The "Ichabbie, Yay!" Thread

[Miss Dee]

So as I'm recovering from a procedure today, in my anesthesia-fueled ruminations it hit me: we need an Ichabbie thread! One where fans of the pairing can come in and squee (or, God forbid, moan) over all the romance that I am now about 78% sure is coming, without taking over all the other threads on the forum.

I realize that there is an Ichabbie fanfic thread here too, so if the mods feel like merging the two I'm totally cool with that.

To start us off: I'm a fan of the (now sadly defunct) Civil Wars. Their love songs were pretty folksy and offbeat, and I think a lot of them would have fit Ichabbie really well. But the best of them is "Dust to Dust":

It's not your eyes

It's not what you say

It's not your laughter that gives you away

You're just lonely

You've been lonely, too long

All your actin'

Your thin disguise

All your perfectly delivered lies

They don't fool me

You've been lonely, too long

Let me in the wall, you've built around

And we can light a match and burn it down

Let me hold your hand and dance 'round and 'round the flame

In front of us

Dust to dust

You've held your head up

You've fought the fight

You bear the scars

You've done your time

Listen to me

You've been lonely, too long

Let me in the wall, you've built around

And we can light a match and burn them down

And let me hold your hand and dance 'round and 'round the flames

In front of us

Dust to dust

You're like a mirror, reflecting me

Takes one to know one, so take it from me

You've been lonely

You've been lonely, too long

We've been lonely

We've been lonely, too long

(Video below!)

Edited March 1, 2016 by Miss Dee

[Miss Dee]

[Sparkling Beth]

What a beautiful song.  You're right--it's perfect for Abbie and Ichabod.  They both seem to be holding a lot of hurt inside and I feel that there will be a lot of healing when they finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.  Yes, I'm an incurable romantic.  It's genetic--when I was young, my mother would watch Gunsmoke and every time Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty were in a scene together, she would say, "Kiss her, Matt!"  Alas, he never did.  I really, really want a sweet but spicy Ichabbie kiss!

[Miss Dee]

I like how the singers are a tall bearded guy in a ratty jacket and a short brunette. The library even looks like the archives!

[topanga]

Earlier in the season when Ichabod told Joe to "talk to her," about how he felt, meaning Jenny, and Joe followed up by telling Ichabod to "talk to her," meaning Abbie, of course, did Ichabod ever respond to Joe one way or another? I think the writers have tried to keep Crane's feelings for Abbie somewhat vague, but I can remember how that conversation with Joe ended.

[mndpacer04]

I am very happy with the direction of the show this season! I only stayed tuned because of the Season 2 finale (Katrina/Goffman exit). Tom Mison and Clifton Campbell have both acknowledged in interviews that Ichibod is "deeply" (Campbell) and "completely" (Mison) "in love" with Abbie! I am very intrigued to see where they go with it this season. The hand-porn, Italian dinner with candlelight and long stares are a great start, but I want more! Yeah - I am hooked again!

[Miss Dee]

Earlier in the season when Ichabod told Joe to "talk to her," about how he felt, meaning Jenny, and Joe followed up by telling Ichabod to "talk to her," meaning Abbie, of course, did Ichabod ever respond to Joe one way or another? I think the writers have tried to keep Crane's feelings for Abbie somewhat vague, but I can remember how that conversation with Joe ended.

He didn't answer Joe then, I don't think. But if I remember correctly, when he tells Abbie there was something he wanted to tell her in the Catacombs of Endless Time (while instigating the Epic Hand Porn, I might add), he kinda gives Joe this sidelong look, like Joe should know what's coming. Don't know if he was trolling poor Ichabbie-rootin' Joe (as a stand in for 2/3 of their audience), or if he honestly lost his nerve, or recalculated his options during that pause and decided this was not the time - not when Abbie had just barely escaped her ordeal; it might have occurred to him that it could be interpreted as taking advantage of her vulnerability.

