Post by CertainUncertainty on Oct 1, 2015 17:03:39 GMT -6
Things I Like in a Romance Hero
I love romance. I breathe, write, sleep, and eat good romance stories all day, every friggin' day of the week. Now that I'm back in the swing of writing (really, I am!) I've been spending a ton of time building characters, in particularly a romantic lead. After I spent some time to reflect on it, I decided to share my college essay worthy list of things I like or look for when reading a romance novel. Please note that the examples listed are things that I liked the most or noticed first - it doesn't apply for everyone else who likes/loves/obsesses over these characters. This list will be a WIP until noted otherwise.
I love romance. I breathe, write, sleep, and eat good romance stories all day, every friggin' day of the week. Now that I'm back in the swing of writing (really, I am!) I've been spending a ton of time building characters, in particularly a romantic lead. After I spent some time to reflect on it, I decided to share my college essay worthy list of things I like or look for when reading a romance novel. Please note that the examples listed are things that I liked the most or noticed first - it doesn't apply for everyone else who likes/loves/obsesses over these characters. This list will be a WIP until noted otherwise.
- He has a trademark. He does something that the other characters can't ever hope to duplicate. The way he does it is sexy, alluring, and he's oblivious or doesn't even try to do it! Damon Salvatore: his smile
Mr. Kind: seductive voice
Jacob Black: forever shirtless, smile
Alucard: gets excited during a fight
Sebastian Michaelis: eternally polite
Other Things: his scent/cologne, looks you directly in the eye, is exceptionally skilled (jack of all trades), air of authority, his touch, personal appearance/style - He's a badass. He makes it clear he isn't the one to mess with. No matter his role, archetype, or personality, he makes it known he isn't a pushover. He proves that he's an alpha, beta, or gamma male.Damon: Carries out his plan to free a lover then seeks revenge
Mr. Kind: Known as the Stilwater Devil, does insane things to his enemies
Jacob: Openly taunts/challenges vampires with confidence
Alucard: is an organization's trump card - BITCHES FEAR HIM
Sebastian: is a demon who's all but impossible to kill
Other Things: can/will sabotage your stuff, will throw down for loved ones, able to outsmart his enemies and destroy them physically, financially, and emotionally, willing to fight dirty if being honorable doesn't work - Though he hides/fights it, he cares for those closest to him. For whatever reason, he tries to hide his softer side - his humanity. Finding out that he has a soft spot makes me hope that he could have one for me too. ❤Damon: loves/d Katherine, then Elena and later Bonnie
Mr. Kind: is loyal to and/or loves FEM!Boss, Tamara, and Dice (until it's public, Spade doesn't count yet)
Jacob: Bella, his pack, Reneesme (*vomits*)
Alucard: is loyal to (and may love) Sir Integra, saved Seras Victoria and served as her mentor
Sebastian: very protective of Ciel and the staff of the mansion - CATS!!!
Other Things: cares for orphaned nephew, is a mentor (big brother), spoils his kid, treats clients like family, makes tough choices/sacrifices for others, is devastated/destroyed when someone dies - Doesn't do anything half-assed. He goes above and sometimes beyond what's expected of him, often surprising me - good or bad. A date isn't a quick stop at a restaurant - it's a homecooked meal, tune on his piano, and a walk through the park where he watches the city's skyline. He's passionate and applies passion to everything he does. ❤Damon: does what others aren't willing to do
Mr. Kind: never returns without something to show for his efforts
Jacob: fought tooth and nail to win Bella's heart, even at his own expense
Alucard: saved Seras then watched over her as a mentor
Sebastian: he's simply one hell of a butler, wouldn't be worth his salt if he wasn't
Other Things: takes down rival gangs then takes over the city itself, declares his intent to protect someone then destroys all who test him, sacrifices himself, finishes a task before moving on - He's extremely comfortable with who he is. He isn't insecure (outwardly), doesn't have doubts, or desires to be different in any way at first. Such self-confidence is admirable and often leaves me wishing I was like him - able to be comfortable in my own skin and accept myself for who/what I am. He may actually need to change, but his initial fight to stay "true" to who he is is respectable and understandable.Damon: embraces being the villain, anti-hero, and sidekick until he realizes he's fallen for Elena
Mr. Kind: doesn't mind being feared and avoided because it gives him power and respect until loneliness gets the better of him
Jacob: doesn't mind his competition with Edward until he learns Bella wants to be a vampire too
Alucard: loves being the blood knight until his actions put those he cares for in harm's way
Sebastian: doesn't mind taking people's souls in exchange for contracts or being aloof and indifferent until he gets attached to Ciel
Other Things: He embraces the mask he wears until things happen to make him see that his mask/goals conflict with his changing views and beliefs of the world. Even still, his confidence changes with him - he may doubt himself and experience a Blue Screen of Death but he pulls it together and embraces his change. - Realistically idealistic. Maybe he once looked at the world though rose colored lenses, but that isn't the case now. He's realistic, maybe even a touch cynical, but you don't miss that fleeting sign of hope. He just nearly falls for it, gets excited for a second, then pulls back and gets real. "What's the catch?" At moments like this, I know the hero is a crushed idealist and my heart goes out to him - I know what it's like to learn the world is a sucky place and be forced to "grow up and get real."Damon: questions almost everything he's told
Mr. Kind: gave up his dreams of being a cowboy or being intimate with someone in favor of fear and power after losing his mom
Jacob: tried to find his imprint to take his mind off of Bella
Alucard: made a human into a vampire, saving her life, to one day surpass and kill him yet cherishes her company and loyalty
Sebastian: doesn't believe in hope, faith, and love yet doesn't want to collect Ciel's soul
Other Things: He's often a broken ace or bird - someone who trusted/loved freely and was destroyed. Initially, he may have been bitter about it but he adjusted and moved on. Now, he doesn't put much faith into anything (would rather seek vengeance rather than let justice prevail) including himself. He'll say you can't love him because he'll only hurt your or isn't good enough for you. He's been burned and broken and doesn't know how to fix himself. - Modesty isn't in his vocabulary.
- He isn't into drama.
- He's a true romantic at heart.
- He lives life to the fullest.
- He has a killer smile.
- He has the qualities I look for in a guy.
- He's up front about his intentions.
