Which NPCs do yall think would work in a rival marriage?

[perichor]

Since rival marriages will be implemented at some point, I thought it might be fun to note down my own ideas of who might work together and see what others think! Excuse my spelling in advance,,,

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Bob: I can't really think of an NPC who I think would work with Bob. Their laidback, chill and not easily offended personality could work well with Ember- which I want to happen solely due to the sheer parent energy Bob radiates that would intensify if they got together.

Buttercup: I think Spark would work really, really well with Buttercup, who needs support and straightforward encouragement. They both seem to be of the same age group due to their speech patterns and behaviour, they both like bugs, they live quite close to eachother, and while at the beginning Buttercup is quite timid and unsure, Spark has the right personality to consistently seek them out until this behaviour is returned. Now I .. really, really want Buttercup/Spark to happen. Coco would also work due to their non-judgemental, easygoing, (and for lack of a better word) tutorial-esque personality. Buttercup's self confidence would definitely take a boost due to Coco's popularity in the colony, and it's also somewhat based in alpha canon since Buttercup mentioned talking to Coco to my cat a couple times.

Champ: Lainey is high-energy, like Champ, but they're more sweet where Champ has the bluntness of a battering ram, and I think they'd have a positive effect on and bounce off each other quite nicely. Spark is also quite out-there, and is unashamed of this, and isn't the type to be discouraged by Champ's more arrogant, irritating side (from what I've seen so far), and I think that would cause Champ to respect and like them quite quickly.

Charlotte: I'm not sure - I recall them saying that they "didn't think the player was [Charlotte's] type of cat" at the beginning of the friendship, and since they assumed the player to be pretty run-of-the-mill and cocky, we can safely decide that that type of personality is off the table. Spark would be a good option - in a line of dialouge with me, Charlotte stated that: "it's way better when Spark is working. Might not be a very capable shopkeeper, heck, they're horrible at their job, but its refreshing to see a cat not put on a show", and Spark has the type of personality that means that they wouldn't be put off by Charlotte's prickly exterior, and I just like the vibes. They'd be cute. Lainey could also work due to Lainey's sweet, upbeat, and not-easily-offended personality, and Lainey is stated to like water and swimming, not just tolerate it like their twin, and Charlotte seems to as well. ALSO AN EDIT FOR Glimmer - they're both mischevious and place a great deal of emphasis on not caring what others think (but kind of being worried aboiut it anyway). I just think it would be funny.... goth x fortune teller WHEN??

Coco: Coco is canonically a very popular cat in the colony, meaning that quite a few cats mention liking or talking to them. Fliss' second dialogue with me was about trying to get Coco to open up, and they're both sweet, easygoing characters that I think would get on quite well. Their placement is quite close together, meaning they probably spent a lot of time together. Another option is Elli: who has mentioned Coco to me, again, quite a few times, and they canonically spent a lot of time together even before the move to Wildwood. Their friendly, non-confrontational, and somewhat playful personality is similar to Coco's, but not quite as similar as Fliss', I think. Talon mentions that "[Coco] would be a good leader", meaning a) they're already on good terms, which for Talon takes a while or b) they just.. trust Coco immediately, which is notable for Talon. Talon also appreciates gruntwork and effort, and Coco is responsible for the festivals and for general Colony information. Buttercup could also work, since Coco is shown to have a soft spot for those having a hard time (eg: them helping the player character in Cattails 2017), they're both sweet, and I just think they'd get on.

Elli: I think Ember would be a cute option. Elli is quite goofy (or comes across that way!) and could encourage Ember to start making her jokes again and overall bring up her mood, and to take some time for herself away from the shop. Coco would also work, due to Elli canonically asking after them multiple times, and their personalities working together. Plus, I think it would be nice to have a gradual build up, since they knew each other before Cattails: Wildwood Story. Garlic could be nice - Elli's non-judgemental, consistently friendly behaviour would help break down Garlic's walls, and I think they would find Garlic's self-depricating tendancies charming, but also make sure to encourage them. Jag might work, since they live quite near each other and they could remind Jag to take a break from time to time, which he desperately needs.

