The Woman In The Moon

"They know.”

This show is a master class in micro expressions.

Can we talk about how heartbreaking these frames are?

On the surface, Hannibal's demeanor is neutral and placid per usual. But looking at these up close, you see such a contrast before and after the phone call.

Before, a small pleased look flits across his face when he sees Will's name on his caller ID.

After, he looks utterly heartbroken for one split second before he's buttoned his person suit tightly again.

Then there's Will.

You cannot tell me that his lower lash line isn't damp with tears when he makes the phone call.

I have a whole essay worth of thoughts about this particular scene but for now I'll leave it at this.

He's such a talented actor, and he's extremely intelligent emotionally and generally speaking. The choices he makes expressively reflect an understanding/interpretation that goes deeper than words for the character he portrays. He can just as easily furrow his eyebrows or bow his head in defeat just to collect himself a brief moment later, but instead he uses his insane facial muscle control to allow a fleeting emotion to surf the contours of his face before he settles back into a resolute expression.

A version with the black pools of nothingness eyes I usually draw; since irises were creeping people out 👁️

Bilbo is friends with Aragorn and comes to his defense over Boromir rather than Legolas

Bilbo volunteers to take the ring to Mordor first so nonchalantly like an old queer professor on sabbatical volunteering to cover a 101 course and everyone at the council is honored by his offer

Literally not even scared or sad about it or anything — just straight up “yeah okay I see what you’re getting at, Lord Elrond, I’ll do it 💅 guess I’ll have to rewrite the ending of my book”

Bilbo doesn’t ask to see the ring again or make a go at Frodo but instead sings a sad little song out the window after giving him Sting and his mithril shirt

“it is my dwarf-mail that Thorin gave me” AAAH

Bilbo’s there when they leave Rivendell in the winter and tells them good luck like a worried little peepaw

Sean and Alex lived happily ever after

Charles and Erik lived happily ever after"

Dick: "Yes, but I don't want to hear it."

Bruce, rifling through case files stacked on top of each other: "You know organization is one of the keys to--"

you’re JOKING.

the humble charles xavier:

Bared teeth, drool and rust on his lips; all Charles sees are those blue eyes begging to be softened with a gentle touch.

Erik is an obedient guard dog. A controlled violence, a protective streak that leaves bodies. His teeth always sink in too deep, never the superficial type. Charles speaks his language, speaks his command.

They all tell him to put that dog down. Violent, misbehaving, unpredictable. All Charles sees is devotion. He always comes back, he always listens to him (not when it matters, not when anyone else says the right thing—it's only Charles. It'll always be Charles).

Erik loves with a submissiveness. A deadly hand forced down not with power, but by his own neediness. Blood-stained fur, matted and cold. Charles' gentle scratches painful, but he doesn't shy away. Would never shy away from Charles.

He's only protective. It's out of love.

It's not a solution, they all tell him over and over, sharing their oval scars and pointing at sharpened claws.

Beast, monster, bloodthirsty.

The thing is, Charles isn't the exception. He's been bit too. The difference is Erik licks his wounds, whimpers until Charles pats him with a maroon palm. Remorseful of his impulsivity that leaves arterial streaks down his back. Forgiven before the bleeding has stopped.

Charles falls for it every time. Erik didn't choose to be like this, he was beaten into it. He thinks he's good, justified, helpful. Violence is the only problem solving he knows.

I'll teach him proper. He's really a good man, he just doesn't know better. It's instinct.

Erik loves Charles like a dog.