20 / 48
May 2024

I can't stress this enough, only sfw guys.

Also did anybody notice that the more times you say flirting the weirder the word sounds?

Anyway, somebody had an old dead topic on how to write believable flirting. How do you write flirting in your stories? Or does nobody flirt at all? Are some of your characters just so suave that everyone thinks they're flirting when they're not?

My character Alicia is not typically much of a flirt, but there's a lot more flirting in the second book than in the first as she's gaining the confidence to flirt with her crush a little bit. Meanwhile her crush doesn't have to do virtually anything to make her blush, his flirting is pretty subtle.


He hesitates for a minute with a quick glance at my outfit.

ā€œAre you sure youā€™re alright in those heels?ā€

ā€œIā€™m fine,ā€ I smile, ā€œyou practically live in heels when youā€™re as short as I am. Itā€™s easier than yelling when you want to get someoneā€™s attention.ā€

ā€œI canā€™t imagine youā€™ve ever had trouble getting attention,ā€ he smiles playfully, ā€œYouā€™re just Venus condensed.ā€

ā€œ-Iā€™d like to plan you a little birthday something if thatā€™s okay with you.ā€

Heā€™s still looking at me like Iā€™m out of my mind, but thereā€™s a hint of interest in the dark eyes, behind the expression he keeps blank enough to completely - almost completely - mask what heā€™s thinking.

ā€œHave at it if you like, but Iā€™m warning you, my momā€™s set a high bar. She made me a little bit of a party connoisseur, you know. You think you can impress me?ā€

ā€œOh yeah,ā€ I smirk, crossing my legs with a diva-ish air, ā€œThatā€™s not a concern.ā€

I dare to smile a little teasingly and watch the poker face waver, just a tad -

ā€œ-I have a certain secret weapon that your mother didnā€™t make.ā€

  • created

    Apr '24
  • last reply

    Oct '24
  • 47

    replies

  • 1.3k

    views

  • 1

    user

  • 30

    likes

  • 15

    links

Kinda wish I could participate in this, but my characters flirting is divided into
A: just existing next to the other person
B: very exaggerated actions that are easily misinterpreted as a joke
C: years of pavloving your significant other into being both desensitized to your bullshit, and simultaneously finding it endearing

Pavlov guy has rizz to one very specific character. Everyone else avoids him like the plague.

does that mean he has rizz or that that character is just susceptible to him? if everyone else avoids him that probably means he has no rizz

The character has been used to him for years now, and has practically no other friends to compare it to. Canonically thinks heā€™s a perfectly normal dude, thatā€™s just a bit socially awkward.

yeah, that is so not the same thing as rizz, it's just called living under a social rock

Idk how relevant it is, but this reminded me of a crummy doodle I did a while back lol

Most of the flirting that happens in my comics involves insults. These are small, harmless insults in which both players are in on the joke. They are to tease, not actually harm. Look at most relationships, most are actually built on this in real life.

I want to say something, but my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, as he just beams at me glancing up from beneath the dark lashes with a slight, bashful smile.

ā€œItā€™s my fault,ā€ and he means it, ā€œIā€™m all yours.ā€

Now itā€™s my turn to flush scarlet, from my cheeks to my hair.

Donā€™t phrase it like that.

Heā€™s teasing me.

But thereā€™s something about the shy light in his eyes that is so much sweeter and more honest than the roguish, devil-may-care confidence, that I almost lose my sensibilities.

Heā€™s not teasing me. And thatā€™sā€¦

ā€œNever mind, go back to being distracted.ā€

He smirks, raising one eyebrow as the waiter comes over with our plates.

ā€œI am.ā€ He mouths, and I nearly choke on my water.

IĀ“m currently writing a story with people flirting all the time.
The flirting and the conflict phase are my favourite parts of writing

i enjoy writing flirting too, though my character's certainly aren't flirting all the time lol

I lean over the armrest and quickly plant a kiss on the end of his nose, watching his eyes round out into those endless oceans - ebony full moons in his scarlet face.

He immediately moves to hide his embarrassment behind his hand again, but I donā€™t let it go.

ā€œOh for heaven's sake.ā€ He says it halfway between a laugh and a shudder, more embarrassed than I think Iā€™ve ever seen him yet.

ā€œThat means yes, in case you were wondering,ā€ I smile, folding my sleeves over the upholstered arm even as I keep his right hand clasped in my own.

ā€œOh does it?ā€ He laughs just slightly, ā€œI couldnā€™t tell.ā€

I roll my eyes, but canā€™t resist the smirk.

ā€œDo you need me to say it again?ā€

He doesnā€™t even try to hide the flush this time, though his smile is anything but shy, as he brushes the hair from his neck with his newly freed hand, tossing me a teasing smile.

ā€œIā€™ll pass for now. I promised my mom I'd be on my best behavior while she was in San Diego, you know.ā€

I'm aroace so writing flirting is just stupid fun for me. my character Corym is a huge flirt and he's sofun to write that way

Milo's eyes caught Coryms again. He soon caught himself staring at him. "Sorry... have a good evening".

