#do i tag this lukola? i guess

[dollypopup]

the fact that Luke opened every single bag of chips (because Nicola has her nails done and opening bags with fancy nails can be such a nuisance) and then offered them to her so she could have first pick each time?

this is a man who understands women

[toriaanin]

Well hello there (redacted*)! How nice of you to drop by. I'd offer you a cup of tea, but...

Me and my Lukola friends are too blind to find anything in the kitchen!

And while I'm paying attention to you (redacted)... did you not read the article that Nicola posted yesterday? Did you not take the hint that she was admonishing trolls and online bully behaviour? You know; behaviour that looks suspiciously like your message (above) to me? Perhaps you have eyesight issues too. Yes. Yes, I think you do.

As for me...

I'm simply following the clues that a possibly pregnant women has left for me and my friends. In fact her clues are more easily readable than brail.

Now; about this so called "launch" you speak of? Give me a break. Even through the haze of my cataracts I was able to see that her post for Jake the other day was lame. She didn't even tag him.

Let's compare her untagged "love" post to Jake with the HBD wishes she's posted on her IG stories for her other friends:

She shares a photo of Jake next to the trash can; a photo that doesn't even include her IN it. Surly Nicola has better photos of "the love of her life" on her phone?! Let's compare with how she wishes her very good friend Jack Rooke a happy birthday. So sweet! And tagged.

When Nicola wished Luke Fetherston a happy birthday she not only shared a photo with both of them in it, she also gave him THREE red hearts! Now that's hard launch material right there!! Oh. And he was tagged.

Nicola even gave more birthday love to Valentina, Camilla's dog, than she did to Jake. Sadly Valentina wasn't tagged either... although Camilla was 🥰 BUT, Nicola called Valentina a princess!

Don't worry. Jake's friend Hannah gave him this honourific, so he wasn't left out of the princess fairytale. It must be love!

But wait... there's competition for Jake's love!!

Now these are romantic birthday wishes to Jake, posted by Doug and Dylan the other day.

Clearly the man is loved by his friends. Deservedly so, I'm sure.

But I really, really, really question whether THIS was a hard launch?

Seems to me it was simply a birthday wish for her friend (not lover) Jake. Unfortunately she posted at 6:30am when she was half awake and neglected to tag him. Unlike her spelling-mistake story showing the billboard in Los Angeles, she didn't delete and repost Jake's birthday wish with the missing tag. I guess Luke and Bridgerton's ensemble cast nomination warranted a correctly spelled "Surprise". Deleted; replaced.

Now I ask you; am I really blind? I saw well enough to compile the photos above and make perfect sense of them. I don't see a love-launch of Jake. I see a man living his life, preparing for an amazing lead theatre role. What an opportunity! I also see a man that didn't spend time with Nicola over Christmas, New Years, her birthday, his birthday (according to her, she was in LA. Sure Jan), and today: Valentine's Day. I also see a man who is loved by his friends. Nicola is his friend.

Unless I'm missing something?

So (redacted*)... rather than come over here and rag on the truth I and my Lukola friends see - and that I shared above - why don't you and your little weiner-dog leader fuck the hell off. We know.

P.S. I'm tempted to create some merch for us blind Lukolas! Sarcastic t-shirts and sweatshirt merch is fun 💙 Want one?!

P.S.S. I've redacted the name of this poster because 10 hours after she sent this message to me, she recalled it... just before I was about to post this response. I could have scrapped my post, but she challenged me to SEE the truth. I wanted to oblige. I've redacted her name on the chance that she realized she didn't message me anonymously and so she chickened out and pulled her ask. Or perhaps she thought about Nicola's troll/bully post from yesterday and thought better of her action. Let's give her grace and assume that she came to her senses and not that she's too chicken shit to have her name out there along with her bully behaviour.

Aanin friends!

[theunsinkableship1]

CONFOUNDING FEELINGS, HANGOVER & WHIPLASH

Yesterday, the fandom was overwhelmed and overjoyed by the long-awaited interactions and photos of Luke and Nicola together.

