gcastle5

[gcastle5]

Re: They *Really* Lost the Plot!

... but did they mean to?

There have been lots of questions swirling around today - everything from do Nic & Luke really hate us to don't you think there *has* to be more going on than legal obligations? Then @frantastical posed a question that gets right to the root of it as only an OG can:

I'll answer the 1st two questions, then get to Fran's argument. 1- No, Lukola loves their fans and if you think they'd purposely try to alienate or manipulate them while simultaneously trashing their own images, I don't what to tell you. 2- No. As protracted as the legal obligations have become, the alternative was worse. Now, onto Fran's theory...

Shippers are struggling w/ the contradictions that we're trying to reconcile. A smattering of comments taken from the threads today:

• "I am really torn as to whether this is an obligation. I think this post is an image nightmare, so would they actually agree to it?"

• "It seems coordinated w/ Lauren and the Dad follows. It also then continues the Roumeloti business promotion checklist; promote Dads restaurant ✅, DJ business ✅ and now Antonia’s employer ✅ (who is probably family or friend of family)"

• "I’ve been vacillating between obligations and A going rogue to humiliate Luke and Nic all day. I can’t imagine today was about obligations and yet it’s the Lauren TT and his dad following A’s dad of it all. Was today part of the obligation fulfillment or did what was storied by Nic last night piss her off?"

• "They don’t even need Savage anymore if his team are involved in this... A man who has been widely criticised for his hot boy summer antics posing with these dancers 🥴😳🤦🏼‍♀️. Then we get a caption that must be mocking him because that man is not Bond material... even those who like him will say that."

(Fans did want L as Bond for a hot sec.: https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bridgerton-james-bond-luke-newton-25619695)

Sunny, @jmuz09's AI Robot helped work through it ⬇️⬇️⬇️

1) A LEGAL LOOPHOLE

Fran's assertion fits more into it NOT being an obligation. I asked Sunny about this but added a legal loophole; he laid it out to where it could makes sense w/ what's been happening w/ A all along...

2) THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG

Here's another Sunny response which makes what happened BOTH, and could also be plausible.

I asked: What came first the chicken or the egg? Meaning did N give us those stories as a preemptive measure knowing that L's pic w/ the Cyprus dancers was about to surface? OR did A have her camp post it as a reaction to N's Lukola coded posts?

Lastly, ignore ignore ignore adjacent nonsense! Lukola has been trying to keep a plot on track that keeps getting derailed. We know the truth, and nothing you've seen should change that - except it can cause further (understandable) frustration.

As others have said - we got N w/ a stroller!!! That's far more interesting! 👀

And so are you. YOU are important to this ship but more importantly to your friends, family, colleagues, pets, and greater community. So take care of yourself and don't let this whiplash cause you unnecessary stress. Protect your peace and enjoy your weekend! ✌️🕊☮️

[gcastle5]

👏👏👏👏👏

Truth Isn’t the Villain Here

…or why I won’t be whispering in private DMs to protect PR teams

So here we are, again. Another day at the Lukola Torture Café (thanks Bianca for coining this perfect descriptor - you need to trademark it!😂) with some fans quietly edging toward the exits with murmurs of “Maybe we’re the problem…”

Some version of this sentiment has been gaining traction lately: “Maybe they just want us to stop shipping them.” Maybe we read too much into the glances, the giggles, the “broken chaise.” Maybe the Claddagh was just a nice ring. Maybe Luke wasn't looking at Nicola in his 'This or That' video. Maybe the World Tour was just press. Maybe the chemistry was method acting. Maybe.

But let’s also try this version: Maybe what we saw was real, and it got inconvenient.

And now the Grand PR Narrative — in all its hand-holding, cheek-kissing, PR-plant glory — is asking us to pipe down. Or at least, that’s how it’s feeling. "Retreat to your DMs." "Talk only in private group chats." “Don’t give their teams ideas.” Okay… but why does the solution always involve US getting smaller?

Because make no mistake: we’re not spiraling in a vacuum. We’re reacting. Reacting to ghost posts (where's that 74th or 660th grid post Luke & Nicola? We can count). Tagless "girlfriends" with Getty captions. Missing Claddaghs. People Mag and British Vogue dishing out PR leftovers and calling it a tasting menu. We are reacting to a story that doesn’t make sense — and when that happens, curious people ask questions. That’s not a crime. That’s pattern recognition.

