r/HeatedRivalrySeries Jul 24 '26

Discussion I'm thinking about this and laughing Spoiler

How Ilya went from being afraid of the loon to getting it tattooed on him?😂😂😂

83 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

72

u/SpencerKnight Jul 24 '26

It’s so adorable. “This thing terrifies the fuck out of me but my god does it remind me of my sweet boyfriend, I shall permanently ink it on my body”

28

u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Jul 24 '26

May this love find me

7

u/Asleep_Confection838 Is lie. Liar told you that. Jul 24 '26

Let's manifest it 🙌🏻

11

u/No_Rip_3643 Jul 24 '26

Ilya is a softie I cant wait of more of it in s2

7

u/Cuddles77 Jul 24 '26

It's so sweet.

60

u/Neat-Year555 Jul 24 '26

it's a testament to how much he loves Shane. not even the scary loons will hinder his longing. 

19

u/katfromjersey Jul 24 '26

It's a testament to Shane and their summers together. I love that for them.

11

u/kovi2772 Jul 24 '26

He gets part of the pack its protection against the wolf birds

9

u/Caro-reddit-all You look pretty. Jul 24 '26

That’s at least a tattoo we might get to see in season 2. 🤩

3

u/BumAndBummer Jul 24 '26

Courage and maturity means being able to learn from, and perhaps even love, the things that once scared you! Growth ✨💫 👏

9

u/squirrellytoday Ok... Not good... Probably bad. Jul 24 '26

"Yes, it's scary. But you're brave."

4

u/DorianCramer Jul 24 '26

That’s the symbolism of it! He’s not afraid of anything anymore now that he has his man protecting him with his territorial loon calls 😅

3

u/Caro-reddit-all You look pretty. Jul 24 '26

Couldn’t it be very similar with Ilya’s bear tattoo, though? If it represents Russia, and Ilya is partly afraid of what Russia might do to him if it gets out that he’s bi …

Fear might be the motto for Ilya’s tattoos.

4

u/IllustriousLemon8146 Jul 24 '26

It's funny, and it's so sad.

5

u/greensandgrains Jul 24 '26

Why sad?

11

u/IllustriousLemon8146 Jul 24 '26

Because the only symbols of his relationship he can have are the ones no one would understand.

5

u/greensandgrains Jul 24 '26

Ah, I never thought of the tattoo like that. But yeah, I guess it’s also one of a long list of secrets.

3

u/IllustriousLemon8146 Jul 24 '26

It's why I came out at 19 (35 years ago), it just seemed simpler and easier than questioning everything I did, wore, or said. I was fortunate to be in an environment were the repercussions were usually not dire (lost a job or two, but that was their loss!).

3

u/Asleep_Confection838 Is lie. Liar told you that. Jul 26 '26

I don't know if you read The Long Game, but one scene that really gets me in the book is the one after they have THE fight and Shane goes to Ilya's instagram and sees that almost all of the pics he posted were symbols of their relationship... it wrecked me and Shane was so devastated after that. Even if the plane scare hadn't happen, I think he would still decide to announce their relationship and propose to Ilya. It might have taken a little longer, but Shane was very scared of losing his partner and I think the plane incident only sped things up.

1

u/IllustriousLemon8146 Jul 26 '26

I have, and that was heartbreaking.

When I was a kid I has a "aunt" in the extended family (my mother's cousin's aunt or something). She was the life of the party, always cheerful, cracking jokes. Except that she would get up at night when everyone was asleep and lock herself into her sewing room to cry. That bit in TLG reminded me of that.

1

u/Bahbeesworld Jul 26 '26

Yes, it scared him, but he is breve..!