1, 4, 7, 12, 32, 41, and 50 for the Annual Amorous Asks for Aspen, if you'd like? Feel free to skip any you don't feel like answering :D
Thanks for dropping by to ask these questions. The list was very well done, wow! Some of these questions I may be unsure of, as I am learning Aspen's character through each chapter I write. I originally was not planning on creating an OC for the New Beginnings universe, but things happened and here we are.
Aspen Reeves (they/them, genderfluid, afab, aged late 20s/early30s)
Annual Amorous Asks
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1. How does your OC feel about pet names? Might they rather enjoy them with a partner, but find them excrutiatingly embarassing if used in public?
Aspen's ex, Kai, didn't use pet names much, so they were indifferent to them. Now, Aspen has grown accustomed to Corinthian's nicknames for them such as dearest, darling (in that suave drawl, no less), and once deeper into the relationship, love.
4. Is there someone your OC has met who they would find physically attractive, if only their personality were not so repulsive? (Or that they find attractive and really wish they didn't…)
I would like to imagine that Aspen would find otherworldly creatures or masked vigilantes physically attractive. Might also be drawn towards aesthetically pleasing biceps and hands, for sure, especially if the veins are visible.
7. What gift would they be most delighted to receive from a suitor or lover?
Handwritten letters, anything handmade, paperback books, chocolates, gummy candies. If there is thought or significant effort put behind it, Aspen would be honored and beyond elated to receive it.
12. What was the worst advice your OC has ever received on the subject of love and relationships?
To try and make amends with their ex Kai, who left after their child Sam passed.
32. Is your OC a confident dancer? Would they enjoy dancing with a lover or partner? Even (or especially) in a public setting?
Back in their university days, perhaps, yes. However, Aspen prefers to observe people (ie. people watching at the park where they met Cori in chapter 1) so it would take some convincing and they would need to have a good partner. Corinthian later on, would plan on taking Aspen line dancing or swing dancing (come on, how cute would that be? He could wear a cowboy hat AND show off his partner). Slow dancing in the living room, is sacred and saved for lovely late nights or a wonderful deluge of rain and thunderstorms.
41. What has been the hardest lesson your OC has learned regarding love and romance?
It is not always easy to put yourself back out there, but the universe has a way of bringing together people right when they need it. A true partner is someone who sticks by you through thick and thin, and in Corinthian's case, is willing to kill anyone who harms or threatens you.
50. Does your OC believe they are easy to love?
After all the turmoil Aspen went through with Kai, there is a lot of self-doubt deep down they haven't acknowledged, yet. They notice Corinthian goes above and beyond (which in his case, he knows how to be self-sufficient, care for himself, do laundry, and cook) on top of caring for them so sometimes they wonder why he does this and feel like they do not deserve him. This also comes as a side effect, which makes them realize they had been accepting the bare minimum from Kai.
All this to say, Aspen feels unworthy of the care and attention at times, but despite their flaws, Corinthian accepts and loves them for how they are. Both Aspen and Corinthian are learning each other still and it is early on in the relationship, but with care and communication, I think both of them will realize that they are actually easy to love in spite of their pasts and flaws.
Look at you spoiling me~
Thanks for being so patient <3
For the Amorous Asks game (I'm still playing!)
If your OC were to dress up to show themselves off to their best advantage, perhaps for an existing partner, or in the hopes of attracting positive attention, what might they wear?
We all know who Zell's existing partner is, so let me just break down how he goes about Ruining Daeran's Life.
Zell would play on the courtly sensibilities Daeran introduced to their little situation. There is a very 'look but do not touch' interplay going on with them, therefore Zell's main goal would be making him want to touch without being too obvious about it; subtlety to counter Daeran's theatrics. Invitation and enticement rather than bombastic overture.
Naturally, the outfit would be preceded by a bath and doing something with his hair. If he couldn't get the same kinds of herbs Daeran had procured, he'd go for something like cedar and juniper to evoke a similar effect. His hair would be neatly plaited into a single braid, but the end would be ribboned in such a way that anyone daring enough to get close could pull on the end and undo the braid.
