Krissi2197
wolf pack fanatic
I really don't think that this logic applies because, well,
He's a cat. Cats can't talk. But this is a video game lol anything's possible.
The official Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide revealed the relationship between Flick and C.J.
- Thread starter New Horizons lover
- Start date
He's a cat. Cats can't talk. But this is a video game lol anything's possible.
Graham is a bit... creepy. For example, yesterday he asked me if it was wrong to be in love with a tilapia. He's also said to my sister multiple times: 'Love your new hair. I wonder how it would look on me? No, I'm gonna go ahead and respect your boundaries by not copying you... for two weeks
Lady Sugarsaurus
Punchy's Waifu.
I mean to be fair.. nothing says that they can't be business partners, roomates AND dating. haha
I mean, be it canon or just fan shipped, I don't see why it matters? Let people enjoy their crackships and such.
Not everything has to be spoken out loud to be true.
I mean, be it canon or just fan shipped, I don't see why it matters? Let people enjoy their crackships and such.
Not everything has to be spoken out loud to be true.
tybalt_cake
heavymetallover
yeah
“roommates“
“roommates“
Lady Sugarsaurus
Punchy's Waifu.
I think more people associate partners with a romantic relationship now because it is better to say 'partner' or 'spouse' or 'significant other' because you could in fact be wrong. For example, if I knew someone was dating another person, I'd say partner if I didn't know the sexual orientation of that person. Even more so if you want to be technically correct in their respected pronouns. Because we live in a community that is ever changing, so does terms in different minds of different people.
Morningowl
Crose from Kiwi Isle
It doesn’t matter to me either way. i have noticed that in many games people seems to always try to seek out romantic relationships or ship characters. I don’t have that mind set when playing games(even I tho do enjoy romance).
Just because they're business partners doesn't mean they can't also be the other kind of partners. 
The word ‘partner’ has another meaning here in the west, it's commonly used for gay couples just as much as simple business partners. I was part of those that thought it was in the romantic relationship sort of way, for buisness partners I usually see the word ‘colleague’ being used. It’s an easy mistake to make, no need to get angry at others that thought it was in that way. The team must have known what they were doing when using 'partners' instead of 'friends' like in the Japanese version. It's ambiguous enough to look at it in either way.
Let's be honest though, people would have still shipped them even if they used the word 'friends'. Running off with your childhood best friend to live together as roommates and run a business together? Sounds like a start to a romance novel to me. lmao
If people want to ship them, let them do. Romance isn’t a stranger to the series, there’s lots of it already.
The word ‘partner’ has another meaning here in the west, it's commonly used for gay couples just as much as simple business partners. I was part of those that thought it was in the romantic relationship sort of way, for buisness partners I usually see the word ‘colleague’ being used. It’s an easy mistake to make, no need to get angry at others that thought it was in that way. The team must have known what they were doing when using 'partners' instead of 'friends' like in the Japanese version. It's ambiguous enough to look at it in either way.
Let's be honest though, people would have still shipped them even if they used the word 'friends'. Running off with your childhood best friend to live together as roommates and run a business together? Sounds like a start to a romance novel to me. lmao
If people want to ship them, let them do. Romance isn’t a stranger to the series, there’s lots of it already.
Stevey Queen
The Queen of Mimosas
Well it’s Nintendo. They’re not going to come out and say “and here’s are two gay animals.” Anti-gay people and Karen’s of the world would have a cow and that would affect sales.
I don't know if I'd call it a "west" thing, unless you mean west coast, because I think it's more of a regional thing. Where I am from in the west, partner has almost always primary meant someone such as a friend or team mate, or like I said before someone sharing a common interest or goal. Partner In Crime, Business Partner, Dance Partner, a partner on the police force, partner like cowboys say, The only time it was used for married couples would be based on the context.
