Erwin and scary movies:
Light NSFW / MDNI
He's actually a pretty big cinephile (not the annoying kind), and him showing off his Letterboxd is a somewhat personal thing for Erwin: an act to honor how highly he thinks of his partner/crush.
Horror isn't his preferred genre, but Erwin appreciates a good story regardless of its packaging. Side note: I think he'd be a Jake Gyllenhaal fan lol
He isn't put off by gore or anything graphic. Though, he prefers more cerebral stories to engage that big brain of his. He's also pretty funny on the exceedingly rare occasion he does get scared. He doesn't jump or flinch or gasp. He just turns to his date and is like, "wow, that was scary." with the usual intensity his gaze carries, completely unwavering. They would've never guessed he was capable of getting scared.
As for his personal preferences, slasher movies are alright — some are better than others (the humor of a movie like Scream is entirely lost on him). But he enjoys man vs. monster the most: the Alien series, The Thing, and Predator are some of his faves. He immediately picks up on all the layers as well as the societal commentary each movie is conveying.
Afterwards, discussing and dissecting the material is an important post-movie process for Erwin, as that's his way of appreciating art.
So when he and his date decide to watch a scary movie together, he's along for the ride, happy to spend time with them and swap interpretations on the film. He's also the type to laser focus on the show, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, brows heavy as he gives the movie his undivided attention.
He does not pick-up on the opportunity for intimacy. Like at all.
He's soo concentrated on catching all the details, reflecting on the shot composition, and actively trying to figure out what the director's intentions are that he doesn't even realize he's neglecting his date. But, to be fair, I don't think someone would ask Erwin out if they weren't aware of his eccentricity; it's part of his charm, after all.
So if they're patient with him, and put on their critical thinking cap, it's still a fun time for the both of them. Just with less of the touching and cuddling they were hoping for.
At least Erwin would greatly appreciate someone who can reciprocate his perceptiveness, and if the post-film conversation is stirring enough, he'll want to make movie night a regular thing. Especially if his date/crush is a horror fan, he'll encourage them to show him more of their favorite films, feeling like it's a wonderful way to both bond with and understand them.
If they really were determined to get him away from that damn screen though... they'd have to get creative. The usual "oh, I'm so scared" doesn't work on Erwin. He'd just reassure them that it's all fake, and it's essentially impossible for the scares to happen in real life. It's discouraging, to say the least.
Alright, time to rethink their strategy. Say, for instance, what if they dressed more suggestively each time they got together, until Erwin finally catches the hint? Each date their shorts/skirt get that much shorter, that much tighter; their shirts/blouses that much more form-fitting.
He's still a man after all, and Erwin does notice. Fucking finally.
So it's like that then? He's swift to deduce the motives behind their movie dates pretty quick after that and finds it cute they were holding out all this time for some attention. Fine, he'll give them the intimacy they're looking for. But he's gonna have fun with it.
Erwin would comment that he feels pretty lonely on his side of the couch — cold, even. Would they do they do him the courtesy of warming him and sitting on his lap? Oh, they will? He wasn't sure if they'd be interested in that sort of thing, since it might distract them from the story. It's his subdued version of an apology.
No, it won't take long for Erwin's hands to start wandering. He'll pretend he doesn't hear/feel his date's increasing arousal, maintaining his usual stony surface. In fact, he's still facing forward, providing commentary on the movie, all while slipping a hand under their shirt, tweaking their pebbled flesh, his other sinking past their waistband and catching the slick/bulge he'd been hoping for; tracing them in teasing strokes. If they get too noisy, he'll chide them for it, reminding them they'll miss important details if they don't stay quiet. "You don't want that, right, ____? After all, you're the one who suggested we should watch this in the first place. Unless, you'd like to do something else..?" He's such an asshole and gets off majorly to this power move. He'll even start kissing and sucking the crook of their neck, telling them they'd better still be watching the film by the time he's done, otherwise the major themes will be lost on them.
He figures they're getting what they wanted, right? And so he'll continue — tormenting them until they finally lament it's too much, expressing how needy they are and riling him up in the process. Even then Erwin isn't entirely inclined to give them what they want, as he thoroughly revels in the sexual tension. But if their petulance drove them to grind against the hardness straining his fly, well, it's a taste of his own medicine, and he doesn't last for long.
When things really get hot and heavy Erwin has to pause the movie. He can't stand missing out on the narrative, but knows he has more important things to focus on, at the moment.