What’s happening now is a reckoning. Fans are exhausted and some are stepping back. Some are divesting — or recalibrating. (Good word, that one.) But others, like me? I’m not stepping back because I said something wrong. I’m just tired of watching clarity be treated like a threat.

I’ve always asked questions, logged breadcrumbs... and held space for hope and doubt. And if my observations — or yours — are inconvenient for someone’s curated narrative? Then maybe it’s time for that narrative to do some adjusting.

This fandom was never supposed to be about groupthink or gatekeeping. It was supposed to be about resonance. We saw light and we saw love. We recognized it! Truth — in all its messy, beautiful, inconvenient glory.

So no, I won’t be whispering in DMs or in my private group chat to protect public illusions. I’ll keep asking and watching and writing.

On my terms... with my voice.

Because if we’re really this threatening? Then maybe we’re closer to the truth than we think.

Aaniin Xxx

P.S. Speaking of truth...

P.S.S. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Until then, I'm here.

[gcastle5]

Agree! Math isn't mathing!

Get Curious With Me

So, the kiss happened. On the cheek. At the party. Shared tucked in a carousel. On his grid.

And like clockwork, Antonia followed up with her own IG stories, ticking off the fandom’s “he’d never do this unless they were real” checklist. You know the one:

Public touch? ✔

Genuine smile? ✔

Posted her on his grid? Kinda? ✔

She posted him, too (disappearing IG story)? ✔

One might say: it’s giving... final PR assignment before summer vacation.

But here’s where things get even more interesting. If this “relationship” is as natural and enduring as we’re meant to believe, why has it taken nearly a full year (more if you count the months pre-Papgate) for it to land on Luke’s grid?

Same for Nicola and Jake: he’s been floating around the periphery since spring 2024, showed up in Nicola’s IG stories (like a very stylish unpaid intern), and suddenly in the last two weeks, both of these “adjacent partners” are being marched out at public events like PR accessories. Jake at the BAFTA Nominees' Party & Cannes. Antonia at last night's Vogue-Netflix Pre-BAFTA party. Nicola and Luke each walking into frame, each posing beside the person we’re supposed to believe is the one.

So I ask again:

It doesn’t make sense. And when it doesn’t make sense, I get curious.

Because if this were real, the timing wouldn’t feel this… strategic.

Bianca summed it up best today after an anon wrote in pointing out that no other “couple” at the event got this kind of press, attention, or photo ops:

"Because someone got P.A.I.D 2 P.U.S.H."

Exactly.

And it all ties back to the strange absence of what once came so easily. Remember: when Luke was dating Jade, he and Nicola still liked posts, joked publicly, and showed support. Now? Silence. Avoidance. And a choreographed like from Nicola on Luke’s "tucked behind in a carousel of photos on his grid" cheek kiss photo six minutes after he posts it. Luke was almost as quick to like Nicola's grid post.

They’re watching each other’s grids. Or their teams are. But either way, it’s performance. They're not liking posts to show one another support; they're liking posts to convince US that the narrative isn't fake PR.

So I’ll keep watching. Not because I’m sold on what we’re being shown. But because the performance is starting to crack — and it’s in those cracks that the truth usually shows up.

When the math doesn’t math?

I don’t walk away. I get curious.

Aaniin Xxx

P.S. Luke didn't tag Antonia in his grid post, and he didn't mention her in the caption. She’s there, but she’s not planted. That’s the distinction — and it speaks volumes. He’s checking the box, but barely. It’s performative camouflage.

[gcastle5]

Very well put. We'll never know why they never interacted on the red carpet, but their faces and energy showed...something. We all clocked it before we saw that she had a solo photo when she's a nobody. She hasn't done anything in her own right to be named and to have a photo alone. We smell something foul. Let's hope there's not too many casualties once this play is finally over.

Welp! That was awkward...

⚠️Disclaimer: This is a Lukola space, skip if you don’t believe.

Welp! That was awkward. Maybe I’m speaking too soon and more photos or videos from the event will surface that disprove this, but… the curiousness of what we’ve seen so far can’t be ignored.