Ember: Elli, because I think they'd work due to reasons stated above, although Ember might get frustrated at how carefree Elli can come across. Bob I considered first purely for the team parent vibes, however I think how chill he is would really help Ember relax, and the fact that he is so dedicated to fishing might potentially balm any annoyance on her part for a "lack of effort". I just think Ember would get annoyed by that. Plus, extra fish for the shop!

Fliss: Fliss is quite calm, open-minded and level-headed, and while they wouldn't get irritated at having a partner who they had to take care of or reassure a great deal, like Garlic (or Buttercup to an extent) for example, they mentioned that they had to step up at a young age to take care of Lainey, and I think Fliss needs a break from having to be responsible for others. Someone close to their maturity level, but who's still warm and playful to an extent would work well, so I think Krampy would be a pretty good choice, and I think Fliss would enjoy taking part in experiments. Since they also mentioned Coco in speech multiple times and they are quite similar, I think they might be a nice pairing too. Charlotte could be cute, since they're both generally quiet, and I think their blunt, somewhat mocking comments might make Fliss loosen up - plus, they could go swimming together, since Charlotte mentioned doing so in dialouge and Fliss states that they are fine with water as well.

Garlic: I think Garlic is the type who would need a partner who was open from the get-go about caring and supporting them, so Spark and Elli would be ideal. I considered Lainey, but since they're so keen to explore and Garlic has trouble adapting to change, I don't think those two would work out. Elli seems to be the most down-to-earth and I think Garlic needs a grounding prescence. Spark would find value in a "safety blanket relationship", and Garlic kind of needs to have someone to talk to, so no worries about them there.

Glimmer: Glimmer would need someone who wasn't stuck in their ways and was open about new things, so Lainey could work well. They're both artistic and mean well, and I think they would have a fun time getting up to mischief together. ALSO AN EDIT FOR Charlotte - they're both mischevious and place a great deal of emphasis on not caring what others think (but kind of being worried aboiut it anyway). I just think it would be funny.... goth x fortune teller WHEN??

Jag: Personally, I don't really think of Jag as having a romantic partner (residue from Cattails (2017) I guess?), but if they were going to have one - Elli. That's it, the only option in my book. Well, it isn't, but you know. Phantom could also be nice - they're both just trying to do their best and take care of those around them, and I think they could really bond over that.

Krampy: I really like Krampy with Fliss for reasons stated above, but I also love them with Phantom for reasons stated below, so yeah. Take your pick, I suppose?

Lainey: Champ and Lainey I personally think would be adorable, for reasons stated below. And, of course: Charlotte likes to swim, Lainey likes to swim, they have pretty much everything Spark/Charlotte has in regards to an upbeat personality and a lack of interest in "faking it" but also a common interest!

Phantom: Phantom would need somebody who was fine with being by themselves, being quiet together, and who had a hobby they greatly enjoyed and often talked about. The closer it is to herbs and plants, the better. Therefore, although I haven't actually met Alabaster yet and this may change, I'll put them in here. I'll also add in Krampy - they don't seem to mind being by themselves since they're cooped up in the med. den by themselves all day, and they were like this in Cattails (2017). Phantom would want to not have to talk to somebody to enjoy their company, but to have plenty of conversation available if they did want to, I think. Jag and Phantom could work nicely too, since Jag has a job to do all day and they're both somewhat reserved, but well-intentioned.

Spark: I'm not even going to list all of the options for Spark, but I am going to say that Spark would definitely need a partner who made them feel wanted and required consistently. Garlic would be a good choice there, due to both needing a confidante they could find in eachother, and the drastic difference in how Buttercup treats those they do and don't like would be appealing, probably, due to how obvious it is. Charlotte is an obvious one there as well.

Talon: I can't help but think Talon works best as that really grumpy but gold-hearted mentor trope, and therefore I personally cannot see them in a relationship, but I think if they were entered into a rival marriage Coco could work nicely. They would be able to help Talon see the best in others, and to chill out a little and to enjoy the festivals instead of considering them a waste of time.

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Yes, I spent far too much time on this and it is almost definitely wrong. Either way: I adore the Cattails: Wildwood NPCs more than I like the previous edition's, if I'm being honest. I really liked Luna and Scout, but I think this group is just far more flavourful, for lack of a better word!