Rewatching S4E12 (again) and I realize that Mickey is trying out pet names for Ian. It’s like he’s trying on terms of endearment, seeing what feels right, both emotionally and in his mouth. Like he’s trying to see which one will make Ian do that giggle or look at him that way.
They’re finally publicly together after years of furtive glances, clandestine link ups, and feigned disinterest (🙄), Mickey is launching into this new experience in what is, to me, a distinctive Mickey way. He “re-names” folks: From the girls at the rub-and-tug (Nanook of the North) to Kev (Steven Seagal [I’ll come back to this at some point]) to Debbie (Peppermint Patty) to his favorite ginger, Ian.
Mickey obviously loves nicknaming Ian, which may or may not have always been a sign of his interest/affection. We first hear him nickname Ian before we see them share the any dialogue, calling him Firecrotch while threatening to beat him up for what he did(n’t do) to Mandy. Later he tosses around a few nicknames that can totally seem innocent if anyone hears him use them (like tough guy). But this morning (afternoon) after he comes out, he’s just tossing out random nicknames which are contextual but also unreasonably adorable and off-the-cuff. (Please also note that him trying to wake Ian up so they can go get a dog after arranging for his sister the babysit Yev is very little-domestic-bitches coded 😍🥲)
Cinderella. Sleepy-face. Mumbles. He’s got an adorable look of contentment and amusement on his face while gauging how Ian responds, eventually realizing he’s getting no responses which then leads him into concern. Y’all have seen the scene. Mickey asks Ian if he’s feeling sick, tries to get a peek at his face (that he’d caressed tenderly when he first got up that morning), and is confused and frustrated when he can’t coax Ian to even agree to let him bring him back food. (Canonically, I feel like we see Ian enthusiastically eating pretty frequently and Mickey’s desire to care for Ian ALWAYS manages to shines through so this being the point Mickey got annoyed made sense to me). He leaves in a bit of a huff and the scene ends.
As a rewatch, this scene has a lot going on because we know that there’s so much to come in their story. Even knowing that this particular moment of happiness is a flash in the proverbial pan, I appreciate seeing this first peek of Mickey entering his devoted boyfriend era.
