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lumillsie · 13 days ago

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ೃ⁀➷ what kind of partner would suit the from characters best? ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

includes: tabitha, jim, kenny, jade, kristi, marielle, randall, donna, boyd, ellis, fatima, sara, nathan

a/n : here's my formal plea for you guys to send in from requests with more characters ! this is just my take and a little exercise in showcasing how I view these characters, but it was fun to write regardless! the order I wrote them in was boyd, sara, randall, jim, fatima, marielle, nathan, tabitha, donna, jade, ellis, kristi and then finally kenny - and you can probably tell that my inspiration started dropping of at the end with how the ellis part turned out, but I still tried my best with all of them <3 I really hope you guys enjoy these, and if you have any constructive criticism and tips on how to improve my portrayals, please let me know

I would also like to thank my friend carla ( @divorcingjimmatthews ) for looking over all of these preferences as I was writing them and helping me make sure that my portrayals stayed rooted in canon, as well as assisting me when I was writing jim's part by providing me with a different perspective on his character. I am so so incredibly grateful 🩷🩷

⚠️ major spoilers all the way up to 3x10 with mentions of canon-typical horrors !!

- ', ꒱ ↷ tabitha.

╰┈➤ tabitha is one of the characters most connected with the strange place the residents of the town are trapped in - from her childhood dreams of the three red stones to the spectral, hyaline children only she and jade can truly see, she's shrouded in mysteries to which not even she herself has an answer. someone curious and with an open-mind, willing to assist her and help find answers and uncover the truth of what's going on would be a person she could easily find herself bonding with. jim's single-minded refusal to come to terms with the fact that circumstances in their personal hellscape don't have to make sense was what severed the marriage already hanging on by a thread and tabitha couldn't handle being with another partner who resists understanding that and tries to back away from all the strageness of their environment. her potential partner should be someone who wholeheartedly wants to know the same answers she's trying to discover, and who would contribute to her search with their own time and effort. from minor things like bouncing ideas of what something could mean to standing by her as she decides to venture into the underground cavern where the monsters rest - the ideal partner for her would be one that could face it all, with her.

╰┈➤ this is a woman that yearns to be listened to, and as the relationship between her and a potential partner develops, tabitha will need to feel seen and understood. her partner encouraging her to share her grief with them and taking the concerns she shares with them seriously would allow for the dynamic between her and someone else to develop from a platonic one to something different. listening to her doesn't simply mean absorbing the things she say and validating them but consequently doing nothing about them - no, it means standing by her as she makes decisions and venturing into the unknown by her side. someone attentive and decisive could do both of these things and that would allow her to realise that they're someone she can share the burden on her shoulders with.

╰┈➤ it's pretty obvious that tabitha doesn't want an overprotective partner - jim's attempts to be that didn't go over well, and all it did was widen the chasm between the two former spouses. she's an adult woman, and standing by her as she ventures into danger would be preferred to attempting to keep her away from potential threats. she will go near them regardless - she needs to. she's decided what her purpose is, what she needs to do and she's strong-willed enough to not be deterred to it. regardless of who her partner is, that won't change. on the other hand, tabitha would appreciate the person she's involved with wanting to protect her children - and trying to bond with them. despite the distance between them, caused by thomas' death and exacerbated by everything that followed, her love for them is infinite and they mean the world to her. no partner of hers should strive to take jim's place in the children's lives - they wouldn't respond well to it, the love they have for their father is immeasurable - but they wouldn't be opposed to having a friendly and even a somewhat familial relationship with their mother's new partner. if they came to know about this relationship after the events that followed jade's violin performance under the bottle tree, they may be initially resistant to said partner - but they would come around to it as long as their mother's partner was respectful to their father and what they've experienced.

╰┈➤ I can see tabitha as being particularly drawn to intelligent people who are well-educated in one field. her first husband was an engineer, and the reincarnation of her first self's husband used to be a successful software developer right before him and his childhood friend made their way around the fallen tree. whether the person she was involved in specialised in a stem science or something else, she would love the way their mind works - the connections they find in the most unassuming of things and the wild, unthinkable ideas that few would be capable of executing. when she listens to them speak, she can imagine a future in which they can simply relax and rant to her about whatever brilliant idea they have in mind. if she succeeds in rescuing the children, perhaps they will someday be able to.

- ', ꒱ ↷ jim.

