History LoveDodecahedron / Literature

* In ''Literature/FromTheNewWorld'', Saki and Shun are in love with each other, but enter into relationships with Maria and Satoru, respectively. Meanwhile, Mamoru has a crush on Maria. [[spoiler:Things are tragically simplified after [[DeathofTheHypotenuse Shun, Maria, and Mamoru die]], and the story ends with Saki and Satoru HappilyMarried [[TimeSkip 10 years in the future]]]].

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Ned Stark married Catelyn Tully [[ArrangedMarriage to cement the Stark/Tully alliance against the Targaryens]], but he also apparently had a thing for Ashara Dayne ([[EpilepticTrees who is rumored to be his babymama]], and who was also lusted after by Ser Baristan Selmy, and some theorize by Ned's brother, Brandon). Ned also had a healthy amount of HoYay with his best friend, Robert Baratheon, who was in love with Ned's sister, Lyanna, but ended up marrying Cersei Lannister. Cersei and maybe Lyanna had the hots for [[spoiler: Rhaegar Targaryen, who seemed to reciprocate Lyanna but was already married to Elia Martell]], though Cersei is also getting it on with her [[{{Twincest}} twin brother Jaime]], [[spoiler:her cousin Lancel, Lady Taena Merryweather and two of the three Kettleback brothers]]. Catelyn's sister Lysa is married to Ned and Robert's adoptive father, Jon Arryn, but is also engaged in a clandestine affair with Littlefinger, whom [[spoiler:she eventually marries]] after her husband's death. Littlefinger, however, was madly in love with Catelyn, who [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend loves him like a brother, but no more.]] Now, though, he's found a [[ReplacementGoldfish suitable replacement]] in [[{{Squick}} Catelyn's teenage daughter, Sansa]]. Robert's brother, Renly, is married to Margaery Tyrell, but is [[strike: implied]] stated (by WordOfGod) to be [[CampGay sleeping with her brother Loras]]. Additionally, Renly's bodyguard, Brianne has [[BodyguardCrush a major crush on him]], but latter develops a rather tender relationship with none other than Jaime Lannister, Cersei's brother. Yeah, love in Westeros is complicated, and this doesn't even get into Jon and Dany's generation.

** ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'': Edward likes Elinor, but never says so. It's because he is secretly engaged to Lucy. Colonel Brandon loves Marrianne who thinks it's kind of creepy. She falls for Willoughby and their attraction is mutual. However, Willoughby marries Miss Gray. Edward's family tries to match him with Miss Morton. Most people ship Elinor with Colonel Brandon but they are just friends. Lucy marries her fiancé's suddenly wealthier brother Robert. Elinor marries Edward and Marrianne marries Brandon.

* ''Literature//TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. Quasimodo is in love with Esmeralda, but Esmeralda is married to Pierre, but Pierre just wants her goat Djali, and Esmeralda is in love with Phoebus, but Phoebus is engaged to Fleur-de-Lys and only wanted Esmeralda for sex anyway, and naturally, Frollo's desire for Esmeralda is what drives the conflict of the novel!

* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'': When the previous generation was of courting age, they were a mess of this. Ganth and Trishien liked each other, but Ganth's father {{Parental Marriage Veto}}ed it. Ganth's brother Greshan liked Rawneth--who didn't really ''like'' him so much as she wanted to marry him for political power, but they suited each other very well anyways. Greshan's grandma [[ParentalMarriageVeto Grandparental Marriage Vetoed]] it. Their father tried to marry Ganth to Rawneth, but that didn't really go anywhere. Greshan was killed, and Rawneth [[spoiler:tried to raise him from the dead, and even got his father to approve their marriage under those conditions. But she ended up getting {{Bed Trick}}ed by a different undead.]] Meanwhile, Ganth fell in LoveAtFirstSight with Jamethiel, and next to her, Trishien couldn't hold up. Jamethiel eventually became his consort, but was her brother's consort for 3,000 years before that. Also, their half-brother Tirandys loved Jamethiel too, but was only ever an UnrequitedTragicMaiden in that regard. Jamethiel's own feelings for any of them are highly ambiguous.
** The current generation is really pretty dodecahedronal too--just that it appears in small enough pieces it doesn't seem so tangled. But here it goes: Hatch is completely in love with his cousin Prid, who we think kind of likes him back, but is also enamored with (and {{Shotgun|Wedding}} married to) Jame--but Prid and Hatch are from a polygamous society so it's ok. Jame sees Prid as an UnwantedSpouse. Timmon also likes Jame, and Jame kind of likes him back. Narsa is enamored with Timmon, and Timmon's sleeping with her but only sees her as fun for now--also, he's [[OperationJealousy trying to make Jame jealous]]. Narsa thinks there's a BettyAndVeronica love triangle going on, with Jame as the exotic, mysterious, unattainable Veronica, who distracts Timmon from her, the unexceptional Betty who really loves him. That's really ''not'' what's going on--Narsa was only ever a substitute, never a love interest. But Narsa thinks it is and she tries to MurderTheHypotenuse in her desperation--though Jame told Narsa she could ''have'' Timmon, because while Jame kind of likes Timmon, she definitely loves her {{twin|cest}} brother Torisen more. Torisen loves her too, but they're locked in [[UnresolvedSexualTension UST]] for the time being, because of a ''lot'' of emotional baggage. And if we're mentioning Torisen, then there's Kallystine--his ex, who seduced him even though he hated her, maybe using rape-y LovePotion stuff. So after that, Torisen's first reaction to liking someone is to hate and fear his own attraction.

