#aromantic adolin

[cosmereplay]

Aro Adolin fic! Sad and good, good-sad.

The Most Eligible Bachelor In Alethkar by NothingRiddikulus

Rated General, 800 words, WoR era

Shallan said her goodbyes. Adolin smiled as he watched her carriage leave, straightening his coat and running his fingers through his hair. Internally he counted down the seconds until she was out of his line of sight. He walked back home with a tune on his lips and a spring in his step. When Shallan was gone, it was as if he was not courting her, and would never have to be married. With her gone, he could be himself. Everything was perfect.

Immediately he felt guilty.

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[sparkyskid]

This guy here?

This spearman? This Windrunner?

He is ace. And aro. And he is in a QPR with the prince and the lightweaver.

Sanderson said “this 20 year old has not been attracted to anyone since he was a child with a ‘crush’ whom he only liked aesthetically, the way that children act like they like each other”

He has not been attracted to anyone since he was a child? His current thing with the Lightweaver is canonically acknowledging her beauty and canonically not being bothered that she is betrothed to the prince? That was actually literally me in high school when I hadn’t yet realized there were words for what I was, liking a boy aesthetically and not being bothered that he was happily dating someone the whole time I knew him. I am aroace. Kaladin is aroace.

[thedragion]

Adolin Kholin, he is constantly being told, "You could be a radiant if you just give up your sword." But his sword is part of who he is, and he does great fighting alongside semi-divine superheroes and keeps up

As an aroace person I always feel really drawn to the "magicless character in a world full of magic" trope because I can relate to the feeling of other people pitying you for not having something they consider essential to life, struggling to comprehend that you could lead a happy existence as you are, having 0 connection to the things everyone never shuts up about and being told "maybe you're just a late-bloomer" instead of "you will be fine regardless"

[cosmerelists]

Cosmere Characters React to Finding Fanfic/Fanart of Themselves: A Collab with Cosmereplay

As requested by anon :)

I asked @cosmereplay to collab with me on this anon's request, and happily, she agreed! Basically, I've written the fanart parts of this, and Cosmereplay has taken care of the fanfic parts since I, ah, don't read fanfic and wouldn't know the really good jokes.

1. Shallan, Adolin, & Kaladin Read Fanfic

Shallan (reading tags): Hmmm...ace Kaladin, aromantic Kaladin, bisexual Kaladin, bottom Kaladin (I'll have to look into that one later...), demisexual Kaladin, demiromantic Kaladin, dom Kaladin... Adolin: What are the relationship tags like? Shallan: Let's see... blushes thoroughly OH LOOK KALADIN/SLEEP! THAT'S SO SWEET! Oooh...Kaladin/Happiness! Kaladin: Everybody's a critic. Adolin: They just want you to be happy, Kal! Kaladin: I-I'm fine most of the time!

2. Elend & Vin Look at Fanart

Elend: Wow! Stunning! Magnificent! Vin (peering over his shoulder): Uh, Elend, I think you're supposed to be looking at art of yourself. Those are all pictures of me. Elend: Can you blame me?? I mean look at you here! Vin: I suppose I look...somewhat cool there. Elend: Ascendent, I'd say!

3. Ellista and Pai Read "Covenant" by liesmyth

Ardent Ellista: Oh you HAVE to read this one, it's the most popular Cosmere fic by kudos! Kaladin Stormblessed and Highprince Adolin are soulmates, it's so sad yet hopeful! Ardent Pai: I bet it doesn't even mention their class differences. Ardent Ellista: No it totally does! And it really gets in the way of them kissing!! Ardent Pai: Well maybe I'll take a look then.

4. The Kholin Family Look at Fanart: Part 1 (Dalinar & Navani)

Jasnah (slamming a large tome onto the table): All right, everyone. I've finished my extensive research into the fanart of our family. Jasnah: Dalinar, according to my findings, people on the internet find you (a) extremely sexy and (b) wish you to be shirtless on the beach. Jasnah: There is also extensive interest in you being strong but vulnerable in the face of Odium, which I believe goes back to point (a), your assumed sexiness. Dalinar: ... Dalinar: I see. Jasnah: Navani, the residents of the internet desperately wish to see you explore women as romantic/sexual options. Navani: ...In general, or specific women? Jasnah: Mostly Ialai and Raboniel, from what I have seen. You can see here, and here. Navani: Sure, makes sense. Dalinar: (Does it??)

5. Sigzil & Lopen Read Fanfic

Sigzil: Bridge Fourgy? Ohhh... oh no... Lopen: Well now you GOTTA read it, gancho! Sigzil: I will burn it is what I will do.

