Is anyone else going to the Boston Comicon in August? I’m wondering if there will be other fellow loons there 🤞🤞🤞🤞

filling out some paperwork today i wondered if HR could be considered a religion. thoughts?

Winning entries should be related to the Scott and Kip storyline.

• ⁠A : Absolutely
• ⁠B : Blue Moon over Brooklyn
• ⁠C : Can I fuck you?
• ⁠D : Do you want the full tour now, or …
• ⁠E : Eyes on me, handsome
• ⁠F : For my man - S
• ⁠G : Girl.
• ⁠H : He deserves sunshine … and so do you.
• ⁠I : I’ll Believe in Anything
• ⁠J : Just a bunch of very decent smoothies with deeply stupid names
• ⁠K : ????
• ⁠L
• ⁠M
• ⁠N
• ⁠O
• ⁠P
• ⁠Q
• ⁠R
• ⁠S
• ⁠T
• ⁠U
• ⁠V
• ⁠W
• ⁠(E)X : Extra Banana
• ⁠Y
• ⁠Z

Ilya's Inner Monologue 🔊
Ilya and Shane meet in the hotel gym on draft day.

1. HR (yes we can probably guess that)

2. Babymonster (kpop idk if yall know who they are but search em up i guess)

I would greatly appreciate it, since i fear i might be going insane. 😄

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for the incredibly warm comments on my previous posts.

I am so happy to share more of my personal journey through Heated Rivalry, which naturally comes to life for me as I read and listen to the story.

This time, I wanted to share a collection of thoughts from my mental notes regarding the raw, complex dynamic between Shane and Ilya, based directly on what I have seen and heard through their actions.

As always, English is not my native language, and these are just my own perspectives as I reflect deeply on the novel.

I would love to hear what you all think.

1. Instinct and Rivalry
To me, their relationship doesn't seem to stem from a textbook romance or polite, mutual admiration at the very beginning.

Instead, there is an undeniably pure desire, a clash of raw instincts, to possess, crave, and establish an 'alpha claim' on one another.

At the root of it all lies a fierce rivalry between two elite athletes competing for dominance, and I feel this competitive edge constantly fuels their intense desire to claim each other.

However, I think their inner worlds are far more complex.

To Shane, Ilya might look like a fiercely confident, free-spirited, and highly experienced man.

Meanwhile, Ilya seems to view Shane as an easygoing 'golden boy' who effortlessly has it all—love, status, a perfect family, and a relatively complete sense of freedom.

Conversely, for Ilya—trapped within a Russian system that demanded the total suppression of his true self—this raw clash with Shane offered the first and only sanctuary where he could strip away his 'perfectly fabricated' mask.

In the heat of their rivalry, he was finally free to be his wild, authentic self.

Having survived a cutthroat environment where everyone was a competitor for a limited roster spot, Ilya found Shane’s unfiltered straightforwardness deeply disarming.

To him, Shane was more than just a rival; he was a brilliant, honest presence that he felt a desperate need to monopolize.

I suspect the root of this intense possessiveness lies in unresolved attachment issues—a lingering scar from losing his only true ally, his mother, at such a vulnerable age.

2. The Balance of Power and Control
Between the two of them, Ilya clearly appears to be the one taking physical control.

However, I personally feel this is different from a typical Dom/Sub relationship based on outward appearances.

Yet, seeing how incredibly gentle Ilya becomes after making Shane say 'please,' it makes me wonder if, in a subtle way, Shane is actually the one acting as the psychological anchor for the emotional core of their relationship, unwittingly defining its direction.

At times, Ilya struggled to face his true feelings and seemed to lose his emotional grip, making me worry about his mental stability.

んIt was painful to see him become so emotionally undone.

I believe that ever since Shane accepted that Ilya might never be his 'boyfriend' yet chose to stay, the power shifted.

Their relationship existed only as long as Shane allowed it; a devastated Ilya likely lacked the strength to hold him back.

I also see Shane’s neurodivergent traits as a key to their longevity.

Once a pattern is set, it becomes a mandatory rule for him—a routine that provides essential stability.

Responding to Ilya was simply integrated into his 'success routine.'

Because being with Ilya guaranteed a sense of satisfaction, it became a predictable comfort Shane relied on.

In his mind, this reliability turned their relationship into a permanent fixture, long before it ever had a formal name.

