#centennialboyfriends

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I wanted to go back to their meet cute. The exchange of glances is so rich in this part. There is a constant game of ping pong in their attitudes from the moment Dream speaks to Hob until the end. It's just so so brilliant (Tom and Ferdie are gods). Already, the way Dream arrives, in a position of superiority, him standing, Hob sitting, and this kind of mocking arrogance. The kind of smug little smile you just want to wipe off his face.

But Hob being Hob (a loudmouth who assumes himself completely and never backs down) doesn't let himself be intimidated and answers with this little smile at the end, like, yes I said that, so what?

Dream starts to set off his bomb, quietly and Hob does not take it seriously and chuckle in response.

And there Dream will say two words that will make Hob understand - even if he doesn't know the extent of what Dream is telling him at this moment - that it is more than a joke. "Robert Gadling" His first and last name, how can this stranger know them? And it shows on his face, it's not the meeting here in 100 years that calls to him but the realization that the stranger seems to know him.

All the others burst out laughing and laughing at the side but Hob does not laugh, he feels something, it is so obvious. Well, and Dream adds to the drama with his face becoming super serious and his voice even deeper.

What I missed the first time around and love here, the way everyone else keeps laughing and Hob has that special smile here, it gave such a playful expression, when he tells Dream not to pay attention to them. Like, "it's between you and me."

Once again no turning back, Hob feels something isn’t ordinary, it's clear because he has this look as if he is trying to decipher Dream.

And once he has the confirmation, he took Dream's challenge to return it to him. Like he's the one challenging Dream now.

If you hear a loud noise, that's me falling off my chair every time I watch this gif. That little smile at the end kills me. I put the last two gifs one after the other because Hob and Dream are just mirroring each other. When Dream walks away, each one looks at the other with a defiant smile, neither one looks down, BUT at the end, each one becomes serious again.

Once again thank you for bearing with my rambling 🤓

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Telling a lie to get the truth, Matthew?

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You can’t win Dream…

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I just realized something. In every encounter, there is a moment when Dream will let his guard down, let himself smile or show emotions and as if he can't stand it, it's usually right after that his face closes, he gets up and after bidding Hob farewell leaves. Each time, it is as if he puts on this sort of impassive mask again. (1589 and 1689 are excluded, because the circumstances are different)

Looking amused, playful and bam immediately after, the mask

Can't hide his astonishment and bam immediately after, the mask

Shows concern and bam immediately after, the mask

Shows a kind of endearment, receiving from the empathy, and bam immediately after, the mask

And of course the only time it doesn't happen is at their meeting. Already, he doesn't leave, he chooses to sit and stay. And there's no mask. The last gif the perfect example. As if the smile that erases the impassive expression.

Cry with me...🤧🫠

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Watching this scene of Hob's last words to Dream followed by their reunion with Dreams' first words, I realized that Dream had perfectly heard and captured Hob's last words.

When Dream sees Hob again and says the word "friends", not only does he emphasize it with his voice, but with his whole attitude, his eyebrows rise as he says the word, and his face tenses forward. Hell you can see it on the gif without sound. This is really his way of letting Hob know that he has heard him, and that he recognizes him as a friend. That the dynamic of their relationship has changed.

And Hob understands that perfectly. The fact that he has a serious expression at first in response to Dream's apology (I take it we only see Dream at this point) and then the smile of understanding that blooms, the way he swallows, the way he nods slightly. He takes Dream's words for what they are, both an apology and an acknowledgement of their relationship. Because after all it's their language, the half-words and the looks heavy with meaning.

Welcome again to my inane ramblings !

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1889 - Part 2/2

The boys had been left just as Hob had told Dream that he knew he was coming to meet them because he was seeking Dream's friendship. (Part 1) Dream's answer is… silence. He remains relatively calm, but his emotion is so visible. He tries so hard to control himself that it shows.

And Hob, courageous and obstinate, delivers the fatal blow. The one that will unleash the hells. He says it with so much emotion. "I think you're lonely." His whole attitude is full of empathy. It's as if he's saying, "I've seen your loneliness, I ache for you, I understand you."

And it's too much for Dream. He's not at all ready to accept being seen like this. Even a snowstorm feels warm next to Dream's coldness. He can only respond with cruelty. He hits where it hurts. Hob, who is always trying to improve himself in order to receive his approval, receives it only to have it ripped away in one fell swoop.

But even all the anger of the world, all the venom, could not hide his infinite sadness. I think that if it had happened in our days, Hob would not have waited to hug him.

And here Hob is great. So strong. Because he knows that Dream is saying all this because he is hurt himself. Which confirms for Hob that he is right. Because to tell your friend some home truths when he is on the wrong path, is to behave as a true friend, even if you end up being hurt yourself. So, he confirms, that yes, he really does mean everything he has just said. He doesn't get angry, he doesn't raise his voice. In a gentle but persuasive tone, he simply states it.

Of course Dream can't accept it, so he gets up to leave but also to restore his dominance. He wants to regain control.

But Hob remains calm, inevitably worried because he sees that Dream wants to put some distance between them. But he gets up too. Because they are equal. Because he will not go back on his words.

His step forward is probably his last attempt to hold Dream back because he feels he is really going to leave. He wants to hold him back, maybe physically or not, but I think he wants to close the distance that Dream puts between them. He won't be able to, because Dream isn't ready for that.

But honestly you don't live for centuries without being stubborn, so Hob doesn't let go, he goes all the way, he pursues Dream again. Insists again as he walks away and for the first time, he raises his voice and shouts.

Dream doesn't turn around, but we know he heard him, don't we?

(And right now I am going to watch their reunion over and over to see their comforting smiles.)

Part 1 here

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Please, tell me that they aren’t the embodiment of being smitten? In fact you may tell me they aren't, I won't believe you.

They are for centuries!

1389

1489

Dream's tiny smile kills me...

1789

1889

Today

I mean, he looks at Hob like that !