This is such a cool little moment from the first time Alfred is at Henry´s place.

The score that sets in immediately after Henry closes the door and locks out the outside world is so unsettling at first and sounds like danger is afoot, and for Alfred´s status quo it certainly is. There´s tension building right away. But then wonder of discovery gets sprinkled in quickly with those individual twinkling notes on top. It´s giving thrill of the unknown, uncertainty of what you´re getting yourself into, starting out with uneasiness, but magnetically and willingly letting yourself be pulled in, or, you know, visiting your secret forbidden crush for the first time.

Alfred is so unguardedly wide-eyed when he´s in that intimate setting and tapping more into who Henry is and what he cares about by looking at his photographs, it does something to me 🫠 (Even if they´re for a story they´re still Henry´s pov and choices, and Alfred looks like he´s soaking it all up, and also like he´s never seen photographs like that before. Just wait for later, buddy. You ain´t seen nothing yet.) You can basically watch him make those connections between what he sees and who Henry is in his mind. He´s filling in a crude drawing, shading and refining it as he moves from picture to picture. Henry´s gaining dimension, depth and color by the second, and Alfred looks like he´d like to keep going, as uncertain and scared as he might be.

And Henry? He´s just trying to gauge what Alfred is about. The question whether Alfred approves is really the critical and central one in the bigger scheme of things. Does Alfred approve of what´s going to happen between them? Of Henry? Of them? Of being with a man? They´re also the first words spoken here after Alfred has entered and come as a disruption for him, just like that ultimate approval will be a disruption to his life. Fitting that he doesn´t give an answer here at this point.

Bloodborne x Animal Crossing

to

within a totally normal timeframe is something i feel very normal about 💞​🫠

Not just because of the content of what he´s saying to Henry but also what he´s letting himself say emotionally, and also what it says about his view of Henry.

Not to be likeable and a thorn in (powerful) people´s sides is such a distinct part of Henry´s fighting spirit and fire, and it comes to mean hope and light for Alfred so quickly. Which is !!!!! Amazing. What a turn-around.

Seeing Alfred´s changed attitude towards what Henry´s fighting for (or against) and embracing how important it is that Henry keeps going is beautiful in itself.

But what I love even more is that Henry gets to hear those words from Alfred about Henry as a person and how he makes people and Alfred feel, and how valued he is. As amusing as it seems to be to Henry when Alfred says people don´t like him very much bc of course that´s part of what he does and likes to do, and as much as he enjoys their flirty banter, then to hear Alfred impress on him so earnestly that he´s seen as something bright and essential and good. That Alfred sees him that way. That Alfred tries to communicate that directly into Henry´s brain via intense forehead touch bc he needs Henry so desperately to hear him and believe him. That is everything.

bc this is after Henry opens his eyes for the first time, and Alfred is so fucking brave HOLDING HIS GAZE! He´s not jerking his hand away from being "caught" or anything, no, he removes his fingers ever so slowly while looking at Henry, letting them caress Henry´s ear, letting Henry know, now that he´s awake, that he still means every single gentle touch but gives him room to object, too.

And Alfred must be so nervous. But he also knows he´s ready for this after hitting such a scary vulnerable point the night before and maybe also feeling a little shame, but Henry is still here! So now he trusts him with this gigantic first step of showing his affection while waiting for permission to continue (and for sure ready to stop should it not be given).