At the recent British Vogue x Netflix pre BAFTA TV awards Party, the absence of public interaction between Luke and Nicola, who showed up and showed out but posed separately on the red carpet, has sparked curiosity among Lukolashippers. At an event like that, it’s hard not to notice how Luke and Nicola, who have always shared undeniable chemistry and public closeness and as recent as the SAG did not interact publicly or pose together. Not even a candid glance caught by photographers. This contrasts with previous events where Luke and Nicola held hands on the red carpet, displaying a close rapport. That’s undeniably odd, especially given their dynamic during the Bridgerton promo era (handholding, hugs, deep eye contact, constant proximity). Their sudden avoidance of public interaction, especially at high-profile events like this, suggests intentional distancing. Whether this is personal (a pause in closeness, maybe emotional conflict) or strategic (to shut down rumors or protect something private), it’s clearly not casual. The shift in their public demeanor could be attributed to various factors but that absence feels deliberate, or at the very least, strategic.

But what makes things even more intriguing is the presence of Luke’s partner. She was photographed alone, multiple times, with no apparent professional credit or known affiliation to the event in her own right. No shots with Luke, despite having posed with him publicly before, notably in February at the latest BAFTA party. Additionally, Luke's ex, actress Sophie Simnett, attended and posed solo. While other attendees were photographed together, the lack of joint appearances among these individuals may suggest a deliberate effort to maintain personal boundaries or manage public narratives.

Why now, when speculation is high, wouldn’t they appear side by side to calmly confirm their closeness?

From a PR perspective, this was a missed opportunity. One shared frame between Luke and his girlfriend could have eased tensions, neutralized the persistent narrative about him and Nicola, and clarified things. Likewise, a warm, friendly interaction between Luke and Nicola would have reassured fans who sensed distance lately. But nothing of the sort appeared. From a PR standpoint, if the goal were to shut down "Lukola" speculation clearly and cleanly, the smartest move would’ve been: Luke, Nicola, and the girlfriend photographed together smiling, interacting, maybe even embracing or laughing naturally. If all three were seen comfortably together, It would signal there’s no tension or hidden romantic drama. It would disarm fans who see the partners as a wedge. It would allow everyone to move forward under the public impression: "They’re friends, they're supportive, everything is fine." So, why didn’t they do it? That’s the real question. Wouldn’t it make sense for a smiling photo of all three together to emerge? That would send a clear message: everything’s friendly, everything’s transparent.

So maybe that’s the answer in itself. Maybe it wasn’t done because it couldn’t be done without discomfort, without contradiction, or without revealing more than they’re ready to show. If Luke and Nicola are not emotionally aligned with the girlfriend’s presence or if the said girlfriend and Nicola aren’t actually close, then forcing a staged moment would look fake, or risk revealing tension on camera. Even though Nicola follows her now and likes her content, that could be strategic or polite, not genuine friendship. Maybe they don’t want to make any statement at all. Sometimes silence is the chosen strategy because any image would stir more theories. If they posed together, Lukola fans might say it was "forced" or "PR damage control." They may be choosing ambiguity to avoid fueling either narrative. Whether it’s emotional, romantic, or strategic, the fact that Nicola and Luke, the best of friends, avoid interacting publicly suggests there might be a deep, unresolved bond there. When you lay it all out, the silence is kind of deafening, isn’t it? For people who've been so magnetic and visibly close in the past whether professionally, personally, or both to suddenly active the stealth mode and move through a public space like that without even a glimmer of acknowledgment between them… it feels unnatural.

And the girlfriend factor adds another layer of strangeness. If she’s meant to be the "girlfriend," why the solo photos? Is she a celebrity ?Why not cement the narrative if there’s nothing to hide ? Instead, it all feels like everyone’s tiptoeing around something no one wants to name.

There’s something performative missing, but also something real simmering beneath. Sometimes silence isn’t just quiet, It’s full.

[gcastle5]

Since when is A a celeb to get her own photos taken.....

Ah yes. The question of the night.

So the rumoured maybe-girlfriend shows up to a British Vogue x Netflix pre-BAFTA party and somehow lands a solo Getty image with her name in the caption — while actual actors like Victor Alli (Lord Kilmartin himself!) are left anonymous with the label "Guest"? Make it make sense.

