#tennis throuple ftw

[coldblooded-angel]

Another incoming long ask about Challengers! Really digging how this love triangle shows the nuances of all three's needs/wants/jealousies/passions.

Like Art wouldn't feel left out if he knew Patrick and Tashi talked about him while having sex or that they are deeply concerned with him quitting the sport altogether. Art doesn't acknowledge that Patrick pulled the chair closer or visited him before Tashi at Stanford. He doesn't see from our eyes how Tashi might sleep with Patrick but chooses to stay with Art and only threatens to leave Art cuz without their shared love of tennis then the relationship is truly dead (tennis is how they met after all and what made them happy). It's twisted but Patrick and Tashi do care for Art despite the cheating stuff bc Art was always supposed to be included. College Art is surprised Tashi is still dating Patrick, meanwhile Tashi and Patrick are rooting for Art because as much as all three are lovers they were admirers of each other's skills.

With Tashi she has a love/hate with both boys. She loves what they can do for her, loves watching good fucking tennis, enjoys the makeout in the room where she leads them to kiss for her entertainment (also cuz she peeped the boy bestie attraction). She also hates that their drive can't match hers even when she's out for the count while they're still in the game. Can only imagine how big of a star Tashi would've been if not for her injury or even if she was a guy therefore having more chances at playing against Patrick and Art in true competitive form. For Art, losing isn't that big of a deal cuz in the end he still married Tashi despite not winning the initial game for her. For Patrick, losing isn't that big of a deal if it's Art who is his opponent playing for keeps. For Tashi, though, losing is a big tragic deal cuz she was a game changer and now it's probably the racist bitch or others like her that she beat out standing in the spot Tashi should've been in. Tashi loves the innocence of Patrick and Art when it comes to playing tennis in its purest form but hates that they don't see the importance of making this sport as big as Michael Jordan did basketball or Serena Williams for tennis, they are supposed to raise the bar and set a new standard and instead Tashi's boys are having a pity party rather than sticking to the plan Tashi was planting seeds to harvest.

Then we have Patrick who wants to keep both Tashi and Art, but both are separate from him as they chose college and it's the same college both are attending. Patrick teases Art and never says how much he loves Art but he shows in his actions. He coaches Art and that's why he can clash with Tashi who technically replaces coaching Art, which is why they butt heads in the car about "letting Art win" and how to do it. Patrick sees himself, worst and best traits, in Tashi and Art. Tashi is the more competitive side while Art is the fun side. Tashi challenges Patrick, seducing him only for him to seduce her later down the line, again a power struggle that's more like a game for them. Art reminds Patrick of being silly, he can't be mad or frowned up at Art, even when calling out Art actively trying to breakup Tashi and Patrick. To Patrick, Tashi crossed the line of cheating Art out of a win, but Patrick never thinks Art crossed the line by - as Tashi put it - "being a bad friend". Patrick likes when Art is sneaky and playing unfair, he tolerates and gets excited about it.

And it's interesting to me that Tashi and Patrick are so headstrong but rely on Art to be there. Patrick misses playing with Art. Tashi recovered with Art by her side. They know Art can be just as manipulative as them, is not as competitive as them, yet Art is the one living their dreams of playing good tennis since Patrick is broke and Tashi is forever injured. Art never had the heart they did but somehow he is considered the best, but tennis isn't fun if he doesn't have both Tashi and Patrick watching him/playing against him cuz they're the only ones that mattered.

Listen friend idk what else you want me to say except your brain is so big and this take is literally 10/10. You’re so right !!! This is exactly why the throuple works because they all need each other and the couples (for example, Art and Tashi’s marriage) doesn’t work if the third isn’t there. It falls flat because it’s incomplete.

[coldblooded-angel]

This is literally the cutest fucking thing I have ever seen i spit in the face of every throuple non-truther !!!!