There are some creators you know before you've ever actually met them.
You've seen their work. You know their style. You have an idea of what they're going to be like.
And then suddenly you're standing in front of them thinking:
Oh. You're real.
That was us with The Dark Twinks.
David and I met them during the Grabbys in Spain, and I'm not going to pretend we were completely casual about it.
We were very excited to meet them.
EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED
If you've ever seen The Dark Twinks, you'll understand what I mean when I say they are incredibly polished.
They look after themselves. Their skin is fabulous. Their style is always on point. Everything about them feels considered.
They genuinely live up to the name.
And as another couple who've been together for a long time, there was something immediately nice about meeting them as David and I could relate to that dynamic too.
During Grabbys week, creators are scattered everywhere — villas, apartments, hotels, different resorts — and everybody seems to be permanently travelling between one place and another.
They invited us over to the resort where they were staying so we could finally make something together.
Obviously, we said yes.
BEHIND THE POLISH
We filmed together and took some very sexy photos, and the chemistry worked immediately.
But one of the things I remember most actually happened after the cameras stopped.
They invited us to go for lunch with them.
We couldn't make it because we already had another filming commitment, which is basically the story of Grabbys week: there is always somewhere else you're supposed to be.
But the invitation stayed with me.
Because once again, I was reminded how different somebody can feel in person compared with the version you've created of them in your head.
When someone is established, successful and looks that put together online, it's easy to assume there might be a distance there.
There wasn't.
They were just really sweet guys.
AND THEN WE SAW THEM AT THE CLUB
Later in the week, we bumped into each other again while we were out.
And this time I discovered another side of The Dark Twinks.
Let's just say:
They were my jam.
The perfectly polished creators we'd filmed with earlier were now at the club, in their underwear, looking absolutely flawless and having the best time.
And somehow, even during the madness of Grabbys week, they still looked immaculate.
I don't know how they did it.
David and I were probably somewhere nearby slowly deteriorating.
They introduced us to a group of their friends, we spent some time together and everything just felt easy.
That's what I loved.
The polish was still there.
The style was still there.
But now we were seeing the personalities underneath it too.
SOME PEOPLE SURPRISE YOU
There's a pattern I've noticed since becoming a creator.
Sometimes the people who look the most intimidating from the outside turn out to be some of the warmest when you actually meet them.
The Dark Twinks were another reminder of that.
They didn't need to invite us to lunch.
They didn't need to introduce us to their friends.
And they certainly didn't need to keep in touch afterwards.
But they did.
They even invited us to meet up with them at Amsterdam Pride this year.
Unfortunately, David and I already had plans because my family were visiting, so we couldn't make it.
I was genuinely gutted.
Hopefully there will be another opportunity.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PICTURES
I think that's what I remember most fondly about this collaboration.
Yes, we made great content together.
Yes, the photos were sexy.
And yes, seeing them looking flawless in their underwear at the club is an image I apparently won't be forgetting anytime soon.
But what stayed with me was how lovely they were.
It's very easy in this industry to see somebody's pictures, following or reputation and subconsciously turn them into a brand before you've met the actual people.
Then you spend some time together and realise there's a couple behind all of that.
Two people who love what they do, look bloody good doing it and can also simply be really nice company.
We went into that collaboration excited to meet The Dark Twinks.
We came away liking the people behind the name even more.
— Roby