#more aro ace characters please

[thissliceofnonsense]

So apparently my parents are more aro/ace phobic than anything else so here are some characters I need plz and thank you.

Aro Ace people that are the kindest people on the planet and are there for anyone who needs and people are there for them.

They don't die alone.

Neurodivergent (high empathy) aro ace characters that are, again, extremely kind.

Neurodivergent (low empathy) aro ace characters that aren't incapable of love or kindness but show it in different ways.

Aro ace protagonists so they don't have a romantic side plot.

Asexual characters that have romantic side plots.

Usually I prefer the whole "its normal so don't make it so the whole thing is about them being x but rather have them be a character who just happens to be x". But something like Nimona (where the thing itself is normal -as it should be- but the narrative is a commentary on the thing) where the story is a commentary about how humans have built literally their entire lives around a twisted form of love and romance. It is absolutely TERRIFYING to think that if you can't get married then your family is "justified to ostracize you".

(Like no, family please, you don't have to act like tinder and send me a bunch of pictures for a semi-arranged marriage because I need a different life)

Additionally-

Demiromantic/demisexual characters

greyromantic/greysexual characters

Aroflux/aceflux characters

lithromatic characters

characters in a queer platonic relationship

Just... more aspec (happy) characters thank you.

[thissliceofnonsense]

Okay. Let me try my hand at this.

Starting off the general point/metaphor/ message because I like to start from there. (I'm listening to AJR's neotheater so that may affect this.)

How about - you aren't the same person you were a few years ago, months ago, or even days ago. You will always be changing, the personality you once were, is gone and you can't stop yourself from changing - in essence, control over your own mental world.

As far as main character goes... how about someone who is effortlessly able to 'switch their personality' to match the one who would best fit the person they are around. They have been able to do this for as long as they can remember, and as far as they are concerned, this is the only part of their personality that has been consistent. They cling to this 'magic power' unconsciously, getting defensive whenever someone asks them to 'be themself' or 'be authentic'. They've been able to be the best person possible for everyone else, they don't know what their true personality is like. Do they actually like that color? Is that actually their favorite show? Arte they actually a nice person? Are they selfish? Arrogant? They don't really know.

What they want most in the world is to have a more consistent personality, perhaps they have a fuzzy memory of who they used to be when they were little, but they know that no one called them 'unauthentic' when they were young, so they desperately try to figure out (subtly of course) who they were when they were young and try to act like that, be their 'true self'.

They want this because they think that others will trust them. Never in their life has anyone seen them as trustworthy or a good friend. And the constant apprehension towards them is getting old. They are so tired of being lonely even when they are surrounded by people. They just want to be the one that makes the others happy instead of guarded.

As far as beliefs and fears go. They believe that deep down inside, they have a 'true personality' that they need to bring back. That their 'magic power' is actually a curse covering up who they truly are.

They fear that they are nothing. No one. That their whole personality is just copies and constant changing to match others. Do they even exist if all they are is a collection of reflections?

Basically - this song: (" I hope I made you smile, that's all I ever wanted". )

AND NOW, PLOT - Let's say the protagonist is meeting up with childhood friends that they haven't seen since they became an adult. (And perhaps one of these friends is the original one who told the protagonist that they aren't authentic and are 'really fake', and the protagonist cares a lot about the opinion of this person). And to their surprise, they can't personality shift anymore, instead, they feel quite.. dull, and are easily influenced. They get really scared, thinking that this is who they truly are (nothing) and tries to figure out how to get their personality shifting back, because even that was better than nothing. And I'm guessing that some of these childhood friends aren't so toxic, and they help the protagonist realize they have always shifted their personality and there is nothing wrong with that. And they realize that they never had a set personality to begin with, not even 'this magic power' is consistent. They will always be changing and can never 'keep' one personality, not even the fact that they change personalities is consistent. So they decide to enjoy this weird thing called life instead and find others who understand that they won't ever get 'the true *character name*' because there isn't one. I imagine they become a plant parent and get a cat.

And maybe all the friends have 'tiny magic powers' also, perhaps that's one of the reasons they are friends.

If anyone else see's this, here what I would need help with if I were to continue this.

Names for character (They are going to be non-binary and from the middle east because I said so... and they are lithromatic asexual because happier aspec characters :) )

Names for childhood friends

In general, suggestions and ideas.

