A little bit of everythng

nyx | in my 20s | she/her/hers perpetually fangirling over fictional couples multifandom mess currently obsessed with Heated Rivalry

[eightyonextwentyfour]

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AAAAHHHHH this is sooo fucking adorable

hockey husbands for real ❤️❤️❤️

[littlegirlinvisible]

HEATED RIVALRY (2025—) 1.04: ROSE

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God, the way he stares at himself -

Connor Storrie, the man that you ARE. The way his facial expression shifts??? I don’t even need to have the book open to know exactly what he’s conveying in this scene.

It’s the sheer rage that he messed up the game. That he let himself get distracted by something as dangerous as feelings. Because he’s the “tough Russian”, right? The one who doesn’t fall for anything soft or simple. The one who’s not supposed to let some nice Canadian boy get under his skin.

And that’s what kills him. He’s not just mad - he’s furious at himself for being compromised. For slipping. For feeling. And I love it. I love this so much.

Also, I still cannot get over how Connor Storrie can completely transform—how he can become Ilya, channel that icy stoicism, and make it look effortless.

Sir??? You didn’t have to go this hard, but you DID.

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Two weeks later, and I’m still emotionally possessed

Because yes: I have now re-watched the entire show and that episode specifically, because it deserves to be paused, replayed, stared at, and then screamed about.

like. every single frame.

And somehow—somehow—I only just realised they didn’t include the proposal scene from the book???

i literally shot up from my couch like an activated sleeper agent, which is INSANE given how many times i’ve already rewatched this show.

My brain just accepted the ending without question. I fully forgot about the book’s epilogue..........and honestly?

That tells you how good the finale was!!

Because what we did get was the quiet certainty of choosing each other.

Not a “happily ever after,” but a happy for now—and it felt perfect, especially knowing they didn’t even know if they’d get another season.

All the parallels to earlier scenes are still there—except now everything happens in the light. no shadows. no hiding. Their intimacy here is softer. warmer. brighter.

I love how these episodes feel like this little protected bubble where they’re finally allowed to exist together. Their years-long entanglement doesn’t just end—it settles. It becomes intentional. It becomes love.

It becomes certain.

This is one of those rare adaptations that actually elevates the source material. The book is good, simple, and emotionally grounded. People call it “good fanfic”—and honestly? It is. But the show adds layers: Ilya’s backstory, Svetlana. Shane’s identity and pressure, the neuroticism, and the acts of service.

All of it clearer. deeper. louder.

I will never get enough of them.

Hudson and Connor’s portrayal of Shane and Ilya has fully ruined me in the best way.

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🚨 SHANE & ILYA ARE COMING BACK AND MY BRAIN HAS LEFT THE CHAT 🚨

Do my eyes deceive me??? I just saw something that made my soul leave my body.

An official third book in the Shane & Ilya series!!! Book seven.

At first, I thought it had to be fake—photoshopped, a cruel joke, misinformation era nonsense. But no. It’s REAL.

I have been hoping and praying for a third book for so long. I haven’t even finished The Long Game yet, and I’m already spiralling.

As a certified Heated Rivalry fan, I’ve been inhaling every interview of Heated Rivalry content like it’s oxygen. I remember her blog where she said a sequel was possible.

And that Elle India interview from December 2025 where she said it wasn’t a “no”… just a maybe, if she found the right story.

Fast forward, and now there’s an official listing for September 2026. Tell me why I am losing my mind.

Like—my dreams??? Manifested. I did peek at the synopsis (zero self-control), and I am still vibrating at a molecular level.

Wait. HOLD ON.

What if… this is what Season 3 has been building toward???

What if Jacob Tierney and everyone else already knew this was coming???

I am not emotionally prepared.

I am so fucking excited.

Hollanov nation, we might actually be winning.

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the Ilya Rozanov duality strikes again

If I knew nothing about Heated Rivalry and this was my first introduction to Ilya Rozanov —

sitting there with those besotted, puppy-eyed looks, openly adoring Shane - I would never believe this man is the confident, commanding presence the books describe.

Like… sir?

Was this you just a few years ago? Giving that unmistakable soft-dom energy.

And yes, there's a lot of time and growth between the two of them

But damnnnn....Love really does change a guy.

Because early Ilya is all interest and intrigue—that sharp, assessing look that says you’re hot and I want you.

And later Ilya? That’s devotion. That’s I want you because I love you, written all over his face with absolutely no shame.

This version of him—soft, eyes full of affection and adoration—feels completely unguarded. No walls. No performance. Just Ilya, letting Shane have his full attention by simply existing.

And then, of course, it turns playful.

The pout. The little spark of an idea. The moment he decides, he wants Shane’s attention now and zeroes in like a man on a mission.

