Brainstorming: Cheerilee and Big Mac have a really awkward "The Talk" · 2:31am Sep 17th, 2022
Another idea that has been kicking around my head during my "hiatus" is a Cheerimac fic without, y'know, the Cheerimac. Cheerilee and Big Mac meet as little baby foals and grow up together as extremely close, but completely platonic friends.
I've been kicking around some ideas about what the conflict(s) should be, and I keep on coming back to the idea of Cheerilee hoping, at least a little bit, that maybe there could be some sort of romance there. She knows that there isn't, not really, but, at the same time, it would be really nice to have such a big, strong, caring stallion to keep her company at night...
I've been debating when, where, and how they should figure out that they're just not cut out for a romance together. Not sure which would be best, though... any feedback on these general scenarios?
- At age 15, the two of them go to some sort of hometown dance (if this was EQG, it would be homecoming or prom; Ponyville doesn't have a big enough school for that sort of thing, so it would probably be, like, a Hearts and Hooves event). Their entire friend group expects them to officially become a "thing" on that night, but, when the finally work up the courage to kiss, it's just... really awkward. They both realize that they're not a good fit for each other, and continue the night as friends.
- While they're still relatively young, Cheerilee and/or Mac find themselves in an emotionally vulnerable position (e.g., Cheerilee's family loses their farm in Ponyville and have to move, or Mac's parent(s) have just passed away). On impulse, Cheerilee kisses Mac on the lips. It takes them a second to realize what has happened, and just how wrong it feels... especially given the context. Cheerilee apologizes for ruining things, and they decide to remain friends.
- (Not a huge fan of this one, but:) As young(?) adults, the two of them decide to have a *cough* roll in the hay together. Perhaps they realize that they don't want to actually go through with it, or, afterwards, how awkward it was. While still in bed, they decide to remain friends rather than lovers. (Perhaps I could even pull a leaf from How I Met Your Mother... "Now that we're just friends again: you would not believe who I just scored with!")
Any feedback?
Secondary Question: I'm thinking that Cheerilee, when she meets Sugar Belle, knows immediately that she and Mac are a good match... because she reminds Cheerilee strongly of Mac's mom. Relatively short mare with a curly mane, excellent baker, likes to sing while she works, etc. When she mentions this to Mac, he gets defensive, but Cheerilee assures him that it's okay. He associates those things with love, safety, and comfort, so it's only natural that he would be attracted to a mare who shares them. (The "I only wish it could have been me" remains unsaid)
Is that sweet? Or a little too... Freudian for comfort?
Autumn harvest festival. It's a farming town, after all!
Isn't Sugar Belle tall? https://www.derpibooru.org/images/1738573
I'm a fan of this sort of thing. :)
Also, Sugar Belle absolutely looks like Pear Butter, it's just a matter of how much you want to emphasize that. :B
Either of the first two work very well. And yeah, Cheerilee recognizing Sugar Belle as a good match for Mac would be a lovely scene. I leave it up to you how far you want to go with the Oedipal implications.
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I feel like the Oedipal implications would be a pretty nice addition--it would show how well Cheerilee knows Mac, his history, his trauma, and what he wants in a family. I just need to figure out how to explain it so it's not creepy...
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Whoops, missed that detail. "Short" compated to Mac himself, at least.
5686940
Just had a shower thought on how to phrase it. I think I'd like to have Cheerinee say, in so many words, "I know that she reminds you of your mother, who you lost at an early age and in a traumatic manner. Accordingly, you associate those traits with safety, comfort, love, and care. Besides, she's a good person, a hard worker, and, let's be honest, kinda sexy. I think she would be a good partner."
I may still have Mac get a little defensive when she mentions the idea, if for no other reason than to say, "No, I / she is not saying you want to schtup your mom."
I need to write the thing, of course, but as I said, I hope that such a conversation could show how good friends Cheerilee and Mac are without getting too creepy.
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Definitely works.