Be the magic you want to see in the world

I am so far away from home. I am so afraid but I cannot show it. I’m going to be all on my own out there and people are not kind to me. I’ve always been alone, but never this kind of alone before. I don’t really know you, but you seemed kind. And earnest. You would not lie to me. Is it safe? Will I be happy there and safe? Boston is nice too?

"Bro? BRO?" says Ilya, his hands on his hips. "My name is Baby, or 'Love-Of-My-Life', or 'Beloved Husband', or 'Rozanov' if I'm in trouble. Just like you are now, Hollander."

And that's all the warning Shane has before he's tackled to the couch, and Ilya's kissing him relentlessly all over his face and neck, more to tickle him than anything. In between all the kisses, Ilya is like, "What do you say, Hollander? Do I have to keep helping you remember my name?"

And Shane's laughing so hard he's crying like "No, no, I'm sorry, baby! I'm sorry! I'll never call you bro again." And finally Ilya stops and presses one last kiss to his lips, this one softer and sweeter.

"Okay, good. Now let's get some dinner, bro."

And Shane rolls his eyes, but he leans up to get another kiss from Ilya.

Shane: *looking slightly alarmed and annoyed* ew Hayden, don't joke like that

-

Ilya: Shane I'm your workwife

Shane: *visibly fighting the urge to giggle and kick his feet* workwife? Who taught you that word?

Ilya: maybe you are my workwife too

I really believe that Shane’s particular brand of baby trapping is wrapped up in self righteousness, he’s truly of the mind that what he’s doing is the best for Ilya (he’s creating a foundation for Ilya), will help Ilya (he’s giving him a family that loves him unconditionally & w/o financial stipulations), and will keep Ilya alive (Ilya would never do anything to risk being anything like Irina to their child, would never die by his own hand and become the thing that haunts their child & he’d do all he could to keep himself alive to see that child shift, grow, and age like his mother never did for him).

Shane going about it through adoption/other means is incredibly interesting - and maybe I’ll talk about Shane & the lengths he’d go that way - but there is something so crunchy about Shane sacrificing at minimum a year of his career for this plan. Shane is truly such an interesting character when it comes to his relationship with hockey, and this being a visible & immediate counter to that, him choosing Ilya. Well. It’s kinda the most romantic thing he’s done since telling Crowell to fuck off. And I would argue! Pregnancy is sacrifice, it’s incredibly difficult on anyone’s body, like if nothing else as a professional hockey player the fact that his pelvis would literally change shape would earn that title.

If Ilya ever found out, he’d be so quick to find a way to justify Shane’s actions bc He Loves Their Life, and Shane must’ve had a reason. A good reason, even. He just doesn’t see it yet, but Shane never acts recklessly, not His Husband. And, even still, there is no way Ilya would be able to separate the child in front of him and his complicated feelings that come from what Shane has chosen for them, so he’d make the love win, in my mind. He’d shut off his brain and reach for this future with both hands while ignoring all the implications and the hurts. Yeah.

it took me asking three more times before she finally told me she wanted me to leave the fans where they are instead of moving them to my room or something. and I said oh! I had no intention of doing so but thank you for letting me know what the expectation is.

and I think what it is for me about these three (but also other side characters), where I’m totally happy to read about them either being so lovable or such pieces of shit, whereas I refuse to tolerate Rose or Sveta hate, is just how interesting/compelling the interpretation can be?

like with Hayden for example- I think him being a perfect milquetoast ally is really boring tbh, but when he’s written to be funny, caring, (read: given an actual personality and role in the story) he’s super fucking lovely! Like I would die for this man!

he can be written as a hysterical side character, or best friend reckoning with not knowing Shane, or trying to be a good ally, or dad, or husband, or friend, and that’s all interesting and fun to read! I love it!

however, an equally compelling interpretation of the longtime best friend who didn’t know Shane and is resentful about it. Who’s a privileged cis/het white man in hockey who ultimately chooses to protect his reputation and comfort instead of his friend. Who blames Ilya for ‘changing’ Shane, etc. like that’s also a really interesting perspective on his character! It adds delicious conflict and I also love it!

I care less about what’s canonically accurate or flattering to Hayden’s character and more about what’s good for the individual fic I’m reading.

I feel really similarly about Yuna and David too. There’s a lot of great stuff to get into about complex but ultimately loving parent/child relationships with them and Shane, and they are canonically really lovely characters. But they’re canonically also flawed and complex, and it’s super fucking delicious to explore more toxic or messy interpretations of them.

whereas with Sveta and Rose… first of all I am biased here because I fucking adore both of them in a way that’s second only to Ilya and Shane, but also, I just feel like the dynamics they have with Hollanov in the show just are the most interesting ones?

there’s literally so much to get into with what actually canonically happens with these two, and so much of their backstory and inner worlds that we don’t see, that imo is more interesting then an evil version of Rose or Sveta.

and to be fair, this can all absolutely be said about David, Yuna and Hayden, but I think with Rose and Sveta, it’s just that a toxic/negative Rose and Sveta are pretty boring?

like, I’m sure it can be done well, but ultimately, it would be the jealous best friend who’s pining for her boy best friend and hates his boyfriend, or whatever.

like that’s boring (to me). It’s been done, and it’s farrr less compelling (to me) then Sveta and Ilya’s decades long reliance on each other, with shared intimacy sexually, emotionally and dependency that never walks the line into romance. Like THAT is juicy omg there’s so much to get into in just the canon version!!

and the same goes for rose and Shane!! Like, how does rose view her own sexuality and femininity when she’s always attracted gay men? How does Rose reckon with the fact Shane basically tried to use her as a conversion tool? How does she feel about the Hollywood industry? Lots and lots to get into!!!!