I'm stoked that you both enjoyed and answered my question!
Yeah, usually when I end up thinking about them meeting I have to pull them out of context, then place them in that infinite white space Squidward got eebie deebied to.
There is one more thing I think the Silvers can agree upon and it's, "Fuck Giovanni and everyone who associates with him." I already figured they'd hate each other for abiding by what each other hates. What's sadder is that even if they got past their shoddy first impressions of each other (self-indulgent riffraff / pathetic warhound), the animosity would grow tenfold because they are equal, if not larger, foils to each other than their respective Golds are. I wouldn't be surprised if the Silvers' mutually saw their otherworld selves as the worst versions of their self.
Misfit Silver would absolutely drag AWSB for any level of compliance, geniune or decietful, he had in Team Rocket's plans. Even more so for trying to beat Giovanni at his own game and pretending that the end will ever justify the means, all while letting an innocent boy follow him into a place so dark, you never get to walk away from it. AWSB Gold would have lived a normal life without AWSB Silver, but he let him stay, and now he's ruined. He's killed for you. He's almost died for you multiple times. He'll never be the same and what for? A guy who was too weak to do it alone. A guy who caved as soon as someone said they loved him and didn't think he was a monster. Misfit Silver would grill his counterpart for not taking accountability in Gold staying. Not that Misfit Silver cares about either Golds or anyone else (denial), it just seems particularly low, like something dear old dad would do.
Where as AWSB Silver would probably take all that on the nose because lord knows he's torn himself apart thinking about all that himself and he has his doubts about everything he's done. Especially when it comes to his own Gold's involvment in the situation. But Misfit Silver had better circumstances, still not normal mind you, but better. And yet he refuses to love or be loved. Misfit actively fights and deeply resents any warmth his Gold brings out in him, rejects Gold's love as he judges it as superficial, desperate and/or false. Misfit Silver thinks it'd be better if he and Gold weren't together, so he tells Gold that he's nothing special and rejects him constantly? Tell me about how the ends won't justify the means. Especially when Misfit Gold is already suicidal. At least when AWSB Silver pushed his Gold away it wasn't because he didn't want to love his Gold or because he was too scared of pain to let anyone in. Clearly, Misfit Silver just doesn't want to lose anyone else, so he blocks everyone out, and yet he hasn't cut his Gold off either and won't take accountability for it.
I wonder if it'd get physical. I could see Misfit Silver trying to start a fight, it's just would AWSB Silver even entertain it? He'd be angry about how Misfit Gold is being treated, so maybe? Would he just dodge every attack and walk away? Or would he catch Misfit's fists and incapcitate him?
It'd be bad. Triggering as fuck because it raises the question of what makes someone who they are? Circumstances or choices? How could someone who has the same essecence as you end up so different?
Either Gold would be like, "Wow you're so amazing!" and the other would be like,"What? No, you're the amazing one! I'm just some lame guy who gets in Silver's way, I'm not sure why he lets me stick around." And it just keeps going.
As far as my hot take on Misfit Silver and AWSB Gold meeting goes, I think if there's anyone who could convince, or at least sway Misfit Silver into believing his Gold's feeling are genuine, it'd be AWSB Gold. Likewise, I think AWSB Gold would have more patience with Misfit Gold than AWSB Silver does, because he understands that 1) Silver is hurt and scared of being hurt again, 2) that Misfit Silver does love his Gold deep down. He knows because his own Silver shows his love through actions, and Misfit Silver's actions say he does care, it's just difficult. That said, if AWSB Gold opened up about his fears and doubts about his place in AWSB Silver's life, Misfit Silver would probably capitalize on it and say something hurtful. Which would cause AWSB Gold to spiral. 4.5/10.
When it comes to Misfit Gold and AWSB Silver, I think Silver would immediately recognize that Misfit Gold is an abuse survivor, drug user and suicidal, all of which would make him immediately protective. Ultimately, it's another thing that would worsen his relationship with his otherworld self. I think AWSB Silver would do his best to comfort and reassure Misfit Silver, telling him it's admirable that even when Gold hates himself so much, hurts so much, he's kept the light inside of him alive. You'd think AWSB Silver was the older one. Then if Misfit Gold found out about AWSB Silver's past, it'd be how AWSB Gold felt all over again. Misfit Gold would be utterly heartbroken, horrified, angry and awed by what AWSB Silver endured and how he manages to get by. How he openned his heart up to love despite it all and is still trying to make a difference, remains mindful of any collateral damage he may cause and how he tries to minimize it. 10/10.
Before I start I just wanted to take a moment and say HOLY SMOKES THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS, it was an absolute treat to read! And also OH BOI you’ve thought way deeper about this than I ever did.
Fuck Giovanni and everyone who associates with him.
Facts. Be it for deep-rooted personal revenge or rejection of that part of society as a whole, imo in no universe can these two have a functional father-son relationship.
…worst versions of their self.
…it just seems particularly low, like something dear old dad would do.
Oof, how this is phrased. This entire paragraph, hitting all the right buttons.
A guy who caved as soon as someone said they loved him and didn't think he was a monster.
This reminded me of a scene that never made it into AWSB. Went somewhere along the lines:
Silver with a resigned smile, reflecting on their relationship.
-I’m easy, aren’t I? Falling for the second person that chose to be kind to me.
Gold, in turn reflecting on the rollercoaster that was their existence the past few weeks, voice cracking, choking in disbelief.
Would he just dodge every attack and walk away? Or would he catch Misfit's fists and incapacitate him?
Probably a then b, since the guy would be quite persistent. AWSB!Silver has dealt with enough people that can’t/aren’t worth being reasoned with, so force is ever the option. One, to avenge Gold, two, to knock Misfits down a notch, three… well, wouldn’t beating someone with the face he so detests be oh so satisfying?
Misfit Silver would probably capitalize on it and say something hurtful.
Not out of malice, but as a knee jerk reaction.
Which would cause AWSB Gold to spiral.
This Silver is kind of a dick, huh? (He definitely is). Hang in there, Gold!
…still trying to make a difference, remains mindful of any collateral damage he may cause and how he tries to minimize it.
100/10 the difference between one that fought for and been through the stages to acceptance and the one who hasn’t.
I cannot stress just how genuinely amazed and impressed I am at the depth of your analysis and at how frighteningly well you’ve captured the characters. If left up to me, it'd be a comic featuring crudely drawn chibis and 99.9% a dick joke, but I absolutely adore reading your serious, grounded takes on the matter. So yeah, if such a crossover were to exist, that’d be exactly how the boys’ encounters would transpire.
One thing to note - AWSB core story is complete and Misfits AU isn't, so it’d be interesting to revisit this when that happens.
To me either universe is there to explore topics the other one doesn’t. AWSB - ultraviolence and, in place of a redemption arc, that one of a downfall (peppered with world-ending scenarios cus what pkmn universe would it be without that). Misfits AU - sex, drugs and punkrock'n' roll (some anarchy in the UK and all the life’s joys that come with the package).