got an ace hand
So today, skipping around the Internet as you do, I came across this blog, Love From the Asexual Underground and it got me thinking about asexuality and fictional characters. I guess before I start babbling about this, I should add that, uh, I do not have a lot of information on asexuality. I have the basic idea down: there are people who are not interested in sex and do not require it to have intimate relationships. (Actually, I'm pretty sure that almost everyone is able to have intimate relationships without sex, and if you can't, uh, you might want to see someone about that.) I am also assuming that asexuality, like hetero-/homosexuality, is a spectrum, e.g., there are some people who don't really think about sex a lot in their day-to-day life and don't really have an interest in seeking it out, but if they happen to have a close bond with someone who really likes sex with them, well, that can be hot. (Full disclosure: I am probably somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, with some leanings toward asexuality. SURPRISE!)
ANYWAY. I wanted to talk about asexuality and fictional characters. I think that I have a disproportionately high ratio of ace-leaning characters in my head canon compared to most. For me, a character has to be specifically shown as having an interest in sex in canon for me to assume that they're a sexual person. If they don't, my base assumption about them is that they're ace-leaning, if not fully asexual.
Obviously, this is all COMPLETELY my opinion on things. Your mileage will vary, and will probably do so dramatically.
Asexual(-leaning) characters (in my opinion) from FFVIII include:
- Squall: He really seems to be apathetic whenever anyone mentions sex, if not slightly disgusted. Maybe my memory isn't great about this? But, I mean, his reaction to a porn magazine was "This guy is sick," and "I thought he was kidding." There isn't a whole lot of interest going on there. Also, I always got the feeling his main interest in Rinoa was due to abandonment issues and, uh, didn't have a whole to do with her looks. Squall reads as fully asexual to me.
- Zell: This is maybe surprising to some people? But Zell always stammers and blushes about sex and/or dating, and tries to shift the subject when it comes up. Could be interpreted as he's just really shy; I always took it to mean he's pretty naive and innocent and doesn't really like thinking about these things that much. Also, seriously, girls have cooties, man. Zell tends to read more as asexual-leaning than fully asexual, though. Probably because he does have that blushing reaction (as opposed to Squall's slightly disgusted apathy). EDIT! He does look at the girl walking by in G-Garden while doing push ups. Which can probably be pointed out as having at least some interest, although I still like to imagine that he's like, "Who's that?" and some other dude is like, "Hot stuff," and Zell is embarrassed. >__> Whatever.
- Seifer: I get the feeling that while Seifer does have sexual interests, but I also think he is, uh, incredibly repressed for the most part. And I do think that his sexuality is really toned down compared to most people. I think I get this impression primarily because most of his "romantic" relationships were always about him being a hero. I don't recall him ever mentioning the hot booty. But, I mean, seriously, I always got the impression that being in a het relationship was all about the idea of it and had very little to do with the physical aspects. It was always idealistic and always about him saving /protecting someone.
- Biggs: I don't know! I really don't, but I badly want to see him and Wedge in a totally asexual, aromantic lifelong partnership together, fixing broken appliances and building the odd XATM that keeps accidentally getting loose and destroying the town.
Sexual characters would include:
- Irvine: He talks about hitting on girls ALL THE TIME.
- Selphie: She seems to show interest in Irvine? And seems to flirt.
- Quistis: Admits an interest in Squall. And Xu.
- Rinoa: I have some sort of memory of her mentioning various people (like Squall) being good-looking, but maybe I'm making that up? I don't know, I think she reads as sexual because she is a very physical, romantic person. Which is not necessarily a sign of non-asexuality, but, uh, reads that way to me.
Also, am I the only one who thinks that Sherlock Holmes and Naked Snake (MGS3) are asexual? I'm sorry, but Snake just didn't seem that interested. He was way more passionate about that customized gun.
Does this happen to anyone else?
In other news, I love this webcomic strip.
ANYWAY. I wanted to talk about asexuality and fictional characters. I think that I have a disproportionately high ratio of ace-leaning characters in my head canon compared to most. For me, a character has to be specifically shown as having an interest in sex in canon for me to assume that they're a sexual person. If they don't, my base assumption about them is that they're ace-leaning, if not fully asexual.
Obviously, this is all COMPLETELY my opinion on things. Your mileage will vary, and will probably do so dramatically.
Asexual(-leaning) characters (in my opinion) from FFVIII include:
- Squall: He really seems to be apathetic whenever anyone mentions sex, if not slightly disgusted. Maybe my memory isn't great about this? But, I mean, his reaction to a porn magazine was "This guy is sick," and "I thought he was kidding." There isn't a whole lot of interest going on there. Also, I always got the feeling his main interest in Rinoa was due to abandonment issues and, uh, didn't have a whole to do with her looks. Squall reads as fully asexual to me.
- Zell: This is maybe surprising to some people? But Zell always stammers and blushes about sex and/or dating, and tries to shift the subject when it comes up. Could be interpreted as he's just really shy; I always took it to mean he's pretty naive and innocent and doesn't really like thinking about these things that much. Also, seriously, girls have cooties, man. Zell tends to read more as asexual-leaning than fully asexual, though. Probably because he does have that blushing reaction (as opposed to Squall's slightly disgusted apathy). EDIT! He does look at the girl walking by in G-Garden while doing push ups. Which can probably be pointed out as having at least some interest, although I still like to imagine that he's like, "Who's that?" and some other dude is like, "Hot stuff," and Zell is embarrassed. >__> Whatever.
- Seifer: I get the feeling that while Seifer does have sexual interests, but I also think he is, uh, incredibly repressed for the most part. And I do think that his sexuality is really toned down compared to most people. I think I get this impression primarily because most of his "romantic" relationships were always about him being a hero. I don't recall him ever mentioning the hot booty. But, I mean, seriously, I always got the impression that being in a het relationship was all about the idea of it and had very little to do with the physical aspects. It was always idealistic and always about him saving /protecting someone.
- Biggs: I don't know! I really don't, but I badly want to see him and Wedge in a totally asexual, aromantic lifelong partnership together, fixing broken appliances and building the odd XATM that keeps accidentally getting loose and destroying the town.
Sexual characters would include:
- Irvine: He talks about hitting on girls ALL THE TIME.
- Selphie: She seems to show interest in Irvine? And seems to flirt.
- Quistis: Admits an interest in Squall. And Xu.
- Rinoa: I have some sort of memory of her mentioning various people (like Squall) being good-looking, but maybe I'm making that up? I don't know, I think she reads as sexual because she is a very physical, romantic person. Which is not necessarily a sign of non-asexuality, but, uh, reads that way to me.
Also, am I the only one who thinks that Sherlock Holmes and Naked Snake (MGS3) are asexual? I'm sorry, but Snake just didn't seem that interested. He was way more passionate about that customized gun.
Does this happen to anyone else?
In other news, I love this webcomic strip.