Even if your story isn't a romance, how would your character ask out their crush (or react to being asked out respectively (keep it sfw tho)

[Leyelle]

For "Damsel in the Red Dress" characters:

Alicia:

Would ask her crush out: Very, very, awkwardly. She would basically stumble over her words the whole time and be red as a beet. But on the plus side, once they were actually a couple she would stop being so awkward and be able to be actually cute and flirty (well, being flustered can be kind of cute.) She's mostly just awkward when she's nervous or unsure how things are gonna go.

Being asked out: also very very awkwardly. But like above, she would get over that fairly quickly, and only be a little bit shy.

Kattar:

Would ask his crush out: Never. But if he accidentally slipped up and was driven into a corner, he would resign himself to admitting he liked her and try to be as frank and honest as possible, though there's a good chance it would be almost physically painful for him.

Being asked out: would be somewhere between dumbfounded and disbelieving. But when he knew, unlike Alicia, he wouldn't be embarrassed, but actually just really happy, and maybe a little playful and coquettish.

For "Lion Proof" characters:

Eliza: is already married but just assuming she asked her husband out rather than vice versa.

Asking out: would come on HARD without shyness or hesitation.

Being asked out: DID heartily agree without shyness or hesitation.

Aaron: as Eliza's husband, is also already married
But as the story starts with them as a couple their dating process was never shown, so this is me thinking it out:

Asking out: Came on HARD, with suave nerd energy

Being asked out: would casually and calmly agree

Ruby:
Asking crush out: would never. And probably has never liked anyone romantically even once in her life.

Being asked out: would say no without remorse and break the crushers heart in cold blood

(This is legit me just waiting for Zach and Kyara from "Trespassers")

[Rai_Muffin]

Read Raikiri | Tapas Web Comics

[kyupol]

[kyupol]

[LostKelp]

Alya: fill the conversation with as many ennuendos and compliments possible- this happens in STS.
Najm: Try to play it cool and ask them out directly
Qam: Tries to spend more time with the person they're interested in before talking about their feelings.
Rahat: Has to fall ass backwards into a relationship, if they get a crush they just let it sit there until it goes away.

[KevinReijnders]

(This is legit me just waiting for Zack and Kyara from "Trespasser")

I have been summoned!

Okay so when it comes to love and romance, both Kyara and Zack are incredibly awkward. Where I normally focus a lot on what sets them apart as characters, in this they are almost identical haha.

• asking out: Neither of them really have the courage to make the first move, the only way they'll ever be that bold is after being egged on by an external force.
  As for Zack it's because he's way too shy and too comfortable in his comfort zone. And if he were to reach a point where he'd ask someone out, he'd set himself up with possible deniability to save face.
  As for Kyara, oh boy. Normally she's quick witted and has a reply ready to go for any situation she finds herself in. But when it comes to conveying her feelings in words, her brain pops up an error 404 message. She just can't manage to find the words.

• Being asked out: Assuming they are being asked out by someone they themselves also like, it would take some time for them to process what just happened.
  Again Zack, the shy little bean he is, would at first not believe it. This is in part because he suffers from a bit of a self-confidence issue. His face would, naturally, turn bright red and once he accepted that this is indeed actually happening, he'd be overjoyed.
  Kyara would again be at a loss for words, she'd probably very awkwardly thank the person and try to change the subject there after to something she's more comfortable with. If the other person is persitent enough and breaks through her defences, she would continuously stumble over her words until finally deciding that; if words aren't her thing, she's got to show it in action haha.

Now, once they manage to find a parter that matched with them and get a steady thing going, the awkwardness soon fades. The both of them become very affectionate towards their respective partners. But also very flirty, very open and will constantly seek some form of physicality.

[Leyelle]

Oof, trying to find a possible way to deny it is definitely a bad idea. Stop taking lessons from Kattar, Zach!

[KevinReijnders]

Haha what can I say, he's a two steps forward, one step back kinda guy when it comes to this stuff

But, since you called me out specifically; I hope the answer you got was satisfactory. I know I had to walk a pretty dangerous line with this as to not reveal too much

[Leyelle]

Lol, sorry, don't want to make you spoil your own novel, I'm just really enjoying seeing your replies to these threads. Since your story isn't a romance, who (if anyone) your characters may end up with might not be as obvious as it is with mine and others.

[KevinReijnders]

Oh don't worry, I know how to walk that fine line haha.

Besides, I'm of the mind that knowing who gets coupled with who isn't necessarily the most interesting part of the romantic subplot(s) in Trespasser, rather, it's the how the characters reach that end point and the growth they go through, supporting the overarching story

Plus, I doubt it's that big a secret who ends up with who haha

[Leyelle]

lol, yeah, for me it's the emotional growth and ebb and flow more than the "secret" that makes the story stand. It's definitely difficult when you're writing friends to lovers stories and list it as that, if readers WANT to be surprised, but that's why you have to really build on the emotional depth and pull the heart strings enough to make people wonder what's going to happen next, even if they know, or think they know, who they MCs will end up with in the end.

My story is both a romance, and friends to lovers, so it's pretty obvious who the couple will be, but how they will get there, as you said, is the real question, and even what chaos and heartbreak will occur WHEN and after they get there, considering the situation they are in. Nothing is really simple in your life when loving traumatized or disabled people.

[KevinReijnders]

Truth be told, one of the reasons I love being all secretive about it (as if it isn't bloody obvious) is because I just love to tease when asked directly about it haha.

The way I've written it, it's definitely not a secret. Not to the audience at least. The only ones in the dark are the characters to whom it concerns themselves, while the supporting cast is like "dude what the fuck, just ask them out already, it's so obvious"

But yeah, as you said I'm making an action-adventure story, so I get to be a bit more loose about it (though I have to admit chapter 04 shifts the focus more towards the interpersonal, before getting smacked in the face with the unfolding events, but that's all designed to create maximum drama ). But when you're doing an actual romance story like yourself, you gotta be more aware of the rules of romance stories.

[abigaillmartin]

Hmmmmmmm well…

Elsie is asked out by Roy

Ernest would definitely be flustered by Rosemary if she asked him to go out

And then Ernest asking Rosemary if she’d like to go to the New Year’s Ball with him. Probably the most nerve wracking thing he’d ever done in his life.

He’s so sweet!! 🥺️

[lifeincolorful]

I have some unfinished pannels about that