History Main / ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou

* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'': The main reason Poison Ivy falls for Mr. Freezeis that he's the only man who's immune to both her secuction powers and her charme. That, and she's [[InLoveWithYourCarnage in love with his carnage]].

* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou/VideoGames
* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou/VisualNovels

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheBrideOfTheFox'', Prince Dumisami initially finds Nubia plain, but he quickly becomes fascinated with her because she doesn't care about his looks or the jewels and fine clothes he brought for her as engagement gifts. He simply can't understand she despises him because he utterly disrespects her, to the point of taking off her glasses to force her to walk arm-in-arm with him (he gives them back after she uses her short sight as an excuse to crush his foot). Her rejection, of course, only increases his determination.
* Dan from ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' is an [[SuccubiAndIncubi incubus]] who believes he will never find [[OneTrueLove true love]]. With his [[{{Telepathy}} mind reading]], [[CharmPerson charm]] and [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shape shifting]] abilities, Dan could seduce anyone he wants, but it would not be love. Matilda is his first real shot at a girlfriend because she is [[TheImmune immune]] to his abilities, and loves him for who he is.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', when Pandora was young, she had a hobby of [[ItAmusedMe having mortals do silly stuff in return for valuable information]]. But one day, as she was growing increasingly bored with how predictable it was becoming, a man named Blaike [[spoiler:Raven]] refused her offer. She proceeded to persist at first for the challenge, and then because she was growing increasingly fond of him and the information she was offering him really was very important. That being that there was no treasure, and was about to be killed. She even ''saved his life'' and '''''apologized for not telling him sooner''''', even though Blaike kept saying it wasn't her fault that he didn't listen.
* ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'': Kid Charisma is never seen with the same enthralled girl in more than one panel, but spends dozens of strips continuously hitting on Summer after he finds out that she's immune to [[CharmPerson his power]]. [[DeconstructedTrope She finds this both creepy and incredibly obnoxious]] and [[MegatonPunch hits back]]. Unfortunately, KC has a pretty strong HealingFactor.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': Not love ''per se'', since he seems incapable of loving anyone besides himself, but Coyote is clearly fascinated with Antimony and Reynardine precisely because they're not afraid to disagree with him or brush him off. In contrast, Ysengrin is a fawning yes-man to Coyote, so Coyote barely gives him the time of day. Except of course when he's [[spoiler: eating Ysengrin's memories.]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Bob realizes that the only reason Jean's crazy ex-boyfriend is so fixated on her is that she had the audacity to reject him.
* Supervillain [[DistractedByTheSexy Distracterella]] of ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'' is infatuated with Lazer Pony, as he's the ''only'' person [[NotDistractedByTheSexy able to resist her charms]].
* ''Webcomic/ThePrincesssJewels'':
** In his home country, Raymond was known for his silver tongue and charming qualities, which earned him scores of fawning noblewomen. When he attempts to flirt with Ariana, her swift putdowns makes him want to follow her. Even though she'd been hiding her own feelings and was in fact giddy over his forwardness, she played into it knowing he's more likely to chase her when she doesn't show it.
** Lina, Jade's StalkerWithACrush, constantly tries to get him on her side when she learns he wants to escape Ariana's harem. Every time he rebuffs her or acts cold (as he does to everyone else) just makes her fall harder, but this eventually leads to her drugging and attempting to rape him to make him hers once and for all.
* ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'': Tigerlily Jones is the only (human) female to appear for more than a panel and not find Tip extremely attractive. She barely even noticed him unless forced to. This is probably the main reason she's the only woman Tip's actually thought twice about (without sleeping with her or her trying to kill him).

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', Zander falls for Max because she is tough and sassy, unlike his sickeningly submissive servants.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
** "You're... rejecting ME? Oh my gosh! I am so into you now! I'm gonna run home and leave a thousand messages on your answering machine, bye!"
** "Stupid Cupid" also confirms what anyone could have guessed -- that Juandissimo is so obsessed with Wanda, who hates his guts because she's "[[ForbiddenFruit so unattainable]]."
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'':
** Nobody probably finds his mental equal as literally "highly erotic" as David Xanatos does. He tells his new wife so in the episode "Upgrade."
** [[TheTrickster Puck]] feels this way (probably platonically) towards David Xanatos.
* Franchise/WonderWoman's attraction to Franchise/{{Batman}} in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' has shades of this as part of their OppositesAttract routine.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Warden Wrath from "A Lying Witch and a Warden" is a KnightTemplar who's the closest thing the Boiling Isles has to law enforcement, locking up troublemakers and weirdos in his Conformatorium (often for [[FelonyMisdemeanor spurious reasons]]). He's also madly in love with Eda, the one criminal who's always managed to escape his grasp.
* A villainous example from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', [[ArcVillain Brother Blood]] becomes obsessed with ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} because the mechanical parts of his brain prevent Blood from using his [[BrainwashedAndCrazy mind control powers]] on him.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'': [[Characters/TotalDramaAlejandro Alejandro]] falls in love with [[Characters/TotalDramaHeather Heather]] after he finds himself unable to manipulate her nor get her eliminated as he did with the other female contestants, due to Heather being aware of his true colors.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'', Carver tries to set Tino up with a popular, stuck-up girl; the girl isn't interested in Tino until she discovers that Tino isn't interested in her either. Then, she becomes infatuated with him, claiming that "unattainable boys are so ''fascinating''".

[[folder:Real Life]]
* In Neil Strauss' ''Literature/TheGame2005'', a memoir about his time as a pickup artist, he describes how he ended up in a serious romantic relationship with the one woman not affected by his seduction techniques.

If TheCasanova gets a LoveInterest, he will often fall for her because of this trope. This is often an explanation behind LadykillerInLove and implied in LoveAtFirstPunch. Contrast AllTakeAndNoGive. SubTrope of SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond, ForbiddenFruit and NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction. When the uncontrollable object [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn is not flattered by the attention]], she may be dealing with a PrinceCharmingWannabe. Also compare PowerDynamicsKink and RejectionAffection. Contrast ArousedByIdiocy, which involves someone being attracted to those who can't challenge them.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'': Alejandro falls in love with Heather after he finds himself unable to manipulate her nor get her eliminated as he did with the other female contestants, due to Heather being aware of his true colors.

* A villainous example from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', [[ArcVillain Brother Blood]] becomes obsessed with ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} because the mechanical parts of his brain prevent Blood from using his [[BrainwashedAndCrazy mind control powers]] on him.

* Mega-ControlFreak Franchise/{{Batman}} loves ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} partially because she's one of the few people who won't take it lying down.
** Characters/BatmanPoisonIvy fell in love for Batman because he his the only man she can't control with her pheromones

If TheCasanova gets a LoveInterest, he will often fall for her because of this trope. This is often an explanation behind LadykillerInLove and implied in LoveAtFirstPunch. Contrast AllTakeAndNoGive. SubTrope of SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond, ForbiddenFruit and NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction. When the uncontrollable object [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn is not flattered by the attention]], she may be dealing with a PrinceCharmingWannabe. Also compare PowerDynamicsKink and RejectionAffection.

