cultural misunderstandings fic idea/headcanons/word dump for bagginshield bc they have consumed my brain
!!!cw for swearing!!!
I find it HILARIOUS when no one else is down bad for Bilbo like Thorin is. combine that with cultural misunderstandings and you have the perfect rom com
and its not like Bilbo is some dwarven beauty who is handsome by hobbit standards but gorgeous by dwarf standards. it’s just that, while the rest of the company see Bilbo as just Some Guy, not particularly outstanding in the looks department but definitely not unattractive either—Thorin is simply built different
for some reason Thorin sees Bilbo, with his honey colored hair and his upturned nose and his fiery attitude, and promptly loses his grip on reality.
That’s right: Thorin “I’ll be single for the rest of my life, I already have heirs” Oakenshield’s ability to feel romantic attraction suddenly kicks into gear after 195 years of lying dormant because this is the most beautiful creature he’s ever laid eyes on
And applying this to the scene where they first meet is hilarious because what do you MEAN Thorin was already clocking Bilbo as a threat to his quest because of his very apparent beauty
forget about canon, Thorin actually didn’t like Bilbo at first because he thought the super duper attractive boyfriend shaped creature popping up out of nowhere was just another case of his horrible Durin bad luck acting up again. like okay Gandalf what kind of game are you playing at, inviting this clearly soft and incredibly fair hobbit along on our dangerous quest. we can’t afford distractions right now
like imagine they’re a few months into the quest. Bilbo is sitting on a rock, combing his hair out in the sunlight, already having taken off his coat and vest because it’s hot as hell outside. he’s left in his cotton undershirt, which is partially see through because of a combination of light and sweat
none of the other dwarves give a shit, they’re perfectly used to nudity and bathing near others, and Bilbo is by far the most modest and self-conscious of them when it comes to showing skin
But of course, from Thorin’s pov it’s like watching a beautiful forest nymph bathe in the river. mythical creature meant to seduce you type beat
in his eyes Bilbo is bathing in the glow of the sunset, combing through strands of molten gold while exposing a scandalous amount of skin (cough his collarbone cough). AND Thorin can see the tan of his skin through his shirt. and he immediately thinks that this has to be the work of purposeful seduction. Bilbo wants to ensnare a dwarf for a husband by the end of the journey and he’s being painfully obvious about it. how dare he do this in front of people that aren’t Thorin
which is consequently why Thorin is hiding behind a rock as he watches, trying to make sure no one else is seeing what he’s seeing and scaring off anyone that comes close with a well timed glare. and he’s also trying not to come off as a creep because he’s been staring for a bit too long, and the last thing he wants is to scare Bilbo off
but then Bilbo starts humming a jaunty little tune and braiding his hair, as it’s gotten long over the course of the journey and he’s picked up some useful things from the company when it comes to grooming.
Thorin thinks he might actually pass out because Bilbo looks like he just popped out of a dwarven wet dream, singing and looking all shiny n shit
by the end of the night, Thorin’s sitting there with his head in his hands thinking “I must destroy him and his majestic allure. or make him my wife. I can’t believe those are my ONLY two options”
and would you believe it, their dynamic continues like that for the whole journey.
Dwalin and Balin are the first ones to pick up on Thorin’s plight, being his best and oldest friends—but they both have very, very different reactions to it.
Balin doesn’t indulge Thorin because he knows that Bilbo is a hobbit, and a very sheltered one at that. he realizes that their burglar most likely isn’t aware of the inherent intimacy of touching a dwarf’s hair, or braiding, or anything Bilbo has offered to do during their quest. in fact, he’s absolutely sure that absolutely none of the courting rituals Bilbo has performed were intentional, and were in fact blindly stumbled into.
Dwalin, however, is totally supportive of Thorin’s bullshit because Dwalin is the exact opposite of his brother when it comes to subtlety, and he is also physically unable to consider any conceptual alternative to whatever is plainly happening in front of him. he trusts his eyes and his eyes are telling him that Bilbo Baggins is a skilled temptress with designs on his king
Thorin, being delusional: Dwalin I’m being seduced and I think I’m losing
Dwalin, an enabler: I’ve never seen such blatant, shameless flirting in my life. brother he REALLY wants you
Thorin: FUCKING RIGHT?
Balin, staring in confusion because Bilbo literally just took a moment to pluck some leaves out of Thorin’s hair: No????
Balin tries—he really tries—to nudge Thorin in the right direction, to get his king to realize that Bilbo, in fact, is not doing all these borderline courting rituals on purpose. then again, he is an old dwarf and the whole situation is extremely entertaining, and he’s always had a mischievous streak in him. which turns him into yet another enabler—and at the end of the day, he doesn’t correct Thorin on his assumptions. sometimes he actively tries to make them worse, just for the hell of it, because if anyone deserves to have a little fun messing around with Thorin Oakenshield it’s Balin
Balin, teasing: ohohoho, wasn’t it nice of Bilbo to help Bofur rinse the dirt out of his clothes?
Thorin, clearly devastated: this is unacceptable
Thorin: he is doing it on purpose to invoke my jealously. I am ashamed to say it has worked
Balin:….
Thorin: he is a s i r e n
Balin:…….
