I didn't even recognise you without the cat butt!
I left catbutt buried in the ruins of whatever photo sharing site they used to be hosted on. Never again; they've been through/caused enough suffering.
It all sounds the same for me. If it involves more than two people then is open.
Despite even monogamous setups being ridiculously prone to complication and disaster, some people just want to up the stakes even higher I guess.
Echoing that some poly relationships can be "open," but in my experience, anything more serious than casually dating is something my partners have talked out? They're the same sorts of committed relationships, just existing in parallel, where each one is different. And the ideal situation for me is one where my partners (and their partners) are all friends at least! Casually or close.
Also, maintaining healthy poly relationships isn't really *more* complicated than a healthy mono one? Both need the same trust, communication, consideration, and respect any relationship would struggle without. Honestly, as an asexual gal, it can even be easier! For example, there's a rock-solid person I share camaraderie, support, and certain kinds of emotional intimacy with, and a warm-hearted gal who cooks and hikes and stargazes with me, shares physical comfort, etc. And they can get their sexual needs met with other partners when I'm not in the headspace for it. Ideal, TBH!
After years of hedging, I finally sat down and finished a binge of Neon Genesis Evangelion with some friends, in prep for the 4th Rebuild film coming out this month. Yes this made me happy. It's beautiful, explores generational trauma mindfully and in resonant ways, messes with shounen conventions and expectations, and I get why people loved it.
And to all the people over the years who said the Congratulations ending was weird and bad, I say No! It was a triumph of self-actualization! A promise to oneself, to persist and heal and grow! It was beautiful and important! (Also weird, yes, but sometimes sublimation of the ego is just what happens when you Instrumentality a Human.)