Many who had left the ship found themselves drawn back in, unable to resist the sheer magnetism between them. Even journalists and casual observers took note, their undeniable bond, their effortless chemistry, their natural ease. It was palpable. It was REAL.

But of course, this "bundle of joy' as Mona Kosar Abdi as described couldn’t last forever in these tumultuous seas. Just as we were basking in the glow of their interactions, Nicola posted a photo with Luke, tagging him and captioning it: "That’s my buddy right there."

To that, I say, of course, Nicola, we never doubted that. Funny enough, my brain read it as “That’s my hubby right there.” But to each their own. She is truly hilarious.

And then, in a curious move, she followed on Instagram the long-presumed, now presumably publicly acknowledged girlfriend. Well well well , I thought she wouldn’t touch that with a 10 foot pole. Even more intriguing? The follow was reciprocated. Why now, after all this time? What has changed?

Given the timing, right after their highly analyzed and overwhelmingly affectionate public reunion, it could be an attempt to reinforce the "just friends" narrative they’ve been pushing lately.By following her, Nicola might be signaling that there's no bad blood, easing tensions, and discouraging further speculation.

The SAG Awards had the fandom and even casual observers buzzing about their chemistry. This move might be a way to counterbalance that a not so subtle effort to diffuse speculation before it spirals further.

Something might have changed behind the scenes. Maybe Nicola and Luke had a conversation, and this was a goodwill gesture on her part. Alternatively, it might not be about Luke at all, perhaps Nicola and the presumed girlfriend have had some form of interaction that led to this.

If Nicola and Luke are working to maintain a particular public narrative, this follow could be part of that strategy. It’s a small but significant action that makes it harder for people to claim animosity or hidden tensions.Given that Luke’s presumed girlfriend also followed back, this might have been coordinated or at least mutually understood.

The timing makes it impossible to ignore, especially when paired with the fact that Nicola had never done it before, despite all the previous speculation.

This move feels less like an organic change in dynamics and more like an attempt to frame the narrative in a specific way. It’s too perfectly timed to be purely coincidental. Whether it’s meant to provide cover, show grace, or hint at a deeper story remains to be seen. But as always with Lukola, actions speak louder than words, and their body language at the SAG Awards told a much different story than this follow does.

We can all take our best guesses, but ultimately, we are in the dark about what’s really going on.

That being said, it’s not that surprising in fact that is the narrative that Lukola has been pushing lately. Maybe it’s their truth now.

And do I believe them? Let’s just say this: Publicly, I will. Because I try to respect them as much as I can in this predicament and because I cherish their bond.

But privately? I’m a die-hard Lukola. It will take far more than this to make me stop believing in what I’ve seen, not just through the years, but especially after witnessing them together again. Maybe this is why we don’t see them together often. Because when they are? It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming, even for those just watching.

And if you don’t understand what I mean? Just look at people’s reactions when they interact. It’s not normal. It’s something so special that it transcends the screen.

Honestly, if I were one of the significant others, I would be extremely worried. Of course, we can’t know what’s truly going on in their other relationships, but from an outsider’s perspective? There is a lot to be insecure about.

And let’s be clear about one thing, I don’t know but for me were not just friends. That is a secret de Polichinelle, something that has been an open secret all along. But for whatever reason they described themselves as such lately. Ok then! Please don’t say that we are crazy, our love could be blind, but I doubt that it’s also deaf and if you don’t get what I mean maybe you shouldn’t dismiss things easily. The idea that those of us who have followed this closely, who have connected the dots, tracked the patterns, analyzed the timelines would fabricate this for our own amusement or out of delusion? That’s deeply mistaken.

Sure, some theories might sound wild, but there is a real foundation beneath it all. Far too many inconsistencies for everything to be dismissed, too much smoke for there to be no fire. Thus, the cycle continues.

If they believe what they’re saying, then so be it for now. Ultimately, I think that they know what’s best for them.