MayorMudkip
queerkip
Flick and CJ are boyfriends. I don't make the rules that's just how it is
In regards to the term "partner", I use that word to describe both my best friend (in a "life partner" sort of way) as well as my significant other (in a romantic way, since we are both non-binary). It's a versatile term that's intended to mean "a close bond", whether that's in business, a creative venture, friendship, or romantic relationship, but there's also no reason for it to only signify just one of those things. People can interpret CJ's use of the term however they want...but again, he and Flick are boyfriends, and it ain't that deep
Someone else said it in this thread already but we're talking about Nintendo, here. If anyone was expecting them to confirm that CJ and Flick are in a gay relationship in the strategy guide, I have a bridge to sell you (for 168,000 bells).*
*Source: I am a video game academic/historian with a degree in video game narrative design theory who has been studying queer representation in games (with an eye towards Nintendo) for almost a decade. This is a very typical move for Nintendo's "quality standards" and I'd say it's a solid bet based on similar past situations (and judging from other English queer vernacular that made it into NH's dialogue) that it's almost certainly a case of the localizers putting a gay relationship in the game the only way they could while remaining compliant with those standards. But if anyone wants to talk about queer video game content with me that's a topic for another thread. I'm super curious to know how CJ and Flick's relationship is described in the Japanese version though, because who knows? I may be wrong. They might be gay in that version too!
In regards to the term "partner", I use that word to describe both my best friend (in a "life partner" sort of way) as well as my significant other (in a romantic way, since we are both non-binary). It's a versatile term that's intended to mean "a close bond", whether that's in business, a creative venture, friendship, or romantic relationship, but there's also no reason for it to only signify just one of those things. People can interpret CJ's use of the term however they want...but again, he and Flick are boyfriends, and it ain't that deep
Someone else said it in this thread already but we're talking about Nintendo, here. If anyone was expecting them to confirm that CJ and Flick are in a gay relationship in the strategy guide, I have a bridge to sell you (for 168,000 bells).*
*Source: I am a video game academic/historian with a degree in video game narrative design theory who has been studying queer representation in games (with an eye towards Nintendo) for almost a decade. This is a very typical move for Nintendo's "quality standards" and I'd say it's a solid bet based on similar past situations (and judging from other English queer vernacular that made it into NH's dialogue) that it's almost certainly a case of the localizers putting a gay relationship in the game the only way they could while remaining compliant with those standards. But if anyone wants to talk about queer video game content with me that's a topic for another thread. I'm super curious to know how CJ and Flick's relationship is described in the Japanese version though, because who knows? I may be wrong. They might be gay in that version too!
That doesn't count as a source, but if it helps, I believe a Japanese player did confirm that they aren't dating, as the word used for partner in Japanese translation did not imply any romantic involvement. If someone wants to ship it go for it. It's just sadly not cannon like everyone wanted.. We will always have Gracie
Fuzzysaurus Rex
Golden Fuzzy
I don't care and I don't know why anyone would.
MayorMudkip
queerkip
I appreciate the info! But with respect, I wouldn't necessarily count that as a "confirmation". I'm not a localizer, but from my experience learning about the work localizers do, part of the art of that work is interpreting the source language and making adjustments. It's entirely possible for a version in one language to have different canon details than a version in another language (such as what someone else pointed out in this thread already: that Gracie and Saharah are gendered as men in the Japanese version whereas they're presented as women in English version). I realize that CJ and Flick's relationship is deliberately not being "canonized" by Nintendo, but that's my point. The many meanings of the word "partner" (especially the romantic one, which is one of its most common usages where I'm from in the States), would not have been lost on the NOA localization team and was almost certainly an intentional choice exactly because it can be seen as platonic or romantic.
ForbiddenSecrets
Senior Member
Partner is very much used where I live to reference non-hetero/binary couples. (And while it's a great term when people elect to use it I personally hate the hell out of it because people insist on calling my wife my partner instead of... my wife when the same people use the term wife/husband for every other couple but I digress.) I don't see why people are acting like it was weird some people saw the phrase as indicating they were a couple.
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