Ask HN: Working environment with Mac and Linux

I have an MBP with a Linux VM. My monitor is a Thunderbolt display. I would like to change to the following environment:

- Add a Linux laptop (looking seriously at a System 76 Galago Pro).

- Keep the MBP for Mac development, syncing my iPhone, iTunes, etc. (Get rid of the VM.)

- Have ONE keyboard/mouse combination, and use it for both Linux and Mac.

- Keep the Thunderbolt display or replace it with another 27" monitor plugged into the Linux machine, either is fine.

- On the Linux machine, use both the laptop screen and the 27" monitor.

So this seems to present two options: 1) Plug monitor/keyboard/mouse into Mac, VNC to Linux. 2) Plug monitor/keyboard/mouse into Linux, VNC to Mac.

The problem is that I can't get Mac screen sharing or VNC to work in either direction.

I'm looking for advice on how to make this work, or alternatives I hadn't considered.