[M4F] Turning "vampire romance" tropes on their head! [Modern Fantasy / Slice of Life / Light Drama]

Greetings, r/Roleplay! You can call me Ark. I'm 22, non-binary (specifically male-female bigender), and a newcomer to this subreddit. I've had an idea brewing for a while and have been lucky enough to find a proper place to advertise it and find writing partners; this is actually my first post here as a result!

I'll open this by saying that, in my opinion, much of the modern media concerning the vampire trope is kinda... cringe. Like, when you think about vampire romance, your mind is drawn to those old stereotypical romance stories from the early 2010s, right? I hate that. I hate that that's the case. If you like it, more power to you, but I want to roleplay a setting that turns the trope of the big, charismatic "vampire shadow man" on its head - alongside vampires in general. Vampire media I've seen likes to portray them as powerful and secretive beings who control things from behind the scenes and could easily destroy any foe, so this begs the question: what if vampires had a relatively normal, if not downtrodden, place in modern society?

The general idea is thus: the setting is a modern fantasy version of our world, albeit more grounded than fantastical, most likely taking place somewhere in America. Vampires are something of a misunderstood minority struggling under the modern healthcare system; seeing as they need blood to live, the healthcare industry has taken advantage of this, tying cheaper blood to expensive health insurance. Though some can live under this system just fine, their nocturnal lifestyles and the bigotry surrounding their existence makes being a vampire precarious, especially economically. Many cannot afford proper insurance that covers blood sustainability, and buying it straight from medical suppliers is not only expensive but also a paperwork nightmare. For those who cannot afford either, shady "blood dealers" fill the void beyond the purview of the government and of organized healthcare, providing it cheap via syndicates of both humans and vampires that hire freelance "delivery men" who carry the stuff to paying customers.

All of this in mind, I had the idea of playing a vampire character that subverts common vampire romance tropes. He will not be a strong, suave, masculine person; he'll instead be quite soft, timid, and sentimental. Perhaps with a creative streak and a proclivity for the arts? I myself am autistic, so I imagine traits of my own neurodivergence being reflected in him; that is to say, he might not be the most skilled socially. To clarify, I do not imagine this character being played in an edgy way; while he'll most likely be a loner and somewhat asocial, he won't be very melodramatic about it. Think of him less like a "cursed lone wolf" and more like a somewhat silly creature man.

As for your character, there's plenty of leeway and I want to hear your ideas! If you'd like some bedrock, I did like the idea of my roleplay partner playing as a blood route runner, the two of them warming up to each other over time. Not a requirement, of course, but I did have ideas surrounding it if that prospect interests you! I just like the idea of a human getting to know this vampire guy over time, having her preconceived notions on vampires shattered as they interact, the struggles of being a vampire becoming clear in his dialogue - and the two finding solace in one another in the hostile modern world.

With the plot stuff out of the way, I'd like to go over what I'm looking for in a roleplay partner. I'm quite literate - usually providing around 2-5 paragraphs per response, though I can easily do more if the roleplay calls for it - and I take in-roleplay grammar, spelling, and punctuation very seriously. That is to say, please don't chat me if you don't know the difference between your/you're and there/their/they're.

When it comes to a partner's qualities, I'm also looking for enthusiasm and good vibes! When messaging me, please show me you have real interest (I wouldn't want you messaging if you're not genuinely interested). I want to hear about your own likes, your ideas, any changes you'd like to make, and character concepts; please don't be shy, I love to talk! If I'm not comfortable talking with you, I'll let you know, so please don't be worried unless I make this clear. I won't ghost ya!

Finally, I will say I'm not looking to add anything fandom-related to this roleplay. I would prefer everything stay original or simply be inspired by something else; no direct ports from existing media, please.

That's... about it. If you've made it through this wall of text, I salute you. I await your messages! <3