As we all know, Antonia Roumelioti is not a celebrity. She has not led a TV show. She has not starred in a feature film. She is not on the BAFTA short list. She is, at best, a wanna be dancer/model/actress in progress (me: attempting to be kind), with credits that read more like the pinned IG post of an influencer who has no influence (me: not attempting...)

And yet — there she is. On Getty. Named.

How?

Easy: She was submitted. Getty Images doesn’t magically know who you are unless someone tells them. And someone did. Either her agent, someone from her PR team (if she has one), or — and here’s the spicy bit — someone from Luke’s team playing the long game on the Grand PR Narrative.

That photo wasn't earned. It was inserted. It’s what you do when you want someone to look like they belong in rooms they didn’t work to be in.

So no, she’s not a celeb. But like so much of what we’ve seen since June 2024, this isn’t about truth — it’s about optics.

And if there’s a contract ticking toward its end date, well… we may be watching the final boxes being checked.

Lights, camera, subtext.

Aaniin Xxx

[gcastle5]

Social Media perception and Real life

The moments…the likes …the narratives they want you to see and then there is the spaces in between like @fiamat12 describes so well

SM can manipulate any one’s perception of what is or what can be.

Looking at our faves and the adjacents you can see how the media has been used to really misrepresent or direct a certain way of thinking.

Let’s begin with the Jakola zombies….

The tabloids started it…a sub fandom ran with it…so it snowballed from there. So now anything Nic posts or Jake posts they are trying to link them together or launch them. Tabloids are doing the same even with something as simple as wishing someone happy birthday.

Jake and his friends try posting subtle hints to fandoms correcting the narrative. Even as early as yesterday….but they still do not get it.

I think it will have to be a billboard or flashing neon sign for them to get it. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Nic is very chronically online as she has mentioned more than once or twice so she can be very strategic with her likes and shares and what she does. We see what she wants us to see. She will like a post, just long enough for us to see it, and then unlike it.

Luke I believe is a lurker. He is not often online unless he has to be. This is why it is super weird that he has liked every single post of 🐜 Not his usual MO, it is an obligation of sorts.

🐜 has definitely used SM to manipulate the GA and troll the fandom. From in style Polaroids, red bags, pasta videos, gelato ( not in Rome), all trying to insinuate she was in the same place and time with Luke when it was debunked that it was not possible.

If we think about how many times we have seen a picture of Nic drop somewhere at a party or place and then there is a fan sighting of Luke. Or the reverse happens. Misdirection they are great at that.

Even over the last few days…we knew Nic was in Miami, Yerin and Simone was in the US. 🇺🇸. Then we got some posts from Luke’s stylist team Liz and Holly about being in NY, as well as BOSS.

So for the last 24 hours the fandom have been clowning fully invested and distracted looking for Lukola and signs that the Adjacents may be in NY for the Met Gala. Jakola’s were even drilling down the time frequency of him posting even if it was about Gay icons and poets from the NY times. To the Jakola’s it was because he was with Nic and on their way to NY lol.

This is all part of the master plan we were looking over there while Lukola were living it up in Miami (IMO) and then on there way back to BAFTAs.

I am sure that we will see more random likes posts ect but just remember it is what we do not see is the important stuff. We have been lucky to get a glimpse of the authentic connection because our two faves are magnets, a complete set. So when in the same room there is no hiding it.

The below was real it was a real authentic connection.

Fake news - Jake kissed Nicola

Or In reality can you check my teeth or how is my make up.

All will reveal itself in good time. Just do not worry too much about the SM….have fun with it of course but just understand everything can be manipulated with a click of a button.

[gcastle5]

No!

Also…👇

[gcastle5]

The Grand Narrative is Boring. We Want the True One.

What happens when a love story that feels real gets buried under PR noise?

There’s only so long you can keep asking people to ignore what they saw. To deny what they felt. To pretend that glances, rings, and resonance were all just a clever coincidence.

For nearly a year, fans of Luke and Nicola have watched something unfold that didn’t need words to feel true. The Claddagh, the “This or That” interview, the hands on the cell phone, the polariod in the phone case, a pregnancy. We saw it. We felt it.

