#steyla

[lalah-cupcake]

moon knight episode 4 ( real )

[thevibraniumveterans]

*excited squealing and happy internal screaming intensifies*

You know what I really love about this dynamic?

While Marc may have been jealous over Steven falling in love with Layla at first, I really like how between punching him and helping him in the tomb in Ep4, Marc has come to accept that Steven’s in love with Layla. (Remember the angry “I’ll throw us off a cliff!!” and the resigned “So, you kissed her.”? It’s kinda telling how much thinking Marc has been doing while in the passenger seat.) And also, it’s pretty evident that Marc loves his Layla too.

So what we essentially have, is two men (alright, fine, two male identities in the same physical body, but still!) in love with the same woman (and her being in love with both of them too!) and it’s not even a problem! She’s not being painted into a corner where she has to choose, because she doesn’t have to! Layla doesn’t need to choose either Marc or Steven, she can have them both! Similarly, even though Marc loves his wife, he is completely okay with Steven falling in love with Layla.

It also shows, because in the following exchange,

Layla.

Marc.

Oh, baby.

Thank God you're okay. How did you get back?

-and here, Marc just let Steven front with easy access, Marc literally was like ‘hey Steven, I know you want to see her’ and Steven was probably like, ‘of course, lemme out!’-

Wow, you look amazing. What are you wearing? Hey, I'm really jazzed about showing you these new skillsets we have.

All right, show me what you got.

Yeah?

Yeah.

I really hope Marc, Steven, and Layla return sometime in the future, because you can’t just setup Layla becoming the Scarlet Scarab and then not have her do anything later. Also? How cool would it be - knowing that Moon Knight and Scarlet Scarab can now fly, with their cape and wings, respectively - if we got a scene where they’re both flying together 🥺

[delphiniumblooms]

moon knight episode 3

steven: LEMME OUT

marc: N O

layla: i want steven

marc: ugh!!!

layla: i Want steven

marc: fine!!

moon knight episode 4

marc: LEMME OUT

steven: N O

layla: we need marc

steven: n o

layla: WHERE IS MARC I WANT HIM

steven: right away sweetheart

[deafblindshorty]

So, I'm just trying to understand something...

No one finds it a little weird that Layla might be in love with an alter? I mean I get that Steven is his own person and shares a body with Marc, and Marc does love Layla, too.... is that why everyone's okay with Steyla? Because Marc already loves her, too? I don't get it.

[ushikka]

layla(aisha) and stella mermaidix

[thevibraniumveterans]

Tawaret: “I have a fabulous costume in mind!” 🥰

Steven, not much later…

May Calamawy, about her outfit:

“It's funny because the pants were incredible. We had this man named Wilbur, who hand-painted all of the designs on the pants, which I loved, and on the neck. The top part keeps you straight, so you're walking around already like this. And it feels really regal and royal. It’s just-- it's really cool. It's cool when you forget, and then you look down, and you're like, whoa."

Moon Knight costume designer Meghan Kasperlik discusses with Elle Magazine about the rise of the Scarlet Scarab:

https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a39920787/moon-knight-scarlet-scarab-may-calamawy-costume/

Hippo fangirl

Layla avatar of Taweret

[lalah-cupcake]

i miss them SO much. anyway happy pride month!

[thevibraniumveterans]

So just for fun, I turned on the audio description option, and…

Narrator: -[Now, she helps Steven into a harness.]-

You know how hilarious this is? Poor Steven, our favorite socially awkward alter, probably never seen a climbing harness in his life, just stands there, probably gazing DOWN at Layla (who’s being resourceful and crouching down before him helping get this harness up his legs), he’s probably feeling a bit hot under the collar, looks back up, and says,

And pauses. He freakin’ PAUSES. 😂 Steven looks back down, probably realizing that what he said came out the wrong way, and goes,

Layla pops back up, and Steven tracks her movement, never taking his eyes off her face.

Layla grins, likely holding back a laugh herself at Steven’s poor attempt at course-correcting himself.

He can’t take his eyes off her.

Layla adjusts her position, tightening a strap somewhere on the right side of Steven’s harness. Our sweet, lovestruck dumbass keeps watching her.

The narrator continues: -[With two ropes hanging nearby, she leans close to secure the harness.]-

Steven’s just enjoying her presence, I think. Her face is so close to his, and it’s almost like his heart is going a million miles per minute. It’s a miracle he can keep still at all.

