cw: suicide, death mention just in case

i enjoy aesvic for many reasons and tbh i always struggle with putting my thoughts into words but i think what really draws me to them is how poetic(?) their relationship feels. from their similar pasts and personalities, their own unconventional unique perspectives on life, two people who prefer being alone are attracted to each other instantly, how they understand each other and wish to connect, to even the imagery/symbols they share (predator and prey, roses, butterflies, flames, and so on).

this is mostly my interpretation but in love stories, characters saying they will die/kill for the person they love is a familiar romantic expression and while it's nothing really new in the genre, imo i do think aesop and victor's relationship execute these ideas in such an interesting, tragic way that i find unique to them and am drawn to.

based off group 3's birthday letters, victor is emotionally cut off, numb, and continues to feel guilt for what happened with the police officer in the fire, despite the smile on his face. the postman, the one who failed to achieve perfection the first time, makes "final" plans where he himself views it as a second chance at redemption and "where all imperfections can turn into ashes."

victor has reached a point where he is filled with guilt yet numb and is willing to go so far as to even die to make up for the past. and aesop can tell he is suffering. he understands him.

jerry taught aesop that death is kind, life is filled with nothing but pain. helping others is putting them out of their misery and making sure wanderers sleep peacefully for all of eternity. aesop, in the only way he knows how, wants to help victor by killing him.

it's bittersweet how victor, someone who wished for most of his life to make a friend that he can share letters/secrets with, and aesop, while he prefers to be alone does end up finding a sense of purpose and sees someone he wants to be friends with in victor, first meet in the manor where "wishes" can come true and while ultimately both of their wishes do get fulfilled, it does come at the cost of their own lives. thinking about how things could have been different if only they had met sooner adds to the tragedy between the two and is one of the aspects i enjoy about them as well.

aesop and victor are two passionate, even stubborn, people who aim to fulfill their duties perfectly... and both failed, yet, the two of them got their wish in the end. victor who failed to keep a secret the first time with the police officer incident and aesop who failed to send victor off properly and never got to see victor close his eyes. however, in their final moments, victor's letter was able to reach aesop and aesop knows victor's suffering is over. the two were able to get their wish fulfilled and become friends in the end. even in death the two are the same with how they were both buried in a sea of flames and were "imperfections" who turned into ash.

sorry this got long, super wordy, and if this doesn't really make sense and that it took such a long time for me to try putting my thoughts together. i'm pretty sure i left some things out that i enjoy about them especially bc there are other things to consider like skinships ahsjjsjsj but i like them very much... i just think they're neat lol

tldr; i think aesop and victor are meant to be together. i enjoy their relationship both platonically and romantically. there are so many aspects of their relationship that i enjoy that i have a hard time putting it into words.