"Just do QPR shipping" is, on the surface, good advice for those who want to abide by strict creator boundaries. However, with Pyro's fans probably being new to MCYT fandom spaces, I need to remind you of a few things:
1. QPRs and aspec identities are commonly misunderstood. A CC may not know the difference.
2. This is also a paradox: by refering to your ships as a QPR, you insinuate that they are not a "real" relationship because there is no romantic or sexual attraction involved. This is strictly not true. It is a relationship: you are still shipping. Consider how aspecs feel about this. As an alloaro, I find this offensive as well. Start dismantling amatonormativity.
3. Even if we disregard that, this issue has come up before. Specifically during the height of the DSMP and Life series. When a post was called a QPR and artists insisted that was the intention, it was still seen as alloallo shipping. You will be misunderstood. It will happen. Anything that is "too romantic" will be flagged as a romantic ship. Yes, even if you say that a kiss is platonic (which it can be, don't start with me), or holding hands, or laying in bed together: if the CC thinks it is bad, it will get flagged.
4. Related to that, this is why we use (x)duo and ship nicknames. These blurred over time when we realised the CCs do not engage with it much, so you see it interchangeably now. If you really want to avoid CCs getting mad at you, agree on a new tag to use. I'd recommend those who want to respect the ship boundary to get involved too, simply so they don't get flagged by the CC for completely innocent intentions they have.
5. I think some people who agree with this boundary being set are ignoring the part where your community is being monitored. This is, and I cannot stress this enough, not a normal thing for creators to do. Be it a book, their own game, another person's AU in an existing fandom: you cannot watch everything your community does. This will be terrible for already paranoid fans, or fans with OCD. It is a harmful threat to fans. If you don't like harmless ship content, you can avoid it if it clashes with your moral outlook.
I think I realised why current fandom discourse is pissing me off so much.
You're telling people to not engage with the text; the thing you created. Seriously?
You, a creator, are telling a story. Whether its improv, half, or a fully scripted performance: you are telling a story. Which will fuel other creatives, sure, but you're also asking your audience to dig into it and think about what it says by it simply existing. Which also can include an "incorrect" reading from your vision (death of the author). However, you make the active choice to include flirting and romance in your performance, then you go chastising others for using their analysis skills and reading the (sub)text. You included it. Its part of the text. Its something to be analysed. You are actively telling people to not use media literacy skills. I don't care if its MCYT, its still art. Its still a text to interact with and analyse. You're getting mad at folks using some of their media literacy skills.
Could you elaborate on Aventurine not owning a casino? I saw the tags and I'm not sure if you have yet
Oh sure thing. You're gonna get some other useless but related information too though. And I've just woken up so I'm hoping this makes sense.
Also, disclaimer, I'm talking thematically here and also reference him being passively suicidal.
So, first of all, casinos are all maths. A lot of the games you play are just probability and such. Yes, even slot machines. And while Aventurine is a very intelligent man who would know how they work, I don't think it works thematically for him to own one. Knowing the rules of the game doesn't ruin the experience of playing it, but being in complete control of the game isn't really something he would want, I don't think? A lot of card games are strategic in nature (hell, card counting is literally just probability and risk assessment) and rely on reading people. Aventurine looks more for influence over others, not outright control, and the illusion of a casino owner doesn't work for him. Not in my mind anyway. And owning the casino itself would essentially eliminate any risk of being a player. While Aventurine would look for safety in influence, I think he's like a lot of people going through traumatic experiences and wouldn't feel comfortable in control -- you need something to fight against to feel comfortable.
So here I want to talk about some things from the game that make me believe this. Firstly, his ultimate animation. Did you know there are a few types of roulette wheel? Well now you do! Aventurine's wheel doesn't actually match any wheel I've seen (it appears to have 32 slots with a rate of 31/1 on green, and American and European wheels have 38 and 37 slots respectively).
The way I interpret his ultimate is always having it land on green (or, in this case, the crown, as its the only slot with a design that is unique to the others, even if the numbers don't match up to it being "green" because that would usually be on 0 and 00 spots). The house edge on a European wheel, which I know more about, is roughly 2% while an American wheel is 5%. So I imagine using a wheel like this is meant to represent that Aventurine places strategy on his luck. Yes, landing on green would be incredibly lucky, but specifically choosing wheels with a lower house edge is also a strategic gamble. His famous voiceline here (yes, "bust... or maybe I'll take it all!) also makes me believe this is all calculated, because the planning behind what games to play, the background knowledge of the game itself, the ability to do quick equations on the spot -- that all works as his character. He is quite literally in the strategic department of the IPC, of course every choice he makes is completely thought out. But there's also the caveat of the planning not being perfect. Again, you have to account for random chance.
This also reflects in a couple of things in game that... I cannot be bothered to grab screenshots for, I'm sorry! But its a commonly known fact that Aventurine frequently bets his life and puts himself into the thick of situations... if he can plan around it. Aventurine wouldn't do that without reason. I think the image that some people have of him being an impulsive gambler is also just a façade to have people underestimate him. People forget he is a high ranking member of the IPC that, again, is known to be an amazing strategist. A lot of his actions in the game act as if he was playing at a table; he reads his opponents, he makes guesses on how they will react to certain situations, he reads the room as conversations happen, and he's highly adaptable to when something goes awry. There is constant danger to everything he does in these situations. Its what helped him survive for a long time. And I honestly don't think he minds the risk when 1. its planned out and 2. it is definitely a side effect of having a traumatic life, and he probably views either outcome as a win.
Although this is a serious topic, I think its an extreme that reflects a lot of his philosophy. What risk/reward payout do you get when you're in control? What is there to prove when there is no risk? What strategy is there to owning a casino itself? There's floor planning, removing the observation of time, and other design features, sure, but its static. There's no change. There's barely a risk when your competitors will be doing the same thing. There's no way to change things when this is, essentially, the meta of casino ownership. And then a lot of casino profit itself comes from marketing and selling the idea of a rich life through means of hotels, merchandise, expensive beverages -- its just not him, you know? Its boring, you're removed from anything interesting, and you're going to be untouchable as somebody who owns it all.
Now, to argue the counter: but Aventurine would feel safe and secure in this situation and he's finally at the top where he can't be hurt. I feel like Aventurine has this need to prove himself. Again, his means of survival. If he isn't able to prove his ability, then he may feel endangered. I do want him to feel safe and secure, I'm sure any fan of his characterisation would, but it just feels too far removed from the text we're given as players.
If you excuse a comparison to the DSMP for a second, its sort of the opposite effect of c!Quackity. He made a casino because he never felt like he could control his life, he never ended up on top, he was always taken advantage of, and he had a need to prove himself as a powerful person. Some of those traits would fit Aventurine, but not all of them. While he never had control of his own life (and I have a few things I could unpack with that but this is about casinos specially), and while he does need to prove himself to others, the need to prove himself is a survival trait and that's what makes me think being in charge would be seen as a threat. Hence the difference here. I love both of these characters because, well, the way they have themes around gambling can be read in many ways and show the nature risk in our own lives.
I hope this makes sense. I can expand on anything later if you wish.
Small intro pin post but call me Seven, I use she/he/it + neos (ask for a list) and this is my multifandom main. It used to mostly be MCYT but I'm currently into Crypt of the NecroDancer, Project Moon, and HSR.
I am an adult and sometimes reblog adult things. That is Not the main focus of the blog but I will start to block people if I know they shouldn't follow, so minors do not follow.
Also the basic dni aren't allowed here. Wilbur, Dream, etc. supporters can leave too.
Icon fom here, header made by me, and dividers from here.
