I've seen newest chapter pop up for your novel in new relases, and man, I really like cover art for "For February’s Rain". Unfortunately it's totally not my type of story (not even about the boys love, I just find the stereotypical wuxia/xianxia style hard to read), but it made me come back to this thread to watch other paintings.
It really makes me realise how... singular, the stereotypical male characters in western comics/games are. I don't know how to express it, but for all the variation of the supposed outside characteristics, they do seem to fit into like 2-3.. auras? the type of feels they give? We need more wistful dilfs I guess (but not in the recycled- angry action hero way)
WISTFUL DILF
Okay this is officially the best descriptor. I'm cackling and it's a bit of a problem because it's 5 AM and everyone's asleep
No sweat, it's understandable! Wuxia/xianxia is already pretty hard to get into if you don't grow up with it (I sure didn't), and mine is around twice more mundane/life-oriented than a lot in the Chinese webnovel circles itself... Prior to this I was mostly into low fantasy, and I guess it shows LOL
Oh? I'm not familiar with most western comics and my type of games tend to be Japanese RPGs (and Harvest Moon types LOL), but I can imagine, I suppose? Both comics and games are also pretty much, outside of indies or artsy projects, power fantasies. I do think the problem is universal, though. In Chinese webnovels, it's arrogance. I have NO idea why people like arrogance so much, my first instinct is to deck those types in the face at first meeting. Cold, brash, quiet, loud, they just really like arrogant characters be it female, male, top, bottom... Wistful DILFs (heheheheh) are honestly a rarity. Sometimes you can get a nice older brother in a story, but they tend to be a minor character.
I do have to say that For February's Rain is a story I pretty much write for myself, though, so it has specific tropes, characters and themes I personally want to read. And as an aromantic who likes 1) psychology of trauma, 2) platonic relationships, and 3) people who don't harp on and on about what makes a person hot (I swear, one more description of someone's handsome faces and I'm going to do SOMETHING), the story has a specific focus I suppose. I wouldn't say a unique one, but *specific*. There are things in it that are also my own explorations into facets of real life dilemmas, especially complicated family situations.
It still tickles me that you're calling him wistful, though, because one of my other characters is that but tenfold. Though that one, I think the proper description is severely clinically depressed.