Crackship pairing I just thought of:
*so let's pretend that dev didn't see the error of his ways before he died*
l mean if dev was alive he would probably try to date her to spite joss or make her jealous but joss wouldn't care because she's with cam.
Esme after her break up with spencer would date dev simply to stay in the loop of what's going on in the inner circle of friends ( so she can continue with her fuckery) plus even though she isn't dating a prince anymore she is now dating the "cousin" of a rich mobster. The corinthos mansion ain't wyndemere but it's still a mansion.🤷
Add in they both know the other's motivations so they have an agreement between the two of them.
Also let me add esme subtly being jealous sometimes when she catches dev staring wistfully at josslyn because she forgets their relationship is supposed to be fake and feels like another guy is choosing another girl over her again and dev jokingly teases her about being jealous (but doesn't actually believe she is) and she gets annoyed with him and he sees that she's actually bothered and tries to cheer her up by buying her ice cream or something and he's like "It's not a tennis bracelet but I hope it makes you feel better." And she softens up.
Like why do I feel like they would be kind of cute?😳
So anyway basically: Fake dating, a Slow Burn, Two schemers falling in love, and Alternate universe.
Sidenote: I feel like esme would've pushed for dev to try and join the mob and would've in the future love being a mob wife.