6. Hoid & Design Look at Fanart

Hoid: (huffing and harumphing) Design: Well, I think the art is nice! Hoid: (harumphing and huffing) Design: The colors are spot-on, there's some symmetry... Hoid: (muttering) I've been involved in practically every Cosmere-significant event...I tell stories with colors and magic imagery...I beat up Kelsier that one time... Hoid: But nooooo they only want to draw me in the Mare shirt with mismatching socks and sandals!!! AND TINY RED SHORTS Design: Wow, look at my boobs in this one! They're so round and shiny! Hoid: ...I feel like you are not sympathizing with me here.

7. Rushu & Jasnah read "The Princess and the Captain" by ailvara

Rushu: Your Majesty I looked into the most popular fanfic by hits and discovered it's an ongoing slowburn romance between you and, uh... well... Jasnah: Out with it, Rushu. Rushu: You and Kaladin Stormblessed. Jasnah: Me? And Kaladin?? But he's half my age! And we've done nothing but argue! Rushu (blushing): I think that's part of the appeal, Your Majesty. Jasnah: Give me that. (reading) Well if he said THAT then maybe I wouldn't have... hm... Rushu, cancel my appointments for the next hour, I need to finish this. Rushu: Of course, Your Majesty! (sotto voice) Thank goodness she still doesn't know about the Hoid foot fics...

8. The Kholin Family: Part 2 (Adolin & Renarin)

Jasnah (continuing to leaf through her large book of findings): Adolin, according to my research, the internet thinks that you are a handsome, sweet man who wishes to be with his friends. For example, here. Jasnah: It is mostly you, Shallan, and Kaladin, however you want to read that. Adolin: As...reality? Jasnah: Renarin, if you are not suffering emotionally alongside a stained glass motif, or suffering emotionally as a child alongside Dalinar, then you are with Rlain. Renarin: With him as in...? Jasnah: Yes. Renarin: ... Renarin: I thought we were being fairly subtle! Jasnah: You were not.

9. Moash & Leshwi Read Fanfic

Moash: What are the fics about me like? Leshwi: Well, you either die a violent, horrible death or you make tender love to... Leshwi: ... Leshwi: ...Kaladin Stormblessed? You know him? Moash: Ok so here's the thing

10. Moash & Kaladin Look at Fanart

Moash: Okay...I should definitely get my ears pierced, right? Moash: I mean...look at me. Look at me, Kal! Hot, right? Moash: ...Kal? Kaladin: ... Kaladin: [silently pushing this art toward Moash] Kaladin: There are a lot like this. Moash: What, of you standing? Kaladin: Smiling. Kaladin: People want me to smile, I guess. Moash: ... Moash: Well, I bet you'd smile more if I was always looking hot in earrings, huh? Kaladin: Heh, yeah, probably.

[nevertheless-moving]

aromantic/asexual Kaladin. Shallan/Adolin mad horny.

once they realize he's sincerely not interested they back off (not sure if he ever noticed them coming on in the first place) and just, you know, sometimes fantasize. Not making it his problem. maybe they talk with eachother about how unreasonably hot he is, it's ok they're married, if there's anyone you decompress with about inappropriate horniness its your spouse. Not sure who breaks first and pitches the idea of, ah, bedroom lightweaving. But would he be mad? or worse, hurt? It's not like he'd ever find out...but storms what if he did? is it wrong even if he never knows? Can we ask for permission? Would it be worse to ask?? It would so much worse to ask.

I wrote it. They ask. Shockingly wholesome.

[ternaryflower53]

He trips over his words. Thankfully, Adolin picks up on where he’s going.

“Is that you?” he asks. “Aromantic?”

Kaladin nods. His hands are shaking, and he closes them into fists in an attempt to calm himself. “I don’t think this relationship is working,” he says. And then, when he sees Adolin’s face fall, “I’m sorry, I just—I can’t.”

A pause, and then: “Is this a breakup, then?”

“I—yes. I think so.”

-

or, five times Kaladin felt off about his relationship with Shallan and Adolin, and one time he realized why.

