The more annoying misunderstanding

[AYM]

Romance misunderstandings make me want to cripple my own cultivation.

Choice A) Selective Listening or Eavesdropping​

Main character has a conversation about a sensitive topic, unaware that a love interest will be eavesdropping at the literal worst possible point.​

This triggers the love interest to aggressively delulu about previous story beats to explain the (incorrect) assumption "MC loves LI." Repeat this process about five times with the same LI to develop an obsessive character.​

MC will never be aware of a third-party overhearing secret conversations, even if MC has cheat-levels of perception, especially if MC has cheat-levels of perception because Reasons™. MC will also never take preventative measures to stop this thing from happening.​

​

Choice B) Relationship Sabotaging​

MC and LI have romantic affinity and progressing to becoming a couple, but for Reasons™ someone decides they should not pursue the relationship.​

Instead of communicating their issues they decide to push sensitive buttons like falsely admitting they murdered the character on the receiving end's parents.​

Everybody accepts this confession at face value instead of considering the abnormal change in behavior or other context that suggests foul play at hand.​

​

Choice C) Good Heavens MC is a Fucking Closet Simp​

MC does shit to help the LI behind the scenes but won't ever directly admit their involvement because Reasons™. LI will need to undergo three arc long investigation to figure out the truth because the MC will act like a useless NPC until the end, feigning ignorance at every milestone discovery.​

Add in an opportunistic mf who takes credit for everything and gets away with it, and you have yourself an insufferable love triangle.​

Theoretically you could combine all three into the same story, and you'll cast the miracle of me posting a bounty on your head for your crimes against Scribblerkind.

 

[Anemic_Vampire]

combine all three into the same story

That's a good idea.

 

[AYM]

That's a good idea.

The Martial Alliance would like to know your location.

 

[Dec]

That's a good idea.

A very good idea indeed. This could be quite funny.
Maybe I should... Hmm...

 

[laccoff_mawning]

I can see reasons why choice A or C might work from a storytelling perspective. But B seems like it's just deliberately shooting yourself in the foot then claiming someone forced you to do it.

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

I've seen very good stories where A work, but the MC is doing it on purpose so that the second character misunderstands. Very funny stuff.

I've seen incredible stories where C works, when the MC has killers after him and doesn't want to involve the second character. Gives you the feels if it's done right.

But I have never seen any good story with B. That sh*t's just foul

 

[Corty]

A, I can deal with. B can be even interesting if done well... but C? That needs to be a forbidden art.

 

[Worthy39]

Yeah, man. I just let my protagonist start dating the love interest when it feels like the natural next step after they get to know each other. Never understood all this "wait until the end of the series" nonsense. All of those are incredibly annoying, I'll pick C, just because that's the one that's the least tolerable in general, but I've seen awful versions of A and B, too.

 

[AYM]

I can see reasons why choice A or C might work from a storytelling perspective. But B seems like it's just deliberately shooting yourself in the foot then claiming someone forced you to do it.

Authors will write B and still think the LI should eventually forgive the MC for inflicting CBT on their relationship.
LI may forgive you because you're god but I will not.

I've seen very good stories where A work, but the MC is doing it on purpose so that the second character misunderstands. Very funny stuff.

I can't even look at a Kr novel with the misunderstandings without thinking "Ah not this shit again."
Intentional, for comedy? Welcome. Right this way.
Unintentional, for drama and romance? Fucking cut that shit out.

I've seen incredible stories where C works, when the MC has killers after him and doesn't want to involve the second character. Gives you the feels if it's done right.

But I have never seen any good story with B. That sh*t's just foul

Instead all I find are stories where MC doesn't reveal bEcAUsE I'm DiSRuptIng ThE OriGiNaL PLot. I nEEd tO hIDe My INVolvEMenT bEcAUsE ThAT'S thE TrUe RoUTE In GaME.
MC never realizes by attempting to cover it up they've derailed the og plot harder than a man getting bent over an office table.


I'm bleeding from my nose as I'm writing this mf

 

[Hoshino]

Theoretically you could combine all three into the same story,

I might just write this.

 

[AYM]

I might just write this.

Cease

 

[HopelessChloromantic]

I cannot stand misunderstanding in romance in any of its vile forms, but C is the most egregious. It makes me want to swallow a Tide pod.

 

[laccoff_mawning]

I'm baffled by how many people hate C the most. I thought it was the least terrible of the tropes.

Is it perhaps a frequency thing? Is it done more often and so it's had more opportunities to taste rotten?