OTP confirmed (Eden spoilers, re: 5.4)

[Yandere-chan]

Teenagers dating is normal, adults being this into it isn't though.

Considering normal tends to coincide with what's relatively popular to do, in this case, in context to fantasy mmo stories? I'd say it's rather normal.

It's almost as if many of us don't treat video game characters in a fictional reality as equivalent to real people living in our reality and adjust our morals accordingly when it comes to violence and sexuality in regard to them within said fictional reality.

I mean, I myself certainly don't think I'd enjoy going on a killing spree in real life upon real people, but I don't seem to mind doing so in-game, in-fact, it can be rather fun for me. I consider such acts of violence & murder as a greater moral concern than sexual ones, so I'm not sure why the expectation would be to suddenly pretend they are real people in regard to it.

[Jandor]

I mean, I myself certainly don't think I'd enjoy going on a killing spree in real life upon real people, but I don't seem to mind doing so in-game, in-fact, it can be rather fun for me. I consider such acts of violence & murder as a greater moral concern than sexual ones, so I'm not sure why the expectation would be to suddenly pretend they are real people in regard to it.

Sex and violence aren't really that comparable.

Despite it being taboo, and often illegal, most people would still consider it acceptable to be violent in real life under certain circumstances. The same cannot be said of many sexual transgressions.

For the record though; I don't care if they are a couple or not. I also don't care if other people think they're a couple or not. I just think it's a bit weird how invested in this some people seem to be.

[Yandere-chan]

Most people consider it acceptable to be violent in real life under certain circumstances. The same cannot be said of many sexual transgressions.

That depends on the violent actions in question, as does the sexual ones. E.g. Many consider it a sexual transgression to have sex with the same sex for instance. Others do not.

Many also think random mass murdering for pleasure is perhaps the ultimate crime or in the running for it. But, that's what we casually do in video games, well, many of us anyways.

The point is, many who play games or when looking at fiction in general, separate it from reality, and adjust their morals in context to doing so. Thus why things we have no problem with in a fictional setting, we would if a comparable circumstance happened in real life. The disconnect between such people and yourself is simply in that separation. We'd agree about the same things in real life (or mostly at least), it's really just how we see fiction that would be in contention.

With that said, no real people can be harmed in fiction. So, there isn't really any consequence to it anyways. If I murdered in cold blood countless innocent men, women, and children on a whim in a game, it has no negative effect on anyone. The same is true for any other act in that same context. So, it really shouldn't matter that we don't see fiction in the same way in regard to moral outlooks when no one can be harmed and we are generally going to be in agreement about morals in our actual reality.

[Yencat]

With that said, no real people can be harmed in fiction.

Completely agree, in this case it's harmless because it's about fictional characters.

In general though the "holding hands = confirmed gay" rhetoric is harmful though. Someone else in the thread mentioned that if they were two guys they'd probably be more convinced they were in fact gay because they never see male friends holding hands, and looking at this thread is it any surprise why they don't?

"Doing X doesn't make you gay, being gay makes you gay. Until we're into it, then doing X totally makes you confirmed gay."

[Yandere-chan]

Completely agree, in this case it's harmless because it's about fictional characters.

In general though the "holding hands = confirmed gay" rhetoric is harmful though. Someone else in the thread mentioned that if they were two guys they'd probably be more convinced they were in fact gay because they never see male friends holding hands, and looking at this thread is it any surprise why they don't?

"Doing X doesn't make you gay, being gay makes you gay. Until we're into it, then doing X totally makes you confirmed gay."

I see what you're getting at, but I don't agree with some of the conclusions you've come to.

For one, I'm not sure if it's fair to assume the OP to be especially serious about the art confirming the two are gay. In truth, I would say it could be a nudge that they are, but it may not be as well. I don't see it as harmful in and of itself to see such a picture and be excited at the possibility of it being a nudge and going a step further to say it confirms they are gay to take a certain satisfaction in standing firm in that belief. If someone truly believes it absolutely proves they are gay, then they would be wrong, but I'm not sure of what the consequence of that error in judgement would really be. If anything, it would just mean they are potentially let down if it doesn't end up being so clearly confirmed in the final product. But, even then, I imagine they could just speculate that they are gay and the art lends itself to that theory and they could simply treat it as if its canon. This too wouldn't be an issue unless they lash out on others for not conforming to what would still be speculation. Then again, I think lashing out at others over such things to be too far regardless. Surely, more civil alternatives are possible.

For two, the reason why I think that other person believes two guys doing it would be more credible (I could be wrong, I'm only speculating) is likely because in their culture, or the one they grew up in or such, it's probably less common for guys to hold hands unless they are something other than friends. Even then, it still wouldn't be an absolute confirmation. I think, again, that such a notion can be pushed out without it being entirely serious. At least, in my experience, people will sometimes act like something is confirmed when it is only actually only hinted at being the case, as a social gesture. Partially humor, but more so playfulness, I'd say.

Regardless, I don't take an issue with the OP's post, and I can relate to their enthusiasm. I take it less as it being literal, and more so as showing support and solidarity with the desire. I don't think anything malicious was intended with it.

[Yencat]

I don't think anything malicious was intended with it.

Oh I doubt there was as well, all I've commented on is that I think saying holding hands = gay is ridiculous and I stand by that. The fact that most cultures are the way they are (where I live as well) about guys holding hands didn't just manifest out of thin air after all, it was more an observation of the double standard we have about girls holding hands vs. guys when either can be friendship or something more.

What Gaia and Ryne are, or are not, is extremely unlikely to be further explored in game so it's of little consequence and people can read into it however they wish.