I have to say that this was what attracted me most in this manga. The author did a great job creating a different society with moral values that aren't ours. :)
I didn't think that Floran cheated. I think he, like any 17-year-old might do, fell in love when he met Ilse. Gil seemed willing to support that relationship; there are scenes of the three together, and it didn't seem to me that Gil was uncomfortable. As we saw with Keel and his original partner, it's possible to leave a partner and find another; Gil chose to not only stay with Floran, but to raise Alexi as if he were his own son. What some readers see as a betrayal of Gil by Floran I see as a gift, because it was through that relationship that Alexi was born. And the family the three of them created was filled with love. Did Floran and Gil eventually fall in love? I'm not sure, but I like to think they did!
I agree Anne, with everything you said...save one. In the chapter where Alexi wanders away from home, the end of the story seemed to point to Floran accepting Gil into his heart as both his "partner" and life companion. However, that is solely my own interpretation and opinion.
I agree. But that was after Floran and Ilse were no longer together, so I'm not sure why it's an exception to my original comment, unless you're saying that, indeed, Floran and Gil did fall in love. Since it has been a while since I'd read it, I ended up going back for a re-reading of the second half of the story! After reading the exchange between Floran and Gil at the end of v3, ch10, I have to amend my original comment: I believe they did, indeed, fall in love!
Glad my reply spurred you to read this awesome story again! It was difficult to distinguish between the "affection due to connection" of the "partners" and the idea of "love" between "partners" but I think that was the point of this manga. How do we distinguish between someone we are dependent on and someone we love? In some cases one will come to love the person they depend on, in others they won't.
Dang, I replied to my own post again!! Please see below for my reply to you. I'm sorry.
Great thoughts, Mameiha! As you point out, it can be difficult to separate dependency and love; in the best-case scenario, it evolves into interdependency combined with love. This story does a good job of illustrating a healthy interdependence between partners because while the receiver is dependent on the supplier, the supplier must also depend on the receiver to accept their kiss to discharge them. That balance is shown clearly in this story, but in the real world, it's not so easy to find!
How very true, and fine choice of vocabulary as well. Most RL relationships based in dependency devolve into the dreaded "co-dependency" rather than interdependence. And most people are at a loss to tell the difference between the two.
I'm sorry but I disagree with you...Gil had to accepted not entirely because he wanted but because of the nature of their relationship...he was forced to. This thing about (Supplier/receiver) is the main reason why they are together. Gil words "do you think she is not gonna feel something when she see us charge everytime" for me if I have a boyfriend and I have to see him charge (this is just a suppose) with someone else even if i know the person...I wouldn't be happy even if i know my boyfriend need it. Floran was selfish in every f****** way (╯°Д °)╯╧╧ if he fall in love why didn't he talk with Gil first. Floran hurt Gil. I love Alexi and Rael. But what Floran did to Gil was wrong. And I know they weren't in a love relationship I understand that. I know Gil didn't protested about raising your partner child but it wasn't his son. Ilse was selfish to why didn't she sacrifice what she wanted and went to live with Floran and her baby even if it was for a short time "she love Floran didn't she?" She knew tha nature of the partnership of Floran and Gil. Why after she did what she wanted why didn't she went to Floran or Floran look for her after Alexi grew up. WHY THEY SELFISHLY HURT Gil. （/TДT)/ and I know Gil after all was ok with it but if Floran had got a partner that didn't want his child? What would had happened?. Well just my opinion and complains. ╮(￣▽￣)╭
I liked it, but it was also difficult for me to separate whether they really loved each other the way we think about love, or whether they just care about each other deeply. It was a troubling thought. All of us felt like Floran cheated, but he and Gil didn't love each other. Instead, the person he really loved was Ilse but they can't be together. This system really sucks if you don't end up falling in love with your partner like the last couple did.