I'm not saying he *is* aro, because ofc as fun as all this talk is it's just us talking about a fun potential rpf concept, BUT since Daniel's warped view of masculinity has been a hot topic as of late (i talked about it on my blog with @ihavenoideawhatimdoingheree and then you and I talked about it over on Amy's blog and rejoiced over the fact that he didn't get a nose job, god bless) i do think being aro would fit into this macho persona he so clearly wants to project. So of course the concept of being aromantic wouldn't even occur to him, he'd just view it as a natural conclusion (and perhaps even a much needed confirmation) of his masculinity. Either way it's fun to speculate on the shipping website!! Nobody shoot me!!
mhm, I think it's interesting to think about this from the perspective of his masculinity complex, bc ultimately being aro is still a queer identity so if we're talking about him actually putting a name to his lack of romantic attraction, he would have to come to terms with that as well. obviously for the rpf context he's also attracted to men sexually so that in itself would affect how he views his masculinity and maybe would make him more defensive or protective of it until he fully makes peace with his identity.
I think he could think of his lack of romantic attraction as "just being a man" at first, like caring about going on dates and gifts and anniversaries and pet names being 'girl things', until he finds out from his male friends that they do care about or enjoy those things too, or other similar things people expect in romantic relationships. maybe it fully clicks for him once his friends start getting married or moving in together with their significant others permanently. like he's happy for them but he can't see himself ever really wanting that? he doesn't understand the appeal of romance when it comes to his own relationships. he thinks it's sweet when seeing other people in romantic love, or movies about romance, but he just can't see it for himself?
so with that he has to sit with himself and think, bc he loves his friends and heidi and having sex but. he just doesn't feel any specifically romantic feelings towards them. ofc in the end he finds out about this thing called being aromantic and it all starts making much more sense.