Instead of going for flash accessories or something flamboyant, Zell would dress down significantly. His usual traveling gear is eye-catching, showy, and oversized to make him look more intimidating, but made of very practical materials. For this he'd reverse it: Simple shirt, trousers, and boots - but the materials would be exquisite. Silk-cashmere blend for the shirt, crushed velvet trousers, kid leather boots; all tailored. The tailoring would be especially important - he knows Daeran would spot the difference.
The capstone of the outfit would be a heavy, comfortable cloak with enough drape to let someone catch a glimpse of what he's wearing, but one would have to be deliberate about getting at what's underneath.
As previously stated, there would be no flash accessories here. Just the key necklace (naturally); his belt buckle would be fashioned to look like a rose. As for whether he'd have an actual rose on his person - technically yes, if you count the lip balm he made from distilling petals months prior. What I'm saying is this man is premeditating a murder.
Would your OC be happy to be given flowers by an admirer or partner? What would be their favourite to receive?
Zell adores receiving flowers, and roses happen to be his favorite. (Amusingly, this was a thing long before I rolled him for Wrath of the Righteous, so That Scene pretty much clinched the romance.)
Flower gifting is important to Zell on a personal level as well as a romantic one. Growing up in Hongli it was common to bring flowers - both decorative and useful - as a gift when visiting someone. He had a hobby of pressing samples brought by distant friends and family when he was a younger child. Nowadays he will take cuttings from campgrounds or significant places he's visited in the Worldwound. He tries to cultivate from these, so he can keep the unique new plants thriving.
He also makes it a point to leave rose cuttings in certain secret places when he revitalizes the land.
Receiving the gift of roses from Daeran completely threw him, to be fair. He appreciated it both as a truly funny harmless prank, and as a genuinely thoughtful gift. He hadn't told anyone his favorite flower, or even that he'd be the kind of person who would enjoy them, but to walk into his usually cold, austere office to see it just bursting with flowers was pretty excellent experience, actually. Second only to seeing how pleased and smug his friend looked giving him such a silly present, and have it be well received.
Would your OC ever be confident in making the first move? Or do they prefer to wait for the other person to do so? If they are in a relationship then who made the first move in that instance?
That all depends on the situation and what you consider a 'first move.' Zell is a flirt AND a slut who's comfortable with being assertive if it's a completely casual thing - but anyone propositioning him would have to be straightforward about their intentions to fuck or else he'll just be yes-anding whatever banter gets thrown at him until last call. That's why he likes flirting with Daeran early on; the idea that it would turn into anything more serious seemed completely off the table. Live and learn, amirite?
In the very rare instance where he's romantically interested in someone, he's much more subtle about it unless he's absolutely, unquestionably certain it's reciprocated. Even then, he prefers to make his interest known and open things up for the other partner to take the next step. Relationships make him wary, primarily because it's rare to find someone who doesn't go in on either the sexy vampire crap or the gods-touched hero nonsense. He's much more into someone who would pay attention to what he's really about, rather than what reputation or stereotype precedes him.
So who really made the first move between them?
What was your OC most surprised to find out about themselves in terms of sex and/or romance? Or perhaps what will they be surprised about in the future?
Zell has always been a huge brat, but has never been in a situation where he's forced to concede an argument and then gotten rewarded for it.
This is a scene that exists entirely in my head, related to the mask answer from that other ask game. Mid-act 3, after the birthday party, but just before the Notadate. During a particularly heated argument about the beloathed 'muzzle,' Zell finally agrees to put the thing away permanently. Daeran's responds to the concession with 'good boy' and carries on as if he didn't just blow an entire city block worth of Zell's praise kink into orbit. Was it intentional on Daeran's part? (yes) Probably.
That alchemizes with his growing knightly devotion to everything Daeran has going on and. Let's just say he's not too pissed off at Harmattan when all that comes out in the wash. He gets it, okay?
Is there a couple who your OC views as having a particularly healthy or admirable relationship? Would they hope to emulate this kind of relationship?
