as much as i think ed and oswald should've gotten together pre-timeskip, i really really love the idea of ed only realizing his feelings while he was in arkham, because it means that depending on your headcanon for when he has his "oh. oh" moment, he had a LOTT of time to fantasize about oswald before they were reunited. oswald in those deep red glasses. oswald smiling through vicious threats and murders and others' blood on his face. oswald looking all soft in his robe with his hair undone. all the things ed realizes he loved when he'd seen them the first time.
and then the first time they see each other in TEN YEARS ed has all of three seconds to process that oswald now is wearing a top hat, monacle, a frighteningly purple jacket that does not fit him (thicker in the middle.), and yet he still wants to absolutely raw him. cinema
