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'We'll Always Have Paris!'

Some notes on Finn and Noah at the Paris con 2025. Long post - this is me at my most pedantic and attentive! Credit to @castlebyersafterdark for the classic phrase in this context!

The noticeable energy in these videos is a mix of relaxed/comfortable AND nervous from both boys. Neither purely anxiety or purely nervousness. The words I think of when I see them are giddiness and complicity. Or, seeing as that means involved in crime together, maybe conspiratorial is better? Either way, it’s a sense of them sharing a world that no one else is part of.

Notes up front: Finn’s absolute joy at seeing Noah. It's that kind of smile where you have a little squint-frown cos it's just bursting off your face.

Of course their connection gives us clues towards what might happen with byler, so it’s just so special for us to see this intimacy.

It’s a full hug, diagonal cross body, Noah on tippy toes to lean up and full torsos pressed together. You might even call it an embrace. We can see a hint of what byler height difference will look like! If you look closely there is also closed eyes from Finn. Closing the eyes shuts off vision and heightens focus on other senses, like feel and smell. In a hug this can leave space to revel in the feel of someone’s body and the scent of them, their physical presence overall. It’s still quite a quick hug, though, so this combination is interesting.

Peer past Gaten and see how Finn ducks his head into the crook of Noah’s shoulder. Face full of Noah’s sweater, close to his neck, then he looks up and pulls back, seemingly to say ‘Aww’.

I think Noah said something like ‘I missed you so much’ in his ear, to warrant this ‘Aww’ reaction. Finn keeps his eyes closed, and pulls back, his hair ruffling along Noah’s, perhaps ears pressed together, cheek to cheek. But sorry Finn, Noah is not letting you go yet, he holds on a bit longer so Finn is pulled back into the fray. He doesnt seem to mind, his eyes are still closed.

Something I also noticed was that Finn’s hands are flat on Noah’s back. It looks like a very cosy sweater, we can see why he would want to feel it with the sensitive flat of his palm 🤭 In this hug, it's beautiful to witness their bond and the intimacy they share is clear, even if we don't know exactly what caused it.

Finn also does the classic slide around the body where the touch is allowed to linger a little longer, it's actually Noah who lifts cleanly away and steps back, and Finn even follows him around in a little swivel, leaning more into Noah's space as Noah lifts down off his tiptoes. It's almost like a little dance. Perhaps Noah had to keep his balance? Despite this it all happens so quickly, subconsciously, naturally.

Noah looks first to gaten before he is even out of the hug, which to me screams of self-awareness and makes me wonder if Noah's eyes, too, were closed during the hug. Finn still has his arms on him, giving him a pat on the shoulder and grinning away. He's stepped forward too (basically in front of Gaten now), and both are blushing with red ears and cheeks and eyes alight.

They then share a lingering look, and can you watch this moment without smiling along with them? I am smiling for so long my teeth are dry. These expressions are real and true. The smiles extend to the eyes - for Finn he’s smiling so much that his eyes are practically closed.

These videos are full of tiny micro moments of body language. Noah's small nod of the head here while looking at gaten could well be directed at Finn, a little ending to their extended hug greeting, maybe even a yes to Finn's 'Aww', as in 'Of course I missed you.'

They remain glowing red in the face - perhaps it was hot in there. But Finn is wearing a lightweight shirt. And it’s February in Paris, France, in some giant, possibly unheated space hosting a con. Just the day before, in Germany, Noah said he was a little cold during his con despite wearing a jacket.

But we just can't know for sure, can we.

Finn is smiling away and turns to face nobody, which is when he catches sight of the camera and his smile slips, and his hand seems to curl up gripping his pant leg, a nervous gesture that does this time look more like your classic anxiety or tick.

Noah looks chuffed having a little chat with gaten, fiddling with his sweater, fidgeting about not standing still. Giddy. The foot placements are fascinating.

We can’t know if Noah gave Gaten a proper hug already, as the video began with him diving into Finn’s arms. But judging by the way Gaten waits right there like a puppy throughout their hug, and that Noah does indeed extend a tiny hug to him after, can we suggest he hasn’t been greeted yet?

If so, that means Finn was Noah’s first port of call.

Then Noah slinks immediately over to Finn after his tiny hug with Gaten. His posture is low but directional; his chin is jutted forwards, shoulders low and forward and un-defensive. He’s keen and intentional, but timid. He’s sidling up to Finn.

