I love the idea that Marc's proud of Roman. Happy for him, after everything, because despite everything, I think that the two of them feel so much for each other that that would be overriding, on either side. And you can see that in 2.0 - that Marc's willing to leave, if that's what Roman wants, what he *really* wants, because Roman's happiness is so important to him. Even though I don't believe that Marc's leaving was purely martyrly, that was part of it.

Marc answers, feeling an unexpected compulsion to slide into the banter they’d once enjoyed

I can so see this. Because in one way, it makes sense, it's comfortable and familiar, almost like an inside joke, but in another way, it's also easier than being honest. It's easier to mock and joke than it is to be open and vehement, and especially after years without any communication.

Anyway, a medal is a medal.

I almost want to pretend that never happened. To be like, "Deniz? Who's that? Roman, stop chasing other dudes when Marc's RIGHT THERE!" Which is awfully confusing, but I love it. I still feel a little (okay, a lot) nostalgic for 1.0, so that line makes me "D'aw" a little, but now I'm all confused and stuff... It's awesome.

And I love that you've given Marc a family, too. He was such a lone character. The parts of him that were developed on Show were FOR Show, and other than that, there was very little. It seems logical and kind of lovely to me that Marc has a sister and neices/nephews, that he had a semi-functional family where Roman didn't. It's brings to mind so many images of Marc and Roman's two years together - of Christmases and meeting-the-in-laws and of a proud and comfortable Marc, in a situation that we never saw him in. I'm loving this.

And then hearing, over the phone, after so many years, the interest Roman's shown in Deniz. The fact that Marc instantly agrees to back down, whether for his own sake or Roman's.

I love that it ends with such hope, similar to One, but still a very different feeling.