Everything will unfold in time. They must have their reasons, and I don’t doubt that.

But one thing I do believe is that for their sake, we should support their friendship. If nothing else, that has always been the solid, concrete foundation they can build upon. No matter what happens, their connection is something worth preserving, something worth protecting.

And here, in this little corner of the internet, I’m still keeping faith. I’m still willing to wait.

Because if there’s one thing these recent events have proven, it’s this: Hope is still alive.

As Nischelle Turner said: " I love a happy ending, I need a happy ending.”

Tighten our grip and stay the course. This is a long journey.

[ptej1980]

It is like clockwork…

When ever the sub fandoms feel like they are sinking they start rising out of their depths and start trying to troll and convince anyone who will listen that they are right and we are wrong.

What started them on their march and got them cranky….lets see oh yes

And this

JAKOLA…(JECKY)hehehe

This ship to me never left the dock, let’s just say if it did it has well and truly sunk by now. Nic and her friends are loud, whether it be JD dancing in a Pink Cowboy hat, staring lovingly in the eyes at Doug, or the fact that his mates call him twink and princess, the Jakolas still seem to think that they are in love. 🤭 I guess will only believe what tabloid trash tells them from misinterpreted pap pics. It is funny Doug posted the below pic for Jake’s pic with a love heart and no one said it was a hard launch. 😂

ANTLuke 🤮

I can stomach JD as Nic seems to be happy around him and it actually looks like she enjoys his company as a friend. But bug girl is a different story. I have yet to see any real evidence of him being happy in her presence. Through out the whole of last year the games and troll like behaviour with the fandom she did not do herself any favours.

After the SAG awards it was clear the difference in Luke.

There are other pics but you know I don’t like looking at her, but you get the idea. We know she was around most of last year from Feb to June. She came to Premier 1 uninvited, ruined Premier 2 with pap walk. In Milan it was caught on camera that she clearly walks off on Luke when he was struggling and he held Holly’s hand. She seems to walk off on Luke a bit. Look familiar

After the follow by Nic bug 🐜 untagged her last pic on her IG that linked her to Luke and Nic started cleaning up her JD tags.

This week, no this month has been the biggest since the world tour. You will not see Lukolas go to subfandom pages to try and convince them that we are right because we know we are. When you have as many morsels and crumbs as we do there is no doubt.(At least in my mind)

If an Anon ask comes in spreading venom and are proudly Jakola and Antluke on your blog take comfort in the fact that they are just trying to convince themselves. They probably have not to many people left on the sinking ship.

I am excited about what we have seen from our two favourite people and know they are happy.

Remember block out the adjacent support noise.

Oh and as always if you need a fanfic rec let me know. 😉💛🐝

Sail on 🚢

[just-trust-me-bro]

Hmm 🧐

The Sincerely Ignorant, Conscientiously Stupid & Fact Finders?

A new breed...

I guess this is as good of a place as any to start dismantling addressing common theories circulating with the Lukola shipping fandom.

Yes, I know. Who the fuck am I to be shitting on what someone else has to say? I guess you could call me an actual "Fact Finder."

Unlike most within the sphere I won't be blowing smoke.

Now I don't want to be completely unfair to the OP above as I too once believed that Luke's "I won't let her ruin our night" post meant something much more.

Funny how time is a cruel mistress.

The argument presented by OP is this:

"Luke’s character is telling Nicola’s character he won’t let another woman ruin their evening.

Let me repeat that again for you:  Luke’s character is telling Nicola’s character he won’t let another woman ruin their evening."

So what? He just had this pic ready to go in case of an emergency? Ya know, just on the offhand that some gal, A or whoever, would "fuck things up" for him and Nic.

Seriously? Like can we be for real?

He posted said pic 2 days after the infamous pap pics dropped, so the damage was already done. What night is he referring to in this dream like scenario?

