#so even if your characters arent On Camera or operating in our version of Society... our understandings of these people are bound by it

[simpingresponsibly]

'how do you get them to a point to fucking do that'

Danger.

Could be literal, or in an IRL style fic, probably more along the lines of extreme emotional distress and/or real potential consequences.

It works for both Plot Moments and Practicality! Put them in a situation where they feel like they have no choice and then let them work through the emotions that happen when they are forced to.

If they choose to do it again, not under duress, that's character/relationship development baby 🤌

On writing sylvnap and (heterosexual) amatonormativity:

While I think the ultimate message is write what you want, normalize close m/f friendships regardless of sexuality, some of what you're feeling is probably a reaction to the people themselves

Sapnap doesn't generally get very physically affectionate with his girl friends and Sylvee doesn't with her boy friends. Sylvee has been all over Gia and Tina and Hannah, but not Dream or George despite also being friends with them. Sapnap wasn't that physical with Hannah or Gia but very physical with Foolish or even Quackity (choosing non DTeam people because they're different obviously).

Since they're usually very physically affectionate with friends of the same gender, but not other genders, that affection comes off as Different. The Difference is what people fill in the blanks with Romantic Love because of Amatonormativity.

Personally I think you were on the right track with Sylvee wanting to cuddle up to him because he's warm as a hybrid! The key to it not reading as immediately being romantic is it's either for a) Practical reasons or b) Big Important Story Moments.

This means that if Sylvee and Sapnap are physically affectionate with each other, especially where others can see them, it's a Plot Point (this is obviously based on what us as viewers see, they could be cuddling for whatever reason off camera all the time). The same would go for them interacting that way with other friends of different genders. If you're writing them as being physically affectionate with everyone that's obviously a completely valid character choice for a fic, but that might be worth addressing to readers as a departure from the characters we're used to!

This is obviously just my opinion etc but I hope another set of eyes is helpful (<- is not aro but is around a lot of aros)

OH MY FUCKING GOD THATS WHY IT FELT SO WEIRD!!! Thank you!!! :D I honestly just thought of it in terms of pure practicality tbh (ie everyone is fighting over who gets to sleep next to Sapnap) but this makes So Much Fucking Sense thank you 😭😭😭😭