#mclr

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

God, they are such absolute codependent freaks immediately

RIP Joe and Rico, cock warming would’ve fixed you

[packdontendwithblood]

[khyan]

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

That is

So fucking funny

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

Alright jeez, no need to kick a man while he’s down

In all seriousness, I do find it fascinating how the one time Joe sees Rico naked, it’s in an entirely de-sexed context. I’ve always argued that the fact their relationship isn’t sexual (to be clear, not that it can never become sexual, but that it has a strong basis of non-sexual companionship) is really important to both characters. For Joe, people only start paying attention to him after he hits puberty—sex is the currency he exchanges for others time and attention. For Rico, any sense of sexual desire is hidden behind every single wall of repression imaginable.

The fact that they care about each other, stick together through some horrifically difficult things, all while not having a sexual relationship—I think proves to both parties on some level that they are worthy of pure, straightforward love.

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

I think there’s effectively two ways you can interpret this.

The first—that this is a sort of narrative break in the fourth wall, where Joe and Rico are both experiencing a kind of foreshadowing through the collective unconscious, of how truly badly this is going to end. OR, the second—that this is Joe and Rico, on some (again, subconscious) level realizing simultaneously that they are in love with each other. That their relationship has moved from the realm of convenience and reciprocity and mutual survival to something more tender, more intimate.

Or… por que no las dos? Joe and Rico are suddenly beset with the knowledge both of What This Relationship Is, and how it will inevitably end.

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

Again, I kinda joked about it earlier

But this is essentially a declaration of marriage. This is an exchange of vows!!

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

GOD THEY ARE BOTH SO FUCKED UP I LOVE IT. WHAT IF YOUR SOULMATE WAS SOMEONE DAMAGED IN THE EXACT WAY THEY NEEDED TO BE TO LOVE YOU.