Your explanation of Romantic subtext, in this context, is simply one way to explore romantic context. You've simply omitted many other popular uses of subtext because they don't support your argument as well. I can't believe I have to explain this... but another character simply inferring that two other people are in love might lend credence to that pairing, but it is hardly substantial context... let alone a representation of another concretely romantic. A close friendship between a boy and girl is often misconstrued as a romantic relationship; this happens in film and literature all the time. Harry Potter and Hermione were frequently misconstrued as a couple simply due to the close nature of their friendship. Does that mean that every example of another character pointing out their friendship could potentially be romantic is some kind of subtext? You're twisting interactions that happen in the game to disregard the possibility of any other option.
Again, the context is what defines the subtext and gives it meaning. Any situation that has subtext abides by this to explain how it is being utilized. Nothing I have said has negated this, but i'll bite.
If romantic subtext is presented to a pair of people in the context, this is still represented in the story regardless of the end result—which, you've already taken the stance to blatantly deny its existence when its clearly being used anyway. But that's the thing, it being used and having a presence isn't weighed in existence by whether you consider it substantial or not. Romantic Subtext works its way into a story by utilizing themes and meaning of romance. For Romantic Subtext, however, the context is what gives this its credible meaning and determines how it'll function in the story, and in the case of Harry and Hermoine, romantic subtext is used as a device for the worry of Ron's disposition with them as he sees an illusion of them kissing. The context then is worked in a way that it is confirmed that they don't indeed feel that way about each other, but the subtext and utilizing of the romantic meaning was still there as way of character development for the trio. Subtext isn't just about confirming something in a positive way, but it's about alluding to the ideal of that meaning overall. It's up to the context to give way in this meaning's implementation and function in the story. Romantic subtext can be portrayed between characters in ways that reveal the true relationship that those characters have or are hinted to have in tandem with the presentation of the story—which could be either a positive or negative result.
I intentionally described one way to use that type of romantic subtext because it applied to the example that I presented, which, has been represented in many different scenarios for Sora and Kairi throughout the series, as per the examples I mentioned. In what way does this represent me omitting other forms of romantic subtext? Are you just choosing to ignore what I'm saying and apply bullshit logic to justify yourself? I don't care about talking about possibilities from a personal perspective, I'm just stating what is integrated within the context in that specific scenario.
So, where exactly did I twist the interactions of the characters? Where have I said a character has done something that hasn't been told in the story? Point it out, please, so that I can correct you.
Also, you want to criticize others for seeing Sora and Kairi as romantic per the formulaic, traditional storytelling tropes between them that have been used as romantic themes in other media, yet you also want to use other forms of media to "confirm" a relationship that fits your bidding? That is hypocritical. I don't believe there's anything wrong with making comparisons to other forms of media, as the understanding of common narrative motifs and tropes being purposely used by authors makes this a justified approach. But, at first it works only as an approach, as every context is still its own, so what truly defines the meaning of something will still be the story itself and how it is applied and represented. (Again, back to the origin of the conversation, which is the identification of actions and words between characters).
The Papou fruit has never been stated to be romantic. It's always been a way for two people to tie their destinies together. That's why Aqua uses the symbol of the Papou fruit in her platonic friendships with Terra and Ven. They share a metaphorical Papou fruit together not in any kind of romantic way, but simply to tie their friendship even closer. While it could certainly be interpreted as a romantic gesture, nothing that we have been shown throughout the entire series, subtextually or blatantly, has said that the Papou sharing is romantic. That's your own perspective and your own bias bleeding through. Speaking of that... remember when Riku threw the Papou fruit to Sora, and told him to try it? hmmmm... must just be a coincidence.
You're still not actually negating what I'm saying. The Paopu Fruit explicitly is the symbol of intertwined destinies and remaining a part of each other's lives. This is an overall concept that could mean anything to those who use it—thus this can be done either romantically or platonically—it doesn't matter outside of those who choose to share it. I stated this, so again, you're twisting MY words to befit your own thought process. If two characters who have had romance utilized in their characterization share it, the meaning is being used to represent their relation to each other—the same way that an action such as hugging, which isn't inherently romantic, can do the same. The meaning comes from those who use it. This doesn't mean the Paopu Fruit is an explicit romantic gesture, as I stated, but this all depends on its use between those who choose to be represented by it. If the goal was to emphasize that the Paopu Fruit sharing wasn't inherently romantic, then that has been accomplished long before KH3. But, this doesn't mean that those who then undergo the sharing have a platonic relationship. It's not that type of If, Then scenario. Nomura's decision on whether to heavily imply romance to this scene represents that need to not have the Paopu Fruit ultimately be the symbolism of romance (the fact that this was even considered straight forwardly shows the presence of romance between Sora and Kairi, and how the Paopu Fruit was used for them in KH).
