the thing is, i feel like sometimes self-shippers don't fully embrace the idea of a character being in love with them. instead, the character looks like they are pretending to be in love, like unwillingly putting on this role on the side, as they continue their own life as their canon self, you know what I mean? you need to be more self-indulgent. you have to disrupt their in-character persona in some way, because love is now present and it alters things and people. someone who is in love with you, as aloof and emotionless as they may seem, will care for you and will change if necessary. they will do things for you that they wouldn't normally do for others or even for themselves, because you are not just a random dude showing up next to them. you are their person.