Frogs I Guess

i also think a lot of people aren't really getting the *point* of louis' reaction. it's extremely harsh and judgmental and completely insensitive to the fact that lestat is being abused, but that is the purpose of it. the entire season is lestat attempting to justify it. this is louis saying that you cannot justify it. there is no rational way to justify that happening. and when lestat has a breakdown over it, they both sort of realize at the same time that this means lestat has been suffering incestuous sexual abuse for 200 fucking years.

it overwhelms lestat, and it clicks for louis. that's when he changes tacts, when he comforts lestat, when he gently tries to help him admit that it's been abuse all along in the bar. it's so realistic, such a necessary sequence.

so the pt gives him some specific stretches to do (some of which will also improve his already impressive back arch) but also recommends he take up yoga, and shane rolls his eyes about it later in his car (because doing it in front of the pt would be rude) but then he figures “what the hell, can’t hurt to try” and finds that he actually really likes it. it makes his brain calm down a bit, it’s not totally quiet up there but it feels more like a manageable trickle of thoughts instead of the uncontrollable tsunami that his brain usually feels like. it’s nice, he can focus on the stretch of his muscles and the way that the constant vice-like pressure in his chest loosens a bit. plus, if it will make his hookups with ilya even better, it’s gotta be worth it.

I don't remember all of these that well but here's what I have in my bookmarks:

An On And Off Cam Rivalry

A two-part series where Shane and Ilya start out as the top two streamers on a website, consistently beating each other out for the number one spot

Mutually Assured Exposure

Shane's a cam boy, Ilya's a pornstar who owns a studio with Svetlana. They sign Shane on for a couple of films and have Ilya do some content for his channel in order to help grow each others' ventures.

Russia's Greatest Love Machine

“…I had a thing with one of my teammates. It doesn’t matter who, and I’m not going to tell you. …The truth was, I’d been half in love with him before we first hooked up… I was nuts about him. But he was… he said he didn’t feel that way about me.”

“It all fell apart when I told him I loved him.”

- the long game, ch. 32

we all know coach brandon wiebe had a “thing” with a former teammate.

"No," Brandon said, not needing clarification about what he meant by that. "You're not quitting the team. We need you. Don't let Carden run you off."

David sighed. It echoed off the cracked tile like ice breaking over a lake. "Why keep fighting if I don't even see a future in it? I need to focus on my classes anyway."

Brandon turned to face him, looping his arms around David's neck. His heart was suddenly hammering with anxiety. His skin felt hot all over despite the failing water heater that couldn't get their shower to a decent temperature. Panic was gripping him, sudden and tight.

He felt, inexplicably, like David wasn't just talking about hockey.

"Don't quit." Brandon meant to say it firmly, decisively, but his voice had fled him. All he could do was whisper. "Please. Don't quit."

Don't quit on us. Don't leave me. Please.