Finn swoops his hair from his face as Noah approaches. Could be a nervous tick or sign of self-awareness, as his fringe isn’t very long, so I doubt it was covering his eyes, and we don’t often see him play with his hair in other videos from the day as if it was annoying him. We do later see him sweep his hair back during the solo panel when discussing Mike's relationship with Hopper, and his answer features Eleven (below left). Here, Finn is fiddling with his hair and holding his neck as his eyes shift and his knee bobs rapidly, giving off a very different kind of energy. He's obviously trying to withhold information about s5, and there's a seriousness there, as though he's remembering parts of s5 that are not necessarily lighthearted. Compare the total lack of smile during that segment to when byler is mentioned (below right). It's not a subtle smirk - he's again withholding, but also seems bursting with something when byler is mentioned - but what?!

(This was also the first time I had ever heard Finn say 'byler' which felt more exciting than it should have lol)

Back at the first meet, Finn immediately welcomes Noah with a touch that appears very natural after their hug. It seems instinctual, as they are talking all the while. Casual touch is a sign of wanting to connect and communicate physically, and is usually subconscious. It’s interesting to see how Finn is not necessarily touchy with the other boys in comparison. Below he gives Caleb a side hug on stage with lots of space left between them. We did not see Finn meet Caleb here on video, though, so who knows what their initial greeting was like? But bodies remain angled away. Perhaps we can blame the coffee table.

I wonder if perhaps Finn's casual touches for Noah are an age difference or instinctual thing leftover from childhood - those dynamics don’t ever really go away if you first meet someone so young, and they did share storylines where Mike was protective of Will. Noah mentioned as much at a previous con with Cara in 2024: 'Mike was always super protective of Will, and Will always leaned on him.' Finn has also noted he still feels the same ways about his ST friends as he did when they were younger in his wrap instagram post, which suggests that these dynamics will remain foundational parts of their relationships.

Finn’s touch lingers until he clocks either 1) the camera or 2) Gaten, and pulls his arm away into his body in a cross-arms position that is immediately very different to the open extension towards Noah.

Finn removes his hand - perhaps he was getting ready to welcome Gaten into the chat and removing his touch with Noah would create a more equal vibe for Gaten to join. But soon enough Gaten says ‘nah’ and turns away. Finn crosses his arms over his body, but his demeanour is still cheery and his feet and entire body remain pointed towards Noah as they chat away. Complicit. They swing together, unfazed by the proximity... unlike two certain individuals.

Sorry, what is a byler pic doing in here?? 🤭

But these poses look so similar don’t you think? The shot of byler is awash with intimacy and complicity as they lean together and look outwards in the same direction, but not quite on the same page just yet. And Mike is simply unable to hold Will’s gaze for more than 0.0000000007 seconds in this scene. Two very different stages of friendship going on here it seems. You’d almost think that Finn and Noah are a little more… comfortable with each other.

They continue to sway back and forth, but the smiles make this look relaxed instead of anxious in front of the cameras as the TikTok commenters insist. It could be true they are in fact nervous, despite their literal job and wealth of experience on camera. This is not scripted after all. But they’ve had plenty of interviews on camera over the years, and this energy is far different from that previous uncomfortable I’m-on-camera energy we’ve had from Finn before. There's ease here. And Noah has never shown such anxiety as far as I can tell from interviews throughout the years. He’s a natural in front of any camera. So why is he swinging and swaying like a wind chime in the breeze?

So eventually (aka 0.5 seconds after he decided to bounce) Gaten turns back to grab Finn’s attention, perhaps to tell him he’s going somewhere. Noah has noticed, multitasking self-awareness with chatting with Finn, but Finn hasn’t, he’s lost in the conversation, and Gaten has to do a little curly double hand wavy thing like he’s a mom at the school gate telling Brenda that she’ll see her outside aerobics class that evening.

Finn had been about to swing his foot right across and turn totally towards Noah, but OOP! Gaten is there, and he’s definitely not telling him to meet beneath the Arc de Triomphe for night yoga at 7pm. Is he? Either way I like to think Gaten made a subtle quip here, something damning that Noah wouldn’t pick up on, because Noah is unfazed but Finn looks shocked and read to filth

Then gaten departs feeling very pleased with himself.

Seriously though, Finn’s expression screams ‘caught in the act’. Raised eyebrows as if he is drawn out of the flow of engrossing conversation (engrossing? Really? They were probably chatting about the 5 plates of smoked salmon Noah accidentally ordered for breakfast.). Finn’s arms are still crossed, and notice his feet pointing to Noah despite listening to Gaten at something of an awkward angle.