╰┈➤ a man whose primary priority is his family, I can see jim with somebody who's more family-oriented - whether that be an individual who ended up in town with their family and is fiercely protective of them or simply someone who refuses to give up on returning home in hope of reuniting with their loved ones. while he's not always on the track to a father of the year award, and his actions often come across as misguided and counterintuitive, his love for julie and ethan is undeniable and I can't see him with a partner that doesn't put in effort to bond with his children. spending quality time with julie and coming up with stories with ethan are the way to his heart. if his partner was a single parent themselves, he would do his best to help them out and try to fill that role of a second parent for their child - after all, the role of a family man forms a large part of his identity, and someone who wants that from him would suit him well. dancing to that particular tune - aside from any potential children, whether the family his partner is close with consists of parents, siblings, other relatives, children or even chosen family in the form of friends that became such, jim would put effort into getting to know them well.

╰┈➤one of the main reasons his marriage to tabitha came to an end is ultimately the fact that that they had an incredibly hard time communicating after the passing of their youngest son - grief impacts different people differently, and it wasn't until they were stuck in an unavoidable situation that they discussed it. henry's advice and jade's call-back to reality were what encouraged him to change his outlook and prioritise communication, as opposed to his previous manner of dealing with issues by burying his head beneath the sand and simply doing what he thinks is best for those involved. with this in mind, jim needs to be with someone who's capable of communication, especially when stuck in a death-trap town and navigating boundaries with tabitha as a woman he still cares for as the mother of his children and figuring out what kind of role his partner would have in the lives of his two children. he's recognised what's doomed his first marriage and he's determined not to repeat his mistakes - but he cannot work issues out by himself. the right partner for jim would be one that is open with him and actively talks about the things that bother them and pushes him to do the same.

╰┈➤ jim is the protective type that worries about his partner and while he has learned to take a step back - he'd still fare better with a partner that doesn't mind said protectiveness. he's not going to revert back to threatening other people into staying away from his significant other or discourage them from doing what they think is best for them, but he'll need to be allowed to linger near - to alleviate his fears and lull him into a sense of security. he functions better when he's in a situation where he thinks he can protect his partner, even if that may not necessarily be true in reality. and while he may not even be aware of it himself, he would benefit from someone being protective over him as well - he's used to being in the self-imposed role of the protector and he won't abandon it, but he truly does need someone to look after him tell him that things will be okay, just as he's always convincing the people around him that they will be.

╰┈➤ both him and tabitha have both felt misunderstood and unheard in the final stages of their marriage, and I truly think jim needs to feel valued by the individual he chooses to commit to. seeking out his opinion, keeping him in the loop with what they're up to, doing little things for him and reminding him that they love him are things that would make him feel more secure in the relationship and help him heal from the wounds of the past. eventually, he may even feel seen enough to open up about thomas' death, and his partner may contribute to healing the emotional chasm between him and tabitha and help establish a friendly dynamic that is free of resentment. the support that this kind of relationship with his partner brings helps him to swap out his poorer traits for better ones and to improve as a person. the people that know him best can see the positive changes in him - and they know whose responsible for them. they are grateful for it, just as he himself is.

- ', ꒱ ↷ jade.

╰┈➤ whether they were a resident of the town before he arrived or ended up there with him, any potential partner of jade's would need to be abundantly patient with him in the days following toby's death. from his convinction that the entire situation was a practical joke set up by his childhood friend through his visions of bloodied men all the way to his fixations on the radio, the symbol in christopher's notebook and the bottle tree, the person who wants to be with him can't be someone that gets easily frustrated. early on he's often running around and trying to solve one mystery or the other, and it will take time for him to adjust to the situation - and when he does, he'll be seeking out his partner's assistance to help him untangle the muddled web of mysteries the town is deeply engulfed in.

╰┈➤ jade needs a partner with whom he can be on the same wavelength as. someone who can keep up with his frenzied train of thoughts and come back at him with theories and ideas of their own. additionally, someone brave and bold enough to venture out into the woods and explore to try and discover something new, like boyd fell into the cave with the talismans or kenny and jim stumbled upon the food, would be the perfect match for him. this kind of partner would be courageous enough to venture into the tunnels victor and tabitha found themselves in with him - but reserved enough not to attempt venturing into a faraway tree like dale did.