* Inverted in ''Film/{{Next}}'', where the main character falls for the love interest because his powers work better on her than anyone else.

* ''Podcast/WoodenOvercoats'': Marlene Magdelena is domineering, carries a whip, and isn't afraid to use it to intimidate... everybody. Georgie finds this [[CasualKink impossibly sexy]] and turns into a babbling, smitten mess every time they're in the same room together, but Marlene barely notices her. What she ''does'' notice is when Antigone finally gets sick of her [[PrimaDonnaDirector behavior]] and tells her off -- prompting Marlene to fall head-over-heels. [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe Neither Georgie nor Antigone can quite believe this]].

If TheCasanova gets a LoveInterest, he will often fall for her because of this trope. This is often an explanation behind LadykillerInLove and implied in TheLoveSlapOfEpiphany. Contrast AllTakeAndNoGive. SubTrope of SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond, ForbiddenFruit and NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction. When the uncontrollable object [[IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn is not flattered by the attention]], she may be dealing with a PrinceCharmingWannabe. Also compare PowerDynamicsKink and RejectionAffection.

* ''Podcast/WoodenOvercoats'': Marlene Magdelena is domineering, carries a [[WhipItGood whip]], and isn't afraid to use it to intimidate... everybody. Georgie finds this [[CasualKink impossibly sexy]] and turns into a babbling, smitten mess every time they're in the same room together, but Marlene barely notices her. What she ''does'' notice is when Antigone finally gets sick of her [[PrimaDonnaDirector behavior]] and tells her off -- prompting Marlene to fall head-over-heels. [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe Neither Georgie nor Antigone can quite believe this]].

* Dan from ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' is an [[HornyDevil incubus]] who believes he will never find [[OneTrueLove true love]]. With his [[{{Telepathy}} mind reading]], [[CharmPerson charm]] and [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shape shifting]] abilities, Dan could seduce anyone he wants, but it would not be love. Matilda is his first real shot at a girlfriend because she is [[TheImmune immune]] to his abilities, and loves him for who he is.

