*slams door open* I have more ships for you! GrimmHime, NanaKen (this one comes with a fic rec "Love and the Art of War" on ff net) HitsuHina and IshiNemu
when I started shipping it if I did:
When Grimmjow saved Orihime from Loly and Menoly. I mean, it was a pretty… rough situation and sort of cemented that neither Loly and Menoly *or* Grimmjow, not even Ulquiorra were able to behave decently towards her so I’m not even sure who I would root for, but probably Grimmjow overall, that’s the odd decision I came to about it. What I’m saying is I was conflicted despite ultimately being an ulquihime shipper.
Not half bad, I autonomously considered shipping it in some moments. I don’t exactly remember all interactions so I won’t say something like “Grimmjow was nice to her” but I do recall noticing he wasn’t *as bad as he could have been* — which, for arrancars, is already *a lot*. It has a very classic delinquent/ray of sunshine vibe. The way it could work is pretty much the same as all the other Orihime/person who’s kind of a dick ships, with her employing a lot of patience.
What makes me happy about them:
The chivalry, in a cheesy way I didn’t expect from myself. Grimmjow asking Orihime to heal him also had something weirdly cute about it. (Yes, I know he incinerated someone two seconds after one of those instances and then started laughing maniacally. It doesn’t exclude cuteness.)
What makes me sad about them:
I don’t see it as particularly tragic; I guess maybe the fact that Grimmjow is emotionally constipated so it has a small chance of developing as a relationship?
things done in fanfic that annoys me:
Grimmjow simply being an asshole without any nuance to it; or spiteshipping it as if it was a better option than ulquihime in any reasonable way.
things I look for in fanfic:
If I looked for one, I think I’d prefer it slow-burn.
Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:
Grimmichi and ulquihime mainly.
My happily ever after for them:
Grimmjow somehow ending up in the Orihime Protection Squad inadvertently even if his rationale eternally remains “You need to stay alive to heal me so I can fight Kurosaki Ichigo” but then it sort of becomes Grimmjow hanging out in Hueco Mundo and sometimes checking in to the WotL, going up to Orihime like “…If some hollow is giving you a hard time just give me a heads-up… Because it’s important that you stay alive… To heal me and Kurosaki of course… But really just say the word…”
who is the big spoon/little spoon:
Big spoon Orihime? Maybe?
what is their favorite non-sexual activity:
There was one specific panel from the TYBW arc where Orihime says it feels nice to be in Hueco Mundo saving arrancars and even though I’m detaching it from the context I like to think she’d enjoy helping out with the reconstructions there after the canon events have settled. I can imagine them walking around in HM with Orihime being the local healer/person who puts back together stuff that got destroyed, like some weird adventure quest Grimmjow only participates in to beat up anyone who’s still wreaking havoc; maybe Nelliel would tag along, or Harribel if she already got rescued from wherever they put her?
when I started shipping it if I did:
After reading that fic I did a little bit ahahaha.
Okay, this *definitely* required a lot of creativity on the part of whoever came up with it, but that was a funny fic and afterwards I went “yeah, this could work, I guess”. I like the idea of Nanao being Yachiru’s surrogate mom, I thought that would be the direction the whole thing would go in. She’s also very level-headed, which I guess means she wouldn’t piss Kenpachi off as much as most other people you could ship him with.
What makes me happy about them:
Kenpachi dating anyone would be good for him, I mean, assuming he’s psychologically salvageable.
What makes me sad about them:
Nanao has the whole curse thing going on and it’s always going to be an issue in ships with her and guys… Though I’m pretty sure Kenpachi would also find the notion nonsensical. “So a curse is going to kill me…? It can try.”
things done in fanfic that annoys me:
That one fic was the only one I’ve ever read of them and nothing about it annoyed me.
things I look for in fanfic:
Kenpachi attempting romanticism in a really awkward and grotesque way that involves many references to murder.
Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:
No particular preference for either of them!
My happily ever after for them:
Something along the lines of Kenpachi reevaluating his own and Squad 11’s views about kido because of Nanao. They’d just have this casual, surprisingly normal, unlikely relationship and continue on fulfilling their duties in the Gotei 13 as always.
who is the big spoon/little spoon:
Kenpachi is *not* physically made for spooning. He’s too big. I don’t think anyone would be able to reach around him without having their face in the middle of his back, and if he wrapped himself around someone, he’d either crush or suffocate them inadvertently. Considering Nanao isn’t even above average height and weight, they need to find a different sleeping position.
what is their favorite non-sexual activity:
I liked the headcanon in the fic where they talked about war manuals but I can also see them looking after Yachiru — I mean, they already do that in canon separately, maybe they could do it together.
when I started shipping it if I did:
During Aizen’s betrayal or maybe right after?
