12, 19 & 25 for any ship you've been thinking about!
Ship development ask game 💕
(First of all: thank you for always sending something in, Lalo. I see it and appreciate it. Just got a lot going on right now. But I WILL get to your stuff. I always look forward to answering these, I just don't find the time for it often and I am so sorry about that orz But here we go!)
Sergey & Asuna
12 - What interests/hobbies would they have in common?
When Asuna and Sergey first met each other it was at school when she tried to naively just make aquaintances with this guy that constantly scowls and glares. Fed up by her happy go lucky demeanor as if there was ANYTHING to smile about he read her for filth, without even knowing her and left. The second time they meet is a lot different. Unbeknownst to Sergey he had been throwing hoops right where she lives and so she witnessed him beat up the older kids who came to seek trouble with him. Being an avid basketball enthusiast herself she approached him when he was on the court again, challenging to a game.
They bonded over a mutual respect for each others skills in the sport, which might explain why Ser got pissed when she decided to switch to Volleyball. If you think about it, their interests and hobbies don't align that much aside of that one sport. Mostly because Sergey had given up on anything and everything. Even Basketball was less a passion and more a way to kill time for him. So there wasn't exactly something he COULD bond over with her. He was a nothing person and she felt that.
That's probably the reason Asuna decided to stick around and get Ser out of his shell, even roping in Leo, because when Leo is in on it, Ser follows. And so they just did things teenagers did. Go out exploring the town, check out new food vendors, watching movies at the cinema. Chilling at a lokal pond, she even gets them to go to museums, where Sergey displays an intrinsic understanding of art. It doesn't matter so much what their specific hobbies are, as all the things they experience together on the journey of reanimating Sergey.
19 - Do they have any fears or set backs in terms of relationships?
Asuna is a simple girl. She grew up mostly in japan before she had to move so her exposure with relationships was mostly anime, manga and TV dramas. Albeit a few of her friends back in japan had short dating phases, she always knew it was nothing serious, because, well they were 10. So her views on a romantic relationship are very very pure. That when you date someone it should be with the intention of staying together, of maybe having a future down the line. Physical touches especially anything thats more than a hug seems almost scandalous! Unless of course it's in friendship! But with someone she gets dokis for? unimaginable! If asked what her fears and worries were then she'd easily say the cultural differences and her discomfort with physical touches that are clearly meant non platonic. Even if she knows Sergey would never do that to her, she more freezes up when someone else gets to close and often she fears this might send the wrong message to not only the person persuing her but also the guy she ACTUALLY likes.
Sergey is a lot lot lot more cynical. He doesn't believe in love full stop. He was desillusioned way too much by the acts of his own father, who seemed to impregnate women and then just leave them alone. He saw his older sisters have trouble with guys coming onto them too strongly or objectifying them, especially in Jingyis case, who was only seen as the cute asian girl. Maybe that is why he gets so quickly protective of Asuna who seems to have similar things happening to her. He doesn't believe he is capable of love, and to be fair, sex never interested him. So imagine his shock when after deliberation, mulling it over and even asking his sisters for advice he comes to the conclusion that he must have a crush, maybe even more, for Asuna. It's easy to denounce love when you aren't in love yourself. But when it hits you, even though you believe in it's futility, then panic sets in. Sergey doesn't want to lose Asuna. That much he fully understands. But he is way too scared to approach their friendship with any intent of making it more. He tries to keep his distance. Tries to play it cool and casual, but he feels himself betray his fears. He notices he lights up when she is around. How light he feels when she is being silly, how he WANTS to make her smile and happy--- hell... he wants to be BETTER because of her. It's terrifying. And just when he is ready to give into these feelings and overcome his fear of being heartbroken down the line
she looses her life.
25 - Try and think of either 3 silly or angsty headcanons for them as a couple? Depending on the dynamic of the ship, could be anything at all. If you cant think of 3, thats fine.
3 ways Asuna has influenced Sergey and 3 ways he has influenced her
Sergey used to approach people with the certainty that everyone deep down is a corrupt and aweful person. That only those who've seen the abyss are even capable of true warmth and compassion. Through Asunas influence he starts to change his views a bit. Yes, maybe some people didn't have to walk through hell in their live, but that doesn't make them evil. Many people will be compassionate and helpful when they are confronted with peoples pain.
