In Season 2, Episode 1, when we first see the Marvel villain — or Harlem Queen, depending on who and when you ask — she’s at dinner with her stockbroker and partner in business and pleasure, Shades (Theo Rossi). In real life, Woodard is more than 20 years Rossi’s senior, and the same assumption can be made for their characters. This, in part, is why when the waiter at the restaurant comes to the table in the scene, he mistakes Shades for Mariah’s nephew. Instead of getting angry, Mariah responds by picking up Shades’ hand and seductively putting his thumb in her mouth, then sucking it gently, making it clear to the waiter, the people around them, and the people at home watching, that there’s nothing platonic or maternal about their relationship. The best part about it? None of that was in the script.
“In the script she kisses Shades on the neck and then looks at the waiter,” Woodard explained to BuzzFeed News. “But before we shot the scene, I told Theo to go wash his hands with soap and water and not to touch anything on his way back. [When I did it], I could feel Theo wanted to laugh, and as soon as they yelled ‘cut!’ everyone on set screamed,” she said with a chuckle.
This obviously isn’t a problem for Luke Cage. The show is full
of interesting women, and with Shades and Mariah, we get a love story
that evolves into a morally complex thriller. Their relationship works
because Luke Cage’s creators thought deeply about the
characters’ motives, background, and sexuality. It’s the first time I’ve
seen a canon MCU romance with the same emotional depth as fanfiction,
and believe me when I say that Marvel fanfic writers know what’s up.
It’s people on Shuri Udaku’s internet who really think Shades DREADED Mariah’s… anything. I can’t relate. That man climbed into her personal space at every opportune moment.
Shades been sweating Mariah from moment he laid eyes on her. To the point she actually called him out about his thirst. Or do they not realize what that exchange meant when she asked Cornell , ‘Does your guard need a drink of water?’
And you’re right he almost always initiated physical contact. Intent on making sure she wasn’t distancing herself physically or emotionally.
This man has done everything but literally drool on her and people still convince themselves he was not interested in her sexually.
i don’t know the original context, but i do know there’s a significant number of people who have a gut-level negative reaction to m/f femdom or anything like it–the other side of the coin of the gut-level positive reaction society trains us to have to m/f relationships where the sexual and/or emotional power dynamic goes the other way–and “compliment” the man by imagining he has the “right” feelings about it and refusing to see what’s actually going on
That may play into it, since she’s much more overtly sexual. I tend to think her age and complexion account for MOST of the problem, either separately or combined.
There are seriously dummies out there who ended this season thinking he wasn’t really into her? Dude was in love. He says it when he has no possible ulterior motive for doing so.
He shoots a guy in the head for insulting her race and appearance, a guy they needed for business purposes. (Unfortunately the subtitles don’t translate what he’s saying, but it’s pretty racist and colorist) I was afraid starting this season that they might write it as him using her or what have you, but killing Arturo was a huge inconvenience, and he had no reason to do it other than genuine rage that this guy was tacking shit about the woman he loved.
@i-just-like-commenting EXACTLY! That was actually the first mistake in what ended up being a series of unfortunate events.😂 Even though a lot of what happened that led to their downfall ended up being Mariah’s fault ultimately, the first critical error was actually Hernan’s. He couldn’t let that slight to Mariah rock and so he killed the best buyer for their business on GP –which left them wide open to all the crap with Cockroach and Nigel/Bushmaster. It wasn’t the smart play (that Shades usually makes), it wasn’t the prudent play but he was going from his gut. And there was just no way he was gonna let some dude talk shit about his woman. He knew better, Shades is not easily rattled (they showed that fact about him on multiple occasions through both seasons) but he did it anyway. Not because he’s a hot-head or blood-thirsty, but to clearly show the audience that he was in love.
I don’t know what more these blind people need? They showed his feelings in context as seen above, also in actual lines of script…I mean, did they want Shades to carve it into his forehead? People are not only obtuse…but just plain old racist and sexist.
Shades likes to eat Mariah out when she looks over the club from the window of the office.
He has ripped 7 pairs of her silk and lace panties to point wear she wears Spanx as punishment for him ripping her expensive panties.
No matter how many times Shades has washed his gloves they still smell of her essence from all the times he has stimulated her in the back of her Mercedes.
Mariah likes to rides to ride him instead doing doggy style because of the time he fucked so good she sweated her perm wild.
(I need help for how depraved over this ship I am….)
Um, no you do not. Keep going
One day some of her Sorors come to visit and one them jokes about Shades’ thin lips and Mariah mutters about them being perfectly fine seat when she rides his face.
Mariah makes Shades wear a cock ring.
They fuck on satin or silk sheets only.
Are you taking requests? Something like she’s on the phone with something work related and he’s going down on her.
I’m asking for a friend…..
Alright, peeps, I’m joining this thread!
Shades likes to fuck Mariah on her desk, and sometimes he leaves the door unlocked which surprisingly thrills her.
I’ll piggyback off of @nys30‘s by adding that he will also go down on her while she’s in a meeting (the desk obscures him from view).
Sometimes when they’re driving, he’ll have one hand on the wheel, and one under her skirt.
