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[sagelessichor]

I’ve been seeing this a lot in fics lately and it’s been kinda pissing me off so I feel I just have to say this: the reason why hollanov work is *because* they are equals. One is not better than the other yall.

You think Shane “gets turned off when his boyfriend loses his games” Hollander would actually want to be with someone who wasn’t as good as him? The whole reason why they’re rivals, why they work together as friends and as partners, is because they are equals on pretty much every single level. Neither of them are the better hockey players than the other because they are literally both tied for first. They are leagues ahead of anyone else in the league with only the other to match them. They are equals. They can only talk to each other abt their hot takes on hockey bc they’ll say shit like “idk I js think that if you score on an empty net it shouldnt count” and the other will go like “right???” meanwhile if they said that to anybody else they’d get ragged on for being arrogant. Nobody does it like they do, Your Honor.

now while I do personally believe that Shane is the more analytical player and Ilya is more instinctual in his playing, they’re both still tied for first. They are both generational talents and they know it, they know that they can only be challenged properly by the other and that’s part of the attraction/thrill for them.

but like, I keep seeing fics where at some point they mention that Shane is the better hockey player or that Shane is the best hockey player in the league and Ilya is second and like. no. Their whole thing as rivals is that they are equals, they can only be matched by each other. If they weren’t equals in every meaningful way, they wouldn’t be rivals. (And I do believe in my heart that if they weren’t rivals, shane’s interest in Ilya would’ve plummeted and vice versa.)

and like don’t get me wrong, I love Shane as a character, but we as a fandom do tend to make it look like Ilya doesn’t care about hockey. Now, Shane’s life is pretty much 100% hockey, yes, but if Shane’s life is 100% hockey then Ilya’s life is 95% hockey. Just because we typically only see Ilya in clubs in the books or fucking Shane or eating shit does not mean he doesn’t take hockey seriously. He does, he has to to be one of the best in the entire league, it’s just that all that shit happens off screen and. well. it’s clear that Shane’s got some problems regarding control in his life and often restricts his diet or his workouts for a sense of control meanwhile Ilya goes to clubs and drinks to feel in control of his life so we’re shown Ilya in clubs and fucking instead of training. It (their need for control stemming from the pressure of being generational talents, the pressure from the media, from the fans, from themselves, from their families) shows differently for both of them (and we tend to make those coping mechanisms their entire personalities) but at the end of the day, it’s another point where Shane and Ilya are equals/understand each other in a way no one else could. Fucking around with their health in order to feel in control due to the immense pressure from the media, family, and from constantly being number 1.

not to mention ilya’s whole “Hollander’s weak backhand” joke is just so much funnier when they’re equals. Like sure they are equals in literally almost every single thing, but ilya’s backhand is 0.00000005% stronger than Shane’s and while that difference is nothing to anyone else it’s jarring to them and it’s just funny because sure Shane’s backhand is better than pretty much everyone else’s in the league besides this one motherfucker who won’t let it go.

idk yall I js think their relationship is so much more delectable when we recognize that they’re equals

[loonieluna]

The way this fandom uses depression as a way for other characters to gaslight the person with depression really needs to be studied. (And it would be one thing if they were tagging it as toxic or whatever rather than tagging it as HEA. Explore the dark side, but tag it correctly.)

Just because a character has depression does not mean that when they are sad or when other characters are doing objectively toxic things to them that it's all automatically in the depressed person's head.

Because how are you writing a fanfic from an objective style (not even from an unreliable narrator style) where you have Shane's friends all say very demeaning things to Ilya and have Shane blow up at Ilya and tell him that it's his fault that no one likes him, and then beyond that have Ilya's own friend tell him he was being dramatic by leaving Shane's place without giving Shane more of a chance to explain - after being told he was at fault for literally everyone in his partner's life spewing toxic bs at them because "you know your depression makes you takes things more seriously". ? And the fic ends with Ilya apologizing for being upset because it was "just his depression" the whole time?

Even if you are coming from an unreliable narrator style, then you need to not put so many instances of actual toxic behavior for everyone to "overlook" for the depression because then the unreliable narrator is not unreliable. They're just a narrator, and you're claiming they're unreliable because they have depression.