Layla comments, “You smell like him.” She pauses, then wistfully adds, “I mean, why wouldn’t you, right?” There’s this little moment where Steven has this sad look in his eyes, because he realizes that he knows how much Layla loves and misses Marc. Perhaps it might feel a little greedy on Steven’s part because while he does want to be with Layla, he understands that he’s a factor in Marc and Layla’s relationship that neither Spector had seen coming.

The narrator goes, -[Layla leans in to kiss him.]-

Which she almost does, but Steven, carrying some of that guilt within him, speaks up before she can kiss him.

“Marc's trying to protect you from Khonshu,” says Steven. Layla’s taken aback. “What?”

Steven explains, “That’s why he’s been pushing you away. He thinks Khonshu wants you for his Avatar, and he won’t let that happen.” Layla looks away, trying to process this new piece of information. She’s downtrodden that this is something else that Marc had failed to tell her. She’s pained on the inside, trying to reconcile her love for her husband Marc and her obvious feelings for Steven. Seeing Layla distressed, Steven, true to his honest nature, tries to bring her some measure of comfort, and says, “It’s alright. I just felt like you should know that.”

The narrator states: -[Turning away, she puts on a glove.]-

Steven sees Layla’s mood souring a little, and apologizes. Layla turns back to Steven and asks him, “Why are you telling me this now?” He’s not too sure why he disclosed this set of information to Layla. “I dunno, I just thought you deserved to know,” he says softly.

Layla finishes putting on her gloves, looks back into Steven’s eyes, and tells him, “Well, it wasn’t his call to make.” A beat. Then, “I don’t need protection. What I need is honesty.”

Luckily for Steven, honesty is one of the hallmarks of his whole being. He’s been nothing but honest from the get go, having nothing to hide or keep away. He gazes at Layla, and sighs. “Yeah, I get that,” he tells her. She preps the climbing rope, and asks, “That’s more of a ‘you’ thing, isn’t it?”

Layla hooks a carabiner onto the front loop of Steven’s harness and secures it with a tug. Distracted, Steven stammers, “What, being, uh… Honesty?”

Layla exhales and, despite her inner conflicts and pain that has settled deep within her, looks up into Steven’s eyes, and smiles. She decides to humor him a little. “Yeah. Being honesty.”

A little pause. Layla and Steven gaze into each other’s eyes.

The narration continues.

-[She smiles ruefully at Steven, who rests his hands on her shoulders before pressing his lips to hers.

Her eyes closed and face tense, Layla returns the kiss, then breaks away. Steven’s lips broaden into a smitten smile.]-

Layla returns the smile, looks into his eyes before she turns away and says, “I’m going to go down…” Into the tomb, she means. All too quickly, Steven agrees: “Okay.” Layla cuts in, “…first.” Smiling, he tells her, “Yeah. Great.”

She continues, “Before I belay.” For some odd reason perhaps known only to him, Steven says to Layla, “Thank you.” She picks up her backpack, which has been resting on a rock this whole time. With both his hands over his racing heart and mind reeling over the fact that he and Layla had just shared this wonderful moment together, Steven stumbles over his words a little. “What’s… what’s ‘belay’?”

Layla is amused. “I still can’t tell whether you’re joking or not.” She chuckles, which brings a little smile to Steven’s face.

The narration continues: -[She clips one of the ropes to her harness.]-

“All right,” quips Layla.

-[She steps onto the edge of the pit and jumps in. Steven looks down after her and smiles… then suddenly punches himself in the nose.]-

“Oh, SHIT!” 🤣

[delphiniumblooms]

it's the way steven only listens to marc if he says layla's safety hangs in the balance for me

[thevibraniumveterans]

This edit is hilarious 😂

After all, what is Steven falling in love with Layla if not Marc regretfully pushing her away persevering?

When the sweet nerd is in love 🥰

[thevibraniumveterans]

Y’all won’t believe this discovery I just made.

Estelle Darnault, one of May Calamawy’s stunt doubles, posted on Instagram the following picture of both of them, about 20 hours ago:

And then I looked closer. The scarab leg that frames the length of cloth hanging from Layla’s waist bears the following detail:

Kinda stripey, almost shaped like an elongatedd coffin, it’s decorative, and looks really good.

… And then, record scratch. Where have I seen this pattern before? On the lapel of Steven Grant’s Mr. Knight outfit suit jacket, perhaps?

Or even tie and his vest?

Just when I thought Steven’s and Layla’s outfits could not be more different, apparently I was wrong 🤣

[delphiniumblooms]

who do we think would be the first admit to being in love with the other, Steven or Layla?

i thought it might be Layla because it's so natural to her; she loves Marc so she loves Steven, that's how it works. (but is that so? does that imply she doesn't see them as different people? i don't like that idea.) i also thought Steven might have reservations because 'she's Marc's' (but is that in character for him??)

what do you guys think??

