Because I Was Bored And GL Players Often Ask Me About The Ship. Full Disclaimer, I'm Not Forcing My Preferences

Because I was bored and GL players often ask me about the ship. Full disclaimer, I'm not forcing my preferences on anyone, I mostly wrote this for me for fun, and several people who are fluent in Japanese helped make this article who had no bias. While I do love their relationship, I like both as individual characters as well, and my biggest memories in the game are tied to the game itself. Hamelin is my CC.

Pre-debute. Sadly it is deleted from the official YT page, but Hamelin had a debute stream. In this stream it was said Hamelin was designed with Aladdin in mind, and that they are going to be meeting soon in the upcoming event (Butler) and that they would be important to each other for later. Several jokes about the ship was made, and they even gave everyone a questionable stamp for both in the same event that when put together, looked very… suspicious. It was almost as if they wanted players to ship them. I had Lily's permission to use screenshots from her own post.

First event -Butler Halloween I feel their first meeting is very important. Hamelin did not like Aladdin despite the fact Aladdin was his usual gentle, kind self to him. He felt his obsession with money was unsightly, and he called him a bother. Aladdin defends Hamelin when Pino says Hamelin is weird, saying everyone is a little weird. Aladdin grew wary of Hamelin's cold demeaner and began to not trust him, but decided to partner up with him in this event anyways. He questions Hamelin's motifs, which Hamelin takes offense to. Hamelin also insists he doesn't need Aladdin's help. They get in each other's faces and grin to which Pinocchio trembles in fear. They clear the air with each other and decided to go on a hunting game, which causes Aladdin to have so much fun he loses track of time and how many beasts they captured. They don't get any more one-on-one time together and this is unrelated but get his ass Gretel lives rent free in my mind forever. Thanks Global. The two had a pretty rocky start, needless to say.

Many ads were done for this event due to the game having their second male. Some of these ads made it look as though they were a couple on Pixiv (yeah yeah I am aware of how advertising works thanks) Interestingly they were also featured in a BL magazine together. They also became the app icon for October 2019 together.

Side evidence 1: Hoshi's hammer from the idol collab talks about Aladdin and Hamelin being together and XOXOing. Global censored this for whatever reason. Apparently the joke is that she's into that, but it's still an odd thing to throw out.

Side evidence 2: During the V-day 2021 event, Sleeping says that Aladdin had told her all about how picky Hamelin is. It was then said in a discordant poem the two came to an understanding and have been spending some time together.

Side evidence 3: Aladdin mentions Hamelin checking himself out in the mirror after getting a tan, saying he gets why Hamelin is so fascinated with himself. Even with the context and intention, it's still funny his mind was on Hamelin in that moment.

Side evidence 4: During the Black Butler collab, Hamelin is doing the commentary with the shinigami. Anyways. He cheered Aladdin on several times (Snow too, but he mentions Aladdin more).

Side evidence 5: In Hamelin's wolf hammer, he is brought to a world where wrath reigns and people weren't allowed to honestly talk about their feelings or be moved by art. He thinks back to what was implied to be Act of SIN0 world where genuine love and beauty were absent saying he learned of “loving wholeheartedly, even in the face of adversity" there. Act of SIN0 will be talked about later.

Side evidence 6: Jino has mentioned once in a magazine they were designed to compliment each other. They have the same flower texture in their outfits, Aladdin is wearing Hamelin's colors in the VR outfit where they go to the musuem together in, Aladdin's breaker looks inspired by Hamelin, and so on. Aladdin has a bright color scheme with blonde hair, and Hamelin has a dark color scheme with black hair, and their personalities mesh surprisingly well. A lot of people say Hamelin is just a narcissist with no other qualities, but he has a genuine, good side to him and deep down he cares about others. This was especially shown in the final year. It's clear he gets a soft spot for Aladdin and it's clear Aladdin is one of the only, if not the only, character who trusts Hamelin in the end and enjoys being around him. Both of their stories revolve around politics and money. Halloween VR Event: The two are in a challenge of 'be as fruity as possible every appearance together'. The two have costumes with matching accessories. Dorothy doesn't believe in Aladdin's crypto money scheme, but this time it's Hamelin who defends Aladdin and helps Aladdin take selfies with everyone to get his plan going. The two partner up in this event while the girls do their own thing. Aladdin decides to take Hamelin to an art museum, just the two of them, knowing how much art means to Hamelin. There the two begin to walk and talk and smile and support each other's ideologies. Like the first Halloween event, the two get so into it that they are gone for hours, with Aladdin saying they can just explore the endless museum together anyway. A passer by npc sees them and says the two should go to the main event together since they seem to be having a good time. They do, and it's only by coincidence that they meet up with the other three.

