a self-indulgent 'physical closeness and hands in particular' in ttts ep. 10 thread, because that's what struck me (made me cry) on tonight's rewatch:

The first scene - Tharn guilty about running into his ex and the feelings that arose, and uncomfortably lying by omission to Type. Tharn trying to get as physically close to Type as possible and Type, although confused, going along with it.

Type letting himself be held closely and instinctively responding softly to Tharn's (not entirely accurate) explanation of what's wrong

Type's hands coming up to hold Tharn, his thumb softly stroking his arm, as he comforts and gently chides him.

The second scene - the uneasy intimate lull in an episode where everything is starting to crumble. Type playing so softly with Tharn's hair throughout this scene. Type saying "Tharn, I have something to ask", when we know he suspects something, but for now it's just domestic chat

The scene continues, both ignoring the looming problem for now. Tharn's "I'm on cloud nine" and Type's "I'm happy too" aren't lies, but they aren't the full story for either of them right now. Still, both (and Type in particular) trying to be physically close and emotionally open

An 18-second clip of completely wordless intimacy of the kind that really puts TTTS head and shoulders above any other show. Type gently playing with Tharn's hair throughout (he's come so far from that first shy attempt in Ep. 6)

And then Type reaching, so very gentle and small, for closeness with Tharn – in the knowledge that Tharn is deceiving him, and he has in turn begun to deceive Tharn.

The third scene - and everything is different now. Tharn being intentionally deceptive in the hope that he can sort things out neatly without Type finding out, and covering it up with a surface level intimacy that Type isn't buying at all. Tharn doing all the holding and kissing.

The fourth scene - as things fall apart for the first time (before they do so completely in the next episode). Type's angry hold on Tharn and the distance between them as he calls Tharn out on not telling him that Tar was his ex-boyfriend.

Then for the second time, raw, distraught, Type pulling at Tharn as he all but begs him to tell him his ex-boyfriend doesn't affect him anymore. Tharn, unable to lie, finally reaches out to hold Type and tells him he loves him, but that isn't what Type wants to hear, isn't enough

And then, finally. Hands again, but this time it's Type, alone, hands clasped together, stroking his fingers, trying to soothe and hold himself together somehow. But now he is completely alone and in a different place, and there is no possibility of physically being with Tharn.

here ends the self-indulgent thread.