some thoughts about darlene's sapphic dynamics because thats the brain i have right now
childhood friends, found family, the only long term relationship with any stability and comfort darlene (and elliot) ever had
the quiet and deep intimacy of always having been there, being known, a back of the mind feeling that maybe one day...
never actually going there because to lose that would be devastating, and because darlene is aware that elliot has a similar feeling about angela and yk she does love him
the heartbreak of never getting to explore the unspoken but obvious
partners in crime, comradery in being underestimated, (overlooked, assumed) and weaponizing that to their advantage
a look between them is worth a thousand words
very honest, great mental energy
probably somehow the least complicated interpersonal relationship either of them have in the crew despite the chaos
very fond with lots of mutual respect / adoration in there
fucked up, toxic, with strong psychosexual overtones because when you hate someone that much for that long...
susan will exist forever in the darkest corner of her mind and she will take that to the fucking grave
fucked up, toxic, and just sincere enough to actually fall in love
neither of them could have felt this way with a stable person. the fact that their problems could be chalked up to circumstances is like an act of god in the sense that the conflict/nervous system activation that they needed to trigger attachment was not immediately due to the innate mundane toxicities one might have a pattern of chasing (think about cisco) but rather what they had to do under extreme conditions (thus "forgivable")... there is believable room to grow
definitely dont think this couple would be all fluff but i do think that there is a lot of potential for them to have a relatively healthy relationship one day. which is more than youd expect from what they do to each other in the show
underrated darkfic opportunities here because people tend to skip to post-show
honestly this needs its own post to get into but i feel like by reducing them just into a fluff ship you lose so much of what actually makes them compelling...