My current HCs for the nature of romantic feelings of the main 1-6 around the events of series 1-2! hoorayyyyyyy
assumptions of the chart:
no one is currently in a relationship
natures of relationships can change after s2
no arrows between characters = platonic feelings only
other romantic natures of relationships may exist outside of the characters here
blue = exes
pink = hypotheticals- if you asked them and they had to answer, they’d say ‘would’
dark red = potential for budding feelings
red = romantic feelings
1x4: Allies- they’re both not entirely opposed now that they’ve seen each other at their worst and realize that they can actually get on alright (post-Down the Mine).
1x5: Friends- they realize they’ve got chemistry, and might not entirely opposed the idea of dating (post-Thomas and the Breakdown Train).
1x6: Friends- Thomas doesn’t have strong feelings for Percy, Percy strongly yearns for Thomas (post-Thomas, Percy and the Coal).
2x3: Friends- Edward is slow to the uptake and doesn’t fully realize it for a while (by Coal). Henry had a long-term crush (post-Edward, Gordon and Henry), tries to let it fade with time (pre-Trouble in the Shed), and realizes they’re still there decades later (~Edward’s Exploit).
2x5: Friends (exes)- Edward didn’t reciprocate and prefers overseeing James as a mentor, James had his shot but ultimately went unrequited and preferred being friends in the end (date: post-Old Iron, exes: pre-Wrong Road).
3x5: Frenemies- both are too prideful to relent, but do recognize similar traits in each other that are admirable.
4x5: Friends- Gordon doesn’t take much notice of James on account of his own pride. James has admired Gordon since day one (pre-James and the Coaches).
5x6: Friends- James is embarrassed that he’s not entirely opposed to Percy. Percy thinks it would be humorous to date James.
BYEEEEEEEE I can hear a chorus of “wtf”s behind my back already. 🤐
This really works, I swear, if one is able to see them as completely different individuals but also begrudgingly becoming equals (esp on Gordon’s end) and I loathe that I’ve stared at them and their stupid alliance made and forged in the 🌅 light in rosy-tinted-glasses HELFP M
1) I came around to it bc of @/nakamoon-vladimir’s ship art, beforehand I only thought of it in a morbidly fashion. 😅 I also considered Down The Mine and caved in for that as rescue ship criteria.
2) Their soft moments are… extremely rewarding, for what their dynamic is worth. Their “alliance” moments from Down The Mine/Paint Pots and Queens really sell it for me!
3) This ship works when Thomas and Gordon are of similar ages, it really can’t work with a big age gap factor as part of their dynamic. I’m inclined to interpret them both as young adults, mentally, but who just have really different mindsets and stigmas (especially on Gordon’s end).
