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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46473
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46473
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

### A Master for your Student

I would solve this issue by creating a Master for your Student. Either a new character, or re-purpose an existing character.

In The Karate Kid, Daniel (Student) is a new kid in town, and getting picked on, escaping a few fights. But he gets cornered by six teens taking Karate, and gets beat up -- but saved by Mr. Miyagi (Master), that defeats all six teens at once and sends them running. Then the Master agrees to teach the Student to fight. They become friends, with zero sexual or romantic overtones.

I'll name the ace/aro male Danny (Student). Danny is put in an uncomfortable situation at a party. He is fumbling the refusal of advances by a drunk girl. Another girl he doesn't know (Alison, ace/aro Master) steps in to "save" him; she says, "get off my guy," and points the drunk girl to another guy that will be more accommodating.

> Danny said, "Thanks, I guess. What's your name?"
> 
> "Alison. I think we're going to be friends. What's your name?"
> 
> "Danny. I'm not great at being 'friends', as you saw," Danny said, putting air quotes around the word.
> 
> Alison laughed. "Okay, I don't mean 'friends'," she said, mimicking his air quotes, "I mean friends, like you must be friends with the guy that gave you that haircut, cause I can't imagine any other reason you'd let somebody do that to you. So, no flowers, no kissing, no hook ups. Cause I don't do any of that, and I _think_ you don't either. Wanna be friends?"
> 
> Daniel looked up in surprise. _No flowers, no kissing, no hook ups._ He'd never heard anyone just ... say it. "My uncle cuts my hair. He's been a barber for forty years."
> 
> Alison squinted at his head in mock puzzlement. "Oh yeah, I could see that. Third grader cut with a retro vibe."
> 
> She opened her eyes wide with a big grin. "Bold choice, Danny!"
> 
> Danny shook his head. "So are we going to insult each other, in this friendship?"
> 
> "Maybe. We will tell each other the truth, how about that?"

This doesn't have to be the whole story. You already have your story. You just need another ace/aro, so you can demonstrate a true ace/aro male/female friendship that won't go any further. Alison has experience and the personality to help Danny navigate being an ace/aro without hurting anybody's feelings. In whatever way you see fit; e.g. they could attend parties together, and let people assume what they will, even enjoy each other's company alone without having to worry about sexual or romantic pressures, and so on.

Original score: 2