Thanks for listening to my thots. :)

i wonder if magic is real, but only in a really mundane way.

when i was little i could almost inerringly switch back to disney channel right as the ads ended when i was channel surfing.

maybe youve never accidentally crushed a ladybug underfoot. maybe your microwave popcorn never burns. maybe you can spin around lots and lots of times before you get dizzy.

is that magic??

honestly im not sure if these are magic or just small, invisible skills. im not sure which i like better.

[moonmoonthecrabking]

“the lgbtq+ community is over-represented in media, specifically in regard to sexuality” is a statistical error. riverdale, who confirmed 90% of its characters to be gay or bisexual by the series finale, is an outlier and should not have been counted (but should be normalised).

[moinsbienquekaworu]

I'm aroace but I need to see some aroallo rep in media. The next aspec character people on my dash get obsessed with shouldn't be aroace or alloace they should be aroallo and have so much sexual attraction and sex

[nicastamatis]

i love dungeon meshi and have a lot of respect for ryoko kuis work, and i DO agree with the ace reading of izutsumi, but can we please have better standards for what we consider ace rep than reading into one (1) line. please.

[martritzvonmercie]

being aroace is crazy bc sometimes it's like. whoo yay i have such a wider perception of relationships that's so cool yay!!! and sometimes it's like. i hate this it sucks

[streetsandsodiumlights]

(tags from @no-1-rosalind-lang-apologist)

By the way "some aroace people still date and have sex" and "it's weird how internet spaces makes every single aroace character romance and sex favourable" can and should co-exist. Sincerely, an aroace person

[235uranium]

I love how ppl say they're writing ford as aro when they're writing him as aroace and by love I mean I find it deeply frustrating

[polyshipweek]

Polyship Week 2024 - Daily Prompts

[ID: Poster for Polyship Week 24, taking place 17–23 November, listing the prompts for each day. /end ID]

The prompts for #PolyshipWeek24 are here! As with last year, the final prompt of each day links to an image — feel free to use the phrase or the image itself for inspiration, and please credit the original creator if you remix their work.

Day One

Team as Polycule

"Is that my hoodie?"

Breakups

Group Hug (smolmoss)

Day Two

"Blorbo Has Two Hands"

Gift-Giving

Thunderstorms

Stair Cuddles (adorkastock)

Day Three

Queerplatonic Partners

Beach

Reverse Tropes

Through the Years (shutterstock)

Day Four

Aro/Ace & Polyam

Promises

Time Travel

Let's Dance (shutterstock)

Day Five

Relationship Anarchy

"You're burning up!"

Arranged Marriage

Only One Bed (House promo image)

Day Six

Queer Disabled Polyam

Parties

Kink Discovery

Tight Squeeze (Sailor Moon, gif by xbuster)

Day Seven

Free Day! Happy Polyamory Day!

Event Guidelines

Works featuring polyamorous characters and relationships of all kind are welcome — any characters, ships, fandoms, and OCs too!

Queerplatonic relationships, as well as asexual and/or aromantic characters are explicitly welcome on ANY day!

Works may be in any medium — fic, art, gifsets, podfic, vids, and more!

Participate in as few or as many days as you like. Choose your favorite prompt each day or mash them up — whatever sparks your imagination!

Please tag us @PolyshipWeek or use the hashtag #PolyshipWeek24 so we can reblog your creations!

Need even more inspo? You can view the entire list of suggested prompts here.

Ao3 Collection | SquidgeWorld Collection | Twitter | Bsky

[thefairfeline]

I know it's kinda selfish, but can I have more asexual charactes that aren't aromantic? One who stands up and says that you can love without sex, and that they deserve love without having to engaging in something they prefer not to?

Also a aromantic character that isn't asexual? One who doesn't feel guilt about needing and wanting people, but not seeking a romantic relationship with them? One that is open and proud, and in no way ashamed for their lack of love and need of sex?

Please?

Edit: I realize some aroace people got frustrated at this post due to having next to no representation already, and I admit it was blind of me to phrase it how I did.

I was (unfairly) annoyed when I made this post because I kept seeing people write ace characters I really like to be aro as well. (Which is more then fine to do btw!)

This tumblr dwelling feline was a salty bean who didn't think anyone would see this.

Thank you to everyone who gave recommendations in the comments!

And please don't start arguments.

[skys-archive]

I think in honor of pride month and also in general forever we should stop trying fit queer people into the identities we think they should call themselves.

And I know no one is going to see this because no one ever does but I'm going to talk about it anyway because this is important.

Bisexual doesn't mean you don't date trans people, it doesn't mean you like men and women, it doesn't mean you can't have a preference. Someone can identify as polysexual or bisexual or omnisexual and have no preference and you don't get to say that that means they're pansexual. Because no, if they don't identify as pansexual then they're not pansexual.