Hands down, it's got to be Anevia and Irabeth. To be fair they're one of the few canon examples of a living couple we interact with more than once so it's not really a fair pool but even so.
Zell appreciates how different Irabeth and Anevia are as people, while still having no problem completely having each other's back. The love and trust between them is so obvious, but it especially hit him after coming back from the Abyss and hearing that they'd agreed to be parted again, even after they'd been torn apart by circumstance twice before. That GOT him. A love that doesn't smother, that trusts, that's built on years of understanding; isn't concerned with anyone else's opinions, just genuine. To him, that is the stuff that works.
45. Is your OC likely to hog the bedclothes and/or take up most of the bed?
Thanks for the ask! :D
You know I'm not sure any of them are bed hogs, actually! Nahte and Lyrha in particular are pretty cuddly in bed, and Nahte's a little space heater, so if anything, a partner is more likely to end up too hot and wishing there were fewer covers LOL
Thank you Hannah! Also tagging @myreia who asked for 14 too.
7. What gift would they be most delighted to receive from a suitor or lover?
Meryta doesn't put a lot of weight on possessions in general. She'd appreciate some delicious food or snack for sure. Otherwise something small, a token that would remind them of their lover like a charm or jewelry.
14. If your OC were to dress up to show themselves off to their best advantage, perhaps for an existing partner, or in the hopes of attracting positive attention, what might they wear?
So I have a couple of things I thought of for this.
one thing she'd do is to wear something fancy, that she thinks her partner would find pretty or nice, something beautiful and intricate. She would be a little out of her depth so she'd ask for help (SB weaver NPC client comes to mind)
the other things is just - in general something that would show her skin and scales - especially her belly, which is something she does, but not always. She might think of lingerie too, and I think she'd just - try to figure out what to wear since it's not something she would be familiar with. Window shopping. She'd go for something with lace, but not not excessive bow/ruffles. Perhaps something with straps too.
lastly. she'd wear a piece of her partners clothing to entice them. Not me thinking about Meryta wearing Tansui's haori and nothing else. He'd be insane about it too
16.. Your OC is asked by their lover or spouse to write them a love poem. How do they respond?
Writing in general is not her strong suit, and she wouldn't even know where to begin with poetry. She would probably ask for help, and it would be:
Emmanellain - wouldn't Ishgard do poetry? and he'd be rejected because he's an ex lover, it would be strange?
Urianger - he knows a lot words? poetry is words? but she'd be too shy to ask him I think, and she wouldn't feel close enough to him (not yet at least)
Alphinaud - he is educated, a friend, and he already allegedly tried to woo someone by drawing, which he's good at? He also wouldn't laugh at her. PERFECT. what could go wrong?
Does your OC cry at weddings? Did they cry at their own (if they've had one?)
for whoever
1
<Amorous Asks!>
I'd think all of my ocs wouldn't be someone who would cry at a wedding, maybe get a little teary-eyed from how happy they are for their friend but nothing more than that.
None of my ocs are married (yet) but Kien is promised to G'raha and while he got teared up when he and Raha exchanged their promise rings (I actually had a prompt I wrote for it in ffxivwrite last year (#shamelessplug), he didn't full on cry. But I am sure he'll cry on his wedding day as he never thought he'd be lucky enough to have someone to love/love him so yeah, he'd cry from happiness :3
N'noah got a little teary-eyed at Saraphina's and Bastian's wedding when she saw her cousin come down the aisle but she didn't full-on cry either. She probably wouldn't cry at her own wedding though. This would be the same for Atticus. (He'd absolutely tear up at a first look or when Shaili comes down the aisle)
For Syren, nope, nada. He wouldn't cry at a wedding nor would he cry at his own. Not that he wouldn't be happy, he's just not the type to let himself cry in front of others.
Ciel might be the only one who would cry at a wedding/at his own wedding (if he ever gets married) but it would be of course out of happiness and probably during the first dances/speeches.
