This is such a cool little moment from the first time Alfred is at Henry´s place.
The score that sets in immediately after Henry closes the door and locks out the outside world is so unsettling at first and sounds like danger is afoot, and for Alfred´s status quo it certainly is. There´s tension building right away. But then wonder of discovery gets sprinkled in quickly with those individual twinkling notes on top. It´s giving thrill of the unknown, uncertainty of what you´re getting yourself into, starting out with uneasiness, but magnetically and willingly letting yourself be pulled in, or, you know, visiting your secret forbidden crush for the first time.
Alfred is so unguardedly wide-eyed when he´s in that intimate setting and tapping more into who Henry is and what he cares about by looking at his photographs, it does something to me 🫠 (Even if they´re for a story they´re still Henry´s pov and choices, and Alfred looks like he´s soaking it all up, and also like he´s never seen photographs like that before. Just wait for later, buddy. You ain´t seen nothing yet.) You can basically watch him make those connections between what he sees and who Henry is in his mind. He´s filling in a crude drawing, shading and refining it as he moves from picture to picture. Henry´s gaining dimension, depth and color by the second, and Alfred looks like he´d like to keep going, as uncertain and scared as he might be.
And Henry? He´s just trying to gauge what Alfred is about. The question whether Alfred approves is really the critical and central one in the bigger scheme of things. Does Alfred approve of what´s going to happen between them? Of Henry? Of them? Of being with a man? They´re also the first words spoken here after Alfred has entered and come as a disruption for him, just like that ultimate approval will be a disruption to his life. Fitting that he doesn´t give an answer here at this point.
The slightest knowing smile spreading on Henry´s face at the end when Alfred basically has to tear himself away and return to reality is the best, especially paired with Alfred´s mouth falling open again as it so often does around Henry 🥰 perpetual shock to Alfred´s system thy name is Henry Ashe 🥰)
on twitter, a viral thread started where people around the world shared their translations of “If I must die”, the last work of Dr Refaat Alareer also known as "the voice of Gaza". A beloved poet, teacher and life-long activist for Palestine, he was recently assassinated along with members of his extended family by a targeted Israeli air strike. His loss leaves a hole in the heart of palestinians all over the world.
Below the cut, I’ll be posting the translations of his poem, with links to the original posts. Unfortunately, tumblr limits posts to a maximum of 30 images. I will update when I can.
Okay, I quickly need to talk about this gif/moment some more
bc this is after Henry opens his eyes for the first time, and Alfred is so fucking brave HOLDING HIS GAZE! He´s not jerking his hand away from being "caught" or anything, no, he removes his fingers ever so slowly while looking at Henry, letting them caress Henry´s ear, letting Henry know, now that he´s awake, that he still means every single gentle touch but gives him room to object, too.
And Alfred must be so nervous. But he also knows he´s ready for this after hitting such a scary vulnerable point the night before and maybe also feeling a little shame, but Henry is still here! So now he trusts him with this gigantic first step of showing his affection while waiting for permission to continue (and for sure ready to stop should it not be given).
What an impossibly tender moment with so many things unsaid between them but communicated clearly through touch and look alone. LOVE.
Danny tilts his head. The masked figure across the roof tilts their head back, a gold similar to Tucker’s eyes shimmering, though he knew it wasn’t him. He lets out a curious chirp, inaudible to the living, and the masked figure stills, as silent as a corpse for several moments before letting out two clicks.
A greeting in turn.
Danny smiles, letting green bleed into his eyes and scurrying over with a croon from his core. I’m here, I’m here, their own core clatters like metal against bone as his responds with the drone of a blackhole. I see you, I see you. I’m HereHereHere.
Yet another twitters in turn, clicking echoing across the city from shadow to shadow until it’s as though the city itself has a heartbeat. Click-click. Click-click. Click-click. I’m here, I’m here, not alone, I’m Here.