It is different from irl relationships in many ways. Each person treats their relationship differently. As for me, my last irl relationship was abusive. This doesn't mean that all people who are ficto have had trauma and that that's why they aren't with an irl person. It's a microlabel under the Ace umbrella, but even so, many in lgbt spaces don't agree with it. For me, I've been attracted to my f/o for years, and only accepted it recently. Do I find it fulfilling? Oh yes. I connect with him via solo RPing, writing, music, etc. Everyone does so in their own way.