In My Crying Over Beefleaf Era Where Every Couple Weeks I Will Reread Sections Of The Black Water Arc

It really is a tragedy, thank you for giving us girl scout Khun, it’s what the world needed 😭

Missing girl scout khun? I gotcha!

Such a pity lmao its a good fit😭

Couldn’t have said it better, yes I know none of those Alastor ships are canon but it is frustrating to see such a large amount of that kind of content of a confirmed ace character; as someone on the ace spectrum it hurts that no character can exist without being shipped, for the most part I’m not against shipping but in this case, it feels like erasure. And I don’t think it’s fair to say that just because it’s not canon doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an impact, because when the content is as widespread as it is in this instance, it overshadows Alastor’s canon orientation. Just my thoughts, I know not every ace person is bothered by this but I just thought I’d offer my opinion.

The Hazbin Hotel fandom’s issue with accepting aromanticism and asexuality

Now that it is officially Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, I want to talk about this!

I find that, as an aroace myself, I am constantly grasping at good representation and coming up empty— it usually ends up in one of two ways.

One: the character is portrayed as emotionless, cold, and robotic in nature. It’s the question aromantic and/or asexual people are often asked: “Are you heartless?” The answer is no, of course, but general media makes it out to be the opposite.

Or two: Their lack of attraction is seen as something to “fix” because they “haven’t found the right one yet”, and they end up with a partner as a “happy ending”.

It frustrates me greatly because of how little people actually see aromanticism or asexuality as a true part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

So when I watched Hazbin Hotel, and I found out about Alastor being aroace, I was over the moon. I was on cloud nine. I also saw how his voice actor has looked up the term as an attempt to learn about aroaces, which makes me OVERJOYED?? Amir is truly a blessing, and I love that he’s proud to embody a character that’s part of our community. It’s so beautiful to finally have a proper character, a fan favorite at that, who just so happens to be aroace— and that’s another thing I love about this.

It’s never explicitly stated in the show (though it is stated in interviews), but it’s rather clear when you’re watching, isn’t it? Alastor’s aversion to any sort of sexual advancement, coupled with Rosie’s blatant “I know you’re an ace in the hole” comment sort of spell out his asexuality pretty clearly, as well as what side of the spectrum he falls upon. In addition, his Valentine’s day card was strictly platonic, which caters to his aromantic side. It feels so validating to finally be represented, to finally have a character in media who shares the same lack of interest in romance and sex as I do.

When I entered the fandom to look for more content, I kind of expected to see the same respect for Alastor’s orientation there too. But that… wasn’t the case? I am fully aware that aromanticism and asexuality are both spectrums— of course, aromantic and/or asexual people can enter those kinds of relationships. I’m not denying that and they belong in the community as much as anyone else on the spectrum.

But, the more I see the same line again and again and again, the more it feels like an excuse to just ship what you want.

Usually I don’t mind shipping? I’m often a firm believer in people shipping what they like as long as it’s harmless and they don’t go crazy over it. I also know for a fact that Viv doesn’t have a problem with people shipping her characters. They are fictional, after all.

But in this case, people are ignoring the very thing that makes Alastor a part of the aroace community! People are ignoring his lack of romantic or sexual attraction!

Is this not the same as changing a gay character’s orientation to suit a straight ship? If not, how so? I’m told that we are a part of this community, so why aren’t we being treated like it? Why is it so hard to accept the people on the end of the spectrum who aren’t interested?

Something I’ve been noticing throughout my life is that society has not exactly progressed very much on the idea of accepting asexual or aromantic identities. Maybe we have, a little, since the old days— but hell, people in “the old days”, which in truth wasn’t very long ago, believed that asexuality was a medical condition to be “fixed” by taking the right medication or having sex. That’s a pretty low bar to clear. And on the romance side, you’re seen as a “late bloomer” or “boring” if you don’t express interest. These days, being friends with someone is treated like a gateway to them possibly becoming a lover. Not getting married, not going on dates, not wanting a partner— it’s all treated like a crime when it’s not.

Maybe I’m selfish, or sensitive, or I’m butthurt over nothing, or I’m making it all about me. Maybe I’m gatekeeping or whatever the term is. But please, please, please, I just want an aroace character like me who simply is not interested in sex or romance.

And I want fandom to respect that. I admire the creations that fans make— the art, the animatics, the writing and the character analysis. And I want people to keep creating because creation is indeed a beautiful thing.

But I really would like people to treat aroace identities like they’re important. Like it’s more than just a spectrum to get wiggle room to wrangle in another ship.

I find it hilarious how in tgcf book 8, FengQing’s opinion of Hualian does a complete 180 turnaround from the cave of ten thousand gods, not because they like Hua Cheng any better but because Xie Lian is having the gayest moment of his life.

