Pre-game thoughts: I've made the split-second decision to update this Musings collection every day, from September 6th through the 11th. Seeing as today's the 7th, I've decided to upload this hot on the heels of the other one! If you weren't up to read last night's edition and have two chapters to read now, I hope this is a "yay-I-have-two-cakes-now" situation and not a "How DARE you take up my time with TWO rambley chapters!" one.
Anyway, this was requested by my good friend cat-lover-2005! This ship has an intriguing history. I remember it rising to popularity in late 2017/early 2018, but I haven't heard anything about it since. I'd love to compare and contrast its popularity with other pairings, but alas, it'd be hard to find statistics for that.
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Rating out of 100: 48/100.
Do I ship this?: Not really.
Why do I/don't I ship this?: I can't really sus out what their dynamic would be like outside of major moments, because that's the only way we've seen them interact in Season 2. Even besides that, I've never been a huge fan of the episode 9 scene that it's placed in. It's got potential, but it's not for me. I can sort of see the appeal, but I prefer them as friends.
Is this my favorite ship for one/both of the characters?: Nope!
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Thoughts on the ship name: Ballooj, the popular one, stinks, but there really aren't a lot of good names I've seen. While looking for stories regarding these, I happened upon "Loonjay," which I like because it sounds like you're sticking two birds together.
My favorite story involving these two: Mav (ballooj)'s work encompasses the tenderness you'd want from this dynamic!
Things I enjoy in art/stories about them: They tend to be tender and treat one another with respect, which is nice!
Things I wish I saw more of in art/stories about them: Seeing their actual dynamic outside of major moments would be nice. It's understandable that we don't, considering the source material for the ship, but there's got to be more lighthearted moments, or at least ones with them complaining together, you know?
Besides that, I think they can continue being tender.
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Five headcanons about them:
They initially grew to be closer friends while working together to make armless accommodations for the hotel's sole armless resident, Nickel (Box is fine). Nickel couldn't read the letters Balloon put out apologizing, so Balloon wanted to make adjustments to the way the hotel's laid out so he can get around a little better. Figuring out how to install special buttons that open the doors for you was quite the bonding experience!
OJ hangs mistletoe all over the place during Christmastime. Though he usually is very particular about not walking under it (because Salt would take advantage of that), I feel like these two would have at least one mistletoe kiss in front of almost everyone. Not sure whether it would be before they got together or after, but it would be an ordeal.
Balloon likes to play video games with Pickle, Bomb, Tissues, and Soap sometimes, but he sucks at them and can never really win unless it's a one-on-one against Tissues mid-sneeze. Whenever OJ isn't busy, he'll play with Balloon, though! Because OJ isn't much of a gamer, Balloon gets to win, which is nice.
I feel like OJ and Balloon would keep up with Big Brother while it was airing, maybe with Salt, Soap, Bomb, and Pepper, too. Having a shared interest like that gives them all something to discuss.
Balloon still remembers the time OJ and Bomb skipped out on the challenge to order Chinese food... so the first date he took OJ on was for Chinese! OJ was impressed by his memory.
A story I'd write about them, if I had the time/interest:
Culture Shock, an AU in which Balloon is a popular Twitch streamer, OJ is a popular YouTube vlogger, and they're rooming together for a week to go to VidCon or something! Though they come from extremely different platforms, exploring Anaheim together after the convention and bonding over travel blunders brings them pretty close together.
It's an excuse to have Balloon yell like SammyClassicSonicFan.
The holiday that best reflects this ship, and why: August 20th is Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, which absolutely carries the energy of this ship.
Where do they end up in life?: I do personally prefer them as friends, but if they got together, they'd quietly date at Hotel OJ, I suppose! I don't envision them being highkey enough to get married, but they'd totally go on trips together on occasion to relax.
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Shipping Musings and Opinions
LosoweIf you've ever wanted to hear someone's true thoughts on a ship without mere ratings out of ten and keysmashing, this is the place. Story ideas, headcanons and more find a home in this nonwork. You decide which ships I give my take on - request anyt...
