#perhaps sophie and biana would've been another adequate pairing as they're friends and we do see them share a bed later

[bookwyrminspiration]

When Keefe and Dex have share their lufterator (I think it’s page 59 of Neverseen), while I do admit it’s great Keefex content, why?? Didn’t?? Della?? And Biana?? Share??? It’s not really Biana’s fault but Della definitely brought this on herself and she should have to deal with any inconveniences she causes. Maybe adults use too much more air but Biana and Fitz are still siblings?? Poor Dex was literally the only reason they were able to keep going and then he had to suffer for it?

My assumption is that their sharing of the lufterator was mostly chosen because it was fun and a brief enough scene that it didn't impact much afterwards--and it lent itself to a few jokes afterwards like the one Keefe made about sharing air with a guy and then the guy trying to get you punched. Additionally, there could be some "it's Dex's never before tested alterations to a lufterator being put to use, he shouldn't make anyone else take that risk" logic there. It ended up working, but in the event something went wrong it seems fair he'd receive the repercussions (not that he deserves to drown, just that it's his thing he altered).

It also was a more natural series of conversation as both Dex and Keefe had talked about sharing with Sophie, but Sophie didn't want to share, so why not just take the two of them and pair them with each other! They'd already expressed partial willingness to share, which was more than anyone else had said.

I do think that if it were a more realistic scenario where we were evaluating the impact of Della being a stowaway versus using it as more of a reveal, then she absolutely should've been the one to share the lufterator. She's the one who stowed away on their trip, she's the one disrupting everything, it's only fair that in doing so any compromises or uncomfortable scenarios fall to her.

I'm not sure Biana is deserving of the same, at least not to the extent that the responsibility falls on Della. She was an accomplice and did agree to keep Della's secret, but it's not her fault or responsibility that Della is there. She didn't ask her to come along and was only aware of her presence because Della needed to use her to get there. She's more complicit than the rest of her friends, but the situation isn't her fault.

Given the closeness of Della and Biana they'd probably be one of the most comfortable pairings, contended only by Fitz and Biana, who would tease each other but otherwise be fine. Fitz and Keefe would make it work, but ultimately bicker in a similar fashion to Dex and Keefe, and Sophie would be anxious in any pairing.

I think perhaps another reasonable pairing would be for Della and Mr. Forkle to share. Della because her being there is her responsibility, and Mr. Forkle because he's the one in charge of the situation and bringing everyone to the Black Swan and disrupting their lives. Additionally, it is an untested lufterator and the kids are more important, so both adults taking the risk/discomfort to accomodate the kids is something you generally see good adults doing. Not even just adults, it's just something older people tend to do for those younger than them as a courtesy. However for the same reason of him being in charge, we could argue that he shouldn't share so he's more available to guide everyone.

My overall conclusion from this is that while in terms of consequences, it makes most sense for Della to have to share, paired with either Biana or Mr. Forkle, the scene doesn't have much impact. It's a chance to put some humor into an otherwise serious situation, and that's a great way to use it!