So when Nicola showed up to her first-ever major lead actor nomination celebration tonight, not with quiet strength or solo joy, but with Jake Dunn by her side - it didn’t just feel like a plot twist. It felt like a betrayal.

Not because fans are entitled to a relationship reveal. But because this was HER moment. Her achievement. Her night. And instead of amplifying herself, her work, or even her advocacy… we got a 'soft-launch' decoy in borrowed shoes. We got media headlines naming Jake before her. We got confusion - again - when we deserved clarity, or at the very least, respect.

And look, we get it. PR plays a role. Image matters. Silence is strategy. But the Grand Narrative has gotten boring - and frankly, insulting. The pap shots, the matching “adjacent” appearances, the selective red carpet choreography. We see the strings. We’ve seen them for months. And we’re done pretending the puppet show is real.

If Jake was just a friend, let him be a friend. Quietly. Off camera. Because dragging him into a significant industry moment doesn’t just confuse the audience - it undermines the work. It minimizes her. And it clouds a love story that to us, feels sacred.

Fans are tired. Tired of moving goalposts. Tired of loving something that keeps getting repackaged as something else. Tired of being gaslit by silence and chaos while we’re still holding onto the softness of what we saw between two people who couldn’t stop looking at each other.

We don’t want the Grand Narrative. We want the True One. And until we get it — we’re not clapping for the show.

Tori... because I'm not seeing much light (Aaniin) at the moment

P.S. No pretty photos for this post because NO

[gcastle5]

A prayer for a happy ending

You can call me crazy or delusional, that's your prerogative. I'm just someone who saw something real, and refused to unsee it. And that matters.

When you spend over a year attuning yourself to someone's energy their rhythms, their silences, their sparks, it becomes faith.

Because love, even from a distance, is still love. It's still hope. It still carries weight.

This goes far beyond the usual “fan” experience. It’s not about obsession or fantasy. It’s more like my heart quietly tethered itself to their bond, not to consume it, not to possess it, but to witness it.

Some connections defy logic. They're spiritual. Intuitive. Maybe even karmic, like your heart recognizing a frequency so familiar, so resonant, that no explanation is needed.

You don’t want attention. You don’t need validation. You just want peace for them. That’s not fantasy. That’s empathy. That’s depth.

It’s a quiet, unwavering wish for their happiness, together preferably.

And when the feeling doesn’t come from projection, or illusion, or need when it still lingers, steady and strong, it usually means something deeper is at play.

This kind of connection doesn’t ask for proof. It just is.

It’s not about ownership, or entitlement, or being right. It’s about witnessing something rare, something true, and the heartbreak of watching it be dismissed by fear, timing, the noise of the world or something else.

It feels like seeing something real before others do, and loving it silently. Patiently. Almost protectively.

All I want is their joy. Not for show. Not for some fairytale ending. But because something in me knows their bond is different. It’s meaningful.

I’m not a religious person… but their love makes me want to pray.

Here is my prayer:

Eternal Source of all that is, Like the first light upon the sea, their love awakens, pure, bright, and boundless. In each other's gaze, we glimpse the reflection of Your light. We offer our deepest gratitude for the love unfolding between two souls A love whose full depth they may not yet fully understand or carry within them Let them sense its truth with clarity and rise to meet it without fear. May the love we witness, gentle, radiant, and unspoken bring light to all who need it. Two souls united in love's bliss; two hearts entwined by your grand design aligned Thank You for the light Luke and Nicola share in glances and laughter, in soft silences and electric moments. Thank You for the rare grace of a bond that glows from within, that speaks without words, that reminds us love can be quiet, playful, mysterious, and deeply known. May their bond, whether named or not be protected by grace, nourished by truth. For in them, we see more than affection; we see the rare miracle of two hearts speaking the same language in a world often deaf to love. May their love grow ever stronger, rooted deep in the sacred soil of friendship. Guide their steps along this shared path, shield them from the shadow of doubt. May their love remain faithful and free. May they walk in clarity and protection. May they be guided by wisdom and joy. May all who witness them find hope. May all who love as they do draw strength. Let trust between them never falter. Guard them from noise, from pressure, from the illusions cast by fame. Let them feel the truth of what they are to each other, especially when no one is watching. And if the world never understands their bond, may it still be blessed. For love that is true, that is tender, that defies all odds, is always a gift from something greater. We ask that, wherever their path may lead, it brings joy, peace, and the courage to follow what is real. And if they are each other’s harbor, let their souls anchor in its calm embrace. Let love, like a steadfast vessel, find refuge where its journey has already set sail. May the tides of life only deepen their bond, and may the waters of their hearts remain ever serene, as love, in its truest form, finds a home where it has already begun to bloom.

