What do you call someone who you find extremely attractive only after being around them?

[PennyThompson]

So, vocab and/or description question for y'all...

Have you ever known someone who you don't find conventionally attractive, UNTIL you've spent some time around them, as a friend or coworker or something?

Like, maybe they're a little too fat, or a little too skinny, or a little too plain, a little lopsided, or some other attribute that doesn't particularly get your gears turning. If you just saw them in a crowd or just looked at a picture of them, they would do nothing for you.

But then you start to observe the way they talk, the way they move their body, their smile or their mannerisms or their sense of humor, and suddenly one day you GET IT

Their whole *gestures vaguely at this person* is so much more than the sum of their parts, in a way that you didn't expect and can't articulate?

I think @ElectricBlue particularly does a good job of writing characters like that, especially in his "At the Hardware Store" series

But how would you concisely talk about someone like this? Is there a word or phrase that gets to the core of this experience??

 

[TheLobster]

Acquired taste. Like coffee.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

“Comfort food”

 

[jaF0]

Spouse.

 

[Voboy]

Someone who grows on you. Like a sexual fungus.

 

[jaF0]

"If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
So from my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you"

https://www.songlyrics.com/jimmy-soul/if-you-want-to-be-happy-lyrics/

 

[onehitwanda]

Scrumptious.

 

[Cagivagurl]

Friend

 

[Dearelliot]

I call that person "a Woman"

 

[PennyThompson]

Acquired taste. Like coffee.

So far I like this analogy the most

Someone who grows on you. Like a sexual fungus.

I... um... hmm.

"If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
So from my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you"

https://www.songlyrics.com/jimmy-soul/if-you-want-to-be-happy-lyrics/

I can't decide if that song is kinda sweet or kinda mean, but it's certainly catchy

 

[jaF0]

I can't decide if that song is kinda sweet or kinda mean, but it's certainly catchy

Have you listened to it? Kind of reggae -ish.

 

[Voboy]

I... um... hmm.

"Like" a sexual fungus. LIKE!

The image would work well in a dialogue, say between two female friends talking about a guy one of them works with. One of them mentions the sexual fungus, and the audience titters even while the MC has the same reaction you did.

Nothing wrong with using the AH to workshop dialogue!

 

[PennyThompson]

Have you listened to it? Kind of reggae -ish.

I did, it's very cute!

"Like" a sexual fungus. LIKE!

The image would work well in a dialogue, say between two female friends talking about a guy one of them works with. One of them mentions the sexual fungus, and the audience titters even while the MC has the same reaction you did.

Nothing wrong with using the AH to workshop dialogue!

Okay okay, I'm picking up what you're throwing down

 

[ElectricBlue]

Acquired taste. Like coffee.

Yes, this. It's no small coincidence that I have many stories with a café sequence.

 

[Bamagan]

So, vocab and/or description question for y'all...

Have you ever known someone who you don't find conventionally attractive, UNTIL you've spent some time around them, as a friend or coworker or something?

Like, maybe they're a little too fat, or a little too skinny, or a little too plain, a little lopsided, or some other attribute that doesn't particularly get your gears turning. If you just saw them in a crowd or just looked at a picture of them, they would do nothing for you.

But then you start to observe the way they talk, the way they move their body, their smile or their mannerisms or their sense of humor, and suddenly one day you GET IT

Their whole *gestures vaguely at this person* is so much more than the sum of their parts, in a way that you didn't expect and can't articulate?

I think @ElectricBlue particularly does a good job of writing characters like that, especially in his "At the Hardware Store" series

But how would you concisely talk about someone like this? Is there a word or phrase that gets to the core of this experience??

If you're aiming for something 'sweet' in the traditional romantic sense, I'd say go with flower related and blooming terms. Maybe pick something like amaranth, which has a reputation for not withering (and became a symbol of immortality for that reason). Or something with a reputation for blooming at night, like jasmine or moonflower or evening primrose, which not everyone will see because they may not be looking then.

 

[PennyThompson]

If you're aiming for something 'sweet' in the traditional romantic sense, I'd say go with flower related and blooming terms. Maybe pick something like amaranth, which has a reputation for not withering (and became a symbol of immortality for that reason). Or something with a reputation for blooming at night, like jasmine or moonflower or evening primrose.

That's adorable! But not really my writing style, I think I would end up sounding like a Jane Austin parody

 

[jsmiam]

Beer goggles, if it’s closing time. ;-)

 

[PennyThompson]

Beer goggles, if it’s closing time. ;-)

No it's not that!

 

[NoTalentHack]

NoTalentHack

 

[AwkwardMD]

I think you're describing the demisexual experience. Or, at least, one version of it. I have a story about a woman who thinks of herself as Ace but finds that over time she has feels for her friend and doesn't know what to do about it.

 

[PennyThompson]

I think you're describing the demisexual experience. Or, at least, one version of it.

Wait just a GD minute, is this not a common experience that most people have felt at times??

 

[AwkwardMD]

Wait just a GD minute, is this not a common experience that most people have felt at times??

Feels like an entirely different question that the starting post, and maybe something that someone should study.

 

[PennyThompson]

Feels like an entirely different question that the starting post, and maybe something that someone should study.

Be my guest Dr. Kinsey, I just wanted some brainstorming help writing about a character, you've got me over here reevaluating my whole orientation

 

[KittyOfSteele]

If you're aiming for something 'sweet' in the traditional romantic sense, I'd say go with flower related and blooming terms. Maybe pick something like amaranth, which has a reputation for not withering (and became a symbol of immortality for that reason). Or something with a reputation for blooming at night, like jasmine or moonflower or evening primrose, which not everyone will see because they may not be looking then.

For something more gothic (and maybe even wedding-related because of the way it looks), you can go with Princess of the Night or Queen of the Night.

 

[VallesMarineris]

"Second looker"