What’s funny about the classic sign of attraction of pointing feet at the person of interest is that it sounds silly without context. You cant possibly point your feet at someone without looking insane! Well, observe: here they are doing it in a way that feels natural at times but also not. Finn keeps a foot pointing towards Noah even as his whole body is turned contrapposto towards a departing gaten, making him seem as though he’s in two places at once - balancing gaten and keeping hold of Noah. But why? Is Noah going anywhere? Who’s on the other side of the screen to draw his attention? (But notice how his feet, too, remained pointed towards Finn.)

In this moment I also like Finn’s dropped hip, because its reminiscent of Mr William Byers himself, and by extension, Noah, because this body language seems to be something that Noah gave Will unconsciously since he was young. We see Noah’s dropped hip time and again, both in the show as Will, and even at this con.

Whatever Gaten truly said, Finn turns back and suddenly there’s an awkwardness in the air, a moment of silence that neither fill. Noah is now also suddenly giving awkward unsure energy, self-aware and looking down at the floor, sweater paws fiddling with his admittedly very soft-looking jumper. Hunched shoulders, bashful expression, and dropped hip in action! (I feel Noah would be very good at Latin dance. He has the hips and feet for it).

While Finn is very fidgety too, the gap between them widens as they presumably respond to advice of where to stand later for pics. Finn is moving from foot to foot and sucking in a breath, holding his crossed arms tensely and tightly now (check that right hand!), and looking to the camera filming this a few times. He looks very self-conscious, and it's such an interesting comparison to how he appears with Gaten and even Caleb. There is an energy as if he and Noah have never met before or are still getting to know each other - but how is this possible when they've spent so much time working together? What is the cause of the tension in the air that is not resolving? Of course, the two are waiting around at the moment, so a little awkwardness is inevitable, but there would have been lots of 'waiting around' on a film set, too. Did this nervous energy pervade the entire year? Or is it simply the lack of privacy, the fact it's a public appearance with fans that's ticking the nerves?

Next we have Finn looking down AGAIN to the camera filming them, and Noah looking off into the middle distance with blushing giddiness on his face. Say the new French motto with me.

Liberté. Egalité. Complicité.

They swing and sway like it's a 1950s lindy hop (ooh I bet Noah could lindy too). I love the mirroring of this body language. Forever frustrated that we didnt get to hear these videos though! They are only momentarily together like this, but the orbiting continues, and they're obviously comfortable being so physically close to each other, which can happen when people are very good friends, are attracted to each other, or have lots of experience with physical closeness, such as performers who have worked intimately together. Yet even super close platonic friends might keep to their personal space when the option is there, but Finn and Noah are not making good use of the large space around them here at all. It's possible the room was very loud and they had to come closer to hear each other. It's possible! But it does speak of the kind of unique intimacy that performers who have gotten to know each other really well foster together.

So why that 'never met you before' nervous energy, too?!

Finn then goes on to seemingly say about how it can be awkward to take photos with people of different heights, and Noah agrees and gestures to leaning around people maybe. Finn's hands in pockets - usually a gesture of casual relaxedness - combined with his hunched shoulders, fidgeting, and fluttering eye contact, as well as leaning well into Noah's space... there is an undercurrent of nervousness here still. If you notice, it's mostly Noah who swings in and out in a wider orbit, and Finn who is angling towards him, following - but they also frequently move in tandem, as if on the same wavelength.

I have to say that they both form beautiful shapes naturally and really compliment each other visually. Maybe it's just a good camera angle, but they move in a way that feels almost choreographed. Perhaps this is reflective of the natural chemistry and energy the casting director would have looked out for at the very beginning. Perhaps it means they should perform a rumba together. Maybe this is how to defeat Vecna, who clearly has zero rhythm and is also looking for a good show

There’s continuous flow of conversation back and forth the whole time; they’re not interrupting or confusing each other, they don’t look bemused at all despite both giving off nervous signals in different ways (Finn's hand in pockets and hunched shoulders, Noah's flitting eye contact and vibrant attentiveness).

Italic Noah!

Theyre so silly :) And seriously, that lean? That core? This boy could be a ballroom pro

They seem to discuss the awkwardness of taking pictures with fans of different heights, and Finn then perhaps says how bad it is to see you have a double chin in pictures, and they both gesture to how to escape that by leaning upwards. Hilariously we see Finn putting his plan to combat this into action later on with his postures that look insane from a different angle...