Wildly different energies. Same man. Same devotion—to Shane

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THE CHIN-GRAB PARALLELS™

Ilya holds his chin ➝ Shane’s head tilts back automatically...like putty

Heated Rivalry 1.02 → 1.06

It's like a Pavlovian response

Deeply submissive? Oh, absolutely

More than that - it's the trust. The way Shane just lets go, follows the motion, and allows Ilya to take the lead.

chin grab detected → compliance engaged

Yeah, that boy is gone gone

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From stressing over open windows in Vegas to confidently inviting his situationship into a glass-walled cottage - Shane Hollander, everyone.

Baby boy’s all grown up nowww.

He’s settled. He’s secure. He knows exactly who he is and what he wants - to love and be loved by Ilya, openly, boldly, unapologetically.

And the confidence??? sir. SIR.

That intense eye contact with Ilya’s mouth?

No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just I know what I want and I’m not waiting anymore energy.

That smile - all flirtatious, saying follow me - as he leads Ilya toward the couch? Yeah.........Shane’s taking the lead for a change.

And the lead upto Shane’s bedroom, when he half-heartedly reaches for the blinds and Ilya disagrees -

There’s no real resistance. Just playful surrender. Trust. Comfort in being wanted.

Getting pressed up against glass walls, completely unguarded, those soft, yearning eyes giving him away every time…

Honestly? I can’t even pretend to be surprised by how confident and settled he’s become in his desires and attraction.

Sexually liberated Hollander, you have my heart.

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This Is "The Cottage" Waiting Room

There’s less than 12 hours left until the finale of Heated Rivalry drops....so here's hoping that some of my personal faves from part 4 of the book make an appearance

A jealous Ilya making a reappearance

Them planning their future together… actually just end me already.

And ofc Shane getting romantically railed by the love of this life... loving loud and free

Ilya and Shane just loving each other openly. No hiding. No pretending. Just them.

Relaxing together in their little private haven—soft smiles, easy touches, that quiet intimacy.

And my absolute favourite… the one that makes me giggle and leaves my heart so painfully full

51 minutes of romance, tenderness, and showing their love with zero inhibitions. No walls. No fear. Just devotion. Hudson and Connor are gonna knock it out of the park with their performance.

I’m ready. I’m not ready.

I will be staring at my screen like this: 🥹😭🫠

Finale, do your worst. I’m begging you.

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I don’t know if this is intentional or if I’m reading too much into it, but this show is soo deliberate with the details.....I’m taking my shot.

When Ilya talks about his family in Russia treating him like a bank, an asset, someone who exists to provide - it’s not just about money.

It’s about expectation. About being useful. About making sure everything is perfect, even when care or respect is never returned.

He talks about the clothes being right, the food being exactly how everyone likes it, and making sure everyone has what they need.

And I can’t stop thinking about the tuna melt scene - when he asks if Shane’s ginger ale is cold enough.

On the surface, it’s sweet. Thoughtful. Intimate.

Ilya already knows Shane likes ginger ale - but he still checks. Still wants it to be right. Perfect.

And yes, it’s tender. Soft-boy Ilya ftw. But it also feels like muscle memory. Like this is how Ilya has learned to love: anticipating needs, adjusting himself, making sure everyone else is satisfied.

That same instinct that makes him such a gentle, caring partner - is also the thing that’s been demanded of him his entire life.

Which makes the moment both beautiful....and a little heartbreaking.

Because Ilya caring for Shane feels genuine and chosen - but it’s impossible not to see how much of that care comes from years of being told that this is his value.

And god.

That hurts.

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OKAY, but can this scene get ANY cuter???

The way Shane reaches for Ilya with that adorable, high-pitched voice, completely zonked on pain meds?? I will be replaying this forever.

He just wants to hold Ilya’s hand. Please. End me now.

And the heart rate monitor — I’m losing my mind.

110 bpm → 105 bpm → 97 bpm

Dropping, the longer Ilya talks to him and holds his hand. The amount of detail they put into these scenes is actually insane.

Tell me that’s not love. I dare you.

The soft touches. That cheek caress. Ilya is so gentle with him - that’s his precious boy, and he LOVES him. Of course, he touches the freckles. We know that’s his weakness.

AND THEN - because this show hates my peace... when Ilya gets ready to leave, Shane’s heart rate is 81.

81. Ilya’s jersey number.

Coincidence? Maybe. Do I care? Absolutely not.

I am a sucker for emotions revealed through hospital monitors, and this show KNOWS it.

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The Ilya monologue is heartbreakingly beautiful, and it makes me tear up every single time. Connor absolutely deserves awards for this - the pain in his voice is devastating: the quiver, the pauses, the swallow, the way he closes his eyes just to get the words out.

You can feel the weight of his family, the financial burden, the years of carrying everything alone. He’s trying so hard not to cry.....and that restraint somehow makes it hurt even more.

