Organic EwB: Reactive Environment
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6
In episode 2, we get to see an interesting phase of development in Lal and Wine’s relationship. I’ll call it Wine Watching Lal being Lal.
At this point they are considering an agreement; a promise of what their relationship will be going forward.
Well…Wine is considering it. Lal was on board almost immediately.
This pending agreement is important, but, if we’re staying on theme here, looking at what actually drives the growth and development of their relationship at this point…I’d say half of it is just proximity. They have a shared environment where they are both required to be: work.
Regardless of what happens, they have a relationship just by virtue of working together. They are already required to interact no matter what they label that relationship as.
But proximity alone wouldn’t do it.
It’s time to mention the✨ chemistry✨. Because the level of chemistry in this show is well-known, but it’s not just a perk…it’s central to the story. I’d argue the story would not work if it were less convincing. (You could say this about many GLs but I think it’s particularly true here).
The proximity combined with the catalyst of that level of chemistry, is central to how this relationship develops. And realistic to how a lot of real relationships start. The acting and the apparent ease of that pairing makes the story make sense.
Proximity + chemistry = whatever the hell is happening here
Through the episode you can watch that chemical reaction become something.
In the beginning of this negotiation, they both exhibit some amount of desire for the relationship. Wine suggests the concept of FwB, but Lal is the main voice of the pro-friends-with-benefits lobby. Wine backtracks, nervous about the risk to her job. She doesn’t say it, but from what we find out later, she’s likely also a bit anxious about what Lal’s actual intentions are.
Lal doesn’t argue, doesn’t suggest Wine value her job less or worry less. Lal is not even the one to suggest Wine give it more thought. Lal just accepts Wine’s decision.
In fact, Lal is processing it like a rejection, trying to avoid Wine and not think about her.
Another example of why the environment matters. If they were not coworkers, this may be the end. Wine would have no access to any information outside of her own anxiety, her own expectations and her own experiences. Her worry would probably win out. And Lal would absolutely not push her. The chemistry has no space to react.
Enter —> forced cooperate bonding.
Luckily, they are required to be together and, almost immediately, there is that spark. That chemistry feels automatic; instinctual; inevitable. They are, simply put, drawn each other, and Wine is in denial about it.
But this attraction explains why Lal always seems to be there everytime Wine is cornered. It’s what makes Wine seek out Lal with her eyes and watch her just…be herself. Lal is sociable, she’s encouraging, shes confident. Shes fun. AND Lal actually spends most of her time making sure Wine is happy having fun.
I’ve written before about the bowling alley scene because it’s my favorite, but it’s also more evidence of Lal being the opposite of Wine’s fears. She is not pushy, she’s not pressuring her to drink, and she’s also not blaming Wine in anyway for setting a boundary with her. She seems happy just hanging out with Wine. Existing, as Lal and Wine, together.
Wine is getting evidence that contradicts her worst assumptions about people pursuing her.
Wine being allowed to exist without expectations also allows her the comfort to challenge Lal; to push back. Not to push her away, but playfully banter with a point.
Sometimes it’s about a silly things, sometimes there’s underlying implications about how Lal deals with situations…
It’s honest and actually challenges Lal (an early sign of the deepening of the relationship), but it’s also fun and flirty and teasing. That initial spark, regardless of what they want to call their relationship, has already become a planted seed that is starting to sprout. As much as Wine wants to think it through and consider all the risks and possible outcomes…well, the toothpaste can’t go back in the tube, as they say.
Wines walls are already down a little. She let Lal in just a bit, got a taste of that feeling, and she can’t seem to maintain the same distance, both because of the obligatory participation and…she doesn’t seem to want to.
By the end of the episode she feels confident that this FwB relationship may be worth the risk, even if she doesn’t really know what she’s doing.
And yes, the main stated “benefit” is sex. But really, it seems like Wine just wants to get to be Wine. And watch Lal be Lal.
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