That's probably why he's trying to show his love via actions rather than words right now; he figures a PTSD-ing Abbie is not in the right time and place to make a decision on any declarations he has to make. So instead of barreling ahead, he's taking it slow, being solicitous of her well-being, biding his time until he feels it's the right moment to tell her what he feels.

In other words: what we got ourselves right here is a good ol'-fashioned courtship.

[topanga]

Just thinking about if (when) Ichabod and Abbie were to kiss, I wonder how it would be blocked. Standing up would be awkward, given their almost 1-foot difference in height. Unless Nicole is standing on a box or a step. They could be lying down, but I actually wouldn't want to see them go from hugs and hand-holding to rolling around in the sheets. Too abrupt. 

[HalcyonDays]

Just thinking about if (when) Ichabod and Abbie were to kiss, I wonder how it would be blocked.

 

Counter top in kitchen.

 

Abbie perched up on the counter top, wine glass in hand, watching as Crane does his cooking thing, and then....:')

[Helena Dax]

It just seems deeper when they're really good friends before becoming something else. When it's love at first sight, it's usually about how beautiful she is. Ichabod may think Abbie's gorgeous but that isn't the reason he's fallen in love with her. It's because she's brave, strong, smart, funny, trustworthy, loyal. And he saw all those things before being romantically attracted to her.

 

And it's even better when they're fighting together against the world. Must be the Mulder/Scully influence.

 

(What does Abbie love about him, though? She likes him a lot, that much is clear, but his admiration for her is obvious and easier to read).

 

Just thinking about if (when) Ichabod and Abbie were to kiss, I wonder how it would be blocked. Standing up would be awkward, given their almost 1-foot difference in height. Unless Nicole is standing on a box or a step. They could be lying down, but I actually wouldn't want to see them go from hugs and hand-holding to rolling around in the sheets. Too abrupt. 

 

 

Counter top in kitchen.

 

Abbie perched up on the counter top, wine glass in hand, watching as Crane does his cooking thing, and then....:')

 

They could be sitting on the floor after a hard victory, still a bit scared but happy to see the other one safe...

[topanga]

Counter top in kitchen.

 

Abbie perched up on the counter top, wine glass in hand, watching as Crane does his cooking thing, and then....:')

Nice image. 

 

 

 

They could be sitting on the floor after a hard victory, still a bit scared but happy to see the other one safe...

Helena Dax, you make a girl blush

Edited March 3, 2016 by topanga

[Miss Dee]

I thought about her sitting in the armchair, him kneeling on the floor imploring her to please open up and let him in....

On the other hand, they could just acknowledge the height difference and work with it. Think Rhett and Scarlett in Gone With the Wind; I could see Ichabbie holding each other and gazing into each others' eyes while beautiful cinematography rolls in the background....

Edited March 3, 2016 by Miss Dee

[mndpacer04]

Just thinking about if (when) Ichabod and Abbie were to kiss, I wonder how it would be blocked.

Probably the same way they did it on X Files with Mulder and Scully or Supernatural with Sam and Madison/Sam and Sarah.

[HalcyonDays]

Nice image. 

 

*pouts* Aw c'mon, you're no fun *grin*

 

All I can say (and have said) is that as someone who never really shipped a TV couple before (a few would've been nice if they got together but it wasn't esssential), THIS shot is what pulled me immediately onto the SS Ichabbie and never let me go.

[jhlipton]

I'm a fan of the (now sadly defunct) Civil Wars.

 

They don't seem to have been together for too long (8 years -- they got together in 2008).

[Miss Dee]

No, they were a brief supernova of perfection. *sigh*

But seriously, tell me that shot HalcyonDays posted above couldn't have come directly from that "Dust to Dust" video. Perfect song, I'm telling you!

[topanga]

*pouts* Aw c'mon, you're no fun *grin*

 

All I can say (and have said) is that as someone who never really shipped a TV couple before (a few would've been nice if they got together but it wasn't esssential), THIS shot is what pulled me immediately onto the SS Ichabbie and never let me go.

