The Heated Librarian

I share one of these each day on Threads (@melissaatthecottage), but thought I’d post a collection of them here, too.

Look for the faces you see on the logo image hidden in the picture puzzles. Of course, this is totally intended just to be fun and I’d love to hear if you enjoy them. I have… a lot. 😂 I can keep sharing more.

Good luck!!! 😉

Don’t believe my right nipple = dom energy theory? Last photo is your proof.

Want to read more of my nipple theories? They’re all posted on Threads at the link below.

From the premier in Montreal, Nov. 2025.

We don’t see this often enough, and I love it, so now you get to see it. 😘

I don’t know who took it originally, but it was shared by @hudsonwupdates on Instagram on Nov. 25.

From a joint interview with Teen Vogue on 11/11/25, weeks before the first two episodes dropped, about the first day of filming which included sex scene run throughs, the foot tapping press scene, and *that* Las Vegas scene. 🥵

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Hudson: Before that, we went through all the sex scenes with our intimacy coordinator [Chala Hunter] and Jacob. We walked through every single one that the show contains, and we went through it just so we had an emotional understanding of the scene and a rough idea of what the [camera] blocking would look like. So I remember, at first, it’s very professional, and some people are rushing to you with the robes. I think even by the end of day one, the grips would come back, and then our little costume girl would be holding the robes, and we were like, “Oh, yeah. I guess we’ll take ’em.” We already got to that point of comfort with each other.

Connor: You get comfortable with each other really quick. Luckily, me and Hudson get along so well that we’re both naturally very comfortable with one another. At first, when you’re in your little intimacy outfit, you’re like, “Oh, God, here we go. My butt’s out.” [Laughs.] And then really quick, you realize just how much of a job it is for everyone else too. And then it’s like, “Alrighty, let’s do this.”

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Link to full article: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/pre-fame-hudson-williams-connor-storrie-interview-heated-rivalry

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Shane: Ilya, really?

Ilya: What, Shane?

Shane: You weren’t wearing that when we left.

Ilya: Was in my pocket.

Shane: Because you knew I wouldn’t let you wear it.

Ilya: Yes. You’re boring.

Shane: Please take it off.

Ilya: No.

Shane: *angry kitten eyes*

Ilya: Papa McGriddle says what I want to say.

Shane: Ilya, that’s Ronald- nevermind. If you keep it on, will you behave?

Ilya: Maybe. Spirit of McGriddles will help me.

Shane: *sighs*

Ilya: Crowell is asshole. He deserves it. Davai.

Jacob Tierney was recently featured in The New Yorker (insert Ilya’s New Yorker jokes here) and it’s a fascinating read. Part article, part comic/cartoon - it’s a peek into his creative process, his musical background, possible music for Season 2, and more. 🎶🎵🎶

Of course, it’s always been “In Jacob We Trust” around here, but this is lovely to see anyway. ❤️

For the full text of Jacob’s feature titled “Power Play: Behind the Music of ‘Heated Rivalry’” click here: https://archive.ph/nCYYu (Archive link posted for full accessibility so everyone can read it.)

Original article link on The New Yorker, which you’ll likely need a subscription to access: https://www.newyorker.com/humor/sketchbook/power-play-behind-the-music-of-heated-rivalry

Connor's interview with Variety Magazine, 12/13/25:

"I forgot that I spit in his hand until I saw it two days ago, and I was like, 'Damn, we went there, huh?' We need to bring that back for Season 2. Bring the spit back."

🙌🫦🫦🫦🙌

📸 credits to SNL, of course.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WOULD LIVE IN BACKROOMS?

You contain multitudes and I can’t wait for us to discover them alllllll. ❤️

On 12/13/25, Variety asked Connor: How many pushups do you do before each shirtless scene?

His answer: "I don’t do pushups. I do curls because my chest is — here we go, I sound so narcissistic — is naturally rounded, so I don’t have to try that hard. I’m more so arm-focused because my arms are my weak point. So I’ll take a chair and just do [bicep curls] 40 times, or shoulders. Shoulders are big. Shoulders are a big deal."

💪 NO ARMS WEAKNESS DETECTED 💪

☀️"My MO is to just stay focused on my creativity…It’s so easy nowadays to get lost in the internet sauce. I obviously want to and need to engage and be a part of the cultural zeitgeist and take what people are saying, review everything, but I can’t get lost in the comments, the tweets."☀️

(A moment for "nowadays" because we already know he's an old soul, but damn this makes me feel like he's my age.)

📸: Cultured Mag.

A response to internet hate, from Connor himself. This is from his 12/26/25 interview with Variety:

"I don’t really villainize anyone no matter how nasty they get because I fully do believe that people are doing their best. I think that people are hurt. I think everyone is so insecure and sad, and we all have these things that are so tender to us, and I just feel blessed to be to have had a human experience that’s been just rugged enough to give me that perspective, to be like, “I don’t really give a shit what words you use to describe me, or if you try to embarrass me because I’ve embarrassed myself a million fucking times. I don’t give a shit anymore. So bring it on. I don’t feel bad about it because, especially how visible everything is now on the internet, if you’re a nasty person, I think that just makes you look nasty. I don’t need to try and make you look nasty. I just try to hold myself with grace and understanding. If you’re trying to belittle someone, it’s probably because you feel pretty small yourself because I know when I’ve been mean in the past — we’ve all done things — it’s because I felt this big [he pinches a thumb and finger together]. I felt itty bitty."

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My love and respect for Connor runs deep. He’s an incredible person - a man wise so far beyond his years. When I hear of anyone hating on him, running smear campaigns, trying to rain on his parade, I want to go throw throat punches. But then, I’m reminded of Connor’s words, and I at least keep my fists to myself. So instead of arguing, I’m going to spread his words.