secondbreakpoint

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no I get it. That’s why I wrote that outwardly he would not look miserable, and that making the decision to marry did seem to make Carlos happy.

I do not for one minute blame Iris or think she was trying to turn him straight. The fact that she’s her own person means she had her own misguided reasons for wanting to marry him, this wasn’t her doing him a favor.

What I’m saying is that even though he wasn’t physically dragged to the alter, he was forced there due to existing in a heteronormative society. And I think that the actual moment of getting married would have felt really awful, internally. Tone is hard to get across here but I’m not mad at your interpretation at all! I’m just saying it doesn’t mesh with my experience, but everyone is going to approach this from their pov, obviously

Okay, controversial opinion:

I dont think Carlos was as miserable as a lot of people think he was on the day he married Iris. It wasnt the ideal by a long shot, obviously, but he was with his best friend. He wasn't in love with anyone at that point. He wasn't being forced into this. He was making this choice. (And a choice that wouldnt necessarily have been permanent- Carlos mentioned that he and Iris had intended to get a divorce, likely when she got serious with Dustin Shepherd.)

And obviously he wouldnt be 100% happy, 0% sad, but like.... I just *do not* believe that Iris would be willing to do it if her best friend was absolutely inconsolably miserable about it. She very obviously isn't that sort of person.

Just. Yanno. Carlos wasnt some sad prince being forced to marry a princess from a foreign land.

[secondbreakpoint]

Idk about this. I mean, I’m sure the decision to marry Iris - which was caused by a lot of guilt and shame -was followed by immense relief. Relief that he found a “solution” that would get everything that he was anxious about under control and make his family happy. And I know for a fact that kind of relief can easily be mistaken for happiness (by Carlos and the people around him).

However! On the actual day (assuming there wasn’t a long period between the decision and the wedding) I’m 100% sure Carlos just had this terrible feeling of dread at the pit of his stomach. At this point, he was not marrying Iris and thinking it was temporary and that someday he’ll be able to get married to someone he loves for real. No. This was him getting married and intending to start a home and a family with this woman, really believing that this was the best he could ever get. This was him signaling to himself that he was not deserving of true love and happiness. I’m sure to those on the outside he just looked a little nervous, but no way a little piece of him didn’t die that day.

Okay, controversial opinion:

I dont think Carlos was as miserable as a lot of people think he was on the day he married Iris. It wasnt the ideal by a long shot, obviously, but he was with his best friend. He wasn't in love with anyone at that point. He wasn't being forced into this. He was making this choice. (And a choice that wouldnt necessarily have been permanent- Carlos mentioned that he and Iris had intended to get a divorce, likely when she got serious with Dustin Shepherd.)

And obviously he wouldnt be 100% happy, 0% sad, but like.... I just *do not* believe that Iris would be willing to do it if her best friend was absolutely inconsolably miserable about it. She very obviously isn't that sort of person.

Just. Yanno. Carlos wasnt some sad prince being forced to marry a princess from a foreign land.

[secondbreakpoint]

I’ve watched the episode, I’ve processed

- I like it. It’s stupid, it’s convoluted and created glaring plot holes for those of us who care about such things, but it’s a way for them to explore Carlos as a character, for him to grow and for Rafa to show off his acting skills

- I don’t think it’s ooc for Carlos at all, not just because we’ve seen him keep huge things from people before, (king of compartmentalization) BUT no amount of ignoring shit you don’t want to deal with prevents it from bubbling up, and in fact, the huge effort he puts into looking like someone who’s in control and has-got-there-shit-together is compensation for how out of control and anxiety riddled he feels!! And the shame! The shame and guilt he feels constantly come on it makes perfect sense.

- I can only speak for myself, but if I was engaged to someone and she told me she got married at 18 out of anxiety and self-hate my instinctive reaction would be sympathy too.. I would absolutely not consider it cheating just because it is the institute of “marriage”. It never was and never will be a real relationship or anything that could come between Carlos’s commitment to tk. I know this and tk knows this, which is what’s important ultimately.

- The lie is bad. He should not have lied. tk has every right to be upset and mad (as he always had the many many times Carlos has messed up in the past lol). But I loved the growth his reaction showed both his personally and them as a couple. Anyways the lie is huge and that’s the point. Like.. that’s why it’s so interesting 

- It actually makes the whole deal with his parents make more sense. And honestly my head canon was def that he tried to be with women at some point and let me tell you that is heartbreaking and very very relatable. It also makes me super curious about what made him give up, like when was his first kiss with a guy? What other relationships (if any) did he have before tk? hmmmm 

- I know this twist has upset a lot of people and I sympathize. But it’s just a matter of opinion, not fact. If this has ruined Carlos and the Tarlos relationship for you that’s understandable. I loved Ted Lasso but when the whole Sam/Rebecca romance happened I didn’t like it and stopped watching. It happens. Everyone has different boundaries and red lines and that’s cool, you know?

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The rest of the ls writers after Michelle and Carlos never mention Carlos ever being close to Iris when she disappears, Carlos is not a suspect or seems even invested in the investigation beyond helping Michelle and never tells TK about her even though she was supposedly his best friend when Tim suggests that Carlos and Iris are secretly married

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bye 😭😭😭

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team not expecting a proposal tonight, but a “you’re it for me” conversation, but also team if it happens, I will be a sobbing mess.