[thevibraniumveterans]

Okay but like, I’ve gone and done a bit of translation too, and this isn’t gonna be the last time I’m doing it.

See, there are like, 3 different Chinese subtitles on Disney+ : Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), and Chinese (Hong Kong).

I took one scene from Ep6, and like, the translations are wildly different but also pretty lovely!

-

Marc calls out to his wife Layla by name.

「蕾拉。」

「莱拉。」

「蕾拉。」

-

Relieved beyond measure, she says his name and embraces him.

「馬克。」

「马克。」

「馬克。」

He responds…

「寶貝」 - “Oh, darling.”

「亲爱的」 - “My beloved.”

「寶貝」 - “My love.”

-

Marc cradles Layla’s head with his hands…

「幸好你没事。」 - “Luckily you’re okay.”

「谢天谢地你没事。」 - “Thank the Sky and Earth you’re alright.”

「幸好你没事。」 - “By fortune you’re okay.”

Layla looks into her husband’s eyes, confusion setting in.

「你怎會復活的？」 - “How’d you get resurrected?”

「你是怎么回来的？」 - “How did you come back?”

「你怎麼回來的？」 - “How’d you return?”

-

Steven, unable to resist staring at Layla’s new outfit, lavishes her with compliments.

「哇！你容光煥發，你穿的是什麼？」 - “Wow! You look radiant!! What is it you’re wearing?”

「你看上去真漂亮, 你穿的是什么？」 - You look so pretty! What are you wearing?”

「美呆了，你穿這什麼？」 - “You’re so beautiful, what are you wearing?”

-

Steven wants to impress Layla, and tells her so.

「我好心急想給你看我們的新技能。」 - “I’m anxious because I want to show you our new skills.”

「我迫不及待要给你展示我们的新技能了。」 - “I am itching to put our new skills on display.”

「我好期待讓你看到我們的新招。」 - “I’m looking forward to letting you see our new moves.”

-

Layla, clearly curious, encourages Steven.

「好，給我看你們的本事。」 - “Okay, show me your skills.”

「好啊 让我看看。」 - “Alright, show me.”

「好，讓我開開眼界。」 - “Sure, let me see what you’ve got.”

-

Steven gets really excited; he can’t wait to show Layla just how seamlessly he and Marc can work together now.

[thevibraniumveterans]

That moment where Steven switches in with Marc, right? It’s really interesting because while you mentioned the flinch in the switch, there’s this other little detail, it’s almost hidden.

The movement doesn’t just remain in Steven and Marc’s face, head, and shoulders. It extends all the way down to their hands. Because, at this point in time, Marc has moved his hands from Layla’s head down to just below her shoulders, and that’s exactly when Steven chooses this moment to switch in. Layla on the other hand, who had looked away for all of 0.5 seconds, turns back to see Steven, and here’s why- she feels a little nudge, a little flutter of movement near her shoulder, a slight physical change in the way that Marc/Steven has been holding her upper arm. She doesn’t expect the nudge any less than she expected to see Steven the moment she turned back to see him. And it’s so great because while Marc is this solid presence who never wavers, Steven switches in with him and proceeds to adjust the way his hands are placed near Layla’s shoulders, right before he gets all excited about showing off to her the new skills he and Marc acquired from god knows where 😂👍🏼

Because, check this out:

It starts with Marc’s hands just by Layla’s shoulders. He’s just gently holding her.

Okay, fair enough, we get another shot, slightly from the side, showing us where his other hand is and how it’s positioned.

The moment the switch starts to happen, watch this. It’s a blink and you miss it. Notice the slight change in his hand position?

And then! Where Marc’s thumb was likely placed on the outside of Layla’s arm, now Steven’s movements has shifted the position of his thumb to rest just in front of Layla’s shoulders.

But we’re not done! Steven makes a small but further adjustment…

And! Proceeds to slide his hand down Layla’s arm as he positively nerds out about Layla’s outfit and compliments her amazing new look.

I just… I can’t 🤩

The details are amazing.

Episode 6 spoilers!! Play at your own risk!

I genuinely cannot go a single episode without praising Oscar Isaac.

Like???? The slight flinch that shows how Marc transitions into Steven? The quick change in accents and facial expressions? The overall shift in the aura as Steven fronts???