If Ilya had not had depression in the book ( and I really wish he didn't because RR did a shit job of portraying it, and then this fandom went forward with perpetuating some of the most inconsiderate stereotypes of people with depression), but if he did not have depression and most of these stories or headcanons had played out beat for beat the same, not a single reader would have wondered why Ilya walked out.

(BTW. This is not about 1 particular story. This is a trend in this fandom.)

It's disturbing how so many people in the fandom give a free pass to problematic/toxic actions of some characters because the character they're performing the actions toward has depression, so, apparently, their view of a situation can never be trusted? Their feelings are never valid?

People with depression should just stay in a toxic situation because we don't know when it's actually toxic vs our brains "just being extra sad"?

(And I have a lot of feelings about how the fandom approaches Shane's autism as well, but I feel those issues are being addressed better by people with autism whom the fandom is also talking over)

[bighologramnightmare]

I hate the idea of Hayden being traded to the Centaurs. He doesn't belong there. Sadly, I do think its going to happen in the next book.

[hyphenemdash]

look i love fic ilya being the ultimate wag but if this is a safe space to speak #mytruth…

#myilya is not retiring before shane, and #myshane would literally be nauseated if he did. like these boys are meant to be at the TOP toGETHER. they will play together until even the most dedicated hollander/rozanov stans are quietly asking if maybe it might be time for retirement. they are pushing each other to their physical limits every time they are on the ice together. they are playing deadly good hockey up until the last fucking moment of reason. they are winning cups, they are raising rookies, they are giving every last drop of blood sweat and tears to this game, but also to each other. because hockey is so intrinsically tied to their love for one another, they can’t be decoupled. they met each other because of hockey. they were forced together because of hockey. they proved that they can only rival each other because of hockey. they get to spend every second of every day together because. of. hockey.

like imagine (in this world of hollanov RPF) the bewilderment shane would feel at hearing that people imagine ilya domesticated and raising kids and dogs only a few years into their marriage. shane feels a little guilty about his gut reaction, but fuck, the first thing that made shane attracted to ilya other then his stunning fucking face in those russian clips was the way ilya played. before the two of them even met, shane knew ilya was the only player who could come close to his talent and drive. and before he knew that ilya’s accent could make his blood simmer, or that his body would make shane literally weak in the knees, or that the simplest touch from ilya would put shane in that pleasant floaty place, he knew he was turned on by ilya’s talent. so was it so unbelievable that shane thought, just maybe, he would lose a little bit of that spark with his husband if ilya wanted to quit so soon?

the guilt isn’t necessary, because when shane brings up the idea to ilya, his husband is also fucking offended. because why would ilya fucking rozanov—russian menace, second fastest skater in the league, three time award winner for best captain—quit? to what? stand in the fucking family box with shane’s name on his back? sit at home with dogs and kids while shane is on the road? give up this thing that freed him from the cold clutches of russia and all it meant to him, that gave him purpose, that gave him shane?

and of course they want kids. they know they do. but they figured they’d adopt when they’re retired, maybe an older kid because of their age. or maybe they’ll be up for surrogacy, depending on how late they waited to retire and how brutal hockey was to their bodies. but they had years — many many fucking years — to figure it out. and in the meantime, they will continue to be the only two who can challenge each other, the only two who can push each other, the only two at the top. together.

[spnsocks]

I resent the fact that Ilya is obviously an Ovechkin stand in and so many fanfic authors really just write him as like always obviously behind Shane when I really think the point isn't that one or the other is the best, but they are in a constant push-pull for who's best. And Ovechkin is like the only player who ever score more than 900 goals over his career so Ilyas character is clearly not meant to be That Dude Who's Obviously the Worse of the Two at Hockey

[kalinara]

I think my least favorite interpretation of Ilya is the "oh, Ilya's the big romantic and his kinks are really just hearts and flowers and domesticity. SHANE is the sex obsessed kinkster pervert of the two."

And I mean, I get that this is more compensation for annoying tropes, and maybe some book stuff mixed in (from what I understand, the show definitely puts a bit more emphasis on the kink than the book does.)