Act of SIN0: Aladdin and Hamelin arrive in our world for two years -they come before any other character and stayed the longest here. It was said the two saw eye to eye right away. Everyone in this world wants beauty and money. The two work so well together and are such a force that they become aids to the Prime Minister in that time. Aladdin and Hamelin refer to each other as partners in this arc, and compliment everything the other does. Hamelin has Aladdin's lamp is marvelous and almost enviable, and that Aladdin's political knowledge and his leadership skills is amazing. Aladdin says he can reply on Hamelin and trusts him. The two begin using each other's catchphrases even and speech mannerisms without even knowing it, pointing it out to the reader even. Aladdin says having a dependable partner like Aladdin is invaluable, and Hamelin says having such a beautiful partner is something he treasures. Everything the two do, they do together, because they see each other as partners and fully believe in each other. They want each other by each other's side and this is clear as the story goes on. When they fight, they are in perfect sync. They say the same thing at the same time. They are perfectly synced. In the chapter with Dorothy and the Pigs, the female devs say they were meant for each other and argue over who is dominant and which one isn't. Hamelin is disgusted by this because they see each other as equals and think letting their desires be shown is ugly. Not that two were disgusted at the idea they could be something more. Interestingly, the devs were pointing out facts in the character's designs here as well, so make of that what you will. The two come up with plans insisting to do them together to save the world, pointing out that they made it this far in this world because they did it together. After they make their plans, Hamelin says Aladdin is efficient and beautiful and that he is happy it was Aladdin who came to our world with him. Aladdin says he is also glad he came here with Hamelin, and says money can't buy the relationship they established. This is a big deal for Aladdin, because he always believed money could buy even love, as seen in his chapter with Rapunzel and even his princess. Hamelin doesn't want anything from Aladdin as well which is a big deal. He just wants him at his side. Things don't go as planned though. The two are hiding out in an apartment outside looking at the Christmas lights and scenery which is rampant with nightmares because their plans failed. But they still had each other. It's also Christmas Eve, which in Japan, is the most romantic holiday of the year. Interesting! Aladdin is completely tired and broken down at this point and asks Hamelin what would happen if one of them also turned into a nightmare. Hamelin sounded really eager when Aladdin called him by his name, but after Aladdin says that, Hamelin sort of laughs it off which is suspicious. The two put their hands on each other's shoulders out of reassurance and look at each other.... But then the Prime Minister comes and Aladdin turns into a nightmare and loses his mind. Because him and Hamelin were holding on to each other, Hamelin was sadly attacked because Aladdin lost his mind. They lay on the ground with each other tangled and covered in blood as midnight hits, and Christmas' first snow falls on their body. It is revealed in hard mode that a detective has been looking at journals Aladdin and Hamelin left to find them. People they worked for said the two often took nights on the town together while they all stayed behind to work. It is also said that Hamelin tried to calm Aladdin down when he saw him transforming. Instead of letting go of him and running, he said they would burn their audits and go hide somewhere but once he realized Aladdin was gone, he despaired and turned into a nightmare too.

Act of Desire: Most of the characters are in groups of three, but Aladdin and Hamelin are seen standing alone together. This doesn't necessarily mean anything though. I'm putting it down anyways just because.

Other: The third anniversary cafe had a drink for the two. A drink in Aladdin's color with Hamelin's glasses. In a q&a on a private post eos stream, Aoki Takt says that the player can determine their relationship and only Taro knows what their status was. The two were frequently together in advertising material. Hamelin has a lot of queer thematics and has shown attraction to males rather than females. Aladdin says gender doesn't matter to him in a partner in the White Day event, though he clearly at the least has a female preference. Several characters over the years have pointed out how close the two were getting. The two frequently vagued each other in events they were in. Learning money can't buy love is something big in Aladdin's story, as well as his weapon and jobs. The end gacha has Aladdin telling the player he did learn what money couldn't buy, and although it's probably about the player, I also feel it could also be a nod to Act of SIN0. I think deep down he truly loved his princess, but hard mode of Act of Elimination shows he truly loved his princess but also accepts his princess' death. His story with Rapunzel was just them in love with the IDEA of each other and that their love wasn't beyond surface level. Likewise, Hamelin has been hit on by Rapunzel several times and always rejects her, and makes it clear to her in Elimination II he doesn't want her like that. I've seen a lot of people say this ship is just bl bait, but I find that nonsense. Whether or not its a canon ship or not, there is no denying their relationship, be it romantic or platonic. Canonically, the two are close and important to each other, they see each other as partners and work the best when they're together.