u/Colorado_onmymind

Spoiler warning! I am explicitly discussing scenes from The Long Game and am requesting others do so as well.

Of course there are so many steamy scenes I’m looking forward to: home gym, trophy room, edging, All-Stars, THAT two hour drive…

But more than any scene, I can’t stop thinking about Shane and Ilya’s dinner with Fabian and Ryan. Fabian pointed out that 10 years is a long time to keep a secret… And isn’t that as big a distraction as it would be to come out?

He shocks Shane and Ilya into silence. Shane finally challenges his assumption that staying hidden is the right thing, and possibly the only thing, they have as an option.

Ilya demonstrates his gradually rising discontent with the situation throughout the book, but I do believe there’s some unseen internal dialogue chipping away at Shane until he finally reaches his breaking point after the plane crash. Fabian planted a seed that grew so large she couldn’t ignore anymore.

Shane responds really well to people pointing out blind spots in him, and even relies on Rose and Ilya to do so in order to move him forward in his self realization. Fabian’s influence is so understated in Shane’s character development to prompt him to consider an alternative reality he wants that wasn’t possible.

I love a lot of things about Fabian‘s character, but his important role in Shane and Ilya’s journey is so critical.

What other scenes, in terms of character in plot development, are you looking for to in season two?

I live on a block of brownstones in Brooklyn. Every couple weeks for the last couple of years, I Will spend 10 to 15 minutes leaf blowing my backyard.
For the first time today, one of the neighbors that our backyard juts up to poked her head out her window to tell me my leaf blower is "obnoxiously loud." To her credit, it totally is! I wear earplugs while using it.
I apologized and explained I try to choose a time when no one is likely sleeping or working, respect the local noise ordinances, and try to keep it quick.
She claimed I'm "not supposed to do this on a Sunday" and asked me to be polite after repeating that it was obnoxiously loud.
I don't want to disturb my neighbors, but also acknowledge | live in a dense urban area where we sometimes will hear each other like this. I don't feel if there is a better time to do this? I typically aim for Saturdays when the neighborhood is more lively anyways, but it doesn't always work out that way. I work during the weekdays so would not be able to then, but also wouldn't feel comfortable making that much noise when people are likely working from home.
AITAH?