#vinokurinner

Oh man I am such a big advocate for little spoon Norman ldkjfas

(From this ship chart post about my general headcanons for them)

Their default cuddling/sleeping arrangement is Norman in the middle because he freezes easily, so they keep him warm between them in the colder months, and Ray doesn't have to push Emma the furnace away in the hotter ones because he has Norman as a buffer.

However, they alternate frequently so everyone gets a spot in the middle, especially if one of them needs some extra TLC that day.

Emma 100% koala hugs the boys while they're doing stuff around the house and they'll just carry on with their business, like there isn't this little blob with a mop of orange hair attached to their backs.

They get back at her by using her as a headrest when they're watching stuff together. Their height difference isn't too extreme, so this isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, but they swear it's more comfortable and that they can see better this way.

Emma is also 100% the one who starts saying she needs to "Ray-charge" when cuddling/hugging Ray. In typical fashion, Norman follows suit, and Ray pretends he doesn't enjoy it for some time before surprising them one day when he catches them in a hug and playfully tells them to give him a minute, he's Ray-charging. They knew they'd eventually win him over, as they always do.

Ah yes. Me. My boyfriend. And our girlfriend with her 500$ giraffe. (via @vinokurinner; Also in fanfic form courtesy of banana_slug_army)

You could have some fun with recalibrating the balance within the trio to accommodate a fourth member.

For me, Susan's significance is grounded in her being an older sibling for the trio but especially for Ray (with him even adopting her habit of giving headpats of comfort to younger siblings)

It starts some time after Emma’s 9th birthday and the shipment of one of their younger sibling. Most children go on with their lives, looked after by their eldest sibling, Susan, the only one of her age left at the house. After proposing a game of hide-and-seek, she convinces Ray (with the help of Emma) to come and play with them instead of sulking in his corner. She tells Ray that she knows he is sad, and wants him to get better, to Ray’s annoyance, since he expected Jimmy to be shipped anyway. (She ruffles his hair by the way, he probably took that habit from her). […] Ray suddenly realizes how much he would miss her if she leaves, how no one would speak to him like she does... No one would comfort him like she does. Of course he cares about Emma and Norman, but Susan was the only one capable of seeing those changes he couldn’t even notice himself. […] Before leaving, she pats Ray’s head one last time and asks him to never stay alone again. She ruffles his hair, as he voice breaks when he nods. He apologizes to her one last time, so quietly that only her, Emma and Norman can hear him. Either for being angry at her... or for being unable to save her. (it’s left to interpretation) She leaves with a smile on her face. - @tempo-takoyaki's summary of A Letter from Norman Chapter 3 - "NER in Bird Cages" Related art by @vinokurinner here, @officersnickers here, and @goldiipond here and here