Because DD asked

What do I want in a romantic partner?

That's a good question, seeing as I don't really care about having one. I'm not aromantic, I don't think, but I never really saw what the big deal was with romance. Capital R Romance, sure- I adore the entire movement. But I think I'm the type of person to write poetry because I like poetry, not because I like the person to whom it's addressed. So it's hard to think of the important attributes. I suppose my ideal romantic partner would be the equivalent of a super cool friend whom I could make out with and stuff. That would be swell. With this in mind, I'm not super picky; I just want someone who would mesh with my values. So!

I can't stand jealousy or possessiveness. Like, I get that it's a human emotion and stuff, and of course it's natural to feel some. But people who let it control them REALLY bother me. I don't belong to you; I don't belong to anyone. And frankly, if you don't trust me enough to hang around people who aren't you, we shouldn't be in a relationship anyway. I mean, gross, right? Keep your possessive ass at least 3 miles away from me at all times, please and thank you. (If we're in the bedroom, it's different- I'm such a bottom it's ridiculous. But anyway) 

What else? I don't like people who refuse to be open to things. Life is a learning experience, and I want to keep learning and growing until the day I die. And if that means admitting I'm wrong sometimes, I'm more than happy to do that! I never want to be a condescending know-it-all who has an answer for everything, and I don't want to be in a relationship with someone like that either. Let's explore the world together! We'll learn and grow and mature and never become stagnant or complacent, and when we argue, it will be fun, because we'll believe in what we're saying. Or maybe not, but at least we won't be stick-in-the-muds about it. I always want to be open to change, and I want my partner to be too.

Sort of in the same vein, I love people who can see the beauty in things. I love beauty; it's my goal to find and create it in the world, through kindness, love, humor, all that- and yes, beautiful things too, like a sunset, or a lovely poem, or a code, or anything! So it's important that the person I ship myself with is amenable to this. Like, cynicism might seem cool, but it's annoying when you're trying to talk about your passion, and they're all rude and yucky about it. They don't have to be a rosy optimist, I mean I'm definitely not, but they shouldn't try to be dark and brooding just for the sake of it. That's totally uncool.

What else? Oh! Patience and understanding and flexibility! All of those are different, but they go together, so I'm mentioning them together. I think it would be exhausting to be around someone with a short fuse, and besides I'm a timid little person sometimes, and it would scare me. Empathy is incredibly important to me, and I'd really want my SO to have it. I'm not saying I want a doormat person- that's no fun, and I would get really bored. I want someone who can challenge me, but who is ultimately kind and understanding, and who will try to see where I'm coming from. That would be the best! This means they would treat everyone with respect and kindness no matter what, unless that person needed a smack down, and even then, they would be mature. That's not too much to ask, right? I don't want an asshole who's only nice to me; I want someone who's genuinely nice to everyone, including me!