╰┈➤ up until recently an entrepreneur who had just made it big, jade would prefer a genuine and honest partner as opposed to someone who would sugarcoat things or tell him white lies to spare his feelings. if they think he's acting in a way they don't agree with - whether it's him snapping at victor for refusing to talk to him or skipping town meetings, he'd rather they tell him directly than keep their feelings to themselves. aside from disagreements, this applies to their feelings towards him and the situation they're in, he'd rather be aware of what they're going through than have them suffer through it without a word - even if at times he may not be able to help, he'd do his best to try. in addition to that, he'd find it easier to confide in someone he finds trustworthy - and someone who doesn't lie to him would be just that.

╰┈➤ out of all the townspeople, I see jade as the one who would benefit most from having a significant other whose love language is quality time. he's always up in his own head, plagued by scribbled symbols and haunted by the imagery of the departed, such as the civil war soldier and christopher. his partner knowing when to put their foot down and drag him away from all of that to give his brain a much-needed break would benefit him greatly. whether it's helping out tian chen at the diner, gathering something in the woods or just sitting in their room together, it's still a break regardless. the first few times he actually allows himself to take a break he feels as if he should be doing more, his hands twitching to arrange bottles and his eyes darting around the room at all times. once he realises how much lighter he feels after simply sitting with his partner as they talk about the most mundane things, he initiates these little breaks himself. he finds himself staring at the person he loves as they talk about ordinary things - the food they miss from home, what they managed to help out with around town that day, how they're considering taking up wood-carving. for a few brief moments, all the noise in his head quiets down.

- ', ꒱ ↷ kenny.

╰┈➤ the town's deputy is one of the very few people that was trapped with his entire immediate family. with the language barrier between his parents and his father's progressing dementia, one of kenny's primary goals is to keep them as safe and comfortable as he possibly can. I can see him developing feelings for somebody who bonds with his parents before they bond with him, whether that be someone who helps kristi and gina look after bing-qian or assists tian chen and sara in feeding the townspeople. his parents' fondness of them would naturally make him consider the person a friend, but it would be his own interactions with them that would lead to the formation of romantic feelings.

╰┈➤ kenny is one of the few characters I could see falling in love with a more reserved and withdrawn partner. being the town's deputy, he's one of the few individuals in town that comes into contact with most of its trapped inhabitants - and he's one of the few people that gets the chance to properly meet even those who find themselves unable or unwilling to take the leap to befriend or pursue someone. he's a helpful young man, in the role of boyd's right-hand man out of the pure desire to make life easier for those around him and try and keep this hellish place together. he'd take the effort to get to know someone who doesn't really talk to people much outside of their responsibilities, but who still comes off as a good and kind soul. eventually, they'd let open up to him and let him know who they truly are - their own qualities and flaws, as well as his desire to feel wanted and needed would result in him falling in love relatively quickly.

╰┈➤ his partner needs to be somebody kemny can consider trustworthy - sara's involvement in his father's death and boyd's decision to keep her out of the box and at his side have impacted him profoundly, not to mention shattered his faith in the people around him. his partner should be someone who isn't opposed to keeping him looped in in all of their major decisions and who can share all discoveries they consider important with him. he's not too affected by white lies and sugar-coating - but he does place a great deal of faith in his significant other, and it would be cruel to let him down. obviously, he'd appreciate his partner placing that same level of trust in him, and I can't imagine him doing anything to betray it.

╰┈➤ an aspiring polyglot, an individual with an affinity for learning languages, would be just the right kind of partner to try and help keep kenny tethered. he's one of the few characters with ties to his origin - his language and his culture, despite the fact that he went by an anglicised name to fit into his texan community. learning mandarin would bring his partner close to both him and his family - and bring him and his partner closer as he deals with loss after loss. in the evenings, when the curtains are drawn and the lamp's yellowish hue envelops the room, his partner would sit with their back resting against his chest as they try their hardest to memorise words and phrases - he'd correct then gently when they made a mistake, a warm feeling in his chest and a sense of pride at their effort. alternatively, if his partner was a native mandarin speaker themselves, I can see him having conversations in it more often - hopeful that he'd never really lose that connection to his culture as long as they're around. when death comes knocking and the monsters take the lives of his father and afterwards his mother, his partner knowing at least the basics of his native language allows him that closeness to his parents that nobody else can give him. they've left their impact on his partner too. the conversation he could have in his native language and his mother's unmatched recipes haven't left with them, they live on in him and the person he loves - the person that's now become his only living family. his partner was family to his parents as well - even if they never got to say it outloud. he'll protect what's left of that unit. he'll do it because he loves all of them, because he's not sure he could survive another loss.

