Kismesissitude involves both mutual hate and mutual sexual attraction between two individuals. Kismeses do NOT "hate each other but
love each other on the inside"; it's TRUE hate, felt equally by both parties. This is called a caliginous relationship.
The term was coined in the webcomic Homestuck, written by Andrew Hussie, and refers to one of many forms of
romance of an
alien species known as trolls.
Though fueled by rivalry, defeating or killing your kismesis is discouraged since that would obviously end the relationship. Kismeses must be equally matched for the rivalry to be fulfilling; if
one consistently bests the other neither
will feel the satisfaction of competition. Sexual attraction is a part of this as well; kismeses may engage in hatesex.
Kismesissitude can be either healthy or abusive. A caliginous relationship must involve mutual respect, admiring each other's strengths even while hating
one another. If the relationship makes
one or both parties feel inferior, it's unhealthy. Kismesissitude should encourage each individual to improve themselves so that they may surpass
one another; if both parties do this, both
will continue to grow trying to match
one another.
It was previously thought that only trolls could develope caliginous feelings for
one another, but recent updates in the Homestuck webcomic suggest that a troll and a human may be able to form kismesissitude.
Also known as blackrom, black
romance, hatemance, and caliginous romance.