* In ''Literature/FromTheNewWorld'', Saki and Shun are in love with each other, but enter relationships with Maria and Satoru, respectively. Meanwhile, Mamoru has a crush on Maria. [[spoiler:Things are tragically simplified after [[DeathofTheHypotenuse Shun, Maria, and Mamoru die]], and the story ends with Saki and Satoru HappilyMarried [[TimeSkip 10 years in the future]]]].

* In ''TheGreatGatsby'', Gatsby has his heart set on Daisy who is married to Tom, who has an open affair with Myrtle, who herself is married to George.

* Downplayed in ''Literature/RedRising'', since the characters' love lives are barely focused on at all, but it's still there. Darrow and Mustang love each other, but Darrow is a CrusadingWidower and is still hung up over [[TheLostLenore Eo]]. Victra has a crush on Darrow [[BiTheWay but flirts with Mustang.]] Sevro is in love with Quinn ([[AmbiguouslyBi and maybe Darrow]]), but she's in a relationship with Roque. By the end of the trilogy, [[spoiler: Roque and Quinn are dead, Sevro and Victra got married, and Darrow and Mustang have BabiesEverAfter.]]

** The current generation is really pretty too--just that it appears in small enough pieces it doesn't seem so tangled. But here it goes: Hatch is completely in love with his cousin Prid, who we think kind of likes him back, but is also enamored with (and {{Shotgun|Wedding}} married to) Jame--but Prid and Hatch are from a polygamous society so it's ok. Jame sees Prid as an UnwantedSpouse. Timmon also likes Jame, and Jame kind of likes him back. Narsa is enamored with Timmon, and Timmon's sleeping with her but only sees her as fun for now--also, he's [[OperationJealousy trying to make Jame jealous]]. Narsa thinks there's a BettyAndVeronica love triangle going on, with Jame as the exotic, mysterious, unattainable Veronica, who distracts Timmon from her, the unexceptional Betty who really loves him. That's really ''not'' what's going on--Narsa was only ever a substitute, never a love interest. But Narsa thinks it is and she tries to MurderTheHypotenuse in her desperation--though Jame told Narsa she could ''have'' Timmon, because while Jame kind of likes Timmon, she definitely loves her {{twin|cest}} brother Torisen more. Torisen loves her too, but they're locked in [[UnresolvedSexualTension UST]] for the time being, because of a ''lot'' of emotional baggage. And if we're mentioning Torisen, then there's Kallystine--his ex, who seduced him even though he hated her, maybe using rape-y LovePotion stuff. So after that, Torisen's first reaction to liking someone is to hate and fear his own attraction.

