Well, that's what I get for primarily watching (and re-watching and re-watching) the fullscreen version! I can't believe I only just noticed that now... duh!!
You know, as a matter of fact, that entire scene is very domestic. Joe brings Billy coffee, the whole 'married white trash couple' quip, the wrist holding...
*nods* Yes, very. Sweetly domestic.
Billy's POV, however, can be read in so many ways. He's passive through most of it but he doesn't reject Joe's advances (verbal or otherwise). What makes it kinda weird from Billy's perspective is that he doesn't address Joe directly (if my memory is correct--it's been a couple of months since I last watched HCL) til after the journalist gets told off by Joe. Is it that he is tired? That he doesn't feel like having to explain his relationship dynamics to the world, i.e. the journalist? I don't know.
Yes, passive is what I called it. He's very ...neutral. He doesn't reject, but he also doesn't return Joe's advances. Yes, your memory is correct: he doesn't address Joe directly until after Joe tells her to fuck off, when he says, "You're good with people."
He looks like he might be tired... and I doubt he feels the need to explain his relationship dynamics to anyone. But I get the feeling that he's... kind of closed.
Closed not only to the journalist, but to Joe, too. Except for him putting his hand on Joe's chest at the end, after he's already decided to leave and is clearly feeling guilty, does he ever touch Joe affectionately like Joe touches him, kisses him, etc.? I don't think so.
The wrist caress reminds me of how, after the Rock Against Guns concert, Billy is talking to Flash Bastard about being in Jenifur, and Joe comes up and says "He's mine, I'm going to take him now" and grabs Billy by the upper arms and pulls/pushes Billy away from them and towards Festus (presumably to discuss the reunion tour). If you watch Billy in that, he's similarly neutral. He accepts it, doesn't reject it, doesn't throw Joe off... but he's kind of closed, subdued, not interested (or enthused?) enough to walk forward out of Joe's grip. Now, he obviously doesn't dislike it. But that he doesn't return Joe's gestures or touches, either... There's a lot of space there for fic. *g*
I still love the scene though because it gives echoes/shades of what life must have been like for Billy and Joe away from the stage.
*nods* I totally agree.
Sorry if I got a bit rambly. Put Billy and Joe in front of me and I become a motormouth.
Well, clearly I suffer from that affliction, too! *g*
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*nods* Yes, very. Sweetly domestic.
Yes, passive is what I called it. He's very ...neutral. He doesn't reject, but he also doesn't return Joe's advances. Yes, your memory is correct: he doesn't address Joe directly until after Joe tells her to fuck off, when he says, "You're good with people."
He looks like he might be tired... and I doubt he feels the need to explain his relationship dynamics to anyone. But I get the feeling that he's... kind of closed.
Closed not only to the journalist, but to Joe, too. Except for him putting his hand on Joe's chest at the end, after he's already decided to leave and is clearly feeling guilty, does he ever touch Joe affectionately like Joe touches him, kisses him, etc.? I don't think so.
The wrist caress reminds me of how, after the Rock Against Guns concert, Billy is talking to Flash Bastard about being in Jenifur, and Joe comes up and says "He's mine, I'm going to take him now" and grabs Billy by the upper arms and pulls/pushes Billy away from them and towards Festus (presumably to discuss the reunion tour). If you watch Billy in that, he's similarly neutral. He accepts it, doesn't reject it, doesn't throw Joe off... but he's kind of closed, subdued, not interested (or enthused?) enough to walk forward out of Joe's grip. Now, he obviously doesn't dislike it. But that he doesn't return Joe's gestures or touches, either... There's a lot of space there for fic. *g*
*nods* I totally agree.
Well, clearly I suffer from that affliction, too! *g*