Line #13 Main/Starboarding


1	A form of {{Shipping}} where a shipper supports the idea that Alice is in love with Bob, but that Bob doesn't return Alice's affection. Like with ships where the love is presumed to be requited, this can be support for a "pairing" that is either supported or unsupported by canon. Unlike more mainstream shipping, if the love is ever requited in canon this may cause the "starboarder" to AbandonShipping precisely because it ''has'' become canon.
2
3	Whereas a more conventional ship is usually displayed in fanfic summaries and stuff as, say, Bob/Alice or Bob x Alice, a "starboard" seems to displayed with an arrow thus:
4
5	Alice → Bob
6
7	As this sort of ship can lend itself to many a LoveTriangle, it can [[AllLoveIsUnrequited lead to stacking of characters in this sort of situation, or even a loop]]. For example:
8
9	Alice → Bob → Charlie → Diana → Emma → Alice
10
11	A common way of pairing characters when [[FoeYayShipping one canonically hates the other]], or [[NoYay when it would]] be {{Squick}}y for the character to return their affection (for example, [[TeacherStudentRomance a student with a crush on their teacher]]).
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13	The term comes from the fact that Starboard is the naval term for the right side of a ship (the left side being the Port, but "Porting" [[MediaNotes/SoftwarePorting already meant something else]]), and many shippers [[JustForFun/TheShipYard just can't resist a good nautical pun]]. Thus a Starboard is one side of a ship. Not to be confused with the sailing term "Starboard!", which is shouted when a boat has right of way since that boat is on "starboard tack." Though there is a parallel if you think about it hard enough.
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15	For canon examples, see UnrequitedLoveTropes.
16	----
17	!!Examples
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
20	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
21	** [[KissingCousins Neji/Hinata]] shippers enjoy seeing [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Neji]] secretly pining over [[ShrinkingViolet Hinata]] as though he were an UnluckyChildhoodFriend, while Hinata falls for someone else (usually IdiotHero Naruto or HotBlooded teammate Kiba).
22	** There are many fans who enjoy the unrequited love triangle between Obito, Rin and Kakashi. [[spoiler: Too bad the first two are dead.]]
23	** There are also a number of pseudo-canonical fics portraying Sasuke in unrequited love with Naruto.
24	* ''Manga/Reborn2004'':
25	** There's the shipping of [[LauncherOfAThousandShips Tsuna]] and any of his [[HoYay male guardians]]. Due to Tsuna being an innocent and shy [[MessianicArchetype Messiah]] who ''very'' canonically has a crush on [[SatelliteLoveInterest Kyoko]], most of the fans justify the pairing by having whichever guardian he's paired with have an unrequited love for him. Shippers of Gokudera/Tsuna, in particular, support the idea of Gokudera having an unrequited love for him.
26	** And then there's the fans of one-sided Yamamoto/Gokudera. Sometimes, this can be used in conjunction with Gokudera/Tsuna, making it a sort of shipped AllLoveIsUnrequited LoveTriangle of: Yamamoto → Gokudera → Tsuna.
27	* In ''Manga/BlackCat'', most shippers who support Creed/Train tend to have the consensus that it would be unrequited on Creed's part.
28	* Genkaku/Nagi in ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland''. It's canon that Nagi hates Genkaku for killing his wife, but fans specifically seem to ''like'' the idea that it's very unrequited on Genkaku's part.
29	* In ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'', it's very easy to interpret Laios as having a crush on Shuro but not realising it since, well, he's [[TheDitz Laios]]. If he does, then obviously Shuro doesn't return it since [[spoiler: he a) is in love with Falin and b) hates Laios's guts.]]
30	* ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'':
31	** Part of the appeal of Legato Bluesummers/Knives is that it's ''very'' one-sided for [[HappinessInSlavery Legato]], as Knives sees him as a useless piece of trash.
32	** And people who pair [[{{Twincest}} Knives with Vash]] don't seem to be deterred by how it would be unrequited on ''Knive's'' part.
33	** Also Midvalley/Legato, mixed with SubordinateExcuse.
34	* In ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}'', there are the fans of the pairing of Franz/Albert. Many of them specifically think the sweetest part about that pairing is how one-sidedly dedicated [[TheWoobie Franz]] is to the clueless Albert.
35	* ''Manga/XXXHolic'''s pairing of Doumeki/Watanuki. Many fans think that it's cute that Watanuki has a crush on Himawari and dislikes Doumeki, and ships the idea of Doumeki having an unrequited love for clueless Watanuki. Not so much that fans tend to ship the dynamic of Watanuki/Himawari so much as it makes Doumeki's love for Watanuki unrequited.
36	* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'''s slash pairing of Gauron/Sousuke. It would be pretty hard to try to explain how that pairing ''wouldn't'' be unrequited, considering how canonically straightforward Sousuke is shown to hate the man. Most of the shipping and ways that fans pair them up involves rape. Heck, even Shouji Gatou acknowledges that the pairing would be non-con. And [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/OhLord.jpg would probably involve bondage]].
37	* Many ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanworks featuring Belarus (either Male or Female) bring up her [[BrotherSisterIncest incestuous obsession]] with her almost-equally [[{{Yandere}} Yandere-ish]] brother Russia (unfortunately for Belarus, it's not ''her'' Russia is Yandere towards), as a lot of fans ''[[RuleOfFunny love]]'' the idea of the most feared and stalkerish character in the series being reduced to quaking and tears by ''his'' personal stalker.
38	** Similarly, Switzerland is often portrayed as having feelings for his ForgottenChildhoodFriend (sorta) Austria, but keeping them to himself because of his [[{{Tsundere}} moody and proud]] personality and the fact that not only [[OfficialCouple is Austria married to Hungary]], but they still go into dates after their "divorce".
39	** The ''Hetalia'' fandom as a whole is very prone to this, not just the mid-European empires. Probably has something to do with the eternal and multiple cases of WillTheyOrWontThey and history itself being considered secondary canon by some people.
40	** Most Russia/Lithuania fics make Russia's affection for Lithuania decidedly one-sided, with Lithuania staying with Russia only out of fear, pity, and/or StockholmSyndrome. Likewise, most of shipping with Russia can be identified as this (RussiaX... Insert Lithuania,Latvia,China and etc.) seeing that most of time he "forced" everyone.
41	** While the most common depiction of America/England is as a pairing with mutual love on both sides but also a [[BelligerentSexualTension mutual inability to admit it]], there are quite a few angsty fics that depict it as UnrequitedLove on either England's part (with America being [[ObliviousToLove oblivious of his feelings]] or unable to think of his former big-brother figure in that way) or America's part (with England not being able to love him as anything other than his little brother).
42	** England being [[LauncherOfAThousandShips a very popular character]] means he often ends up in such triangles, most commonly involving America and/or France (or, in the Japanese fandom, Japan).
43	** In {{fanon}}, this happens with America too, who also happens to be a sort of [[LauncherOfAThousandShips class bicycle]] despite never really showing any sort of sign that he's even sexually active. This is prominent in some Russia → America ← England fics, or fics in which Japan has the crush, or it's his own twin brother Canada, or in a really rather weird and unrealistic one [[EvenTheGuysWantHim everyone wants him]], or at least his virginity.
44	** In fics that deal with the Greece → Japan ← Turkey LoveTriangle, Turkey is almost always relegated to the role of HopelessSuitor based on how Japan has had a lot more interaction and ShipTease with Greece than him in canon. It's no exaggeration at all to say that the number of fics where Turkey actually ends up with Japan is vastly outnumbered by the number of fics where Turkey has to face the fact that Japan views him as only a friend and is in love with his hated rival Greece.
45	** Japan also gets some of the "popular target for one-sided crushing" attention that the aforementioned England and America get, especially in Japanese fandom where he gets put into triangles with England and America and/or has his adoptive brother China or sister Taiwan crushing on him ever since their childhood/teenage years.
46	* In ''Manga/PeacemakerKurogane'', lots of fans support the pairing of Suzu/Tetsunosuke as being unrequited on [[DepravedHomosexual Suzu's]] side. UnrequitedLove in an AxCrazy, StalkerWithACrush, [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence Rip-You-To-Shreds-Because-I-Love-And-Hate-You]] kind of way, that is.
47	* When Ryoga from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' was given his own love interest to fall in love with, Akari, many fans hated it. Some wanted him to end up with Akane, others thought he should [[PairTheSpares end up with Ukyou]], but many felt that he should continue pining after Akane while she pined after Ranma, just as a demonstration of dogged determination as his primary quality. The cast of Ranma is full of other examples mostly because in canon it's a critical plot point that Ranma and Akane [[LoveDodecahedron have a ton of suitors, and some of them have suitors as well]].
48	* As far as ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' goes, although Lockon/Tieria is an ''extremely'' popular pairing in the fandom, a fairly large percentage of fans specifically prefer it as a case where not only are Tieria's feelings very much onesided (which, to be fair, is how they come off in canon [[HoYay if you see them as romantic]]) but there would be no hope whatsoever of Lockon ever reciprocating them [[spoiler:even if he ''hadn't'' died near the end of the first season]].
49	** This is also the most common approach for Feldt/Lockon, where she seems to have a huge crush on her much-older BigBrotherMentor figure (she's 14, he's 24) but like in Tieria's case, he cares for her yet not liking her romantically due to his own issues [[spoiler:and his death]].
50	* It's canon that Autor has a pretty big crush on Rue in ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', and a lot of fans will admit to shipping one-sided Autor → Rue. There are a ''lot'' less fans that ship requited Autor/Rue, however, since Rue is very attached to Mytho [[spoiler:[[OfficialCouple and later ends up going back to his story with him, presumably to marry him]]]].
51	* ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'': Everyone → Nozomu. And Nozomu ← Matoi ← Her Ex ← His Girlfriend ← The Guy Who Eats At Her Resturaunt ← His Ex-Wife ← The Guy Who Washes Her Underwear. Like everything else in the series, PlayedForLaughs.
52	* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Rem and Gelus → Misa → Light.
53	** And if you see Light's sister as bi and having a crush on Misa, then it's Sayu → Misa → Light.
54	*** Since Matsuda crushes on Sayu when SheIsAllGrownUp, it can also be Matsuda → Sayu → Misa → Light
55	** Also popular: Near → Mello.
56	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
57	** Orihime has confessed her feelings for Ichigo in the manga. Ichigo himself has shown no interest in anyone. This has been used as a basis for the [=IchiHime=] ship where her feelings are explored.
58	** A popular view of the [=UlquiHime=] ship is that Ulquiorra has an unrequited fascination with Orihime akin to lust, using Volume 40's poem as a basis for the interpretation. Orihime's situation regarding Uquiorra is very complex in the manga, causing a wide range of interpretations regarding her feelings for him.
59	* ''Manga/GetBackers'': One-sided [[PsychoForHire Takuma Fudou]] → Ban Midou. Definitely a messed up, AxCrazy ship... but then again, the manga itself makes Fudou's homoerotic obsession with Ban pretty much canon (along with Ban's nonchalant, annoyed attitude towards Fudou). It probably doesn't help that Fudou actually even comes out and says that he's pissed off that Ban only has eyes for Ginji, and that he wants Ban to [[GreenEyedMonster notice and pay attention to him instead]].
60	* While [[ChickMagnet pretty much the entire female cast]] of ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' has some sort of crush on [[MrFanservice Hei]], he often doesn't seem to notice and (with a few exceptions) certainly doesn't ''care''. Hand this state of affairs to fanfic writers already prone to [[LauncherOfAThousandShips shipping him with everyone]], and HilarityEnsues.
61	* Many ''Manga/BlackButler'' yaoi fangirls support the idea of Sebastian → Ciel and Alois → Claude (canon on Alois's side).
62	* Certain yaoi fans in the ''Anime/CodeGeass'' fandom seem to favor the idea that Lelouch has an unrequited love for [[HoYay Suzaku]] (who is oblivious and loves Euphie), mainly because of the [[TheWoobie beautiful angst]]. The first season works better for this, given a large part of the plot is Lelouch either trying to protect Suzaku or win him over to his side, though even as bitter enemies, Lelouch demonstrates a surprising amount of trust and unwillingness to hurt Suzaku.
63	** Almost anyone in Lelouch's UnwantedHarem → Lelouch seem to apply, too, depending on other shipping preferences. Gino → Suzaku is popular too.
64	** Nina → Euphie is canon and Rolo → Lelouch pretty heavily implied. On a more squicky note, [[spoiler: V.V. → Charles]] is a popular interpretation.
65	* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', Ash is both a ChasteHero ''and'' the LauncherOfAThousandShips of the series, with evidence for (in order): Misty → Ash, May → Ash, Dawn → Ash, and Serena → Ash, [[ChickMagnet among others]]. In Serena's case, it's completely canon.
66	%%* ''Manga/VampireGame'' has too many to count.
67	* ''Manga/DNAngel'' has hinted at Satoshi → Daisuke. Satoshi seems to care more about Daisuke than any other person, and his transformation (which is triggered by feelings of love) happens when Daisuke gets too close. On the other hand, Daisuke's trigger has always been either [[LovesMyAlterEgo Risa]] or [[spoiler:Riku]]. Unfortunately for Satoshi and the {{Yaoi Fangirl}}s, Daisuke is probably straight.
68	* A [[CrackShip crack]] example from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' is [[MemeticBystander Clip Girl]]. Fans noticed that she was constantly looking at Homura, even when the class was doing other work, and then later she and a friend unsuccessfully asked her to go to get coffee together after school. So, a theory developed that she had a one-sided crush on her.
69	** Less crack is Kyouko → Sayaka. There's some pretty strong subtext on Kyouko's part, but Sayaka is hung up on Kamijou (who doesn't see her that way).
70	* In ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' the DepravedHomosexual Rune has a crush on Yamato who does not return his feelings. Rune's NotGoodWithRejection as it turns out.
71	* Zoro → Sanji is a rather common interpretation among ''Manga/OnePiece'' fans who think about that sort of thing, since Zoro gets royally cheesed off every time [[ChivalrousPervert Sanji]] flirts with/at ladies and fretted when [[spoiler: Sanji's ArrangedMarriage was announced]] to the point where even ''[[TheDitz Luffy]]'' noticed it. The anime lends a bit more weight to this, since in both of their [[AccidentalKiss accidental near-kisses]] (it's a long story), they both look aghast--but Zoro blushes.
72	* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'' has Speedwagon → Jonathan. Speedwagon's extraordinary devotion to Jonathan is obviously very commonly interpreted as HoYay, but Jonathan ends up in an OfficialCouple with Erina, and [[spoiler:gets killed by Dio on the first night of their honeymoon]], so there's no way that a relationship between the two can fit in canon. Because of this, fans commonly interpret Speedwagon as having a one-sided crush on Jonathan, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy supporting his relationship with Erina]] despite the heartbreak. This is further supported by ''Manga/BattleTendency'''s epilogue, which states that [[spoiler:Speedwagon died of a heart attack at an old age, while having never married ("he never married" was used in England as an euphemism for homosexuality)]], implying that Speedwagon was never able to move on from his feelings for Jonathan.
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75	[[folder:Comic Books]]
76	* Some ComicBook/CaptainAmerica[=/=]ComicBook/IronMan shippers speculate that Tony is in love with Cap, but not vice versa, due to the somewhat lopsided nature of the pair's HoYay in canon. (Although in longer fics, it rarely ''stays'' one-sided.)
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79	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
80	* In ''WesternAnimation/WallE'': Go-4 → Eve
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
84	* In the film ''Film/TheWatcher'' (starring Creator/KeanuReeves), most of the [[YaoiFangirl fans of the movie]] ship SerialKiller David Allen Griffin (Keanu) with Joel Campbell (James Spader). The thing is, a lot of the charm of the pairing appears to be how ''completely'' one-sided and [[MindGameShip screwed up]] it is.
85	* ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'': Some people feel Adrian Veidt is carrying a little torch for Dan Dreiberg. Especially in the final fight, and in particular the part where Adrian doesn't fight back.
86	** From both versions, Rorschach seems to hold his friendship with Daniel as his most important human relationship (and one of his very few) and also seems very possessive of Dan's time and attention, whereas Dan sees Rorschach just as a friend with unique and disturbing personal perspectives. This has given some shippers cause to cry Rorschach → Dan.
87	* While requited [[Film/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes]] is one of the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'''s {{Fan Preferred Couple}}s, there's been a solid contingent of fans who ship it as a one-sided affair since the very first film due to heavy HomoeroticSubtext of that nature, portraying Bucky as an {{Unlucky\|ChildhoodFriend}} PatientChildhoodLoveInterest in love with Steve, but Steve favoring his [[OfficialCouple canonical love interests Peggy and Sharon Carter]] ([[HoYay or Tony Stark, or Sam Wilson]], or whomever else).
88	** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' has a scene where Bucky attempts to flirt with Peggy only for her to ignore him for Steve, but despite that, seems more unhappy over the fact that ''[[ObliviousToLove Steve]]'' is the one ignoring him for Peggy than the other way around. In the background the Commandos are also singing various verses from "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnVkj41ybnE There is a Tavern in the Town]]", a song about a singer's beloved leaving her for a different dark-haired woman and her subsequent DeathByDespair. The loudest-sung verses are cued specifically to Bucky, Steve, and Peggy's actions throughout the scene in ways that are [[SuspiciouslyAproposMusic clearly deliberate]], explicitly establishing the singer as representing Bucky, Steve as the man she loves, and Peggy as the woman he left her for (along with a couple of verses foreshadowing Bucky's later HeroicSacrifice protecting Steve). The implications did not escape fans' notice.
89	** Fast forward to ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', which ends with Steve going back in time to live his life out with Peggy and leaving Bucky behind in the present. While Bucky gave Steve his approval beforehand and holds no grudge over it, he's exceptionally torn-up about the situation, and aware enough of it that he [[StepfordSmiler tries to hide it as best he can in front of Steve]], seemingly only letting him go because IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy. Fans interpreting their relationship as a Bucky → Steve unrequited love situation ''surged'' afterwards.
90	** ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'' fans the one-sided shipping flames further despite Steve's complete absence from the show, since a lot of Bucky's moody and oddly territorial behavior on the subject of [[LivingEmotionalCrutch Steve]] and his [[TragicKeepsake shield]], which Bucky later admits is grief over his departure, plays out like that of a [[TheMourningAfter depressed widower]] struggling to let go of a departed lover.
91	*** Later on Sharon Carter refers to Bucky "Mr. America" and "Cap's Best Friend" in a very suggestive way that sounds like she's half-taunting him for acting like [[MrsHypothetical Captain America's husband]]. While he's upset at her overall mischaracterization of him as a SycophanticServant towards anyone who holds the title, he doesn't deny it, either. It's easy to read his lack of rebuttal as an admission that, even if Sharon was completely wrong about the [[PatrioticFervor reason why]], her acknowledgement of his [[EveryoneCanSeeIt devotion to Steve]] actually [[AccidentalTruth wasn't wrong either]].
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Literature]]
95	* The Marauders in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' are subject to a lot of this. It started with Remus/Sirius as a popular ship; however, as the series went on it became harder to ignore the evidence that it was Sirius and ''James'' who had the HeterosexualLifePartners relationship that's so easily mined for HoYay, and James, of course, [[NoBisexuals wound up with Lily]]. This led to a variety of scenarios: Sirius is in love with James, who is straight; Remus is in love with Sirius, who is straight; [[LoveTriangle Remus is in love with Sirius, who is in love with James, who is straight]]; and occasionally, Sirius is in love with Remus, who is straight (because Remus eventually married Tonks; there was a time when he was the one most likely to be portrayed as gay, but as it turned out, it was Sirius who finished out the series as the only good Marauder who was never seen to have a female partner).
96	* A number of ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' fans are of the opinion that Thomas Theisman is, and has been for quite some time, quietly in love with Eloise Pritchart. While it's generally agreed that Eloise could, at some point in the future, return his feelings, as of ''A Rising Thunder'' she is still grieving the death of her lover [[spoiler:Javier Giscard]] and is in no position to fall in love with anyone. WordOfGod has said that it's a possibility, but would never happen while Eloise is still President.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
100	* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', fans tend to support the idea of any pairing with the Doctor as being unrequited. It's a very popular idea that the Doctor is asexual, but seeing as his ''very first appearance ever'' also included his granddaughter, maybe not. One novel in the Expanded Universe (not part of the TV show main canon) states that Time Lords never have sex, but instead weave their children on ''looms''. A later novel has human companion Literature/BerniceSummerfield simply tackling the Doctor to a bed and merrily having her way with him, but the author was forced into a FadeToBlack (which got lampshaded again in a Creator/BigFinish audio, twelve years later). AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho also has a serious AnguishedDeclarationOfLove between the Doctor and human companion Charlotte, which becomes a major plot point -- but the Doctor makes it very clear that he did ''not'' mean it ''that'' way, and the two spend a lot of time arguing about her "yearning" for him. The issue is often explicitly addressed in the new series: the Doctor realises that a relationship with a human just won't work, and tells his companions so, time and time again. However, writers Creator/RussellTDavies, Creator/StevenMoffat and Creator/PaulCornell all enjoy writing the Doctor as flirty and quite sexual, and enjoy coming up with in-story reasons for him to kiss people and for implying quite a bit more on occasion. And as of 2010 canon, there was that... thing with Queen Bess. Now with [[http://i.imgur.com/I17zn.jpg bingo card]]!
101	* In the same way, many people ship one-sided Maria or, to a lesser extent, Rani → Sarah Jane in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'' since conventional shipping would be... [[{{Ephebophile}} icky]] due to the large age difference.
102	* Jaqueline Pearce, who played Servalan in ''Series/BlakesSeven'', is on record as starboarding her character with Avon. Evidence for this in canon is... inconsistent, to put it mildly.
103	* In ''Series/{{Oz}}'', the pairing of Ryan O'Reily/Dr. Nathan actually had quite a few "starboarders" AbandonShipping when she actually ''returned'' his feelings. Apparently, most of them liked it precisely ''because'' it was a screwed up, one-sided MindGameShip.
104	* ''Series/ICarly'' has starboarding based on the canon "non pairing" of Freddie → Carly. There is also some Sam → Spencer starboarding, usually when they keep Sam the same age as she is in the show (about 15), Spencer not returning affection due to Sam being under age and/or because she's Carly's best friend. During a storyarc that appeared to be leading to an eventual canon Sam/Freddie pairing, there was some Carly → Freddie starboarding, which is basically an UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo. Now that the show finished with a Carly/Freddie pairing, there is now Sam → Freddie starboarding with many of the fandom declaring Sam 'too good' for Freddie after his 'betrayal'.
105	* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': This is what usually happens with Radar, due to his age and innocence, with the main fan pairings being either Radar/Hawkeye or Radar/Henry.
106	* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'':
107	** There's actually a surprising amount of evidence that Tom Paris had feelings for Captain Janeway, at least in the early seasons, although whether or not she returned them is certainly up for debate.
108	** And [[WordOfGod Word Of Ethan Phillips]] declares that Neelix had a hopeless crush on Janeway, as well.
109	** Harry Kim might be in love with Tom Paris. There's a lot less evidence, however, that Tom sees Harry as anything more than a good friend.
110	* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
111	** WordOfGod also confirms Garak → Bashir on
112	** Ziyal → Garak can be seen as this, depending on whether you think he returns her feelings.
113	* ''Series/{{Firefly}}:''
114	** One could easily see implications of River → Mal if one wanted to, especially during/after the BigDamnMovie.
115	** [[TheBigGuy Jayne]] → [[WrenchWench Kaylee]] is just this side of canon (due to his reaction after she was shot).
116	* An in-universe example appears in ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'', where Bennett has an intense but unspoken lesbian attraction toward Caroline, but it isn't reciprocated. Later on, when Caroline ([[UnreliableNarrator apparently]]) leaves Bennett to die, this has some serious repercussions, as Bennett goes from love to hate ''very'' quickly.
117	** Actually, it was never confirmed whether it was reciprocated. Or in fact whether Bennett was actually in love with her, or just clinging to the only close friend she ever had. Many of the fandom choose to believe that they actually did have a relationship.
118	* Some people in the ''[[Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit L&O:SVU]]'' fandom are of the opinion that Olivia → Alex, particularly since [[RunningGag everyone thinks she's a lesbian]]. Of course, straight Olivia/Alex is ''way'' more fun, and it's ''Series/LawAndOrder'' - it's all conjecture anyway.
119	* There's a good case to be made for Troy → Abed in ''Series/{{Community}}''. Though they're canonically best friends to the exclusion of pretty much every other relationship, their more intense/romantic moments all tend to come from Troy, while Abed either rebuffs him with a pop culture reference or appears unaware of Troy's emotions. At a dangerous moment, Troy tells Abed flat-out that [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove he loves him]]; Abed's response is to complete the moment with a quote ''Franchise/StarWars''. Their relationship functions just fine, but there are some big hints that Troy might harbor slightly deeper feelings, while Abed verges on asexual and doesn't tend to respond to romantic or social cues in the normal manner.
120	-->'''Abed''': ''(about his video game wife)'' She can make babies for me.
121	-->'''Troy''': ''(defensively)'' Oh, and I can't? ''(defeated)'' I can't.
122	* Also from the L&O universe, ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' provides a lot of suggestion that Bobby Goren is deeply, if quietly, in love with Alexandra Eames, who is his partner, co-conspirator, best friend, and BerserkButton. It's less clear whether she returns the feelings, partly because she's still grieving for her murdered husband, although [[spoiler:the finale drops some possible hints that she does]].
123	* There's a number of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' fans that see Castiel having serious feelings for Dean, but not the other way around. [[spoiler:Eventually confirmed, or at least Castiel ''believes'' this to be the case, when he confesses his romantic feelings for Dean.]]
124	** In S6, the angel [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Balthazar]] apparently shared this opinion about Castiel's feelings, although there are also those who believe Balthazar had one-sided feelings for Cas himself, [[AllLoveIsUnrequited which further complicates matters.]]
125	** There's another faction that believes the opposite, with Dean--the series' [[TroubledButCute troubled]], [[HeroicSelfDeprecation self-loathing]] family [[ExtremeDoormat doormat]]--pining after the [[TheStoic emotionless]] angel Castiel. It was made murky later on when Castiel slowly turns human and actually gains emotions, but once [[StatusQuoIsGod Castiel is re-"angelfied" and his faith in God restored]], he sees no problem in leaving Dean to fly off to Heaven. In Season 6, he only appears when he needs something from Dean (or vice versa), and Dean does not seem to have forgiven him.
126	** However, the reveal at the end of S6 that [[spoiler: Castiel made a DealWithTheDevil rather than ask Dean for help and drag him away from his ideal life with his girlfriend and adopted son]] only further fueled the idea that Castiel has serious feelings for Dean, with many comparing the situation to the IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy trope. In hindsight, the entitled and insulting way Dean treated Castiel when he did show up is almost painful to watch, knowing it all led up to [[spoiler: Cas not telling Dean about the deal with Crowley until it was too late for Dean to convince him to stop, leading to Cas succumbing to WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity, proclaiming himself [[AGodAmI as the new God]], and ordering Dean and the others to declare their love for him]]. The entire affair is incredibly tragic.
127	** As of season 10 it's also become quite common for people to see Crowley as having an unrequited love for Dean, who may have a mutual love with Castiel. Despite initially seeming like a CrackShip, the show definitely portrays Crowley's reaction to Dean [[spoiler:becoming human again after he was a demon, and then outright choosing to partner with Castiel over him later on]] as being comparable to a dumped lover, and the triangle is paralleled to the Abbadon->Cain/Colette LoveTriangle with Crowley associated with Abbadon.
128	* Cat from ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' seems to have a crush on Jade, who is currently dating Beck. Many a fanfic has explored this more in-depth.
129	** Also, Tori for Beck, who is dating Jade.
130	*** Also, Tori for Jade, who is dating Beck.
131	* Many fans of ''Series/TheXFiles'' assume that in the first seasons, one of the main characters is in love with the other, who does not reciprocate it.
132	* There's much more evidence that [[Series/{{Warehouse13}} Pete has romantic feelings for Myka]] than the other way around, especially since Myka is obviously in love with HG. He's told her how beautiful she is and even admitted that he loves her, but they're probably just PlatonicLifePartners since he's very supportive when she likes someone.
133	* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': It's ''very'' easy to read Radek Zelenka as being quietly and hopelessly in love with Elizabeth Weir. Whether or not a fan believes she returns his feelings [[ShipMates tends to depend on]] whether or not that fan ships [[PairTheSpares [=McKay=]/Sheppard]].
134	** [=McKay=] → Carter was started in ''Series/StargateSG1'' and carried over to ''Series/StargateAtlantis''
135	* Some ''Series/GoodOmens2019'' fans interpret Gabriel as having one-sided feelings for Aziraphale and a large portion of his extreme hostility towards Aziraphale after learning about his secret meetings with Crowley as stemming from jealousy/bitterness that Aziraphale loves Crowley and not him.
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Music]]
139	* The AntiLoveSong [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FZVQ3J0rMI&NR=1 Sickened]] by Music/{{Disturbed}}
140	-->''I can't believe that my sanity lies / In abandoning you! / I can't recall the helpless times / Perpetrated by you! / Sickened from wanting you / Frightened of finding the truth / Don't say anymore / Now my mind isn't changing / This reckoning's long overdue...''
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Video Games]]
144	* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', the pairing of Ocelot/Big Boss. Everyone is cool with the idea that Ocelot has a [[WordOfGay giant, unrequited crush]] on Big Boss. Fewer seem to feel the need for Big Boss to ever return it. Admittedly, if he spent time returning the feelings for every person who had a crush on him, he wouldn't get anything done.
145	** Later confirmed canon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'', [[spoiler: as Ocelot hints at his true feelings near the very end of the story.]]
146	** Snake → Otacon became fairly popular, sometimes accompanied by DryDockedShip, after ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' and the [[spoiler: Naomi affair]].
147	* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'': A ''lot'' of Axel/Roxas fans ship the idea of it being unrequited on Axel's part. Particularly helped by how [[TheStoic cold]] Roxas is (complete with him saying "You're not my friend" in the novels).
148	** There's also Vanitas → Ventus from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''.
149	* A lot of fics and doujinshi in the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' fandom involve a character (or multiple characters) having an unrequited crush on Shirou. Justified, as it's based on a game with MultipleEndings, and he can return the affections of all of his love interests, but usually only one at a time...Unless it's [[GayOption Issei]], in which case not even fandom can get Shirou to return it.
150	* In ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'', [[DiscoDan Milla Vodello]] is hinted to have feelings for her secret agent partner [[TheSpock Sasha Nein]], and a cutscene involves Milla either fantasizing or remembering a makeout session with him, but within the game there is no evidence that he sees her as more than a friend and colleague.
151	* It's highly recognized in the ''Mega Man'' fandom that Ciel of ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' has very blatant feelings for the eponymous hero, regardless of her being human and his being a [[strike:Reploid]] highly-advanced robot. It's also generally accepted that most of it is probably unrequited due to Zero's ''[[IronWoobie very]]'' [[IronWoobie broken past]] (although there're shades of [[ChasteHero chastity]] there, too). However, there's still the fact that Zero's very willing to ''die fighting for her ideals,'' [[spoiler:and ''he does''.]] [[TheWoobie You can't help but feel sorry for the poor girl...]]
152	* ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin]]''. [[MemeticMolester Alma]] wants Beckett, and she's not going to let anything stop her from getting him. Not even whether or not he returns her affections.
153	* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
154	** Gumshoe regularly gets this kind of shipping with Edgeworth, whether or not Edgeworth is being paired with anyone else. It's not much of a stretch from [[HoYay canon]], given his apparent hero-worship and tendency to follow Edgeworth around like a dog seeking praise.
155	** Some writers put [[NewOldFlame Iris]] and [[PlatonicLifePartners Maya]] in a love triangle with Phoenix. Losing party ends in this trope.
156	* Canon example: In ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture'', it's revealed that Layton's sweetheart Claire, ten years deceased, was [[spoiler:the LoveInterest of two men other than her actual boyfriend. One was her boss, Dimitri Allen, whose affections she acknowledged but was unable to return because she was already in love with Hershel. The other was Don Paolo, who attended the same university as Layton and Claire and was in love with her from a distance; not only does she not appear to have been aware of his feelings for her, it's debatable whether she even knew he ''existed''.]]
157	* In the ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'' fandom, several pairs of the form "<character> → Endou" seem to be quite popular, probably because 1) multiple characters in-series have been on record constantly musing about the positive influences he's had on their lives and 2) Endou is a [[ObliviousToLove completely oblivious]] ChasteHero who [[AllLovingHero gets along great with everyone]].
158	* In ''VideoGame/{{Rift}}'', WordOfGod has hinted that [[RebelliousPrincess Uriel Chuluun]]'s [[LesYay crush]] on [[ProfessionalKillers Kira Thanos]] is canon. Whether or not Kira reciprocates, on the other hand, is a matter of debate.
159	* The ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' fandom pretty much universally agrees that Dist the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Reaper]]/[[SissyVillain Rose]]/[[EmbarrassingNickname Runny]] is [[SingleTargetSexuality Jadesexual]]. Only slightly less widespread is the belief that Jade doesn't give a damn.
160	* [[DarthWiki/RuinedForever A weird meta inversion]] from the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fandom. For all the crap Sega gets about [[DamselScrappy Princess Elise]] in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', it's hard to argue that she had anything more than a starboarding relationship with Sonic. Sonic considered her a friend no doubt, but he's always been a CelibateHero and ''Sonic 06'' does nothing to change that.
161	* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': Mei/Junkrat is sometimes depicted like this--though in this case, Junkrat is often portrayed as an AbhorrentAdmirer whose advances utterly repulse Mei.
162	* ''VideoGame/CytusII'' has Neko → PAFF. Fans did not fail to notice the heavy LesYay between the two, but later on, PAFF (also known as Aroma) started getting much stronger ShipTease with Hayato, who is [[spoiler:the childhood friend of Kaori, PAFF's true identity who was brainwashed into becoming a CloneByConversion of Aroma]]. Because of this, many PAFF x Neko shippers instead started to treat it as Neko having a one-sided crush on PAFF, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy while still supporting PAFF and Hayato's relationship]].
163	* ''VideoGame/FZeroGX'' has a parodic example with the 16-year-old [[BedlahBabe Princia Ramode]] who has eyes for... the 44-year-old [[SmallNameBigEgo Samurai Goroh]]!
164	[[/folder]]
165
166	[[folder:Webcomics]]
167	* Canonically, Karkat from ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' has a [[SlapSlapKiss Caliginous]] crush on John. However, John can't return these feelings, partly because [[IncompatibleOrientation he's straight]] and partly because [[ThePollyanna he just doesn't have it in him to hate someone like that]]. Although the first issue is pretty easy to work around in fiction (after all, he's 13 - what 13-year-old can so decisively say what their orientation is?), the latter...isn't. However, Karkat's hatecrush is, in the eyes of many, either [[RuleOfDrama a great opportunity for angst]] or [[RuleOfCute goddamn adorable]]. (Or both!) Thus, while fic involving [[LoveInterest matespritships]] or [[MoralityPet moirallegiances]] are common between these two, fic where Karkat has a one-sided wish for John to be his kismesis are also quite popular.
168	** Similarly, most Feferi/Eridan fics (a painful relationship which ended very badly in canon) focus on the couple struggling, or the tragedy of Eridan's unrequited feelings for her- even if the fic itself isn't set in canon.
169	** Another canonical one-sided pairing is Dirk/Jake, which is just as often angsty and unrequited as it does actually involve them getting together. [[spoiler:Though later updates which gave the ship a ''lot'' more subtext and genuine possibility have changed this a bit.]]
170	** One anachronistic pesterlog revealed that Gamzee apparently had a crush on Tavros, and enough that he later mourned Tavros and [[ALoveToDismember romantically kissed his dead body]] despite having, by that point, undergone a massive FreakOut that left him an OmnicidalManiac. Tavros's feelings for Gamzee are deliberately unexplored, but the panel showing his reaction to Gamzee's soliciations is an HomageShot to a ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' panel which was captioned "You cannot do it. You cannot tap that ass." This suggests to a lot of fans that even if Tavros had felt anything towards Gamzee, he was emotionally unable to pursue his affections either because of his lack of self-esteem or because of fear of Vriska, his StalkerWithACrush.
171	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Justin, who is gay, has had a crush on Elliot since they met. However, Elliot [[IncompatibleOrientation is with Sarah]]. Fans love this ship, and Dan even did a [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2010-12-14 sketchbook entry]] because of this.
172	[[/folder]]
173
174	[[folder:Web Animation]]
175	* ''WebAnimation/InanimateInsanityInvitational'': Many Nickel x Clover shippers who don't outright see Nickel as being a {{Tsundere}} prefer to think that Clover loves him, but Nickel is incapable of reciprocating, mainly as a way of keeping in line with how Nickel has a hard time getting into meaningful relationships.
176	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
177	** In works that don't depict them as exes, this is how Qrow and Summer's relationship is usually depicted. Qrow had feelings for Summer but Summer only had feelings for Taiyang.
178	** Though not as common as Qrow/Summer, a fair amount of fan-works have Qrow having unrequited feelings for Taiyang.
179	** Due to her gushing about Pyrrha in two scenes, it's often interpreted that Weiss has a crush on Pyrrha.
180	** Numerous characters have received this treatment towards Ruby, including [[PrecociousCrush Oscar]], [[HeroWorshipper Blake]], and [[TheLancer Weiss]]. This is in addition to the fans who [[GottaShipEmAll have Ruby reciprocate]].
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Western Animation]]
184	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
185	** Shippers find it easy to believe Ty Lee has an unrequited crush on Zuko, given how quickly she hits on him when the MrFanservice and his girlfriend are fighting.
186	--->'''Zuko:''' Are you cold?\
187	'''Mai:''' ''[slaps his reaching arm away]''\
188	'''Ty Lee:''' ''[smiling]'' '''I'm''' freezing...
189	** Some people also write Tokka like this, it's fairly well supported in canon. Sokka seems relatively oblivious to Toph's crush when it pops up now and then.
190	** Shippers of Toko (Zuko+Toph) like to characterize this pairing as a one-sided crush rather than a crack. This is largely due to Toph's affectionate actions towards Zuko, to most of which he appears to be oblivious. Many Tokko shippers admit that Zuko probably doesn't return Toph's possible feelings for him.
191	** Kataang as well sometimes, especially in the earlier episodes. Aang ''definitely'' had a crush on Katara, but aside from some jealousy on Katara's part and a few moments that tease the idea of them together as a couple or kissing, the romance seemed unrequited. Of course, [[spoiler: they eventually got together in the finale, and obviously had enough chemistry to have three children together.]]
192	** Many people ship Roku and Sozin this way as well, with Sozin as the one with a crush, as [[spoiler:there's just enough HoYay canonically on Sozin's side that it's a perfectly reasonable interpretation of canon that the reason why they were such great friends, why Sozin was so keen to have Roku on his side, and why Sozin took it so badly when Roku rejected him, is because Sozin was in love with Roku but he didn't return it.]] Plus, it just makes the whole story between them even more heartbreaking.
193	* Some ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' fans like Mac's PrecociousCrush on Frankie without shipping it.
194	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'':
195	** There are fans who find Dipper's PrecociousCrush on Wendy adorable without shipping them. At the end of "[[Recap/GravityFallsS2E2IntoTheBunker Into The Bunker]]", [[spoiler:Wendy admits at the end of that she finds it super flattering, but she naturally lets him down due to the age difference]].
196	** Following "Northwest Mansion Mystery", the fandom theory skyrocketed that Pacifica has a crush on an unwitting Dipper. Canon-wise, there are only a handful of vague hints from her side, and complete obviousness from him (aside from an instance of possible flirting during the aforementioned episode).
197	* It is popular in the WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel fandom to portray Vox as being one-sidedly in love with Alastor due Vox's obsession with him, Alastor's idenity as aroace, and the implication that they were once friends. This is sometimes called 'Radiosilence' or 'one sided RadioStatic'.
198	* Fanfiction often does this with Keef → ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''.
199	* Some ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fans like the idea of Chloe having a crush on Ladybug, without necessarily having those feelings requited.
200	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
201	** While there are fans would like to see them actually get together, many others feel this way about Spike's crush on Rarity - finding it endearing while believing they wouldn't work as an actual couple. The relatively minimalistic (and thus [[CanonFodder ambiguous]]) ShipTease throughout the second season has served to stoke the flames of speculation on both sides of the argument even further.
202	** Bronies also sometimes like to depict Twilight as having one-sided feelings for her teacher, Princess Celestia.
203	** Another common one is Fluttershy confessing to Big Mac but then discovering he was already with someone else, usually another member of the Mane 6.
204	** A FoeYayShipping version of this can also be an interpretation of the [[MadGod Discord]]/[[BigGood Princess Celestia]] ship, with Discord having the crush. Can also come with a side of DryDockedShip.
205	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sidekick}}'', Kitty has a stalkerish crush on Eric, who is more into [[AlphaBitch Vana]].
206	* Some ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'' fans like the idea of Piper having a PrecociousCrush on Starling, an interpretation which is [[LesYay not unfounded in the show itself]].
207	* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'': Rapunzel and Cassandra have been the subject of some LesYay in general, but this is irreconcilable with the fact that Rapunzel is canonically much in love with, and in a monogamous relationship with her boyfriend ([[WesternAnimation/TangledEverAfter later, husband]]) Eugene. So another popular theory is that while Rapunzel never feels anything more than friendship towards Cassandra, the latter on her part is in love with Rapunzel (without Rapunzel having a clue about this). This would add even more depth to Cassandra's character, because then her continual contempt for Eugene wouldn't just be because he used to be a thief, but because of Cassandra's jealousy of his love relationship with Rapunzel; and Cassandra's [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]] in Season 3 would be because her realizing Rapunzel will never love her back the same way.
208	* Lockdown → Prowl tends to be a given in the ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' shipping community. Some fans go all the way and actually make them [[HoYay a pairing]], but even those that don't tend to portray Lockdown's interest in Prowl as StalkerWithACrush.
209	* ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' has established that Lance's feelings for Allura are more than just him hitting on every cute girl in the series. Then Allura found out because he confessed to the mice, and she has a psychic link with them, but she seems rather guilty about finding out. So many fans ship the unrequited love.
210	* ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'': The [[TheSnarkKnight Rogue]]/[[TheStoic Scott]] pairing is sometimes written this way. This one's got canon support, though: Rogue's one-sided crush on Scott as seen in the show was seen as being much more interesting than Scott and Jean's relationship.
211	* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
212	** After the episode "Coldhearted" aired, many squeed at the idea of 12-year-old Queen Perdita having a PrecociousCrush on Kid Flash. It's deemed harmless and cute enough that many of the Perdita → Wally fans are also fans of him paired more seriously with another character.
213	** Many shippers' view on Spitfire Vs. Traught is that Dick had(?) a crush on Artemis and simply never said anything because he knew that his best friend Wally liked her. Not helped by Season 2 ([[spoiler:when Dick gave Artemis CPR during her faked death, stared at a five-year-old picture he took of himself and Artemis, and the brief fight scene with Tigress]]). As the second scene took place in private, the ambiguity is somewhat suspicious.
214	[[/folder]]
215

Context Main / Starboarding