And I have seen that IRL. People, boys and girls that is, who have been very close friends since kindergarten and before, and who even during adolescence would sleep in the same bed or change in the same room and, err, nothing happens.
Since this is the whole point of my fanfic "The Saotome Sisters", I'd like to weigh in. Barring derailment of the thread, of course.

From what I understand, the children considered here have to meet at around the age of six, and spend a lot of time together. As in, be in the same household. Occasional meetings over the years would reduce the effect. Note in Ranma 1/2 canon, Ranma regarded Ukyo as just a childhood friend, but their time together didn't stop her from falling in love with him. Their ten year separation disabled the Westermark effect.

I think if childhood friends Shinji and Asuka kept being separated over the years, one or both of them could fall in love. Then again, if the grew up TRAINING together, they would probably develop a soldier bond. Which is just as powerful, really. It would probably cut through their communication issues.

And I'll add I'd never HEARD of Asuka/Shinji childhood stories until I saw those (adorable) pictures. I can name some Ranma ones though.
 
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Which is just as powerful, really. It would probably cut through their communication issues.
Well, it didn't in canon... If we go by how NERV seems set up in canon, pre-angel "training" would also just be yet another after-school activity. Not exactly a battle bond. Meanwhile, in canon, they did sortie together, did have battles side by side... and yet that still wasn't enough.
 
Not Sailor Saturn? I'd think that would be more appropriate, what with the destruction of almost all life...
VA joke. Megumi Ogata voiced both Sailor Uranus and Shinji Ikari.

Since this is the whole point of my fanfic "The Saotome Sisters", I'd like to weigh in. Barring derailment of the thread, of course.

From what I understand, the children considered here have to meet at around the age of six, and spend a lot of time together. As in, be in the same household. Occasional meetings over the years would reduce the effect. Note in Ranma 1/2 canon, Ranma regarded Ukyo as just a childhood friend, but their time together didn't stop her from falling in love with him. Their ten year separation disabled the Westermark effect.

I think if childhood friends Shinji and Asuka kept being separated over the years, one or both of them could fall in love. Then again, if the grew up TRAINING together, they would probably develop a soldier bond. Which is just as powerful, really. It would probably cut through their communication issues.

And I'll add I'd never HEARD of Asuka/Shinji childhood stories until I saw those (adorable) pictures. I can name some Ranma ones though.
Mind you, Asuka and Shinji childhood stories are somewhat old in comparison to other fanfic ideas and many of the fics that run on that idea are not exactly noteworthy.
 
And then Gendo kicks his ass, because he's like 36 cm taller and has a hell of a lot more reach. :V
And substantially more experience in bare-knuckle brawling.

No one knows for sure how it works. Westermarck effect is as good a guess as any.
The Westermarck study is somewhat inconclusive. A lot of experts think we don't know enough to claim that any specific childhood romance scenario is implausible.
 
Kaworu: "I'm not against this change of even--" *SMACK*
Rei: "Hush, Fish. You may be sashimi yet."
Thinking back to Nephilim Sushi from a few pages ago...

Shipping preference: whatever's well written and with decent characters. No matter the fandom (or even wether it's a fandom I usually enjoy and/or follow)...
Wow, what a relaxed, rational viewpoint.

But we're too close to a derail as it is, so let's heave the train back on at least one track:
What? You don't like careening around a curve, with half the wheels up in the air, Dukes of Hazzard style?
 
Writing is happening. Preview:

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He turned back to the tube. "You are able to perform your function, Rei? And rebuild?"

"Yes, sir. I will focus on restoring my AT-Field." Rei hesitated. "Status of the others, sir? My disabling will not compromise defenses?"

"The Second Child was unaffected. The Third Child is confined for failure to follow orders. I will deploy him if necessary. And Unit-03 will be deployed with the Fourth Child until the Fifth recovers."

Rei waited. It was hard. She wanted to scream at him. "My perceptions were confused, sir. I attempted to attack Unit-03 due to the Fifth Child's presence. Did I damage Unit-03?"

Gendo's razor thin smile was far too malicious now. "You did not. We will deal with the Fifth Child later. His injuries do not matter, and will possibly leave him weakened when you need to deal with him. The time will come soon, Rei. There is only one more Angel left to arrive. Once it is handled, I will allow you to remove the Fifth Child, and our desired end of our Scenario will finally arrive. And end to your pain and all barriers in our hearts."

"Yes, sir." 'I will not permit you to harm those I love, Commander.'
 
Writing is happening. Preview:

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He turned back to the tube. "You are able to perform your function, Rei? And rebuild?"

"Yes, sir. I will focus on restoring my AT-Field." Rei hesitated. "Status of the others, sir? My disabling will not compromise defenses?"

"The Second Child was unaffected. The Third Child is confined for failure to follow orders. I will deploy him if necessary. And Unit-03 will be deployed with the Fourth Child until the Fifth recovers."

Rei waited. It was hard. She wanted to scream at him. "My perceptions were confused, sir. I attempted to attack Unit-03 due to the Fifth Child's presence. Did I damage Unit-03?"

Gendo's razor thin smile was far too malicious now. "You did not. We will deal with the Fifth Child later. His injuries do not matter, and will possibly leave him weakened when you need to deal with him. The time will come soon, Rei. There is only one more Angel left to arrive. Once it is handled, I will allow you to remove the Fifth Child, and our desired end of our Scenario will finally arrive. And end to your pain and all barriers in our hearts."

"Yes, sir." 'I will not permit you to harm those I love, Commander.'

Oh Gendo, I look forward to the moment in which you realise that this has all been for nothing...
 
General meming and shitpost-like behavior instead of discussion on the story and its elements.

Speaking of, does anyone feel like this is just a rehash of earlier conversations between the two? Where's Rei's anger at the (in-character and sensible) callousness at Kaworu's life? In her shoes I'd be livid given their newfound comraderie, though I understand she's still in a very great deal of pain and so probably isn't super coherent.
 
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