Also, Riku throwing it at Sora, explaining it's meaning, and then teasing him about wanting to try it—this is still an allusion to Sora sharing it with Kairi. (not to mention Riku teasing him about it again before their race the day after)
It's frustrating that you're using sound logic, and yet denying examples that both disprove your theories, as well as lend credence to other potential romances. You don't like my symbolism? The opening isn't enough of a subtext for you? Despite there being many examples in other forms of creative media of this EXACT type of context for a relationship? Well that's fine.
I'm at work currently, so I can't take the time necessary to prepare my full counterargument. But I will be back. I don't even ship Sora and Riku that hard. Heck, I don't really ship at all. But I do find hypocrites and people who use weak arguments to be incredibly frustrating, so I'll come back to take another crack.
I don't know what to tell you. You think a certain way of me and you're just using that to try and prove something about my words and your feelings. How you feel about my words isnt of consequence to me unless you can back up what you're insinuating. I'm not trying to do anything other than to point out what's in the context as a whole, and you're choosing to ignore or misconstrue it for your own sake of argument. I literally gave you an example of romantic subtext, and yet you chose to rationalize it as insignificant, which isn't conclusive outisde of your own thoughts. This, when your point was of NO romantic subtext, at all. Your obnoxious attitude doesn't help your case, but if you get a kick out of it then don't let me stop you. It's not changing anything. Everything that I have said has applied to what/where it needs to be applied to—your misunderstanding of the above romantic subtext and my "hypocritical" points is not a fault of mine.
The fact is, "your symbolism" of Riku and Sora is yours, not the stories, mainly in that you specify the symbolism between Sora and Riku as romantic in its integration of the story, as opposed to what is actually supported and explained by the story of their set relationship as best friends—this being the function so far within the context. There is a reason Oracle was pushing the idea that hand holding, crying, hugging—that all these things aren't exclusively romantic. This is a truth that sets the way of understanding that there is a way that these things are distinguishable between characters with romantic or platonic relationships—the context being the guide to its type and functuonality.
My point in terms of recognizing the meaning of action hasn't changed—the context is what ultimately defines the meaning of actions, words, objects, etc. even on the subtextual level because of the subtext's relationship with context. Sometimes, this meaning can even be inferred before, during, or after the moment of subtext that is displayed, and within the context, not fulfilled explicitly until a later time. All we can know for sure is what we have now, anything else is speculation, which is fine, and although these things aren't completely separate, there is a split between speculative "theories" and details actually utilized in the story that can be observed and proven in either truth or plausibility.
But, your need to discuss "possibility" with me is not what I'm doing here. I'm not talking about possibilities set by the expectations or thoughts as an individual, I'm talking about what is integrated into the story from an impartial view. Me not caring what you think is in relation to this—I'm not interested in talking shop about self-applying romantic emotions onto those I see fit. That's the pinnacle of shipping nature and discussion, and that's not what I entered the conversation for. I entered to talk about things objectively and in accordance to the reality of what is understood by the context. This is not a "Here's why I ship Sora/Kairi" moment. Acknowledging the romantic subtext between Sora and Kairi is not an understanding I have for and by myself, but the understanding that is being emitted by the story for everyone to understand. Whether they do or not, that's just part of individuality, which is why you feel some strange desire to deny the contextual points I'm bringing up straight from the story. You still haven't disproved my rebuttal to the existence of romantic subtext between Sora and Kairi. Only on one example did you discuss it's lack of significance, but that has no bearing on its existence as a whole. Your point was that there was none, not that there wasn't any that were significant. Your way of even criticizing its significance is by excusing its meaning by creating hypothetical background reasons as to why Olette said it, which has no coherent value of fact in the story at all. And, you've yet to still provide a point between Sora and Riku that specifically signifies romantic subtext in the context, something that is deviated or distinguishable from the best friend relationship that has been set by the story. Me asking for this is not shutting down the self-possibilities that everyone has. You can ship whoever you want, I don't care. But you shipping them with your understanding and your applied intentions is not synonymous with what the actual content presents—this doesn't change by simply using the content to justify your personal ship. These are still two separate things, and that separation not being acknowledged is one example of how shipping arguments begin in the first place.
If you wanted to talk about the possibility of Sora and Riku developing a romantic relationship later on, that's fine, but I don't care for that type of speculative conversation. If you wanted to infer that it has a presence in the game RIGHT NOW in form of romantic possibility in the story, then that's where I would choose to discuss things as that is a conversation more inherent of contextual description that can either be proven or disprove in some way of its presence to even be considered a plausible possibility presented by the context. Romantic possibility, just like romantic subtext, is specified as it is because it particularly involves a meaning that is
explicitly romantic—if this was not true, there wouldn't be a way to distinguish if a moment or an action is indeed platonic or romantic. The intensity of this specific possibility can be on any level, but it having the notion of explicit romantic meaning is still present to set that specification, as to set the possibility as romantic in the first place. This, as romantic possibility in the context as opposed to being applied strictly by the audience.
So, with supporting details from the context, and not your own, personal interpretive description or embellishment—please point out a moment or meaning exhibited between, to, or about Sora and Riku's character relation that is explicitly romantic within the narrative of the story.
