Shaney Shane Hollander

Shane is afraid of his own desires and of being caught. His "not heres" are all about keeping the sex he is down so bad for a secret. He wants to eat Ilya alive in both of these scenes, but the fear is stronger. He's much more willing than Ilya is, though, to have feelings about it, and he's so forthright and honest about it. Maybe he hasn't admitted to himself that he's in love, but he genuinely doesn't know yet that that's what it is!

Rozanov on the other hand is pretty comfortable with his sexuality, and he likes the danger in the showers and is turned on by the idea of Scott Hunter hearing them through the walls, but what terrifies him is feelings, and his "not here" is for when he's too raw and emotionally compromised to maintain his facade. He can't afford to let Shane care about him. If he could, there would be no problem with talking to a league-mate for 5 seconds at a public Olympic ice skating event. He can't answer Shane's question about how he's doing, because he can't have feelings in front of him.

There are about a million other brilliant little repetitions just like this in this show and they are all so bang on target to tell this story with incredible precision and economy, all the while setting up all the essential conflicts they will go on to have once they do have a relationship to navigate. Jacob Tierney's mind, fellas. The attention to detail! Just, amazing work. So inspiring.

And on top of that, nothing in this show is ever a fake out or a tease, it's all going to happen, and we don't need to worry about whether they are going to be punished for it. Watching it is such a pleasure, because we can just enjoy watching these two genuinely sweet boys find their way to finally admitting it and letting it breathe in the total confidence that THEY WILL.

“he’s an empath who clocks what your crisis is”

obviously shane hired a travel agent to create The Optimum Vacation, but he also studied and approved everything and also has custody of all important documents just because it makes HIM feel better and in control

meanwhile ilya?? straight elevator music. where are they going? unclear. when's the flight? not his concern. how long are they staying? who's to say. where's his passport? his husband has both of theirs.

Puppies and some quick fanart for The Long Game