rewatching ep 1 and so struck by their Dynamic in this exchange "Was it everything you hoped for?" "Almost." "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Boston is nice, yes?" so we get ilya causing a hurt (teasing shane about what is a genuine sensitive spot, being beaten out for the first place draft pick, ilya getting one of his lifelong dreams over him) and fake-apologizing, and then soothing it with his silly little smile and shane smiling back at him, and it's immediately after this exchange, because of this exchange, that ilya can be vulnerable, asking about the place he's about to be sent to and knows nothing at all about. like obviously this is the teeniest act of sadism imaginable, it's just teasing, but it's the way shane responds to having his pigtails pulled (he's sensitive to it but he also likes it! it hurts his feelings and it makes him happy!) that makes avoidant attachment king ilya feel like he can show just a little bit of his own vulnerability
OH JUST FANTASTIC . and getting his pigtails pulled like that also lets shane express his sadness + disappointment for the first time that day!!!! hes been needing to act like he is just grateful and happy about second pick and only with someone who is Hurting him can he play the role of Hurt . babys first sadomasochism as intimacy :)))