Transmasc doesn't mean you use he/him pronouns. It doesn't mean you identify as a man. Transfem doesn't mean you use she/her pronouns. It doesn't mean you identify as a woman. You can be nonbinary or genderqueer or agender or any gender that isn't binary and not use they/them pronouns. You can use any of those labels and still identify as a man or a woman. You can use different pronouns than is typically used for your birth sex and not consider yourself transgender. People can be gender non conforming and not he trans. People can be trans and not gender non conforming.

A trans man can be fem. A trans woman can be masc. Nonbinary people don't owe you androgyny. Intersex people don't owe you androgyny. Intersex people are people, they deserve way more attention than a way to one up transphobes. Intersex people face discrimination and body altering surgeries without their consent and then are only ever talked about to say "some cis women have penises" or "some people have an extra x chromosome" and then we never talk about the struggle they face as part of the queer community.

Asexuality and aromanticism is a spectrum. Some aces like sex, some aces are repulsed, some aces only experience sexual attraction to one person or once in their life, some aces need a deep emotional bond, some aces their attraction changes. Some aros change identities. Some aros are repulsed by romance unless it's a fictional character. Some aros have romantic feelings until they get to know someone. Some aros crave a romantic relationship but never have romantic feelings. You don't get to say someone isn't asexual or aromantic enough.

Asexuality and aromanticism is having a unique relationship with romance or sexual feelings and impulses. Someone who is transgender has a unique experience with gender. You don't get to decide that they don't have a unique experience. But guess what? You don't get to decide if they do either. Someone can have a unique experience and still not identify as asexual aromantic or transgender. You can cross dress and still fully feel like a man. You can use he/him pronouns as a cis women. You can have trauma around sex and not identify as asexual. You can never have a romantic relationship and not identify as aromantic.

You can have "contradicting" labels. I don't know as many of these because I don't personally identify as any but please fell welcome to add in reblogs. There are trans men lesbians and gay women. There are sex loving asexuals. I know there are others I just genuinely am not educated enough.

YOU DONT GET TO CHOOSE SOMEONES LABELS

ANYONE CAN EITHER IDENTIFY OR NOT IDENTIFY AS QUEER

Please feel welcome to add anything in reblogs. I'm sure there's things I've missed. I haven't talked about neopronouns I haven't talked enough about "contradicting" labels. I haven't talked about queer platonic relationships or kink or polyamory or enough about intersex people or pronouns vs gender. There's so much important things but at the end of the day it's just so important to not choose other people's labels.

[mylavellan]

Okay let me talk about it.

Like everytime a character is canonized aroace people started to get annoying about it, shouting that aroace people can have relationships and if you are uncomfortable with them being shipped with another character you’re aro/ace-phobic.

Don’t get me wrong, they (we) can have relationships but I don’t think this is what people are uncomfortable about.

I personally think the problem is that you (generic person, not you reader) don’t really care that they are aroace. You don’t try to understand aromanticism or asexuality, you only use them to defend your ship.

What I’m saying is sure you can ship them, there’s no problem, but please at least try to understand it, try to talk to aroace people to know better the subject, most of all if you’re a fanfiction writer.

Sure, there’s aspec people too whose ship aroace characters, I’m not saying they don’t or that they shouldn’t, but I’m not talking about them now.

Not use the aroace spectrum just when it’s convenient to you, remember that it’s an important trait of the character.

Let’s not erase a sexual/romantic orientation that it’s so under represented and let’s use this “opportunity” to learn something more about aspectrum.

so, ship anyone you want, but try to contextualize it.

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

I think another reason why I get rather annoyed when people hate on ToA Apollo is because how hypocritical their criticisms are.

I just saw a post talking about how great it is that Annabeth gets to show a lot of emotion, especially by crying. I also recall moments where she got frustrated or angry, and I found myself absolutely agreeing!

But then my thoughts turned to Apollo, another character who shows a lot of emotion.

But you know what he’s called for being frustrated, or upset, or for crying?

Whiny. He’s called whiny.

Apollo gets frustrated when he’s unable to perform something (archery) he used to be extremely good at. He’s upset that he can no longer use a bow correctly.

And people call him whiny for that. Apparently, those people have never experienced, let alone heard of The Gifted-Kid, something all Gifted-Kids (hello, tis me, Gifted-Kid since 4th grade RIP) can relate to Apollo over.

You were really good at something but all of a sudden you can no longer perform it as well? You’re not hitting your usual mark?