Straight up went from “Xie Lian don’t go near him he’s a psycho stalker!” to “somebody get this man his husband or he’s going to burn this entire world to the ground with us in it”

He’s in love your honor

so i started watching the tgcf anime and i'm gonna loose my mind, they seriously animated hua cheng to look smitten every time he glances at xie lian (as they should) (but also what about my sanity)

i mean look at him 😭😭😭

This is breathtakingly beautiful, the backgrounds are perfection, everyone is right at home and they’re all happy 🥺😭

last one for now, I was hoping to get 4 posters done total for AB but I've got work to do so the final one is on the shelf until I get more free time 😩

also this one was cute in my head but jeSUS MY HAND IS DEAD why did I decide to draw a show where everyone's wearing 4+ robes 🙃

Bear with me, it’s essay time because crying about beefleaf while rereading some parts of book 4 gave me a LOT of thoughts and emotions.

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that beefleaf were never going to get a happy ending, not because mxtx didn’t want to give them one, but because their dynamic literally makes it an impossibility. I don’t think it matters that He Xuan genuinely cared for SQX as Ming Yi because he is never going to be able to look at them without recalling what they took from him. Sure, he might not hate SQX, and he might actually wish them a happy life, but that life cannot be with him.

And this is taking into account a scenario in which He Xuan didn’t kill Shi Wudu, because even if he didn’t, I don’t think he himself could ever be truly happy with SQX. There is too much pain associated with them, and even though they were not the direct cause of that pain, I think it’s still fair for He Xuan not to want to be around that reminder. Is that fair to Qingxuan? Not necessarily, but neither was any of this fair to He Xuan.

I don’t think they could ever have a healthy relationship built upon a foundation filled with so much hurt, because they would only end up hurting each other more, whether intentionally or not. I think they both know this, and it’s why I personally believe that the ending mxtx gave them is the best we could have hoped for. In the end, I believe it’s clear that neither of them hates the other, but they do harbor a lot of complicated feelings on the matter that cannot be resolved with apology and forgiveness.

For Qingxuan’s part, I don’t think they blame He Xuan for their present situation. In fact, they are adamant in relaying to Xie Lian that He Xuan didn’t do anything to them after the events of the Black Water Arc. However, they also seem intent on moving forward with their mortal life. As for He Xuan, his dropping SQX off at the royal capital, as well as his willingness to give SQX his spiritual power and the fan (regardless of the dire circumstances) shows that there’s a part of him that still cares about them. He has no desire to interfere with Qingxuan’s chances at happiness in their new life, precisely because of that affection, but he also doesn’t want to be around to grieve over what could have been. Because every time He Xuan sees SQX, there will only be regret, both for his inability to see SQX without the attached pain and for the friend (or even lover) he could have had had their fates not been so maliciously intertwined.

Yes, I love beefleaf, but what I love more than the ship are the incredibly written individuals themselves. And I do firmly believe that, in canon at least, they would both be more at peace by letting go and moving on. Not necessarily happy, but at peace.

Now, in another universe, where these two met outside of these circumstances? Beefleaf most certainly sails.

Side note: In a weird way, writing this was actually kinda cathartic because it gave me peace with and acceptance of beefleaf’s canon ending, while still acknowledging that these two definitely had the potential to be lovers. That potential can be (and already has been) explored through everyone’s lovely fan creations.

This had me cackling, the fourth one is literally the most iconic roast in the series, and qi rong’s cannibal bed and breakfast is one of the most hilarious scenes, god I hate that guy but every scene with him is so fucking funny

small moments from tgcf i think about a lot

◇mei nianqing calling xie lian "His Little Highness"

◇pei ming tenderly holding a severed leg wondering what beautiful woman it used to belong to, only to toss it aside the second he's told it belonged to a man

◇xie lian's cooking almost killing he xuan. who's you know. a ghost. a dead ghost.

◇"you sure know a lot" "no you just dont know much"

◇shi qingxuan beating qi rong after he called them a tramp

◇ling wen being accused of fathering cuocuo

◇hua cheng noticing xie lian looking at that bowl of yuanxiao and getting him some

◇"you're alive?" "i'm dead!" and "i swear to die following your Highness" "you're already dead"

◇mu qing talking about his feelings once in his 800 year long existence and immediately trying to jump into lava

◇pei ming slapping xie lian's mouth with eming

◇qi rong's cannibal bed&breakfast

◇xie lian going Well its okay none of us is normal anyway :D after seeing the 10k statues

◇that one 5D chess scene with ling wen and xie lian in the brocade immortal arc that was reminiscent of death note shennanigans

◇shi wudu making fun of pei ming and ling wen being depicted as a couple, only to see a play about him and his sibling being in love like 3 mins later

HOCKNEY APPRECIATION FINALLY I love him so much ty op for this beautiful artwork

hockney from tog bc i love him to BITS 😌🙏🙏🙏

also sorry it’s messy as balls ong 💀

I’m gonna cry, book 8 is destroying me and then this 😭

Hua Cheng is precious, and he certainly is the most devoted man in the entire world.

and he’d do it again ❤️‍🩹 (and he does)

If you see this you’re legally obligated to reblog and tag with the book you’re currently reading