* '' Literature/GoneWithTheWind'': Scarlett loves Ashley, who is sexually attracted to Scarlett, but loves his wife, Melanie. Melanie loves Ashley as a husband, she loves Scarlett as a sister/best friend, and loves/likes Rhett as a friend and as a hero who helped her during the War. Rhett loves Scarlett, contemns Ashley, and loves/admires Melanie platonically as a great lady.
* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'': Hatch is completely in love with his cousin Prid, who kind of likes him back, but is also enamored with (and {{Shotgun|Wedding}} married to) Jame--who sees Prid as an UnwantedSpouse. And there's Timmon, who likes Jame, and who Jame kind of likes back, but there's also Narsa is enamored with Timmon, who Timmon's sleeping with but sees only as fun for now. Narsa thinks it's a love triangle situation, and it's not really (just a 3-person line of unrequited/slightly-requited love) but she tries to MurderTheHypotenuse anyway--even though Jane told Narsa she could have Timmon, because while Jame kind of likes Timmon, she definitely loves her {{twin|cest}} brother Torisen more. Torisen loves her too, but they're locked in [[UnresolvedSexualTension UST]] for the time being, because of emotional baggage. And if we're mentioning Torisen, then there's Kallystine--his ex, who seduced him even though he hated her, maybe using date rape LovePotion type magic stuff. So now Torisen is understandably a bit scared of his own attraction.
** And let's go back a generation. Ganth and Trishien liked each other, but Ganth's father {{Parental Marriage Veto}}ed it. Ganth's brother Greshan liked Rawneth, and while she didn't really like his so much as she wanted to marry him for political power, but they suited each other well anyways. Greshan's grandma Grand{{parental Marriage Veto}}ed it. Their father tried to marry Ganth to Rawneth, but that didn't really go anywhere. Greshan was killed, and Rawneth [[spoiler:tried to raise him from the dead, and even got his father to approve their marriage under those conditions. But she ended up getting {{Bed Trick}}ed by a different undead.]] Meanwhile, Ganth fell in LoveAtFirstSight with Jamethiel, and next to her, Trishien couldn't hold up. Jamethiel eventually became his consort, but was her brother's consort for 3,000 years before that. Also, their half-brother Tirandys loved Jamethiel too, but was only ever an UnrequitedTragicMaiden in that regard. Jamethiel's own feelings for any of them are highly ambiguous.

** And let's go back a generation. Trish liked Ganth, who liked her too, but not enough to hold up against his LoveAtFirstSight for Jamethiel, who later became his consort, but was her brother's consort for 3,000 years before that. Also, their half-brother Tirandys loved Jamethiel too, but was only ever an UnrequitedTragicMaiden.

** Let's start with the main character, shall we? Cinderpelt (who seems to have some chemistry with Littlecloud) was in love with Firestar, [[ObliviousToLove who never knew]]. Firestar and Spottedleaf liked each other for the brief period of time that she was alive, and they continue to meet in dreams even after her death, much to the chagrin of Sandstorm, his mate, who previously was friends with Dustpelt, who thought it was something more. Dustpelt eventually became the mate of Ferncloud. Now skip ahead about six books, and you'll find that Cinderpelt has been [[spoiler:reincarnated as Cinderheart after her death]]. Cinderheart falls in love with Lionblaze, Firestar's grandson. Lionblaze used to be 'friends' with Heathertail, who hates him because he broke up with her, and she may or may not be JustFriends with Breezepelt.

** The New Prophecy is great with this. Stormfur, Ashfur, and Brambleclaw all liked Squirrelflight. Stormfur knew that he didn't have a future with her, and eventually ended up with a Tribe cat named Brook. For a while it seemed as if Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight would become an OfficialCouple, but fell out because of Brambleclaw wanting to be friends with his half-brother ([[ItMakesSenseInContext it makes a bit more sense in context]]), whom some fans say he had HoYay with, and Squirrelflight went to Ashfur. However, she never truly loved him, and later left him for Brambleclaw once more. This [[spoiler:drove Ashfur insane, to the point of betraying his Clan, abetting in almost murdering Firestar, and trying to kill Squirrelflight along with her 'kits'. This forced her to admit that they weren't hers, and were in fact the children of Leafpool and Crowfeather.]] Crowfeather had previously been in love with Feathertail [[spoiler:(who died)]], had a brief affair with Leafpool ([[spoiler:which produced Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf)]], and then took Nightcloud as a mate in [=WindClan=] solely to prove his loyalty and have a kit with her.

** In the prequels, Clear Sky and Bright Stream were mates, Gray Wing had a crush on the latter, while Turtle Tail had a crush on him. After Bright Stream's death, Gray Wing started to have stronger feelings for Storm, who liked Clear Sky, who liked her back. Storm dies shortly after producing Thunder. Eventually, Gray Wing started to return Turtle Tail's feelings, and they become mates. Meanwhile, Clear Sky is implied to have feelings for Petal, while Acorn Fur (according to WordOfGod) had a crush on Thunder, who had some HoYay with Lightning Tail. Thunder develops feelings for Star Flower. After Turtle Tail's death, Gray Wing moves on to Slate. Star Flower breaks up with Thunder, (who still likes her), and gets together with Clear Sky, (his father) instead. Thunder eventually moves on to Violet Dawn. Damn.

* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'': Hatch is completely in love with Prid, who kind of like him back, but is also enamored with (and {{Shotgun|Wedding}} married to) Jame, who sees Prid as an UnwantedSpouse. And there's Timmon, who likes Jame, and who Jame kind of likes back, but there's also Narsa is enamored with Timmon, who Timmon's sleeping with but sees only as fun for now. Narsa thinks it's a love triangle situation, and it's really not, but she tries to MurderTheHypotenuse anyway--even though Jane told Narsa she could have Timmon, because while Jame kind of likes Timmon, she definitely loves her {{twin|cest}} brother Torisen more. He loves her too, but they're locked in [[UnresolvedSexualTension UST]] for the time being, because of emotional baggage. And if we're mentioning Torisen, then there's Kallystine--his ex, who seduced him even though he hated her, maybe using date rape LovePotion type magic stuff. So now Torisen is understandably a bit scared of his own attraction.

* "GoneWithTheWind" : Scarlett loves Ashley, who is sexually attracted to Scarlett, but loves his wife, Melanie. Melanie loves Ashley as a husband, she loves Scarlett as a sister/best friend, and loves/likes Rhett as a friend and as a hero who helped her during the War. Rhett loves Scarlett, contemns Ashley, and loves/admires Melanie platonically as a great lady.

** In the prequels, Clear Sky and Bright Stream were mates, Gray Wing had a crush on the latter, while Turtle Tail had a crush on him. After Bright Stream's death, Gray Wing started to have stronger feelings for Storm, who liked Clear Sky, who liked her back. Storm dies shortly after producing Thunder. Eventually, Gray Wing started to return Turtle Tail's feelings, and they become mates. Meanwhile, Clear Sky is implied to have feelings for Petal, while Acorn Fur (according to WordOfGod) had a crush on Thunder, who had some HoYay with Lightning Tail. Thunder develops feelings for Star Flower. After Turtle Tail's death, Gray Wing moves on to Slate. Star Flower breaks up with Thunder, (who still likes her), and gets together with Clear Sky [[{{Squick}}(his father)]] instead. Thunder eventually moves on to Violet Dawn. Damn.

** In the prequels, Clear Sky and Bright Stream were mates, Gray Wing had a crush on the latter, while Turtle Tail had a crush on him. After Bright Stream's death, Gray Wing started to have stronger feelings for Storm, who liked Clear Sky, who liked her back. Storm dies shortly after producing Thunder. Eventually, Gray Wing started to return Turtle Tail's feelings, and they become mates. Meanwhile, Clear Sky is implied to have feelings for Petal, while Acorn Fur (according to WordOfGod) had a crush on Thunder, who had some HoYay with Lightning Tail. Thunder develops feelings for Star Flower. After Turtle Tail's death, Gray Wing moves on to Slate. Star Flower breaks up with Thunder, (who still likes her), and gets together with Clear Sky (His father) instead. Thunder eventually moves on to Violet Dawn. And this is a [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids kid's series.]]

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Ned Stark married Catelyn Tully [[ArrangedMarriage to cement the Stark/Tully alliance against the Targaryens]], but he also apparently had a thing for Ashara Dayne ([[EpilepticTrees who may or may not be his babymama]], and who was also lusted after by Ser Baristan Selmy, and some theorize by Ned's brother, Brandon). Ned also had a healthy amount of HoYay with his best friend, Robert Baratheon, who was in love with Ned's sister, Lyanna, but ended up marrying Cersei Lannister. Cersei and maybe Lyanna had the hots for [[spoiler: Rhaegar Targaryen]], though Cersei is also getting it on with her [[{{Twincest}} twin brother Jaime]], [[spoiler:her cousin Lancel, Lady Taena Merryweather and two of the three Kettleback brothers]]. Catelyn's sister Lysa is married to Ned and Robert's adoptive father, Jon Arryn, but is also engaged in a clandestine affair with Littlefinger, whom [[spoiler:she eventually marries]] after her husband's death. Littlefinger, however, was madly in love with Catelyn, who [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend loves him like a brother, but no more.]] Now, though, he's found a [[ReplacementGoldfish suitable replacement]] in [[{{Squick}} Catelyn's teenage daughter, Sansa]]. Robert's brother, Renly, is married to Margaery Tyrell, but is [[strike: implied]] stated (by WordOfGod) to be [[CampGay sleeping with her brother Loras]]. Additionally, Renly's bodyguard, Brianne has [[BodyguardCrush a major crush on him]], but latter develops a rather tender relationship with none other than Jaime Lannister, Cersei's brother. Yeah, love in Westeros is complicated, and this doesn't even get into Jon and Dany's generation.

