#JJ is also one of my favs bc they're a reskin of an OC that's very dear to me lol

[fortunafavours]

💗 GROWING HEART - if they have a crush, is it noticable? what changes when they're in love?

this got kind of long so, under the cut!

Malcolm

holy shit is it ever obvious. It's VERY clear, especially to everyone else, even though he thinks he's being subtle.

His attention is fully on you when you're speaking, he's listening with rapt attention. He goes out of his way to make time for you, sometimes to the detriment of his work. He'll make his feelings known as well if it seems like it's reciprocal and can handle rejection fine if not (barring some exceptions).

He's also a little bit shy and can and will blush at the slightest provocation. This no longer holds true once he's in love with you and you're together.

Malcolm will almost always confess first because he's just not capable of hiding his feelings, and wears his heart on his sleeve.

Frankly, this is just the same when he's in love, too. It's just he is the most EXTREME wifeguy of all time. Pulls out his wallet to show off pictures of his spouse, could be at a party and would be thinking "wow I miss my spouse. I need to go home right now immediately."

Cyril

If you know Cyril, it's obvious, but if you aren't familiar with him, then no. He's a pretty big flirt and does so casually, so it's sort of hard sometimes to gauge sincerity. But he does really change if he's actually into you.

You get his full, undivided attention. You could be in a completely crowded tavern, but he's looking at you. He isn't shy about it either. He'll tell you how he feels directly and often.

Cyril will dance around trying to admit his feelings, even in a conversation initiated by him, before having a "fuck it we ball" moment and telling you he's in love with you.

When he's crushing, you get glimpses of the authentic Cyril. When he's in love, you are one of the few people he's the most authentically "him" with. You get all the fear and insecurities and earnesty. He's also very protective, and exceedingly loyal.

E

You would genuinely never know E was crushing. They're more jokey and familiar with you than anyone else, but you'd be hardpressed to call that flirting. The most obvious it's come is with an MC who established a previous romantic relationship with E, but you were also like, 16, so hiding a crush with hormones running rampant was less likely to happen.

They're definitely the kind of person who would shove down their crush because they don't think they have a shot, while also actively sitting there and pining

When they're in love, they make a lot of promises, which... well. There are pros and cons. MC would like to know their location for this, but that's neither here nor there. They also become very protective of you in less overt ways than Cyril.

JJ

Another who would not be immediately obvious about their crushing initially, but it would be clear that they're into someone.

JJ is your very typical uppity noble type (at first glance) who's as quick with an insult as they are a backhanded compliment. A lot of what they say is sardonic or dry, so when they're actually interested in someone, their tone softens, they give very genuine compliments, and actively try to encourage you. They will do everything in their power to uplift.

They will, of course, follow it up with some sort of quip, but it's a goodnatured tease instead of a meanspirited jab

JJ is a coward and will not reach for something they want though, so even though they might be down abyssal and can't hide it, they deny themselves happiness a lot lol

When they're in love, though, they really do change for the better. JJ has a chip on their shoulder for reasons that will be apparent eventually, but given the chance to come into their own and with someone who betters them, all the prickliness falls away and all that's left is the extremely kind heart that wants to do and be good.

D

good the fuck luck trying to navigate whether or not D has feelings for you!

They're so severe and no nonsense, though, that when they DO have feelings for you, that mask cracks often. More smiles, straight up laughing openly, cracking jokes. Otherwise, they maintain that very serious demeanour.

Extremely unlikely to say anything to you about it though, and will be shocked if you tell them you have feelings because they, too, deny themselves happiness, but not for the same reasons JJ does.

When they're in love with you, though, it softens them in all aspects. They become less of a hardass, take more time off work, and so on.

A

they, too, cannot hide their feelings, and will flirt in more subtle, but obvious ways: tucking a flower behind your ear, a hand on your elbow to guide or pull you away, hovering closer than necessary for a conversation.

They're also willing to tell you once their feelings are known to them.

When they're in love, everything becomes brighter? Like, they generally take joy in the mundanity of life, but when they're in love with someone, it's easier for them to see good everywhere and encourage you to do the same with them.