“They’re just roommates.” That’s what Animal Crossing wants you to believe... But is there more under the surface?
It started with a fishing tournament. Or maybe a bug-off. But somewhere between the beetles and bass, the Animal Crossing fandom found itself head over heels for a pair of charming island visitors: C.J. and Flick.
Lovebugs Or Just Business?
The phrase “business partner” may sound harmless, but it set off alarms (and confetti cannons) across fan communities when C.J. first used it in-game to describe Flick. Players hoping for Animal Crossing’s first explicitly gay couple felt a spark of hope...
In dialogue, C.J. talks about Flick often - Initially called just a mysterious “partner,” later identified as the brooding bug artist himself. By the third commission, C.J. casually drops that he and Flick are roommates. Just roommates, right?“And they were roommates...” one might whisper—channeling that viral vine and every queer-coded media moment in gaming history.
Localization: Lost In Translation?
Some skeptics point to the Japanese version, where the pair are simply referred to as “friends.” But as with many games, localization can drastically alter the nuance of relationships.
Cue the collective sigh. But not defeat.
Shared Symbols, Shared Lives
Let’s examine the in-game evidence, because if there's one thing Animal Crossing players know how to do, it’s investigate a vague dialogue line like it’s a federal crime.
First off.. the visuals: C.J.’s cap and Flick’s jacket sport the exact same emblem. A cute coincidence? Whether it’s a logo or a low-key love tattoo, it certainly screams “We’re a team!”...or at the very least, “We definitely shop at the same Etsy store.”
An Inseparable Bunch
In Happy Home Paradise, players get the chance to design dream vacation homes for villagers and even give them a roommate. When it comes to C.J. and Flick, they’re inseparable. When offered vacation homes, both characters seem unsure, neither feels sure about moving out of their own home - until they hear they can live with someone else. They’re also among the only characters who insist on living with each other and refuse to share space with anyone else.
Further still, updates that introduced “The Roost” café showed that if you invite one of them, they always show up together. Coincidence? Or is Brewster third-wheeling?
Even their families go way back. C.J. references knowing Flick’s family since childhood. Loyal fans know that Flick’s father is none other than Nat, the chameleon from previous Animal Crossing games, who even says he’s “grateful my son has Chip’s boy to rely on.” Chip, of course, being C.J.’s dad.
Roommates, Not Romance
Despite all the subtext, Nintendo stops short of calling a heart a heart. Some fans theorize this is due to international market, where queerness in media is still controversial.
Some argue it’s just fans projecting, while others point out that a kids' game has no business dabbling in romance. But if the game can devote an entire month to photographing the wedding of a pastel alpaca couple, another romance wouldn't be too far off.
Whether they’re just bros or something more, the truth is that nothing about C.J. and Flick’s relationship has been officially confirmed. For now, it remains cozy speculation and up to the player's imagination on how to interpret their story.