What’s better than one favorite fictional character to love? Two of them, of course! While squads tend get a lot of love and attention, I feel like people overlook the dynamic duo. But no more!
Trios, too, tend to get a lot of attention for some reason. Why? Hasn’t anyone ever heard that three’s a crowd? Or the whole thing about a third wheel? Yet, they seem even more popular than duos. Pffft.
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is dynamic duos. It’s probably no surprise at all that my favorite fictional duos involve snark, banter, or a healthy combination of the two.
I mean, what’s the point of a dynamic duo if they’re not . . . y’know, dynamic. I love me some banter, and if it’s sarcastic, all the better. When I originally sat down to write this, all the duos on here were fictional, but I quickly realized that not all of my favorite literary duos are fictional. So I had to amend it just a little bit, but I think you’ll agree that it was worth it. So let’s meet these duos!
Amber Ruffin &Lacey Lamar
You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey
Dynamic Duo Classification: Siblings
I figured I wouldn’t leave you in suspense and I might as well go ahead and open with my favorite non-fictional duo. While they’re larger than life (and some of their stories might seem a little unbelievable), sisters Amber and Lacey make a killer duo in their nonfiction book. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the authors, and I can’t recommend it enough! They cracked me up, even while they were talking about tough, serious topics. I want about five more books in this series, please. I don’t even care what the subject is, I just want these women to spitball off of each other for my entertainment. Is that selfish? Yes. Do I care? Not in the least bit.
Lacey’s being a shoplifter sure comes as a surprise to me because I know her and she would rather lose an eye than break the rules. And not only does neither of us have the ability to shoplift, but if Mom ever thought we were shoplifting, we would have to straight-up find a new family. She would explain that her love for you was purely biological at this point and throw you into the sea. If you made it to shore safely, you could live, but not with her.
Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne
Dynamic Duo Classification: Accidental Outlaws
Where do I even start with these two? So Scarlett is a very capable, super tough, badass outlaw who knows what she wants and exactly how to take it. She doesn’t apologize for being good at what she does, just keeps on doing her thing. And Albert is . . . mmm . . . Albert. Utterly adorable, but slightly hopeless, likely to die any minute from tripping over his own feet . . . and oh yeah, harboring a dangerous secret. They’re not exactly partners by choice, rather just two humans who happen to have angry people shooting at them jointly a lot . . . for some reason. Their dynamic is fast-paced and fun, filled with danger, and utterly addictive.
Scarlett strode over and prodded him, not gently, with a boot.
“Get up.”
“Already? But, Scarlett, I have only just collapsed. I have conducted great exertions just now, helping waft us both to shore.”
“You did bugger all. The log kicked harder than you. Get up. I’m not talking to you lying down there.”
Halla and Sarkis
Swordheart
Dynamic Duo Classification: Old Married Couple
Okay, okay, technically Halla and Sarkis aren’t married. Or a couple. They’re actually not even really that old. Well, Halla isn’t, anyway. Sarkis is . . . special. “Old married couple” is definitely the vibe they give off, though, and it’s one that I live for! I love books with older protagonists, whose adventure doesn’t end when they turn twenty. Not only are both of these protagonists older (one more so than the other), but they’re also sufficiently experienced in the ways of the world and sufficiently cynical, as one might expect. But they’re still entirely awkward and hopeless with each other, which is also a dynamic I love. Because it doesn’t matter how old you get, flirting and romance is hard, especially if you haven’t had much experience with it.
“That’s…that’s very sweet. Thank you.”
“I am not sweet. Did I mention that I’ve fought dragons?”
“Yes, but you also mentioned that it was mostly unsuccessfully.”
Nick Bell and Aaron Bell
The Extraordinaries
Dynamic Duo Classification: Parental
Sometimes . . . just sometimes . . . dynamic duos can actually include . . . *looks around before whispering* parents. Weird, right? I mean, who wants to hang out with their parent? Pffft. What I love about Nick and Aaron, though, is that Aaron is not only a single father but one who does his absolute best raising his son, who can best be described as a ball of ADHD and impulsivity. Who happens to like boys. Which is a sex talk that Aaron isn’t entirely prepared for, but he’s done his research, at the very least, and anyway, the message is mostly the same regardless. Just wrap it, okay?! Or make them wrap it. Really, it’s two sex talks in one.
ANYWAY, my point is that this is a parent/child dynamic that I absolutely live for. Aaron isn’t perfect, as Nick finds out in the second book, but gosh darn it, he’s doing his utmost best, and adults are people who are still learning and growing too.
“Cap looks like he could use a vacation,” Nick said without looking away from the TV.
“We all do, kid,” Dad said. “Maybe next time he comes over for dinner, you can tell him that. See what happens.”
“I did last time. He laughed at me.”
“That’s because it was a dumb thing to say.”
“Positive reinforcement,” Nick reminded him.
“Right. Sorry. It was a dumb thing to say, but you used your words. Proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
Maggie and Nate
The Mutant Mushroom Takeover
Dynamic Duo Classification: Paranormal Hunters
How many of us have friends that we can say would help us go hunt Bigfoot, hmm? Or find out what the heck the creepy business in the woods is? I mean, not me. Nuh-uh. I will never be that friend. You want to investigate something creepy in the woods, you’re on your own. I’ve seen this movie too many times before. Lucky for us, that is not the case for Nate and Maggie. Maggie is the science part of the duo. She loves everything to do with science and enjoys employing the scientific method to problem solving. Nate, on the other hand, is the techy guy with a penchant for urban legends and the paranormal. The dynamic between them is golden, and they support each other, even if they don’t fully understand each other. In the end, that’s really what matters, isn’t it?