* In ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'', Clary falls for Jace. [[MuggleBestFriend Long time best friend Simon]] has always loved Clary, but Clary [[ObliviousToLove doesn't find out until later]]. Alec has a crush on [[spoiler:[[HoYay Jace]]]], who doesn't find out at all. Simon has a crush on Isabelle, Alec's sister. She loathes him when they first meet but he [[JustFriends grows on her]]. By the end of ''City of Bones'', Jace has fallen for Clary as well. Later, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Maia]] is introduced. She likes Simon, and he likes her back. [[spoiler:[[FurAgainstFang But we can't let anything in this story be simple]]. [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Sorry Simon.]]]]. By now, [[CampGay Magnus Bane]] has been introduced. Guess who ends up with him? In ''City of Glass'', yet another player is introduced, Sebastian. Clary has a short fling with him. Only it turns out that [[spoiler:Jace and Clary ''aren't'' actually related. But in Sebastian aka Jonathan's case, it's for real. [[{{Squick}} And he knew it]]]]. Then there's Jocelyn's love history, which is simpler ([[ObliviousToLove Lucian]] / [[BigBad Valentine]]), or other side love interests like Isabelle's fling with Meliorn or Maia's ex Jordan. As of ''City of Lost Souls'', [[spoiler:Clary/Jace is on with difficulties, Alec/Magnus is off, Jocelyn/Lucian is on, and Maia/Jordan is on]].

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Ned Stark married Catelyn Tully [[ArrangedMarriage to cement the Stark/Tully alliance against the Targaryens]], but he also apparently had a thing for Ashara Dayne ([[EpilepticTrees who may or may not be his babymama]], and who was also lusted after by Ser Baristan Selmy, and some theorize by Ned's brother, Brandon). Ned also had a healthy amount of HoYay with his best friend, Robert Baratheon, who was in love with Ned's sister, Lyanna, but ended up marrying Cersei Lannister. Both Lyanna and Cersei had the hots for Rhaegar Targaryen, though Cersei is also getting it on with [[spoiler: her [[{{Twincest}} twin brother Jaime]], her cousin Lancel, Lady Taena Merryweather and two of the three Kettleback brothers]]. Catelyn's sister Lysa is married to Ned and Robert's adoptive father, Jon Arryn, but is also engaged in a clandestine affair with Littlefinger, whom she eventually marries after her husband's death. Littlefinger, however, was madly in love with Catelyn, who [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend loves him like a brother, but no more.]] Now, though, he's found a [[ReplacementGoldfish suitable replacement]] in [[{{Squick}} Catelyn's teenage daughter, Sansa]]. Robert's brother, Renly, is married to Margaery Tyrell, but is [[strike: implied]] stated (by WordOfGod) to be [[CampGay sleeping with her brother Loras]]. Additionally, Renly's bodyguard, Brianne has [[BodyguardCrush a major crush on him]], but latter develops a rather tender relationship with none other than Jaime Lannister, Cersei's brother. Yeah, love in Westeros is complicated, and this doesn't even get into Jon and Dany's generation.

* In ''Literature/BeautifulDarkness''. Ethan is in love with Lena, who he believes [[spoiler: left him for John Breed]], and is begining to be attracted to [[spoiler: Olivia]]. Link is also attracted to [[spoiler: Olivia]], but at the same time he's still pining for Ridley. Ridley and [[spoiler: John]] are often seen together, so subtext could lead to interpretation of them as a couple. [[spoiler: Lila Jane Evers]]' first love was [[spoiler: Macon Ravenwood]], but he had to leave her because he was afraid of hurting her, so she met Ethan's father. She's still enough in love with [[spoiler: Macon]] to [[spoiler: save him from dying]]. He never stopped loving her.