A few things about that screen shot: 

 

1. Awesome chemistry between two talented actors. Their slightly bemused look at one another said that Abbie and Ichabod would always be on the same page, even if they weren't quite on the same page yet. 

 

2. Love the jacket Nicole Beharie is wearing. 

 

3. Abbie is carrying one big-ass gun. Or maybe it just looks huge in her tiny hand. 

Edited March 3, 2016 by topanga

[Enero]

Counter top in kitchen.

 

Abbie perched up on the counter top, wine glass in hand, watching as Crane does his cooking thing, and then....:')

 

I can see this. Also, I think the set up of their last scene in last week's episode could work too, with Crane sitting on the barstool and Abbie standing. 

 

It just seems deeper when they're really good friends before becoming something else. When it's love at first sight, it's usually about how beautiful she is. Ichabod may think Abbie's gorgeous but that isn't the reason he's fallen in love with her. It's because she's brave, strong, smart, funny, trustworthy, loyal. And he saw all those things before being romantically attracted to her.

 

 

(What does Abbie love about him, though? She likes him a lot, that much is clear, but his admiration for her is obvious and easier to read).

 

 

 

Despite all of the CFD from last season, and what was considered by many as disrespect towards Abbie on Crane’s part and what some considered abandonment afterwards when he went missing for 9 months, I think what Abbie sees in Crane is exactly what he sees in her. Now will she wear that on her sleeve like Crane. No, because as others have pointed out in the past, Crane is the emotional one between the two of them. She's not one to wear her feelings on her sleeves. It's not her MO. The only time we see that type of emotion is when the stakes are high i.e. Sin Eater, Bad Blood, This is War, Tempus Fugit and more recently Blood & Fear and Incident at Stone Manor. 

Edited March 3, 2016 by Enero

[MissAlmond]

I have been and always shall be an Ichabbie shipper.

[netlyon2]

Despite all of the CFD from last season, and what was considered by many as disrespect towards Abbie on Crane’s part and what some considered abandonment afterwards when he went missing for 9 months, I think what Abbie sees in Crane is exactly what he sees in her. Now will she wear that on her sleeve like Crane. No, because as others have pointed out in the past, Crane is the emotional one between the two of them. She's not one to wear her feelings on her sleeves. It's not her MO. The only time we see that type of emotion is when the stakes are high i.e. Sin Eater, Bad Blood, This is War, Tempus Fugit and more recently Blood & Fear and Incident at Stone Manor. 

I'm one of those who saw both disrespect and abandonment, but I totally agree with you here, Enero.  Despite his questionable actions in late Season 1 and throughout Season 2, this is still the guy who drank that spooky tea so he could have Abbie's back against the Sandman.  That scene in the Masonic Conference Room from "The Sin Eater" remains an amazing display of her feelings about him. (That episode is also notable for what I believe is the first usage of the Crane Deep Bow, to which Abbie's reaction was perfect:  a little embarrassed, a little adoring).

 

My pet theory is that Abbie's feelings for Ichabod were uncomfortably deep pretty early on, and she buried them because of the wife and because, well, Abbie gonna Abbie.  Then, we got to the end of Season 1 and her fears that those very feelings would leave her betrayed and alone (which they pretty much did).  Once she returned from Purgatory, she straight up admitted that her trust in Ichabod was her weak point (while he speculated that his weak point was his feelings for his wife or son--ouch!).  With all the Sturm und Drang of the CFD, it's no wonder that she advocated avoiding romantic entanglements in general.  Yet, being the boss that she is, she still leapt into a time portal to save Ichabod from being left to die in the past, which gave us an interesting look at her interactions with him when SHE is the more emotional one ("We hug it out"). 

 

While I still dislike the 9-month abandonment that has yet to be adequately addressed, I think it has some interesting implications.  In my headcanon, Ichabod ran in large part because he couldn't deal with the fact that he was only willing to kill his wife when she threatened the woman he actually loves.  He had been repressing those feelings for Abbie because, hey, wife and stuff; with the wig-stand out of the way, his love for Abbie was bubbling up to the surface and he felt shame and fear that Abbie would reject any overtures. 