Corym grinned up at him. "Oh and for your own sake, usually the blue sweater suits you but now it clashes with the red in your cheeks." He said, before leaving with a wink.

I don't know what this means lol.

But I have a lot of fun writing flirting too lol

16 days later

A teaser for the episode coming out May 24th:

Here we have Kattar flirting with his fans lol:


To my surprise I receive a notification that Kattar is ā€˜liveā€™ the instant I turn on my wifi.

At this hour?

Clicking on the notif, my screen is washed out by murky-dark footage of Kat laying on his back drowsily with one hand over his face answering the barrage of comments coming in hot and heavy from a little more than seventeen hundred fans.

ā€œSiiii, lo siento. I know. I promised to do the live stream today, but I ended up getting home a lot later than I thought I would.ā€ pause ā€œNo no, I didnā€™t forget. Iā€™m here arenā€™t I?ā€ pause ā€œIā€™m sorry. But thank you for waiting for me.ā€

He blows a kiss to the phone and I feel myself redden involuntarily.

So thatā€™s why people enjoy watching these.


there's some rather coquettish flirting on Alicia's part in the chapter coming out this week too lol

I'll just tease this one part:


At that, his smile evaporates into sullen stone-faced suspicion.

ā€œAish, so this was all just an elaborate ploy to steal more of my sweaters?ā€

Leaning his cheek on his left hand, elbow on the sofa arm, he sighs, shading his eyes as if the ugliness is giving him a headache.

ā€œFine, fine. Anything to get you out of that monstrosity. You can borrow anything you like.ā€

ā€œAnything?ā€

ā€œAnything within reason,ā€ he says dryly. ā€œI have a few garments I prefer to keep personal.ā€

ā€œYouā€™re always adding extra rules,ā€ I pout as the idea creeps up on me slowly.

Just one flushā€¦

ā€œHow about that sweater youā€™re wearing right now?ā€ I tease.

23 days later
29 days later

Shy boi rizz, but still rizz


I could try to be a little less distasteful. I look back at the guy, and force a smile.

ā€œMaybe itā€™s just because Iā€™ve read so many romances. I have a hard time finding anything really unique that impresses meā€¦ā€

I should have tacked on a ā€˜muchā€™ at the endā€¦

ā€œDo you think I could impress you?ā€ He asks suddenly.

What?

I look at him blankly.

ā€œWhat?ā€

ā€œIā€™m sorry,ā€ he kind of laughs and smiles uncomfortably at the same time. ā€œThe second you walked in here, I knew I had to try to get your number because youā€™re just so strikingā€¦ā€

ā€œAlicia?!ā€

ā€œSorry, Iā€™m just feeling a little queasy,ā€ I mumble, but Iā€™m not sure my sickness is loud enough for him to hear me.

I take my measurements quickly - almost certainly getting them wrong - and leave the measuring tape on Kattarā€™s bed. Heā€™ll almost certainly be annoyed - but I have to just deal with that today-

ā€œTook you long enough,ā€ Kattar smiles a little teasingly as I drag myself back into the living room.

ā€œIā€™ve gained a few inches,ā€ I mutter, sitting at the opposite end of the couch, not looking him in the face.

I watch out of the corner of my eye as heā€™s washed in-

Worry-

About me, please.

Iā€™m not okay.

ā€œIs that something to cry over, bella?ā€ he smiles nervously, putting one hand to my burning cheek and trying to get me to look at him - and his words start to mesh into each other-

Itā€™s just the accent - But thatā€™s not what I hear.

ā€œ-It wouldnā€™t kill you to gain a few pounds. Youā€™d lost too much weight back then.ā€

ā€œAish,ā€ I shake my head trying to shake off my anxiety, but it clings to me like - ā€œYou sound like a motherā€¦ā€

ā€œAhhhh, that wonā€™t do,ā€ he shakes his head, cringing a little, ā€œWhat should I say then? I prefer my sweetheart a little softer.ā€


20 days later

ā€œWeā€™re going to play a little game,ā€ itā€™s almost a whisper, and he looks at me with a nerve-wracking-ly impassive expression - almost impassive - but in his eyes, I can see that slight light and coquettish curiosity-

ā€œIf I kiss you, I steal your memories, and you have to answer one question for me.ā€

He smiles a little in spite of himself, a slight color coming into his face as he leans back against the sofa arm, shading his doubtful smirk with one hand, squinting suspiciously -

ā€œYou wouldnā€™tā€¦ā€

23 days later

Dominic is pretty smooth, but Essence doesn't know how to respond to his flirting lol:


ā€œLooks dazzling. Like a picture,ā€ he grins and shades his face as he glances upwards in the direction I'm looking.

ā€œThe sunset?ā€ Well, maybe if you like cityscapes, but stillā€¦ ā€œYou canā€™t see much of it through the buildings and power lines.ā€

Wait.

