Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[Xirean]

You say no one wants that, but the loudest portion of that community has made it pretty clear they will never be satisfied unless those attributes are front and center.

Consider a possibility. Two characters are presented as maybe being in a relationship or maybe just being friends. People speculate and find pretty good reasons for either reality. Some people kinda of want a confirmation on one of those things because grey areas are frustrating.

Now lets also consider that straight characters tend to have little in the way of preventing that confirmation. Sure there are plenty of will they won't they stories, but it's often exceedingly clear that both characters are attracted to each other. Gay characters however are often not confirmed and often have comments like "they are just friends" or "that's gross" surrounding them. But that desire for confirmation still exists.

So often what I tend to see is that people are unwilling to accept the possibility that characters might be gay unless beyond shadow of doubt they are, and they usually can't be confirmed to people unless there are overt portrayals like kissing.

For example, I'm strongly certain that Ryne and Gaia are a young gay couple. I don't mind of others head canon them as just friends, however I do take issue with people demanding that my interpretation is wrong.

[KariTheFox]

For example, I'm strongly certain that Ryne and Gaia are a young gay couple. I don't mind of others head canon them as just friends, however I do take issue with people demanding that my interpretation is wrong.

Finding it endlessly fascinating that people will say "I interpret Ryne and Gaia as a couple" and people in this thread reply with, "that's wrong, headcanon whatever you want though ".

As if the difference between "headcanon" and interpretation is anything except semantic.

[MsMisato]

why we rezzing a two year old post

[KizuyaKatogami]

Finding it endlessly fascinating that people will say "I interpret Ryne and Gaia as a couple" and people in this thread reply with, "that's wrong, headcanon whatever you want though ".

As if the difference between "headcanon" and interpretation is anything except semantic.

Yes because there’s is canon which is true and headcanon which is false. I prefer people don’t go sharing false lore around whatever the subject may be. Canon wise the game itself states they’re nothing more than friends. There’s substantial physical written evidence to support this. There is nothing that states as such that they’re lovers.

[juicybug]

I think of it as main characters relationships and orientation isn't brought up in general bc this isn't a love story or a dating simulator. I think its purposely left ambiguous for a reason. Ship who you wanna ship. Everyone wants to make love with and be friends with the WOL.

[Xirean]

Yes because there’s is canon which is true and headcanon which is false. I prefer people don’t go sharing false lore around whatever the subject may be. Canon wise the game itself states they’re nothing more than friends. There’s substantial physical written evidence to support this. There is nothing that states as such that they’re lovers.

Would you take that stance if they were not both girls and nothing else about the writing changed?

[IkaraGreydancer]

Consider a possibility. Two characters are presented as maybe being in a relationship or maybe just being friends. People speculate and find pretty good reasons for either reality. Some people kinda of want a confirmation on one of those things because grey areas are frustrating.

Now lets also consider that straight characters tend to have little in the way of preventing that confirmation. Sure there are plenty of will they won't they stories, but it's often exceedingly clear that both characters are attracted to each other. Gay characters however are often not confirmed and often have comments like "they are just friends" or "that's gross" surrounding them. But that desire for confirmation still exists.

So often what I tend to see is that people are unwilling to accept the possibility that characters might be gay unless beyond shadow of doubt they are, and they usually can't be confirmed to people unless there are overt portrayals like kissing.

For example, I'm strongly certain that Ryne and Gaia are a young gay couple. I don't mind of others head canon them as just friends, however I do take issue with people demanding that my interpretation is wrong.

I'll say you're interpretation is...your interpretation. You want it to be so so to you it is. I've seen many teenage girls act the way those 2 do so if Ryne & Gaia are a young lesbian couple so are most close teenage girls (which I don't think is the case). Has nothing to do with being unwilling to accept. Has everything to do with the signs being shown. And to me and many others that isn't the case with Ryne and Gaia. No one can factually say either or but I CAN say the game says nothing on it. Hell they're both like Thancreds daughters which would effectively make them sisters and that makes far more sense but what do I know...

[Insertusernamehere]

Maybe it is misinterpreted due cultural differences? In some cultures it is very normal same gender hug & kiss each other and compliment each other, it doesn't mean they are in relationship. It is a normal social behavior.

But not sure how it works in japan tbh.

[KariTheFox]

Yes because there’s is canon which is true and headcanon which is false.

That's not really what 'canon' means from a literary standpoint. Canon isn't true or false, and I think it's weird to talk about literature in those terms. Canon doesn't deal with interpretation at all. It just refers to the actual contents of the text put in front of the viewer. The music, the scenes, the dialogue. Anything the viewer takes out of that becomes interpretation.

"Ryne and Gaia are friends," is an interpretation. "Ryne and Gaia have a sisterly bond," is an interpretation. "Ryne and Gaia have a blossoming romance," is an interpretation.

Eden's story was left pretty open ended and ambigious, and the text supports multiple readings and interpretations. That's the beauty of storytelling, different people could come away with completely different readings of the same story, and that's a good thing.

[Xirean]

I'll say you're interpretation is...your interpretation. You want it to be so so to you it is. I've seen many teenage girls act the way those 2 do so if Ryne & Gaia are a young lesbian couple so are most close teenage girls (which I don't think is the case). Has nothing to do with being unwilling to accept. Has everything to do with the signs being shown. And to me and many others that isn't the case with Ryne and Gaia. No one can factually say either or but I CAN say the game says nothing on it. Hell they're both like Thancreds daughters which would effectively make them sisters and that makes far more sense but what do I know...

If we are drawing on personal experiences them I'm rather familiar with writers trying to put things in stories and being prevented from doing so because of higher ups or ratings so they have to water down or completely hide the thing entirely. Ryne and Gaia feel a lot like that to me. Does that mean that is the ultimate answer? No, but it is certainly a possibility and one I feel very confident int particularly with the shot for shot comparison to a previous confirmed FF romance story.