[bloomerism]

for the book thing!! 1, 16, 23, 29, 74, 133 :)

1. a book that is close to your heart

WARRIOR CATS. oh my god they're so good and I know you agree with me, and they remind me of being a middle-schooler and just absolutely devouring the books at breakneck speed because I just couldn't get enough

16. a book you'd recommend to your younger self

Devotions by Mary Oliver. It's a poetry collection that I discovered a couple of years ago but I think I could have used it when I was in early high school

23. a book that is currently on your TBR

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang; it's the second book in the Poppy War trilogy. I just finished the first one and it was so amazing (would definitely recommend)

29. your favorite YA novel

Oh boy idk if I can pick just one but I love The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It's so good and the rest of the series is amazing too. Honorable mention to any of the Throne of Glass books just because I love them

74. your favorite love triangle

Well first of all I hate almost every love triangle I've ever read, but if I had to pick one it would probably be the Kaladin/Shallan/Adolin in Words of Radiance thing ONLY BECAUSE it resolved itself in a way I'm okay with and personally just reinforces my idea of aromantic Kaladin

133. a book that you came across randomly and fell in love with

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. I just picked it up because it sounded interesting and I liked the cover and ended up being OBSESSED. There's a sequel and it was incredible too!

[shiroxix]

does nobody ship jasnah and kaladin I have pent up feelings about this

I’m not huge on shipping in general, but I definitely wouldn’t ship the two asexual characters with one another. Jasnah has tons of dialogue about not being interested in romance and there are plenty of passages that hint at abuse in her past. Jasnah is a strong, independent woman who don’t need no man. Besides that, she hates men. If anything, she’s a lesbian, but I think there’s plenty of evidence that she is asexual AND aromantic.Kaladin has the notion that everything he loves dies and has become distant and withdrawn. We’ve even seen evidence of him being careful about friendships becoming too strong because he knows that they’ll end in death or betrayal, both of which we have seen on-screen. Kaladin is wary about forming real relationships, but the relationships we do get from him are much stronger with the men he spends time with rather than the women. Honestly, his relationships with any member of Bridge Four, Adolin or even Renarin, I would argue have more romantic potential than his relationship with any of the ladies he interacts with.

I think Kaladin at this point in the story is frigid, more interested in emotional bonding than sexual, and would rather find a sensual and non-sexual relationship with a friend. We’ve seen evidence that he’s interested in having a family of his own one day and maybe even a child, but with his fear that they’ll only be taken away from him, I’d say he’s too scared to try. Disregarding that, Kal and Jasnah haven’t really shared any significant dialogue with one other and have no chemistry, so I have no idea where this ship even comes from, though it is one that I do see often. You’re not alone, I just don’t happen to be one of the people that shares this sentiment.

[arokaladin]

right so after seeing me moan the other day that I’d never get to tell Brandon Sanderson how grateful I am for Kaladin coming across as so aro to me, @lupitup messaged me saying they’d be able to get a message to him through someone they knew and so I wrote over 1500 words, 

anyway if you’d like to read it too, here it is!

oathbringer spoilers under the cut

Dear Mr Sanderson,

This letter, if you can call it that, is not intended to be unsolicited advice about your characters, nor even really a suggestion. I trust your plans for your own writing immensely and even if I didn’t I respect your right to your own decisions. Merely, I want to explain why from the point of view of an aromantic, the way you have so far chosen to write Kaladin Stormblessed is so incredibly important.

As someone who has expressed interest in writing an asexual character, I’m sure you are aware how little media representation asexuals are given, and how that amount decreases even further still for aromantics. (In fact, there are only two characters to my knowledge who have even been referred to as ‘aromantic’ by their creators, and neither have had the word used about them within the universe they existed in.)

Beyond our lack of ‘official’ characters to see ourselves in, aromantics often have a very difficult time finding any characters at all who we can relate to, since everyone is eventually, Harry Potter epilogue style, arbitrarily paired off so that the audience can be reassured they found their inevitable happy ending in the form of romantic love. Since otherwise, to the eyes of the world, they would have had no worth, love from friends and family not filling the aching gap they would surely have felt if not for the arrival of their perfect ‘other half’.

Even characters whom my community can initially relate to inevitably go on to alienate us. The loveless protagonists of each and every children’s novel that I enjoyed in the days before I knew what I was were all given a hint of a love interest in the last book of the series, just as reassurance that they were growing up. But I never grew up in that sense, and remained simultaneously more and less mature than my peers, never having seen that coming of age and yet achingly above it all. I imagine I seem, just as Kaladin seems to me, to be too old for my age and yet at the same time too unknowing, too naïve.

So even in the time after Words of Radiance and before Oathbringer, I was forever indebted to you for giving me Kaladin. Little details made my heart cry out in a kinship for him that I’d never been able to feel before; That it didn’t cross his mind that his men might start to get married, that he felt anxious at the idea of not knowing where his friends were, that compared to other characters of a similar age who were at the forefront of the books, he seemed painfully oblivious to the world of romance.

