hi hi ! let's go with 4 and 25 for noriko and naomi; 18 and 21 for kikou; 9 for noriko and kou; 26 for nana and kaname.
wait, mariam, i forgot one- 20 for naomi and kiku! and while we're at it, 9 for them too~
hiii res tysm for sending!! <333 going to combine them all in one~
4. how would they describe each other if asked? physically? in personality?
noriko: stepped right out of a ukiyoe print onto the paris fashion week runway. she's a popsicle—ice cold, you bite too fast, oh shit, brain freeze—easier if you're patient, but you'll still catch your teeth on the hard spine underneath. but man, she's cute, crack her open just so and she'll start going off about the beatles toxic yaoi.
naomi: piercings. (what's the first thing gojo noticed about geto: his bangs. same energy) she is rather fond of technology, so—i liken her to a sleek motorcycle decorated with the most absurdly colored stickers. she's loud, confident, takes up space—a bose surround sound speaker system. shall i keep going?
25. if a stranger saw them together, how would they describe their relationship?
a cheery knight out on a jaunt with the haughty princess. she refuses every attempt at chivalry. noriko can't resist holding open doors for her, after you, my lady, really playing up the part.
18. do they view their relationship as temporary or permanent?
wow.......................this question goes right for the jugular
kou, with all things, has a 'whatever happens, happens' attitude while kiku is like 'i'm going to make this happen i'm going to break the cycle' while shaking in cold sweat. they both of course really want this to be something that lasts, especially as the years go by and they feel fully cemented with each other, like it's only natural this is how things should be. alas, kiku's side of things introduces a lot of...complications. not even the most obvious obstacle but just. the classism. it's tough! in my head though they persevere :')
21. what is their worst memory together?
these questions............you're choosing violence i see how it is
i've actually never seriously thought about it before until now. in very nebulous fragments in my mind i see them going through a tough spell after they manage to make a new life for themselves away from their families, maybe they bit off more than they could chew, tensions arise, did you really think this through, etc. but again, it's not the Worst, just a rough patch.
what i think is more probable, though, and what i see more clearly, is related to the previous question .... i think it really tests everything they have in them, turning it into something permanent, crossing that final hurdle. tensions run rampant. it's when their personalities clash against each other the most. making a stand is antithetical to kiku’s modus operandi (because he knows, he knows so clearly what will happen if he is upfront about the future he has in mind for himself, there's no point in trying, he's terrified of his worst thoughts coming to fruition) but kou argues if he is serious, if he is committed, he’ll stand up for them without a second thought—if you tried and it didn't work out, at least you tried, you can't live with the regret of never having tried. he is gentle but firm with him. i know it's hard, but you have to make a decision. if it never worked out..........kiku would be heartbroken, just absolutely crushed, while i can see kou slowly, eventually bouncing back from it, letting their time together fossilize over his heart, forever a beautiful part of him. wow that was devastating to type out 👍
9. what is one quality they have in common?
they are both pathological people pleasers. nowhere is this more apparent than in their relationship with their parents....We Cannot Disappoint Our Parents Who Have Provided For Us A Way Of Life That Most Other People Dream Of. they are keenly aware of their privilege because their parents always made sure to point it out while they were growing up—to humble them, to keep them in line. it's a delicious mix of gratitude and guilt and resentment—that they don't ever have to worry for anything, that nothing they do will ever measure up to what they've been given (with great privilege comes great expectations), that their parents were away so often for work, they never really got to spend any Quality time together. it's a lot! they are doormats when it comes to their parents, letting them step over them, tamping down on anything too raw and vulnerable.....not even for a smidgen of approval, but just to uphold the peace. this did wonders for developing their personalities :) they have the same issue manifested differently—naomi is an expert in passive aggression while kiku skirts and dodges around the truth.
interestingly enough, though, kiku—whose desires clash heavily with the front he puts on (honne vs tatemae)—actually acts on his desires instead of quietly pushing them aside, and that's what ultimately differentiates him and naomi. it's not that naomi doesn't want things, kiku just Really Wants It More, and he resists it at the start, of course he does, but he can't help who he is and what he wants, and kou....well, even the most stubborn bud blossoms around him. there's a thrill in doing so, in keeping a secret, in engaging in even more furtive pleasures within these confines. he never outright disobeys his parents, but there's the thrill of going against them this way. obsessed with the image of polite, obedient-to-a-fault kiku pointedly ignoring the messages on his phone—reminding him not to be late for dinner—since he's too busy making out with kou <3 also slightly obsessed with honne and tatemae brushing against each other at the dinner table as he discreetly adjusts his collar to hide the bruise on his collarbone.
on a lighter note, they both have impeccable taste in clothing, owing to their mother. you will Not catch them slacking in that department, they have a good eye for aesthetics.
20. what is their best memory together?
:') this is like having to choose a best memory with my siblings, it's literally impossible, they're like beads on a string. one highlight is when they cook together for the first time and it's a disaster bc for once they're both on the same ground, both equally helpless, oh god this is pathetic we have to at least get the basics under our belts. tamagoyaki leads them to near tears and a newfound appreciation for their mother.
9. what is a quality they have in common?
they are both very confident and self assured people who won't hesitate to speak their minds. they have a strong, healthy friendship because they communicate on a regular basis, there's no hiding or beating around the bush, and i think because of this, when they have fights, it can get particularly nasty, because they can both be ruthless.
26. how would these characters react to being stuck in a small room with each other?
kaname's immediate reaction is to try and kick down the door, smash the handle. there is nothing worse than being in close quarters with someone who might just get a glimpse of something real and vulnerable skating across her surface. nana trails after her. 'is this helpful? does this make you feel better?' kaname's cursing at her split knuckle. 'shitfuckgoddamn.' / 'we’re here for a while, so let's make the most of our time. we have to stick together, kane-chan.' / 'it's a locked room. we are in a locked room, dimwit.' / 'come on, lay your head in my lap, i'll tell you a story to pass the time.' cue grumbling and mumbling and eventual acquiescence. she's a dog after all. it's instinctive to obey.
