Just read your meta about how it would take an onscreen kiss to make Destiel canon to the GA, and you know what. You know what this fuckin show would do. This fuckin show would give us a fuckin X-Files style ALMOST KISS and I am just THINKING about it and I am SO FUCKIN MAD KELSEY -Ashley

deanswingsbothways-deactivated2:

…

Oh no.

I think you’ve just found the exact scenario that violates my entire “queer romances can’t be subtle because of heteronormativity” argument.

If two straight characters almost kiss, it’s a missed opportunity that’s recognized as such. They could’ve had it all but then THE THING happened, I can’t believe they didn’t kiss, be still my beating shipper heart!

But if two dudes almost kiss, that’s a whole different story.

Because the casual viewer is like, “Wait just a diddly-darned minute, did those two DUDES almost MAKE OUT right there? Did Dean and Cas do the hooded-eyed, going-in-for-the-smooch, mouth-slightly-open THING right there? WAIT A SECOND IS DEAN GAY?”

I take it all back. If they do the almost-kiss, no matter how frustrating it would be, it would still completely change the way the aforementioned casual viewers read the show and the Dean/Cas relationship specifically.

It’d have to be pretty obvious, though. Not the kind of thing where Dean’s eyes linger on Cas’ mouth while they’re standing two inches apart (INSERT “PERSONAL SPACE” GIF HERE), but a full-on moment.

I’m talking an angry fist clenched around a trenchcoat lapel, a calming hand coming up to touch a cheek, a sliiiide into each other’s personal space, some romantic-ass music in the background, someone’s hand cupping the back of the other person’s head, literally centimeters away from mouths touching.

It’d have to be BLATANT.

And then they can get interrupted to serve the story and rip all of our hearts out, but it will still be undeniably queer. Because if Dean Winchester did something like that, it’d take an absurd amount of mental gymnastics to try to read it as deep male friendship.

Once Dean’s possible love for another guy is in the open like that, the viewer will probably remember all the romantic crap these two idiots have done for each other. Once you open that door, the depth of love there becomes immediately apparent with no further need to clarify. 

So unlike straight couples who go canon with a kiss or a declaration, Destiel can use the almost-kiss trope to keep the relationship in it’s current holding pattern while simultaneously ripping off everyone’s heteronormativity goggles.

I like it, it’s brilliant, someone call Jeremy Carver.