To whatever force we believe listens, be it the divine, the universe, or simply the quiet knowing in our hearts.

[gcastle5]

Polin Week Day 1

So excited for this..Nic and Luke every year take part and post something. Manifesting they do the same this year.

Day 1 favourite handhold

Can’t go past this one

[gcastle5]

No Notes.

No Words.

Just Watch

⬇️

🤭

Xx🩵

[gcastle5]

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

[gcastle5]

How this man has not been nominated for a solo award this season is absolutely baffling and absurd to me.

Luke brought absolute brilliance in every scene as Colin. And the way he understood Colin was masterful. He was compelling, magnetic, heartfelt.

Flawless!

I am unapologetically furious for him!

*Gifs from Daily Bridgerton

[gcastle5]

Re: Luke's Defiance

From an Anon in Discord:

⏬️⏬️⏬️ Very interesting...

(esp. #6 & #9 in light of recent events)

[gcastle5]

Why we love Lukola…

Their hugs

https://x.com/love4pen/status/1904394199820116247?s=46

Haven’t seen each other in hours hug

Haven’t seen each other in minutes hug

[gcastle5]

100000% agree. Also happy to talk to anyone who needs someone as a sounding board, I am unmoved!!

I am a firm believer….

This is not a bump, it is not a different path it is an uncomfortable pebble in our shoe.

I love breaking it down because we have so much evidence to back up the Lukola connection and this is why we are all still here.

Now…..ask yourself some questions

Would you as a person stay in a relationship for a year with someone who.

1. Consistently, touches, hugs, looks at, talks about, heart eyes and is unhinged with.

The way Nic and Luke were with each other on the WT and then at the SAGs it is just too much evidence to the contrary. You will never convince me that they are in relationships with other people, especially Luke when he acts like that with Nic.

That man wears his heart on his sleeve, he did when he was with Jade and Sophie. You see the same behaviour with Nic. The Antlukes can not come here and tell me that he does not act the same because it is a new relationship, ummmm NO. If there theory is true they had been together since end of 23. So not new, just not together. He is a hostage in a situation he can not get out of.

Nic is clever, she is chronically on line, she sees what people say. She knows that no one is buying it. On X everyone is laughing at the pics, and People magazine for mentioning Nic. Just like the JD article mention Luke.

I draw your attention to what matters

1. Public opinion -Recent SAG awards, everyone’s still focused on N&L and that narrative not budging. People circulate and continue to spread Nicluke content.

2. The rings, explain away that….we can’t they are connected to Season 3 and Luke and hardly leave Nics hand worn in the Engaged/Married position

3. The Polaroids- have been on Nics phone since Australia. And seen on her phone as recent as two weeks ago. They are posted on her grid.

4. Chaos week - and the fact that Nic comes to Luke’s defence.

5. The only significant other on each person’s IG grid is Nic and Luke. 🐜 has removed every trace of Luke even in tags, Luke’s PR team has wiped everything and continues to monitor Wiki pages to scrub.

6. The subtle shipping of cast, crew, media, and industry. Shonda, Netflix, Ryan Wheeler, Jack Murphy, make up artist.

We will just have to be patient. BAFTA nominations get released end of next week. I am sure we will get a repeat of the SAGS

People who are in love or have been in love know that they would do anything for them. I have been married for 20years to my best friend. And the way Luke acts around 🐜 does not say LOVE. It says angry, upset and uncomfortable. Embarrassed even.

If you do not agree scroll on, take a breather read a good fan fic. But if you ever need a chat send me a DM or an ask because I am never moving.

[gcastle5]

Same same, no difference whatsoever

Let's play spot the difference between the way Nic and Luke look at each other and other real life celebrity couples look at each other