#history huh? bet we could make some (book)

[rockingtheorange]

How it started:

Alex rolls onto his side and listens, trails the back of his hand across the pillow next to him and imagines Henry lying opposite in his own bed, two parentheses enclosing 3,700 miles.

How it ended:

It hits him, fully: the weight of this. How completely neither of them will ever be able to undo it.

[pippin-katz]

Red, White & Royal Blue Master Post

Greetings and salutations! I think too much and have too much to say, but I think some of it is worthwhile. This is the hub for all my essays on Red, White & Royal Blue, some of my lists, or posts I think are relevant enough to be here.

Here's where you'll find links to them so you don't have to search my posts for them. I'll also keep this updated whenever I write a new one!

Initial Post Viewing Essay

Cinematography

One Shots in Red, White & Royal Blue - Part 1: Alex's Room

The Deleted Cornettos Scene

Varying Takes In The Red Room

What Would Their First Meeting Look Like?

Alex Centered

6 Little Faces Alex Makes That I Love - Part 1 6 More Little Faces Alex Makes That I Love - Part 2 Another 6 Little Faces Alex Makes That I Love - Part 3

Alex & Being Bisexual

Alex's Face & Thoughts After Henry Kisses Him

Henry Centered

Breaking Alex's Heart

Henry Crying During Their First Time

Henry's Heartbreaking Expression in the Campfire Scene

FirstPrince

5 Red, White, & Royal Blue moments that make me feel: 🥺🥰 - Part 1 5 more Red, White, & Royal Blue moments that make me feel: 🥺🥰 - Part 2 Another 5 Red, White, & Royal Blue moments that make me feel: 🥺🥰 - Part 3

Alex Shaking His Head At Henry's Quip

Get Low Moment

Since New Year's

The Placement of Alex's Speech

The Fingers & Ring Touching

The 5 specific details of Red, White & Royal Blue spicy scenes that make me, a demisexual, feel: 🦋🫣🦋

Why Did Henry Ignore Alex?

Comforting Hugs

Henry Taking Alex To The V&A

Alex's Lack Of Experience With Men

Taylor & Nicholas

Safety & Trust

Fucking Hair Pulling

Button Banter Original Button Banter Add-On

Acting, It’s Mental

Weird Similarities Between Taylor Zakhar Perez - Nicholas Galitzine & Colin Morgan - Bradley James

Lines & Conversations I Want To Hear In An Audiobook

Being Comfortable With Each Other

The Awardist Podcast Interview

Cake Gate BTS

Reverse Character Bleed

Miscellaneous Topics

Nora Being Jewish

Miguel & Alex: Pre-Falling Out

Sequel

Potential Sex Scene Thoughts

Artwork

ACD FSOTUS - Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son of the United States

FirstPrince Fantasy AU

A Rose By Any Other Name

Alex in a Bisexual Suit Jacket

Alex Needs Coffee

Alex & Henry Book Hugs

Water & Fire

Mer-May 2024 - Merman!Alex

[colouringbuck]

Hand painted t-shirt just because I can and because rwrb is still my entire personality 😂

What do we think?!!

I’m so pleased with how the ombré red white and blue text turned out!!!

[clockwrkpendrxgon]

what if alex and henry were fallen angels?

two bloodlines who have long been at war. two lovers. two lifetimes. one love.

COMING SOON TO AN AO3 NEAR YOU 🫡♥️

[coppertophomegurl]

Okay, so I'm rereading RWRB again, and I mean, it's probably because I'm PMSing, but I am CRYING over June and Bea. Like, the big sisters. The willingness to fall on the sword for your younger sibling no matter the consequences for yourself. The unquestioning, relentless love, even when they're a shit. Losing sleep from worry about them and picking your nails raw when they're troubled and you can't help them.

It was subtle, but CMQ wrote big sister love so well and I am feeling EMOTIONS about it.

[containmentbreach]

whatever i’ll say it.‏‏‎ ‎red‏‏‎ ‎white‏‏‎ ‎and‏‏‎ ‎royal‏‏‎ ‎blue‏‏‎ ‎is a movie for liberals and i don’t trust anyone who claims to be left of that and adores it. there is nothing wrong with enjoying meaningless cute fluff once in a while. admittedly i read more cheesy lesbian romcoms than my goodreads would reflect. but this is a movie about topics (the american presidency and the british monarchy) that cannot be stripped of their deeply, NOTORIOUSLY violent roots. you cannot make a movie about two gay boys falling in love cute when one of them is one step removed from the person in charge of nuclear launch codes and the other one is one step removed from someone who is actively still upholding colonialism. you cannot throw in a few buzzwords to make your characters hip with the times and pretend like that makes it fine. if you made jokes about the queen dying but loved the book or the movie you missed the entire point.

also, sorry but‏‏‎ ‎casey‏‏‎ ‎mcquiston‏‏‎ ‎isn’t even a good writer. one‏‏‎ ‎last‏‏‎ ‎stop was trying way too hard. and the mc's mom was a Hashtag Good Cop so they failed to beat the liberal allegations.