But IN THE SHOW:

Ilya is the one who, after a nice little race/show of dominance at the gym, hands Shane his water bottle and commands him to drink. And commands him to keep going, just because he can.

Ilya is the one who, at the CCM shoot, starts jerking off in the shower at Shane. Then later, in the hotel room, you could even make an argument that he engages in both orgasm denial and forced orgasm kink when he pretends to leave before reciprocating and then continues the blow job swallowing, despite Shane trying to push him off.

Ilya is the one who tells him to drop to his knees at All Stars.

Shane keeps Ilya on the hook for two years, but Ilya persists in sending an unsolicited dick pic and flirting/propositioning the whole time.

Ilya is the one with a past with someone who, at least to my eyes, seems to be playing brat to his tamer in Russia - with the implication that the game itself isn't new to him even though the rejection is.

Ilya's the one who initiates the bathroom scene in Vegas (2.0). He's set up the exhibitionist scene in the penthouse suite.

Ilya is the one who says "No, after" when Shane wants to talk at Ilya's house. Then during the sex scene Shane initiates, is the one commanding "make me" and spitting in his hand. (I mention this only because I've seen this scene cited as a reverse of the dynamic, and I disagree with that interpretation for the aforementioned reasons.)

Ilya's also the one giving commands during phone sex ("glasses stay on") and making advances when Shane is on the phone with Hayden at the cottage. And, while it isn't sexual, I will never let go of the way he scruffs Shane's neck during the latter's panic attack at the dinner table with his parents. IN FRONT OF HIS PARENTS.

I'm not saying Ilya ISN'T romantic. Or that Shane isn't a very enthusiastic participant!

But Ilya is definitely NOT a passive participant in their kinky adventures. From the beginning, he's known exactly what he like and he makes that very clear to both Shane and the audience.

[loonieluna]

If either of them retired before the other it would be #myshane who has learned that hockey is not everything in the world.

#MyShane who has realized how much hockey took from him over the years and how often in the past he chose hockey over not only his loved ones but himself. How he gave so much of himself for hockey, and how it didn't give him back the same things (other than giving him Ilya).

So while I would prefer if both retired together, I can see #myShane going on a LTIR for any reason and realizing how good it feels to have full control of his schedule, to challenge himself in new ways with actual hobbies, and how he's now able to be the one providing support to others.

[dropthedemiurge]

I am fascinated by Twitter discourse that, apparently, Shane and Ilya's love is POC x White Guy with all Racism vs Rich Guy consequences. That Ilya invalidates Shane's struggles and fears of coming out because he's not risking as much and he's privileged compared to Asian boy in Canada.

... Do people really not understand that Heated Rivalry is POC x POC and Trauma Box vs Trauma Box? 😔 Do they watch the show blindfolded because Ilya is risking way more than social acceptance (namely, freedom and life itself) and it's precisely because of this he struggles to empathize with Shane's fears (that seem such low stakes in comparison).

[loonieluna]

TLG can be boiled down to:

Shane is self-centered to an unhealthy degree and as a result hurts both his partner and himself.

and

Ilya is self-sacrificing to an unhealthy degree and as a result hurts both his partner and himself.

They're consistently same sides of a coin but at times veer so opposite. It's what makes them equals and rivals and actually good together.

[actuallysara]

shane hollander is a jock, a dude, a 200 pounds man, a captain, he's been giving interviews and speeches before he could even walk, he plays in front of thousands and thousands of people and loud af crowds, he's a performer, he's constantly in front of cameras, he's been under scrutiny his whole life, he's an athlete, he breathes-eats-sleeps-shits sport, he swears, he's masculine, his hockey gear is probably putrid, he's a certified mcgymbro™, he only wears athletic stuff, he models, he does commercials, his main personality trait is hockey, he's kissed and hugged by his sweaty teammates in the locker room, he's ripped, he's an asshole, he's sarcastic, he's a bitch, he uses "fuck" every three words, he hires a stylish and a designer because his taste is bro. and he is all that while being neurodivergent too.