If we can truly be honest with ourselves here, Luke was already in Milan on June 15th for fashion week. We all know Antonia was with him. We also know she has continued to tag along with him everywhere this summer. So even if there was a deeper meaning to the pic (there isn't) it would mean fuck all.

Not once did he do anything to stave off the adverse reactions to the pap pics. In fact, he seemed to mostly bury his head. Only popping up for social/work events. He was working that day.

The pic was definitely planned as it followed director Billie Woodruff dropping several BTS pics, as well as Bessie Carter, and Sesley Hope.

Now the argument OP had against Luke posting the pic as PR was quite unimaginative, a hay house of sorts, but let's break it down.

"No one is going to convince me that Luke and Antonia were in a blissful relationship after that IG story was posted. Why? Because the deductive reasoning part of my brain tells me Luke chose Nicola straight outta Pap-gate.

The Conscientiously Stupid may [rather they WILL] argue that it was just for PR. Okay, but that would mean Antonia accepted the comparison between Cressida, the Evening-Ruiner, and herself. Take a moment and put yourself in Antonia’s shoes. Would you accept this from your partner? (P.S. If you said yes, you have bigger problems in life than following real people’s relationships.)  We know Antonia accepted this role to some extent because we have evidence she attended events with Luke over the summer. So, what the fuck?"

Stating the pic was posted as continued PR for Part 2 release does not equate to "Antonia accepting a Cressida Comparison." This is the laziest form of "arguing the other side" I have ever come across.

The pic has nothing to do with Antonia at all. Luke was probably given the pic to post and did so without another thought about it. In fact it was probably already queued up as he was busy enough in Milan, for fashion week, with Antonia.

But let me just indulge you and say, "OP you're right. Luke posted that message directly to Nic. An olive branch."

Shit fell on deaf ears because the very next day is when we get the SATC TT from Nic and well...

[brynnsasha191]

Listen, the last thing I ever want to do is to tell anyone how to tag their own post because stuff like that is a big pet peeve of mine. It's your post, tag it however you want. But I'd be a huge liar if I said I'm not starting to get bothered by the overabundance of lukola shippers in the polin tag. I'm just trying to look at nice polin posts but all I get is shippers arguing over the personal lives of actors and those actors partners. Lukola and polin are two different ships and I guess this is just me whining about them not being tagged separately. But y'know whatever, I can't control people or their tagging. Btw the reason I'm tagging this as polin and lukola is because I'm talking about both, it's when people are only talking about lukola and still tag it as polin that I get annoyed.

[for-ships-that-never-sail]

LISTEN

I’m on the ✨ #LukolaEndgame ✨ hopes and dreams delulu (but hopefully not actually delulu) train 🚂 just as much as the next person here

BUT ALSO

I wouldn’t be mad at this?? 👀

Like…. He’s a handsome man, and if Nic intends to respectfully climb him like a tree, I GET IT. 👀🤤

See below for more Lukola positive thoughts though…

👇🏼

SO Nic has already mentioned Eamon by name (as a friend) in at least 2 or 3 interviews during the recent press tour… She’s also said she very much believes in the friends to lovers trope that is just as applicable here…. Andddddddd I’ve seen Nic hug A on video in a very friendly way (not that she wouldn’t hug her or be nice to her even if she didddd want L rn) and I also just saw someone’s theory on the Lukola tag about Nic’s “shit or get off the pot” paddle hit side eye vibes potentially being about her just giving L friendly advise on his stuff with A, which I can technically see as plausible…

So yeah, I know those ideas are gonna pisssss people off, but I’m just saying…. It would be a gorgeous love story for Lukola to one day be endgame, BUT in the meantime, I can see their current situations being all of thisss^

NOW in terms of my personal hopes and dreams of Lukola actually being endgame… I see it the way I see #Beliza 😅

Is anyone here from THOSE days?? When we used to look at #Bellarke and say, “if Bellamy is not supposed to be in love with Clarke, someone needs to tell Bob to stop looking at Eliza like that” (because we thought it was justtttt an acting choice)???