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[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
%%* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'':
%%** Aoshima is implied to be like this to Belldandy.
%%** Also occurs with Sayoko towards Keiichi, particularly in Season 2.
* One of the reasons Iason is so attracted to Riki in ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'' is the latter's rebellious nature and defiant pride. The more Riki fights and resists him, Iason becomes more excited and determined to get Riki to submit willingly.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Implied in the HoYay between Guts and Griffith. Griffith wants Guts to join his Band of the Hawk when he sees his ferocity when fighting, and his passion for following an independent lone wolf lifestyle. He admires Guts' stubborn will and unwillingness to be tied down by anything. This quickly turns horrifyingly possessive on his part, which causes him to ''flip out'' when Guts acts on the very traits Griffith admires about him and leaves the Band to pursue his own dream. This eventually leads to the atrocity that is the Eclipse.
* The protagonist of ''Manga/BGataHKei'' brushes off the flirtations of [[TheRival her rival's]] ridiculously attractive older brother. Apparently she is the first girl to ''ever'' do that. He immediately decides he must have her.
* ''Manga/BiNoKyoujin'': Kabu is obsessed with Nirasawa mainly because Nirasawa doesn't submit easily outside of bed. And that excites Kabu more than he cares to admit.
* Solomon of ''Anime/BloodPlus'' develops an infatuation towards Saya in the anime because she was the only girl who ignored him compared to [[ChickMagnet how girls normally get around him]].
* ''Manga/TheCaseStudyOfVanitas'': Vanitas states in chapter 12 he likes Joanne for numerous reasons one being her complete lack of interest in him. He even states he could never love someone who would return his feelings.
* The anime movie ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle'' gives a gender-flipped variant. The Witch of Waste enjoys pursing "dashing men" and loves that Howl runs from her. It makes it that much more fun to try to get his heart.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'':
** Mao became a {{Yandere}} because of this trope, as C.C. is the only person he could have extended contact with that wouldn't fill up his head with the white noise created by his [[PowerIncontinence uncontrollable]] [[{{Telepathy}} Geass power]].
** Lelouch has a case similar to Mao. C.C. is the only person he can't geass into submission and she once notes that he's becoming obsessed with her. There's also the fact that she's too experienced to be in awe of him (like some of his other admirers in the series). It is less a lack of control, as much as it is an independent streak and dependency on each other that make them partners, and not merely a subordinate. Not that their relationship is romantic, but C.C. is one of the few people Lelouch trusts (and he has '''massive''' trust issues). The "obsessed" angle is dropped soon after C.C. points it out as Lelouch is self-aware enough to listen to her advice.
* ''Anime/CrossAnge'': Embryo seems to desire Ange mostly because she's strong-willed enough to resist his manipulations and even outright MindControl powers. Paradoxically, he doesn't seem to understand why she doesn't consider herself extremely fortunate to have been judged worthy by himself.
* In ''LightNovel/DateALive'', Miku Izayoi falls in love with Shiori[[note]]actually Shido disguised as a woman, since Miku DoesNotLikeMen[[/note]] because she is immune to her CompellingVoice. When Shiori says she hates her, Miku says that only makes her want her more.
* ''Manga/DawnOfTheArcana'': One of the first few things that attract Caesar to (and annoys him about) Nakaba is her refusal to be controlled by him.
* In ''Manga/TheDisastrousLifeOfSaikiK'', Kokomi develops a crush on Saiki after he shows complete indifference to her beauty charm, which instantly captivates every other boy.
* ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'': Kirche says something that insults Saito so he rejects her advances. She refuses to give up telling him that prey that is hard to win over turns her on the most.
* Shin from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', who loves Yuria because she is an emotionally strong-willed woman whom he sees as a challenge to make ''willingly'' fall in love with him. It keeps failing since she [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan will only love]] [[EmotionalBruiser Kenshirou]].
* Though love is [[NoYay not the best way to describe it]], Iemitsu from ''Manga/{{Gate 7}}'', like a good PsychopathicManchild, loves when he takes things he knows he can't have and if they try to run, he likes them more; special mention is Sugihime, a girl he kidnapped for her {{Seer|s}} ability and considers her "so cute" for always insulting him and wishing him dead.
* In ''Manhua/GoddessCreationSystem'' Xiaxi exploits this to seduce playboy Mingyi. She needs him to fall in love with her but knows that if she shows any interest, has sex with him or even shows ''appreciation'' he'll end up losing interest. Instead, she puts on an attitude of quiet suffering while serving under him and acts as though she longs to return to his brother. His ego can't take it and he grows increasingly obsessed with making her his.
* ''Manga/HanaYoriDango'': Tsukasa eventually falls in love with Tsukushi, because she's the only girl who can stand up to him and immune to his threats and even charms.
* France of ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' groped Italy once and mentioned that "The more you resist the hotter I burn for you."
* Kanade Suzutsuki from ''LightNovel/MayoChiki'' falls gradually in love with Jiro because of this trope. Where as other guys and girls fawn over her, he's the first guy to overtly stand up to her, although a lot of it is due to her being TheTease towards him till later in the series.
* Count Germont from ''Manga/HonooNoAlpenRose'' is repeatedly rejected by the heroine Jeudi, but he keeps trying to make her his mistress no matter what. Lampshaded by the Count's wife Francoise, who tells Jeudi that the Count's impressed by Jeudi's ability to tell him no repeatedly, and confesses that she also envies Jeudi for it.
* ''Literature/ImTheEvilLordOfAnIntergalacticEmpire'': This is very explicit in Liam’s sudden love for Rosetta. He likes her when she loudly insults and disrespects him. This is because he's used to being surrounded by people too afraid or in awe of him to challenge him openly, as well as women openly trying to seduce him [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest reminding him of]] his past-life ex-wife who ruined [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld that life]]. After Rosetta stops being confrontational, Liam can't help but be perpetually disappointed that she turned out to be an [[DevotedToYou "easy heroine"]].
* In ''Manga/InterviewsWithMonsterGirls'', Sakie, the succubus math teacher falls for biology teacher Tetsuo when he doesn't display any lust at all after direct physical contact with her. Later she learns that he was just trying not to let it show to avoid making her feel awkward, but by then she's already head over heels.
* A mostly mundane version of this seems to be what attracts most of the suitors of Shuurei in * ''Manga/KamisamaKiss'': Kurama falls for Nanami because unlike the other girls in school she can't stand his pompous playboy attitude.
%%* ''VideoGame/LaCordaDOro'': Yunoki to Hino.
* Part of the reason why ''Anime/LupinIII'' chases Fujiko so persistently is the fact that she's one of the few women out there he ''can't'' seduce at will - if she sleeps with him, it's because ''she'' decided to (usually to get something out of him), not because he convinced her to. To a ChallengeSeeker like Lupin, that makes her irresistible.
* [[FemmeFatale Akako Koizumi]] of ''Manga/MagicKaito''. A mix of HotWitch and DarkMagicalGirl with the power to make men fall in love with her just by looking at her, she's put off by the discovery that [[PhantomThief Kaito Kuroba/Kaitou Kid]] is somehow [[NoSell the only person immune to her spell]]. After two failed attempts to force him under her control [[spoiler: (and another attempt to [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim just kill him]] when that doesn't work)]], she ends up falling in love with him and spends the rest of the series helping him out in her own way, via dropping cryptic warnings and [[spoiler:[[IdentityImpersonator disguising herself as Kid]] on one occasion to stop [[AmateurSleuth Hakuba]] from proving Kaito and Kid are the same person.]]
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', part of the reason why [[DefrostingIceQueen Boa]] [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman Hancock]] falls in love with [[IdiotHero Luffy]] is due to the fact that he's the only one who can resist her charms, while everyone else she comes in contact falls head over heels for her.
