Too shy to send off Anon or message you, but I wanted to talk about this. So, and if Tommyssupercoolblog has been yapping to you about septicinnit a lot you can read this later (I know you're friends), something i think is my favorite part about that ship is this idea of Jack as this guy who's autistic, anxious, shy off camera and awkward, who's always trying to take care of other people and make them laugh, and along comes this man who he falls in love with and decides he wants to take care of and nurture too- more than anything- because Tommy means the world to him.
But he's always giving love away to people and being super affectionate and loving all the time. To fans, to his friends, just, in general.
And Tommy, bright, beautiful, and with his whole life ahead of him Tommy, who's been through so much, wants to love him BACK. Actively, like, more than just admiring him.
Jack notices Tommy has a crush on him and is flattered, but tries not to care too much about it because he figures Tommy will get over it, and that it's just some fickle temporary thing. Tommy can't seriously want him, right? Jack's kind of a dork, and he has to take tons of medications and specific diets because his body is falling apart, and he's not chiseled or buff or anything.
And Tommy has OPTIONS. a young blonde Twink like that in Brighton? With a comedy career and a famous name and a habit of frequenting gay bars? He can do better.
But Tommy turns out to be seriously invested in him romantically. Too scared to make a move, but genuinely into him. More than anyone else. For all of who he is.
This idea of, like, maybe not worded like this, but the general sentiment of "You could have someone younger, smarter, prettier, better. You could take care of someone who has less health issues, who's more worthy of your attention. I'm not worth it, people don't take care of me because I'm not worth looking after, I'm not anything special to be treasured and coddled like that. I'm just some little funnyman not worth that fuss, and you can have anything. Your possibilities are endless, you can have anything. Anyone. I love you so much and I want the best for you."
But the response is just "You've got it all wrong, I'm not settling. You are worth it, you ARE precious. You're the world to me. I don't want anyone else. I don't want someone younger and less gray and with less asthma, I don't want someone who looks different, acts different, is different. I want YOU. And you deserve to get love back. I'll let you take care of me, but you have to let me take care of you too. Please let me take care of you. That's what I want, more than anything. You're the best for me."
Tommy sees him as someone special and treats him that way, has love and tenderness for him. Seán loves doting on Tommy and does it all the time, but he's used to taking care of others. What he's not used to is being doted on and admired back. When they get together Tommy calls him petnames and flirts with him all the time and spoils him, and it's so different from what he's used to in the best way.
"Are you sure about this? About me?" "Of fucking course!" "You know, I might have to go to the hospital a lot. I'm really a handful." "Jack. That's more than worth it for you. I'll go to the hospital with you, I-I'll start keeping an inhaler in my bag for you, I'll make a medicine schedule on my phone so I can help you remember." (Laughs) "I'm not kidding! I'm serious about this, Jack. I love you." "...I love you too. :)"
Something something "it's rotten work" "not to me. Not if it's you"
I think you've got a very good idea there! I admittedly don't explore any septicinnit stuff on my own (I just listen to the besties yap.) But I think people are missing out if they aren't exploring the aspect of Jack seeing himself as sort of "washed up." Not that he in any way is, of course, the man is still doing extremely well. But I can definitely see that being an insecurity or a thought in his head. The height of his popularity has come and went, he's out of his prime so to speak. Now, he's just doing what he loves and if people are still watching, all the better. He's not as obsessed with being and staying popular as he once was.
And that makes it difficult to view himself on the same level Tommy currently is. He seems himself a little less of Tommy's peer and therefore, less of an option for him. By all rights, Tommy should be with someone closer to his age and his status and just closer to him. I feel like Jack has a bad habit of othering himself even amongst his own peers. Everyone kind of does to an extent, other people usually seem better and more deserving than ourselves.
On the reverse, I also think Tommy thinks Jack can do better too. Someone who has it more figured out, someone he thinks can take care of Jack better, someone who has more experience, someone who can listen/help better. Someone who feels more like they know who they are and what they want because to him, it seems like Jack is all those things. Tommy thinks Jack feels a lot more comfortable with who he is and where he's at than Tommy does.
I think it's very difficult in general to view ourselves as deserving of the people we love and I think that fits doubly for a ship like septicinnit.
Sorry for taking so long to answer this, thank you for sending me your thoughts!