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What kills a romance plot for you?

@Paperok forum 44 comments schedule
@Paperok

?

@RedTheLoveless

Forced together because "it furthers the plot and not the characters".
Unconsentual anything.
Creepy behavior being passed off as "romantic".
Stalker-like behavior.
The "damsel in distress" and the "hero" pairings.
Females who aren't written as strong or as in depth as actual women.
Repressing and neglecting the wants and needs of a character.
Unhealthy relationships being written as "romantic" and "ideal"

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@Becfromthedead group

-A couple that fights/argues/disagrees every other scene and still claims to be "in love."
-Poorly done love triangles (which is most love triangles)
-Relationships that rely on the couple constantly giving up things for one another that they should not have to give up
-Irredeemable person falls in love with "good" person. "Good" person turns them
-Love cures depression
Listen, I can't even read romance stuff. There's always something that bothers me

@Yamatsu

Most of the time, they're not even TRIANGLES. They're Vs! Two people pining after only one person! Where's the actual triangles, where all three of them can't decide who they want?! Or the squares, the cubes, the pentagonal dodecahedrons! I want something other than Mass Effect, dammit!

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@evastardust groupRRAAAARRL
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All of the characters being forced into relationships, especially when they feel shoehorned in at the last moment (like Leo and Calyspso from HoO).

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@Becfromthedead group

^^^^ I just want a love triangle where everyone loves each other tbh

@RedTheLoveless

Honestly that kind of love triangle is something I would totally read. Like a true love triangle. And Miraculous Ladybug managed to create a goddamn love square and IT FREAKING WORKED?!

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@Becfromthedead group

The only thing I can think of with a legit love triangle is The Infernal Devices, which is the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments. (I hated TMI, but I loved TID.)

@ninja_violinist

What breaks romance for me is using miscommunication as a plot device
Like
Just talk to him??? If you really want to be in a relationship with him you're gonna have to learn to talk to him??
I don't understand

  • love triangles/squares
  • poor communication
  • saying weird/creepy things
  • cheesy plots
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@Starfast group

using miscommunication as a plot device

Ooh same. I hate this so much because it's so unnecessary most of the time, and could be solved like 10 times faster if they'd just hear each other out, which they never do.

Tying into that, but like when the guy has a friend who is a girl who he's not interested in romantically but then the gf gets all annoyed at him because how dare he even thinks about another girl (and vice versa). Like, the idea of a girl and a guy being just friends isn't that hard to wrap your head around. Just let your SO have friends.

Also, I hate love triangles. I know it's been mentioned a lot of times in the thread already, but I just hate it.

@yeetus
  • Only reason this character exist is because another character needs a love interest
  • Forced together
  • Stalker-like behaviour written as romantic
  • Must kiss every minute to show they are in love
  • Love triangles
  • Too much sappy talk
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@evastardust groupRRAAAARRL
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Every. Single. Couple. being written as a tough guy/girly girl couple, and having f/f and m/m couples have one super feminine person and one super masculine one.

@Yamatsu

It's almost as if characters like Kanji Tatsumi literally CANNOT like anyone but the fairy-types (Pokemon not included) if they happen to be homosexual. Seriously?! There are more than two types of gay people, it's not like they're magnets!
"Hey, Chad! Bring it in!"
Brad and Chad go in for a hug, but the simple fact that they are both masculine gays forces them away. Their heels screech on the floor, but it is no use. They can't be within 20 feet of each other, the Author just won't allow it.

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Deleted user

I don't mind it when it's super obvious that two characters are going to get together at the end, but when they do sh*t like pushing someone away when they're trying to hug them because it makes them look like they're a couple, I hate that.

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@Becfromthedead group

Platonic hugging is a thing. Heck, I've had another female friend who is not straight kiss me on the cheek, and that's perfectly okay. Pushing away is kinda pointless because friends do that stuff too, but you know? Some authors think all physical contact means they're gonna get together. When you rely on that as an indicator, it doesn't work. Just not realistic.

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Deleted user

Accidental creation of the Wunderwaffe.
(Jk)
A relationship that is forced or just feels wrong all together.

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@evastardust groupRRAAAARRL
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Honestly if I push someone away if they try to hug me it's because I don't want to be touched, not because I'm dating someone (even though I'm single)

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@Becfromthedead group

That's different, of course. If someone's that way with everybody, then it makes sense.

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@evastardust groupRRAAAARRL
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Oh, here's one:
How every single friendship will end up as a ship to some people. I have two characters who are very good friends and sometimes come off as shippy, but one is aro-ace and the other is a lesbian and I know (if I'm ever published) people will ship them even though it's canon they aren't attracted to each other.

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Deleted user

I don't like it when a girl falls in love at first sight and then the dude is mean to her for literal years but then she gets hawt and the boy falls for her.
also when boys are super creepy and the girls just go with it??? (hem hem, the kissing booth)
or when boys and girls absolutey cannot be friends without dating at some point. (unless they both have separate partners)

@Yamatsu

@@jynandor To be honest, people will ship things no matter the canon or the legal ramifications
cough cough Bipper cough cough Enabler

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Deleted user

MabelxBill Cipher is a ship that confuses me on so many levels. Like, Bill is a manipulative douchebag who only cares about someone if they're useful to him

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Deleted user

didn't people used to ship the jonas brothers….

@Yamatsu

It was a dark time…
It still kinda is, now that I think about it.

@maddie_m_880

I hate it when people get together, and then after the get together crap, they completely change from their individual character traits. Or when their whole loves begin to revolve around the relationship

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@evastardust groupRRAAAARRL
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I mean, the only reason a character should change is if they went through something traumatic or had a change of heart. Like, when Jon and Meg get together, they don't change their personalities. Stephen, on the other hand, changes himself to be less self-centered and works towards becoming a better person once he falls in love with Izzy.

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Deleted user

Here's an example of a romance plot that went from great to terrible in the span of a few episodes: Darling in the Franxx. The relationship between the character of Zero Two and Hiro was so endearing. It starts with Zero Two being this mischievous type who knew more than she let onto, and she helps Hiro achieve his dream. But after 15 episodes their main conflict is resolved so for the rest of the series they just sit around. Zero Two's personality has a complete makeover, and she's this kindhearted bubbly character who does nothing. All they do is kiss and say how much they love each other. Like, I get that. I really do. BUT LIKE SERIOUSLY THE MISCHEIVIOUSNESS OF ZERO TWO WAS WHAT MADE SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE HER CHARACTER AND THEY TOOK THAT WTF?!?!?! Hiro got more interesting towards the end, but we have to sit through a lot of episodes just to see that, and it's when he gets separated from Zero Two. Honestly, there's a lot in the show that ended up being a complete letdown, but I don't want to get too far into it…

@yeetus

That sounds really annoying

@Yamatsu

Isn't Darling in the Franxx that one where they have sex in a mech? Or is that just what everyone else wants to happen?