Sergey left his basketball club because he couldn't stand enjoying the sport while his best friend was suffering, fighting for his life in the hospital. The realisation that nobody seemed to care about the horrors in the world and just kept on enjoying their daily life was incomprehensible for him. It got so far, he even tried to prevent Leo from picking up sports again. It's Asuna who calls him out for it and it leads to the friends finally having a proper talk about all the trauma they've been through, with their love for each other prevailing over all. Even though he doesn't officially return to his team he helps them out and trains with them. It's a small step but it's something
One of the biggest moments for Sergeys shift as a person was their classes "Show your home" project. The school being focused on immigrant children, their italian course assignment was to make a 30 minute presentation about some aspect of their home. It's to help the children still connect with their place of origin, but also learn how to share this with others in italian. Many picked their favourite dishes or holidays, with the usual short descriptive sentances you'd expect from such assignments. Sergey himself refused to even work on a presentation, because he believed the whole thing to not just be performative, but also pointless. Nobody cares about someone elses origin, this is stupid. But Asuna was deeply invested. Not only did she keep asking really interesting questions in every presentation, she made it clear that this was out of genuine interest for different cultures and not a ploy to get someone a better or worse grade. Even the shyest student would try to explain aspects they clearly felt passionate about even if the language barrier made it difficult. Asuna showed that this wasn't just a school assignment, but a real cultural exchange. And it all culminates in the way she holds her own presentation. Dolled up in a Yukata, she actually prepared their classroom to resemble something she personally loves most about japan. The O-Matsuri. Festivals with food stalls, firework shows, Taiko Drums and Gamebooths. Of course the presenation goes a lot longer than 30 minutes and the kids are excited to try out different foods and games she helped prepare with Leo and Sergeys sisters. Ser is so floored by her genuine passion to share something so personal and important with others, without even considering what she'd do if people ridiculed her for it. And despite his previous pessimistic views, Ser sees Asuna put way too much effort into a simple school presentation, laying her honest feelings bare for all to see and instead of trampling over it, everyone celebrates the moment. She clearly doesn't do it for a good grade, but because this gives her a chance to tell others what she loves about her home. And it was received warmly and genuinely well. Which eventually leads Sergey to ask their teacher to give him one more week to prepare his presentation. She's done it. Sergey is willing to try and open up. He is willing to share again and be hopeful for the future. Unfortunately he never gets to share.
The cultural differences between japan and italy are not to be understated. Social norms and cues are very different and even though Asuna has lived there already a year, she still falls into a few traps. Sergey believes she was caught again when she tells him that she joined their local volleyball club, because they saw her play in a friendly game the first time and decided she had the talent for the sport. It actually gets so on his nerves he distances himself from her and avoids her. It's thanks to Leo who gives Ser a reality check that he decides to maybe, possibly, perhaps, hypothetically go and check out one of her games. Even though it is only the preliminaries, the club doesn't do too well. Turns out Volleyball and Basketball are very different sports after all, and as the Setter of the team, Asuna feels lost on the field. That is until Sergey loudly tells her to snap out of her stupor. She is a fantastic Point Guard in Basketball, a position that also needs her to coordinate attacks and decide plays. "You're a Point Guard, aren't you?! Act like one!" is all it needs for her to regroup. Their team takes a time out, and with new conviction they get back into the game, with a clea r change in Asuna and the way she plays. Instead of trying to BECOME a good setter she analyzes her issues in setting and tries to coordinate with people to find a solution of how to set for everyone without having to force them into positions they're bad in. She focuses more on working well with her team, that the pressure of winning doesn't weigh her down anymore and she manages to come into her role. Leo however will not ever let Sergey live down that he pulled such a mangaesque stunt. It even goes as far as Sergey looking up sports culture in japan, finding out that there are small good luck charms in farm of omamori pouches of which he decides to actually make one himself. Just before the team goes to a tournament he manages to throw the omamori to Asuna across the street and tells her to give it her all. It's all the push she needs.
When it comes to these cultural differences it also brings up the fact that Asuna is not a japanese among japanese anymore but a foreigner and someone who attracts sometimes the worst glances. While her spunky genki nature is something that makes her likable, it is also something that clashes with what teenagers perceived to be the common ettiquette. Coming in with the same friend making energy she had in japan doesn't work and it causes Asuna to time and time again stand there with noone by her side. Nobody but Sergey, because he refuses to participate in the whole spiel for his own reasons. It's thanks to Sergeys albeit blunt commentary on her behavior during them being partnered up in school that she actually makes strides in adapting to the new environment. In fact, her cheerful nature and genuine kindness makes the other kids open up more and be a lot more childish and silly, disregarding how uncool that might seem. All she needed was someone to tell her what's up.
One of the sweetest things that happens in their brief friendship is probably Asunas birthday, which Asuna is very excited to celebrate. It's Leo who eventually tells her that coincidentally it falls on the same date Sergeys birthday is. Birthday twinsies, as Asuna says. But it also makes her realize that nobody else has even mentioned Sergey to her. She tries to organize a bigger event and put their birthday parties together but she clearly underestimated how much Sergey really did not like other people. But after he told her clearly all he wants is good food and to spend the day with people he cares about she realizes that she might've tried to impose her view of a great birthday on him. So she asks his sisters and Leo to help her in preparing a small grill picknic by a lake in the evening. Sergey is first sceptical about the whole thing but in the end he relaxes and openly thanks Asuna, giving her a rare but very genuine smile.