* ''Manga/PandoraHearts'': In spite of finding out that Lacie initially doesn't remember him, Jack doesn't particularly mind because he admires Lacie all the more for how free-spirited she is and how she can't be tied down by anything. Subverted once it's revealed that Jack's obsession with Lacie comes from [[spoiler:extreme resentment rather than admiration...]]
* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Sheryl and Carol's feelings towards Akira both have elements of this, although it's blended with other factors.
** With Sheryl, she is certain her beautiful smile can swipe any man off their feet (which she tests to see if she's lost her touch and she hasn't), but it doesn’t for Akira (who actually has a minor TraumaButton panic attack multiple times from witnessing her charms). Although BecauseYouWereNiceToMe is at least as much of a factor after Akira extensively comforts Sheryl during her HeroicBSOD.
** Carol is a FemmeFatale who offers hunters free sex only to get them hooked and [[PredatoryProstitute charge them more and more]] until they're forced to divulge information to make up for it, but Akira soundly resists Carol's seduction. It's later revealed that her doing this was partially LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces to find someone who wouldn't spill secrets no matter what to act as TheConfidant for her about her own DarkAndTroubledPast. Carol's also InLoveWithYourCarnage and finds Akira EndearinglyDorky.
* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': [[TheCasanova Touga]] falls in love with Utena because she seems to be the one girl who doesn't immediately fall under his charm.
* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'':
** Ali, FillerVillain of the "Makaiju[=/=]Doom Tree arc" in the [[Anime/SailorMoon anime]], specifically states to himself after Usagi runs away after he failed in his attempt at wooing her that "Every time she runs away it only heightens my determination to win her over..."
** Prince Dimando likes Usagi's OlderAndWiser self, Neo-Queen Serenity, for this reason as well. When Usagi reacts in the same manner, he also pursues her.
* ''Manga/SakuraGari'': From a different angle, this borders on a strange inversion/distortion of this where [[EvenTheGuysWantHim everyone]] wants to control and screw Souma, treating him like a possession, a "doll", but Souma loves Masataka because Masataka doesn't try to control or possess him (i.e. Masataka's affection is pure (read: not bound by sexual possessiveness)).
* ''Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd'':
** While Ferid is delighted by Krul's ability to hand him his ass and her repulsion of him he also secretly desires to make her submit to him.
** Shinya mentions in the novel how he only really discovered he liked Mahiru when he learned of her beauty and her complete lack of interest in him.
** Ferid seems even more interested in Yuu and Mika because neither is going to take his crap or flirtations towards them sitting down.
* ''Anime/SevenMortalSins'': Asmodeus becomes intrigued by both Maria Totsuka and Lucifer when they display immunity to her lust-inducing powers. She kidnaps them and attempts to sexually torment them until they give in to lust and agree to become her slaves, but that doesn't work either. She then starts genuinely respecting them.
* ''LightNovel/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku''. Being a confident, outspoken, and blindingly intelligent woman in an otherwise male-dominated society, she doesn't let ANY level of authority or nobility intimidate her, up to and including the Emperor himself. As a result, several of the most powerful men in the Empire become enamoured with her straightforward and willful personality, whether it be a fatherly concern or outright true love.
* ''Lightnovel/{{Sukisho}}'': Yoru says to Ran at one point when he fights against his advances. "The more stubborn you are, the more you excite a man's domineering nature."
* ''Anime/SuperDimensionCavalrySouthernCross'': Played with example. Ace pilot Mary Angel is in love with known player Charles de Etouard but decides to play hard to get instead of chasing after him like the other women. Charles eventually figures this out, but by then, Mary's plan worked. Charles had already fallen in love with her.
* In addition to the InLoveWithYourCarnage aspect and because of his broken badass ghoul nature Eto also develops feelings for Kaneki in ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' because of his refusal to fall prey to her advances and determination to maim and kill her.
** When Kaneki issues Tsukiyama a death threat, rather than be deterred, Tsukiyama becomes even more enamored and obsessed with eating Kaneki.
** Roma has something of a crush on Kaneki because he refuses to let anything bring him to his knees. She desires to destroy his life because she thinks he's beautiful in the midst of despair.
** Mutsuki shows no interest in men who try to abuse/control him. It's partially because of Kaneki/Sasaki's complete lack of romantic interest in him and lack of desire to abuse/control him (in addition to his kindness) that Mutsuki fell for him and developed a psychotic attraction towards him.
** Furuta's attraction towards Rize grew more explicit and psychotic the moment he feared she would go off and have a life of her own without him. He also shows attraction to Eto and flirtatiously states how Eto's stubborn pride turns him on and makes him want to make her submit to him.
** Tsukiyama also developed an attraction towards Touka initially because of her cold nature reflected in her eyes and fiery personality.
* ''Manga/ToLoveRu'': Lala, Momo, and Nana's mother Sephie uncontrollably causes any male who looks at her uncovered face to be engulfed with lust, which forces her to wear a veil at all times lest she be swarmed and presumably gang-raped. She fell in love with her eventual husband Gid when he saw her face and was unaffected (and in fact, didn't see what made her so special). When she finds that Rito is also immune, she shows some attraction before declaring she approves of his relationship with her daughters.
* Apparently discussed by [[HotTeacher Nikaido]]/[[spoiler:[[TheChooserOfTheOne Dokurou]]]] in ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' FLAG 268. [[spoiler:She thinks that [[AGodAmI Keima]] apparently fell in love with [[TheGenericGuy Chihiro]] for real, because she's the only girl, among his previous capture targets who had an important influence on his CharacterDevelopment, who never got along with his expectations.]]
* ''Manga/{{Yuureitou}}'': Marube likes how Tetsuo tries to fight back against his seductions and he looks forward to breaking his will.
* In the ''Manga/ZekkyouGakkyuu'' chapter, "The Red Thread" (extra story), the popular Masaya is astounded that Moriya isn't swayed by his charms and is determined to get close to her and make her fall for him. He fails and ends up falling in love with her for real, but she rejects him because she likes someone else.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12457842/1/Danza-Verde Danza Verde]]'', [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Lotor,]] head of the most powerful family in the criminal underworld, falls for [[DeadpanSnarker Pidge]] when she (ignorant of who he is) [[RescueRomance rescues him from some goons and bandages his wounds]], all the while insulting his smug attitude every chance she gets.
* In the ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' fanfic series [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/Heirverse Heirverse]] this is {{Implied}} to be one of the reasons Aizen falls for Gin.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6128545/1/Sun_and_Earth Sun and Earth]]'', Zuko is put in this position by Toph. She stays in a relationship with him but has a strong need to stay free. She goes her own way, sometimes appearing in Zuko's life again. He still waits, even being married to Mai, because it's Toph being unreachable that attracts him.
* Played with in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' fic ''Fanfic/TheGameOfTheGods''. The GaryStu second-to-last opponent is, by his creator's decree, capable of seducing any woman he really wants to -- and it works on a [[PhysicalGod Vala]] -- but it doesn't work on Lúthien, causing him to immediately focus all his attention on her, then [[PuffOfLogic vanish from the contradiction]] when she persists in ignoring him.
* Part of the spark for the Fleur×Harry relationship in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheLieIveLived''. Fleur first sees Harry as an actual romantic prospect when, annoyed, he deliberately snubs her in order to ask her close but non-part-Veela friend to the Yule Ball. She is visibly much more satisfied with her relationship with Harry than with her previous ones, which usually involved much older men so strongly affected by her [[LoveIsInTheAir aura]] that they simply did whatever she told them to.