But God, Shane’s expressions destroyed me. Hudson Williams, acting without saying a single word, is phenomenal.

Because Shane knows he won’t understand any of it....and yet you can see him prepare himself to listen anyway. He takes a breath. Settles in. Closes his eyes. Like he’s saying: I’m here. I’m paying attention. I’m not going anywhere.

He listens to the tone, the inflection, the breaks in Ilya’s voice. His brow furrows. His eyes go glassy. He can’t interrupt, can’t fix it, can’t even fully understand it - but feels the pain anyway.

That quiet support? That’s love.

And when Ilya finally says he’s done - that small pause - Shane opens his eyes and smiles, just a little. Not because everything’s okay, but because Ilya got it out. Because he survived the moment.

“I wish I spoke Russian.”

That line makes me choke every time. It’s so simple, and it says everything: I want to understand you. I want to meet you where you are. I care about you.

They may not have a label yet, but the affection is undeniable. Shane doesn’t need words to be present, and Ilya doesn’t need to be understood to be heard.

It’s tender. And it’s one of the most emotionally honest scenes the show has ever given us.

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So yes, I stayed up to watch Episode 5 of Heated Rivalry....and I regret nothing. Sleep deprivation? Irrelevant. And I need to talk about that restaurant scene...because wow.

I. Love. Rose. Landry. The way she supports Shane without pressure or judgment - just gentle curiosity and care- is everything.

And that montage?? Have I mentioned how much I love a montage?? Because that was perfect storytelling. Jacob Tierney, you did that.

Because the montage isn’t about sex. It’s about feeling.

“Have you ever been with a guy?” - cut to their first charged interaction in the bathroom

“Was it different with a guy?” - cut to that soft stairwell kiss before Ilya leaves — Shane absolutely heart-eyed, already gone.

“Was it better?” - cut to the hotel room, to Shane’s hesitation, and then that moment where he just goes fuck it and gives in to the need to kiss him.

These aren’t their later, well-oiled hookups. This was the beginning - uncertain, tender, terrifying. The moments where something shifts for Shane, even if he wasn’t ready to name it yet.

And as those memories resurface, it becomes clear..... he enjoyed them.

So Shane is sitting there, with clarity finally settling in......that he’s not straight.

Hudson Williams is phenomenal here. The teary eyes. The way he looks down, swallows, tries not to cry. And then that relief - subtle but unmistakable - when he finally admits it. Not just to Rose, but to himself. You can feel the weight lifting. It’s such a huge step for Shane. Letting it be real

And honestly? These 55 minutes. Bless. I was gone within the first five minutes. This episode is quietly stunning.

Anyways.......off to bed. I will absolutely be ranting more about this gem later.

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One of my new favourite Shane/Ilya micro-moments happens right after THAT scene in Ilya’s Boston place (yes, that one - stretch marks, impeccable riding, we all survived).

They’re relaxed. Comfortable. Half-asleep together. And Ilya cannot stop looking at him.

He’s got his arm around Shane, holding him close, and instead of resting, he’s just… watching.

Soft. Adoring. Completely gone.

Like he’s memorizing Shane’s face — freckles included, because of course that’s his weakness.

Then Shane stirs. And -

Ilya fake-wakes up.

Sir. Were you pretending this whole time???

The tiny blink. The barely-there eye twitch. That subtle “oh, I just woke up too” performance — like he wasn’t openly staring at Shane with heart-eyes two seconds ago. It’s gentle, it’s human, and it makes it painfully clear that this man is down BAD.

Ilya keeps his emotions on lockdown, pretends everything is casual and under control, but ......he’s a lover boy, even if he doesn’t know how to admit it yet.

I genuinely can’t stop replaying this scene. It’s quiet, intimate, blink-and-you-miss-it — and it tells you everything about how deep he’s already in.

Ilya Rozanov, you are not slick. And it’s adorable.

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I love that little montage of them checking the calendar at practice, not even trying that hard to look subtle and professional. Two captains, pretending they’re just tracking the next Boston vs. Montreal matchup - because rivals, obviously - when really they’re internally smirking, texting each other, and basically vibrating with I can’t wait to see you energy.

The small smiles. The way they light up just thinking about the next time they’ll meet. There’s this perfect blend of professional expectation and personal anticipation that feels so them. They’re equals on the ice, rivals who thrive on competition — and somehow it all turns into this quiet, delicious kind of foreplay.

There's Ilya watching Shane lift the Stanley Cup, alone in the privacy of his own home — all soft smiles and unguarded pride. He’s clearly proud of him and can’t even pretend otherwise.

