Love is......

A very thoughtful Ben gave us his views on love this weekend. Not a rehearsed statement, no, it was spontaneous. It began by placing himself in his Sherlock character’s view of love and then it morphed into his own view on the subject. Ben thinks Sherlock sees love as a ‘secret thing’. He reminds us that JOHN [note here that Ben changes from the formal ‘Dr Watson’ to the intimate ‘John’ on this subject] questions him on this, saying John reminds him that love is a good thing to be ‘out’ in the world. Oh lord, the implications both of the characters and their real life are overflowing here. Note how Ben is totally focused, leaning forward, full steady gaze off into the back of the audience. He’s in reflective mode. Words he uses: ‘Unabashed’, ‘open’, ‘not something to be embarrassed about’ all mean the same thing in this context; unashamed. He adds ‘deeply private’ [with the caveat of ‘obviously’ added] as a qualifier hinting at his need for privacy but also to illustrate that there are levels to this issue and one is to be open and unashamed, the other is to keep a layer of love deeply private. Ben has always had difficulty disassociating himself from his characters, especially where Sherlock is concerned, and here it’s apparent that his own views/experience of love is driving the answer about Sherlock. 

In context of the preceding comments, and then the proceeding, we get a glimpse of something. I’ve discussed the preceding in an earlier post. In the proceeding Ben is asked by the interviewer about Ben’s influence on his character of Sherlock. Ben laughs and says he doesn’t have much influence at all, as Mofftiss have a firm control there. He touches his ear and covers the side of his face closest to the interviewer with his hand; guarding. He’s aware he has more influence than he’s admitting, but given the laugh and the statement about the writers, he’s keeping this fact close to his chest. [Did the writers know? And if they did was it a problem?] He then jumps from saying ‘I’ and using first person to ‘WE’ and he keeps this up for the duration of the topic. He cannot separate himself and Martin when discussing the show. [He does this a lot] He says Sherlock is in Mofftiss’ blood then adds ‘obviously it’s in our blood too now.’ But he reminds himself that the show and the interpretation of the characters firmly belong to Steven and Mark, as he repeats 3 TIMES, ‘them’, ‘them’ ‘them’. That is a mantra he has adopted to discipline himself, indicating an inner conflict. His power over the character IS limited and he and the writers may not agree on that character. [Similar indication to Martin’s use of the word ‘if’ regarding the ending montage in TFP….Martin is more subtle and succinct] 

Ben finally ends this segment of the talk with a joke that falls a bit flat. He suggests Molly and Mrs H could hook up. A few fans gave a whoop, but he knows it’s fell flat indicated by giving a bit of a waffle then some awkward body language; he sits up straight in the chair, shakes his head then bends down saying ‘he’ll get into trouble now’ but he won’t, we all know that, as does he. It’s an awkward exit to the subject. He adds the summation about the writers and the show being a mash up of a game plan, happenstance and retro-fit. 

As a therapist I would have made notes on his words re Sherlock’s version of love, one which he plays out exquisitely, verses his verbal description of Sherlock’s inability to love. A huge dichotomy there. Plus his use of synonyms for ‘unashamed’ when saying what love should be. Sherlock isn’t ashamed, maybe John struggles in that regard but not Sherlock. He’s just silent on the subject verbally and emoting love non-verbally in everything he does. So I would ask why he needed to reiterate the point that love shouldn’t be kept secret? What love is secret?

Ben finds it difficult to separate himself from Sherlock, and also to separate Martin/John from the equation. And due to his speaking style, over talking, he reveals things to the listener. Taken as a whole, his public statements have caused huge confusion and division in the fandom, both about Sherlock and about himself. Ben is far more John Watson in real life than Sherlock Holmes. But…they have always said that haven’t they? 

Aw heck, while we’re at it, here’s some more interesting Gay Ben fodder, especially this quote, when asked about playing a gay character:

That’s really not a thing a straight actor would say - they wouldn’t need to. Instead they’d say more about why the decision was made, approaching the role conscientiously, that actors play parts which they don’t usually have experience with, hence, acting, etc. Something about explaining their sexual history? No. That wouldn’t be a thing they’d consider all that private.

Ben’s played a lot of gay characters, which doesn’t say much, really, but taken with loads of his other quotes, his interview in OUT magazine, and tons more things he and other friends and co-stars of his have mentioned about he and Martin, (omg Simon Pegg 😂) - and not even mentioning the pictures - well… I’m not sure how you can’t come to that conclusion. It’s just funny how in the closet he’s attempting to be, given all that other stuff.  (See my link on Skeptic Stuff on the sidebar if you want my opinion about his marriage - basically, don’t even bother pointing that out. Also, if you want more examples–there’s tons–please just read the archive - they’re all tagged.)