[donutsky]

One thing about Heated rivalry is that they make me believe they genuinely want each other. The way that they kiss and all the other scenes, it is so obvious they like each other. Sooo why are we writing Shane that he always annoyed at Ilya? Did we forget about bathroom scene? He was looking at Ilya with stars in his eyes, mind you, after got ghosted for 6 months. That man don’t get annoyed at his husband. On the contrary he is the enabler. Ilya wants to prank people. Shane makes the plans. Ilya wants to eat out. Shane finds the restaurant for them. Ilya wants kiss. Shane is running to give him. So no Shane doesn’t get annoyed when his husband acts himself. He loves it and makes sure Ilya feels good enough to be himself.

[loonieluna]

I'm a Shane WAG truther. You can’t change my mind. That man would love nothing more than to sit and watch his husband Ilya Rozanov- Captain of the Centaurs! He'd wear his jersey, sit in the private box with his WAG friends, giving sideeyes and bitchy judging the women down in the stands who are staring a bit too much at their husbands and hearing the gossip. And he is more than happy to keep up with the tipsy WAGs and listen to all their complaints, and actually now that he doesn't to stress over hockey any longer, he has a few drinks himself. And when the women tipsily complain about their husbands not properly pleasing them in bed, Shane's like "Can't relate!" and tells them to "give feedback...I guess...Idk" and goes back to staring at his man. Because omg Ilya's winking in his direction! And one of the women would be showing off some different houses they're looking at because they're expecting baby number three and just need more space, and Shane would be like "No, Honey, no! You have to design your own place to get what you need! Let me get you in touch with my people!"

[providing-leverage]

#myshane has a policy, after they're married, of never apologizing for Ilya. Partly because if he starts, he'll spend the rest of his life doing it. Mostly because he agrees with pretty much everything Ilya says/does, or at least finds it hot.

Chirping other players, on and off the ice? That's just hockey. Ilya knows where the line is and if he crosses it, you deserve it. Saying shit in press conferences that no one else ever would? Shane's actually more upset that his years of media training means he'll never be able to bring himself to respond that way. Being unhinged on the internet? Shane is blushing and kicking his feet.

Furthermore, Shane knows the importance of being a united front now. Even if Ilya did something that upset him (I think talking candidly about their sex life to the public would do it, and pretty much nothing else) he would never scold Ilya in front of others. Because Ilya is his partner, not his child.

[foundfamilylove]

I've been playing around with some drabbles of a whole Alternate Universe of Game Changers Universe where due to all the humans suddenly living much longer than normal suddenly (like over 150 years and healthy as horses), all countries get together and decide to change the age of adulthood.

This occurs very very early on in Shane and Ilya's hookups. Maybe the 2012 era, but pre-Rose Landry.

Now to be considered an adult you have to be 30+. There's no grandfathering in either. Everyone under 30 will be stripped of adulthood and taken out of the workplace. That means the MLH teams will lose about 80% of their rosters as their players are moved back down to Juniors. Everyone under 25 has to either go back to high school (if they haven't gotten a diploma) or be enrolled in at least 1 college course per Fall/Spring semesters.

Young parents like Jacki and Hayden are now considered teen parents and in that weird middle ground where they're old enough to have parented kids but not old enough to book a hotel room or sign legal documents.

Shane Hollander is absolutely baffled as he is stripped of his captaincy and team and moved back in with his parents. How are he and Ilya going to meet and hookup? What's he even supposed to do in college courses? Maybe business? Sports medicine? How can he handle living at home full time again when his parents when he's got so many secrets now?

As for Ilya, hockey is the least of his concerns. As a now underage foreigner with no ability to get a work visa, he will be deported back to Russia and into the care of his father or his older brother (depending on how bad his dad's dementia is). Ilya knows if this happens, he will die. His one saving grace is the "Blue Form".

As the law goes into effect, there is a brief 2 week window where the 18-29 year olds may obtain the Blue Form. It's basically an adult adoption. They, rather than their former guardians, can sign over custody of themselves to any adult over 30.

