#TPN S1e03

[fullscoreshenanigans]

This is another unintentional funny line because Norman is like “I clocked your dumbass the second Krone showed up” to sort of rub in how could Ray ever even think to betray them. As if he wouldn’t notice.

And for the most part, he keeps his cool about it during the two weeks prior to confronting Ray.

But when he lets the mask slip the tiniest bit—

#he is 𝑺𝑶 fucking funny #just the angriest little man trying to keep it together in the face of the dystopic reality he lives in #this reads like 𝘈 𝘚𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 strip if you take out the second pic in the lineup; just needs some alt text #The Promised Neverland #Yakusoku no Neverland #TPN #Norray #TPN Norman #TPN Ray #Norman #Ray #TPN S1 #TPN S1e03 #TPN S1e04 #TPN S1e05 #Escape Arc #TPN 028 #Pre-Canon #TPN 181.1 #FSS Shenanigans #watching ep3-4 thinking of all the angry and smarmy thoughts running through his head is gr8 #he would not have this kind of a reaction if he didn't genuinely trust and love him (in whatever way one chooses to interpret said love) #meanwhile Ray in the second pic‚ internally: man why did i bring this mug out here now i'm responsible for a whole-ass mug #him purposefully positioning himself on their rights in these situations so his fringe can block them from seeing his face dlkfjls #Happy Bby Norray Hours 🤍🖤 #adore the little bobblehead look Demizu's art has when they're younger it's so cute

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Canon-divergent AU concept inspired by:

Me hating that Andrew’s visit to Grace Field in chapter 100 amounted to nothing after he antagonized the kids in chapter 111 about how he talked with Phil.

Feeling like out of the full score trio, Norman interacts with Phil the least

So instead, Andrew brings Phil to Lambda, mostly as a security measure to keep the secret of Grace Field a secret if Phil does know anything while doubling as a way to keep Norman in check, but also for any potential data they could acquire from him (he was scoring around where Don and Gilda usually are in the 190s/200s while just starting the tests at four) and not wanting potential premium-grade meat to go to waste years before he turns six. The detrimental effects of Lambda on one’s psyche would be bound to affect him, but they’re outweighed by the benefits of keeping him there.

I imagine they would still would still keep the two largely isolated like Norman is in canon, but once or twice a week they would have one-hour observed visits with each other (I default to them playing chess during this time) to keep Phil’s spirits up and as a reminder for Norman the leverage they have over him without having to say a word.

So then on top of the hatred already festering inside of Norman in canon, you have the added layer of them bringing his four-year-old brother into this living hell which he wouldn’t wish on any of his fellow cattle children, not even with the knowledge that Phil brings about the escape being a success and Ray’s suicide attempt being thwarted. Seeing the loving, youthful ebullience drained from Phil, no matter how hard he would try to keep up the same cheerful facade he put on at Grace Field after the escape for Norman because he didn’t want to make him worry, would gnaw at him and solidify his resolve even more.

When Lambda is finally destroyed, Phil is much more subdued and doesn’t talk much, even when he’s alone with Norman, so details of Norman’s life pre-Lambda remain a mystery to the rest of the cattle children who have been freed, but the Lambda gang does have another child to adore and protect at all costs.

tl;dr underexplored dynamic would like to see more of it and like the thought of the Lambda gang being their overprotective selves toward Phil

#god i love that screencap of them from S1e03 it looks like they're poking their head out of a fort they made or something #The Promised Neverland #Yakusoku no Neverland #TPN #YnN #Norman 22194 #TPN Norman #YnN Norman #Phil 34394 #TPN Phil #YnN Phil #TPN AU #Escape Arc #TPN 030 #Cuvitidala Arc #TPN 100 #FSS Chatter #Norman #Phil #Big Bro Norman Tag #me dumping this without thinking of all the fallout and ramifications of it but i'm curious if someone's already done this/wrote fic for it #my memory could be off but i swear they get the least amount of time together #and with how Emma's the main one Ray also receives a lot of association with him as a secret holder of Grace Field #so there's that connection for them and I feel like there's not as much for Norman & Phil that's talked about‚ at least from what I've seen #tangent but do you ever think about how mad Ray probably was that the older kids left that burden on Phil's shoulders #like he gets why they did it but god that must have hurt #Phil suffering there alone while having to keep up a front for his new Mom and siblings #at least Ray didn't have to worry about that with Isabella and he eventually had Emma‚ Norman‚ Don‚ and Gilda for support #again he gets why but he also can't believe they would do that to Phil but he's lived it so he's biased/has that personal insight