And here too? The transition from an extremely confused Marc to a very worried Steven? The way his furrowed brows shifted to a more surprised position? The way his eyes ALONE expressed these types of emotions so clearly, that one would know Marc apart from Steven without even having to look at their armor?

And HERE?? THIS ENTIRE SCENE?? God DAMN.

And!!! Jake lockley, baby! He gives off a completely different aura from Steven and Marc. (I can’t add more photos because of the tumblr media limit 💀)

Oscar???? SIR?? You’re a damn LEGEND, and that’s still an understatement. Hopefully we get more moon knight soon too 🥺 gonna miss everything about this show </3

Oscar Isaac supremacy 🥰🫶🏼

[delphiniumblooms]

you guys i'm making Steyla and Marla playlists, feel free to suggest songs in my asks!

here's what i have currently (90% Taylor Swift lmaoo):

[thevibraniumveterans]

Complex.com

[May, how did you change your interactions between Steven and Marc? I know it’s still Oscar, but I would imagine your approach to engaging with each respective character has to change slightly.]

May Calamawy: Oscar did such a good job of embodying each person that I didn’t have to sort of go through any steps or intellectualize how I would act with each one. It was just a response. I could tell that with Steven, Layla would need to have a more gentle approach there. That’s what came out naturally and what allowed him to open up in ways. Whereas with Marc, there’s just so much history there. The communication needs to be a bit more direct if she wants to get what she wants.

Vulture.com

[In fourth episode “The Tomb,” Layla says, “I don’t need protection. What I need is honesty.” That feels like such a defining moment for her character. What did you want to bring into that moment?]

May Calamawy: Any time there was vulnerability or any intimacy with Steven, it was difficult because you’re not just playing, Oh, I’m into this guy. There is a lot of pain under that. That was something I spoke a lot about with Oscar. We had a Layla and Steven scene, and I was like, “Something’s blocking me right now,” and he spoke me through it. It happened before, and it happened in that scene, where we really spoke through what was going on and the layers — because as Steven, he’s in a new situation. Layla is coming with the history: This is a different person in front of me, and I’m having these feelings for this person, but I also love my husband. And what we came to, and Oscar said it so well, is that whenever there’s that deep love, there’s pain as well. When you can sit in that, it almost just takes you.

PinkVilla

[Oscar Isaac does major heavy lifting with his dual performance as Marc Spector and one of his alter-egos, Steven Grant. On the other hand, you too have your work cut out for you as Layla constantly has to react between Marc and Steven. How did you and Oscar Isaac establish that complicated equation?]

May Calamawy: There was no, kind of, verbal establishing of anything. It was more, just he was so great at embodying two different people, that I was just reacting to what he gave. And over time, I noticed I fell into a pattern of how I would energetically feel around Marc and then how I felt around Steven.

GamesRadar

[How do you interpret Layla's relationships with Marc and Steven, and how do you think that being introduced to Steven affects her?]

May Calamawy: I'm going to try not to give any spoilers, but she has a more complicated relationship with Marc. They've known each other for a while, and he's more guarded as a person. She in turn becomes a bit guarded around him. But they complement each other in a way. And then Steven, he's sweet and she's more curious when she meets him. There's a lot of that curiosity and not like, 'Who the hell are you? What are you doing?' But more, 'What is going on? Is this person okay?'

[This must have been a really interesting role for you to sink your teeth into as you've got Marc and Steven, who are quite literally two sides of a coin. What can you tell me about their different relationships with Layla and how you approached those nuances in the performance?]

Oscar Isaac: It was interesting because Mohamed [Diab] and Sarah [Goher], his wife and creative partner, took the role of Layla and found a way to deepen it by making much stronger connections. So, for instance, the fact that you find out that Marc and her were married, or are married. The important thing that came out of all our conversations with Mohamed is creating a character with Steven that is desperate for connection and love, but just doesn't have the social skills for it. Because of the blackouts and because of his lack of history, that creates an introverted personality, and yet all he wants is to connect. When Layla comes into his life and seems like the only person that can help him, his life suddenly starts to both fall apart and light up, because he has someone and she's saying that they're supposed to be married, but she's mistaken him for someone else. Then on the other side is Marc, who is pushing everyone away, particularly Layla. And we come to find out that that's because, in his mind, he's trying to protect her. There was that push and pull and this budding romance that Steven has with her, and Marc, who is filled with regret and shame and just wants to push her away for her own safety.

The Wrap

May Calamawy: Steven was a very refreshing addition, you know? And I think it’s easy to see why she falls for him and cares so deeply about him.

#same