking about couples, here: every ship has its perks and flaws. Yes, EVEN LGBT+ ones, and I think these ships showing a rawer side of queer romance is actually a perk of these shows.
We LGBT+ people don't need "sanitized" relationships to be represented, we want realistic, nuanced and even problematic. Because we ARE realistic, nuanced and problematic, because we're people.
And representation only works when there are more examples than one kind of experience.
The first Radioapple print we'll be taking to cons this year. For the love of everything that is remotely holy, please don't repost (you can reblog) or put it on pinterest because apparently uploading online = giving a green light to steal stuff nowadays.
Still wondering if I should add the print to etsy as I've never sent prints before.