Thank you for the ask @actualanxiousswampwitch :3
2. Does your OC remember their first crush? Would they ever admit to it now?
Oh, he remembers all right, and he'll admit to it, but man.
Before he got all his gender questions figured out, he was still a snotty little delinquent who thought being a brat at older men who had their shit together was how relationships worked. He'd fixated on one of the high-ranking Hellknights that split his time between Lepistadt and the Gravelands; Zell spent a lot of time getting himself in trouble in some pretty spectacular(ly stupid) ways for the attention. Sir [Redacted] had 0 time for that nonsense, thankfully. He doesn't exactly look back on the time fondly, but he's not embarrassed about it either.
7. What gift would they be most delighted to receive from a suitor or lover?
If someone were to want to really surprise and delight him with a material gift, it would be a spinning wheel. He enjoys spinning yarn as a hobby, and has always wanted one of his own, but a spinning wheel is one of the least portable craft items that isn't like... a full loom. So for a guy whose life is very On The Road, it's not something he would want to ask for (so frivolous!) but... it would be quite well-loved. Should he ever decide to settle down*.
Aside from the material... time. With a life as hectic and unpredictable as his can be, the gift of time alone with his lover is his favorite of all. He doesn't really go for stuff, though flowers are always appreciated (and propagated, and planted in unexpected places. You wouldn't believe how many random groves of roses there are scattered all over the place by endgame.)
26. Does your OC enjoy holding hands? Or are they too awkward to do this in public? Or possible too clammy?
Zell loves to hold hands! For him, it's a level one sign of casual affection or connection. He has no problem holding hands with friends or strangers and is very proud of the hard work he's put in to make his grip gentle. He's physically very strong, so he had to teach himself like. Pro Wrestler handshaking techniques pretty early on to not hurt anyone.
He especially enjoys holding his lover's hand in both of his own, linking their fingers together, tracing along veins or bone with his claws. It's about the trust, and the tenderness.
*Daeran: 'get him a large, practical, unwieldy piece of furniture to keep him at home' DULY noted
If your OC is single do they find it difficult to relate to their friends who are married or coupled? If they are in a committed relationship then do they find it difficult to relate to their single friends? What makes them exasperated/jealous in either instance?
Thanks for the ask! :3
Tsimh and Nahte have run into issues with this a bit in the past just due to cultural differences. Moonkeepers don't take husbands and it's anathema to try to force a Moonkeeper woman to only stay with a single man. Moonkeeper men are expected to wander in a largely solitary lifestyle, and service several women when they're in want of company.
Tsimh is mostly content to stay in her forest home among her own people. She can be rather skeptical of enforced monogamy and struggles to relate to the unique challenges and joys of such partnerships. Furthermore, if a friend started neglecting their friendship with Tsimh because of a romantic partner being prioritized above other relationships, Tsimh would likely be quite offended.
Nahte has been out in the world more and his needs have never been the same. As a demisexual who traditionally struggled to be emotionally vulnerable, and also wants to build long-lasting romantic relationships, he never took as well to his birth culture. While he's level-headed like his sister and wouldn't value romance above other kinds of bonds, the idea of pledging to love someone and building a life together in a partnership (or partnerships) was pretty appealing to him.
Certainly not every married couple he met was the epitome of love and trust, but the ideal that was presented had potential to fulfill a need that had never been met for him. Though he's not a jealous person, as he initially befriended people living in healthy pairs where the man was allowed to stay in the house and help raise their family together, he did experience the distress of wishing he could find the same.
9. What setting would they consider the most romantic to spend time with a partner? A beach at sunset? A private box at the theatre? An opulent ballroom? A private garden? Or something else entirely?
I'lyrha has traveled all around the world and made love to a variety of people in about every location imaginable. She likes the thrill of being somewhere you're not technically supposed to be, and might provide that as a cheeky response to the question.
But if answering honestly, I think she'd say somewhere "homey." Sailors at sea so often dream of returning somewhere when the voyage ends; even pirates want an island or a port to call on once they've amassed their riches. I'lyrha's not had that, and there's a certain fantasy to meeting a lover in such a place.
