#They're so tender with each other

[mightyjane]

THE CLONE WARS BRAIN INVADERS

[dollypopup]

I think it's interesting to look at the 'Mr. Bridgerton' scene as a backdrop for the eventual mirror scene. Firstly, in the fact that I think we've kind of misinterpreted it.

So many people are of the mind that scene's purpose to 'drag' Colin, but really, that scene has 3 primary functions. The first is to inform Colin that Penelope is aware of what he said of her, thus opening the door to clearing the air between them and providing an avenue for which Colin can apologize. The second is to establish the ground that they are currently on: Penelope has given up on the dream of Colin Bridgerton, in particular the perfect prince that can do no wrong, and has made it clear to him. It also creates distance between them that they will bridge.

But the third, and to me the most wrapped up in the mirror and the inner workings of their relationship is that it reveals how Penelope feels about *herself*. It's not necessarily an echo of what the ton considers her as, after all, we have a lot of evidence indicating that, for all intents and purpose, people aren't *unkind* about her, but rather that they ignore her. Audience members recognize this as Penelope's own shyness being the cause, she is often sitting off on the sidelines or not really talking to much of anyone, in the books she's referred to as the 'one who doesn't speak', and her LW business takes her away from being a character in the action of the ton to a bystander, kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts that perpetuates itself. Pen felt unseen so she became LW to have some power, but then LW herself must remain unseen and Penelope continues to be by design of her own making.

No, I think what it really reveals is that Penelope has incredibly low personal self esteem. We as a fandom has lauded that scene as her dragging Colin, saying that he's cruel and calling him Mr. Bridgerton is absolutely meant to create distance between them, but I don't think she's dragging him.

Because the person she is *actually* dragging here. . .is herself. And it is a general theme in her life. In Whistledown. Aloud. Even with Marina, when she complimented her, she assumes that she's lying. When Edwina says she's wearing a pretty dress, Penelope puts herself down and doesn't believe her, even when the compliment is genuine. In truth, Portia is not seen as being particularly unkind to Penelope. At least, speaking as someone who's mum was *awful* about my size and weight and outfits, Portia is. . .overall rather mild. She's not KIND and loving, not by a long shot, but she's also not targeting Penelope only. She's plenty mean and critical to Prudence, too, even to the point where she foists her off to her own cousin as a pawn piece. Penelope has low self esteem because of a lot of reasons, she's bullied by Cressida (I think a lot of girls are, she was pretty mean even to Daphne in S1) and her family isn't very tender to her, and she's not being pursued at every turn, but part of it is also her own perpetuation.

Listen to what she says "Of course you would never court me" "I embarrass you" "I am the laughingstock of the the ton". She sees *herself* as an embarrassment. She puts *herself* down. Arguably, more so than the ton does. She's meaner to herself than anyone else is, aside from Cressida. And honestly? Looking at Colin's face there. . .he is HURT that she considers herself this way. That she's projecting that onto him. Yes, he's hurt that he hurt her, of course he is, he never wants to hurt her. And yes, he's ashamed that he said he wouldn't court her the way he did and that in doing so, he validated her fears that she is unloved and unwanted, but also because. . .she already feels that way about herself. She's felt that way for years. And it's painful to care about someone, to see them as wonderful, and realize. . .they don't feel the same about themselves at all. I don't think Colin is out here feeling so wounded over the fact that she called him cruel and won't refer to him by first name anymore, but that he's most hurt by what she says about herself.

Because he *doesn't* see her the way she accuses. She says she never expected him of all people to be so cruel, but he feels the same way. He never expected her to be so cruel to *herself*. He wants to go somewhere private, not because she is an embarrassment, but because he wants to have a private conversation with her. Maybe assure her. Maybe explain himself. Maybe hash it out. But god Luke Newton's acting. . .he is *aching* for her. And it feels like he's going to do those lessons not in atonement for what he said (thank god) but to genuinely help his friend who thinks badly of herself. To lift her up. It's not about him at all, not about earning forgiveness, but about elevating Penelope. And that's. . .fuck, I just find that's just so heart stoppingly beautiful.

You can see, in that scene, how much he cares about her. How deeply and genuinely he adores her as a person. And just how painful it is for him to know he has validated, whether on purpose or otherwise, how poorly she feels about herself. How low her self-confidence really is. She is giving him a glimpse into the cracks of her heart, and when he sees them, he wants to reach out with both hands and make it feel better. Make her feel better.

After she says 'even when I change my entire wardrobe', he looks so fucking crushed. So 'don't say that'. So 'you really believe that?'. So 'God, I hate that you think that way'.

Because regardless of it all, he does love her. It's not romantic yet. It's not sexual yet. But he genuinely, truly, from the bottom of his heart, thinks she's wonderful. That was evident even in the 'purpose' scene. Every time Penelope opens up and reveals a facet of herself, he likes it. He likes her barbs and her dreams, he likes talking to her. He likes her. And he feels awful that he hurt her. And he feels awful that she's hurting herself. He loves her. He wants her to love herself.

And that's where the mirror scene comes in. Because the mirror scene isn't about sex, not really. Not entirely, at least. The mirror scene is about *intimacy*. The mirror scene is about being seen. Not just her seeing him, or him seeing her, but for Penelope to see *herself*. In a way, through his eyes. Because hers are biased rather negatively toward herself, which is evidenced in the 'Goodnight Mr. Bridgerton' scene, and in so many little moments we've already gotten where she's literally looking down on herself, feeling down. She doesn't necessarily *like* what's in the mirror, but he does. Because he likes *her*. And he wants to show her that he does. Show her that he finds her beautiful and have her recognize that in herself.