Well too bad, according to the fan base, you should shut up and not be so awfully whiny! It’s just archery!

(That was obviously in jest but you get my point.)

Additionally, Apollo never complains about important things. He complains about having to walk, but not the injury that’s literally turning him into a zombie and physically tormenting him.

That post really made me think about this, and then I asked myself; “Why? Why are people’s thoughts so different on Annabeth v Apollo showing emotion?”

It became apparent rather quickly, if you ask me.

Annabeth is a woman. Of course she should be able to show emotion! also maybe deep-seated sexism of ‘women are emotional’

Apollo is a man. And God forbid men show emotion I guess smh so also sexism

Because think about it. How many of the RRVerse male protagonists were allowed to cry? To be fully, and undeniably, upset?

I can only remember Frank crying on the plane after his grandmother’s presumed death, and Grover sniffling/getting teary-eyed in PJO. I don’t recall Percy, Jason, Leo, or Nico ever crying, or really having powerful bursts of emotion.

Yes, yes, Percy and Nico have both gotten mad and unleashed their fury upon someone, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.

I’m talking about letting them feel, letting them be emotional.

Not a burst of anger. But real, genuine character-driven emotion.

The fact that I can only name Frank and Grover from the previous two series is truly saddening.

Apollo gets to feel. To let his emotions flow freely. He whines, yes, but he also gets frustrated, he gets upset, and most of all he cries.

That all makes him a real character, someone people can relate to.

I’ll admit I’m a rather emotional person too. I have a quick temper, and more often than not the water-works come on real quick when I get upset. It’s a normal emotional response, but it can be difficult to work with, especially when you’re trying to stay calm.

Apollo is the first RRVerse protagonist to be allowed to have feelings— strong ones, even. And I can relate to that. There’s a reason why Apollo, Reyna, and Annabeth are all favorites of mine, and that’s because I see myself in them.

Annabeth is prideful. I can be too. She gets obsessed over her work. I do that too. Hates spiders? Oh hell yeah.

Reyna gave me someone to connect with over my sexuality. Ignore that Rick mixed what aro and ace are for a moment please She really gave my demiromantic self somebody to relate with, because the lack of aro rep is criminal. and no the Hunters are not aro rep

Apollo is emotional. He’s made mistakes and wants to do better.

Who wouldn’t see themselves in him? I certainly do.

And yet, he gets called whiny for having the literal rug pulled out from under him again and again, and he doesn’t even let himself complain over what he should, absolutely complain about!

Idk. I think there’s a lot to be said about how this fandom treats emotional characters, especially based on gender.

I guess this is all to say don’t judge a fictional character, because you’re judging a real person too.

And real people have feelings, you know.

[thelonelyshore-if]

Meet me at the cabin. Please.

You weren’t sure what to make of it. A cryptic late night text sent from your younger sibling, begging you to meet up at your family’s old lake home. The plea for help was as concerning as it was confusing. As far as you knew, neither of you had set foot in the cabin in a decade. You had your hesitations, but Willow seemed desperate. You couldn’t help but oblige.

Everything goes downhill fast when Willow's research into childhood ghost stories lands you in a town that doesn't exist. A town where people go missing at an alarming rate, where things that aren't quite human run businesses with hungry eyes, where time runs differently.

A town you can't leave. 

Something about Easthaven is wrong. A supernatural fog permeates the town, so thick you could choke…but you’re one of the only people who seems to notice it. You’re quick to realize the fog keeps the residents ignorant, keeps them passive, keeps them trapped. When people who have long since gone missing start coming back home, you realize Easthaven’s mysteries go deeper than you could have ever imagined.

Explore the magic and the horrors of the small town of Easthaven, team up with the few others who can see through the fog, and do everything you can to make your way back home.

The Lonely Shore is an 18+ supernatural horror story (and mystery) inspired by works such as Midnight Mass, The Mist, Scarlet Hollow, and Gravity Falls. A story about how sometimes places can feel like people, how easy it is to do terrible things for those we love, and how small towns have a way of eating you alive.

FEATURES:

Play as male, female, or nonbinary; trans or cis. Choose up to two sets of pronouns or input your own. Customize your appearance and develop your personality throughout the game. 

Romance or befriend a cast of characters. Options for ace and aro routes, as well as three polyamorous paths.

Customize Willow, your younger sibling. Select their gender and determine what your relationship with them is. Will you rebuild a broken relationship? Or let a good one go down in flames?

