Lover Of Bags And Shoes

also what cat said on her podcast when they were tipsy and trying to figure out how the podcasting thing works (i think it was also around will's birthday week), they were definitely sneaking out to a private room to do god whatever knows what and got caught, and tried to laugh it off as "just snooping." sure, boys!!!!!

will and mack likes to gatekeep the stuff that they do. the dinner books, the book club, the carbonne reservation, the espresso martinis, meeting up in sweden during world's, the stickgate!!!! and even the halifax one... we only ever find out through third-party slips. outside of very evident pr posts and tagged ig posts/joint tiktoks, they are incredibly private.

and honestly, it's the healthiest thing they could do. the nhl and san jose try to sensationalize their chemistry, friendship, or in brodie's words "whatever they consider themselves to be", and while they are good sports about it, they maintain a strict boundary around their personal lives and relationship.

for two guys navigating a very high pressure sport, they have managed to create a genuine sanctuary with one another. they found a safe space in each other where they can grow, have fun, navigate life, and elevate each other both on and off the ice, entirely on their own terms. LOVE THAT FOR THEM HONESTLY

prediction: if they train together this offseason, we won't be hearing it from them. i will be very surprised if they do post each other. we'll likely find out only via a random sighting or a trainer's ig story. let's see if they will make each other's summer dumps lmao

Yes to all of the above! They’re definitely each other’s keepers in every sense of the word. My theory for me though, is that we’d know a lot more about their shenanigans if Mack hadn’t essentially placed a “not up for discussion” clause on whatever it is they have. Because yes, Will Smith is a gatekeeper. This is a man who refuses to reveal the spice blend he uses on his steak. But at least we know the spice blend exists. Will strikes me as someone who enjoys showing off the things he values and letting people admire them from a safe distance, while never actually revealing the specifics. Mack’s a little different. He seems to see their bond as almost sacred, specifically because he’s very well aware of how unusually close and intimate it is.

I always think about that moment on Spittin’ Chiclets when they were asked whether they watched movies on the road. They mentioned their hotel TV was still sitting on the home screen, and Biz joked, “So you guys are just on your phones?” Then he asked if they watched other hockey games. Will had this suspiciously conspiratorial look on his face, like he was about to disagree and accidentally reveal that they spend their time doing literally anything else (the possibilities range from harmless bro wrestling to 50 shades of whatever they consider themselves to be). But before he could chime in, Mack immediately cut in with “Yeah, sometimes we put on a game” and Will visibly reeled it back in. That interaction lives rent free in my head because it perfectly captures their dynamic. Left to his own devices, Will would enjoy deliberately drip feeding interesting tidbits to the masses. Whereas Mack would slam the emergency brakes.

Mack would, in fact, rather perish in a desert than give the public a single crumb of information about what he and Will get up to, or *gasp* what they are to each other. He wears every emotion on his face and feels everything at full volume. I genuinely think he knows that if he opened that lid even a little bit, the whole thing would blow off and he’d end up saying things he’d much rather take to the grave with him. That’s not to say Will loves him any less. I think he adores him. The difference is that Will seems to enjoy people noticing their bond. He likes the admiration, the awe, the collective “wow those two are really something.” There’s a satisfaction in having something special and knowing other people can see it too.

Good question! Whyyy are we all so down bad for the Wackles? Well, I can only speak for myself, but here are some of my reasons:

1. They’re not like other girls

lol no seriously. One of my favourite things about them is how unapologetically unconventional they are by hockey standards. Their hobbies, when they’re together — look away Fratlin Kegbrini of Sidneh Crosbeh fame— mostly consist of curbside sports, playing with children under the age of 12, Catan nights at their Unc’s place, candlelit dinner dates at establishments with dress codes and reservation waitlists, watching rom-coms, reading books and discussing them over brunch, and baking for their coworkers. Or, rather, Will bakes and Mack quality controls the products. It’s like they’re constantly roleplaying as married suburban dads with a nuclear-family lifestyle and a white picket fence, even though they’re basically teenage boys who should be at the clerb getting high.

2. They’re together all the damn time

Their teammates, coaches, parents, and media can all confirm this. And if they’re not physically together, they’re FaceTiming and yearning to be together. Cat says she can count on one hand the number of times she’s had one of them over without the other. Like??? Will’s mom has openly wondered whether they ever get sick of each other, and this is a woman who has watched her son have 1736262 different boybestfriendships. Gabe and Leno literally lived with Will at different points, and Will lives with Matty B in the offseason, but you don’t catch her making the same comments about those friendships. So the amount of time Will spends with Mack must be abnormal even by Will Smith standards. Hell, even Bill Smith Hockey isn’t immune. That man had to spend eight hours a day with his son’s bestie during a visit. Like?

3. You can’t sit with us!

God forbid anyone infringe upon their togetherness. They’re attending a function? Attached at the hip, with Ostapchuk looking into the camera like he’s on The Office. They’re sitting on a plane? The Sharks agree no one would want the middle seat. They’re playing sewer? They’re either giggling and flirting, booting balls at their teammates’ faces to make each other laugh, or ditching team sewer for private sewer. They’re on the bench waiting for their shift? They’re either halfway across each other’s laps, crossing five bodies to get to each other’s laps, or talking over their unfortunate third linemate’s head *cough* Graf *cough* because obviously what they need to say cannot wait, and also is not meant for anyone else’s ears, thank you very much.

4. You had me at hello

I fear they might actually be soulmates. They knew of each other for years, played on rival teams, existed in the same tiny hockey world, kept an eye on each other, and somehow never exchanged a word. Then San Jose gets the 4OA pick, then the 1OA pick, they meet at development camp, and boom: worlds collide, chemistry explodes, souls bond from the first words exchanged. Suddenly they’re pissed they can’t play together. They want their jerseys hanging from the rafters together. They want to move in together, be roommates on the road, have a joint TikTok (RIP wcpsmrc), wear matching costumes, and show up in matching tailored walk-in outfits.

5. Girl, get off him!

No, Toff, you cannot stand close to Mack for “good times.” No, you cannot wrap your arms around Will’s waist during cellys; Mack will physically remove them because that waist is his belt loop. No, Connor Bedard, Mack does not think about you. No, Ekky, Swedish wrestling with Will is not allowed under Mack’s watch. No, Connor McDavid, Will may not be you, but Mack is his significant lover. Like. Do y’all hear yourselves? BFFR.

6. I made you my temple, my mural, my sky

They are constantly hyping each other up, defending each other to the media and their coaches. “Will just needs guys who can play with him.” “You see what a special player he is every night.” “I don’t think you need to worry about Mack’s scoring. He’s our leader.” They play with the utmost joy two people can feel at their place of employment. Every day is a great day when I’m next to you. I’ll stay up all night watching you play at international tournaments and take your calls morning, day, and night until dark circles bloom under my eyes. I won’t support my own country or celebrate in any way, because your pain is my pain, and I stand with you first and foremost. I’ll sign you up for silly little side quests, skip practice to take a midday nap with you while playing white noise so you can sleep, and make a hype reel to remind you who you are and what we can do together. And you’ll do the same for me. You’ll fight for me until the guy who hurt me bleeds. You’ll win the game in my name. You’ll take me shopping the next day and then to a game. You’ll take me out for espresso martinis on my birthday until we’re both sick and commiserating about how much this past month has sucked for us. You’ll drive me to our Unc’s place so I can cuddle their little dog with a blanket wrapped around me, then sneak off to a quiet room with me, giggling and wishing we could share our happiness with the world and go live. And it’s just you and me. It’s always going to be you and me.