- ', ꒱ ↷ kristi.

╰┈➤ a third year med student at the time of her vanishing, kristi's a character painfully aware of what she's left behind and how much she has lost. she's not going to dive head first into a relationship - and if feelings do form, she's going to suppress them out of respect for her estranged fiancee. a friendship with someone who doesn't immediately develop feelings would be the ideal first step towards forming a longlasting bond with her. there initially being no romantic undertones would help her feel more comfortable around this new individual - but them being someone she can freely confide in and emotionally there for her would be the turning point in her developing feelings for them.

╰┈➤ kristi could benefit from a humorous partner who can make her laugh - she's got a front-row seat to all the grim, grotesque aspects of life in the town, from minor things such as sprained ankles and broken bones to the horrifying ones such as burial preparations for mangled corpses and monster autopsies. if anyone needs some light in their life, it's the town's resident nurse. she enjoys listening to them regardless of whether they're silly pick-up lines her partner blurts out at random or exaggerated anecdotes from their life before the township. she may not always have the strength to laugh at them, but when her eyes light up and her lips turn into a half-formed smile - her significant other can rest assured that their attempts at humour have been successful.

╰┈➤ if her and her partner are already involved when the bus comes into town, they'd need to understand the situation and give her some space. marielle is her fiancee, and their relationship didn't end because either of them wanted it, but because they were separated by whatever entity or force has been dragging people into the town. she's naturally going to need some time to figure out how to proceed, and the depth of her feelings towards her new partner coupled with the unresolvable tension between her and marielle would ultimately bring their relationship to its conclusion. that being said, her partner would still need to be someone compassionate, who can respect her past and the fact that her former fiancee is an important part of her life. the pediatric nurse fell back into addiction while dealing with kristi's disappearance, and a partner who can keep a respectable distance from her but still care about her well-being and support kristi in navigating this new dynamic between her and the only person she knew before she was trapped here would be truly a great partner for her.

╰┈➤ circling back to the fact that kristi is one of the few people in town that truly has to see all of its horrors up-close, her partner would need to be someone with a comforting nature, who knows how to offer her reassurance and solace even in the darkest of times. there are times where humour truly isn't going to be anything but a hindrance, and those are the times where she's truly going to need someone to fall back on. I can't see her wanting to be touched in those moments - the images of guts, blood and death overwhelming her thoughts. that being said, I can see her accepting small gestures from her partner. a hot cup of tea, made with herbs randall's found down in the forest. the one blanket she has, draped over her shoulders as she shivers. the gentle murmurs of her partner's voice, spoken so quietly as to not disturb her while she's processing the monstrosity she's had to look at most recently. she's been building a wall between them since day one - they've been tearing it down little by little. at this point, they know exactly how to do it.

- ', ꒱ ↷ marielle.

╰┈➤ a young pediatric nurse battling an addiction, marielle ended up in the inescapable town on her way to a rehabilitation centre. in a world where her and kristi's relationship doesn't survive the turmoil of kristi's disappearance and marielle's subsequent relapse, I can see her being drawn to someone she considers reliable. someone who offers to help her sort out supplies from the ambulance, double-checks all the windows to make sure they're shut as sunset gathers and silently supports her as she navigates life in an environment where murderous monsters are an every-night occurrence and the only person she knows is her ex-fiancee. being able to rely on somebody aside from kristi alone helps her transition into this strange situation and provides her with a support system - while it isn't the same as the proper help she'd receive in a rehabilitation sense, it is still something that makes her want to fight and resist the urge to dig through the medicine cabinet.

╰┈➤ marielle wouldn't want to be with somebody who is constantly hovering over her or constantly fretting over her struggle with addiction. she struggles to acknowledge how much impact it has had on her, and she desires to be treated like any other regular person - she's doing her best, she's a nurse and she wouldn't deplete the little resources they have and she couldn't stand it if someone she cared for deeply, trusted and respected thought otherwise. in addition to that, kristi is still an important person to her regardless, and she doesn't want her to feel responsible for her relapse, and she doesn't want to discuss it with people other than her partner to begin with. it's completely normal for her significant other to be concerned with her wellbeing, but they need to respect her boundaries when it comes to a matter as complex as this. she can confide in them in the moments where she feels at ease enough to talk about it, but she shouldn't be pressured to do so unless her partner notices a genuine cause for concern.

