In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?

Oooh this is def a Matteo question! He is very self conscious and criticizes himself a lot.

He has some pretty major body issues. He is the tiniest of his whole family (besides his mom… by like an inch). Matteo did not get the best nutrition when he was really young and it’s probably why he’s so short. He has a real complex about it and put a lot of effort into working out and being hyper masculine as a teenager to compensate for it.

(Also probably where his leg thing came from. Mat is very into his husband’s legs and just how… towering Suga is over him.)

Other comparisons are probably around his sexuality. Matteo went to Catholic school and had a bunch of internalized feelings about sexuality which basically made him…. really repressed. Not just about his attraction to guys, but just to him feeling attraction to anyone. That compounded with his body issues meant he barely dated before Suga. But after some time together Matteo learns:

1. Sexual attraction is ok!!
2. He is a raging bisexual (initially thought Suga was the only guy he was into but after he becomes more comfortable with himself is like Oh, I’m just Like That, Generally)
3. Being forced to preform rigid gender roles is bunk!!