Portia Needs To Have A Convo With My Boy

Portia needs to have a convo with my boy

I’m a Penelope defender, not a Whistledown defender, like girl GIVE IT UP.

She self-sabotages with Whistledown so bad. It always causes her to make decisions that devastate her and the people around her. Keeping it up would also rely on her continuing to be secretive and invisible. I want to see her do better, and she can. She doesn’t need to continue with Whistledown just to be a writer. To me, a happy ending for her would be a book published openly under the name Penelope Bridgerton, not hiding her light under Lady Whistledown.

It’s almost as if part of their problem is that they both believe they’re unlovable for distinctly different reasons, only to realize that the other loves them 💯 for all the things they felt embarrassed by or kept secret or felt like they had to suppress.

AND I JUST THINK THATS NEAT 🥺

"But how did Colin not know Penelope had a crush on him?"

Babes, how did Penelope not know Colin had a crush on her?

He literally bought and ate the same cake she did as he stared longingly at her? He sprinted for that balloon rope, fully ready to haul 800 pounds on his lonesome so she wouldn't be hurt? He bribed her maid so they could have alone time and then scurried off after her every moment of every event they're in together? He is always in her garden? He cuts into her dance? He glared daggers through Debling's face? He rushes up to her to say he's been meaning to ask her something and stares so deep into her eyes I swear boy was looking into her soul? He loses track of his sentences because he just starts pining mid-syllable? He looks at her lips all the time? He chugs lemonade after she compliments how his eyes shine when he's kind? He runs off after her carriage, panting, cravatless, asking if she accepted a proposal and to please please please let him in, and she's still like "I can't believe he'd think you have feelings for me!" When my boy has been out here getting a phd in down baderism?

They're both idiots in love, your honor

"For God's sake, Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?"

Colin, love, she had no idea you had any feelings for her until 10 minutes ago and you literally spent that time trying to eat her titties while your fingers were exploring the unseen, give her a second

Okay, for very real I need everyone acting like Colin didn’t “suffer enough” or whatever to take a breath and like…I dunno, rethink how u treat ur friends or something.

Like, Penelope’s feelings being hurt about the comment he made at the end of S2 is so real, but also her forgiving him as soon as he genuinely apologizes and follows through on being a solid friend is what friendship is??? Have none of you ever been accused by random people you only kinda know about being into ur close friends just bc ur opposite genders and then doing that panicky defense thing where you laugh really loud and go “what r u even saying dude? Hahaha that’s ridiculous they’re my bestie we are The Most Platonic (tm)” just to get them to leave u alone?

Does Colin overcompensate? Yes. Is it understandable, especially given the information we have about Penelope’s feelings, that she feels hurt and made fun of? Also yes. But very obviously, he wasn’t trying to make fun of her because he didn’t know how she felt. Very obviously, he loves talking to her and spending time with her. Very obviously, he values her opinion of him. He just didn’t want other people implying things about their friendship, specifically because it’s so important to him. If it wasn’t important to him, he wouldn’t have kept writing her. He wouldn’t have followed her out if that ball and tried to figure out what was wrong. He wouldn’t have sought her out in her garden, listened to her explanation, and offered to help despite the risk to their reputations. And he wouldn’t have smiled so bashfully when she complimented his writing.

And when he realizes he’s in love with her he gives her the choice. He risks being so fully vulnerable, kneels in front of her and says, “I need you, I crave you, this is torture but I want it cause it’s you, do you want me?” And he’s fully ready to back off when he thinks she’s rejecting him. That’s respect.

Friends to lovers isn’t friends to lovers if they’re punishing each other over mistakes or lack of communication.

Friends to lovers is only good when there’s inherent love and trust and a desire to understand, support, and forgive each other pulling people together. Not despite themselves. If you want love despite themselves watch S2. Friends to lovers is love because they’ll do whatever is necessary to keep it good. Because of themselves. Because they value and love each other enough to keep trying.

That’s friendship bitch 😜. And I love theirs.

Colin's very hot head tilt.