New Story: "And Yet, What Riches Still Await" · 4:04am Feb 29th, 2016
Most Beloved Readers, here's question I've been asking everyone for the past few days:
Does it count as an unusual ship if the couple is canon...but nobody really thinks they're in love? I'm pretty sure it does.
I'm also fairly certain that I'm all of...like, five people who actually think the Riches got together (and stay together) out of...you know, affection for each other and not golddigging or blackmail or trophy spouses or whatever. Not that I can blame anyone for such a headcanon, it's the easiest one to arrive to, and had I not encountered Crusaders of the Lost Mark the way I did, I'd probably headcanon their marriage as something akin to the Puppingtons:
By the by Moral Orel is amazing and Clay is a wonderful example of a sympathetically complex yet still totally reprehensible person and you should watch it yesterday.
But because it happened in the middle of writing Silver Standard, I already had a toxic, messed up relationship mapped out for Filthy Rich...and it had already ended. Because I'd also mapped out stupidly detailed backstory to go along with it, most of the easy go-to reasons I'd for marrying someone like Spoiled went out the window. Love (or something like it) ended up as the only reason. So then I brainstormed some background info--stuff I'd know but reveal when needed in Standard and save for when and if I decided to do a full-on exploration of the family.
And then those stupid rich horses wouldn't stop bugging at my brain and I HAD to write a separate story before it started leaking all over my Standard outline. In the process they may or may not have become my otp and I may or may not ship them now. Jerks.
This is my first time writing a full-on romance (Sunshower/Cinquefoil was a thing in Last Human, but that wasn't the focus) and normally romance isn't ever my thing--in real life or in fic--so it's fairly new territory for me. My prereaders tell me I didn't totally suck at it, though so I'm inclined to believe them.
Also:
I apparently just threw caution to the wind and let my floriography flag fly high because it is everywhere this time around. Usually, I let readers look into it as they may, but I just have to point this one out. It's just too good.
Kingcups - I await rich(es)
EDIT: Also, also oh my god I'm in the feature box for the first time ever! I mean, it's the non-mature box and probably won't stay long but still AAAAaaaaaaaaaaa...
They both know why they're doing this and they do it anyway. Because while their reasons may not be the best, they're the best these characters are capable of at this passage in their lives. And they're not bad reasons.
Theme song for this story (from either principal's perspective):
I've just realized that in your stories, I've always heard Filthy Rich in Warren Zevon's voice. Never more so than here, though:
The lyrics aren't an exact fit, but the tone couldn't be more fitting.
3786962
Huh, you're right! That actually is a pretty good match, same rough cadence and tone, just the right tinge of accent.
3783655
Yep. And they don't really hold any illusions as to why the other party does what they do, either. If there's something they both seem to like in each other from the get-go, it's honesty (or something like it). Had Spoiled not dropped her usual socialite facade and just admitted she wanted to talk, I doubt he'd have given her the time of day.
...I still don't understand why I like this couple so darn much but I really do.
3787015
Because they're such a different thing. Because it's a pairing that makes you wonder what the hell is going on, and why they'd be together, and then you have to think about it, try to see it from their point of view.
And then, before you know it, you're a shipper.
3787015
"Nigel, did you ever read the poem 'Love Means Dealing With a Whole Bunch of Shit?' "
"No."
"That's because the poets haven't written it."
--Something Rotten
You like this and we like this because this is a real-life grown-up relationship. The principals are all flawed and weird and several parts toxic and so is the union they form. And guess what? All relationships are like this. Yet despite all the awful stuff there's genuine affection, commitment and a willingness to do what it takes. The best relationships are like this.
As I was saying to a friend, if you look at some happy, loving old couple on their golden anniversary and think they haven't put each other through hell multiple times, you haven't looked closely enough. If nobody hits or steals and everybody stays together, that's a successful relationship. Happiness? Sure, shiny happy things will happen. So will cancer and unemployment and teenagers. Success comes from dealing well with the shit. Anybody can handle the shinola.