2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sebastian Vettel(ft. Mark Webber & Jenson Button)

Where did the GLaDOS/Chell ship come from? I know you guys parade it around like it's cannon but I don't really get it. For example, I'm not a Chelly fan by any means, but I can see why people ship it. I'm not trying to be judgemental by any means, I just want to understand your perspective in this.

thanks for asking! you dont sound judgmental at all dont worry. i had a lot to say so it’s all under the cut, i hope youre okay with a text wall sorry its so much to read!!! i tried to double space it so its not overwhelming but i couldnt figure out how to. this is just explaining why i personally ship it, i cant speak for others but from the other shippers ive talked to, this is the general reason

tbh u should take a look at the commentary valve did on the relationship!! 1. its super cute i lov them and 2. it may give some insight for u. unfortunately valve makes u pay like 2 bucks for the actual commentary which is frustrating but my friends did a post quoting some of it here and also u can find bits of it all over the internet (my friends didnt include this in the post since the scene was deleted, but there is a deleted scene where glados sets up a date for chell and then accuses her of cheating on her with a personality sphere)

i personally ship it bc for one, their interactions are really interesting. especially the way they do a complete 180 and start helping each other and relying on each other for survival. i also think that they’d be a cute couple. also, they were both pretty hurt by aperture and i think they both need someone they can rely on who understands their experiences so they can heal. they unfortunately both hurt each other, but i think since its evident that there was a turnaround in their views of each other (ie chell helping glados when she was a potato and helping her get back in charge of the facility despite their past and glados owning up to her bullshit and trying to make reparations) that they could actually help each other heal. i also really just like the idea of them both feeling very safe and loved with someone who can understand them. theyve both been through so much and it breaks my heart especially thinking abt what glados went through w the scientists and cave and how her being with someone who loves her dearly would just be so sweet and important. i think the same abt chell, although we dont know much abt her back story. but i think its important to be loved and understood.

the two have an interesting character dynamic that i think, in the end, would actually bring out the best in each other once they work past their troubled past. glados uses sarcasm to cover up very vulnerable feelings, and chell is very stubborn, so chell could always uncover and get to the bottom of what glados is thinking and help her feel better. glados is very sentimental and caring underneath her cold exterior (ie returning chells companion cube from the first game, always writing songs for her, remembering details about her, etc) and could soften chell up when she gets a little too in her head or w/e. ig im taking that personality trait from her very logical, stubborn, problem solving mindset thats discussed in her file and a few times in the game iirc. with that kinda personality i think sometimes its hard to see things from an emotional perspective and open up and i think glados could help.

i think its evident glados cares abt her even if she is bad at showing it in the beginning. she talks to chell a whole lot in portal 2, even to the point of breaking protocol so she can interact with her, she returned her cube from the first game, wrote her cara mia addio which is such a sweet song, she tried to help her survive when she was a potato and encouraged her, she saved her life too when she goes on and on abt really just wanting her dead. i think abt that a lot actually. like she says killing chell is hard directly after saving her life, and then later she surrounds her with turrets and is still insistent killing her is hard. so she (from my perspective) must mean its emotionally hard to kill her, and i think its bc she has feelings for her and valves commentary talks abt that too!!also theres two voice lines in the co-op that are about chell where she said she hurt chell despite her own desires, and another voice line she calls her wonderful. she also talks in the co-op about how she regularly goes to the surface to watch the deer, just like she promised she’d do with chell. she also only elects to save the baby birds in the co-op and raise them herself after she realizes they were abandoned by their mother just like chell. she sounds very miserable and lonely in the co-op, and i think a lot about how she really sacrificed her own happiness to make chell happy by granting her freedom. and i think that’s very sweet and shows that underneath it all, glados is pretty selfless and loving and admires chell quite a bit.

that doesnt at all mean the ship is without its problems. everyone in portal hurts each other, which is very sad. but i think they could help each other heal, work past their differences, and bring out the best in each other if given the chance. they’re both two people who really need love and support, and it’d be nice to see them give it to each other

anyway i hope this lends some insight, i have so much more i wanna say but i’m just. Tired its rlly late rn