“Assuming I make it that long.”
I slide over to Nate and put my gloved hands around his. “Of course you’re going to make it. Can you imagine how boring my life would be without you? I’d probably end up ironing Gramma’s dish towels all day with no one to talk to except Pascal. And he only has so much patience for my science.”
Nate grins. “He’d probably poop on your research just to shut you up.”
“Definitely. Cats are petty like that.”
“And nobody takes poo-covered research seriously.”
“They really don’t,” I say.
Alessandra and the Shadow King
The Shadows Between Us
Dynamic Duo Classification: Slytherin Romance
Not all romances can be all rainbows and butterflies, okay? Sometimes romance involves swords and backstabbing, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Okay, maybe there are a few things wrong with that, but I’m still here for it. In this case, Alessandra and the Shadow King are perfect for each other. They’re both just as shifty and Slytheriny (is that a word?) as each other, and they’re both playing a long game. So it works! Ahhh, young love. You know, that brief moment in a relationship where you get to laugh at other people’s pain together. Isn’t it romantic?
A silence builds, as we both think about the obvious. We’re naked. In a lake. Doing nothing untoward.
How is this my life right now?
I need to say something else. But all of the topics racing through my mind are terribly inappropriate.
“Are you a virgin?” I ask.
Well done, Alessandra.
Sinéad and Heather
Magic, Murder & Mistletoe
Dynamic Duo Classification: Snarky Witch
Technically . . . technically . . . only one of these two are a witch. The other is a sorcerer. If you want to know the difference, you’ll have to read it and find out. In any case, both of these women are accused of being suspects of a crime because they were the only two magic users in attendance. So of course they did it. Begrudgingly, they work together only to clear their own names, which is fine. Their snark and banter is anything but begrudging, and I love it. I am 100% here for this dynamic.
Samantha Knox and Bennett
Curse of the Specter Queen
Dynamic Duo Classification: Mystery Sleuths
You know, the sort that have history. It’s obviously not entirely good history or it wouldn’t be history. So they’re not exactly thrilled at being forced to travel together. You can maybe tell in the way they’re always snarking at each other. Really, though, that just means they love each other, right?! Pretty sure that’s what snark means. To be fair, Sam isn’t exactly thrilled at being forced to travel at all, since she just wants to stay with her lovely books and avoid people at all costs. And who could blame her? Sounds like a solid plan to me. So if she gets a little fed up at Bennett from time to time, with his overprotectiveness and insistence he knows everything, who could really blame her?
“There were some we disagreed on.”
“Because you were wrong,” Sam murmured without thinking, crossing off a letter from one of the survey sheets. She paused, realizing she’d spoken out loud, and turned bright pink. “I mean . . .”
But Joana’s uproarious laughter cut across her attempt to backtrack. “Just like the old days, isn’t it, brother? Tell me again, which of the Plinys died when Vesuvius erupted?”
Sam groaned. “Don’t bring it up.”
“That was an honest mistake,” Bennett grumbled.
“An honest mistake that cost us three days and ended with you getting pneumonia because you insisted on diving in the swimming pond after a snow squall to prove you weren’t wrong,” Joana said. “Mama had to stay home to take care of you while Daddy went to Greece. I’ve never seen her more furious. She scalded your tea every time out of spite.”
Charley and Rob Sutherland
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
Dynamic Duo Classification: Begrudging Brothers
Charley and Rob didn’t ask to be brothers. And why would they? They couldn’t be more dissimilar. Charley is utterly and entirely obsessed with books and literature, and Rob . . . has a life. One he’s quite happy with, thanks, which his brother keeps disrupting with his inability to adult and his secrets. But still, at the end of the day, they are brothers, and Rob would do anything for his younger brother. Even if Charley drives him absolutely bonkers (which he does). Because that’s just what brothers do.
“Rob told me to.”
“I didn’t mean for you to do it,” I protested, finally finding my voice. “You don’t have to take everything so literally. What are you, six?”
Gideon the Ninth and Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Gideon the Ninth
Dynamic Duo Classification: Frenemies
I can’t decide which side this one falls more on, the friends or the enemies part. I mean, sometimes friends daydream of brutally murdering one another, right? It happens. This dynamic absolutely cracks me up, because as much as they want to be done with each other, Gideon and Harrow need each other. Which they extremely resent, because the last thing they want is to admit to needing the other. Friendship is complicated. Frenemyship is even more complicated. But I love it anyway.
“Nonagesimus,” she said slowly, “the only job I’d do for you would be if you wanted someone to hold the sword as you fell on it. The only job I’d do for you would be if you wanted your ass kicked so hard, the Locked Tomb opened and a parade came out to sing, ‘Lo! A destructed ass’ The only job I’d do would be if you wanted me to spot you while you backflipped off the top tier into Drearburh.”
“That’s three jobs,” said Harrowhark.
“Die in a fire, Nonagesimus.”
