Which of the recast versions of the characters wouldn’t get along with their canon counterpart? Who would get along?
My favourite thing to think about!
Going to stick with main characters for this, as otherwise we’ll be here for years. But if anyone wants to ask about a secondary or obscure character not mentioned, feel free to do so.
Apologies for the delay, I was off in London.
Stephs - 9/10
Recast: Angela Giarratana
Overall? They get along great. But they definitely have petty, sibling-like squabbles from time to time. Mainly about height because Angela!Steph is livid to learn she’s the shorter by a lot and canon Steph just likes to rub it in for fun. Alongside height there’s definitely some judgement in regards to dating choices, possibly some of their decisions in general.
They are different sides of the same coin and while most of the time they can understand the other, there are definitely things they’d bump heads on. They are both loud, opinionated and stubborn when they want to be, biting at the bit for a Twitter argument or some drama to sink their teeth into: it’s Steph. And sometimes that can have a negative impact on them and their dynamic together. But any differences are usually forgotten or resolved fairly quickly.
Given they don’t have siblings and grew up fairly alone in the Lauter mansion, with parents too busy or dead to acknowledge them and staff that don’t care more than they are paid to, having each other would fill that empty spot. Someone who finally understands. Their friends try but without that equal level of wealth, power and privilege, I can’t imagine they win much sympathy - however, with each other that separation doesn’t exist because they both have that.
Definitely hang out a lot, doing each other’s nails and gossiping about latest celebrity news and internet drama their phones.
Petes - 7/10
Recast: Nick Lang
Still relatively smooth all things considered, but they wouldn’t be quite so buddy like the Stephs. They can be friendly and work together on something, possibly be a good study duo (rather than their actual one with their respective Ruth and Richie), they just lack that interest or desire to hangout anymore than that.
Nick!Pete would find canon very tame, cowardly and meek, canon would regard him the same as he does Ruth and Richie; being too much and needing to tone it down, if only out of risk of making themselves a bigger target to bullies. The confidence and self-esteem levels between them differ very noticeably, it wouldn’t necessarily cause an obvious friction between the two but it would really shift and strain things.
They’d still be friendly though, just a little judgemental.
Graces - ?/10
Recast: Mariah Rose Faith Casillas
There are too many possibilities, it’s hard to number these two.
They’d be very civil and polite up until whenever they start feeling comfortable enough to share secrets with even other, then I think it would fall apart. Mainly because Mariah!Grace likes women.
Considering canon Grace isn’t ever called out for her homophobia at any point by anyone, I’m inclined to believe this is something she kept quiet about until massive breakdowns like in Beanie’s or something she doesn’t feel strongly about in every timeline. There’s no way Bill and Alice or literally anyone else would not have mentioned this otherwise. So in a universe where Grace doesn’t believe as strongly or realises there’s bigger issues than people’s sexualities, I don’t think she minds too much. But in one where she does, this probably ruins the relationship then and there.
That’s not to say I think Grace would easily accept it even in a universe where she doesn’t. At the end of the day, this is an alternate version of herself. Some part of her feels the same way. But she’s nowhere close to place to have any of that acceptance and acknowledgement compared to her Recast self. So while less homophobic, there would still be plenty of personal baggage and maybe a level of jealousy that would get in the way for her, making her more inclined to be avoidant.
However, at the same time, I can see her taking Mariah!Grace under her arm (as best she can given the height difference) and trying to make her some sort of pet project. She can make her the perfect Christian like herself! But unlike Steph and Alice who shrug off most her attempts or fail, this is a version of her that holds the same devotion! The rest will be easy, right?
Whatever happens, Mariah!Grace will be very overwhelmed and unsure by canon Grace’s everything.
Richies - 5/10
Recast: Jae Hughes
These two argue a lot in my mind.
Jae!Richie isn’t as sensitive and whiny, but holds the same unrelenting know-it-all vibe, he’s a lot quicker with comebacks and wit. Which would probably just rile canon Richie further as he finds nothing he say or does has the intended effect.
Inwardly they both care a lot more, not that they would ever admit it out loud and especially not to each other.
They are the two people online that keep commenting on each other’s things with corrections and criticisms, kinda arguing in the comments about some petty anime debate, but secretly really enjoy it.
Ruths - 10/10
Recast: Bryce Charles
Immediate best friends, no questions asked. They finally have someone willing to talk to them, shares all the same interests and will sing theatre songs with them? Talk about a dream duet partner! And when they find out about the other’s epic soprano and powerhouse vocals respectively? Oh boy! Get ready for the karaoke nights!
I don’t think these two would find the time to sleep. They’d be too busy talking, singing, laughing, bitching about Caitlyn, exchanging lighting ideas and teaching each other made up choreography to actually do something as boring as sleeping.
There’s something completing about this for them. Richie and Pete fall together often as do Steph and Grace, which can leave both Ruths on their own in the group dynamic. Having someone else, someone so like them, is ideal. They finally get the sister they always wanted.
Bryce!Ruth definitely helps canon take better care of her curls, while canon shares some ridiculous stories and advice to help the other Ruth with her confidence. They’d both push each out of the stage fright that confines them to the booth and try to take on the actual stage. Maybe they both find some cheap tap shoes in a charity shop and spend hours watching tutorials online, trying to get those skills back in their bones.
Most likely to keep their alternative self in their universe for sure.
Maxs - 6/10
Recast: Curt Mega
They’d be alright, nothing major on either side of the scale. Just another football bro to have around, you know?
But I think they let some of their guard down a little more than they would with the likes of Jason and Kyle. Vent about tough practices, stuff with their dad, and the fact they still haven’t convinced their respective Graces to let them hit it. Like what’s up with that?
Canon Max is definitely the slightly more intense and probably encourages Curt!Max to be more like him. A bad influence. In the worst ways. “No, dude, chicks love it when you dehumanise them by calling them by body part food nicknames and talk about how much you wanna eat them!” while the Graces are both stood there like “no, we don’t!!”
Canon Max also definitely hits on Mariah!Grace too because he’s got zero shame. Curt!Max at least only tries it with one girl at a time.