Post by Cis in In real need of Spoilers!!!

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Indeed; if you ask him, he clarifies that his love for you is of a romantic nature. Also, you can have a purely platonic friendship with him, which plays out slightly differently. So yes, it is different from what he feels for Aleusha.

That being said, I'm not sure whether he really is asexual. With Saorise it's pretty clear that she is asexual as well as aromantic. Markus is clearly not aromantic, but I also think that him being asexual isn't quite as clear cut aqs it seems. First of all, he clearly mentions masturbation and he also explains that he runs a sex shop because he is fascinated by sexuality. He also has a noticeable amount of sexual experience, though he doesn't comment on how much he enjoyed it or not. Also, he is the one who brings up the possibility of sex and he gets annoyed if you answer his question by asking him whether he wants it. (Notice that he doesn't answer in the negative, he just insists that he is asking YOU.) Should you sleep with him, he will say that you feel exactly like he imagined it, which means he has been preoccupied with such thoughts. Should you decline, he will voice relief, but can also admit that he isn't exactly happy with how things are with him, merely content, and that he doesn't consider changing his mind an impossibility. All things considered it seems he is conflicted/inhibited about sex, rather than simply disinterested in it.

Coupled with his other statements (was more in love with his image of others then with the persons themselves, feels love most acutely when he watches you from a distance, also his fear that he can't live up to your picture of him and his interactions with Dream-Aleusha) make me wonder whether this is a part of a greater issue. It's like he is uncomfortable with the idea of getting too close to someone, and that might also show on a physical level. Sorry for my rambling, but I think Markus is a really fascinating character, so I love to dissect him.

midichats4 years ago(+10)(-3)

You can be intrigued by sex and work at a sex shop and still be asexual...the explanation he gives makes it very clear that he is asexual. People who are asexual also are sometimes willing to engage in sex with their partners in order to make them happy, but may get nothing or little out of it themselves. Asexuality is really also a spectrum, asexual people have engaged in masturbation and some may stop after trying, some may continue to enjoy it and partake in it. Being nervous to get close to someone is also entirely different than asexuality, you can characterize with both or either/or. ..It is important that you educate yourself more on things like this before discussing them so that you don't spread false information.

Cis4 years ago(+5)(-11)

I am aware of all these facts. (Matter of factly, I am demi-sexual myself, which is sometimes considered as part of the asexuality spectrum, so I dare say I am not entirely uneducated on such matters.) As you say, all this traits can occur in asexuals and as such do not necessarily hint at a wish for sexual intimacy. But in my posting I didn't look at each of them individually, but rather as parts of a bigger picture. Taken in context of both the narrative and of Markus' personality, my takeaway was "conflicted/afraid" rather than "disinterested". There is a broad spectrum between asexuality and more typical sexual interest, after all. I should know.

Of course my interpretation of Markus might be wrong, only the creators can clarify, and they probably don't want to. Nevertheless, I would appreciate it if my opinion weren't treated as the result of ignorance and lack of education. (Though my rather hazardous grasp of the English language might admittedly suggest otherwise. It is not my native tongue, please bear with me.)

midichats4 years ago (1 edit) (+10)(-5)

I am gray-A so am considered on the spectrum as well, I just find it irrelevant to mention because my identification does not mean I could not say ignorant things about someone I don't understand. Yes I already understood what you meant, but it comes off as you just trying to psychoanalyze someone and explain their sexuality away. It comes off as "you must be this way because you're traumatized." not because they already understand what they don't want in a relationship and made it very clear. I'm also looking at the bigger picture -- you used engaging in sex, running a sex shop, and masturbation as reasons for him to not be asexual, and I made it clear that those are not valid reasons at all why he wouldn't be since asexuals throughout the entire spectrum engage in all. Seemed misinformed to me to say otherwise, regardless of sexuality, hence me saying what I said.

But I'm not going to continue this conversation over a video game character, it's not worth it. Just saying that it's not valid to use engagement in sex or the interest in the idea of sex as a way to 'explain away' asexuality. Would definitely come off rude to others if applied to a real person. Nothing left for me to say in this conversation, have a good day.

Cis4 years ago(+8)(-11)

I do agree that a further debate would be pointless, we have differnt opinions on the matter and there is nothing wrong with that. I only want to say one final thing, namely it would indeed be invasive to analyse a person in this matter, but that is just the point: Markus is not a real person, he is a fictional character in a story. A story I enjoyed and that made me think, and I enjoy sharing my thoughts an that matter and reading the interpretations of others. (Including yours, even if I'm not fond of your condescending tone.) I do not think that analysing a story is comparable to playing psychoanalyst to the persons around me. That's like comparing enjoying murder mysteries to breaking into a real crime scene.

itch.io

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