#buddyship

Oh, right. I guess I still have these doujin caps on my desktop. Have a sassy Mokuba in a koala shirt.

Thank you for the ask!!

waywardcupcake’s shrimpshipping response was really good, yeah 8)

Buddyshipping tho-

when I started shipping it if I did:

I’d considered the ship in passing, especially regardingHonda and Jou’s early experimentations with their sexuality, but I really beganshipping it in the process of writing about their brolationship. They’re bothso protective and caring and affectionate and kind of terrified of beingupfront about it – it makes me want to push them towards one another. Hug itout guys~ Kiss it out guys~

my thoughts:

I wrote most of my buddyship thoughts here, but-

It’s a singularly unique ship, and a singularly uniquerelationship in the series, in that they were intimately close as friends before all that stellar characterdevelopment happened. I like how this leaves them kind of unsure of where theystand with each other now that they’ve changed. It’s why you get all thosegreat ‘no homo’ moments between them, imo. Jou is openly cuddly andaffectionate with Yuugi, because that’s the way he learned to be in the processof befriending Yuugi. Honda isn’t touchy-feely, but manga Honda’s certainly alot softer in how he comes to relate with Anzu, Ryou, Shizuka, and Otogi. Butwhen Jou and Honda approach each other, they’re not sure how to reconcile whothey’ve become with the relationship they already had. They must disguise theiraffections in the filter of play fights and taunting!! Lest they be discovered!!

I think if they were put in the position of acknowledging to each other howmuch they’d changed as individuals, it could easily lead into just how muchtheir relationship could follow suit ;3

What makes me happy about them:

That Honda really has Jou’s back during the series. Joudoesn’t always seem entirely comfortable letting other people support andprotect /him/ as opposed to the other way around. When Yuugi defends Jou, forinstance, Jou is always rushing to return the favour or prove he deserved whatYuugi gave him. I like how Honda is somebody Jou feels comparatively comfortablein relying upon. Supportive momfriend Honda is the best, okay?

What makes me sad about them:

Anime Honda can be really mean with his words regarding Jou.It does seem sometimes like he doesn’t really believe in Jou and Jou’s abilityto succeed, and it’s kind of tragic tbh.

things done in fanfic that annoy me:

I can’t think of anything in particular.

things I look for in fanfic:

thingsthat are written and posted online :p

Given Jou is the more hammy and distinctive character of the two, I guess I’dlike to see more fic build off of Honda’s character and experience instead ofJou’s unlike my responses for this meme.

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

I’m trash for Honda/Otogi/Shizuka. Otogi by himself or Ryouor Miho are also good choices. And I’ll ship Jou with just about everyone but –in the specific context of Jou and Honda parting ways and Jou ending up in ahappy, lasting relationship with someone else – I’d lean either towards Mai orRishid.

My happily ever after for them:

They’re a very down to earth pairing I feel like, so I don’thave anything grandiose. Jou might duel pro for a while. Jou stops being soworryingly reckless so Honda doesn’t have to mom him so much. Jou eventually wins overHonda’s family with his stellar charisma, and they have nice family dinnerswith Honda’s parents and sister. I headcanon that Honda’s family runs an autoshop but, even if Honda wasn’t already set up to take over the business, Ithink he’d want to work with motorbikes and cars. Jou helps him run the shop.And, on their days off, they go out for daytrips on Honda’s bike~

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

Jou doesn’t so much spoon people as he wraps his legs aroundtheir chest and awkwardly strangle-hugs their face like it’s a strangelaying-down-on-your-side sleepy piggyback ride.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity:

Other than the aforementioned bike rides? I for some reasonthink Honda’s partial to video games. They laze around house playing fightinggames with each other. Also isn’t it canon Jou liked model kits? I feel likethey’re both pretty handy, so they might work on building projects together –either utilitarian ones or just for fun~

B-b-b-b-Buddyshipping!!!

I’ve got a lot of buddyshipping headcanons but I’m holding most of ‘em close to my chest, lol. Let’s see tho…

I told someone recently I legit think Jounouchi has crushed on pretty much all the members of his little friendship crew, lol. Wishshipping tends to be the one I think is the most romantically motivated of the three, but I think he’s experienced some form of attraction to Yuugi, Anzu, and Honda each.

Also, I think a lot about how Honda was Jounouchi’s only friend when he left Hirutani’s gang towards the end of middle school. I imagine they were kind of casual friends/acquaintances before then but, like, Jounouchi pulling himself out of the gang really magnified the relationship they already had. I like thinking about Jounouchi having spent a lot of time at the Honda house/shop, and taking solace in the peace of it compared to the rest of the spaces in his life.I think Jounouchi having that space and that friendship was important. Quite frankly, I don’t think he would have managed to get out and /stay/ out of Hirutani’s circle without Honda’s support, and I think Honda was also lowkey the inspiration for Jounouchi wanting to, and coming to believe he could, pass the entrance exams for Domino High.