╰┈➤ as the only medical expert in town aside from kristi, marielle has a lot on her plate in her day-to-day life - most notably fatima's strange non-pregnancy. her significant other being a perceptive and helpful individual would help alleviate some of the burden off her. taking note of which medicinal herbs are missing and venturing out to retrieve them from the forest and making sure to drag her out to the diner for a proper meal and a well-deserved break are all gestures that may appear small, but mean the world to her in the long run. little things like these make her life easier in the long run, and it makes her feel supported and cared for. she's grateful for these gestures, and she does her best to make sure she lets her partner know how much she appreciates them and the things they do for her.

╰┈➤ keeping what I said in the second paragraph in mind, I do still see marielle as an individual who would benefit from and enjoy having an affectionate and touchy significant other. she's been starved of physical comfort ever since kristi went missing, and seeking out a new relationship was the last thing on her mind back in the real world - now, however, it's one of the few luxuries she can afford. during late evenings, she buries herself into her partner's embrace with her head tucked tightly into the crook of their neck. death still lurks beyond the front door, but the curtains are drawn and their voices are incomprehensible, and it allows her to shut it all out. the night nicky is killed and she has to patch up randall, her partner holds her hand wordlessly - knowing that no words could truly comfort her in that moment. the morning after she has another nightmare about what she, julie and randall have endured, her partner gently strokes her back and waits for her to start speaking. it's in these touches that she finds the strength to believe that everything might be okay - that they may just make it out of there alive.

- ', ꒱ ↷ randall.

╰┈➤ while randall may initially come across as brusque, aggressive and overall disagreeable, an individual prone to seeing the good in others may take note of his willingness to help jim search for tabitha in the aftermath of their basement caving in or his foolish yet well-meaning attempt to force donna to open the diner door in an attempt to save the distrustful people outside from the dangerous monsters lurking within the dark. a more optimistic individual would be able to look past the rough exterior and see him not as a loose canon and a potential threat, but rather a man worth getting to know.

╰┈➤ upon his arrival to town, he's incredibly distrustful of everyone around him so I think an individual who knows how to keep their distance initially but still lets him know that they're willing to help him adjust would be the kind of person he'd most willingly let in. taking the time and effort to let him know that the offer to show him around the town or talk to him is on the table but still not constantly approaching him enough to make him suspicious of your role in what he originally perceives as some sick experiment is the most successful path to take for him to first tolerate, and then later on enjoy their company. as stubborn as he is, in a situation as horrifying as the one he's trapped in - very few would choose complete isolation over companionship and some semblance of normalcy.

╰┈➤ randall likes his personal space, but as a partner I see him as quite protective, constantly looking out for the person he's involved with. coupled with the fact that living on the bus with no curtains to separate him from the human-like creatures slinking around the town at night, he'd be more likely to want to move in with his partner not long after the relationship is established, and someone who is open for cohabitation relatively soon into the relationship would suit him better than somebody who would like to take their time with it. that way, not only is he able to get away from the creatures, but he's also able to keep an eye on his partner and ensure their safety throughout the night.

╰┈➤ he's one of the few people in town to be directly impacted by the music-box monster, and the only person the monsters left alive after torturing. he survived the worst threats the townspeople've encountered firsthand, and it's plain to see that he felt abandoned by boyd on the night that the ambulance came into town. if he was protective beforehand, afterwards I think he'd prefer to be with a partner who seeks him out all the time and after being left for dead in favour of other people, he needs to feel as if he's somebody's priority. and for the person that does give him that lifeline, that seed of trust they've placed in him would grow exponentially - the person whose priority he is would ultimately be his priority as well. whatever the future holds, whether they're trapped in that hellscape or make it back to the safety of the real world, they're in it together. wherever they go, randall will follow.

- ', ꒱ ↷ donna.

╰┈➤ aside from boyd himself, donna is one of the town's authority figures as the leader of colony house. those that choose the flower and choose to live under her roof, choose to life for today because tomorrow isn't guaranteed - and I can see donna falling for a partner who shares that stance. she's seen so much loss - from her sister's screams that still ring in her ears to the massacre that followed kevin foolishly opening the window for a monster he'd found himself besotted with, tomorrow is truly never guaranteed. someome spontaneous and lively, who makes the days a little less bleak and the nights a little more bearable may be just what donna needs after all the tears she's spilled in secret. pulling her aside for a lunch date at the edge of the woods and convincing her to take a day to the brundles every once in a while may be just what she needs to soothe her soul.