And Shane texting Ilya after winning the Cup again? He’s in the locker room, celebrating with champagne and teammates, and the person he thinks of is… him. The guy he’s hooking up with. The guy he keeps telling himself is “just part of the rivalry.” Shane is already fond — he just hasn’t caught up to that realization yet.

They’re still keeping their flirty rivalry “on ice,” and it’s ridiculously hot. I’m genuinely glad the show included this montage. It’s intimate without being obvious, and it says so much with so little.

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That moment when Shane and Ilya use each other’s first names? Easily a suspended-in-air moment. Everything goes quiet - the kind of silence where something big is about to crack open. And the show just lets us sit in it.

Because the second Shane’s guard drops, you see something bloom in Ilya. Not lust — soft affection, maybe the first flicker of something he can’t admit yet. And that kiss? He doesn’t go for the mouth. He goes for the cheek, rubs his nose, the kind of affection when you want closeness, not just heat.

The way he lifts his chin, leaning in, trying to get closer to Shane? That’s someone who is starving for affection and quietly asking for more.

And then it just… shatters

The recoil - you can see it hit Ilya like a cold wave the second Shane panics. Shane is spiralling into his own crisis, convinced things are getting too real. But from Ilya’s side? It feels like he opened his chest for one second… and scared Shane away.

The devastation on Ilya’s face when Shane lies about the “team meeting” is brutal. He knows it’s an excuse. Responsible, rule-following Hollander does not forget meetings. And the look he gives him - this tiny, incredulous really? — hurts more than the lie itself.

And then the worst part: he tries to slam his walls back up. Calling him “Hollander” twice like he’s desperately rewinding the moment, trying to pretend everything’s fine — we can go back to normal, right? His little head shake, the attempt to reassure both of them… but he’s gutted, and trying so hard not to show it.

It’s their first true emotional collision - two young guys, both terrified, both vulnerable in completely different ways. Shane overwhelmed and unsure; Ilya convinced that showing even a hint of affection pushed Shane away.

It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautifully acted. And it sets up their entire emotional arc so perfectly that I cannot stop thinking about it.

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I woke up early to watch Episode 4 of Heated Rivalry, and… oh my god. Worth. Every. Second. I’m still buzzing. This episode was an emotional rollercoaster in the best possible way, and I genuinely could dissect every frame if Tumblr would let me write a dissertation in the tags.

But I have to talk about two specific moments that absolutely grabbed me -

Part One: The Montage (2014–2016)

I loved how they emphasized Ilya’s time in Russia, where training and working out become his escape - the one place where he has any control. And at the same time, he’s caring for his dad: organizing meds watching over him while Alzheimer’s slowly takes him away… all while possibly yelling at his brother, who’s clearly not pulling his weight.

It’s such a sharp look at Ilya’s world:

emotionally neglected by his father

financially and emotionally exploited by his brother

carrying the burden anyway, because he can’t stop caring

Part Two: Ilya’s House in Boston

The moment he hangs up after talking to his dad and brother? You see him fall apart for a split second — the panic, the guilt, the helplessness. Then he adjusts his mother’s cross, takes a breath, and it’s like watching someone put a mask back on.

Even the tiny gesture where he shakes out his hands before returning to the couch… he’s forcing himself to pull it together, to shake off the tension, because he cannot let Shane see him like that.

There’s so much vulnerability simmering just beneath the surface with Ilya, and Connor captures it with this quiet, steady intensity that makes every moment feel loaded. This episode deepened his character in a way that feels honest and heartbreaking.

And honestly? If this is the level of detail they’re giving his backstory, that upcoming Russia monologue Jacob Tierney mentioned is going to destroy us. I am 100% sure Connor is about to deliver something unforgettable — and my poor Ilya is finally going to get the emotional breakthrough he deserves.

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Okay, this scene has had me in a full chokehold since the moment it dropped… truly for all the right reasons. Hudson as Shane is doing career-best work here — the eye contact, the soft brown eyes, that shimmer of hurt and longing, the yearning. No wonder it’s his favourite scene.

Shane’s been ghosted for six months by the man who completely captured his attention...and suddenly Ilya is right there again, giving him all this attention. Of course, it hits like a truck. And every rewatch, I fixate on the same thing: the way Shane’s whole face lights up when Ilya looks at him. That is a man in love, period.

And the way his eyes keep dropping to Ilya’s mouth?? Like he physically cannot stop himself from tracking his lips - hungry, hopeful, a little devastated. He’s missed him so much that he’s practically glowing and trembling at the same time. Shane is being so vulnerable here, and Hudson plays it with this quiet, aching openness that wrecks me every time.

His eyes follow Ilya’s mouth as he pulls away because he wants a kiss so badly he can’t even hide it. He looks glassy-eyed, love-drunk, and so wildly out of his depth with whatever this thing is between them.

This scene has honestly rewired my brain. Instant addition to my all-time favourite rewatch moments.