[97studio-edits]

History huh? Bet we could make some. ❤️🤍💙

[rarelyrad]

I’m not much more than a simp who loves to draw and to write.

[immisshope]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by she/her fan of RWRB and Books ♥️. (@bluest598)

Happy 5 years Red White & Royal Blue 😍♥️🤍💙

[exy101]

rwrb (2023) takes the cake for worst adaptation ive ever seen truly what the fuck was that

[sturmhondsdemjin]

Reading it again before the film premiere because I have absolutely zero chill.

Follow these tags for updates on my favourite bits as I go:

#sturmhond reads

#history huh? bet we could make some (book)

#cornbread knows what i have done (book)

Once the film premieres the last two will be without the "(book)" additions at the end.

[itsskye]

That's me crying over Henry saying "I love you" to Alex.

P.S.: I need a t-shirt with the quote written on it now. I start working on it.

[pippin-katz]

I need a cast audiobook of RWRB. If no one else, then at least Taylor and Nick reading Alex and Henry. I need it in my life.

And in ACD fashion, here’s a few lists of lines/conversations from the book that I am desperate to hear them say. I want to hear them read all of the lines, but these are the ones that pop out to me!

Post Writing Note: These turned out to be way longer than I thought they were going to be 😭😂

Alex Lines:

Oh yeah, that was a wild night. Two whole keynote speakers. Nothing sexier than shrimp cocktails and an hour and a half of speeches on carbon emissions. - page 5

'Archnemesis' implies he's actually a rival to me on any level and not, you know, a stuck-up product of inbreeding who probably jerks off to photos of himself. - page 7

Jesus Christ, it’s like they can see into your soul. Cornbread knows my sins, Henry. Cornbread knows what I have done, and he is here to make me atone. - page 77

I always thought you’d kill me in a more personal way. Silk pillow over my face, slow and gentle suffocation. Just you and me. Sensual. - page 80

Shut up, shut all the way up, oh my God. - page 131

For fuck's sake, man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me good-night. - page 145

What in the rich-white-people-sex-dungeon hell? - page 149

Bisexuality is truly a rich and complex tapestry. - page 194

Listen: I'll fly to London right now and pull you out of whatever pointless meeting you're in and make you admit how much you love it when I call you "baby". I'll take you apart with my teeth, sweetheart. - page 204

You don't get to sit up here and pretend like it's someone else's problem. None of us do. - page 209

i want to see a cage match between your grandmother and this fucking ghoul running against my mom. - page 221

I do think I got a gut feeling with you, I just didn't have what I needed in my head to understand it. But I kind of kept chasing it anyway, like I was just going blindly in a certain direction and hoping for the best. I guess that makes you the North Star? - page 244

Henry! Your Royal fucking Highness! - page 269

Really nice. Fuckin' ghost me for a week, make me stand in the rain like a brown John Cusack, and now you won't even talk to me. I'm really just having a great time here. I can see why y'all had to marry your fucking cousins. - page 270

I fucking love you, okay? Fuck, I swear. You don't make it fucking easy. But I'm in love with you. - page 271

I'll leave, as soon as you tell me to leave. - page 275

Okay, I'm into making history. - page 280

I completely fucking love you. - page 291

I'm there for whatever you decide you want to do, just, like, let me know if I need to start practicing gazing wistfully out the window, waiting for my love to return from the war. - page 296

AN INCOMPLETE LIST: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES Note: just the entire list, I need it, but I'll point out some of the best ones anyway lol

9. How hard you try. 10. How hard you've always tried. 11. How determined you are to keep trying. - page 303

16. Your huge, generous, ridiculous, indestructible heart. 17. Your equally huge dick. 18. The face you just made when you read that last one. - page 303

20. The fact that you loved me all along. - page 303

God, I want to fight everyone who's ever hurt you, but it was me too, wasn't it? All that time. I'm so sorry. - page 303

Listen, I'm telling you right now, I will physically fight your grandmother myself if I have to, okay? And, like, she's old. I know I can take her. - page 312

You and me and history, remember? We're just gonna fucking fight. Because you're it, okay? I'm never gonna love anybody in the world like I love you. - page 312

Sería una mentira, porque no sería él. (It would be a lie, because it wouldn't be him.) - page 317

but i've kissed your mouth, that corner, that place it goes, so many times now. i've memorized it. topography on the map of you, a world i'm still charting. i know it. i added it to the key. here: inches to miles. i can multiply it out, read your latitude and longitude. recite your coordinates like la rosaria. - page 319

give yourself away sometimes, sweetheart. there's so much of you. - page 320

Zahra, you're my mean friend. - page 339

I've never... I haven't been through anything like that. But I've always felt it, in him. There's this side of him that's... unknowable. But the thing is, jumping off cliffs is kinda my thing. That's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. On purpose. I love him on purpose. - page 344