╰┈➤ following tense situations such as the colony house massacre, the arrival of the bus in town and the harvest of rotten crops, donna's significant other needs to be her rock - someone truly dependable whom she can rely on when the entire town is relying on her. she's rarely ever vulnerable - and when she breaks down, she deserves the luxury of being able to do it in someone's arms. while she does hold a position of authority in town, her hold over the people isn't quite as firm as she would like it to be during times of frenzy and despair. if her partner was to disagree with one of her decisions - it would be wiser to discuss their stance with her away from the mass of people who may already be hesitant to follow orders they have doubts about.

╰┈➤ donna considers the people of colony house to be her family - and her partner would need to integrate themselves as a part of that. they don't need to necessarily agree with or be friends with all of the people there, but they need to have some respect for them - and look out for all of their safety, just as the other colony house members would for them. that's truly one of the things that matters most to donna and it would make her happy to see her significant other accept that way of life, and the only family she really has.

╰┈➤ donna could truly benefit from a partner who often verbally reassures her. I don't think she hears the praises she needs to hear enough - and while I think she initially may scoff and dismiss them, after some time she would come to truly accept them. she doesn't receive much gentleness in her role as the leader of colony house and while all of the residents of colony house defer to her, I would argue that only a few are truly appreciative of all she does - very few take the time to express it, which is understandable given the situation they're in. her partner reminding her that they love her or declaring that they're proud of how well she's handling things despite all the adversity surrounding her may be things that she's not used to hearing, but they are things that she realises she needed to hear. her sister's screams are still ringing in her ears - but a familiar voice pops up every once in a while, repeating declarations of love. these sounds represent two polar opposite memories - and yet, they both urge her to keep going.

- ', ꒱ ↷ boyd.

╰┈➤ as the town's leader, boyd is expected to shoulder the weight of the world - the people look to him to be their symbol of home, to find a way out, to reassure them when the going gets tough. it's a heavy burden, and he needs somebody to share the weight of it with him. he can put up a front to the people around him, but when the night falls and the monsters come knocking at the windows, somebody needs to be there to guide him away from their whispers and the depths of his own thoughts.

╰┈➤ being sympathetic to the losses he's had to endure would go a long way. abby and father khatri both meant a great deal to him, and he's haunted by the memories of them. trapped in a perpetual circle of death and arrivals, it's not like he's had much time to deal with his own grief. being willing to listen to him talk about them, even asking him a couple of questions about things he's never really found the space to talk about could help him start to process all that he's been through. what was abby like before you got here? how did you and father khatri go about convincing the people that the talismans worked?

╰┈➤ the former soldier is also the town's most prominent authority figure, but that's not to mean that his reasoning isn't without flaw. somebody who can present themselves as authoritive and a voice of reason would help boyd with thinking some actions through. when in agreement with boyd, they could help to keep the townspeople safe by echoing and further solidifying his orders. when he's intent on keeping people in the dark to prevent frenzied panic, his partner should be there to remind him to bring donna up to speed - even suggest when the people are relentlessly yelling at tabitha for not seeking help, his partner should be there to reinforce the notion that they don't know enough about faraway trees to attempt trips down through them.

╰┈➤ boyd is fiercely protective of his family, and he would expect the person he's with to care for them as well. ellis and fatima mean the world to him, and he's willing to step over the moral boundaries he's set for himself to protect them. I can't see him with somebody who wouldn't take the effort to befriend his family and I can see him being more drawn to a potential partner who behaves in an approachable manner toward his most beloved. if his partner is around before the arrival of the matthews family, he'd be likely to confide in them about the regret he feels over his torn relationship with his son, as well as rejoice with them when ellis reaches out to attempt to repair it. boyd may have very little time to participate in the impromptu wedding by walking fatima down the aisle, but his partner helping her get ready and lending ellis a listening ear to recite his vows would ultimately draw them into the fold of this small family and solidify their place by his side.

- ', ꒱ ↷ ellis.

╰┈➤ the sheriff's son is an artistically inclined character, and I could see him connecting with someone who also finds comfort in some form of artistry - whether that be painting, writing, pottery, music or a completely different art form. he'd be incredibly supportive of them if they refused to surrender their passion and insisted on perfecting their craft regardless of how long they've been stuck in town, not to mention that it would cause his respect for them to grow exponentially. I can see ellis keeping an eye out for and bringing his significant other supplies - be that cutting down his own stack of paper and coal or discovering clay and gathering some for them.