I probably should have agreed with him, right?

Mr. Giang just shakes his head, smiling, ā€œI meant you, but the sunset is nice too.ā€

All of my characters are anything but suave lol. I feel like a lot of us in the LGBTQ community in general aren't suave lol. We're awkward and most of us are nerds since we've often been excluded. So, this is pretty authentic in my books. Two of my characters flirt by cooking and both of them successfully got their boyfriends by hooking them by their stomachs. Boys are easy and the best way to get them is with food. Of course, it was more of a "um do you like food? I made chocolate/cookies..." and the boys gravitating around them because the food is so good and this led to other things. Food = love and family in my books, so it was only natural. Though I bet a lot of real life people express love through food.

Aye, I definitely do, and some of my characters are like this too. Boys aren't easy though, that's really a negative cliche, so I think it's better not to spread it.

"Boys aren't easy though". Lol as a boy, I disagree (sorry, I was being silly).

well, even as a joke, it's often taken as a given unfortunately. no one can speak for the entirety of any demographic, only our own experience.

19 days later

Just realizing it's going to be several chapters before I have any more flirting in "Damsel in the Red Dress."

What am i doing with my story?

19 days later

Kattar smiles, now, just slightly, but sincerely, and I feel a warmth like mild sunshine wash me in comfort, if only for an instant, even as I recognize that sly energy that I pretend not to.

ā€œFine, do you know what I really want?ā€ He tilts his head with that same subtle smile, crossing his arms over his cable-knit chest.

ā€œWhat?ā€ I ask slowly, as I cram as much of the pretzel as I can manage into my mouth to try to avoid dropping any crumbs on his couch.

ā€œThe other half of that pretzel youā€™re eating.ā€

He grins roguishly, and before I can say anything in response, he leans forward across the cushions, and bites off the other half of my pretzel, with a sort of half-kiss that turns my whole face burning red.

ā€œGet your own!ā€ I bluster, embarrassed and flustered in a sort of butterfly-ish flutter as he re-steals the pretzel bag and plops back against his pillows on the opposite end of the couch, ā€œGive me that back!ā€

ā€œNot on your life,ā€ he grins, placing one of the pretzels between his teeth teasingly. ā€œIf you want it, come and get it.ā€


14 days later

My characters don't necessarily flirt. They bicker like an old couple who've been married for 50 years for like five minutes then it's like, "Do you wanna go to Waffle House?" I'm absolutely in love with their dynamic.The only reason Dallas started arguments with Harper is because he finds her cute when she's angry.

Mines is a webcomic but couldn't pass up the opportunity XD
The back and forth between these two is usually sprinkled with em
here's their 1st exchange

Hmm Iā€™m trying to think if Butter Bee currently has any flirty moments at the moment, and I donā€™t think it does :sob: to be fair though I havenā€™t focused on any real romance within the story yet so I guess that makes sense why there are no flirty scenes as of yet.

I think the only thing that comes close to it is this doodle comic, and itā€™s more like failing at flirting miserably on Geoffreyā€™s part. Totally cursed :joy: but hereā€™s the scene with Knight Lock and Knight Geoffrey:

lol, poor Geoffrey. My comic's ml fails at flirting a lot too, so he can relate, though romance isn't even the main theme of Sketchy Business. He kind of fails at it from comic one, since the female lead finds it annoying.

(excuse how awful this drawing is, it's the first strip of the comic TT, my art has improved since then)

Omg you know I actually have written this dynamic too :joy: for a different story, one of my first I started working on actually! Itā€™s a really fun style of writing for me, since Iā€™m bad at writing like suave romantic romances so I like writing ones with more banter. Would Dallas have the ā€œargumentativeā€ trait if he was a Sim? XD although Iā€™m not sure if thatā€™s an actual trait, but I feel like it should be! lol

Donā€™t feel too bad for Geoffrey heā€™s literally more than 20 years older than Locket so itā€™s kinda šŸ¤¢šŸ¤¢šŸ¤¢ stop, drop, and run away!!

but omg Chili is really trying hard oh no :sob: looks like he wasnā€™t successful either! But he seems way more likeable than Geoffrey, he just comes off kinda goofy and extra :sparkles::nail_care: Also as a side note: how old is this art??! Youā€™ve had such a jump in quality in art, Iā€™m telling you youā€™re moving so fast with learning!

@Cass at least arguing like an old married couple now will prepare them for later xd.

A romance that was suave all the time would get pretty dull pretty fast anyway imao lol. Most of my couples bicker at least a little bit too I think, it's just different ratios :joy:

Ah yeah! Definitely I see more playfulness in your scenes too that youā€™ve shared here. But also nothing wrong with really poetic or romantic scenes either! I just donā€™t know how to write them so I donā€™t :sob: Everyone has a different strong suit. But whenever the rare occasion pops up where I do write actual romance between characters theyā€™re a bit dorky and nervous themselves.