#shasam

WAHAHAHAHA THANK YOU!!!! 💕💕‼️

"YOU'RE TEARING ME APART, VISITOR! Oh, hi Shadow."

This passage is from a translator. I'm sorry, but my English is very bad.

HI! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! And EHEHE…! Their relationship is so hard to pinpoint for me bc I love BOTH romantic AND platonic readings for Sam and Masked Shadow. ITS HARD, BUT IF I HAD TO CHOOSE, I’d say my Samdow is platonic, but INCREDIBLY intimate. Queerplatonic Samdow is my bread and butter🥹🥹

The main thing about them in-game that captured my interest was how sweet their interactions were. (Especially with how terrifying Shadow looked.) And how Shadow nearly harms Sam unintentionally at the very end, doing what it originally thought WAS best for the both of them. (as i tend to interpret: wanting to help Sam escape his loneliness in a permanent way. An invitation to never be alone again,)— terribly misunderstanding boundaries. But they both come out of it unharmed once they’re established, and it continues to help him!! (i.e. little gifts) AND ITS SO CUTE AND SWEET AND KINDA ANGSTY AND I WANNA REFLECT THAT W/ HOW THEIR DYNAMIC IS POST-NEAR BLANKET ASSIMILATION.

(I like to think the daily gifts were to slowly rebuild Sam’s trust again since Shadow felt horrible breaking it. It never wants to see Sam look at it with fearful, distrusting eyes again. It earns that trust back rather quickly, thanks to Sam being a bleeding heart of a man. Inevitably enough to be allowed close to him, closer than it’d ever been towards him. Finally, finally able to make more physical contact with him besides the brief moments their hands touched during gift-givings.) Sam had to pretend he didn’t see the teeth behind it’s mask flashing during the first few times they held hands and embraced.

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Masked Shadow views Sam as the most important person in its’ existence. It’s incredibly attached to him if not a little possessive. On the other hand, Sam gradually becomes very close to Shadow despite being unable to exchange any words with it, valuing its company(and silent, unyielding loyalty to him.)(even if he doesn’t quite understand what it sees in him. It scares him a little at first how devoted it is.)

Sam has some of his insecurities (lack of touch/being alone) remedied due to Shadow’s nature to cling on and hold him any given moment… ITS A LITTLE UNHEALTHY/CODEPENDENT. But when you’re a lonely, ugly, unaccomplished person with a monster that’s willing to give you its full, undivided attention. You can’t help but feel a little special. Loved.

Eventually it goes beyond regularly tangled hugs, and when Sam trusts the Masked Shadow enough— allows it to explore his body further (his organs or bare body). VERY intimate. But still platonic for the most part. Seeing Sam happy makes it happy… and it’s the closest it can get to “assimilating” Sam without actually having to do so. (And slowly becomes something even Shadow prefers). Curiously poking and prodding his ribcage and organs. Taking the time to mend any injuries from excursions, or simply study his anatomy. Red eyes glowing faintly towards Sam’s noises. (It especially enjoys the breathy-laugh that escapes Sam when caressing his heart.) Sam’s happiness and comfort are it’s TOP priority.

(I like to think Shadow fails to realize that its happiness and comfort is also something Sam cares about, too. (I.e. gift exchange) Shadow sees it as unneeded but Sam reciprocates the doting anyways. Squeezing shadow’s hands gently or bumping his head against/kissing its mask… which catches it off-guard most of the time since Shadow is unused to positive touch too. weughhhh🥺🥺🥺)

IDK WHEN ILL GET AROUND TO DRAWING IT BUT I have a concept/hc where Sam and Shadow feel pain at the exact same time for every instance. Not just the cloak assimilation.

Sam gets a cut on his finger? Shadow now has a couple hands with the same cut. Sophie hits Sam in the head w/ her slingshot marble? The top of Shadow’s mask is mysteriously cracked all of a sudden.