~~ the perfect mix?

The strange thing is, I'm all about escapism, and understand the allure of pretending things are much better than they are-- after all, where's the harm, right? So I'm constantly torn in two directions-- the need for honesty in all creative endeavors and the shared need for escape. I mean, escapism and avoidance of harsh truths is something I understand on an almost cellular level-- it's just that that's why I want to overcome it. And I want it-- I want Agape between Harry and Draco, because it seems impossible. But if you don't prove it-- don't show how difficult and ridiculously harsh the journey is-- then why bother? Why not use characters who are at least friends-- because that's not as obvious as it might seem either.

The problem is that it's deceptively easier to take pre-existing philia-type love, add some unconditional Agape love and finally sprinkle in some Eros subtext. That's initially what was meant by "slashy subtext", wasn't it? There are two guys who are 'too close' (dangerously close! they could combust!) on a show or in a movie, and suddenly, there are possibilities. It's like putting on a different sort of glasses, and suddenly everything becomes clear. It doesn't even matter if there's rational evidence pointing to the contrary (say, how could Remus have really loved Sirius 'that way' if he didn't trust him?) Love 'clicks' and Eros seems like a foregone conclusion with that much Philia floating around. If only life were this simple, we'd all be a lot happier, it seems.

This is probably at least partly because while you can sort of try to justify 'friendship'-type love because it's not supposed to be mysterious or contradictory (even though it is, too bad, so sad), and you can say it can or can't work a certain way, you can never predict or rule out desire. You can never say "well, he feels like -this- so he simply -can't- want him"-- though people try to say that they don't ever desire people they don't trust/like, in general, there are always plenty of people-- and evidence-- to contradict them. After all, this isn't about people thinking with their heads, right?

Actually, this can be seen as arguing against the supposed 'slashiness' of a lot of male friendships, isn't it? Well, this is also arguing against the popular sexualizing of friendship in general, as well. It can become that way, certainly, but it's not a predictable sort of linkage. In the end, I'm only trying to keep overt reason out of it-- the sort of justification that goes on which tries to normalize every relationship up to some 'healthy' heterosexual standard. It makes me feel... trapped in an ideal I don't myself possess, I think.

( I am being opressed! <-- sarcasm )

~~

This story by Are, Anodyne, doesn't really make (traditional?) sense, but that's why I like it, I think. It's not supposed to really make sense, is it? Although actually I like her Sirius/Remus fluff more, because I am just that easy.
    Also, I think Maldoror's Monsters, while being an AU Gundam Wing fic, is so hilarious that almost anyone would enjoy it. It involves put-upon!Quatre (who is actually the first Quatre I've ever liked-- ever!), vampire!Heero, horrified!Duo, damn soulmates, werewolf!Trowa and the funniest author in that whole fandom.