And then came Oathbringer, the book the world needed in 2017, that was hopeful in the face of the apocalypse and in my eyes, with its themes of belonging and self-acceptance and the healing power of unconditional love, inherently queer. This book cemented for me that Kaladin not only could be read as on the aromantic spectrum, if the reader so wished, but naturally lent himself to a reading of that manner. And I cannot express how ecstatic it made me not just to see my own traits reflected in him but to see them respected.

Never before had I been able to read about a character who reflected my own feelings without those feelings portrayed as something to grow out of. Never before had I been able to read about a character who planned their life around their friends in the way that we all do as children, and that aromantics continue to do our whole lives, never having the treasured way we regard platonic love usurped by the eventual first feelings of romantic love. It never even crossed my mind that a character could be allowed to feel that way and not be harassed into feeling differently. Never before had I read about a character who couldn’t stomach seeing people kiss without that character being, well, an actual child. Never before had I read about a character who dreaded their friends pairing up and leaving them (as it seems to me the line ‘he liked them both… just not together’ seems to imply) without it being revealed that the character in question was secretly jealous and wanted a romantic relationship for themselves.

Never before have I read about a character who shared my innermost feelings and not seen those feelings laughed at and ripped away.

For me the importance of Kaladin as a character this stands out possibly the most in one of Oathbringer’s final scenes, in which Kaladin reflects on his feelings for Shallan. First of all, I was overjoyed that Kal was allowed to defend himself against the person, or in this case spren, insisting that he had romantic feelings. In any other book he would have ended up either with Shallan or as part of a drawn-out love triangle, and any claims that he didn’t have feelings for her would have been disrespected, taken as lies to be inevitably disproven. In Oathbringer however, despite Syl acting as amatonormativity (the harmful assumption that romantic relationships are central to every person’s life and that everyone’s goal is to have one.) personified, a role normally portrayed as the voice of reason, it is she who is proved wrong and Kaladin is allowed the dignity of explaining his own feelings as soon as he begins to understand them.

Secondly… that ‘something’ Kaladin says he does feel for Shallan? Within the aromantic community we’d likely call that a ‘squish’: essentially the platonic parallel to the traditional crush and characterised by strong non-romantic feelings for a person that you desperately hope will become a friend. The majority of aromantics you speak to will have at some point mistaken a squish for a crush before they had the language to more accurately describe themselves and their attraction. I myself had the same experience with a boy a few years ago as Kaladin does with Shallan, even down to believing I had romantic feelings based on how nice and friendly I thought his smile was.

I could probably talk for much longer on the subtle facets of Kaladin’s characterisation that allow me to see myself for the first time reflected back. About how his interest in Tarah’s clothes almost more than her face amuses me so much because I’m reminded of the countless times when I mistook aesthetic appreciation of garments for physical attraction towards their wearers. About how him having to be told by Rock about Peet’s flirtation with a barmaid hits home because I’m oblivious to my friends’ romantic endeavours until they tell me explicitly that they are in fact romantic endeavours. About how validated I felt that Kaladin internally refers to public displays of affection as ‘nauseating’, a phrase that’s sometimes only half as blunt and offensive as the ones I’d use to describe my physical state when I have to witness upsettingly romantic acts.

I could talk too, about how your portrayal of romantic love, especially in more recent books, manages not to alienate me from your works by never assuming that the emotion is a one off destined thing, better than any other, or even inherently meaningful and therefore always fated to end in a relationship. How red flags (like Kabsal’s strange willingness to leave his life behind for a girl he had just met) are treated as dangerous rather than romantic. How characters like Dalinar and Navani are allowed to find their ‘one true love’ for a second time. How Shallan and Adolin are allowed to be friends, have silly fun, and cheer each other on in a way so refreshingly free from clichés that I felt able to root for their relationship.

But I’ll simply repeat: Thank you for Kaladin. Thank you for a character that as a young adult, struggling with depression much like him, I found myself able to relate to in another way, one that is even more rare and more precious to me because of that. Thank you for, even if inadvertently, making space for people like me in your fiction and allowing me the privilege of my method of escapism legitimising my experiences rather than jolting me back into my real world alienation and loneliness. Thank you for giving me a hero who shares some of the traits I hate the most about myself. Thank you for the books that have become central and significant and cherished in my life over the last two (almost three!) years. Thank you for Kaladin Stormblessed.

I hope the conclusions I’ve made here have in no way offended you or infringed on the way in which you view your own characters. I only mean to express how they seem to me and why that means so much. Thank you for reading this.

