[Marriage Prospect] Izumi Noa, "Patlabor"

[Kyle T. Pope]

Izumi Noa ("Patlabor")

LOOKS: Tomboy. Nonetheless she's an attractive tomboy. At 22-sai it is likely that Noa is as
developed as she's ever going to get so if you're looking for the busty beach-babe type, look
elsewhere. Her auburn hair is kept short and her most striking feature are her large, intense and
unusually set blue eyes. Certainly not curvaceous by any standard she is still soft enough to be
identifiably female. I expect that if Noa ever put some effort into it (at least as much as she
puts into Alphonse) she could easily be quite beautiful. Convincing her of this might be another
matter entirely.

SMARTS: Average. While a prodigy concerning anything involving labors Noa hasn't demonstrated
any prodigious abilities in any other area. In fact she can be quite clueless from time to time.
However Noa is not stupid and is no one's fool. In combat she can quickly size up a tactical
situation and respond quickly. Her instinct to protect Alphonse can amplify her mental abilities in
this area. Otherwise she is inquisitive and quick once things are explained to her clearly enough.

PERSONALITY: Genki. Noa's emotional states can run to the extremes. When happy she's
overjoyed. When depressed she goes down deep. When angry she's the Wrath of God, particularly
when at the controls of a labor. Above all she takes great pride in her position as a labor driver
with SV2. While Noa's moods can be intense she is not capricious. It takes strong provocation to
move Noa off her emotional center which rests at contentment. Treat her decently and with love and
respect and you will have few opportunities to see Noa's dark side.

HOME ECONOMICS: Noa keeps her quarters at SV2 clean and orderly as is her room at her family
home in Hokkaido. She's not a fanatic about order but she does like a clean place to live. She
appears capable of survival level cooking but I wouldn't expect any gourmet meals without some prior
instruction though I doubt Noa has the patience for the tedium of prolonged cooking. With Noa you
will eat well but simply and you will have to assist in the kitchen.

COMBAT SKILLS: In a labor, unstoppable. Especially when she gets pissed off. The Type J-9
Griffin was a state-of-the-art machine that took apart the best Shinohara had to offer and yet Noa
defeated it in a machine nearing obsolescence. Her only real combat handicap is that where firearms
are concerned Noa couldn't hit the ground. For this reason Noa's tactics involve closing with the
enemy for hand-to-hand combat with the stun stick. Noa's abilities with a labor were such that
Commander Fuma of the JSDF attempted to lure Noa away from SV2 with the promise of a Helldiver
to play with. Fortunately for SV2 the commander realized that Noa belonged where she was.

SPECIAL ABILITIES: If this were a different series Noa would certainly be classified as a newtype.
She could make an Ingram dance kabuki if she wanted to. She also has an incredibly high
tolerance for alcohol. Do not challenge this lady to a drinking contest. Kanuka Clancy made that
mistake. Noa drank her into a face fault on the ramen bar and Noa was already drunk before Kanuka
had even arrived. While Noa can certainly get very drunk, it takes more alcohol to do it, she
doesn't stay drunk as long and she does not suffer the effects of a hangover afterward. She grew up
in a liquor store and developed her capacity for sake very early.

COMPETITION: Shinohara Asuma. Alphonse. Shinohara Asuma is Noa's partner and backup. He
is also the scion of the Shinohara family of Shinohara Juukougyou, Japan's largest manufacturer of
labors. He is the heir apparent to that vast empire should certain differences between himself and
his father be resolved. A strong friendship exists between Asuma and Noa reinforced by their
dependence on one another when facing dangers on the street. A hint of romantic tension exists
between them and both are apparently aware of it though neither has made any move towards pushing
the relationship along. You'll have a tough nut to crack here as that will eventually happen.
Asuma and Noa have too much in common and have shared too much to remain "just friends" for long.
Alphonse is an eight meter tall AV-98 Ingram Patrol Labor produced by Shinohara. It is Noa's first
love and she spends hours doting over it with rags and cans of wax. Noa is as much into labors as
anyone outside of designing them can get. You may come to resent having to share her with a machine
but get used to it. She's been into labors a lot longer than she will have been into you. Besides,
Alphonse is bigger than you are.

FINANCES: Noa is a cop at the lowest levels of the Department. For this simply read "poor". While
Noa may be a genius at driving labors she has not shown any of the characteristics that indicate a
future at the command level. It is highly unlikely that Noa will ever occupy the chair held by
Gotou. Kumagami arrived at SV2 a lot later than Noa did yet Kumagami was offered a command first.
However, there is a nice warm, lucrative slot waiting for Noa in the R & D department at Shinohara
(or even Schaft) where her labor skills will be of immense value. Convince her to give up
policework (and Alphonse) and her income could likely triple (at minimum) in one fell swoop. I
don't see Noa ever giving up working to become a full time housewife so that money will be a
constant. As usual you will have to pull your share of the load working either inside or outside
the home.

IN-LAWS: Noa's father, currently living in Hokkaido. I believe her mother is alive and well also.
Noa is strongly attached to her family and visits them in Hokkaido regularly. They also care deeply
for her and will check you out thoroughly if they detect your interest in their daughter. Distance
and Noa's independence will keep them from interfering in your relationship should Noa be decide
that you're the one she wants. This will make them a minimal concern beyond the regular family
visits.

SEX: Noa does not appear to have the promise of the same sexual potential as the other women of
SV2 but that compact little body of hers might contain a few surprises. She's strong and athletic
and commits herself entirely to anything in which she has a strong interest. She does not appear to
have any prior romantic or sexual experience and seems almost asexual in outlook and behavior. A
decent sex life with Noa is going to require some schooling in that area. You can take comfort in
the knowledge that Noa can be a quick and enthusiastic study. If Noa commits to you she will go to
the ends of the earth to make you happy. Once introduced to the idea and after a brief period of
awkward embarrassment Noa should embrace sex as eagerly as she embraced labors.

OFFSPRING: Noa has show tolerance for the attention, affection and admiration of younger people
around her (Kana the idol singer and the prince for example) but she has displayed annoyance as
well. I suspect that while Noa would make a conscientious and loving parent it might require some
effort to talk her into it. Noa has shown no interest in pursuing the life of a wife and mother at
this stage of her life and I suspect an interest in having children will be a long time coming.

OVERALL: Noa is certainly not to everyone's taste. Small and androgynous with little overt
interest in things romantic she can be easily dismissed as just one of the guys around the squad
room. But I don't believe a determined romantic effort will go unrewarded. If you can get past
Asuma and convince Noa of a sincere desire for a relationship beyond friends and comrades Noa would
most certainly respond enthusiastically as she responds to virtually everything else. While Noa is
certainly unconventional she is nonetheless beautiful. She has no major faults beyond simple lack
of experience. And teaching her about this aspect of life in which she has given little attention
can be a joyous experience for the both of you.
--
Kyle

"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered." - No. 6