Thorin: and I’m about to jump into the ocean
and that’s how it is until they reach Erebor. Thorin is constantly like “Hmm yes. Bilbo is a temptation, another obstacle meant to stray me from the path I must take” and everybody else is like what the actual FUCK are you talking about. are we seeing the same person. all of this melodramatic resistance to temptation happens in Thorin’s mind, and only because he can’t admit that he has a crush like a normal person.
Thorin can’t stop acting like a sailor lost at sea, doomed to be devoured by the beautiful creature he covets, and after a few months of watching that every day the entire company is just. completely done
and of course bad boy bachelor Bilbo Baggins, resident single handsome rich man in the Shire, notices the staring. obviously he asks Thorin what his problem is and Thorin panics and mutters something about Bilbo “using his looks to his advantage” and stalks off in a huff. Bilbo is very surprised to learn he’s that attractive by dwarf standards. because he doesn’t know that he’s not and that Thorin is just a special case. fuck secretive dwarves customs am I right?
the absolute worst part of this situation is that Bilbo is actually flirting and has been trying to seduce Thorin for months, but specifically by hobbit standards. all of his efforts have absolutely no effect because what hobbits consider courting is just normal, friendly dwarf behavior. It’s the stuff he doesn’t mean to do that drives Thorin up the wall.
Balin, however, being the member of the company with more than one brain cell, is the only one who sees this. and he’s very tired
Balin: Bilbo. Are you flirting with Thorin
Bilbo, flushing: well, I did feed him a strawberry from my plate today. I hope he doesn’t mind me being so forward….
Meanwhile, Dwalin and Thorin talking at the other side of the camp:
Thorin: Our burglar offered to wash my hair earlier this morning. I’ve never been pursued like this in all my life.
Dwalin: >:0……oh so he WANTS YOU wants you
Thorin: THATS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT
anyways I’m going insane with ideas for these two. 🆘 please
(ALSO if anyone writes a fic/makes art for this. TAG ME. RIGHT NEOW)
AU where Smaug never came. Things aren't perfect, but Thorin grows up in Erebor and in relative peace as his grandfather (or father) rules.
Imagine that it is a dwarven tradition for those who will rule someday, that they must spend a good amount of time when they're young out and about in the world, getting to know how things are for the Regular People. They are supposed to do this in disguise, never saying who they truly are, so that the people they are amongst don't treat them any differently. (This is taken seriously, so if anyone discovers that you're actually a future ruler, You Failed.)
I'm kinda thinking of how Aragorn did it. Maybe sticking in one place for a long time, maybe wandering around, but really becoming a part of the people. (Or, you know, Undercover Boss 🤣)
In the olden days, it was assumed that dwarven princes and princesses and the like would stick to dwarven settlements, though usually not their own, less risk of being discovered. But in this Age, with stirrings going on that will affect all people, Thorin was encouraged to find a place amongst a non-dwarves, to learn more about them.
He wanders, never really settling in anywhere, but eventually spends time in the Shire. Specifically, in Hobbiton.
And, of course. Meets Bilbo.
I'm guessing the timing of when this would happen and Bilbo's actually timeline might not line up. But if not, we're just Going With It Anyway. So, let's pretend they're both their people's equivalent of young/just barely adult, still figuring themselves out.
Not sure how Thorin who grew up in peace would take this duty of his. I feel like either of these, or a mix of them, could be likely:
1. Sullen, why do have to do this, this is beneath me, especially among non-dwarves, how dare
2. Taking the duty Super Seriously as future king, exactly as any other Duty would be
If more 1., Bilbo metaphorically knocks some sense into him, making him see the value of hobbits and their way of life, different from dwarves though they are.
If more 2., Bilbo helps Thorin to relax, enjoy himself, have fun, figure out who he is beyond Future King
(Or both, both is good. 😆)
Thorin makes it clear, even though he can't say exactly why, that his time staying in the Shire is limited. (I imagine he takes up a trade there, but tells some vague story about Family Obligations and all that. Not a lie exactly, but not the whole story.)
But Thorin finds himself gradually almost wishing he could stay longer. Stay forever. For many reasons, of course. Not just because of his. . . . friend. Good friend. Best hobbit friend. 🤨
And Bilbo hears Thorin's stories of the Mountain, of all the things Thorin has seen, and feels his Tookish blood stirring in him. Among other things. 😆
Bonus if, as part of the tradition, the royalty in question brings along a few of their most trusted people, also hiding who they are, as both protection and companionship. Cue Balin and Dwalin being stick dealing with Lovesick Royal Shenanigans. Aka We're Not Paid Enough to Deal With This Shit, Brother.
When Bilbo eventually finds out, either because Thorin confesses or Bilbo is a Nosy Bitch or something, he takes a bit to get used to the idea. (Okay, maybe faints.) But pretty soon, he's remarkably okay with it. He comes to terms with it, that Thorin is still his same stubborn, foolish, loyal, caring, odd friend, with or without a title.
He informs Thorin of this, that he adamantly refuses to change how he treats him. "No "Majesty"s from me, you big oaf."
This delights Thorin. And is the final nail in the coffin to make him confess his love. (Balin and Dwalin in the background: FINALLY!)
And when Thorin does go back to his mountain, mad Baggins runs away with his dwarf. 😉😍