For what it's worth, that is the bravest son of a bitch I've ever met. - page 347

My life is a cosmic joke and you're not a real person. - page 371

You are, the absolute worst idea I've ever had. - page 372

FIRST SON ALEXANDER CLAREMONT-DIAZ'S ADDRESS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OCTOBER 2, 2020 - pages 372-375 Note: just, the entire speech, the whole thing

America: He is my choice. - page 374

Henry Lines:

Hmm, I always liked Luke. He's brave and good, and he's the strongest Jedi of them all. I think Luke is proof that it doesn't matter where you come from or who your family is--you can always be great if you're true to yourself. - page 45

The turkeys are not going to Jurassic Park you. You’re not the bloke from Seinfeld. You’re Jeff Goldblum. Go to sleep. - page 82

You are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life. - page 73

fucking eyelashes - page 142

I shall just have to make it the best orgasm of your life. What can I do to make it good for you? Talk about American tax reform during the act? Have you got talking points? - page 196

How is a man to get anything done knowing Alex Claremont-Diaz is out there on the loose? - pages 202-203

They wanted something less fruity than the truth, but truly, what is gayer than a woman who languishes away in a crumbling mansion wearing her wedding gown every day of her life, for the drama? - page 205

Someone else's choice doesn't change who you are. - page 229

Most things are awful most of the time, but you're good. - page 230

The phrase "see attached bibliography" is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me. - page 241

Should I tell you that when we're apart, your body comes back to me in dreams? That when I sleep, I see you, the dip of your waist, the freckle above your hip, and when I wake up in the morning, it feels like I've been with you, the phantom touch of your hand on the back of my neck fresh and not imagined? That I can feel your skin against mine, and it makes every bone in my body ache? That, for a few moments, I can hold my breath and be back there with you, in a dream, in a thousand rooms, nowhere at all? - page 242 Note: based on the parts of this we did get to hear Nick say in the film, I think this would kill half the fandom lol

When have I ever, since the first instant I touched you, pretended to be anything less than in love with you? - page 272

I never thought I'd be stood here faced with a choice I can't make, because I never... I never imagined you would love me back. - page 273

The Mail will write mad speculations about where I've gone, if I've offed myself or vanished to St. Kilda, but only you and I will know that I'm just sprawled in your bed, reading books and feeding myself profiteroles and making love to you endlessly until we both expire in a haze of chocolate sauce. It's how I'd want to go. - page 294

Here lies Prince Henry of Wales. He died as he lived: avoiding plans and sucking cock. - page 298

"Because I'm not like the rest of the men of this family, beginning with the fact that I am very deeply gay, Philip." - page 298

But the first time I saw you. Rio. I took that down to the gardens. I pressed it into the leaves of a silver maple and recited it to the Waterloo Vase. It didn't fit in any rooms. - page 300

I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I though, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire. - page 300

And then, inexplicably, you had the absolute audacity to love me back. - page 300 Note: I really wanted to just type out most of the page, but I restrained myself lmfao

I don't know if I would have chosen it yet, but it's out there now, and... I won't lie. Not about this. Not about you. - page 338

Bit short for a stormtrooper. - page 340

I've bloody well had it. I've sat about long enough letting you and Gran and the weight of the damned world keep me pinned, and I'm finished. I don't care. You can take your legacy and your decorum and you can shove it up your fucking arse, Philip. I'm done. - page 347

I've been as gay as a maypole since the day I came out of Mum, Philip. - page 353 Note: there's never too many times to hear the words "gay as a maypole" and the emotional infliction here is lot different lol

Both:

Am I offending you? Sorry I'm not obsessed with you like everyone else. I know that must be confusing for you. Do you know what? I think you are. Only a thought. Have you ever noticed I have never once approached you and have been exhaustingly civil every time we've spoken? Yet here you are, seeking me out again. Simply an observation. - page 18

This is idiotic. Let's get it over with. I'd rather be waterboarded. Your country could probably arrange that. Go fuck yourself. Hardly enough time. - pages 36-37 Note: yes, I know Nick read this part in his book-to-screen video thingy but it's not the same as having them both saying the lines fully in character.