And then BAMMM

Out of absolutely fucking NOWHERE (I mean for some of us crazies that were following too closely it wasn’t 100% out of nowhere… but I knooooow that’s how the majority felt) they’re about to be filming the last season of the show and they’re just like yeah so GUESS WHAT GUYS I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND and everyone is like ??? 🤯 I mean y’all were definitely close friends when you were shooting and doing promo every year for sure but like when the fuck did you become actual bestttt friends irl??? When the fuck did you start dating???? When did you even decide you’d get married?? Cause just a few months ago we were still seeing both of your other public shipssss!!! (Let’s also fully jump over THAT drama 👀) And then they were just like, so ummm we kissed after our first date and we just KNEW this was ITTTT so we got married 2 seconds later cause like why wouldn’t we?? We are best friends and soulmatesssss ✨🌈🦄 🥰🦞

Anyway

That’s how I imagine Lukola to one day become official 🤷🏻‍♀️ Like they’ll date other people openly, and then suddenly OUT OF THE BLUE they’re MARRIED and everyone’s fucking confused AND elated! Lol

I do wonder if already having been so intimate with each other as Polin (unlike Bellarke, which, let’s just not think about that anymore either 😫) would delay or speed up Lukola if this were the case.

Like either it’ll speed them up because they know they LIKED all of THAT 👀 so by the time Bridgerton is officially coming to a close they’ll feel comfortable enough to stop being so professional about their relationship and acknowledge the 🐘 in the room and get on itttttt and get married 4 dates in… ORRRRR it will slow them down because they would continue to think they LIKED IT only because they were experiencing emotional residue from being too in character as Polin. Meaning the show would have to end and they’d have to actually part ways for a while, and they’d have to miss each other a LOTTT, and realize it wasn’t just Polin that created all this 🌩️ energy 🌩️ between them, and then one of them would need to just jump in the deep end and be like, so uhmmmm I thought I was feeling the tingles cause I was just super into being Colin but maybeee that wasn’t ittt…. so do you, errr… wanna??? 👀

My concern with option 2 is that it has higher potential for “ships that pass in the night” vibes 😫

So

GOD I humbly pray that it’s actually the first version, and that they’re just sowing their wild oats until Bridgerton is nearly over, justttt because they don’t wanna accidentally fuck up any work dynamics, and that as soon as the official end is in sight, they will just get married two seconds into dating irl AMEN 🙏🏼

[lukolabrainrot]

Since we’re accepting all the theories, I figured I’d throw my super delusional theory out there ;)

L and A were casual from their first meeting to throughout most of the press tour, and L was very open with A and N about this.

Somewhere on the press tour, L and N discussed their feelings and concluded together that they wanted to pursue those feelings. I think this conversation probably happened during the world tour portion of the press tour, particularly near the end (Brazil/Italy/Canada/Ireland, if I had to guess). This, to me, explains the change in behavior between L and N around this time.

L told N he would talk to A, and L broke off whatever romantic/sexual relationship they had. However, L already had trips planned with A/his friend group throughout the summer (Milan, GQ, R’s Italy birthday trip), and furthermore A was already integrated into the friend group. I believe L made it clear to both N and A that A would continue being part of the friend group and would still get to tag along to all the events/on all the trips.

I’ve always believed that A was with L less because she liked him/wanted to be with him, and more because she wanted the perks/the attention that came with being with him. So, when L broke things off, she was not happy. Being in the friend group would still get her the perks, but in order to fully capitalize, she would need to be perceived as L’s romantic partner.

Thus, Pap Gate 1.0. I’ve always believed that L had no idea about it, and that A or someone around her was behind it. It would also explain her behavior in the pics (reaching for his hand/trying to push the girlfriend narrative).

N gets upset, but L quickly explains to her that he had no idea that the pap walk was going to happen. N truly knows L, and therefore she (rightfully, in my mind) believes him.