(I’d also like to apologise for the length of this letter. To explain that a little: I think about most of the things I’ve said here almost every day of my life and for the longest time have had no way to express my gratitude to you. Also, I tend to get carried away when I write. I’m sure you can relate to that.)

Yours sincerely,

[REDACTED]

[cosmerepositive]

If you're on the aromantic spectrum, listen: your identity isn't a joke or a debate. Sometimes it seems that every song, every book, every movie, literally everything is about romance, but you're not broken for not loving anyone romantically. You are not heartless or need to be fixed. You are you. Adolin thinks you're good enough just by being yourself.

[kidrat]

Adolin for the headcannon ask?

Headcanon A:  realistic

Runs all his stinky colognes past Renarin before he buys them.

Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious

his first sewing projects were clothes were baby Renarin and they were horrific. Renarin tried to eat them.

Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends

As an aromantic, he suffered horribly throughout his many relationships and felt like a bad person for being uncomfortable/not making them work. He still deals with a lot of self hatred.

Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.

Spent his childhood making wonderful memories with his brother. His mum and dad were always around spending time together and watching them play.

[cosmereplay]

Someone asked about Shakadolin fics without Rhythm of War spoilers!

Here's a few recommendations:

To Care by BlindRadiant, rated Teen, 6000 words. A sweet getting together fic. Led By A Beating Heart by freoduweard, multiple ratings, 15K words. A series of (often spicy) Shakadolin drabbles. Wedding Gift by Rayna_Roseblue, rated Explicit, 10K words. Messy messy goodness. How Do You Catch a Storm and Pull It Down? by liadan14, rated Explicit, 4000 words. This was written in 2018 so I KNOW there's no RoW spoilers, and it's one of the most popular Shakadolin fics by hits!

As always I can't resist adding a few of my own fics:

Soul-Mates by cosmere_play, rated Teen, 3000 words. An aromantic twist on a soulmates AU. Reassurances by cosmere_play, rated Teen, 200 words. Veil/Kaladin with a hint of Adolin The Call to Adventure by cosmere_play, multiple ratings, 40K words. Modern Canada AU, choose your own adventure style.

[kogiopsis]

horizonproblems reblogged your post and added:

If you don’t mind me asking - what are thoughts on Kaladin/Shallan as a (potential) romantic couple? Recently someone told me that they think there’s a lot of unresolved sexual/romantic tension between the two, and I… Just don’t see it, partially because of what you mention here (boots scene, chasm scene, Kaladin generally being exasperated in Shallan’s presence and thinking so). I’m not trying to start a ship war (I don’t really care if people ship it, personally I headcanon Kaladin as aroace), so I understand if you don’t want to answer this! But I know that as an aromantic person a lot of the romance nuance/flirting stuff flies right over my head, so I was left wondering if my initial assessment was blatantly wrong…

I wanted to respond to this in a separate post lest the conversation overtake themalhambird’s original, so...

First, a necessary preface:  I have been crossing my fingers against Kaladin/Shallan since... before WoK came out.  I happened to read a galley copy, and pretty much as soon as I saw the descriptions they get in the flap copy, I had the sinking feeling that they would be the Designated Hetero Hero Ship.  The fact that they didn’t meet at all in WoK was gratifying!  But... WoR.

So, okay, up front: one of the reasons I’m not fond of Shalladin is that I think it’s obvious.  ‘Guy Hero and Girl Hero fall in love!’ is a story I’ve read too much, and while I do trust Brandon to give it great nuance and make it interesting, I’m still just... tired of it on a fundamental level.  And especially in a series with the scope of Stormlight, it seems simplistic.  We’re looking at more than ten thousand pages in this story; surely relationships can develop more unconventionally!

That’s the meta stuff.  The textual stuff all came up in WoR.

There are a lot of essays I want to write about Words of Radiance, to be honest.  I think it’s absolutely brilliant, and... I’m gonna be that asshole here and say that I also think a lot of people didn’t get it.  In particular, a lot of people didn’t get Kaladin in this book, and I’m a little touchy about that, ‘cause hey!  complex depression narratives with the kind of halting, nonlinear progression that’s realistic - that means a lot to me.  I’ve seen a lot of negativity towards Kaladin at his low points on WoR which comes off as very shallow - people angry at his decision, however temporary, that Elhokar’s death is necessary.

Here are the things I feel get overlooked the most:

Depression/trauma can’t just get magically fixed and there will be downswings even in a positively-trending healing process

Kaladin has EVERY reason not to trust lighteyes, especially those in power

Kaladin is not privy to information the reader has, to wit:  that Dalinar and Adolin are genuinely good people who can be trusted, and that Elhokar is more clueless than dangerous.