This is something that professional photographers for things like weddings often recommend, which made me laugh to remember because these boys have both been photographed for years but might still be bonding over the perils of an unflattering picture. ‘Omg that’s the worst!’ says Noah? Who knows, but Finn looks especially devastated:

Either way, the yapping continueth and gaten has long since fled, probably like he did during from the group chats. Soon someone calls their attention again, and they’re drawn out of the bubble. This happens a lot at this con! We even have an video where a poor fan dressed as Chrissy seems hesitant to actually interrupt their chat as if they didnt just pay for the experience? Boys, boys, boys...

^ Whatever Finn said better have been comedy gold Noah, or else you are incriminating yourself.

( C O M P L I C I T É )

There's so many more moments from fans too, like the hand hold...

It’s a gentle cupping, very perfectly slotted together. Finn either placed his hand deliberately over Noah’s, or he was barely looking and this was complete chance and their hands slotted together so softly. Either way… yikes

(There are many more arm grabs but lord knows these posts have a picture limit that I'm already testing)

Bonus: their individual panels from Paris and Noah in Germany the day before.

Finn in Paris:

Q: The final table read of the last episode, I wanted to know, who did cry the most, and how has it gone?

He talks about Noah crying the most. He smiles, but his demeanour is relaxed as he mentions Noah’s name several times as if his mind is stuck on the memory and finds it amusing. He had been answering this question for only 20 seconds and still had to ask what the second part of the question was as he'd forgotten it. Finn. Come on.

Hilariously, the same thing happened to Noah the day before at German con when asked a question. Guess who it was about.

Noah in Germany:

Q: I wanted to ask you what was your favourite moment with Finn on set?

Noah says 'ooh' and looks up with a smile. He says it's from s5, so he can't say... then goes on to try and pick from another season, but ends up talking about how he's realised he's spent most time on set with Finn overall during the entire series. What's interesting is that he's said this before, at a con a few months before, and so it could be a planned soundbite, except now it's considered a spoiler: he cuts himself off, telling himself he's got to remember not to spoil anything for s5. It doesn't sound planned, it sounds like his genuine giddiness to talk about this.

Then he has to ask what the question was again, because he's forgotten for some reason. The moderator raised their eyebrows, as did we all.

(Frankly, looking at all this stuff together to make this post, it's just embarrassing for them at this point)

During Noah's Paris individual panel, there's a lovely moment where he speaks on ST being his favourite experience of his life. This moment stood out to me as the most sincere Noah we have ever seen. The words are hard for him to say: the weight of the experience and its meaning for him is audible in his lower vocal register and the hesitant, bashful way he speaks. Combined with Finn’s report of Noah’s emotional outburst at the final table read, I think Noah has only recently fully accepted the full weight of what this story means to him, and will likely continue to have revelations when it actually premieres and during the press run when discussing Will's journey. Beautiful.

Conclusion:

All this points towards the prevailing theme of giddiness and complicity in creating a story together. This might no longer be a normal friendship but instead the special and unique bond of coworkers who have gone to a place of deep artistic intimacy together. Perhaps we can excuse a little awkwardness, because while yes they are professionals, they are also childhood friends in this unique situation. But the giddiness does not read as solely uncomfortable awkwardness, but instead a sense of thrill and novelty. Their behaviour is already so comparable to the way many other actors who have played out intimate physical love stories on screen act during press, such as Kate and Leo in Titanic, timothee chalamet and armie hammer during 2017 press for call me by your name (don't at me), and Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley from Bridgerton s2. All these duos had complicity, giggles, giddiness, and genuine warmth between them in spades during their public appearances.

But sweetest are the comparisons to Finn and Noah's younger selves from previous season press. They appear to have evened out in maturity, and the respect for each other is clear. I also think there’s a sense of comfort and safety in their energy and body language together, suggestive that they’ve filmed scenes of deep vulnerability that required trust, on dark subject matter as well as sensual. Filming such scenes, for example spending lengths of time in unsettling filming environments like the dark, cold or wet, could have been intense enough to forge a real bond of reliance and safe harbour between them on both a professional and personal level, too.

Add in the fact that s5 is still a secret, and perhaps we can explain the specific blend of vibes going on here.

I will end with an iconic Paris moment which needs no words.

Finn.

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