* Much like above, ''Fanfic/ThePowerOfSeven'' notes that Fleur's initial attraction to Harry is based on his ability to shrug off her casual allure and treat her like just another girl rather than an irresistible sex object. By contrast, although "love" isn't exactly the right term, Fleur's mother Apolline becomes overly interested in having at least one sexual encounter with Harry just because he's the first wizard she's ever met who was able to resist her advances after she's had various short affairs in the past just because she can.
* Very common in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fan fiction pairing Draco and an OriginalCharacter. Draco is portrayed as TheCasanova (often referred to as "the Slytherin Sex-God"), but will quickly fall head-over-heels once it's revealed that the new girl isn't impressed by his pick-up lines.
* It's canon that ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is pretty rebellious and defiant. In SlashFic, this is sometimes one of the reasons that Sasuke ends up pursuing him.
* In the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3504829/1/Feminism ''Feminism'']] Fem!Raito gets even more interested in L when her attempts to seduce him (so she can win as Kira) don't work, and in fact, he's noticed many for what they were. In chapters 1-2, she notes herself as far out of his league, when by the fourth or so she admits she finds him attractive too--but still wants to win.
* In the ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' fic "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2207501/1/Restless-Warriors Restless Warriors]]", this is at least a basic description of the reason why Eric (''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'') falls for Taylor (''Series/PowerRangersWildForce''); Eric grew up in an abusive household where his father often beat his mother and explains to Taylor that one reason he loves her is that she's too strong-willed to let him repeat his parents' relationship.
* In the ''Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray'' fanfiction [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6022186/1/If_I_Should_Ever_bLose_b_bYou_b ''If I should ever lose you]], that's what makes Basil a real mentor ([[LoverAndBeloved and more]]) for Dorian.
* WordOfGod for the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'' is that this is the main reason [[EldritchAbomination Entropy married Havoc]] -- He's the one being in all of existence who doesn't [[TheDreaded fear Her.]]
* A variation in DarkFic ''Fanfic/PrisonIslandBreak''. While their relationship revolves purely around friendship, Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog respects VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog because Shadow isn't taken in by charisma or smooth-talking, forcing Sonic to prove his leadership qualities.
* In ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'', part of Shendu's VillainousCrush on Valerie Payne consists of her strong will that makes her able to resist his ability to play on human desires and exchange verbal barbs with him. The interactions with [[HypnotizeTheCaptive her rewritten, more demure version]] make him realize he misses her spunk.
* This is why Garon falls for Arete in ''Fanfic/TheLostKing'': because she's the only woman in his entire court that ''isn't'' pursuing him after his wife dies. Downplayed in that they do genuinely like each other.
* ''Fanfic/{{crawlersout}}'': Gellert Grindelwald is...''fascinated'' with Fem!Harry, because she is the only person he didn't have wrapped around his finger after their first meeting. Even people who don't agree with his goals or views were besotted with Grindelwald, Dumbledore included -- Harry, while charmed by him, still felt discomfited, and that was ''before'' she knew his name and realized who he was, and all the terrible things he will go on to do.
* ''Fanfic/PrinceCharming'': Prince Adrien was blessed at birth with the power to brainwash everyone he interacts with into his adoring slave...[[BlessedWithSuck whether or not he actually wants to.]] Unsurprisingly, much of the story revolves around his attempts to find some way of stripping himself of this blessing, and, after he manages this feat, he proposes on the spot to the first girl he meets.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13276581/1/Please-No-More-Soulmates Please, No More Soulmates!]]'', [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Jaune Arc]] has a harem of soulmates that is comprised of most of the main cast, most of whom are obsessed with gaining his affection. Who does Jaune fall for first? Nora Valkyrie, the one person who isn't his soulmate, and thus not really interested in him on a romantic level (yet).
* ''WebVideo/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorksAbridged'': Rin Tohsaka admits she likes Shirou Emiya because she can use her looks to get any other boy to obey her, but he doesn't.
* ''Fanfic/RealmOfEntwinedScienceAndSorceryAcademyCity'': Queen Medb becomes obsessed with Touma Kamijou when he refuses her advances, just like Cu Chulainn did.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Creator/JaneAusten:
** ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'': Elizabeth Bennet is smart enough to realize this is why Mr. Darcy fell in love with her -- she was a welcome change from the likes of his ClingyJealousGirl Caroline Bingley.
--->'''Elizabeth:''' Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?\\
'''Darcy:''' For the liveliness of your mind, I did.\\
'''Elizabeth:''' You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you.
** Interestingly, Austen takes the opposite approach to the trope in her next novel ''Literature/MansfieldPark'', where Henry Crawford and his sister are both fully aware that the only reason he wants to make Fanny Price fall in love with him is that she's the first girl who doesn't fawn over him and crave his attention. The difference from ''P&P'' is that ItsAllAboutMe in Crawford's case.
** {{Gender flip}}ped in Austen's ''Literature/{{Emma}}'', where Emma falls in love with Mr. Knightley, the only person on Earth who doesn't worship her or treat her like she's perfect.
* ''Literature/TheApothecaryDiaries'' has a platonic example: Jinshi, a male eunuch in the imperial harem, [[SoBeautifulItsACurse is incredibly pretty]] and almost everyone tends to judge him by his looks ([[EvenTheGuysWantHim he is also frequently propositioned by both men and women of the court]], which annoys him since he has no sex drive). Maomao, however, just finds him smug and annoying and tends to respond to his antics with {{Death Glare}}s and {{Face Palm}}s. Jinshi, meanwhile, finds her bluntness and contempt for him incredibly amusing and gets a kick out of interacting with her as a result. [[spoiler:He later falls hard for Maomao anyway, even considering a candidate for marriage because --surprise, surprise-- he's actually royalty.]]
* ''Literature/TheBlackMagicianTrilogy'': In ''The Ambassador's Mission'' Achati laments his control over his slaves -- "Only when the person could easily leave you do you appriciate it when he stays" -- [[spoiler:and seems to have taken an interest in Dannyl at least partly due to a more equal status.]]
%%* ''Literature/CiaphasCain'': Probably applies in Ciaphas' relationship with Amberley.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
** In ''Literature/CarpeJugulum'' the young vampire Vlad becomes interested in Agnes/Perditax because she is able to resist his mind control due to her split personality.
** In ''Literature/GoingPostal'', [[{{Tsundere}} Adora Belle Dearheart]] catches the eye of [[BoxedCrook Moist von Lipwig]] for being almost completely immune to the former con artist's charms.
%%* Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the HoYay reading of ''Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh''.
* In ''Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries'' future duke Felix ignores the girls that throw themselves at him and only has eyes for the protagonist Sophronia who finds him arrogant and is far more focused on excelling at her espionage training than catching a rich, titled husband.
* This is supposedly why Christian is in love with Ana in ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey''. He claims this is a draw of Ana's, why he loves her... except her moments of defiance send him into a rage more often than not (sometimes on the same ''page'') and he is still very controlling of her.
* Captain Luthar first falls for Ardee West in ''Literature/TheFirstLaw'' because she's the first woman he's ever met who's honest about her low opinion of him.
%%* Creator/AynRand's ''Literature/TheFountainhead'' has a lot of HoYay subtext between Howard Roark and Gail Wynand, with Wynand's feeling for Roark being an example of this trope.
* Cassandra, the PhysicalGod antagonist of ''Literature/FullTilt'', has been preying on people's fears for at least several thousand years, but she's never once felt fear herself. The protagonist initially drew her attention by [[spoiler:being the sole survivor when she sent a school bus careening off a cliff]], but when she challenges him individually, she's both unnerved and strangely turned on by his lack of any apparent weakness for her to target. At various points, she flirts with him, taunts him, [[WeCanRuleTogether offers him a job]], and [[spoiler:begs him for mercy]]. (Only that third one seriously interests him, and not for very long.)
