da passenger

I did little edit of the cowboy benson piece im working on for Lowell. Hope thats okay :)

1. I hoped against all hope that the "friends" randy was going to go see at the end was just benson in jail, bandaged but alive

But randy tries anyways not even verbally just them both standing outside benson smoking and randy just holds it out to him blushing somewhat and eyes averted. And benson just grunts and gently pushes it away from him. He hates how it makes his heart stutter for one beat. It means nothing the kid is just being nice.

Easy enough to believe till randy shows up one day sitting in the booth behind benson whos sat with his legs resting on the booth arms behind him watching in silence as the others mess around and mess up the places benson just wiped down annoyance clear on his face. Until randy turns and holds out a bag of chips .... actual chips not some bullshit weight watchers imitation he just looks at him in a way benson is sure unnerves others its slightly intense calculating like hes trying to find the right part of a puzzle. Benson only stares back before rolling his eyes and taking the bag. He doesnt miss the smile randy tries to hide turning back to his own lunch. It doesnt mean anything.

Everyday after that randy has a snack for benson and benson has come to the conclusion randy is going out and buying them himself. Not when his lunch and snacks are still the kind richer stay at home moms eat to stay skinny without really trying. And randy never asks for repayment never asks for a favor a shift covered benson to be grateful he even got something when randy brings something benson doesnt like. He just stares with a frown but hes quick to correct course never makes the same mistake twice. And benson doesnt ever ask why.

what i fucking love about this scene is that we know it's not really ryan, naim knows it’s not really ryan. there's no part about this that is naim being lulled, being seduced, being tricked, being gotcha!'d. it's not him but it wears his face; it talks like him, it caresses like him, it comes close and smiles and laughs like he would. naim is leaning in despite the danger, moth to flame, knowing full well what's in front of him and craving it anyway.

screenshot study/redraw from the passenger 2023!!! i let the brain worms control me ratatouille style that's why it came out so good even though i have zero practice doing realism like this :P

(detail crop of randy's sad little face + uncoloured version under the cut :3)