#so the heart hotel is just such a lart of that

[bluest-planet]

Having emotions over the fact that Kingdom Hearts as a series is probably the closest thing in mainstream media (to me, there of course might be more out there but like it different because its a product of major IPs) to like, aromantic and asexual themes and queerness being so intertwined with its 'friendship prevails' and 'forging connections' messaging.

Like. Yeah, theres the disney couples, and whatever the hell might be implied between characters like Kairi and Sora or Namine and Riku, or even Riku and Sora. But that's the thing, its not confirmed.

Like, sure, its enough for normies to maybe connect the "boy and girl therefore couple" despite how little there is to fall in line with that expectation because it takes so little for allos to believe in romantic love, that just a girl and a boy who care about one another yet barely speak is enough to confirm it.

But theres also, so, so much evidence against it too, if you just look to the side for a second.

Like, there's no big confession, there's no kiss or proposal of some kind (i mean theres the paopu but, im pretty sure they both have two separate fruits rather than one,) they have more characters in their lives to care about then just themselves, and maybe its the aro in me but they have like. Barely any chemistry and feel more like far away friends, where they left impact on one another but have an awkwardness/unfamiliarity between them.

And like, yeah, I think reading Riku as gay on his own- or both he and Sora having romantic feelings for one another is totally valid, esp considering how much is centered between their relationship.

But... It also... Warms my heart to just know they love and care about one another... Intertwined... But it could be entirely platonic. Not strictly as Brothers or Lovers but something else, be it best friends or queerplatonic partners or something entirely else that drifts between all of those labels.

They just care. And that's enough, thats valid, and its celebrated.

But what gets me the most, even if its not explored a lot, is Sora and his connection with everyone and his other heartmates (Xion, Roxas, Vanitas, Ventus). He has cute friendships in every world! He's friends with so many different people who are always happy to see him and invite him to comeback, always happy to help him if he needs it while he visits so long as it was within their power (the various disney characters) as if he has a home everywhere he goes, he's not actually bound to any one place.

Which yeah, that might seem sad to people. The idea that Sora might not have a definitive home because hes been changed so much on his journey, so much hardship.

But that's kind of mean to think, isn't it? Sometimes people loose their childhood homes, but that doesn't mean you can't build an even better one elsewhere. That doesn't mean you should be bound to any one place, maybe his home is just his friends, any and all of them- wherever he is, so long as he's with anyone he cares about it'll be home. And if his friends aren't there?

He'll make more, not because he's replacing them, but because he just has so much space and so much love for the world around him. He's willing to keep expanding his horizons and making more connections, more homes so he'll never be homeless again. Does that make sense?

It might be hard in 4, whatever will happen to him in Quadratum, but thats what its about; how he'll recover in his darkest hour while relying on what he's learned and being himself but improved.

The fact that Sora has gone to so many worlds and made so many friends- something Ventus wanted to do so bad, and yet. He carried Ven and took him along for the ride while he was resting. To me its heartwarming, Ven may be asleep, but he's not being abandoned, he's right along with him enjoying it in his dreams. Sora's not alone with his companion even if he doesn't realize it.

I always define my gender as "We as in Me but upside down" or "the sum of conversations and experiences shared with others, including myself" because i usually use "we" to refer to myself (not here for simplicity's sake) I dont need romance or desire to be a person, or to enjoy life. I'm never alone, even if theres no one in the room. I get that from Sora, y'know?

How Xion and Roxas spawn from him, I'd wish we got more between them. But just knowing how much he wanted to save Roxas, Ventus, Aqua, Xion, Vanitas- he helps the people who both are and aren't him, or make up who he is or reflect- he care about them. And its because he cares about them, that he cares about the people they care about.

Sure, if he didn't have some connection to Ven and therefore Aqua- he'd still try and save her because that's just how he is. He cares. But at the same time, it means more because he knows how Ven feels, thats his friend, and therefore, Sora's friend. He doesn't care if he's ever met her he just jumps at the chance to save Aqua and hold onto the small thread tied between them. Same with Xion.

I'm sorry, I'm not making much sense, am I? I'm not good at articulating my thoughts. But the fact that he uses any small connection as an excuse to get closer to someone who means a lot to someone he cares a lot- it makes my heart flutter! I wished all the people i cared about got along and were friends with each other too. I wish I could visit and rely on people from all across the world too, because i would never want to settle in any one place if i realistic could. I'd keep my loved ones safe in my heart if they needed it, if i could, and carry them wherever I go, hoping to share all the same pleasant experiences. Or I'd be fine splitting pieces of myself, just to keep me company to know what I must look like outside of my own perspective, to know how else i could inevitably change into another person entirely to meet up and compare lives later, enjoying the differences.

I wish I could offer a chance at something better to the same face, to say; i see your anger and your path refuse to think its okay to be self-destructive, now come home. And my brighter, happier self, to get the happy ending i deserve by saving myself while also being a friend to myself. Waking up from the bad dream at last, to enjoy an awakened life full of connections.

But I cant, and thats okay, my life is one I enjoy regardless, but Kingdom Hearts... Is in many ways- the ultimate aromantic and asexual fantasy for me. And maybe even a few others.

#kh #kingdom hearts #asexuality #aromantic #kh sora #kh analysis #ig #blue speaks #is this anything? sorry im putting myself out there.... #of course being aroace is super varied and what im saying here doesn't apply to all aroaces #and hey id love to celebrate other aroace readings of kh! #ik mine is very heavily centered on what counts as the “self” and what i call “self company” #for a long time ive imagined not other people or personaities exactly.... #but closer to imaginary friends or facets of myself to talk to since ive been on my own a lot #its transformed as ive grown into a type of gender identity mixed with my aroace part #so the heart hotel is just such a lart of that #on that note. ik roxas and xion and ven and van are all their own people and that people find comfort knowing they're allowed to be #but when you have a gender like my own.... they're they're one people but they're also one... does that make sense? #if you could be friends with yourself. keep you safe. take care of you. have fun toegether.... and experience the same event differently... #idk theres feels about that #didn't get into it but yeah. sora leaves the islands that are his home and friends home in other people #and he wants to explore but it's different from why riku wants to leave #Riku leaves to explore learn and experience more things and discover the unknown #but Sora never 'leaves' the islands for good. He expands his definition of home. building a bigger house with materials he's given #idk if that makes ense again.... my bad LOL #edit: im tired and riddled with a shit tone of grammar and word mistakes about so excuse the incoherency lol