@stuckinthepen @angelicairbrush

Love, Around 5PM

There is a particular kind of intimacy in being known - and seen - through the smallest things. The way someone touches your hair, the way they remember your coffee preference, the way they notice a necklace sitting wrong and fix it before you have to ask. A hand resting somewhere familiar.
For this story, we asked real couples a series of questions about the details that stay, the ordinary gestures that become private language, and the way being loved can quietly rearrange a life. Their answers are funny, soft, specific, and sometimes wonderfully strange. Together, they make a case for love as something less polished than we are often told to expect - more bodily, more daily, more alive. Love stories told in fragments, as most love stories probably are.

PHOTOGRAPHY HENNA KOSKINEN @hennakristiina
INTERVIEW JESPER GUDBERGSEN @yessirjesper
MODELS MELANIE @melanie.burckes & DIMA @talik_nali_is_alive , JA’LISA @jai.soul & ELIZABETH , EVELYN @evelyn.mcmurry & NOAH @n0ahafterdark , VERA @stuckinthepen & SARAH @angelicairbrush
CASTING SAMANTHA GUTIERREZ @narraciones.de.caras for SUBMISSION CASTING @submissioncasting

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NOAH
The first detail that stayed with me about Evelyn was her curly hair.
I think we feel the most ourselves together when we’re outside on dates spending time together.
When no one is looking, our love is very quiet and peaceful; days resting together and spending time laughing with each other.
Being with Evelyn, I’ve learned to live more patiently and to go through days passionately, looking forward to the little things that often mean more.

If our love was a texture or time of day ? it would be a golden hour sunset engulfed in soft warm fur.

EVELYN
A small ordinary thing that Noah does is his smile when he first sees me, followed with the reassurance and trust he has always given me. That has now become part of my idea of love. His love has allowed me to be more positive and excited for my future which has and will always have an affect on my world.
I believe we feel the most like ourselves when we're either out on a date, or having a lazy day to just nap together. Our love when no one is looking is very bright, calm and passionate. Always having a good laugh and cuddling. 

If our love was a specific time, it would be that perfect time in the spring when you go out and there is a slight breeze but the sun still warms you up. You might hear some birds chirping and some trees whistling, but it is such a therapeutic sound it warms you up.

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What was the first detail about them that stayed with you?
J Her sense of style and tattoos
E Her taste in music

When do you feel the most like yourselves together?
J When we’re dancing together
E Our lazy Sunday morning ritual - we sleep in, get coffee from our local cafe, walk to the park, and conduct our weekly “business meetings” on the playground 

What is your love like when no one is looking?
J Affectionate
E Soft, whole, silly

What is a small, ordinary thing that they do that has become part of your idea of love?
J Cooking a meal for a loved one
E I can be sensitive to how things sit on my body and sometimes she’ll adjust my jewellery to how I like it without me having to say a word

Has being loved by them changed the way you move through the world?
J Yes, it’s allowed me to grow intimacy in all other relationships in my life
E Definitely, I let myself be softer in the world

If your love has a texture, a temperature, or a time of day - what would it be?
J Sunrise
E Bread fresh from the oven

@stuckinthepen @angelicairbrush

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“I’ve learned to be softer and patient.”

“When all the noise is gone and it’s just the two of us.”

VERA
I feel the most like ourselves together when we’re alone. I think when all the noise is gone and it just the two of us, that can be either in bed, eating or etc. it feels calm and soft. Because of her, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned to be softer and patient.
I’m more excited about things, especially for the future.

I think her touch has become a part of my idea of love. I was never really an affectionate person and strayed away from it. But I’ve learned how to be receptive and give it as well. I feel at ease, even if it’s her arm intertwining with mine, or moving a piece of my hair— it feels very safe and secure. 

When noone is looking, our love is playful and a bit of bickering. But mainly playful, it feels light and I'm constantly laughing when I am with her. 

If your love has a texture, a temperature, or a time of day - what would it be?
I would say warm, a Sunday, around 5pm. Sundays are my favorite because they’re laid back. 

SARAH
The first detail that stood out to me was how talented Vera is. That’s initially how we met. I was interested in their airbrush work and very shortly after I found myself interested in them. This has been my first time I’ve felt more comfortable to be myself openly. In the past I’ve felt like I’d have to hide and be closed off but Vera has taught me to love and love them loudly. 

What is your love like when no one is looking?

Very very silly. We are always making each other laugh. It’s soft and kind.

What is a small, ordinary thing that they do that has become part of your idea of love?

I’ve become a passenger princess, if I’m going anywhere with Vera they always pick me up it’s just mandatory now. 

If your love has a texture, a temperature, or a time of day - what would it be?

I know our love would feel like a stress ball very squishy but weirdly being together helps all of our problems go away. Our love feels like a warm afternoon at LA historic park.

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DIMA 
The first thing that stayed with me about Melanie was her eyes - they were very playful and passionate, reminds me of a panther. I feel the most like us when we’re dancing together at music shows.

Our love is full of personal discoveries through each other, searching for peaceful ways of deep emotional connections with a high level of respect and patience, we’re really trying to uplift one another while our downs, even though sometimes this mission is impossible =)

Together, we feel like a warm windy summer night 

MELANIE
The first detail about him that stayed with me is his eyes. A grayish green that was piercing, but at the same time so comforting. Being loved by him makes me feel endlessly supported. He has gotten me through some tough moments in my life. He’s shown me how strong I am on my own no matter him being there or not.

We feel the most like ourselves when we’re goofing off with each other and making each other laugh. When no one is looking, it feels like a passionate companionship. One that feels like a best friend and lover wrapped into one person. The juxtaposition of person who watches out for you like family and a person who gives you all the butterflies of flirtatious & colorful young love.

The texture of our love is velvet and silk. The temperature would be a cool sunset night in the summer. A sweet 7 pm when the colorful sunset comes into a blue hour cascading into night.

@HENNAKRISTIINA