#THE REALEST NAME HE COULD HAVE PROPOSED WITH. IS A FAKE ONE. DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING

[justafriendofxanders]

thinking about how nate proposes to sophie using a fake name that they both know is fake because it's at that point that the name doesn't matter! deep in my heart sophie's real name is a macguffin that represents some ever-elusive "pure" sense of self that doesn't exist, and nate's quest for it mirrors sophie's existential crisis -- both of them think that they can find a "real" version of her underneath all the aliases, but it's not something that's out there, hidden and waiting to be found as much as it's just.... her. and when both of them accept that there's nothing more than just Her, that's when the name stops mattering! nate doesn't know her real name and never will because he doesn't need to! what always gets me about the nate x sophie relationship is that they're both so different and such imperfect people, but they ultimately accept and love that about each other (when he proposes, nate makes a little joke about stealing her an anniversary ring!). and i think knowing sophie's real name is about this promise of perfect union, of perfectly knowing another person, of knowing yourself in a way that's impossible. but their relationship is perfect BECAUSE it's imperfect, and when nate proposes with a fake name it's about loving the imperfect person behind all the different personas. he loves her whether or not he's calling her by her "real" name, whether or not there's some more "real" person to discover behind her many aliases, and in turn sophie learns to be loved by a name that's not her "real" one because she can trust that the person saying it still loves and accepts her as she is!!

[suggers-got-dingled]

Seeing as Christmas is coming to save our souls and Robert Jacob Sugdens 😉 I've been re watching some old robron to get back into how amazing they are ( they still have been acting wise even tho he plot is crap) but I wanted to kno what are some of your top/fave robron moments from 2014-now ? x

anon I’m pretty sure you sent this in like October so for that I deeply apologise but is there any better time to respond than less than 24 hours before the highly anticipated ep actually begins?!?!

I THINK NOT

I HAVE SO MANY FEELS TONIGHT

(well always really but especially tonight bc i’m really weirdly emotional for some unknown reason and it’s startling me a bit)

and I can’t believe you’re making me choose my top fave moments like I can just whip them out without thinking into the depths of their earth shattering love

I’d literally be here for the entire festive period if I listed them all so I’m gonna narrow it down to ten (tough but doable)

2014... the be all and end all, the sexual frustration, the inability to stay away from each other, literally so much tension you could ferment a brand new molecule with that chemistry 

...compare it to now it’s absolutely complete sheer madness how far we’ve prospered through the good and the bad and the soul wrenching, I get quite overwhelmed that these two are still so deeply connected and nothing compares tbh

anyway I live and breathe pre affair era so let’s start this ten carefully chosen moments with that

When Aaron literally discreetly yet directly asked an engaged Robert out on a date without second thought??? like we don’t talk about that enough, before Robert actually faked a breakdown and before the first kiss of dreams, Aaron fully invited him for drinks as though they were best mates and he totally didn’t want to jump his bones lol a m a z i n g 

Hotel one. There’s just something about Aaron’s soft, content smile as he wakes up and adjusts to his surroundings by realising he’d fallen asleep with Robert’s arm round him, and those bright blue puppy dog eyes blown with lust as he gazes at Robert’s thirsty af face and only-boxer-worn bod

When Aaron’s injured in the woods after that beautiful life shifting movement where they pretty much jumped into a relationship after spending a week in Robert’s marital home together. Aaron weakly calling out for him and Robert taking off his jacket to protect his frail, cold body as he high pitch panics and tries to tell the paramedics how to do their job :’))))

The abuse era. (It counts as one solid point okay I’m making the rules now) it’s harrowing and tragic and sad but also so wholesome and tentative and genuine. Robert totally being ride or die Aaron, like he just dedicates his whole life to him without even reconsidering his actions??? It’s all so normal and natural to him, there was no ulterior motive behind it, it was just Robert wanting Aaron to be ok and healthy, Aaron slowly growing to trust Robert again as he recognises Robert’s devotion, framing a best friend who have always been and are still in love but it’s not right to act on it dynamic  “I’LL WAIT FOR YOU, TILL YOU’RE READY!!!!”, the pivotal reveal itself god it wrecks me every time AND THAT DAMN PLACEMENT OF THE BLANKET... high and mighty Robert Sugden sleeping on a hard floor all night because he wanted to be beside him MAXINE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING

SUPER SOAP WEEK THE LITERAL HIGHLIGHT OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. This also counts as one, soz. The entire proposal mid argument as Aaron fails to recognise what may be happening even though an engagement ring is literally thrown in his face lmao just pure, golden, completely, absolutely robron. Robert revealing his biggest secret to the love of his life??? coming out to him for the first time???? he poured his heart out and Aaron’s heart exploded in return. Aaron’s quiver of his lip and teary eyes as Robert tells him about the farm hand, Robert looking away, Aaron having an outburst of love for the first time in forever bc all these feelings spilled out of him in such an intimate moment and he was determined to let Robert know how amazing he was bc it’s what he needed to hear!! the underwater scene of almost death (and literal death on my part)... do not even talk to me about that, thank you. The hospital bedside scene on the Friday - Robert squashed and curled up in a heap on that tiny chair in the corner, adamant he wasn’t going anywhere, not even home to change out of those dirty lake water garments bc no way was he leaving Aaron again, “Rob... Robert”, the fluff ruffle, the constant heart eyes, the second segment of the proposal where Robert was unwavering in his love for Aaron, telling him he’s all he wants, that soft little double kiss as he dove back in bc one literally wasn’t enough, the beaming smiles, the soft voices. It was all so wonderfully sweet and romantic??? every part of it bound them together and showed just how much they invented the word love like????? EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN RIGHT THEN JUST HOW MUCH THEY BOTH MEANT TO EACH OTHER AND HOW MUCH THEY KNOW EACH OTHER INSIDE OUT I would die for that week tbh

Pub quiz. A* content, and surprise content which made it even better. Working as a team to prove just how disgustingly bonded they are??? the playful fun and the gags and the impish comments, Robert calling everyone else but him and Aaron a peasant, Aaron saying his super suave fiance is now Hugh Grant because he buys his crisps in a tube, the signature tickling, the hug, the whispering in the ear, generally being the best most victorious and powerful couple in that goddamn village

The wedding vows in the garage. A dirty, oil stained garage where they first fucked, where the journey to soulmates began. That moment where Aaron was giggling at the whole bizarre ordeal that hadn’t really sunk in and then Robert said his name and his face just completely changes???? oh my god it ruins me absolute sentimental idiots who are so bloody in love with one another so much so that the rest of the world is blocked out and if there was to be an apocalypse they’d still be there savouring the moment

Goodbye scene. For obvious reasons. I don’t even need to say anymore do I?!?! 

The mill reveal. To say the ons literally tore me in two, this episode was just stunningly directed and “my beautiful husband who I love” was born so nothing else matters really

A romantic picnic to aid my devastation. Robert just wanted to take Aaron out to take his mind off everything he’d been through and he literally just sat there on a blanket reminding him how he’s never had better??? the softest realest shit™

and one more to add bc it isn’t appreciated enough: when Robert was rooting through Bernice’s handbag that time during his mild scheming and he was so sure he’d fooled Aaron with his “I just wanted a tissue” makes me wee every time GIVE ROBRON MORE COMEDY 2k18