#shakadolin

This is pretty much the plot of Oathbringer

(For this ask game) and thank you!!

10. I'll recommend Anachronistic Cosmere High by OncillaPhoenix, because it is absolutely hilarious, fairly short, and (bonus) the first Cosmere fic I ever read. Like, you're going to need a very basic knowledge of Cosmere characters, but holy shit it is a wonderful ride and you will NOT regret it :)

19. I am unfortunately due for rereads of every standalone Cosmere novel, and am pretty much clueless regarding what people have written for them outside of worldhopping crossovers. So I'm unfortunately going to take the alternative and say my favorite Mistborn fic lol. Which is Three Hundred Years by chirichiri, because I fucking love TenSoon and Vin's relationship and it's so damn sad and this in particular is just such a beautifully written ode to them HRJDJDJFJFJFMGM

2. What's an underappreciated (low kudos or comments) fic with this ship/trope?

First of all, the shakadolin fics with the lowest kudos are all either in Spanish or podfics, so everyone go grab your favourite translation service and read a Spanish fic right now!! (how about lago del deseo by chaliceofdrain, rated Explicit, 13K words, just a sweet lakeside vacation? The author needs kudos to live!!) And then listen to a podfic!! Mistbornhero (who is probably responsible for the most Cosmere podfics by volume) is an actual hero 😤😤😤 But I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic fic The Gemheart Wants What it Wants by Raboniel (EverythingNothing) which is an Explicit-rated fic about Shallan stepping out on Adolin and Kaladin (who, to be fair to her, seem pretty preoccupied with each other) and goes to Mraize for...uh, let's say "comfort".

7. What would you like to see more of with this ship/trope?

More polyamory. Shakadolin don't have to be a triad to be a great throuple. Throw Syl in the mix. I've seen Leshwi and Maya, too. (A Game of Denial by Silvermoonwater and A Sword by Any Other Name by Dat_Dere, respectively, both rated Explicit) And I love it when the relationship is really weird and undefinable, it's a lot of fun. A Sword by Any Other Name is a great example of this.

9. What do you think would freshen up this ship/trope?

Expand on the nature of Shallan and Adolin's polyamory. What if Kaladin wasn't Adolin and Shallan's first attempt at polyamory? Or alternatively, what if Adolin and Shallan opened up their relationship because they know they're polyamorous, NOT JUST because they both love Kaladin? Who else might be involved? How can we as a fandom support Shallan's bisexuality (Oh, what's that? Make Her Come Undone by EndlessGloaming, rated Explicit, Shallan/Kaladin/Jasnah???) Or what if we really lean into the idea that Kaladin is asexual (and maybe aromantic too), and Adolin and Shallan are hopelessly bisexual? How do they move forward and all get their needs met? Like what if they respected Kaladin's sexual boundaries and then Kaladin found out that they slept with Sigzil and/or Lyn, and gets really jealous? I think there's a lot of options out there. Having read a lot of shakadolin fics, I'm very aware that most people are writing shakadolin out of a desire to see Kaladin comforted and safe with people he loves, and/or to wrestle with their own adventures in polyamory and/or bisexuality, but I do think there are lots of avenues we as a fandom haven't explored yet...

1. What's your favourite fic with this ship/trope?

Silver Spoons by eeedddeee. Unrated (has mature themes and sex scenes), 113K words, modern AU. Unbenownst to each other, Shallan and Kaladin get tangled in the web of Kholin Pharmaceuticals and decide to take action. Also unbenownst to each other, they take an interest in a certain Adolin Kholin despite their best laid plans. Adding in a favourite that I wrote: The Call to Adventure by cosmere_play. Unrated (as each choice uses a different rating), 38K words, modern AU. It's a choose your own adventure fic where Shallan and Adolin proposition Kaladin, and you can choose how he reacts and what he does about it! Every chapter is rated individually.

5. What's something you enjoy about fic with this ship/trope?

When I first got into this ship after RoW I was really into soft starts with them--cuddling, having sex, getting together in a way where their rough edges don't come into play. But now that I've been shipping them for 5+ years I'm much more into the messiness. I like watching them have to reckon with the ways they hurt each other both individually and societally. Kaladin and Shallan are Radiants, and Adolin isn't; Shallan and Adolin are lighteyes, and Kaladin has a history with lighteyes; Adolin and Kaladin are Alethi, men, and soldiers and Shallan is none of those. I like when authors engage in those dynamics.