Now, L and N have to change course. They still want to figure things out privately, but they realize that the public narrative has now been changed. The media are stating that L and A are rumored to be together.

I think L and N take this very unfortunate situation and decide to do with it the best that they can. They decide that the best course of action is for L and his team to not correct People magazine and to just continue letting the media push this narrative.

Why? Because it takes all of the heat off of their (L and N’s) relationship. So much of the media during the press tour was very much focused on their friendship and whether or not it was more than just friendship.

By L having a girlfriend who is not N, at least according to the public eye, the media had their answer: L and N were just good friends and L was dating A.

Meanwhile, A plays along because she craves the attention and wants to continue receiving the perks.

But L… God bless him. He’s a phenomenal actor, but he just can’t seem to act like he’s into A. The fandom continues to spin because his behavior does not match the narrative that he/his team are decidedly not pushing against.

The summer continues, and A realizes that L’s behavior around her is not giving off a good impression onto her. She needs the media to perceive her as L’s girlfriend, so she continues to create leaks in order to keep the narrative alive.

A’s posts eventually go too far and compromise L’s safety and she gets slapped with an NDA.

L and N still need a smokescreen, so they go with JD, who is happy to play along for the sake of his very good friend, N.

You know what... I'm loving the delulu Lukola theories rn.

Keep em coming y'all!

[gleefullypolin]

I hate that Shondaland is encouraging the fans shipping Nicola and Luke after the actors finally got them to stop after MONTHS of harassment because they're seemingly dating other people. And even if they weren't why would anyone ship two people and want them to marry? Can't Nic and Luke just have an incredible friendship like Kate and Leonardo? Shondaland doesn't care about its actors and it is so obvious. Now everyone on Twitter and Tumblr are shipping the actors again and I feel so bad for Nic and Luke.

Oh boy....

Well I have done my best to stay out of this discourse in our fandom but you caught me on an early morning work day and I'm hating work so I guess I'm gonna answer this.

First let me put this out there, there is nothing wrong with shipping. In fact, I got caught up in it myself during the World Tour as come on, Nic/Luke are adorable and they play our couple well and they have insane natural chemistry and well the WT was off the charts insane.

What I do have issue with, is taking shipping to the actors. Oof. That should always stay in fandom and never leave the brain rot of fandom. Tagging them, talking about it, doxxing, being crazy to one or the other about the other, stalking, the stuff I see out there....yeah that makes me nuts because it alters their behavior toward fandom. It causes them to withdraw or post differently and then fandom loses out and that's sad.

The other part is just personal respect for their lives, while I know they asked for this. They basically signed up for it by becoming actors, that signature only goes so far and we should respect that. When they choose to even mildly associate with other people in their personal life, that's a line I don't cross.

And look, I get it, while not trying to age myself, I come as an OG Glee fandom member. I was a day one Finchel shipper and I was there when Monchel was created. My friends and I followed every scrap there was of "where is Cory Monteith and Lea Michelle today" I was there when the Christmas Choir scene photo was posted by Kevin McHale and everyone in the world lost their fucking minds. I know how to follow a bread trail. I know who Perez Hilton is because he caught them eating dinner together and blew the whole thing open. I followed Cory Monteith from show to show like a fucking groupie and met him multiple times. So I get shipping real life and it almost broke me in two when he died.

So my point with that embarrassing detail about my past is that I'm not about to judge anyone for shipping Lukola, but maybe just dial it back people. It's not worth the heartache it causes when it either doesn't end up working out or it just ends up not being true. Shipping should be enjoyable, not a fight.

It wouldn't hurt to learn to tag properly tho. Lukola isn't polin and vice versa, the tags are a fucking mess and I get why those not on the train truly hate going to the Polin tag to see the discourse. Myself included. Sometimes you just want to enjoy the fictional couple in peace. That's the piece everyone signed on for with Polin in their username.

Anyway, just my two cents, I don't normally comment on this at all because I hate all the fighting so you caught me on a good day, or maybe a bad one, who knows.