Neric thoughts for 197863451
I actually do think they've advanced further than when they were with the post it notes last season, I don't even mean the christmas with her family thing, either. Like, i think there's thought in fandom that they've not really gotten anywhere since then apart from the invite thing and i don't really agree.
I actually think that if half the things that have been in this season had happened last season, they wouldn't have gone nearly as far as they both have. Like, for example, the underwear conversation; last season Eric beale would have choked, gone bright red and wouldn't have carried on with the banter. The only reason they got as far as to talk about Nell in that underwear is because Eric realised she was bantering, and joined in. He doesn't normally do that, not in conversations like that.
I also think they're getting further because Nell is being a bit more open and direct and a lot less manipulative and vague. She's developing as a character and that's making their relationship move forward. Instead of hinting at Eric that she'd like to see him out of the office like she once did, she instead invited him to go spend Christmas with her openly.
We've seen eric freak out when Nell has been in danger before, but since Eric is rarely in dire situations we don't often get to see Nell worry about his safety. When the mole dude used Eric as his leverage to get out of the building, Nell's immediate reaction was to search the building to find him and see with her own eyes that he was okay. Then she tenderly checked his head was okay and they had a cute moment totally devoid of her usual vague-ness.
I've said before that i think for Neric to really get somewhere they need to start being more perceptive to how the other operates, and they've actually started doing that.
I mean, whenever Eric used to get really nerdy it always used to make Nell uncomfortable because while she's also a massive nerd, she's insecure about it, so him being open and proud about it often threw her and she didn't know how to react. Along with this, Nell is a very indirect person, she'll hint and make vague comments and is on occasion really, really manipulative (it's why she's so good at undercover imo... See the kiss, she kinda did it because she could get away with it Scott free (the mistletoe) and she wanted it, but she also did it to get him into an elf outfit, hello manipulation), and where Eric is actually a really direct and honest person, her not being so often left him totally clueless as to what was going on because he took what she said at face value when she kept leaving hidden meaning everywhere.
This season eric has been encouraging her and telling her the nerdy things she does are really cool (like the drone stuff), which is probably a boost in confidence for her, and in turn Nell is being more direct with Eric, she invites him places and says it at face value, leaving him far more in the know about what she's feeling.
And tbh i think they could go pretty far from here? I don't have massive hopes because, well, previous writing tells me that a neric full first half of the season probably means i won't get a lot in the second half. But i'll be honest, I actually think if they had a catalyst at this point in their partnership, they could actually end up in a relationship. but i also kind of think that they do need a catalyst first, and i just don't know what it could be?
I would definitely like a proper kiss though. i only /kind/ of count the free Ride kiss. I mean, i have no doubts that Nell wanted to kiss him, but i also think she had ulterior motives and it kind of ruins it.
I'll be honest though, I thought the bank password bit was weird. What could that possible mean? Like, i get it'll mean a lot to us as shippers, but to Eric what could it mean? It just seemed really weird to use as a bank password. Maybe a note in a notepad or something that we happen to see but the password was weird.
But also if they do have them get together i want it to be really awkward before they get into their stride. both of them excell at awkward and their interactions are kind of like, bathed in second hand embarrassment to the point where it's like, a genuine character point for both of them that they're awkward with each other. I don't want problems between them, but i don't want it to be totally smooth either because it wouldn't feel like them.
One of my favourite ships is josh x donna in the west wing, (so like, spoilers if anybody cares) and when the first got together it was brilliant but it was SO AWKWARD and it felt so right because it was awkward. I feel like the same thing would apply to Neric. if it isn't awkward at first then it won't even feel like it's Eric and Nell.
but i also kind of think it'd be more monumental if Nell tells Eric how she feels about him first. Like, i'd expect Eric to jump out there with confessions first but i kind of want nell to do it just because if she's doing it without a safety net of the other person saying it already then she really means it.
idk i just have a lot of neric feelings
(and also sub-blog and tumblr won't let me message from it so my answer is in post format instead)