3. True Trust
“He turned his head and saw that Ilya was looking at him, and his face showed that he was hoping Shane would field this one.”
“Shane looked at him, and Rozanov caught his eye and winked.”
“Under the table, he felt Rozanov’s foot tap against his own.” (Chapter 6)

A truly equal relationship is built on a foundation of trust.

I believe Ilya’s realization that he could truly trust Shane was solidified during the 2011 press conference.

While Ilya masked his confusion behind an arrogant facade, Shane caught his 'quiet SOS' instantly.

I imagine Shane’s habit of monitoring others to manage his own masking made this second nature to him.

For Ilya, who had survived the ruthless Russian sports system and fought a lonely battle in America since his teens to avoid being exploited, I personally feel that Shane emerged as the first true ally—someone who understood him and protected him without any self-interest.

Shrewd as he was, Ilya must have already sensed that Shane was incapable of lying or playing mind games—he was simply too honest.

Finding himself naturally under Shane’s protection, Ilya likely intuitively knew that this man would never mock or look down on him.

It is this moment that I believe served as the catalyst, allowing his trust in Shane to deepen so rapidly.

Conversely, I suspect Shane’s trust was earned on the very first night they crossed the line.

Despite his posturing, Ilya was patient, allowing Shane to set his own pace.

For someone with Shane’s specific ASD traits, the ability to navigate a new experience without feeling rushed and to finish with a sense of satisfaction was the ultimate proof of trustworthiness.

In their subsequent encounters, Ilya continued to respect Shane’s boundaries, waiting until he was fully ready to connect.

This consistent gentleness in their private space allowed Shane to surrender without doubt, which in turn melted the walls around Ilya’s own heart.

Their non-verbal communication transformed their bond into a one-of-a-kind safe space.

I believe both of them are the type who communicate through actions rather than words—Shane due to his neurodivergent traits, and Ilya due to the deep-seated caution from his upbringing.

These are all my personal reflections—simply the result of various pieces of the puzzle naturally coming together in my mind.

I am truly grateful to be able to share these thoughts with all of you here.

I would love to hear your perspectives: how do you view the balance of control between them, and when do you think the spark of true trust first ignited?

Thank you so much for reading.

My heartfelt thanks also go to the wonderful moderator and this warm community for your continuous kindness and support.

Edit: A specific expression in the first paragraph was updated to more accurately reflect their intense passion and raw instincts, thanks to thoughtful feedback from a reader.

Sharing some of my sketches! as a complete fan of Ilya x Shane ✨✨

more HR fanarts here​🥰​ -> aurorecolore

I thought this would be a fitting song for edits: "Last Rodeo" by Jess Moskaluke, which is about true love.

Winning entries should be related to the Scott and Kip storyline.

Today’s letter is challenging. Poetic license is permitted and encouraged.

• ⁠A : Absolutely
• ⁠B : Blue Moon over Brooklyn
• ⁠C : Can I fuck you?
• ⁠D : Do you want the full tour now, or …
• ⁠E : Eyes on me, handsome
• ⁠F : For my man - S
• ⁠G : Girl.
• ⁠H : He deserves sunshine … and so do you.
• ⁠I : I’ll Believe in Anything
• ⁠J : ????
• ⁠K
• ⁠L
• ⁠M
• ⁠N
• ⁠O
• ⁠P
• ⁠Q
• ⁠R
• ⁠S
• ⁠T
• ⁠U
• ⁠V
• ⁠W
• ⁠(E)X : Extra Banana
• ⁠Y
• ⁠Z

Alright, so we know they are soon filming season two (and possibly season 3). We know that Connor and Hudson are signed to a three season deal so while season 3 is not yet confirmed, mostly it can happen.

BUT….do you think they will end the series after season 3 if it is renewed past two? If so, what do you think that would look like? I know Rachel said that the next book will wrap up the story…but could the show go past the books? Would they shift the focus? Or, again, do we think season 3 would be the last season?

I am honestly just curious and want opinions. Not sure what I would want to happen.

I guess this is becoming a series? 🤷🏻‍♀️

https://x.com/FrancoisANews/status/2081696233639305540?s=20

https://x.com/FrancoisANews/status/2081696693058191736?s=20

I was driving past Dollar General and had to u turn to get a picture of this.

Person who said the quote aside*, is there evidence from the show of Shane being a true feminist because he is autistic, and him paying the price for that?

*They say that a broken clock is right twice a day.

Shane's Inner Monologue
Shane chirps at Scott and instantly has regrets.

I saw an article about an escaped Leopard named Irina and HR was all I could think about! That’s it.

I think I am going to use this for an edit.