When the news breaks of the new law, the Raiders have just finished a game against the Admirals. Ilya only knows one person over 30 who can tolerate him and that he actually trusts not to take advantage of him. He calls Scott Hunter a "dinosaur" for a reason (because in this world, there is an actual age gap between them closer to the actors' ages and not the 3 year book gap because I need it to work like this)

So when he storms into the Kingfisher and promises Scott (and Kip- because the age up meant the kiss happened earlier than in canon) that they can take whatever money they want out of his accounts, and he'll keep his mouth shut and help with whatever work they want if they will just please sign the papers and keep him from getting deported, Scott and Kip realize their whole world is about to change.

Shane and his parents learn who he is with things besides hockey in his life (because it turns out he actually likes some of his college courses and develops interests outside of hockey and sees that there are other options out there- yes, he's still very much playing on a level but just not as time consuming now). Shane also starts to trust his parents with more of his worries and anxieties and learns that maybe he can tell them that he thinks he might be gay.

Ilya, meanwhile, is surprised when Scott and Kip don't just treat the adoption as a business arrangement, and suddenly he's folded into this supportive family with two dads and three somewhat strange uncles. He starts learning how to let himself be cared for and how to let others help shoulder the weight.

[fractally]

The common take seems to be that Shane's sin in TLG is not paying enough attention to Ilya or caring about hockey too much but I disagree. I do think Shane isn't being a great partner but it's more about him believing that Ilya truly doesn't give a shit about the losses in Ottawa and getting jealous over Troy when Ilya is trying to build a support system.

I think the thing is Ilya presented this persona for so long, this hyper-confident, hyper-sexual winner. A guy who doesn't get lonely, doesn't feel insecure, and doesn't need comfort and care. And Shane bought into that! We see it in HR where Ilya's fishing for compliments because Shane never compliments him (he thinks his attraction to Ilya goes unstated, and Ilya knows how hot he is, right?)

Shane is genuinely shocked by how lonely and sad Ilya is because he has never imagined Ilya that way. I think it's important to remember they've known each other for over a decade. A decade of Shane watching Ilya front for the cameras, a decade of them circling each other trying not to slip up and reveal too much. Vulnerability is a foreign language in this relationship.

To me the relationship sin in TLG is that they both start to have deeply misaligned views of the other. Shane's imagining Ilya as having a blast in Ottawa with his cool new team, hosting parties and going to gay bars with Troy fucking Barrett, the asshole who's been giving him shit on the ice for years. He's imagining that Ilya doesn't give a fuck about hockey anymore, the thing that always tied the two of them together. Meanwhile Ilya is imagining Shane as only caring about hockey, to the point that he'd cut Ilya loose if it was convenient for him. He's imagining Shane as this almost Machiavellian figure who's arranged his neat and perfect life and Ilya is just this piece that doesn't fit. He's imagining he's about twenty times more in love with Shane than Shane is with him.

They're both very wrong about these perceptions!

[shanesloverboy]

Why do people keep forcing the narrative that Ilya secretly hates hockey and just wants to be Shane's WAG and stay at home cooking with their kids and dog. You don't get to the level he did at a sport unless you're obsessed with it to a slightly unhealthy level. It's giving misogyny, homophobia, and toxic heteronormativity.

[fleabagsversion]

I have maybe made several posts about this before but fuck it.

Ilya Rozanov is Shane Hollander’s equal. No, he is not the second best hockey player after Shane. No he is not worse than Shane. Ilya is EQUAL to Shane!

The names Hollander and Rozanov are always used together by the league because is this reason. Because if they weren’t equals, the rivalry won’t exist, nor would Shane and Ilya ever meet.

And oh, Ilya is the ONLY one who can understand Shane’s situation (because he is the only other closeted best hockey player, duh). Say what you want but this is literally canon.

I am tired of y’all reducing Ilya to a side character in his own story. Just because you think Shane deserves someone “better” than Ilya, doesn’t make it true or negate the importance of Ilya in his story.

The name of the book/show is Heated Rivalry because both the boys are equals in every way possible. Literally, no one else in the story can understand them more than they understand eachother. You can even say that they are eachother’s true soulmate.