╰┈➤ ellis is quite possibly the most romantic soul in town - and the most devoted. he'd enjoy spending a vast majority of his time with his partner, and the person he's with should be someone who truly wants to spend most of their time with him as well. he'd plan out dates as often as he could, and they'd range from preparing breakfast in the kitchen together while laughing to cozy, quiet morning strolls in the woods as him and his significant other simply bask in eachother's presence. often, he couldn't care what they're doing - as long as they're together.

╰┈➤ as is made obvious with his appreciation for fatima, ellis has a soft spot for kind and amiable people who try to be helpful and welcoming towards others. an individual that goes out of their way to help new people adjust and lends those struggling a listening ear would be just the kind of person who he'd find himself falling in love with. he would consider himself very fortunate to have a partner like that, not to mention that his significant other would be the person he'd always turn to when he needs to get something off his chest or when he simply needs to feel comforted by holding them close. while his partner shouldn't meddle in his relationship with his father too much - I can see him reaching out to repair it with their support and guidance.

╰┈➤ circling back to the topic of artistry, ellis' is the sort of guy to make his significant other into his muse once he's well and truly head over heels in love with them. he's another character whose love language would be quality time - but in the sense that he could spend hours painting his partner and trying to transfer every feature onto the canvas. he'd try to immortalise whichever features he could - the precise hue of their eyes, the curve of their lips, the bridge of their nose. a partner who could sit with him for hours as he does this, or to be more precise, a partner who is comfortable being his muse would truly suit him better than any other. not only is he immortalising the person he loves, he's immortalising his love for them through his craft. they could both disappear from the world any day now - whether that be at the hands of the vicious creatures that lurk outside the windows or to an unknown entity, but the love they have for one another will remain on the canvas he left behind.

- ', ꒱ ↷ fatima.

╰┈➤ from her first introduction, this beautiful persian woman is presented as welcoming, humorous and full of light. if her future partner was to arrive in town after her, chances are that fatima would be one of the first people to catch their eye. and while she's admired by many, I can see her developing feelings for someone confident, with inner strength to match her own. while setting themselves apart from the other people she's admired by through expressing their interest in her isn't something that would guarantee her reciprocation, it would be something that makes them stand out to her next to all of the other people she's formed strong bonds with. fatima is widely-beloved by her community and the people in it are all very comfortable with her, so if somebody wants her to see them in a romantic light, they have to take the first step towards it.

╰┈➤ fatima is loving and generous, and her character is best seen through her countless gestures to help julie adjust to town and her gifting trudy her favorite sweater. with that in mind, I see fatima's ideal partner as someone truly compassionate - I don't think she would function well with an individual lacking empathy or who has managed to fully distance themselves from the humanity of others, not when she herself feels as deeply as she does. someone who keeps an eye on donna when she's got a lot on her plate or defends victor when new people misunderstand him is likely someone she could connect with much easier than someone whose solely out for themselves and their closest ones. at the centre of that compassion would still be their love for her, and in an environment like their inescapable town, even a person that appears carefree as her needs support. a partner that encourages her to talk to them about how she feels and relentlessly tries to motivate her to keep going, to stay the person she's trying to remain would make life more bearable, even if only by a little bit.

╰┈➤ the daughter of a cleric murdered for his outspoken nature back home in iran, fatima vowed not to allow monsters anywhere in the world to prevent her from living the life. the monsters may come out during the night, but during the day - she's determined to live her life. a romantic partner who puts effort into beautiful gestures would help her truly hold onto that promise. making her laugh with cheesy jokes or organising picnic dates and decorating them with flowers by the brundles are not unachievable - and they ground the relationship as something more than a temporary connection made during distress.

╰┈➤ she would be an incredibly supportive significant other - if her partner was keen on holding onto their passions despite the dreadful situation they find themselves in, she would encourage them to keep pursuing them. whether they were an artist or writer spending the evenings with traces of coal on their fingertips, an aspiring medicine practicioner often revising the things they were taught or striving towards anything else, fatima would be right by their side. she'd take the time to pose for their portraits or to read through their works, to quiz them on the theory of their practice and to make sure that they don't lose hope in those things still being possible. after all, she wants a future with them - and she wants it to be the best one imaginable for both of them.