What does Jedi have? Fuckin' Ewoks. Ewoks are iconic. Ewoks are stupid. - page 52

yo there's a bond marathon on and did you know your dad was a total babe I BEG YOU TO NOT - page 84

I'm going to die. I'm going to kill you. Yes, you are. - page 133

You were jealous. You want me. Yes, you preening arse, I've wanted you long enough that I won't have you tease me for another fucking second. - page 137

Hi. Hello. I'm gonna take your pants off now. Yes, good, carry on. - page 141

Ugh, you look ridiculous. Should I-- What? No, of course not, keep them on. Oh my God, what are you doing? I can't even look at you. No, Jesus, I just mean--I'm so mad at you. Just, come here. Fuck. I'm quite confused. Me fucking too. - page 150

I'm not... historically great at talking about things. Well, I wasn't historically great at blowjobs, but we all gotta learn and grow, sweetheart. - page 165

Bitch, you took me there. alskdjfadslfjad NORA YOU BROKE HIM - page 212

D'you know what I want? What? I want, to do the absolute last thing I'm supposed to be doing right now. Then tell me to do it, sweetheart. Fuck me. Well, when at Wimbledon. Just so we're clear, I'm about to have sex with you in this storage closet to spite your family. Like, that's what's happening? Right. Awesome, fucking' love doing things out of spite. - page 217 Note: I think this conversation could singlehandedly kill the fandom if we got to hear Taylor and Nick deliver these lines

Can't you ever just do one thing without having to be so goddamn extra about it? That is bloody rich coming from you. - pages 260-261

What do you want? I want you- Then fucking have me. -but I don't want this. - page 273

You seem... less pissy. You're one to talk. I wasn't the one who stormed the palace in a fit to call me an 'obtuse fucking asshole'. In my defense, you were an obtuse fucking asshole. - page 277

I honestly have never thought I deserved to choose. But you treat me like I do. You do. I think I'm actually starting to believe that. - page 279

What about you? What about me? Christ, Alex. The whole bloody time. The whole time? Since the Olympics. The Olympics? But that's, that's like- Yes, Alex, the day we met, nothing gets past you, does it? 'What about you,' he says, as if he doesn't know- Shut your mouth. - page 283-284

Hello, what was that for? I just, like, really love you. - page 286

What are you doing? I'm taking a picture of a national gay landmark. And also a statue. It's funny. I always thought of the whole things as the most unforgivable thing about me, but you act like it's one of the best. Oh, yeah. The top list of reason to love you goes brain, then dick, then imminent status as a revolutionary gay icon. You are quite literally Queen Victoria's worst nightmare. And that's why you love me. My god, you're right. All this time, I was just after the bloke who'd most infuriate my homophobic forebears. Ah, and we can't forget they were also racist. Certainly not. Next time we shall visit some of the George III pieces and see if they burst into flame. - page 289

If Alex from this time last year could see this. He'd say, 'Oh I'm in love with Henry? That must be why I'm such an arse to him all the time'. - page 387

[erickthecat]

In my tenth (I know, I'm behind) rewatch of RWRB, I'm struck by a few things:

The first time I saw it, I described it as a play. I'm getting now that it's because of how he shot it. Not the entire movie, but definitely in the more quiet/intimate scenes (like in Alex's room, in Paris, when they're talking after the DNC), he doesn't do quick cuts and bounce between the two of them. Just long shots of the both of them, nothing fancy, letting the actors be the focus, not the editing

I mean, on that note, they definitely do go with quick cuts (polo..., part of the argument Alex has with his mom)

They show their connection by not disconnecting them with separate shots; they're in the same shot as an example of their connection

Also once again, I don't understand some of the words being used to describe this movie (cringy, cheesy, etc.). It is the story of two people falling in real, big-time love for the first time. There's a certain innocence and sweetness in that (yes, even in the sex scenes). It's clear they adore one another and that's what matters. It's a love story, it's a romance, it's a modern fairy tale. Yes, it's going to end well. But why is that kind of sweetness cringy? Damn, who doesn't want someone to care for them the way these two care for one another? (I mean, yes, obviously, people are asexual/aromantic/interested in different things/etc., but you get what I mean)

Also, comparing this movie to a stereotypical romcom still annoys me. Yes, it's an insane ridiculous premise (and I love the entire thing), but how many stereotypical romcoms let their leads and their chemistry speak as loudly as this movie does? They don't have to do anything fancy (again with the quick cuts, music cues, dramatic romantic gestures every time they're together) to make you feel the love and adoration between the both of them

This movie does owe so very much to the incredible chemistry that Matthew found between Taylor and Nick. Not only do you buy that Alex and Henry are attracted to one another and into one another sexually, but they genuinely like one another, they adore one another, they love one another. And that's not as common as some people are stating.

[whynotlife4ever]

Just finished reading rwrb for like the 4th time and I'm in a particularly emotionally vulnerable state rn. Like why am I reconsidering my career options bc of this book. Again.

[annoyingvoidzombie]

Do you realise that Aug 10th (book timeline) is the one with:

"History huh? Bet we could make some"

And the movie literally comes out at Aug 11th, so yeah, they definitely knew what they're doing and history shall be made