Scorpio, on the other hand, is a fixed water sign ruled by Pluto, the planet of transformation and rebirth. It’s represented by the scorpion, inspired by Greek lore that a scorpion stung and killed Orion. Air and water are already pretty uncomplimentary to begin with, as water deals with emotions, while air is all about thought. Plus, mutable signs and fixed signs have very different modes of operating, with fixed signs embodying a kind of “workhorse” mentality and mutable signs embodying the energy of “the editor.” As astrology expert and author of Astrology SOS Imani Quinn tells mbg Scorpio is also quite deep, while Gemini prefers to keep things light. “Gemini tends to look for the positive out of situations, and they want to stay away from shadow work, so pairing them with a Scorpio is really challenging because Scorpio’s main goal is to come into rebirth, to find the truth—and they’re the epitome of the sign that does shadow work,” she explains. You can really see how Gemini and Scorpio don’t “line up” (literally) when you look at an astrological chart. They sit next to the other’s opposition (Scorpio’s opposing sign is Taurus, which comes before Gemini, while Gemini’s is Sagittarius, which comes after Scorpio). Without getting too into the nitty-gritty of aspects in astrology, what’s important to understand is that these two signs are considered “quincunx” or “inconjunct.” As Quinn puts it, this basically just means there isn’t much flowing between them in terms of how they relate to each other. Of course, it’s important to remember that when it comes to astrological compatibility (aka synastry), you really have to take both people’s entire birth chart into account, not just their sun sign. That said, here’s more on how these two signs fare in love and friendship, plus how they’re similar and different. Still, she notes, a friendship between this pairing is probably more likely than a romantic relationship. For one thing, people in general tend to require less from friends than they do from partners, in terms of relational needs. She also adds they can have dynamic conversations (though Scorpio isn’t going to open up as easily as Gemini). And one nice thing about any matchup between fixed and mutable signs, according to the AstroTwins, is that fixed signs can be very grounding for mutable signs because they’re good at “cutting through the B.S. and the fluff of indecision.” Quinn echoes this point as well, telling mbg that Scorpio won’t hesitate to call Gemini out, and Gemini can encourage Scorpio to lighten up. And for this matchup, priorities will often conflict in the romance department. Namely, Quinn says, Scorpios take loyalty very seriously, while Geminis tend to be a bit looser, and can even be “commitment-phobes,” she explains. As the twins add, Scorpios’ emotions can often become “fixed” or stuck in the body, thanks to their fixed modality, which can manifest as jealousy, which Gemini will not appreciate. (In fact it will promptly turn them off.) “It would be really challenging long term. I can see them as a short-term love relationship that helps Gemini move through and transform something in their life,” she says, “but as for Scorpio, being with a Gemini would be challenging because they don’t trust people very easily. It takes a while for them to really feel comfortable with somebody, and their energy could be too intense for Gemini.” And speaking of intense, Gemini may struggle to meet Scorpio down in the depths or put in the work it takes to understand the deeper layers of Scorpio, Quinn adds. This matchup can even be a karmic relationship, stirring something deep in Gemini—it’s just not necessarily built to last. “Geminis are super-social creatures, and they’re very curious, so they love to talk to people and get to know people,” Quinn explains, adding that this curiosity can help draw out some of Scorpio’s mystery, should Gemini try hard enough. And further, Geminis dual energy helps them look at the complexities of life. “They don’t need to look at life in this very simplified way,” Quinn says, noting that Scorpios are always searching for the truth and the deeper meaning, so both of them will appreciate this aspect of the other. “They can be complementary as far as them being able to drop in on philosophy together, probably in a light to short-term environment, not long term,” Quinn tells mbg. In addition to that, Scorpio will not appreciate Gemini’s flightiness, and Gemini will not appreciate Scorpio’s possessiveness, both of which are rooted in fundamental characteristics of these signs. It’s truly just the way they both are. And again, Gemini likes to keep things light, while Scorpio is more concerned with the deeper sides of life. Sure, they can get into philosophical discussion here and there, but long term, Gemini may become overwhelmed by Scorpio’s intensity, Quinn says, and Scorpio will get frustrated that Gemini can’t seem to take things as seriously. “Because Scorpio is fixed, it’s direct, and its approach doesn’t really sway, where for Gemini, their energy is very malleable,” she adds.