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arjolewhump · 4 months

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Phileas Fogg and Touch Aversion

I'm going to try to resurrect a post I had written on twitter a while ago when I still had an account there (and when it was still called twitter). It's long, so bear with me, and do keep in mind that these are just my hc's and there's always room for interpretation.

***

So one thing that becomes clear about Phileas from the start is how much he tries to avoid physical touch. Even with those he knows well, like Grayson. Look at how stiff he is here, how he avoids eye contact, how he leans back a tiniest bit.

This physical discomfort is even more obvious with strangers, of course. Especially with strangers who threatened and intimidated him only hours earlier. Even when the contact is no longer a threatening one (you all remember senor Moretti, yes?)

Remember the aborted hugs? The man is so excited to see Passepartout alive that he forgets himself for a moment....

...only to remember at the last minute and have the hug become nothing more than an awkward (safe?) handshake

or, in Abigail's case, a near-pat on the arms

But it's something deeper than just simple intimacy avoidance. There seems to be a discomfort, a fear almost of physical closeness with ADULTS. I'm going to veer onto a slight tangent here that ties into my hc about Fogg's childhood and take a look at this scene in the desert:

Remember how incredulous Passepartout was when Fogg asked him to move because he, ostensibly, couldn't pee otherwise? "I thought you went to boarding school" he said, the implication being "why are you so afraid of having someone stand next to you when you pee?"

The whole situation is funny to Passepartout (and meant to be so to us as well), but Fogg doesn't appear to be amused in the slightest. He pleads, actually pleads with Passepartout to move. And look at how uncomfortable he is. How he tries to block out Passepartout's presence.

And look at this moment here. This is where Passepartout whips out his joystick &starts watering the sand. Look at that cringe, that nervous swallow. I'm not saying this man was definitely traumatized in boarding school, but... he was definitely traumatized at boarding school

This is not to say that he can't handle physical contact at all. He can and does when the situation demands it. When it's a matter of life or death, for instance.

But notice the reluctance, the uncertainty even here.

The only time he DOESN'T hesitate? When someone else needs it, needs HIM.

When it's him alone however? Even when the touch isn't remotely threatening?

He freaks out and tries to run.

And when running is not an option? Freezes like a deer in the headlights.

This moment here shocked him so completely that he drew a blank on all thought, and it wasn't until the lieutenant had uttered the word "coward" - the word that keeps driving him forward - that he snapped out of it

It's different, of course, when it's Estella.

He doesn't shy away from her touch. Welcomes it instead.

Initiates the hug and follows through

Estella is safe. Estella cares about him. Estella would never hurt him. But that kind of safety, that kind of certainty - it doesn't exist where other adults are concerned. Not yet. So he errs on the side of caution and stays back when everyone around him is hugging and celebrating

Doesn't respond to enthusiastic shoulder pats and friendly arm squeezes when he makes his triumphant return home. He looks uncomfortable. Lost. Wary.

Compare that to Abigail's reaction in the same scene

But there are also others whom Phileas is comfortable with, in addition to Estella. Those whom he doesn't view as a threat: kids.

Look here at Alberto plopping to sit down right next to him. Phileas doesn't even flinch. Accepts his presence easily with no discomfort shown

Smiles at Alberto just as easily, too.

Look at Noori here. She grabs him by the hand, drags him behind her. He doesn't mind one bit.

Look at Fogg's reaction when that girl runs out to hug him. He is surprised but not frightened. He goes soft and maybe even a little happy. He hugs her back. He thanks her.

Now look at the difference when Abigail goes to do the same. He stiffens immediately. Pulls back. His whole posture screams "get away".

It doesn't mean he doesn't WANT the physical touch. He does. Longs for it, in fact.

But he believes he lost his chance for this closeness, he mourns the loss of it, and he doesn't think it's for him anymore. He's also likely afraid to test if what he believes is true.

BUT... But... There's a silver lining to all this. Because there IS character growth for him in more ways than one, and he DOES become braver and stronger in more ways than one. And in the end he DOES dare to reach out and he DOES find the courage to NOT pull away.

