The scene where Charles meets Monty outside the shop, we all agree, delicious; the look backwards, the sad cow eyes, the jumping muscle in his jaw
But would love to see more talk about that moment beyond the shipper goggles.
Charles has just come from a situation that was so incredibly triggering for him that he got trapped in a murder time loop where he tried and failed and tried and failed to stand up to an abuser and take on the protective role
Charles lives to be the protector, prides himself on it, finds maybe his only sense of self worth in it
In the Devlin house (in his perspective) he fails. He's the victim again, hes hurt again and he can't protect others. Worse Edwin and Crystal had to save him instead of the other way round (second time hes failed Edwin in port townsend). Worst of all, they saw under his facade, they now Know the ugly truth of him
So he plasters on a smile, grits his teeth and hopes he can just push it all down and hide it away so none of them (especially him) have to think about it
His self confidence and mood are at rock bottom, hes ashamed
Everyone's taken with Monty, even Edwin. So he puts his best foot forward- and gets a very obvious snub that no one else gets
To infer from his later speech in Two Dead Dragons- is the rot visible in him? Is there a reason Monty hates Him specifically immediately?
That's a confidence knock on the best of days but on that day? When hes off kilter already: heavy. Just when he probably wanted something familiar and safe to hide away in like his routine with Edwin, Edwin's head is turned. That's new and there's too much new to contend with lately.
The girls lead him away and he gets the message but he can't help looking back just to check, like always, but it hurts because what if this is the beginning of the end, what if Edwin sees him for what he is and moves onto someone better?
jacobvanloon
janainaart
titsay
izzy806
origamiaround
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