All this links back to Shallan/Shalladin because of those last two points.  A lot of the things about Kaladin’s perspective that get ignored or glossed over have to do with knowledge that the reader has.  (an aside:  there’s an... interesting difference in how the fandom treats Kaladin’s resentment of the upper class vs how it treats Kelsier’s.  The lighteyes are just as abusive of those below them as Luthadel’s nobility... but interestingly, we don’t have a sympathetic Luthadel noble POV in Mistborn:  The Final Empire.  Hmm.)

Anyway, so:  that class thing.  It’s a big deal.

Now, I’ve got no issues with Shallan being a flawed character.  In fact, I love her for it!  She’s got a lot of blindspots, misconceptions, and prejudices to wrestle with, and right now she’s balanced on a knife edge re: whether she unravels them or reinforces them.  I find that fascinating, and I am transfixed by her every rash decision or carefully calculated maybe-misstep.  I look forward to what happens either if she chooses to learn and grow, or if she strays further into the shadows with the Ghostbloods - either way will be a good story.  (As it will be if she continues to struggle in between.)

The thing is that... I think Shallan’s successes tend to overshadow the deeper problems she struggles with, especially in reader perceptions.  She is, generally, fabulously competent in Words of Radiance.  She infiltrates the Ghostbloods, finds Urithiru, charms Tyn and the mercenaries into doing what she wants - she steps out of Jasnah’s shadow and she really does shine.

But she doesn’t allow that light into her own dark places.

Shallan, like Kaladin and probably most Radiants, struggles with past trauma - but she does it differently.  She not only metaphorically locks her past away, she does it explicitly - see ‘Red Carpet, Once White’.  She reinvents herself time and again and not even to Pattern, an actual literal truthspren, does she willingly engage with her past and her secrets.  Kaladin, for all his struggles and steps backwards, is healing.  Shallan is treading water at best.

The chasm scenes illustrate these problems extraordinarily well.

On class:

“It’s the fault of your entire class.  Each time one of us is defrauded, enslaved, beaten, or broken, the blame rests upon all of you who support it.  Even indirectly.” “Oh please,” she said.  “The world isn’t fair?  What a huge revelation!  Some people in power abuse those they have power over?  Amazing!  When did this start happening?”

She then tries to suggest that what he’s gone through isn’t because he’s darkeyed, but because of his personality.

Now, to Shallan’s credit:

“You want a better example of you playing with people beneath you?” Kaladin asked, dodging her question.  “Fine.  You stole my boots.  You pretended to be someone you weren’t and bullied a darkeyed guard you’d barely met.  Is that a good enough example of you playing with someone you saw as beneath you?” She stopped in her tracks.  He was right, there.  She wanted to blame Tyn’s influence, but his comment cut the bite out of her argument.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take her long to go back to insulting... pretty much everything about him.  She gets her good mood back by calling Kaladin stupid:

“I’m really not very witty.  You just happen to be stupid, so it seems that way.  Contrast, remember?” She smiled at him, then continued on her way, humming to herself.  Actually, the day was looking much better.  Why had she been in a bad mood earlier?

Not my girl’s shining moment, this.

There are other bits - her casual dismissal of the idea that parshmen would be replaced by darkeyed slaves (even followed with an apology to Kaladin... yikes?); the fact that she goads him into a conversation about class that he explicitly says he doesn’t want to have; she makes a joke about getting him to carry her and then whipping him and then there’s... this.

Shallan nodded, holding his eyes.  “Yes.  It would be nice if nobody in the world knew of those things, Kaladin Stormblessed.  I agree.  With everything I have.” He saw it in her eyes.  The anguish, the frustration.  The terrible nothing that clawed inside and sought to smother her.  She knew.  It was there, inside.  she had been broken. Then she smiled.  Oh, storms.  She smiled anyway. It was the single most beautiful thing he’d seen in his entire life.

The whole conversation leading up to this (page 848 in hardcover) is actually a really good illustration of their different thinking patterns.  Kaladin takes too much responsibility for his actions; Shallan takes too little.  Kaladin lets the past drag him down, while Shallan brushes it off to her own detriment.  And Kaladin, from his own skewed perspective, seems to perceive Shallan’s deliberate distancing as evidence of recovery.

During the highstorm, they have a sort of honest conversation, which is progress especially for Shallan.  She admits to killing her father, and to the truth of her childhood, and...

