#romax

It's been a hot second since I've talked about or wrote something for them, I'll admit. I STILL WANNA EVENTUALLY EXPAND ON "THE SHAW HOUSEHOLD" AU I HAVE FOR THEM!! Whenever I think of their polycule situation, my mind always goes back to it 😌All of that universe in particular takes place in the first movie's timeline, though. I've gotta come up with an idea that includes the events of the sequel.

Since my Shaw Household universe is literally the polar opposite of canon (Al isn't The Grabber, everyone lives, the ghost boys are just a regular 'friend' group, etc etc.) I'd probably try keep the new idea a little closer to canon when considering the second film's plot.

If we keep with the plot point of Finney killing Albert in the end, that's where it can get a little rocky. If they're dating (or at least fucking lmao), what reason would be good enough/make sense for Finney to have gone through with it? Then, of course, where do Robin and Max fit into it?

I'm thinking I could frame it where Albert and Max are working together as "The Grabber"? Like in those police dramas where after a particularly dramatic reveal, the audience learns that the unsub was in fact two different people the whole time. Then it could make a bit more sense as to how they both end up dead in the end. So, it could kind of parallel the first film and have it so Finney and Robin get kidnapped at the same time (which is actually another one of my favorite AUs lmao) by Al and Max.

That, of course, would alter Max's personality a little bit but hopefully not too much-- I personally think that even as Al's assistant, he'd still be the coked-up dork we all know and love. He could even work as Al's "technical guy" for his magic gig.

Then from there, I'd probably fall back on using my oh so beloved stockholm syndrome trope where Al and Max essentially train Finney and Robin to be their perfect little boys. They groom them to their liking, punishing 'naughty' behavior and rewarding good. Probably generally breaking both of their wills to escape and then eventually letting them out of the basement. From there, if we're trying to continue into the sequel, Finn and Robin could probably just be complying to bide time until they can eventually form their escape plan. After spending this long (weeks or perhaps even months?) with their captors, however, leaving isn't as easy as they first thought. I'd say they'd really have to muster up the courage to take both Al and Max down, but Finney and Robin are strong together, they'd manage it. And they tooootally wouldn't secretly regret it after being rescued. Not at all.

Cut to the second movie, four years later, and now Gwen has a lead on Al and Max's past? In connection to their mother, of all people?? (Probably in the time between films, Finney and Robin only grow closer due to their shared trauma but still continue to block anyone and everyone else out. I'd also imagine Robin and Ernesto's relationship would have dulled as well to mirror Finn and Gwen.) So then... Alpine Lake Youth Camp, you say? The boys are rushing to agree. For Gwen's sake, they tell themselves. Then we'd get to see a lot of "fun" poltergeist/dream monster shenanigans between all four of them. Al and Max are angry, of course, but how could they stay mad at their good boys? I'm sure they'd find a way to "make up" somewhere along the line.

I'm not sure how this version of Finney would react to learning that Albert was the one that killed his mom? That's pretty hard to come back from-- Buuuut, with a buff to Al's new ghost powers, who's to say that he can't psychically influence Finney?? Hmmm?? The world is my oyster, after all. Or, more hilariously, Finn could stage the ultimate break-up by murdering him (again) like in the movie LMAO-- Who knows 💀

Honestly, I was just kind of spit-balling random ideas here but yeah. Maybe it could go something like that or be like my original Al/Max/Robin/Finney ideas where they're all just happily living in the same house together and getting into trouble? Rainbows and unicorns and all that lmao-- I like both concepts!

Maybe I'll come up with an actual solid story later and try and turn it into something? I'll definitely try to go more in-depth with my Shaw Household idea next time 😌✨

I hope you can at least make some sort of sense out of my ramblings in the meantime!!