Homophobia in Haixing

[extrapenguin]

If I were to write a Guardian fic the point of which was something completely unrelated to homophobia, but which ended with Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan getting a happily ever after, what level of societal homophobia would not throw you out of the story? Would you find it jarring if they dared hold hands in public? If they dared kiss? If they introduced each other as romantic partners in casual-ish conversation without too much euphemism? Their nearest and dearest would know, and marriage wouldn't be on the table anyway, but ... what is the range of attitudes that wouldn't have the readership's suspension of disbelief come crashing down?

On the one hand, I want this to be happily-ever-after dancing on roses without a cloud in sight; on the other, a lot of the relationship developments of canon make more sense if Haixing is at least somewhat homophobic. So: advice?

Comments

[extrapenguin]

Yeah, attitudes would of course vary, and the SID is chill about it. (An inclusive and non-judgemental workplace, as Zhao Yunlan advertised it to the Envoy and Chu Shuzhi in the Hanga caves!) I'm trying to get a read on the average levels/societal stuff.

I actually, while going over the ep 40 subs, came across a very explicit acknowledgement of that which I'd missed before.
Ooh, what did it say?

[solo]

Towards the end, where Zhu Hong asserts her authority over her squabbling tribes, she starts out by saying 'I, your High Chief, was in love with the Lord Guardian as a rival to the Black-Cloaked Envoy.'

The origsubs had something like 'and fought against the Black-Cloaked Envoy, which makes no sense, and I've had input from Chinese speakers on this.

I have no idea how this is meant to be relevant to her leadership of the tribes, but there you are.

[extrapenguin]

Ah, thank you! That's interesting. I also have no idea what the relavance of it is in the conversation, but perhaps that, too, will become clear on a rewatch?

[solo]

My current theory is that she's simply trying to pull rank in terms of 'I had a close relationship with these amazing superheroes so you should listen to me'.

That she should feel she needs to is a bit sad, but thankfully she gets better from there.