He listened with wonder.  Storms.  Why wasn’t this woman broken, truly broken?  She described herself that way, but she was no more broken than a spear with a chipped blade - and a spear like that could still be as sharp a weapon as any.  He preferred one with a score or two on the blade, a worn handle.

Kaladin hears her tell the truth for once, and he still sees recovery.  And to be fair, Shallan has managed a great deal.  She could be in a much worse mental state.  But she’s so, so not okay.

“I hate you,” she whispered, staring into her mother’s dead eyes. “I know.”  Pattern buzzed softly.  “Eventually, you will kill me, and you will have your revenge.” “I don’t want revenge.  I want my family.” Shallan wrapped her arms around herself and buried her head in them, weeping as the illusion bled white smoke, then vanished, leaving her in an empty room.

Shallan is doing well, relatively speaking, and she’s accomplished a lot, but this?  this scene is a giant neon sign pointing to her self-destructive tendencies and weakened foundations.  This is the crumbling of her facade and potentially very, very bad foreshadowing for what might be to come.  To kill Pattern, after all, she’d have to break her Oaths - and we know one of our lead characters is fated to be a destroyer...

The point being:  Shallan is a consummate liar at this point in her life, and Kaladin is still persuaded by some of her deepest lies.  His perception of her feels pedestalized and their relationship, such as it is, is based on falsehoods.  (Granted, so are all of Shallan’s relationships - and personally, I don’t see any romantic entanglement ending well until she confronts, processes, and deals with her issues.  At least another book’s span, if not more.)

Kaladin is in no place to be the kind of supportive partner she needs to move forward, because as we saw, he’s still struggling with his own shit.  Neither do I think he would deal well with necessary revelations about Shallan’s activities with the Ghostbloods, especially if they were romantically involved.  The extra layer of weight and tension that that would bring would just make things worse (not to mention potential conflict with Adolin, a schism that our protagonists really can’t afford).

TL;DR:  I think as a couple Shalladin would be messy and eventually explosive and would likely set both of them back in their personal development.

As for what I would point to as evidence that there is meant to be romantic/sexual tension between them... I collected a few quotes when I was rereading parts for this essay.

There was a sort of rugged handsomeness to the fellow.  Like the beauty of a natural rock formation, as opposed to a fine sculpture like Adolin. But Kaladin’s intensity, that frightened her. 

He stared into her eyes.  So intense.  She felt a shiver meeting that expression.  This was a man of passion.

It has been my experience that this is often shorthand for heterosexual attraction from a female POV.  The ‘frightening intensity’ thing is also a parallel to Dalinar and Navani.

The first hint that Kaladin may be feeling attraction to her is when Shallan makes a joke about kissing Adolin and that ‘dampens his mood’.  This could definitely be read as aroace Kal being salty about romance in general, but...

He was suddenly aware of her pressed against his back.  Holding him, breath warm on his neck.  She trembled, and he thought he could hear in her voice both terror and fascination at their situation.

For now, he wanted to think - though he was still glad for her presence.  And aware of it in more ways than one, pushed against him and wearing the wet, increasingly tattered dress.

This is the physical attraction bit.  That second quote is, IMO, about as close as we’re going to get to Sanderson saying “he had an erection”.  Again, common het shorthand in the word choice here:  ‘aware’ is often used as a euphemism for arousal; warmth and wetness also have sexual connotations, and ‘pushed’ (or ‘pressed’) often appear in scenes amping up sexual tension between a hero and heroine.

I would pull more, but it’s a few lines in a few scenes during the Sanderlanche and I don’t want to slog through that just now.  But... yeah.  As much as I wish it weren’t so, I’m pretty confident in saying Sanderson is implying attraction here.

[rosie-with-knives]

stormlight archive!

Favorite female character: Jasnah. Absolute queen, literally and figuratively, terrifying badass.

Favorite male character: Kaladin. Hes depressed. I relate. Also, hes overcome so much.

Favorite book: Oathbringer. Because of THAT scene. Yup.

Favorite ship: kaladin x happiness, lol

Actual favorite ship: shadolin. Adolin loves every version of Shallan and he understands her, and she him.

A character I'd die defending: they could all slaughter me in a heartbeat lol. But I think I'd protect Renarin first. Not that he'd like it. Or need it, really. Next is Rock.

A character I just cant sympathize with: fuck Moash.

A character I grew to love: Adolin. He drove me a bit crazy at first. Now I'm 100% rooting for him.

My anti otp: kaladin x shallan. They seem like they would almost work, but Kaladin cant see past her facade, and puts her on an unhealthy pedestal. Besides, my boy is obviously ace. He doesnt need a relationship to be happy. Give me my asexual aromantic happy Kaladin, Branderson, I beg you.

