Who made the first move at the beginning of their romantic relationship? Franco or Dottie? Ofc their relationship is very complicated, and everything worked out differently for them than for ordinary people, but was there a specific moment that felt like a declaration of love? Sorry if that's confusing xD
HELLO!!! This is such a good question💚
Before they became romantic, Franco was already making sexual remarks about her from the very beginning. Not really in the same freaky way he does with Gooseberry, it was more dehumanizing and curious than direct sexual comments, but it still had a suggestive tone to it. It's a mix of dominance and weird submissive curiosity at the same time. I'm still writing his dialogues about her, but it would include him talking about how shitty she looks, how poor she is, while also commenting on how "mature" she looks.
So early on there are a lot of remarks that sound like he's trying to push things in a sexual direction - jokes, insults that are suggestive, dehumanizing comments about her scrawny body, stuff like that. And he still kind of does this even when they get closer, except it shifts into something more "affectionate". It's their way of flirting.
Dottie would just tilt her head and be confused. Instead of feeling degraded, she actually takes it as a compliment. She loves attention no matter what form it comes in. She didn't get much attention as a child, and when she did it was usually abuse, so the moment someone actually focuses on her willingly she treats it like something almost sacred. At the same time though, she's awkward about it because she's not used to it.
She also has no sexual experience at all, so she doesn't really catch what Franco is implying. And if she does realize it on some level, she ends up feeling guilty about it because it feels "inappropriate" to her.
So it's basically a slow mutual realization that they like each other, and neither of them handles it well.
If they ever start thinking "oh… maybe I like them," Franco immediately brushes it off. But deeper down, he also thinks something like: why would she feel the same way about me if I'm ugly and a garbage human being? He's very aware of what he is.
I mentioned this before, but they end up working together during trials and talking when they get the chance, and over time that turns into actively seeking each other out when they can. Franco gets jealous when she pays attention to other people and they start collecting things for each other and thinking about each other randomly, which always catches them off guard because why would they be thinking about someone like that? They both basically convince themselves they're "just friends." Not really friends I don't know what to call them but you know.
They also start exchanging "gifts" pretty early on, but obviously nothing normal. Dottie brings him things she finds during trials because gift-giving is one of the only ways she knows how to express affection. Teeth for his Lupara, little trinkets… nipples, body parts… things she thinks he might like. Meanwhile Franco starts setting aside body parts specifically because he thinks Dottie would find them interesting.
Neither of them really acknowledges what this means. They feel awkward about it, yes, and Franco might even realize he likes her in some way - but not love! It's unfamiliar to him. He's selfish and sees women as objects, so actually caring about Dottie would scare him. He doesn't really know how to deal with those feelings. He grew up watching his father abuse his wives, so he never learned what genuine care is supposed to look like in a relationship. How could he suddenly know how to care for someone in a normal way now? Anywayss….he'd genuinely spend time digging through bodies just to find something she'd like without realizing that's already something deeper than sex.
I think Dottie ends up making the first intentional move, not because she's more confident, but because she's more emotionally open, while Franco is insecure about his feelings and scared to express anything to people that isn't sexual.
One day she would probably just say something honest without realizing how big it is. Maybe something like: "I miss ya when you're gone." And then she'd just continue the conversation like she didn't just drop a bombshell, meanwhile Franco would be standing there trying to process what she just said. Because it was genuine, that's what makes it scary for him.
He's not used to real attachment like that. He's never been connected to someone in the way he is with Dottie. I don't think he's ever had a proper relationship before, sex workers don't really count in that emotional sense - so real attachment is unfamiliar and terrifying for him.
After that moment, things get awkward very quickly. They probably try to avoid each other for a bit, or at least Franco does, but he still gets jealous when she pays attention to others.
That moment is probably the closest thing they ever have to a love confession that isn't "I love you." They would never actually say that out loud.
