Sorry, the anon about couples, what would you guys like to see more of when it comes to love and romance like from the build up to two people getting together to things that can tear them apart then to eventually getting back together?

I feel like I’ve answered this ask before, but I can’t find it, so that’s weird. Here’s my wish list, so to speak:

• Couples who don’t start off hating each other. Seriously, this is a hugely prevalent trope and I’m really bored of it. I’m tired of seeing two people who get on each others’ nerves thrown together until they basically just each get used to how annoying the other one is. Stop.
• Couples who don’t immediately fall in love. On the other hand, love at first sight has been done to death. It takes people different amounts of time to fall in love. Lust at first sight, sure, for some people, but love takes time.
• Couples who take their time and savor the moment. Give me the build-up before you give me the payoff, okay? I want to see couples nervous about holding hands for the first time, about their first kiss, about cuddling on the couch, about the first “I love you”. A lot of times we get couples who jump right into the deep end of a relationship and skip over all of this.
• Couples who really communicate. I’m not talking about figuring out who stops to pick up milk, I’m talking about couples who really, truly talk to each other. Frequently there’s this trope in fiction that miscommunications are cute and funny, and sometimes they are in real life, too, but more often, if you can’t talk to your partner about something that is bothering you then there’s a problem with your relationship.
• Couples who get silly with each other. When you’re close to people, you develop little inside jokes and shared experiences and nobody else has, and you get comfortable enough to let down your guard. Sometimes the combination of these things makes you act silly. Silly is okay! Silly is an expression of trust. Don’t be afraid of silly.
• Couples who set boundaries. I hate seeing couples who are attached to each other and never do anything alone, ever. It’s unhealthy for people not to have their own identities. Likewise, it’s unhealthy for people to be forced into positions or actions they aren’t comfortable with. I want to see more couples establishing boundaries for themselves, each other, and their relationships, and then abiding by those decisions.
• Couples who support each other, no matter what. When the going gets rough, I want to see your couples gritting their teeth and doing their best to support each other through whatever hard times are happening. Part of being in a relationship is knowing when you have to shoulder a little more than your fair share to give your partner a break, and knowing that your partner will do the same for you when necessary.
• Couples who make their own rules. Mostly, I want to read stories that include relationship twists I never could have predicted. I want to read about couples who defy tradition, who blaze their own trails, and who make active and informed choices about how to manage their relationships.

I hope this answers your question, Nonny. Good luck!

-Kyo