It’s an alright ship, I can see it. Though as soon as I began thinking about how it would play out, I made it angsty for myself… I think Hitsugaya has a bit of an inferiority complex due to being so young (or young-looking?), never being satisfied with himself and automatically assuming that his crush on Hinamori is unrequited and she can’t see past their childhood friendship, even if it wasn’t the case. Plus the attachment between these two was specifically targeted by the Aizen-cabal *several times* and even if they both know it was manipulation, it’d probably leave an impact, especially with Hitsugaya’s sense of guilt. They could be a good example of the nature of a relationship between two people changing gradually, I think.
What makes me happy about them:
Hitsugaya being very protective of Hinamori. I mean, it was cute.
What makes me sad about them:
There’s plenty. Besides what I already listed, perhaps the biggest problem is Hinamori’s infatuation (sort of?) for Aizen being difficult to eradicate, more subconsciously than consciously. I’ll keep saying it; that was one of the most well-portrayed things in Bleach. Doesn’t help that Hitsugaya seems like the type of person who takes others’ feelings into deep consideration — especially Hinamori’s — and he’d have a looming fear that he’s never going to be as important to her as Aizen was, even if they’re both fully aware that Aizen is awful. It’s that impression that makes people starstruck that Hitsugaya is too much of an honest person to achieve, and it’d hurt him *a lot*. Again, these are irrational feelings, I just think it’s how it’d realistically play out.
things done in fanfic that annoys me:
Haven’t really read any, but I’ll take the occasion to mention how it always weirded me out how excessively horny people were for Hitsugaya. I just needed to vent this.
things I look for in fanfic:
My personal interpretation of their relationship, which I just outlined. I’m not sure anyone would ever write it except for me though.
Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:
Hinamori; with Rangiku maybe? Shinji would be more of a brotp for her. Hitsugaya is one of those characters I never really thought up ships for. Can I mention the Zanpakuto Rebellion fillers? I won’t, ok, ok.
My happily ever after for them:
What they have now is happy enough, I think.
who is the big spoon/little spoon:
Hitsugaya just has this… need to be a big spoon. Hinamori lets him so he feels good about himself. He needs proof that his height doesn’t matter.
what is their favorite non-sexual activity:
Whatever games they used to play when they were living together as kids, they sort of nostalgically regress to those times on occasion. It’s also somewhat of a canon fact that Hitsugaya loves using his zanpakuto for silly things (he allegedly makes ice statues with it in his free time and it’s a popular exhibit….) so I can imagine the two of them just messing around with it, freezing large bodies of water to skate on or something.
when I started shipping it if I did:
End of the Ishida vs Mayuri fight in the Soul Society arc is when I could see it.
Genuinely kindhearted person + artificially created being who finally understands genuine love type ships? Good. Also Nemu needs to be saved from Mayuri’s slimy paws.
What makes me happy about them:
I like it as a concept that Nemu would get to know someone drastically different from Mayuri, because Ishida is pretty much his opposite with his strictness about morality and the chivalrous attitude he has towards girls in particular. Also the fact that despite it adhering to the tropes, it’s not a typical ‘helpless girl who gets saved from under someone’s thumb falls in love with her benefactor’ kind of deal because Nemu could probably drill someone in half in cold blood. I just like how they’re both a very, I guess, emotional couple and a great potential fighting duo.
What makes me sad about them:
That it’s going to be really difficult to create a healthy mindset in Nemu since she never had the chance to develop one. I do think Ishida has the patience and loyalty though.
things done in fanfic that annoys me:
For some reason I feel like it’s difficult to make this ship annoying?
things I look for in fanfic:
Nemu doing mildly creepy things as if they were natural, for laughs. Also the two of them having intellectual convos because Nemu *has to* know a lot about science.
Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:
For Ishida, I kinda like ichiishi, ishihime and renishi. Haven’t thought about who else to ship Nemu with just yet but I can see a lot of interesting possibilities arising.
My happily ever after for them:
Mainly Nemu being far away from Mayuri, just as a prerequisite… But also, they open up a tailor shop together. Let Ishida sew!
who is the big spoon/little spoon:
what is their favorite non-sexual activity:
Nemu acting as a walking flash card for Ishida’s university exams. (He’s probably the type of person who barely has free time because of his studies…)
Ship meme: tiny.cc/dxee7y