#《 Dale's self-invented nicknames are...something 》

[tuesdayscanons]

Related to the previous post—Once Dale and Dev learn to communicate better, Dale would create a spreadsheet of terms of endearment based on "acceptability" (ie. can use in front of everyone, only in private, or not use at all) and ask Dev to update it with his preferences so Dale can just check the spreadsheet instead of dying inside whenever he defaults to something. There's certain nicknames Dale would be crushed to find in the "do not use at all" category (Bubs is the one that comes the most easily to him), but he will be willing to oblige if it means Dev is happy.

The sappier nicknames were ones Dale learned from his mother in the brief time she was around. She was more willing to show verbal affection than Doug. Not like Doug wouldn't have nicknames for Dale (basically stuff like champ, kid, sport, etc.), but Dale would only use those for Dev if he felt awkward/was purposely trying to keep himself at a distance from Dev.

Dale would also try to come up with nicknames based on Dev's full first name (Velly, Velcro, Mentos, etc.) but I highly doubt any of them would stick because it's hard to make "Development" sound cute.

Speaking of—I feel like Development was a placeholder name back when Dale was figuring out the cloning process, something discreet that doesn't scream "I'm making an heir to the Dimmadome family fortune", but he was so overwhelmed with responsibilities that he didn't have time or energy to give Dev a proper name and now he has a 10 year old son named Development Devin Dimmadome. Dev's middle name is what Dale probably would've went with anyway.