- ', ꒱ ↷ sara.

╰┈➤ a haunted young woman with an incredibly eerie presence, it's strongly implied that her brother helped her scape an abusive relationship shortly before arriving to fromville. with that in mind, I think sara would appreciate a potential partner who wouldn't immediately insist on a romantic relationship, but rather be her friend first and foremost. she's glad to be out of that situation, but she'd prefer to take things slow, as opposed to rushing into a new relationship. a partner who's content being her friend first and allow for a relationship to develop organically would suit her more than a partner whose immediately prepared to jump into a relationship.

╰┈➤ sara is one of the very few people in town with whom the entities of their entrapment communicate with directly, and it's safe to say that her day-to-day life is directly impacted by this circumstance. an observant partner who can notice the subtle changes in her could help her navigate the struggle of the whispers constantly circulating through her mind. pulling her aside and waiting for the voices to subside, letting her share them with the person she trusts the most makes her feel less alone, finding a way to distract her from the chaos within her mind are all things that could make her life just a little more bearable.

╰┈➤ a figure more feared than she is loved, sara knows she can't take back the things she's done. she can't bring back tobey, gina or bing-qian. she can't undo what she tried to do to ethan. worst of all, she can't bring back nathan - the only family she had. she's riddled with grief and regret, and she can understand the animosity of the people that once considered her a friend and the whispers of people who will only know her as the maddened woman with a trail of blood following her. that doesn't make their loathing and fear any easier to stomach. a partner who doesn't fear her, and reassures her that she can still do good - that she isn't a lost cause, a murderous beast beyond salvation could have a profound impact on her. someone strong-willed and loving, who stands by her even when the entirety of this small world they're stuck in is determined to keep her away.

╰┈➤ sara has little left to remind her of life before her and nathan ended up stranded in town. all she really has to her name is a clumsily pieced-together christmas ornament. being loved by somebody who is creative and fond of gift-giving could provide her with memorabilia to ground her and help remind her that somebody actually cares about her. whether it's a scrap of fabric crafted in a vague shape and hung on a thin string or a wooden box made to keep the little snowman she's kept safe and tucked away, little things would help her feel more 'at home' in a partner's presence and tether her to them as her proper, true home - a patch of salvation in a neverending nightmare.

- ', ꒱ ↷ nathan.

╰┈➤ the caretaker for the town's barn animals at the time of the matthews' arrival, nathan doesn't appear to be close with anyone in town with the exception of his sister. due to this, I can imagine his potential partner being somebody who has a pre-established connection to sara - whether that just be a coworker at the diner who drops by their house when she's forgotten something or a close friend his sister spends a lot of time with. seeing as his proximity to them would make this person somebody he encounters on a daily basis, he'd begin to notice them - and while exchanging pleasantries and taking the time to have a quick conversation with him as they go about their day would endear them to him, it's the little things he takes note of over the course of time that ultimately end up drawing him towards his future partner.

╰┈➤ his potential partner would have to be quite friendly and even the slightest bit assertive to really get anywhere with him, as I don't really see nathan as the one who would take the first step to establish a relationship. finding excuses to come talk to him throughout the day and openly admitting that they enjoy his company would draw him towards them, and he would reciprocate that effort by finding some time to go and talk to them, as well as by checking up on them throughout the day.

╰┈➤ while I see nathan as a quite withdrawn and reserved individual, I can imagine him becoming involved with a more outgoing partner - one that would regularly encourage him to get out of his shell. for the most part, that does simply consist of heading off to the diner with him and roping him into a conversation with whoever may be there - but nobody can claim that those attemps were in vain. while the people he's closest to are still his sister and his significant other, he has grown closer with several other people and started considering them close friends - the most notable of those being kristi and kenny.

╰┈➤ a relationship with nathan could be properly defined as 'private but not secret'. the people around him don't really know much about the details of his relationship, but all of them know that both him and his partner are off limits. I see him as the type to enjoy keeping the private details of his relationship between him and his significant other, and I can't quite imagine him with a partner who would mind that. in public, the farthest he'll go is a gentle peck on the cheek or holding onto their hand - but that's not to say that he comes across as cold or uncaring, not at all. the manner in which he talks about the person he's involved with, even if the things he's saying appear mundane, make it painfully obvious how deeply he cares for them - if the thinly-veiled adoration in his eyes and the slight curve of his lips are anything to go by.

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