Just wanted to add this excellent reply from Tom Hardy re his sexuality. He took the question on with honesty and drew a line under it.

It’s a man dealing with his experience of bisexual attraction, male peer pressure (toxic masculinity) and how preferences are not always static. Best answer I have ever heard for the ‘are you gay?’ question. Both Ben and Martin could learn a thing or two from this; it’s so honest and real that it is a very male ‘fuck you’ reply.

Thank you Arwel to give us more content in two days than Moffat did in 10 years. 

I did a postcard called ‘Always Freebatch’ for Freebatch meeting that gonna be on this August!

I’m so excited as I’ll meet ppl from twitter. Looking forward for this event so much😍💕

Drabble Advent Calendar - December 2nd

Today’s prompt is a present for johnnlocked, requested by folkyfaery, who thought you would enjoy some Freebatch where they’re having takeaway Wagamama. Hope you like it!

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It was a bit of a nightmare, though they’d become better planners with age. Maybe it was a dad thing, though their wives and exes would gigglingly disagree. Martin did not eat meat, and Ben got twitchy about carbs. Every other weekend, Martin had the kids, but Wednesday afternoons Ben had the house to himself, and if Martin was in town, he’d read the menu very carefully, then come over, bag in hand like an offering.

Somehow, it worked.

Martin, albeit guiltily, thanked god. Ben thanked katsu curry and saint-like significant others.

They both thanked each other, greedily. At length.

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I will be posting drabbles every day until December 24th - there’s still room for more. Any fandom, any theme - prompt me here!

Drabble Advent Calendar 2017!

That’s right - it’s happening! As in previous years, I will collect prompts until December 1st. (If, at that point, I have less than 24 prompts, prompting will remain open until I do.) From December 1st through December 24th, I will post one drabble - old school; 100 words exactly - written from a randomly selected prompt. The prompt selected for December 23rd gets a DOUBLE drabble, and the prompt for the 24th gets a 400+ word vignette!

I will write ANY fandom and ANY pairing with which I am even remotely familiar. RPF is more than welcome. Seriously. I’ve been writing fic for almost 20 years, and I know a ton of fandoms. If, against all odds, I can’t write your prompt, I’ll let you know so you can prompt again. You can prompt as often as you like, as many times as you like.

Among my fandoms are (by no means an exhaustive list): Thor: Ragnarok, Life is Strange, Star Trek: Discovery, (and most Star Trek other than VOY), Red Dwarf, Sherlock, Raffles, Cabin Pressure, Freebatch, Back to the Future (yes, I will write mammett!), Blade Runner, Hot Fuzz, Jeeves & Wooster, The Mighty Boosh, IT Crowd, Star Wars, Rick & Morty, Stephen Universe, HHGTTG, Telltale: Batman, Telltale: Borderlands, Isaaac Asimov’s robot stories - and more!

You can prompt by replying to or reblogging this post, or by sending me an ask.

To answer some questions and comments: Prompts do NOT have to be seasonal, or related to any one holiday tradition. If you don’t celebrate Christmas or anything at all this holiday season, feel free to take part anyway!

Prompts are open to everyone - you don’t need to be following me. If/when your prompt is written, you will be tagged.

This post will be reblogged irregularly but frequently until posting starts.

There may be special prices or surprises along the way! :D

IS THERE AN AU YET?!

reporter 1: do you find benedict’s cheekbones distracting? martin: no… no.. *laughs* i mean, i… no, i .. never… i 

reporter 2: [something about acting and dimensions]

martin: […] If you’re beautiful and a hunk and you’ve got great cheekbones [..]

#freebatch forever 

#MartinFreeman #BenedictCumberbatch all have “magical power” to make us happy and smile

Okay but what the actual fuck. Those are clearly the same pants. I know they’ve been seen obviously borrowing each other’s clothes or shopping together for some very specific pieces, but what the fuck. What the fucking fuck. 

Fun Fact

Martin Freeman is starring in a play called Labour of Love written by James Graham. Benedict Cumberbatch has been announced today to star in a film called Gypsy Boy which is going to be written by James Graham. Yes, it’s the same James Graham. That thing you are also thinking? YES, YES, AGAIN.