I need to feel happy and need to post more about NIV (Read it here), so I'm doing a headcanon dump for Tigris and Tak:
- I'll acknowledge that they're both a bit messed up attachment-wise because they're both a little desperate for some warm affection; in the prequel, Seiko calls Tak unusual for seeking warmth and acceptance in a lover rather than thrill (In his defense, while not totally platonic, their relationship as a married couple isn't exactly warm and fuzzy), and Tigris... The poor girl spent half her life having to be "the adult" and didn't even get a lot of love or gratitude from her family... And do I even need to bring up the prostitution?
- They technically met when Tak went to Fabricia's shop to have dresses made for his daughters. It wasn't love at first sight at all, but she did make a good impression by being good with the girls. Maybe he thought she was kind of pretty but nothing beyond that. He was simply a higher up customer to her.
- Tak started to dress a little better when he and Tigris started getting close. It wasn't that his previous style was awful, just kind of generic, slightly dated, and a little obvious he was trying hard to fit in. Not only was he taking her advice and creations to support her passion for fashion, he wanted to look good for her. Not that she's complaining, especially when she gets to dress him herself.
- In return, when it came to his cooking, Tigris was more than happy to keep transitioning away from boiled potatoes, Lima beans, and raw meat at first, but she came to admire Tak's enthusiasm, and how it was one of the few ways he stayed in touch with his roots. He's given her quite a few recipes that she tries recreating at home.
- As skeptical as I am about the whole love language thing, Quality Time is definitely one of theirs, along with Physical Touch. It's not just their emotions that were neglected, but also gentle touch. These two love holding each other 🧡💙 When they have to be subtle (Around the children or at a public event), they can live with holding hands under the table, shoulder brushes, and perhaps a hug as a greeting or goodbye once it's established that they're "good friends" to the public.
- Tak always had a slight Cajun accent from listening to his father and the rest of his family, but had to drop it to avoid ridicule from his fellow Capitol citizens. He feels safe enough to let it slip at home as Seiko doesn't mind and he wants to teach Chiasa and Quinta about their shared culture. He's beyond relieved when Tigris didn't mind it either, nor did she mind his dialect or even his franglais. Honestly? She thinks his accent's kinda hot.
- They have a little ritual when one of them has to go up in front of a crowd. The one on stage would blow a kiss, and the one in the audience would "catch" it and hold their hand to their heart.
- Chiasa knew. They weren't always that slick at home and she was around Tigris more when she took her under her wing. And remember, the woman's a lot more observant than she seems.
Found this, a bit of a callback to the "bold survey" past of this blog, but with ships
Bold or color if it's true, italics if it's one sided. Obviously, I have to do Chitarch...
height difference (5'10 vs. 5'5)/ mutual pining / first kiss / wedding / in-jokes / lgbtq+ / family disapproves / would die for each other / would kill for each other / fake relationship / arranged wedding / cuddlers / pda friendly / and they were roommates / holding hands / secret relationship / opposing worldviews / getting a pet (Post-MJ) / have kids / want kids / grow old together / relationship failures (Neither of them could be pinned down before this)/ rests head on shoulder / share a bed / relationship doubts (Chiasa wanting to sacrificially supportive and Plutarch not recognizing his feelings)/ they have a song / first date / sharing a blanket / mutual interests / study buddies / bathing together / crash into hello / accidental nudity / laundry / same hobbies (I imagine they both like to sketch... Different things but still)/ cooking for each other (Chiasa sharing recipes and that bread making headcanon... 🥰)/ big fancy gala / forehead touches / hair stroking (Scalp massages...) / sitting on each other’s laps / sexual tension / can’t be together / battle couple / Friends to Lovers (Friends with benefits to lovers but still)/ Enemies to Lovers / Lovers to Enemies / keeping secrets / love after loss / exes / declaration of love / flirting / love triangle / destructive romance / envy / “I Don’t Want to Ruin Our Friendship” / shared values / slow burn / love letters
You know what... Gonna do TigTak (Tigris x Tak) of Nitimur In Vetitum too.
height difference / mutual pining / first kiss / wedding / in-jokes / lgbtq+ (Wrote Tigris as bi)/ family disapproves / would die for each other / would kill for each other / fake relationship / arranged wedding / cuddlers / pda friendly / and they were roommates / holding hands / secret relationship / opposing worldviews / getting a pet / have kids (He does... She adores them) / want kids / grow old together / relationship failures (Unconventional situation and neither are used to intimacy of the emotional variety)/ rests head on shoulder / share a bed / relationship doubts (He's her best friend's husband (But it's all kosher!!) and he wonders if he's too old or even good enough for her)/ they have a song (La Vie en Rose) / first date / sharing a blanket / mutual interests / study buddies / bathing together / crash into hello / accidental nudity / laundry / same hobbies / cooking for each other (And with each other...)/ big fancy gala / forehead touches / hair stroking / sitting on each other’s laps / sexual tension / can’t be together (Damn politics) / battle couple / Friends to Lovers / Enemies to Lovers / Lovers to Enemies / keeping secrets / love after loss / exes / declaration of love / flirting / love triangle (Kinda??)/ destructive romance / envy / “I Don’t Want to Ruin Our Friendship” / shared values / slow burn / love letters
