#cupiosexual

Explore the dynamic of relationships and intimacy when one or both partners entirely lack physical attraction to the other. (Or their physical attraction is just aesthetic attraction, they're nice to look at but it doesn't cause any other excitement or desire, they're like looking a sunset, or a cat, or some artwork). Actually take into consideration what our non-attraction motivations might be and incorporate them and the effect they might have (physical feeling, emotional connection, making their partner happy even if they are otherwise indifferent). Are there parts of intimacy they don't enjoy, because their motivation(s) wouldn't include it? Do they ever struggle with feeling like they're not good enough or their partner deserves better due to internalized aphobia? What about their partner first made them fall in love or want to pursue a relationship, since physical attraction can't be it?

Explore the ace spectrum and maybe try to write about a lesser represented identity on that spectrum. Write a slow-burn friends to lovers with demisexuality. Give us the story of what happens with someone who's fraysexual, who's attraction has started fading. Do they keep the relationship? Maybe explore someone discovering they're reciprosexual when they reject someone only to realize afterwards that shit, they do like them now. There are countless acespec identities you could explore. And don't just slap the label on them with no thought. Actually use that experience for the story.

However, if an ace character is confirmed to be strictly asexual/be sex averse, you probably shouldn't. Ace representation is rare and it does suck a lot when what little their is feels like it's always being seen by fandom as the "more palatable" version (and by more palatable I of course mean easier to ignore and sideline.)

But ultimately. If you're going to use my identity and experience as a cupiosexual person and other people's acespec identities to justify yourself, I expect you to do the bare minimum and actually write us as asexual and not just use a label as a performative way to go "see I'm not disrespecting their aceness."

Found this old artwork of different aro/ace speck identities as cats!

I think its still cute (fun fact i use that aroace design in my stickers still)

Side note: I’ve never seen the aroaceflux flag before (4th from top) and let me just say, it’s GORGEOUS!!

List of identities in order:

Aroace

Oriented aroace

Angled aroace

Aroaceflux

Asexual

Cupiosexual

Aromantic

Cupioromantic

Abrosexual