Felix_Space

My main problem is that it follows the same theme that a lot of fandoms take - the prioritisation of romantic relationships over platonic ones, and the view that they are worth less. There is a stunning lack of well developed fully platonic relationships in media, and it’s that lack of representation that makes aroace people struggle with their identity.

It’s very hard to live your life knowing that so many of the people around you view your connection as lesser just because it’s not romantic, and it just gets enforced by the standards shown in fandom spaces about platonic relationships.

Usually I’m all for shipping like do whatever have fun, but to me Rocky and graces relationship and it’s meaning for both of them is so inherently linked to their platonic value to each other.

One of the reasons grace was sent on the Hail Mary was because of his lack of romantic relationships (despite his apparent friendship with many other people on stratts vatt) and how that lack of what many believe to be a more valuable form of love made him a coward for not wanting to leave his life behind.

However, grace choosing to go back for rocky, not because of some romantic feelings but solely because of their friendship is so important for graces development as a character, because yes he still has no romantic partner, he’s still technically in the same position as when he left except he’s not, because he’s able to place his own value on the relationship he has with Rocky, rather than adhering to what are essentially societal hierarchies of love.

So like she gets the recordings and realizes Yao and Ilyukina are dead before he wakes up so he’s got no pilot, no engineer, and no memories.

And then you also have to remember that the EXISTENCE of these recordings and the fact they were accompanied by the Taumoeba means that an amnesticized Grace somehow managed to save earth without a pilot or engineer and shoddy memory that only vaguely gives him enough to work with as he works.

Please credit @gardenofstarss or @gardenofuserboxess ! <3

Here’s the flag in case you need it :)