Anybody think there can be levels of realizing?
Like you might feel something at one point without it fully dawning on you why you feel that way until sometime later.
That's part of my complication with writing Kattar and Alicia lol, they both felt the signs so many times, but especially if you tend to avoid your emotions, it's too easy to brush them off and not fully address or sort out why you feel the way you do
Oh yeah, definitely. Love triangles are born from people brushing off feelings like that. And tragedy is when they're realised too late.
The lovers in my story go through a series of realisations before they put two and two together-- like knowing they want to talk constantly, and be close to one another-- but for all they realise those feelings it still takes time to recognise the bigger picture. The kind of thing happens a lot when people meet under circumstances that aren't romantic-- it's a classic story and I really enjoy the type.
When did your leads figure out that their crush liked them back? Was it a confession or did they figure it out before then?
In "Damsel in the Red Dress" Alicia had seen and recognized a lot of signs, most of which she decided to act like she didn't see that her best friend Kattar liked her - but the day she acknowledges as the moment when she really couldn't ignore that he had feeling for her any longer was in the chapter "Burgundy."
“I’m so tired of this Kat,” I whispered, in almost a whimper.
That was the first time I saw that expression on Kattar’s face - that burning that shone through in his eyes - lips parted - but frozen - almost desperation.
“Do you…want a hug?”
He wanted me to say no - because he knew…
That’s when I realized he was in love with me. And that just made me angrier.
Similarly to Alicia, Kattar had seen some signs that Alicia liked him as well, but unlike Alicia, he didn't try to ignore the signs, but rather was convinced he must have been reading into things, and he didn't want to make things awkward, so he didn't acknowledge them. (because why would a girl who idolized his mom so much want anything to do with men?) So he kind of just waited to see if she would say something and never intended to admit to his feelings if she didn't (though he didn't succeed at that, he managed to last 15 years, which is seriously impressive.)
“Viejo,” I say slowly, despite the voice in my head telling me to stop - telling me it’s better not to know - “How long has it been?”
He looks up hesitantly, flushed and pale at the same time, meeting my gaze with an unsteady, sheepish smile.
“Fifteen years.”
He speaks like he’s had the wind knocked out of him, looking back down at the blankets lighting fast.
I cringe.
I hadn’t even imagined it was that long.
“You fell for that ratty little kid in hand-me-downs while your mother had you dressed like a junior model…?”
He doesn’t budge, staring at the blankets like his life depends on it.
The surprise and bafflement subsides into confusion and concern, as I watch the torrent of torment in his expression, his pale face changing colors from white to blood red.
“Why didn’t you say something…?”
He tries to laugh, but the sound is fragile-
“Maybe I had pretty boy syndrome and wanted to hear you say it first, cuz you were the only one who never did.”
Here we have the moment when Dominic realized he liked Essence:
I march-walk into the store and straight to the freezer, pretending not to notice the weird way the short guy behind the counter squints at me as I do. I’m not sure whether it’s because of my speed walking, my hair, my complexion or my height, but I force myself to move at an easier pace, just in case it’s something I CAN do something about.
Natsu was almost immediately smitten with Toji when he first saw him. But, hey, why wouldn't he be? He was a beautiful young god with unique eyes! But, thanks to their separate stations (Natsu was a new cook at Helman Hall at the time), and their age, Toji was fourteen and Natsu sixteen, he never admitted anything. Not for another two years when Toji confessed to liking him.
Toji was at first captivated by the new cook, and then developed his crush quickly after that. He was fifteen when he fell hard for Natsu...literally. That story does get told later on, though, so you'll have to wait to read all about it LOL. Otherwise, their relationship grew naturally, from a normal friendship to subtle flirting and sneaking off, to the secret relationship they began two years after meeting.
Even though they knew they were taking a huge risk in being together, they didn't care and still don't.
Is it too early to start spoiling this for "Sketchy Business?"
Texas and Chili have liked each other since the start of the comic, and it's pretty well known to both of them, but the moment it becomes serious is pretty crazy lol.
The plan is to debut this comic this year if all goes as planned, I'm stoked
It's probably too early to spoil this for the leads or for Mora's grandparents, but for the Georges they met in their teens (well, she was 19, he was 20) and Verner immediately knew he was in love with Therese. Like he pulled her to the side and kissed her the first day they met lol. They've been married for 20 years now.
Tetsu realized he more than liked Sana when Sana had a medical emergency during their date at Disneyland. He'd been interested in him already, but he realized he had feelings as soon as Sana went down. Sana is a diabetic, but ate ice cream to try to appear normal around Tetsu. Tetsu realized in that moment just how special Sana is, since there was a possibility that he could lose him suddenly.
Yeah, absolutely. There's different kinds of diabetics, and Sana is what's known as a "brittle diabetic", where sugar swings in either direction can be extreme, hard to recover from, and life threatening. Tetsu is absolutely understanding of it, though he's not educated at all on the topic in the beginning.
Coby and Ash knew they liked each other from the very moment they saw each other. Coby is aware they have a much deeper connection, even though he's trying to deny it for himself since he has much bigger problems to worry about.
The second the door closed behind Ash Turner, Coby turned his gaze to the cabinets above the sink counter. He could feel the magic pulsing within, felt the energy as it flowed from the whale-skin pouch into the room, permeating his skin and caressing his soul. He swallowed hard as he recognized what the Flame was telling him, what it wanted him to acknowledge…what he had been trying to deny since the very moment Ash had walked into that room.
He shook his head, his chin trembling. It wasn’t that he believed the energy was wrong, he knew it wasn’t. It was that he knew he couldn’t pursue this fated connection even if he wanted to. For one, he had to focus on getting better, laying low, and getting the Flame to the temple in the south before he inadvertently drew unwanted and unneeded danger to the town.
For two, merfolk, especially Sarathians, did not get involved with humans. Even now he could hear his father’s voice ringing in his ears.
“Humans are cruel and heartless, Co-Bieasah,” he said, his eyes hard and voice stern. “They do not know how to show genuine affection, and they have no understanding of true love or connection. Do well to stay far from them, son. No matter what, never give your heart to a human.”
Coby reached up and gently touched the carefully placed bandage on the side of his head directly under his acolyte’s braids. He stared at the hand upturned on his lap, a single tear rolling down his nose to land in the center of his palm.
What his father or any of the other elders in his city hadn’t told him was what he should do if he were to find that one of those humans he was cautioned away from just so happened to be his eternal mate.
His soulmate.