* Caine for Diana in ''Literature/{{Gone}}''. He fell for her because she was the only girl who hadn't fallen for his charms.
* Possibly the only reason for Scarlet O'Hara's obsession with Ashley Wilkes in ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'' is that he is not affected by her "powers of seduction"... at least, not enough to leave his wife.
* ''Literature/GracelingRealm'': The titular protagonist of ''Fire'' falls in love with Prince Brigan partially because he is one of the very few people who has a strong enough mind to resist the mind-altering effects of her inhuman beauty.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Harry becomes romantically interested in Ginny after she backs off, makes her crush on him less obvious, and interacts with him in a platonic and friendly manner. In this case, it's less that Harry enjoys the challenge of pursuing her and more that he finds it unnerving and smothering when girls try to get him to love them.
* ''Literature/TheHeirChronicles'': In ''The Wizard Heir]]'' by Cinda Williams Chima, protagonist Seph has always been able to get any girl he wants thanks to his magically-aided charisma. Then he meets Madison Moss, whose AntiMagic makes her immune. You can guess where this is going.
%%* Esteban for Clara in ''Literature/TheHouseOfTheSpirits''.
* Sophie from ''Literature/HowlsMovingCastle'' (the book) is clever enough to recognize that Miss Angorian, who is not only capable of resisting Howl's charm and is engaged to another man but also smart, pretty, down-to-earth and confident, will steal [[TheCasanova Howl's]] heart after witnessing their first meeting [[spoiler: but it was Sophie who actually made Howl fall in love with her in the end]].
* ''Literature/InCryptid'':
** Artie is an incubus, who naturally gives off [[LivingAphrodisiac pheromones that attract humans attracted to men]] (other than blood relatives, who are immune[[note]]Incubi and succubi can interbreed with humans, and he has a human mother and cousins[[/note]]). This is a problem since Artie has [[PowerIncontinence very little control over his pheromones]], to the point that he's a {{Hikikomori}} by necessity. Part of the reason he's in love with Sarah is that she's not human[[note]]Not even a mammal, and her species is from AnotherDimension[[/note]], and so she's the only non-relative his age who he has no effect on. Sarah, on the other hand, is a member of a telepathic species who are infamous for being {{Backstory Invader}}s and forcing other sapients to like them and give them whatever they want. Sarah, being one of the few {{Token Heroic Orc}}s of her species, wants to avoid this as much as possible, and it turns out Artie's ancestor passed down some genetic immunity to her telepathy, so she can't make him love her unconsciously, and would never do so deliberately.
** It's implied this is the case with both Sarah and Artie's parents as well: Artie's incubus father Ted fell in love with Jane Price when he found out his pheromones were mostly ineffective on her, and Sarah's mom Angela, who's the same species as her, is HappilyMarried to a RevenantZombie, whose mind she can't read.
* This is how Bobby and Oran feel about each other in ''Literature/TheManWhoBroughtTheDodgersBackToBrooklyn''. Oran isn't swayed by Bobby's charm and savoir-faire and uses her stature as a TV reporter to try and hold him accountable for his outlandish actions with the Dodgers, which earns his interest. Bobby, on the other hand, doesn't let himself get swayed by her reporting, which ''she'' finds fascinating. [[spoiler:They eventually get together and are married at the end of the novel.]]
* A non-romantic version of this is apparently a big cause of Breeze's friendship with Clubs in Franchise/{{Mistborn}}. As a Smoker, Clubs is immune to Breeze's Allomancy, and he is immune to more mundane methods of emotional manipulation because everything makes him grumpy.
* In ''Literature/TheNovelsOfTheJaran'', Ilya fall in love with Tess because she constantly defies him when nearly everyone else in the Jaran obeys him. The fact that she doesn't fall for his charisma and good looks like most other women probably factored in, too.
* In ''Literature/ThePosterChildren'', CharmPerson Gloria falls for John Wright because he's immune to her pheromones. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, they can't convince others of this, so at the first chance, Gloria gets imprisoned for supposedly tricking him into marriage. She's also kept from seeing her son because of this.]]
-->''He could say no, so she had to say please.''
* This is eventually the motivation by which Courtney Thane is shown to be in love with Alix Crown in ''Literature/QuillsWindow'': Her aloof, diffident nature is a stark contrast to any other woman he's met.
* In ''Literature/SuperPowereds'' Angela feels this way towards Chad. Amusingly, it is later revealed that between the strange nature of his power and his own social cluelessness, he more or less fell in love with her without noticing and just needed Roy to explain as much to him.
* In the ''Literature/RoseOfTheProphet'' trilogy, this is what keeps drawing [[WarriorPrince Khardan]] back to his ([[ArrangedMarriage divinely mandated]]) wife [[TomboyPrincess Zohra]] despite everything she does that antagonises him- with every woman in his tribe willing to throw themselves at his feet, Zohra is the one woman who never gives him an inch. The story even mentions as such when Khardan refuses to take another wife after marrying her, noting that Zohra makes other women seem boring by comparison.
-->There were times, however, when he admitted to himself that the eyes of the sparrow were dull and lackluster after one has looked into the fiery black eyes of the hawk.
* In ''Literature/TheScholomance,'' Orion becomes fascinated with and develops a crush on El because she's the only one who doesn't worship the ground he walks on for his skill at killing maleficaria. Consequently, she's also the only one who treats him as a person and not just as a tool to be used. Though El's narration [[UnreliableNarrator claims she finds him annoying,]] it's clear that she cares for him as well, and the two end up as VitriolicBestBuds. [[spoiler: At the end of the first book, it's clear that El reciprocates his feelings, but doesn't want to act on them because falling in love at the Scholomance is a good way to get your heart broken when your lover more than likely dies. By the second book, however, the two become a couple for real.]]
* ''Literature/SkinGame'' reveals that the FallenAngel [[spoiler:Lasciel]] has developed a [[WorthyOpponent perverse]] fascination with Harry Dresden- the only mortal in thousands of years who not only refused [[DealWithTheDevil her temptations]] but convinced [[spoiler:her psychic imprint]] to leave his mind.
-->'''[[spoiler:Lasciel]]:''' ''(during her MotiveRant)'' No one's ever turned me down before, Harry. Not once.
* ''Literature/TheSookieStackhouseMysteries''
** In the novel (and its TV version, ''Series/TrueBlood''), this is the reason Sookie was first attracted to Bill: She realized she couldn't hear his thoughts.
** It's implied that [[spoiler:Eric]] and Sookie's relationship has elements of this. She can't read his mind, he can't glamour her or make her quit her job and live safely as an odd type of housewife. This has nothing to do with the challenge and everything to do with the fact that hearing a guy's thoughts tends to really screw things up for Sookie, e.g. unflattering commentary on her body.
* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' has a variation: "I love you because I can't read your mind." He actually can, and regularly ''does,'' control her. Also, it's implied that it's supposed to be because Bella is way too good to fall for looks alone... except that's all she talks about when she describes Edward, so the meaning is lost.
* Averted in ''Literature/TheVampireDiaries''. Elena notes that Meredith is the only female who seems immune to Damon's charisma, but this only serves to make Damon rather wary of her.
* In ''Literature/{{Watersong}}'', Penn develops an obsessive love/lust for Daniel because he is immune to her siren song, making him the first person in millennia to actually stand up to her. She admits she wouldn't be nearly so interested if he fell under her spell and just mindlessly worshiped her like everyone else.
* ''Literature/WutheringHeights'': Edgar for Cathy Earnshaw. She walks all over him, ignores his wishes, throws temper tantrums, and obviously prefers the company of Heathcliff, and yet he refuses to give her up.
* In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', "Face" Loran invokes this trope with Dia Passik, who because of her tough childhood never saw any of his films, and thus is just about the only woman of her age who doesn't gush over him. Although he meant it ironically, in the end, the two of them ''do'' get together.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BoysBeforeFlowers'': Gu Jun Pyo ends up falling in love with Geum Jan Di, because she's the only girl who can stand up to him and is immune to his threats or even his charm.
