I wonder, I want a poll because I need to know. How many LonelyEyes shippers think that Elias and Peter actually like each other?
I don’t think they do, but I also think it’s more complicated than them just disliking each other. As avatars, there’s a lot more value in a relationship where they don’t have the expectations of ‘liking’ someone applied to them. They can be rude and vitriolic toward each other, avoid each other, manipulate each other, use each other, hurt each other, and even kill each other, and that’s fine, because they don’t expect each other to maintain a veneer of human connection that they obviously don’t have a great capacity for (especially Peter, as a creature that is repelled by connection). They understand each other and accept each other and can find each others company agreeable sometimes and that’s enough. It works for them. It makes them comfortable being permanent fixtures in each others lives, for so long as the other lives.
I guess you could say that they like that they can be themselves around each other? But I don’t think the understood meaning of ‘like’ between people really applies to them otherwise. That’s just my take on them, though. The idea of two people magnetically seeking each other out despite their dislike appeals to me a lot.
That said, I’ve indulged in illegal soft LonelyEyes and I’ve definitely read fic that convinced me they could develop in that direction. I’ll probably write a fic like that myself one day.
I’m not sure how familiar those on this thread are with aromantism, but I’d like to present it as a way to define lonelyeyes better, atleast in my perspective. Because, even if they weren’t avatars, even if all these horrors didn’t exist that twist Peter and Elias into being truly evil people, I don’t believe they’d ever be truly in love.
Sure, maybe something more passive might exist, but if you place yourself in their shoes, it’s kind of hard to imagine a romantic relationship with active date nights, and valentines day celebrations or grand gestures. Maybe in some OOC universe where they seem capable of those emotions their dynamic might shift, but I honestly believe as they stand, the pair are queer platonic at most.
They trust each other, this much is true. Enough to share secrets, play games, make plans and expose themselves to vulnerability. That’s not just something you do with a random business acquaintance. The fact Peter is aware of the panopticon, Jonah’s body’s location, Jonahs existence in Elias and more is proof enough of that.
But it’s not love.
Atleast not love in the sense that most people see it. It’s not first dates and Butterflies, it’s not long walks and sweaty palms, it’s not hearts skipping beats and passionate kisses. No it’s none of that.
Instead it’s a mutal comfort in one another. The knowledge that around one another they don’t need to pretend because they know the other one is just as messed up as they are. It’s the trust that allows someone to leave, and you just trust they’ll come back. It’s a safety blanket that someone will have your back no matter what, that idea of we can be as cruel as we want to each other, but say or do one thing to hurt them and I’ll kill you. It’s about coexisting alongside one another, simply being, as a way to fend off loneliness.
It’s not love no, not as you know it. It’s not romantic or sweet, but it works, because it’s all they need. Infact it’s kind hard to see to see them having something more with each other or someone else, so they marry. More for convinence than anything else. Alot of Queer platonic partners do it. It’s nice to share a space, share a home, but it’s not at anyway catered towards any stereotypical dynamics and honestly, if anyone tried to make it nuclear they just might off themselves.
But they exist together, call each other husbands, occasionally share a bed, but they’re not in love. They don’t really kiss unless it’s a formality, they don’t really hold hands unless Peter’s staring to wonder off, but occasionally they’ll lean into each other while walking, or Elias will lay his head in Peter’s lap while the pair are talking, or small gestures of fondness. It’s not love no, no as most people know it. But it’s love to them. Maybe they redefine the words, and say it to one another that way, or maybe they just smile and nods occasionally.