#pedrazar

Ben asking if Bea wants to see his shoes and then immediately being like "why did I ask that, they're not interesting" is so me coded. I love to say things without thinking and then be like. that is not interesting to anyone.

From the point where Peter takes the camera for the group picture, he is the one holding the camera for the rest of the trip into town, including while they're on the train and we get these very wistful images of Balthazar.

he's literally looking at the camera (Peter) and biting his lip here? bro neither of your crushes are subtle.

In town the camera changes hands a bit, but it's almost always with either Ben or Peter. This made me think immediately about @galwithalibrarycard's meta from way back in the day about how Ben and Peter are parallel protagonists in two different genres, which you can find here if you're curious.

Another thing @galwithalibrarycard has talked about extensively is Ben's social anxiety, and while I won't go into detail here he is NOT beating the allegations.

I don't remember Peter's speech making me so sad when I watched it 10 years ago? But from my 30-year-old perspective it makes me really sad! He's trying so hard and he thinks he's doing better but he's actually in such a hard place, and because he doesn't understand what a hard place he's in he's just stuck in it. Maladaptive coping king? Running so hard from himself that he can't even realize that he can't leave himself behind.

Ben's terrible not-cartwheel is also so me-coded, fucking love this kid.

I genuinely don't think Ben was trying to shit-stir when he asked if there was anything Balth didn't like? It's a classic interview question in the context he's using, and Balth's comment about Peter's drinking was SO out of left field, AND Ben wasn't even looking at Peter when he came into the room. You know who DID look at Peter before making that awful comment?

Listen. I love Balthazar Jones as much as the next guy, but where tf did we all get the uwu small bean vibe from him from in 2015? The man's a passive-aggressive menace. I love him so much. Why'd he do that. it's giving picking a fight you're not ready to have. And sure enough, he tries to just leave???

And then, once they start fighting, you know who is no longer in front of the camera?

Benedick Hobbes, socially avoidant king! If you watch you can see him turtle behind the camera lmao.

And then! Mid fight! There's a cut??? Something wasn't included! We go from "I wouldn't have a problem with it if I knew it made you happy" to "I need to calm down? You need to loosen the hell out!" And aside from the fact that one of those doesn't directly follow from the other, we SEE the cut. So something happened in however much time that was that made Benedick "I'm going to post everything my friends do even when it's not appropriate" Hobbes choose NOT to post it? I'm living. Is it fic time? Is it??

Lastly. The fucking shadows. Take a look at these shots.

I don't know much about cinnamon tophography or anything but. Look at Peter's shadow in that first one. Look at Balth's shadow in the second.

In fictional!Aotearoa, on New Year’s Day 2016, in the aftermath of Lolilo, Beatrice and Benedick definitely kissed at midnight to ring in the new year. They also definitely kissed at midnight hours ago to ring in 2026, because they’re still together.

Peter and Balthazar also kissed at midnight on New Years 2016. And they also kissed at midnight on New Years 2026, because they’re still together.