* ''Series/{{Bridgerton}}'': In season 2, Anthony Bridgerton falls in love with Kate Sharma, because she's the only woman (he's ever met) who can stand up to him and is certainly no fool to his charm.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Buffy treats Spike's sexual advances with contempt until he reveals that his [[RestrainingBolt chip]] doesn't read her as human, and so he can hurt or even kill her without consequence. This results in an immediate mutual NoHoldsBarredBeatdown which [[SlapSlapKiss leads to passionate sex]] in a [[DestructoNookie collapsing building]]. There were [[HeroicBSOD other factors]] leading up to this moment, but the timing is interesting.
* There's a bit of this in ''Series/{{Castle}}''; Richard Castle can [[TheCharmer charm any lady he likes around his little finger]] except for Detective Kate Beckett, who isn't suckered in by any of his usual methods... which makes Castle, who was getting bored with the fawning ladies themselves trying to snare or drape themselves over him, a lot more interested in her as a result. It's also suggested (including by the actors) that it's not so much about Castle trying to find some way to control Beckett as he is kind of thrilled to find someone who can control ''him'', as Castle has no real authority figure in his life except for her.
* In ''Series/DarkAngel'', there is an episode focused on one of the X series fugitives who has MindControl powers. She's dating this mob guy called Dougie, despite him being below average in every respect, because her powers don't work on him. She helped him rip off his organisation, manipulating him in more traditional ways.
* ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'': Chloe is immune to Lucifer's abilities and charms, sexual or otherwise. Lucifer is fascinated by the implications, but Linda the therapist also notes that he's more than a little disturbed. Her immunity means that Lucifer has to rely on being himself to get her attention, which leads to a genuine friendship developing between them and Lucifer [[spoiler: falling in love with her.]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS38E5FugitiveOfTheJudoon Fugitive of the Judoon]]" Captain Jack is excited by...well, let's face it, [[ExtremeOmnisexual everything]]. But especially by the way the Tardis Team doesn't seem overly impressed by him:
-->'''Jack:''' Oh, she likes them mouthy, then, huh?\\
'''Ryan:''' Yeah, one up from cheesy.\\
'''Jack:''' Okay, he's my favourite!
* ''Series/GossipGirl'': Blair loves Chuck because he's the only person who is a WorthyOpponent, Chuck loves Blair because she's the only one who ever seriously challenges him.
* ''Series/HannahMontana'': Jake falls for Miley ''because'' she is the only girl at school who isn't gaga over him.
* In ''Series/{{Haven}}'', Chris Brody is attracted to Audrey only because she doesn't fall for him [[spoiler:like all the town's people do due to his Trouble]].
* In ''Series/HotelDelLuna'', part of Man-wol's attraction to Chan-sung is that he is a normal human, yet he isn't afraid of talking back to her and standing his ground if he feels she is wrong about something.
* ''Series/JessicaJones2015'':
** This is the driving plot of the first season. Jessica's ArchEnemy Kilgrave has a CompellingVoice which he uses to horrifying effect, and Jessica was his love slave for over a year. But one day, his powers just stopped working on her[[note]]How and why she grew immune to him was deliberately unexplained and left open to interpretation[[/note]], and he became obsessed with having her at his side again. However, while Kilgrave thinks this feeling is love, it's obvious that his powers have made him a sociopathic ControlFreak who can't understand what it's like to be denied something for the first time in his adult life.
** In the second season, Dr. Karl Malus admits that his falling in love with Jessica's mentally unstable mom was much this way.* ''Series/MyRoommateIsAGumiho'': Gye Sun-woo is a total ladies' man who becomes intrigued and attracted to Dam because she resists his advances. On her part, it's because she can't have contact with any guy born in the Year of the Tiger due to the fox bead inside her.
* ''Series/NoahsArc'': This is one of the things that draws Ricky towards Junito early on (as Ricky's sexual advances don't seem to take).
* In the ''Series/NorthernExposure'' episode "Only You", Chris goes through one of his recurring hormone/pheromone surges, which make him almost irresistible to women. When he discovers that the visiting optometrist is completely immune to his pheromones, and doesn't even find him attractive at his ''baseline'' level, he becomes fixated on her. As a result, he finds himself impotent while in bed with other women, and his body actually ends the surge earlier than usual.
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': Dr. Cox loves Jordan because she's one of the only people who can stand up to him. Jordan loves Dr. Cox because he's one of the only people who can stand up to her.
* ''Series/TheSecretLifeOfTheAmericanTeenager'' has this in the pilo. The main love interest, after talking to the main character, talks to his councilor.
--> "I asked her out, and she turned me down. Of course, I must have her."
* In ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', [[TheVamp Irene]]'s first meeting with the protagonist starts with her trying -- and [[IgnoreTheFanservice failing]] -- to manipulate him the way she would most men (and a statistically significant portion of women). Given that [[{{dominatrix}} this version]] of her is all about control, the trope is in play -- though she does eventually find a way to dupe him: don't appeal to his sexual desires; appeal to his ''intellect''.
* {{Averted}} in the ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' episode, "[[Recap/SmallvilleS02E02Heat Heat]]". When Desiree finds that [[LivingAphrodisiac her seduction powers]] have no effect on Clark Kent, she gets pissed and immediately starts trying to ruin his life. For example, she frames him for arson.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''
** There's an episode where Lwaxana Troi is fascinated by someone she cannot read. He turns out to be a hologram, which she is quite embarrassed by.
*** Lwaxana has this problem a lot. One of the running gags of the series is that she's perpetually infatuated with Captain Picard, who can't ''stand'' to have her around. And in one of her later appearances in ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'', she becomes similarly attracted to Odo, who (at the time, anyway) can't really comprehend how "solids" fall in love.
** Similarly, the telepath from the episode "Tin Man" spends a lot of time with Data, whose mind he cannot read. The difference here is that, unlike Lwaxana, he can't ''not'' read minds, while Lwaxana just has almost no sense of personal space in that regard. He loves having to ''discover'' who Data is as a person rather than being thrust with all that information at once.
** Q's [[WordOfGay attraction]] to Picard is probably the result of this trope. He seems rather pleased with humanity's unpredictability, after all. Taken further for Q's appearances in ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' with Janeway, where he explicitly asks her to mate with him (he omits the fact that Q mating is [[GRatedSex touching two fingers together and a flash of light happens]]).
* ''Series/TrueBlood''
** Sookie was initially attracted to Bill the vampire mainly because she couldn't read his mind, though this was mostly since she wasn't {{Squick}}ed out by what [[AMindIsATerribleThingToRead he thought about her sexually]]. The fact that he saved her from the Rattrays and [[spoiler:fed her his blood, causing her to have sexy dreams about him]] didn't hurt any. It turned out [[spoiler:he'd orchestrated the whole thing specifically to get this response]], which makes it an InvokedTrope.
** There's also Eric, who is mostly into Sookie because he's a bit intimidated by her powers, as shown in a fantasy of his where she tops the hell out of him. Both vampires also feel this way towards Sookie because she can't be glamoured.
* ''Literature/TheVampireDiaries''
** Probably part of the reason why BigBad [[NobleDemon Klaus]] harbors a strong attraction for Caroline. It's part of the reason why he admires her so much at least, which is saying a lot as the guy is very easy to disappoint and can be quick to disown people.
** Unlike in the novel, played straight between [[BelligerentSexualTension Damon and Elena]] literally because her vervain necklace prevents her from being compelled. At least, while she is actually wearing it.
* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': This is outright stated to be the reason why Beck stays with Jade, despite how terribly she treats him at times. In one episode, Beck admits that he's bored of the girls who constantly throw themselves at him and will do anything to make him happy. He'd rather be with someone like Jade, who at least challenges him.