 

So, he ran, leaving Abbie rather bereft and alone, which is--of course--her greatest fear.  In those months, she tried to console herself with learning Franklin's alphabet, taking the Quantico Speed Course, and stalking her father.  I totally see Daniel Reynolds as her rebound relationship, hence her fairly reserved responses to his declarations of love.  Now, all we need is for these two crazy kids to talk it out.  Okay, and I guess we also need for Abbie to not be acutally crazy.

 

Thus endeth the dissertation

 

2. Love the jacket Nicole Beharie is wearing. 

I particularly love how it is a modern reflection of Crane's coat; those little styling cues for their emotional connection are adorable.  While I am all-in for Abbie's natural 'do, I must admit to missing the Witness Hair Synchronicity of the first 2.5 seasons.  Crane needs to grow it long and curly, stat!

Edited March 4, 2016 by netlyon2

[jhlipton]

I love you guys so much!!!!!!

 

 

Abbie is carrying one big-ass gun. Or maybe it just looks huge in her tiny hand. 

 

I think that's bigger than her typical gun

.

So maybe a combination of the two.

[kia112]

Yo, you guys scared me. I stopped watching last week's episode about 10 minutes in, in favor of watching The Walking Dead instead. So I thought I missed something big on this show because I was (re)watching the mindblower that happened on TWD. Glad to know this is just in anticipation.

[TaurusRose]

I particularly love how it is a modern reflection of Crane's coat;

THIS. I picked up on this the moment I saw the picture.

[Helena Dax]

I can see this. Also, I think the set up of their last scene in last week's episode could work too, with Crane sitting on the barstool and Abbie standing. 

 

 

Despite all of the CFD from last season, and what was considered by many as disrespect towards Abbie on Crane’s part and what some considered abandonment afterwards when he went missing for 9 months, I think what Abbie sees in Crane is exactly what he sees in her. Now will she wear that on her sleeve like Crane. No, because as others have pointed out in the past, Crane is the emotional one between the two of them. She's not one to wear her feelings on her sleeves. It's not her MO. The only time we see that type of emotion is when the stakes are high i.e. Sin Eater, Bad Blood, This is War, Tempus Fugit and more recently Blood & Fear and Incident at Stone Manor. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Crane and I think she's a lucky woman (and he's a lucky man). But my point is that since she's more reserved, to me it's more difficult to tell which things she really likes about him as a person.

[Miss Dee]

People: we got a head kiss from Abbie, and an aborted physical embrace from Ichabod. Please tell me someone can screen shot (screen shoot?) these beautiful moments....

[TaurusRose]

Miss Dee, the gifsets you're asking for are all over Tumblr. I'm loving the slow burn between Ichabbie. I don't know how he kept himself from embracing her when she looked at him with eyes full of tears and asked him to help her. I. Am. Dead. Edited March 5, 2016 by taurusrose

[phoenics]

Ask and ye shall receive...

 

From:  http://accras.tumblr.com/post/140484860701/holding-on

 

And here is the almost touch... 

 

From:  http://our-destinies-entwined.tumblr.com/post/140482363841/sleepy-hollow-313-abbie-and-crane

Edited March 5, 2016 by phoenics

[Helena Dax]

Three episodes ago, he almost kissed her, too. They were talking about the Kindred, she said something insightful and he raised his hands, like he wanted to hold her face and kiss her. I've seen this "almost touch" other times too. I take them as little declarations of love.

[Enero]

I have to disagree about the almost touch. I think that was just the momentum of Crane's swinging arms after sitting down.

That said, I thought last night's episode pulled back a little more of what Abbie feels for Crane. I noticed throughout the episode when he was doing his thing she would look at him with gentle and admiring eyes, not that previously she'd be mean mugging him. But last night she seemed less engaged with Crane's story or the research he discovered and more charmed by him. She stood watching, admiring him in several scenes tonight with THAT look.

