#ugh just give us benophie already!!!

[hopepaigeturner]

I like so much all your posts about Benedict and Benophie💖💖💖 But can you explain please why you sure Benophie is s4? Because, after s3 swap, everything is on table

Me @ my Benophie daydreams...

Tbh, it's mainly wistful thinking but if I were to think about it...

Benedict's arc.

There is only so many seasons a viewer can go through with Benedict spiralling or becoming lost before the viewer gets bored. And there is a pattern through Bridgerton (not a surprising or bad one) of the Bridgerton wrtiers 'tearing down' the lead that is next up. We had Anthony's storyline in S1, Colin's comment about Penelope in S2 and hopefully Benedict in S3. You know, teh whole idea of 'the only way is up', allowing these protagonists space for their character to grow from.

2. There is a masquerade scene in Romancing Mr Bridgerton that they can use to set up Benophie.

This is an easy way to seamlessly transition between stories and retain the ''ensemble' structure of the show.

3. Eloise isn't ready.

I think I've said this before but Eloise's main motivations for pursuing Phillip is because Penelope gets married and she feels left out. Not only in the show is she even more anti-marriage but she also has a close bond with Benedict. If Benophie come first, then Eloise would have 'lost' both Penelope and her favourite brother, increasing her isolation.

I would also love for the writers to take the extra season to really chalenge Eloise's feminist ideals, get ehr to understand her own privilege within the ton in S3 (a stroyline that could help her understand Penelope's perspective more, helping that reconciliation), understand her privilege in relation to working class in S4 (Sophie as her maid) and then have S5 where she understands patriarhcal constrictions on men (Philip). See my post here for more info.

4. It is too early for Francesca.

At the moment we barely know anything about her. While S3 could set up her John romance, I would love a season where we just find out who Francesca is not in relation to men. With her story being a quasi-love-triangle, it is all too easy for Francesca to become defined by her relation to the Stirling brothers, especially if viewers know nothing about her beforehand. And I would hope the writers understand that. Also I've said before I have John-Francesca-Michael ideas as a parallel to Benophie in their season.

5. Greogory and Hyacinth are babies. Nuff' said.

So those are my reasons why Benophie should be next, but as you said Nonny--who knows!

Although if it ain't Benophie...

[hopepaigeturner]

Benophie Headcanon (part 1 of many...)

I don't know whether this has been mentioned already, but with Luke T able to speak French and Sophie being a canoncical french speak the possibilities are endless. So endless that I am going to keep this post about Benophie at balls.

Picture Benophie at a ball where Sophie is recieving many snide comments and insults veiled by smiles, but she cannot concentrate on any of that because Benedict is whispering in French, in vivd detail, all the things he wants to do to Sophie that night.

Picture the pair having an ongiong competition to see who breaks the other with their french flirtations.

Picture the pair making comments about their fellow ton without anyone realising.

Just picture the pair, Benedict especially, trying to do anything to make the balls a little more bearable for each other.

ADD ON:

Now most of the ton would be unable to understand these comments. That is...

One ball, Francesca is standing with Sophie (as the former has lost both John to death and Michael to India). Benedict waltzes up to his wife and they start their little french game. Five minutes in, after Francesca has had to ssufer yet another old lady giving condolences, she huffs and announces.

"Will you two cease! You do realise you are not the only members ofthis family who can speak French?"

Benedict starts spluttering, Sophie blushes furiously. Once they have calmed down they turn to one another and then back to Francesca.

"Tu veux jouer?" Sophie asks.

Because Sophie knows how it feels to be forced to watch and participate in empty revelry when all you want to do is be in the arms of the one you love.

From then on whenever Benophie and Francesca are at balls they speak in French, this time goading each other to see who will laugh first at the other's french comments.

And it takes years before any of the Birdgertons realise.

[hopepaigeturner]

Benophie "I see the way you looked at him when you think he doesn’t notice.”

Part 2 of Anon's requests here. A little (possible) scene for season 4 with peak Benophie angst and Mr Stirling captains of the Bridgerton Piners Club. (Prompt tweaked a little).

22. "I see the way you looked at him when you think he doesn’t notice.”

Sophie watched Benedict leave the drawing room, eyes unable to stop until his coattails had disappeared.

She’d seen the same pain in her eyes reflected in his, as they watched Lord Stirling and Francesca sitting on the sofa, basked in the afternoon sunlight and the glow of their recent engagement. She knew that Benedict, like her, had watched their little touches and entwined hands, the ardency in their gazes shining unabashedly for all the world to see.

And so, she was not shocked to see the yearning gaze in his eyes, a yearning for her, just as she yearned for him; in the moments after a rushed interaction in the shadows; in the moments when they slipped poetry to each other; the moments when they would pass each other in corridors and their hands would instinctively reach out to brush the other—but only find air.