[cosmereplay]

@bookish-tardigrade you asked about Shakadolin college aus. Here's a couple that I found for you, ranked by rating:

Take Your Own Advice by coinshotmisting Rated Teen, 5000 words, everyone's at college. It's the first chapter of a coffee shop au set at a college with modern Roshar elements. Fun worldbuilding and fun chemistry!

A Brewing Storm by azurehue22 Rated Mature, 5000 words, Shallan is at college (Adolin is in business and Kaladin is a doctor). The first chapter of a modern Minneapolis au, with a complementary Mistborn fic set in the same setting.

the night i looked at you by SapphicSpren Rated Explicit, 10K words, they're all college students. Set in a modern Roshar and, I cannot stress this enough, INCREDIBLY SEXY. Also in a fun twist, Adolin and Kaladin are already in an established relationship when this getting-together fic starts.

The Call to Adventure by cosmere_play Teen/Mature/Explicit depending on choices, 40K words, Shallan and Kaladin are college students (Adolin's in the oil industry). Set in modern Canada. It's a choose your own adventure style fic where Kaladin decides what kind of relationship he wants to have with Shallan and Adolin, ranging from aromantic to romantic and asexual to very sexual.

---

If you want to expand the search, I know of other college aus that aren't Shakadolin (Kadolin is most popular obviously but there are some other fun ones too--I wrote a fun modern Roshar Rlainarin, for example, and I can think of at least one Kaladin/Renarin, one Cord/Rysn, and one Shallan/Renarin). There are also other Shakadolin fics that are just modern aus.

[cosmereplay]

Stormlight Pride fanfic recs - General/Teen Edition

Happy Pride! Here are some Pride themed Stormlight fanfic recs, General and Teen rated edition!

I got requests for cute KalMoash and any and all aroace Kaladin fics, so those are on top.

Here’s an aroace Kaladin to start, and it’s not just one of my favourites because I wrote it: The Wisdom of Horses by cosmere_play Rated Teen, 6000 words, vaguely RoW maybe? Bi Adolin has been crushing on ace Kaladin, and they both come to terms with their feelings.

An aromantic Kaladin! (please don't) say you love me by werealldreaming Rated Teen, 1000 words, college AU Adolin kisses Kaladin, and Kaladin stops him.

Cute KalMoash doesn’t have a ton of options, but I do think this one fits the bill: Moash trying to figure out his feelings by Axji_cancry2 Rated General (but I think it’s more Teen as there is one brief mention of sexuality), 6000 words, WoR era Moash slowly comes to terms with his feelings for Kaladin.

Now for some ladies! Raboniel/Leshwi, anyone? beautifully struggle, every day by shalash Rated General, 4000 words, RoW spoilers. Following Raboniel and Leshwi’s relationship through thousands of years of war and madness.

Shallan pining for Jasnah? Why, it’s canon, isn’t it? Three Meetings by Truthwatcher_Vez Rated Teen, 5000 words, vague Oathbringer spoilers. A modern high school AU where Shallan, a sophomore (grade 10) keeps running into Jasnah, a senior (grade 12), and develops a crush that goes unresolved. 

A romantic pairing for a couple lucky Windrunner ladies: When You’re With Me, I Can Soar by cosmere_play Rated Teen, 3000 words, RoW era Lyn had a recent breakup, and she really wants to court Laran. But would it be dishonourable to ask her out so soon?

More overt romance, this time for Cord and Rysn: Lovesick Lowlander by TrishHankins Rated Teen, 2000 words, Dawnshard era Rysn is TRYING to court Cord but it’s not working

Let’s mix it up with some gender goodness: are you like me? by werealldreaming (Restricted to registered ao3 users) Rated General, 2000 words, RoW era Lift and Ral-Na talk gender, and they discover similarities and differences in their experiences.

We can show some love to polyamory! In the Flesh? by BlindRadiant Rated General, 2000 words, post-OB Kaladin agrees to spend some quality snuggle time with Adolin and Shallan

And to finish it off with a parade, Urithiru Pride! Urithiru Pride by BlindRadiant Rated General, 1000 words. Urithiru holds its first Pride, and Skybreakers aren’t allowed.

If you want more gender goodness (and don't mind looking for the ratings you prefer), check out this previous post of Stormlight gender fic recs.

If you like these fics, give a kudos, leave a comment, and/or share your recs with your mutuals, it means the world to us fic writers!

(Looking for the Mature/Explicit rated version? Click here!)