The kiss on the head was nice too. As unfortunate as Crane almost dying was, if that didn't happen I don't know if Abbie would've ever asked for help. Nearly losing him and her part in that almost happening definitely was key in her finally opening up about what she's dealing with.

[Miss Dee]

Oh, I agree, that was the last straw. It's one thing to give her own life over to this thing inside her, but she nearly lost Ichabod and that was the deal-breaker.

[phoenics]

I have to disagree about the almost touch. I think that was just the momentum of Crane's swinging arms after sitting down.

 

 

I thought this at first too - but then I realized that Crane's whole BODY was inclining towards her and he purposefully pulled back.  

[Miss Dee]

I thought this at first too - but then I realized that Crane's whole BODY was inclining towards her and he purposefully pulled back.

After studying this a dozen times (such a hardship), I'm inclined to agree. It's not the movement of his hands that gives him away; that could just be momentum. It's the movement on his torso and the subtle change in his expression when he moves back. Once I was looking at him as a whole and not concentrating on his arm movements, I could see it more clearly.

[TaurusRose]

Crane is definitely biding his time until he can put some serious moves on Abbie. LOL

Edited March 6, 2016 by taurusrose

[jhlipton]

You're just jonesing for more hand porn,

I will settle for whatever form of porn we can get.

[topanga]

Is there any good Sleepy Hollow fan fiction out there? I usually avoid all FF because it reads like 50 Shades of Grey (which began as fan fiction, I know). I'm jonesin for Ichabbie. Watching scenes of hand porn and head kissing over and over and over just isn't enough for this 'shipper. 

[roseslg]

@topanga, there is!! I was just reading some while I was pumping (TMI, but I'm sleep deprived)! You should check out Archive of Our Own as well as Fan Fiction.

 

Some of it is awful, but there are quite a few good ones. 

[HalcyonDays]

Is there any good Sleepy Hollow fan fiction out there? I usually avoid all FF because it reads like 50 Shades of Grey (which began as fan fiction, I know). I'm jonesin for Ichabbie. Watching scenes of hand porn and head kissing over and over and over just isn't enough for this 'shipper. 

 

Archive of Our Own has some really good ones. Personally, most of the fic was much better the first year of the show's life. My advice? Go here, and sort by Comments to get some really good ones. There is some duplication with FF, but AoS tends to have better stuff.

 

In the early days, there was some really well done smut - like, really well done. Others have them married with babies, which does nothing for me. Others have the slow burn, but a bit more palatable. Some start good and then quickly lose their way. Some are just plain fun. And some make me go "the hell you thinking?"

 

I can PM you some recommendations, if you'd like.

[topanga]

@topanga, there is!! I was just reading some while I was pumping (TMI, but I'm sleep deprived)! You should check out Archive of Our Own as well as Fan Fiction.

 

Some of it is awful, but there are quite a few good ones. 

Whew. You should have warned me. Some of those fan fics on Archive of Our Own are steamy, steamy, steamy. But most are very well-written. 

 

Thanks for the references. 

Archive of Our Own has some really good ones. Personally, most of the fic was much better the first year of the show's life. My advice? Go here, and sort by Comments to get some really good ones. There is some duplication with FF, but AoS tends to have better stuff.

 

In the early days, there was some really well done smut - like, really well done. Others have them married with babies, which does nothing for me. Others have the slow burn, but a bit more palatable. Some start good and then quickly lose their way. Some are just plain fun. And some make me go "the hell you thinking?"

 

I can PM you some recommendations, if you'd like.

Yes, send me your favorites. Like you, I don't want to see Ichabbie with babies just yet. And I couldn't care less about Abraham, Katrina, or even the rest of the Scooby Gang, truth be told. 

[roseslg]

There are a few Brabbie ones that are not that bad.  One that's AU that I thought was quite lovely (Sing, I think).  It was very much like a romantic drama, but it was well written.   I try to disregard anything that TCO.  