The ofcourse their eyes had lingered, the pair entwined together until their shared feelings swelled, threatening to drown Sophie. So, she cut the line, turned away and moments later he had excused himself with a frown turned upside down.

Now she gave herself a little shake, reprimanding herself, reminding her of all the Bridgerton and Stirlings present.

She took a calming breath and reconstructed herself. She looked up to find Lord Stirling’s cousin, Mr Stirling, peering inquisitively at her.

Sophie’s heart stuttered—and not due to Mr Stirling’s handsome features.

She lent over Eloise’s shoulder and whispered.

“May I be excused; I must do some errands.”

“If you must,” Eloise whispered back, something mournful in her tone that almost made Sophie pause. Instead, she squeezed Eloise’s hand, shot her a final smile then slipped out of the room.

Finally, Sophie rested a little way down the landing, taking deep breaths.

How much longer could she bare this? How much longer until her heart burst from her chest?

“I do not think we have been introduced.”

Sophie looked up to find Mr Stirling towering over her, his handsome smirk directed at her.

While Sophie could admit Mr Stirling was particularly handsome—only Benedict ever made her weak at the knees.

Sophie bobbed demurely.

“How may I assist you Mr Stirling?”

“Ah-uh,” Mr Stirling stepped froward, Sophie stepped back. “See, you know my name, but I have yet to know yours.”

His voice was soft, but when Sophie found his eyes she saw a certain raggedness in them, a raggedness she recognised…

“Sophie Beckett. Now, Mr Stirling, is there anything I may assist you with?”

“Maybe you could…” his finger ran up and down her arm lightly. “Sophie—Sophia? Such a pretty name.”

Sophie stepped away.

“My name is Miss Beckett, and it seems I am unable to assist you. Good day, Mr Stirling.”

With that she walked away until—

“Then it is a pity my name does not end in Bridgerton—or perhaps that it does not start with a B.”

Ice shot down her spine.

“Your loyalty and affection to him—them, I mean, is remarkable,” he continued.

He grinned at her wolfishly as he stepped up and joined her. But still she saw that raggedness in his eyes—the one reflected back at her in her morning mirror.

“And it is indeed remarkable of your loyalty and affection for her—I mean, them, your future in-laws.”

For it was not only Benedict’s yearning she had recognised in that room.

Mr Stirling recoiled and Sophie took her chance.

“Good day, Mr Stirling,” one final customary curtsey and then she walked off.

“I see the way you look at him when you think he doesn’t know.”

Sophie paused again, for Mr Stirling’s voice had softened. She closed her eyes and tried to reassemble herself, paint on the giddy maid.

“Well, a maid can have her crushes can she not?” she replied over her shoulder.

“You love him.”

Sophie whirled around.

“You know nothing.”

“I see it in your eyes,” Mr Stirling started to walk towards her again, tread soft but not predatory. “You yearn for him, you stay up all night dreaming of him, even though you wake up with a piercing ache in your heart and you wonder whether you will always feel like this for the rest of your life.”

Mere steps away they stood both ruminating.

“It seems unfair how the world wends its ways,” she finally said.

“Indeed.”

“It does you credit.” Mr Stirling looked up at her, eyes wide. “To bear that pain and silence your heart for the ones you love. A true act of selflessness.”

“I think greed, coveting and lust would be more apt words in my case.”

His words reminded her of the Benedict at the beginning of their stay at My Cottage, using words as light as feathers to hide the bruised heart.

“Why is it that the most honourable of men cannot see their true merit?”

“A question for the ages.”

Suddenly they heard male voices, and, like a bird, Sophie’s ears identified Benedict’s voice.

“Good day, Mr Stirling. I wish you good fortune.”

“You are the fortunate one Miss Beckett,” Mr Stirling murmured, his brown eyes as soft as his voice, “for I see the way he looks at you when he thinks you do not notice.”

Sophie’s breath hitched and then he spun and walked towards the drawing room, rolling his shoulders like a knight preparing for his final battle. Sophie lingered for one more moment as Benedict and Anthony came into view. Benedict’s eyes drifted over Mr Stirling towards her. Their eyes met and she saw that same look again, that yearning and even at this distance it clogged her throat as palpable as the warmth in her heart when he gave her a sad smile.

Sophie rushed off, closing her eyes to hold back her tears.

*~*~*~*

Ugh these two are going to break our hearts when they shine on the screen...

I think the Francesca and John storyline would be a really great storyline to cover in s4 because I think they could contrast/compliment other;s character's journeys...but that is for another post.

Let me know what you think!

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