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/HoneyWorks' "Mean Encounter" from ''Music/ConfessionExecutiveCommitteeLoveSeries'' has this as its central premise. The singer is a typical teen playboy who fools around with girls and takes life in a lax manner, but only one person seriously dislikes him for it-- and that very same person is the only one that makes him start reconsidering his actions, leading to an honest romantic pursuit.
* "Crave You" by Flight Facilities revolves around this idea, too. "Why can't you want me like the other boys do?"
* Music/{{Kesha}}'s "Steven", a song where the narrator is a StalkerWithACrush (literally, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk7vFBIm-kw according to the official video]]) features the following as its second verse:
-->''I've got guys waiting in a line\\
For me to play my evil girly games\\
With all their minds\\
Just watch me\\
I've got it down to a simple art\\
Just bat my eyes like this\\
And there's a broken heart\\\
But somehow\\
you turned the tables\\
what the hell?\\
I can charm the pants off anyone else\\
but you...''
* Music/DonMcLean's ''Everybody Loves Me Baby'' is a great example of this. "Everybody loves me, baby -- what's the matter with you?"
* Music/{{The Rolling Stones|Band}}' "Ruby Tuesday" is all about this, a woman who lives only for the present ("yesterday don't matter if it's gone"), never stays in one place for long, and can't really be obtained by anyone.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* OlderThanDirt: Myth/MesopotamianMythology has the story ''Literature/NergalAndEreshkigal'', where Ereshkigal falls in love with a god who has disrespected her emissary and abandoned her despite her seduction.
* In Christian theology, this is essentially why God gave humans free will. He wants people to choose a relationship with him, rather than being simple automatons compelled to obey. (Granted, [[FireAndBrimstoneHell the alternative]] is pretty harsh.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{AFK Arena}}'', Mehira, nicknamed "the Mind Cager", is a [[HornyDevils succubus]] who's so effective at making mortals bow to her charms, preying on their most subconscious desires that they may not even know about themselves, that the only reason she hasn't ensnared the majority of Esperia's population is that she finds it [[NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction too easy and boring]]. Then she met the Lightbearer demon hunter Fawkes, who was able to resist her magic and counterattack. Being FauxAffablyEvil, it's very highly doubtful that she ''likes'' him, but she's at the very least excited and fascinated at finally encountering a WorthyOpponent.
* Implied to be behind Haytham's feelings for Ziio in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII''. As a Templar, Haytham is totally obsessed with control; although their relationship was happy enough, if brief, Ziio's deepest worry about their son is that he might have inherited the obsession.
* Seraphina's relationship with Killia in ''[[VideoGame/{{Disgaea 5}} Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance]]'' is a rather literal case. Seraphina prides herself on being TheCharmer with her ability to make any man do whatever she wants with a single gaze. However, her ability has absolutely no effect on Killia, and because of that, plus his selflessness, she has fallen for him.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', due to her SocialDarwinist approach, Morrigan is frequently left exasperated by the actions of a heroic Male Warden. Particularly after she realises that she's actually started to develop ''[[InLoveWithTheMark genuine]]'' feelings for them.
* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Queen Medb is obsessed with Cu Chulainn because he's the only man who she cannot seduce.
* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', that might explain some of Sion's StalkerWithACrush dialogue towards a female Exile.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'': Zelos Wilder is used to girls throwing themselves at him, so naturally he takes a keen interest in Sheena, who refuses to fall for any of his charms. [[spoiler:If you get Zelos's backstory, he reveals that his happy-go-lucky exterior is just [[StepfordSmiler a facade]], and he's actually quite cynical--and that ''especially'' goes for his instant harem, whom he believes is more interested in being with Zelos the Chosen than they are in Zelos the person. Sheena doesn't care if he's the Chosen or not, meaning that whatever she is feeling for Zelos -- even though it's currently "he's a disgusting pervert" -- is genuine.]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Ikki from ''VisualNovel/AmnesiaMemories'' was given the magical ([[PowerIncontinence and uncontrollable]]) ability to make any girl who looks into his eyes fall in love with him. In his route, he becomes interested in the female protagonist when she proves to be the only girl in the school capable of resisting his magical charm to some extent.
* Gilgamesh towards Saber in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. In one route he even states to her face [[spoiler:as he's dying]] that "[[WantingIsBetterThanHaving Some things are more beautiful because you can't have them.]]" In one of the alternate timelines in a sequel game, he's actually disappointed when he sees that [[spoiler:Dark Saber]] has abandoned her ideals and become corrupted.
* ''VisualNovel/IkemenSengoku'':
** This is one major reason for Oda Nobunaga becoming fascinated with the heroine (the other major reason being that she [[RescueRomance saved his life]]) who rejects his offer for her to [[WeCanRuleTogether rule the world by his side]] and stands up to him in a way that no other woman does.
** Several other guys take a less-pronounced interest in the heroine specifically because of her assertive, willful personality. Masamune states on several routes that he finds the challenge of winning the heart of a spirited woman like her to be attractive, and Shingen responds to her defiantly telling him on his own route that she'll make his life as miserable as possible by saying that he likes her even better as a "war goddess".
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Nicole}}'', the best way into Jeff's heart is to challenge him and/or go outside of his expectations. For someone who bases his entire persona on what he expects that people want to see, he's intrigued by Nicole when she does the opposite of what she "should" have done.
* A couple of the possible relationships in ''VisualNovel/SevenKingdomsThePrincessProblem'' run along these lines. Prince Zarad of Corval is intrigued by a lady who won't fall for his charm; Prince Jarrod of Revaire isn't accustomed to being stood up to. In both cases, the best way to get the prince's attention is to challenge him and refuse to play his game.
* ''VisualNovel/TogainuNoChi'': Shiki is interested in Akira because he refuses to surrender to him and doesn't beg for his life.
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[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheBrideOfTheFox'', Prince Dumisami initially finds Nubia plain, but he quickly becomes fascinated with her because she doesn't care about his looks or the jewels and fine clothes he brought for her as engagement gifts. He simply can't understand she despises him because he utterly disrespects her, to the point of taking off her glasses to force her to walk arm-in-arm with him (he gives them back after she uses her short sight as an excuse to crush his foot). Her rejection, of course, only increases his determination.
* Dan from ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' is an [[HornyDevil incubus]] who believes he will never find [[OneTrueLove true love]]. With his [[{{Telepathy}} mind reading]], [[CharmPerson charm]] and [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shape shifting]] abilities, Dan could seduce anyone he wants, but it would not be love. Matilda is his first real shot at a girlfriend because she is [[TheImmune immune]] to his abilities, and loves him for who he is.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', when Pandora was young, she had a hobby of [[ItAmusedMe having mortals do silly stuff in return for valuable information]]. But one day, as she was growing increasingly bored with how predictable it was becoming, a man named Blaike [[spoiler:Raven]] refused her offer. She proceeded to persist at first for the challenge, and then because she was growing increasingly fond of him and the information she was offering him really was very important. That being that there was no treasure, and was about to be killed. She even ''saved his life'' and '''''apologized for not telling him sooner''''', even though Blaike kept saying it wasn't her fault that he didn't listen.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': Not love ''per se'', since he seems incapable of loving anyone besides himself, but Coyote is clearly fascinated with Antimony and Reynardine precisely because they're not afraid to disagree with him or brush him off. In contrast, Ysengrin is a fawning yes-man to Coyote, so Coyote barely gives him the time of day. Except of course when he's [[spoiler: eating Ysengrin's memories.]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Bob realizes that the only reason Jean's crazy ex-boyfriend is so fixated on her is that she had the audacity to reject him.
* Supervillain [[DistractedByTheSexy Distracterella]] of ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'' is infatuated with Lazer Pony, as he's the ''only'' person [[NotDistractedByTheSexy able to resist her charms]].
* ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'': Tigerlily Jones is the only (human) female to appear for more than a panel and not find Tip extremely attractive. She barely even noticed him unless forced to. This is probably the main reason she's the only woman Tip's actually thought twice about (without sleeping with her or her trying to kill him).
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* ''LightNovel/TheApothecaryDiaries'' has a platonic example: Jinshi, a male eunuch in the imperial harem, [[SoBeautifulItsACurse is incredibly pretty]] and almost everyone tends to judge him by his looks ([[EvenTheGuysWantHim he is also frequently propositioned by both men and women of the court]], which annoys him since he has no sex drive). Maomao, however, just finds him smug and annoying and tends to respond to his antics with {{Death Glare}}s and {{Face Palm}}s. Jinshi, meanwhile, finds her bluntness and contempt for him incredibly amusing and gets a kick out of interacting with her as a result. [[spoiler:He later falls hard for Maomao anyway, even considering a candidate for marriage because --surprise, surprise-- he's actually royalty.]]

* Music/TheRollingStones' "Ruby Tuesday" is all about this, a woman who lives only for the present ("yesterday don't matter if it's gone"), never stays in one place for long, and can't really be obtained by anyone.