Board Thread:Series Discussion/@comment-40212682-20190720034649/@comment-39242634-20200711202201

It's an anime with mechas, weird magic stuff, and humans trying to be aliens, and where the main character survives getting shot in the face and instead gets an incredably advanced robotic eye. Whether or not they can eventually develop romantic feelings for each other is far from the least realistic idea presented. There's official art that shows them together being friendly, such as the one when they're holding hands with each other while laying on either side of Asseylum, the halloween one, the one with them drinking tea and playing chess together, or the one where they're wearing what I think are yukata, but I'm not an expert on Japanese clothing.

I don't think there'd ever be canon possibility for them in the actual source, don't get me wrong, but for queer viewers such as myself, it's nice to have a gay pairing to work with in fan-works, even if it would have to be an incredably long slowburn. And personally, I'm not much of a fan of how most shippers portray it post-season 2, since it gives way too much of a power imbalance. Though, I'm rather fond of the idea of 'what if' scenarios, like if Inaho had never shot Slaine down in season 1, how would things change, and would it give them more of a chance to develop their relationship past being enemies?

As for the life threatening part, rivals and enemies to lovers is a pretty common trope I find, especially among queer fans of media. I can't exactly say why, even if I myself adore the trope. It's just a very interesting dynamic that pushes a lot of character growth on both parties involved. It might not be realistic in our world to fall in love with someone who shot you in the eye, but as I said, there's a lot more unrealistic things in AZ than that.

Hopefully that explains why Inaho x Slaine / Inasure / OrangeBat / Whateveryouwannacallthem exists and why people like it a bit more. Of course, not everyone is going to like it for the same reasons as me, and no one has to like them. Ships like this aren't everyone's cup of tea, and that's what makes fandom interesting. People don't share the same taste. But this is all just from the prespective of a guy who likes guys, and ships Inaho and Slaine together. If you have anymore questions, I'd be fine trying to answer them.