If you've gotten this far, thank you for reading :) And please come check out my ATWI80D fics where all of this is explored in greater (and angstier) detail. ;)

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arjolewhump · 1 year

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Henry Cavill’s whumps’ list

into Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) TV Mini-Series, as Superman / Clark Kent: post-production

[Squadron 42 (Video Game), as Ryan Enright: announced]

into Enola Holmes (2019) movie, as Sherlock Holmes: some painful emotional confrontations.

into The Witcher (2019) TV Series, as Geralt of Rivia: *** 👆 refer to the related whumpslist’s post at the link above ***

into Nomis - Night Hunter (2018) movie, as Walter Marshall: exasperated and impatient, touched, into a raid and into a gunfight, shaken and upset, under gunpoint, shot at his shoulder and fallen, laying on the ice bleeding and heavily panting.

into Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) movie, as August Walker: hit by a lighting while jumped from a plane and falling unconscious without parachute, fought and hit at his throat, rough fight, under sniper’s fire, upset, under gunpoint twice, into a gunfight, fought, into a helicopter crash, inside a helicopter that rolls along an escarpment, hot liquid sprinkled on his face and screaming in pain, disfigured, fought, hit in the face with a hook and fallen into the escarpment.

into Justice League (2017) movie, as Superman / Clark Kent: resuscitated, weak and confused, attacked and fought, rough fight, screaming in effort, groaning laying on the floor.

into Sand Castle (2017) movie, as Cpt. Syverson: bloody face after an explosion.

into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) movie, as Superman / Clark Kent: under investigation, conflicted and dubious, hit by a car without any consequence, into an explosion blast and silent tears for grief, embittered and upset, blackmailed and angry, furious fight against Batman, kryptonite powder shot on his face, coughing and chocking, beaten, furious fight, weakened by kryptonite bullet again, badly hit and thrown down, groaning in pain, grabbed by a foot and slammed against pillars, laying moaning. cut on his face and foot on his throat, saved at the very last moment, furious fight and pretty slammed up by Doomsday, almost drown, weakened by kryptonite and stabbed in the chest, fallen lifeless.

into The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) movie, as Napoleon Solo: daring escape, rough fight and many grunting, almost chocked to death, heavily panting, slapped in the face, drugged and lost consciousness, tied up to a chair, tortured and electrocuted, grunting and heavily panting, blood from his nose, rough fight and repeatedly kicked, bruise and cut at his forehead.

into Man of Steel (2013) movie, as Clark Kent / Kal-El: tackled down, shrouded in flames, cried for physical exertion, floating unconscious into the water, painful memories, bullied and beer splashed at his face, attacked and cut at his arm, restrained, badly fallen into a mountain, deeply upset witnessing his adoptive father’s death screaming and crying (memory), threatened and blackmailed, manhandled and pushed by bullies (memory), turned himself in and arrested, handcuffed, feeling sick and grunting, collapsed on his knees and coughing blood, laying on the floor trembling and passed out, screaming and regaining consciousness lying on a table and restrained, tortured and grunting in pain, angry, shot and fallen to the ground, heavily panting, under heavy gunfire, rough fights, under gunfire and hit, punched, rough fight, hit by a flying truck on fire (!), coughing, fought against mechanical tentacles, cried for physical exertion, lying weak on the ground, rough fight, upset and heavily panting, on his knees shaking and crying.

