#deconstructing amatonormativity

The author gave this trope a very unusual spin that was very inclusive of types of love that were not romantic (even if the endgame and objective of the fic is still the ship getting romantically involved).

Moreover, the myth of this disease (dying 'beautifully' out of sudden pure romantic love) is deconstructed, and love is shown as something that is mostly constructed over time with efforts and patience. I enjoyed the emphasis on the fact that love does not have to and cannot be perfect and purely romantic (as in, conforming to the usual myths of romance), that it can appear and fade away without the fading being painted as lame or tragic, and that caring for someone can and has to be a choice - which is made by both parties.

When the characters actually get together, romantic love itself is not even idealised in the slightest - in fact, despite getting what he desires, the MC (who is a characted I have always felt connected to) remains somewhat resentful over romantic love, over the expectations surrounding it (marriage,...) and the way it made him suffer. His relationship with his SO is not portrayed as what makes him human, as what fate decided for them (in a 'they were meant to be' way), or as something 'magic' or 'tragic' or 'unavoidable'. It just feels... real, as it is portrayed as an active effort and team decision between the two characters. It feels contingent, and voluntary, which - to me - gives them a more unique way of strenghtening their bonds than in "soul mates bounded by fate" types of stories.

The story includes all of the imperfections and the bittersweet traits a relationship that swings 'weirdly' between romantic and platonic love can present. And things still work out, despite not being intense and marvellous from the beginning, as we would expect them to be in - for example - a traditional romance movie. Kudos to the author for having a character explicitely say it.

I especially appreciated the scenes in which they precisely talk about or care for what they both are comfortable with - emotional and physical intimacy gradually builds itself too. It feels like the rules their relationship follows has been actively decided upon by them, instead of blindly following society's expectations of what a relationship that is labelled as romantic should evolve and look like.