(no subject)

[soc_puppet]

You know those fanfics with the soulmate-identifying marks and it's the first thing the other person says to you?

I just read one where people have those for romantic and platonic soulmates.

I now need approximately eleventy-billion with just platonic soulmate marks and no romantic soulmate marks. Because I think it would be so frikkin awesome.

Comments

[lightbird]

I agree 100% with this post.

[soc_puppet]

Oh man, platonic soulmates would be so fantastic. Someone who you know will always have your back? Who will be willing to call you out when you do something shitty? Who know how not to push your buttons and how to help you grow?

And yeah, I understand that these are all things you can find in a romantic partner, but I feel like there's a lot of pressure and/or baggage that's heaped on romantic relationships that platonic relationships don't get, and not having to worry about whether your relationship will ever be romantic (or if you'll still like each other if you do end up in a romantic relationship and then break up) would just be... a relief, I think.

Plus there's the extra element of mystery for fics that do want to explore the romantic angle: "I feel like I have a really deep connection with this person and I really like them and want to spend lots of time with them, but we don't have soulmate marks, what does it mean???" and all that. Or if we alter the definition slightly so it's more like BFF soulmates, which means you can absolutely have a romantic relationship with one of them, but A) Will you? And B), I am of the opinion that lots of people will have more than one of these marks, so the question goes to Which one?

Platonic soulmates!

(For platonic soul bonds, check out Tamora Pierce's Emelan/Circle of Magic books. Though I certainly wouldn't turn up my nose at more platonic soul bond fanfics as well.)

[lightbird]

I've never read Tamora Pierce and I will need to rectify that. :)

There's a lot about the show Quantum Leap that is problematic -- it always had a good heart, but still, lots of stuff that is problematic. But one of the reasons I loved it before and still love it is because of the two men, who are great and without a doubt fit the definition of platonic soulmates. Of course fandom ships them (and tends to write terrible things happening to the women in the two mens' lives in order for them to be together in a romantic and sexual relationship -- which I hate 100% of the time). I don't mind reading the M/M slash every once in a while (as long as the women are treated fairly in context of it) but I truly prefer the gen friendship fics. Really, as far as I'm concerned, in canon these guys are platonic soulmates and that relationship is enough and I personally don't have a need to add subtext. But that's me.

Thanks for the Tamora Pierce rec. I'm familiar of course, just never got around to reading!

[soc_puppet]

Her stuff is definitely worth a shot. It's not perfect, but I would classify it as progressive fantasy; the Emelan books more than the Tortall books, I think, but both universes are pretty good. She's even been spotted around the comments section of Shakesville from time to time!

I definitely get where you're coming from. I mean, there's plenty of stuff I ship, but sometimes it just doesn't click that way for me. And then it does for what seems like the entire rest of the fandom, and it's like WTF, how am I supposed to find fic I like? *sigh* Anyway. Yes. Platonic soulmates FTW.

[krait]

That would be awesome!

If you find any fics like that, please be sure to rec them!

[soc_puppet]

*salutes* You got it!

[zaluzianskya]

Iii actually have a couple fics with platonic soulmates? It's the "you see in greyscale until you meet your soulmate" thing, though, no marks, if you're not interested in that. And it's an obscure Japanese children's TV series (Kamen Rider).