Explore the world of Easthaven, a town that exists outside of time, separated completely from the rest of the world. A place where tragedy is mundane and death is around every corner. Encounter the Fog, the source of all of Easthaven’s horrors.

Build up to one of five distinct magic styles as your character comes to life; including necromancy, clairvoyance, manipulating the Fog, becoming something monstrous–or suppressing your magic instead, having it come out in uncontrollable bursts.

Solve the mystery of the Returned: citizens who have been missing for months, years, decades but who have recently started coming back home.

CHARACTERS:

Jaylen 'Jay' Jones (M/F)

A veterinarian-in-training and member of the town's Search & Rescue team who has seen Easthaven's horrors firsthand. A kindhearted but wary person who cares more about keeping people safe than they do about solving the town's mysteries. They're tired of losing people.

Yasmin Bakir-King (F)

The local librarian, a fiercely clever widow with very little patience for nonsense. Very outgoing, she's one of the most well-known figures in town. She starts the story unaware of Easthaven's dangers but very quickly gets thrust into the middle of the town's latest mystery.

Amir/Amara "Croft" (M/F)

A reclusive, ill-tempered horror author who just so happens to be the town's latest newcomer…until you show up. Croft came to town with their share of secrets, and there's nothing in the world they want more than to escape Easthaven.

Beck Dawn (genderfluid)

Fun-loving and reckless, Beck is an adrenaline junkie who can't seem to stay out of danger…despite being completely unaware of the town's secrets. A magnet for trouble, it's no surprise Beck lands right in the middle of Easthaven's latest mystery.

Ravi Singh (M)

Easthaven's local mortician. Ravi is easygoing and quick to laugh; though sometimes his humor leans towards the macabre. But his easy smiles don't cover up his almost chilling comfort with the Fog; nor do they get rid of the pile of skeletons in his closet.

Perri Loveless (M/F/NB)

Runs one of Easthaven's three radio stations. In the day they play music, and at night they host a supernatural-themed call in radio show, The Lonely Shore. Perri is an enthusiastic (if a bit awkward) person whose theories tend towards the unbelievable. It's unfortunate that, despite all of their theories, Perri has no idea what's actually going on in Easthaven.

And…

"Willow" (M/F/NB)

Your little sibling. Flighty, impulsive, and outgoing; their fascination with the occult is what lands you in Easthaven. Your relationship can range from best friends to sworn enemies. Will they be able to save you from the mess they've made?

LINKS:

DEMO | ROs | Content Warnings

( current wordcount : 225,095 without code )

[big-urchin-energy]

Read the article, because I thought I might as well give it the benefit of the doubt, maybe they didn't want to title to be too wordy? It mentions the word 'aromantic' once, and mentions Loveless, calling it a book about 'an asexual student' (come onnnnnn). Overall the article is fairly sympathetic and understanding of the (aro)ace experience, but does conflate asexuality with being aroace, so all in all, representative of non-SAM aces (which I'm not too mad at I guess?), but it'd be nice for aros to get a look in outside of one sentence, especially when the characters in question do ID as ace and aro, not just ace.

"he starts talking to an artist about their piece dedicated to asexuality... as the artist explains coming to terms with their own aromanticism and asexuality (meaning they don't feel romantic or sexual attraction), and how isolating it can feel to be surrounded by a world catered to romantic love, Isaac's understanding of his own sexuality starts to bloom."

is it really that hard to write AROACE

[theartofangirling]

Please, talk to me more about Barbie being aroace.

not once, not a single time in 113 minutes of runtime, did Margot Robbie's Barbie show romantic or sexual interest in Ken—or anyone else, for that matter!

first of all, it's kind of amazing that there was no romantic storyline whatsoever for a female lead (especially one who's so often culturally thought of in a pair—Barbie and Ken) in one of the biggest movies of the year.

it also stands out because we see some of the other Barbies paired up with Kens, seemingly romantically, which implies that Barbies CAN be allo, but this particular Barbie isn't! she explicitly says that she's not interested in Ken that way!!

and obviously they never say the words "aromantic" or "asexual" in the film bc it's hollywood and most people don't really understand what that means anyway. but at least in my mind, a story doesn't have to have explicit representation in order for me to feel seen and validated by it. if nothing else, Barbie is an incredibly aroace-friendly story, not only because of its lack of romance, but because the main character doesn't want a relationship and is never questioned about this (other than by Ken, which the narrative resoundingly condemns), or told that she's supposed to or she should at least give it a try, or any number of the things that aro and ace people hear all the time.

anyway, thanks for coming to my ted talk, and go watch Barbie (2023)