into The Cold Light of Day (2012) movie, as Will Shaw: stressed and upset for bankruptcy, conflictual relationship with his father, argued, shocked and dishoriented, manhandled and fought, into a car accident, badly beaten, bruised face and shiner, receiving upsetting news, band-aid on his eyebrown, shocked witnessing his father’s murder, hunted down and shot at, manhandled and restrained, upset, faked feeling sick and fought, emotional distress and silent tears, rough fight and under gunpoint, underf gunfire and chased, jumped off the building hitting against walls various times then badly fallen to the ground, helped walking, dishoriented and bleeding from his flank, into a bike accident, helped walking then collapsed, wound probbed for the bullet and screaming in pain, cauterized on the field and screaming in pain then passed out, regaining consciousness groaning and holding his flank, almost lost his balance standing up, more upsetting news and emotional distress, strangled hold and passed out, kidnapped, tied to a chair and beaten, punched three times, more upsetting news, strangled hold and passed out, shoved off the car and a bit unstable on his legs, manhandled, angry and fought, limping, grabbed and restrained, into a gunfight, fought and roughly fallen ou of the car, under gunfire, into a car accident and into a gunfight, into another car accident, bloody and crawling outside the car, almost executed and saved at the very last moment, dragged away and unable to walk, many bruises on his face.

into Immortals (2011) movie, as Theseus: insulted and angry, fought and surrounded, sowrd fights against multiple opponents, captured and witnessed her mother’s murder, kicked and dragger away, chained enslaved and forced labour, laying exhausted and weak, fought and escaped, feeling guilty, angry, sword fights, attacked and rough fight, scratches and heavely panting, laying unconscious, groaning waking up, poisoned wound, ambushed and almost killed, harsh confrontation and angry, into furious battles, hit by explosion blast and laying unconscious, confused and blood from his ear, attacked and repeatedly stabbed, screaming in pain, brutal fight, on his knees bloody and heavely panting, passed out and rescued.

into The Tudors (2007-2010) TV Series, as Charles Brandon: 1.01: sword at his throat; 1.05: worried and conflicted, argued with his wife; 1.06: on his knees humiliated, in an arm wrestling contest and heavily panting; 1.09: grieving and crying; 2.03: upset; 2.06: humiliated and angry; 2.10: faked to be stabbed to death, angry; 3.02: angry: 3.03: upset and conflicted; 3.04: upset and conflicted, hallucinating in guilt; 3.05: upset and hurt, trembling in anger; 3.06: sad, worried; 4.04: hallucinating in guilt, silently crying; 4.07: swords fights during war; 4.08: blood on his forehead; 4.10: indisposed and grimacing, agitated in his dream and panting, ill in bed and very pale and weak, needed help to get up and support, died.

into Blood Creek (2009) movie, as Evan Marshall: almost hit by explosion blast, frustrated and sad dealing with a sick and forgetful father, grieving a missing brother and argued, nightmare and rough awakening with a hand on his mouth, attacked by a dog and bitten at his forearm, injected himself rabies vaccine, medicated himself on the field and dressed forearm, argued with his brother and fought, rough fight, bloody dressing and bruisedf face, cut on his back and groaning while cutting, bitten, rough fight and heavely panting, engraved on himself a protective rune with a knife.

nothing whumpy into Whatever Works (2009) movie, as Randy Lee James.

nothing whumpy into Stardust (2007) movie, as Humphrey.

nothing whumpy into Red Riding Hood (2006) movie, as The Hunter.

into Tristan + Isolde (2006) movie, as Melot: chased and fought, swords fights, cut on his cheek, sad and upset, stabbed with a sword, lying wounded at the ground with blood at his mouth, dead.

into Hellraiser VIII (2005) movie, as Mike: rechting, attacked with a hook and skewered, profusely bleeding and screaming, dead.

into Midsomer Murders (2003) TV Series, episode 7.01 “The Green Man”, as Simon Mayfield: bitten at his foot by a fox and limping, fallen into a bear trap and screaming in pain, shot and killed.

into I Capture the Castle (2003) movie, as Stephen: fallen from a high stair, small cut on his forehead and taken care of.

into Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2002) TV Movie, as Soldier Colley: defaced and without a leg because of war, upset and crying.

into The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002) TV Series, episode 1.01 “Well Schooled in Murder”, as Chas Quilter: hung himself committing suicide.

into The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) movie, as Albert Mondego: grabbed and kidnapped, hand tied, sword fight, upset and worried.

into Laguna (2001) movie, as Thomas Aprea: fallen ill and fever, painful memories and crying, recovering in bed, slapped in the face, argued and attacked, angry, upset, crying.

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