#crumbs!!

but with wickes actually being lonnie byers and will having conflicted emotions mourning his father but also guilt over being relieved his abuser was gone on top of the religious guilt that comes with his hiding his sexuality

"because in the part of my soul that cannot lie to christ, or myself, or you... i was happy the old man was dead."

mike always being impartial to religion because of his very conservative father (who he grew estranged to after coming out as gay) and feeling uneasy inside the church but safe around will as he notices the sun always shining through the stained glass windows whenever he speaks

"you can always be honest without saying the unhonest part. you're right. it's storytelling."

"i guess the question is, do these stories convince us of a lie? or do they resonate with something deep inside us that's profoundly true? that we can't express any other way, except storytelling?"

mike paying attention to and finally understanding will's body language and half truths, realising like blanc does on the church steps as the sunlight falls through the windows that will did in fact kill lonnie. but looking around the room full of people realises the reason is not his secret to tell. and looking at will, he doesn't have to say anything. he just knows.

"i cannot solve this case." because he's not going to take will's autonomy and chance at confession away from him.

churchgate confession as mike comforts will and is willing to let the case go cold in favour of keeping will's motivation a secret. will confiding in mike about growing up in such an environment because he always felt the need to turn to something when his guilt over who he was was too much, but now realsing he had found it in mike, as well as himself.

"i was looking for the answers in somebody else but, i had all the answers."

will slowly letting go of his religious guilt and vowing to create a community that's a safe place for all people from all different backgrounds instead. a place where everyone is welcome free of judgement, the kind of environment that would have lonnie byers rolling in his grave.

oh and-

"my first mass is coming up... if you wanna stick around."

ollie is us

And this is why Oliver Bearman will see the gates of heaven 🙂‍↕️

Were fine.

*Darry frowns, scrubs a hand over his face. Night two of no sleep beginnin to wear heavily on him.*

They didn't have anythin on Tim n Dallas. Whoever had the guts to point the finger at them retracted their statement not long after they were hauled in. They were released this mornin.

*He glances up at the lithe bodies of Tim n Dallas tangled together on the couch in sleep. Probably the most they'd gotten since. Well. Everythin.*