Was thinking about why I like redmiru/jungrok so much and came to the conclusion that it's what feels more real to me. Then it turned into a deep dive on why I like tcf so much.
P. S. Forgive me for inconsistencies I've only read up til the beginning of Aipotu when they meet the baby snake.
Not to criticize or put down shipping choices – I've quite a lot of Alcale, Choicale, and other pairs myself – but I have this obsession with having the characters feel "real" in a as close to canon as possible way. And tcf is just so family-oriented that I gravitate towards found family fics like a moth. Shipfics are fun too, but they don't hit the same.
Everyone around Cale loves him so much, it's beautiful and it doesn't have to be romantic, I love single dad Cale, and most of all I love how his family adores him unconditionally. That's like sacred to me.
Alberu himself has made statements that hint at him being aro/ace and has said he doesn't want to be in a relationship or get married, and he loves his little brother and his nephews and the rest of his extended family, and he should have that, he can have it even without your cliche romantic development. (Not to say he can't in the future, but we all know that's not where the novel is going. I think at least, but you never know with Yu Reo Han)
As for Choi Han... I just can't with him being CJS's uncle, and I know that he's been stunted and stuck at 17 mentally too, but he owns being older. He's the one who brings it up. He's called Cale a child. And it would be even more weird since he has CJS's memories. I'm sorry guys, but that's a deal breaker for me. + What I said for Al applies here too. Despite his past, CH too can have a family. And he doesn't need romantic love to have that.
Lee Soo Hyuk too. While KRS definitely had a little crush on him, he is the older brother. He is to KRS what KRS is to CH. He's one of the people who understands Cale the most, and it's adorable that Cale still looks to him before making certain decisions, like him declaring his name to the emperor in Xiaolen. And yeah, this is pretty self-explanatory, I think. It's awesome that they could find each other again.
Technically, all of this goes for Choi Jung Soo as well. He has his own path to follow, and that's okay, as CH said. Except it feels... different. CJS is said to be similar to CH, he's stoic and awkward, but also an adorable golden retriever with those he's comfortable with. (At least, that's my take on his character. Feel free to disagree.) He's Cale's best friend, an equal, a person so different from him yet someone he connected with in a matter of hours. Someone Cale feels comfortable doing nonsense with.
Not that Cale doesn't do nonsensical things by himself, but someone on the same wavelength, who encourages him instead of thinking his ideas are "crazy", someone who matches his freak, someone who shares so much history with him that it's sickening! Just imagine them going on and on about some book they've been reading with matching grins on their faces, they would so write fanfics together lol
They bring out sides of each other that other people might've never even seen. That's such a fun thing to explore. It's not canon, and honestly I don't want nor expect any ship to be canon, but it feels like something that could be, like something easy, bubbly and light. They're so puppy love coded and so childish with each other I can't believe I haven't exploded yet.
As for canon, the main points of the novel are found family, strong bonds and relying on each other. CJS can't do it alone. And neither can LSH. No one can, but I mention them specifically because we know they've been hiding things, just that Sui Khan does it more openly. There's so much we don't know about the two of them, and I would love to see the Soos rediscovering each other throughout part 2. It would be a heart-warming message, very much in line with what we saw in part 1. Just imagine, part 1 being about healing and finding a new family despite your past trauma, and part 2 saying that it doesn't necessarily have to be a new family, you can reconnect with your loved ones despite your previous grievances. + Part 1 showing us Cale and his family develop this deep love for each other, showing us his family faced with worrying for his tendencies, but never crossing that boundary and part 2 showing him accepting it, and accepting himself, and allowing himself to be vulnerable and open in ways he never would've during part 1. This would be a great path to take part two towards, especially considering their currently lackluster reunion. Don't know how this could ever happen with the 390+ new characters but yeah.