The 'Goodnight Mr. Bridgerton' scene is about Penelope revealing how she sees herself. The mirror scene is about Colin showing her how *he* sees her. The Goodnight scene is about Penelope thinking she means nothing to him, that he thinks of her the way she thinks of herself, that this is how everyone thinks of her, and the mirror scene is a direct response to that: No, he doesn't. No, he doesn't think she's embarrassing. No, he doesn't think she's a laughingstock. No, he doesn't think she's unappealing. And he doesn't think she should, either.

And he's going to show her that. Not just tell her, but show her. The mirror scene is so often a focus on Penelope, so much of Polin is in Penelope's focus, but approaching it from Colin's perspective and his motivations is so fulfilling, too. It's a glimpse into them in conversation, and a demonstrate of how Colin loves her. How Colin loves in general, openly and earnestly and altruistically. How he encourages her to be braver and more confident in herself, bolstering her because he just likes her *that much*. How he finds the most fulfillment and satisfaction in caring aloud. The mirror scene is a demonstration of his heart in reflection.

When Luke Newton said the first word that came to mind with the word 'Mirror' was 'Exposed', he doesn't just mean physically. He means emotionally, too.

God this couple is so fucking good.

[ikram1909]

https://twitter.com/evtpe/status/1739295201410363691?t=UuLVDWC6V269zNOoDeQYBQ&s=19

gavi looks like he gives the best hugs

Ikr his hugs always look so intense and warm 😭😭 he puts passion into everything in life it's actually amazing

[aznpew]

tw: violence 'acquiesce'

[xero013]

Day and Night🌇🌆

(🚇⚡)

[danwhobrowses]

So Callowmoores am I alone in thinking it was cute that Fearne helped carry Ashton to the city? Like there's the parallel also with Ashton carrying her into the Bloody Bridge as well

[possamble]

realizing im kind of a weirdo about laios and marcille

[skitskatdacat63]

The brainrot this literal 2 second clip had given me is insane

[thatdude-noah]

i love edizzy because fanfic writers can write just about any fucked up story about them and it is in character. these two have the most fucked up violent homoerotic relationship you can imagine.

[princelancey]

I want what they have

[buckttommy]

not to be dramatic. but maybe a richonne reunion sex scene in summit would heal me

[sukugo]

i really hate the soft sukuna hc before but with sukugo it just works?! sukuna is the king of douches and i have a hard time seeing him stopping at it but in sukugo it is not hard to imagine he would go softie. it is something for satoru alone.

i could see sukuna just hate fucking everyone else but he would go slow and deep for satoru just to torture him. he would gently fuck him for hours until satoru cries and begs because he wants it hard and fast. satoru wants to be destroyed but sukuna denies him and makes him feel good with a gentleness satoru believes he did not deserve but desperately needs.

then when satoru finally gives in to the softness offered, sighing into the slow rhythm of their bodies, sukuna would suddenly fuck him like there is no tomorrow. he would slam relentlessly into satoru's prostrate to make him keen again and again. sukuna fingers would leave bruises blooming like purple roses all over satoru's hips and thighs. he keeps him spread open as he drove himself sharply and deeply inside satoru.

sukuna enjoys the show satoru puts up under him. his white hair spread like a halo over his head and framed his blue eyes clouded by too much pleasure. tears and drool glistened on his blushing face. his porcelain skin a canvas of blood red vines and blooming purple and blue bruises.

the best part for sukuna was how satoru keeps up with him. his body naturally dances to the rhythm sukuna sets. his cock bounces and weeps in perfect timing with every thrusts. each slap of their skin is highlighted by satoru's sighs and moans. and when the man under him keens and cums, his body bows and tenses so beautifully in harmony.

then sukuna would slow their pace again with satoru following obediently like a dancer enslaved to his patron. he would grind inside him for minutes before thrusting shallowly in demand for an encore. satoru would groan and cry but he would still welcome his demand to perform once more.

NNGFGFHHGFHFDGGGGGHHHHHGSFHGSDJKFHJFHKSJDHFJKSDHFJK FHRUFIDHHDIKADKHJFDHFKJSDLKSLJFAS

[felixcosm]

POV: You were just injured by an exploding car that also killed your husband and after being dragged to safety by three versions of you who bickered about whether or not to kill you, they start crying because one of them wants to go back home.

[boimmeup]

thinking about how when mariner came back to the cerritos in the s3 finale she ran and hugged boims so tight

walking right past her (presumably ex) gf, and not giving the same treatment to her other two friends

in all honestly it's not even just bc it's so shippy (though it definitely is and i do love them that way as well). i just love their friendship so fucking much. the fact that they have come so far as people from seasons 1 and 2, the way they have both been humbled by their experiences and value one another above all else.

i love lwd so much. i'm so excited for s4 and beyond.

[bumblingbabooshka]

Ok. Get closer why don’t you.

[lovely-v]

the first time I read/watched the hunger games i was literally like ten years old and a lesbian so my least favorite part of it was the romance but now rewatching it i'm like oh no something about this got into me without me knowing it because katniss and peeta are literally the epitome of what i enjoy about traumatic angsty fictional relationships and now i'm looking at these films like