When they can’t make it inside the house, Mariah will ride him on the driver’s seat of the car.
Sometimes Shades will leave his sunglasses on when they fuck.
Shades likes to eat Mariah out on the dining table as his dessert.
To get her into the mood, all Shades has to do is kiss her on the neck.
Mariah’s into orgasm delay (for her and him), so Shades will alternate between fucking her and using a vibe on her clit while he’s still inside her, and neither one of them are allowed to come for at least an hour.
Shades likes kissing Mariah when they have sex. He’s an intimacy type of guy, and he takes what he can get while they’re in the act because cuddling is currently not apart of their arrangement.
Mariah has more stamina than Shades does.
The first time Shades teaches Mariah how to use a gun, they end up fucking in a gun range’s bathroom.
I’ll just see myself out.
Oh no, you get your ass back in here and see what you’ve done:
Long after the club is closed and locked up, Mariah likes to pour herself a nice scotch and watch Shades undress for her.
His tattoos span his entire torso and she has plans to taste every inch of him.
She’s surprised by how much noise he makes as she swallows him down.
That last one had me like
If I’m sinning at work. We all sinning.
Another headcanon: Shades likes to make Mariah squirt. The first time it happens, it drenches his face and shirt, and he’s pleased as a motherfucker.
Good Morning everyone!!
Shades knows Alex is an essential part of Mariah’s respectable councilwoman’s persona, but it doesn’t mean he has to like how much time the fucker steals from him.
So he purposefully plans quickies for when he knows Alex will be showing up. Whether it’s bending her over the nearest surface, or eating her out until she can only pant his name, knowing that Alex is waiting on him (and her) to finish always puts a smile on his face
Hey @wannabanauthor remember these? Well, in light of what we learned in season 2, imma change up my last comment a bit.
I’ll make it so Mariah somehow finds out about Shades and Comanche. So whenever she feels a bit petty, she’ll leave her office door open a bit so Che can hear (or watch) her riding Shades like her life depends on it.
I have no recollection of this post.
I’ll see myself out for my past depravity…
I don’t either but I have some
– They’ve fucked every inch of Harlem’s Paradise, the bar, the stage, the railings, they particularly like fucking on Mariah’s desk because that’s where the seat of her power is. She enjoys spreading Shades out and riding him on top of it.
– Shades likes to lift up Mariah’s dress and fingerbang her through her panties, particularly when she’s about to go to an important function so she’ll be flustered and turned on the whole time she’s there
– They’re both adrenaline junkies and seek it out during sex as well as everything else. That’s why I headcanon them both as kinky people when it comes down to it.
-Mariah likes getting massages and foot rubs and Shades is good at giving them.
-They’ve roleplayed an interrogation at least once with Mariah as the naughty cop and Shades as the uncooperative suspect. Handcuffs were involved.
– The offhand remark Comanche made about them fucking over stacks of money?–yeah they did do that.
– Shades fantasizes about being pegged by her but has never owned up to it.
I can’t choose between Shades x Mariah and Shades x Comanche so I’m just going to put it out there + say BOTH. An AU where none of the bad shit happens + Mariah teaches Comanche how to dominate Shades + they both top the hell out of him. (Somehow I imagine Alex has a spreadsheet to keep a track of who’s turn it is with Shades). I want needy!slutty!submissive!Shades getting taken care of by his two great loves. (And definitely getting punished for flirting with Luke!)
If anybody wants me I shall be over here in hell.
I think Che already knew how to dominate him tbqh 😉
Mariah: You could be standing next to a person month after month, and then the next thing you know, you’re tearing each other’s clothes off. There’s a word for it.
It’s people on Shuri Udaku’s internet who really think Shades DREADED Mariah’s… anything. I can’t relate. That man climbed into her personal space at every opportune moment.
Shades been sweating Mariah from moment he laid eyes on her. To the point she actually called him out about his thirst. Or do they not realize what that exchange meant when she asked Cornell , ‘Does your guard need a drink of water?’
And you’re right he almost always initiated physical contact. Intent on making sure she wasn’t distancing herself physically or emotionally.
This man has done everything but literally drool on her and people still convince themselves he was not interested in her sexually.
i don’t know the original context, but i do know there’s a significant number of people who have a gut-level negative reaction to m/f femdom or anything like it–the other side of the coin of the gut-level positive reaction society trains us to have to m/f relationships where the sexual and/or emotional power dynamic goes the other way–and “compliment” the man by imagining he has the “right” feelings about it and refusing to see what’s actually going on
That may play into it, since she’s much more overtly sexual. I tend to think her age and complexion account for MOST of the problem, either separately or combined.
There are seriously dummies out there who ended this season thinking he wasn’t really into her? Dude was in love. He says it when he has no possible ulterior motive for doing so.
There’s some awesome meta here, but can I speak on the last gif? Something about how deliberately he runs his hand up her leg…
Okay I’m back now. This is an example of those small moments that speak so loud. How comfortable he is with touching her, and how comfortable she is with accepting his presence……
Huh, I guess that explains how indignant he is when Mariah says he can’t just be swinging by.
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