[FierceAfroChick]

There are two Ichabbie fics that I keep going back to reread. 

 

She and He:  http://archiveofourown.org/works/1108895/chapters/2231996
Ischium:  http://archiveofourown.org/works/989280

 

Usually when I find a good fic that’s interesting and well written, I go to the author page to get the rest of their works or peep what they’ve been reading.  It always leads me to good stuff.

 

This one's good too.  The Jargogling of Ichabod Crane: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10020379/1/The-Jargogling-of-Ichabod-Crane, but there's no smut, just a really nice friendship, great action and the beginnings of a slow burn romance.  The banter and dialogue between Team Witness is spot on.  I was hoping the author would come back and start the next fic in the series, but alas...

Edited March 9, 2016 by FierceAfroChick

[jhlipton]

There are two Ichabbie fics that I keep going back to reread. 

Ischium:  http://archiveofourown.org/works/989280

 

Wow.  WOW!! and YUM!!!!

This one has 5 chapters an is quite fun: Five Times Abbie Tries to Teach Ichabod to Drive, and the One Time Nothing Explodes.  Chapter 4 is HOT!

[FierceAfroChick]

Wow.  WOW!! and YUM!!!!

This one has 5 chapters an is quite fun: Five Times Abbie Tries to Teach Ichabod to Drive, and the One Time Nothing Explodes.  Chapter 4 is HOT!

 

Dayuuuummmmmmmm.  Chapter 4 nearly gave me the vapors...LOL!

[Briony]

Ughhhh Five Times Abbie Tries to Teach Ichabod to Drive, and the One Time Nothing Explodes. Is one of my favorite fics ever!! And since we are talking Fic Recs well... This is a list I made back during the S1 hiatus of many of my faves... Really Big list of FanFic recs.

 

And this is a tag full of other's fic recs again mostly S1 maybe a little S2.

 

And finally this tag is full of actual Fic or at least the stuff that I found on tumblr.

 

Happy Reading!

[dargosmydaddy]

Question from a semi-casual watcher who has missed a lot of episodes over the years... I know Ichabod always calls Abbie "Lieutenant" except for the occasional "Abbie" in moments of danger/ distress/ emotion, but does Abbie ever call Ichabod by his first name, or is he always "Crane"?

[HalcyonDays]

Question from a semi-casual watcher who has missed a lot of episodes over the years... I know Ichabod always calls Abbie "Lieutenant" except for the occasional "Abbie" in moments of danger/ distress/ emotion, but does Abbie ever call Ichabod by his first name, or is he always "Crane"?

 

Always Crane. It always makes me think of X-Files, when Scully once called Mulder "Fox", and he laughed and was like, "No one calls me Fox, not even my father." M&S always call each other by their last names, even when in a relationship.I don't remember her ever calling him "Ichabod", because let's face it, it's a strange and odd sounding name and doesn't flow nicely.

And he looks like a "Crane". Both literally and figuratively.

[Helena Dax]

Have they touched each other since the hand porn? I mean hugs, fist bumps, casual touches, holding hands...

[roseslg]

Didn't she call him Ichabod in season one when she was trying to convince him to not take the poison or what's not?

[TaurusRose]

Have they touched each other since the hand porn? I mean hugs, fist bumps, casual touches, holding hands...

Abbie touched him on his arm when she bailed on the magnificent romantic dinner. And I count the gentle cradling of Crane as touching. *dreamy sigh* At this point, though, I'm expecting an explosion of feels when they next touch. The tension between them is palpable.

[Miss Dee]

Yeah I'm crossing my fingers that the lack of physical touching is deliberate. If the writers ever host an AMA on Twitter I'll ask.

[Yolapukka]

I loved it when Abbie called him "Captain" in last season's finale. I wish they'd pull that one out again, but only for very special occasions. I may be wrong but he seems to use Abbie with greater frequency this season than he did previously.