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I know some people aren’t fully on board with a 3.13 proposal saying it’s too soon, and I get that. My thing is that I would love for them to flesh out the proposal a bit more. I am begging for a scene like 1.01 with tk and Owen just this time about Carlos and Owen being so happy for him, I *need* it

So WHAT IF instead of 3.13 ending with a proposal, it ends with tk going to buy a ring? OR even better, with him meeting Carlos’s parents to tell them he plans to propose? I would cry

[secondbreakpoint]

Totally get this and *at the moment* I agree. HOWEVER, a lot can happen in two episodes and if a proposal happens at the end of 3.13 it might feel warranted, narratively and emotionally, when it does. And don’t forget being engaged doesn’t mean the end of growing together as a couple or learning how to communicate and support each other.

Also, in-universe a while has passed since they got back together (they mentioned Charlie teething so at least 4 months). They already own property together so a proposal is just another commitment.

Regarding your last point - this is a tv show at the end of the day, and all signs from the people involved point to that direction. Not everyone wants to get married but personally I feel like it makes sense for these two particular characters to want that (I mean we already know it’s something tk has wanted in the past at least, since he was gonna propose. Not to mention Carlos’s father in law comment, lol)

I'm a bit scared by the amount of people who are like "the next logical step is engagement".

They barely know how to communicate with each other. Carlos has yet to really figure out or understand the realities of being with an addict (or rather TK in particular - I'm not sure I'm hugely keen on these sweeping 'what it's like to be with an addict' statements). They just got back together after being broken up for months, during which it seems like they didn't speak at all.

I think we can give them a while to get a bit more settled before they think about marriage (or not marriage! That's also an option!)

[secondbreakpoint]

let me tell you now

1.8k || ao3

Still reeling from their fight and stung from waiting for a door to open that never did, Carlos declines TK’s call. It’s only after he learns something that sets him spinning and makes him wonder if he had passed up on the last chance he would ever have to talk to his boyfriend and if they would never have a chance to make this right. — A (very belated) missing moment from 2x12

I’ve been in such a writing slump lately that I just wanted to finish something, so here is this fic I started last season and then set aside, until this morning. Maybe it was mostly done, but I still finished it so it counts. Many thanks to @moviegeek03 for editing this and @justaswampdemon for listening to me complain constantly. You’re both the best 💕

——

When Carlos’s phone rang and TK’s name appeared on the screen, Carlos declined the call and turned his phone over. Whatever it was that TK had to say he couldn’t handle right now. Thoughts of the way TK had looked at him at the station were still too fresh in his mind, as was the cold dread of waiting for their front door to open last night and it never happening. He was too raw to deal with this now; not here at work. He’d call him back later. 

His actions, unfortunately, did not go unnoticed by his partner, who glanced at him with a raised eyebrow from her adjoining desk. 

“Trouble in paradise?” she asked wryly and he shot her an unimpressed look, causing her to raise up her hands defensively. “Sorry, I just thought you’d have this sorted out by now.” 

“He didn’t come home last night,” Carlos replied tightly, turning away from her to his computer, “so we haven’t had a chance to talk yet.” 

“So ignoring him now is…” 

“Professional,” Carlos supplied brusquely. “I can’t focus on that right now. I’ll talk to him later, when I’m not at work.”

Keep reading

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I’ve read all of these fics and they are incredible!

I’d like to recommend one more which comes just under 50k - We were never tragedies. We were emergencies. You call 9 – 1 – 1. Tell them I’m having a fantastic time. by  WeWereEmergencies  ( @punkrockgirlalmighty). It’s so good and I think everyone should read it tbh! 

Looking for big, meaty Tarlos fics! I’m talking lengthy, multi-chapter, 50k words+ type thing. Any favorite big fics? Thank you for this resource!

You know, we were surprised to find that Tarlos doesn't have a ton of fics of that length. We as a fandom should correct that...

In the meantime, here are some great ones:

Living Lies and Lust by Anonymous

no smoke left in the air by Neuqe (@kiras-sunshine)

remind me to forget by orphan_account

tout l'univers by Neuqe (@kiras-sunshine)

Welcome to Austin by @aliceschuyler

When Snow Falls, We Listen by @destimushi

Wings Are Frayed by @iboatedhere

[secondbreakpoint]

New interview with Tim Minear for Variety

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Still thinking about Carlos calling Owen his father in law with his whole chest. Strongest evidence for a proposal this season imo

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Have we discussed how amazing the Marjan and Mateo scenes were last episode? Such strong sibling energy there

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This isn’t the time,, but marjan kicking that door down,,,🥰😩😝

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An outtake from an interview with Brian Michael Smith

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Owen saying he drank a lot after 9/11.... Is that the first time he's mentioned potential substance issues himself? Not necessarily being addicted, but little TK seeing his dad distance himself from family and start drinking to cope with a trauma, then eventually turn to substances to help cope with his own feelings... I'm having some real big feelings about this family!

honestly, i think it is! at least from what i can place. i don't tend to rewatch owen scenes, so i might have missed details but all we knew up until this ep was that owen was just tied to his work WAYYYY more often after 9/11. the drinking thing and the yelling/fighting thing is new and it hurts me to think about tk when he was a kid... seeing and hearing that. like if the BIRD was involved..... i can't even imagine tk.

[secondbreakpoint]

My reaction to this Paul storyline: