History Main / MasterOfTheMixedMessage

** [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugAdrienAgreste Adrien Agreste]] is the more obvious of the two - many of his interactions with Marinette push into ShipTease territory, to the point where even ''other characters'' notice it, but whenever he's called on it, Adrien insists that Marinette is "[[MemeticMutation just a friend]]". In his defense, a lot of it comes from [[SidekickCreatureNuisance Plagg]], meaning he can probably be excused for writing a lot of it off as just the kwami {{troll}}ing him as usual. Ironically, he runs into the opposite problem as Chat Noir - while he is serious about his affection for Ladybug, he expresses it in such an [[LargeHam over-the-top manner]] that she thinks he's just joking.
** [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugMarinetteDupainCheng Marinette Dupain-Cheng]] isn't quite as bad as Adrien in this regard, but she (as Ladybug) occasionally returns Chat Noir's over-the-top flirting, under the impression that he's not being serious, leading Chat to suspect she was just toying with him. The fact that she starts calling him "[[AffectionateNickname kitty]]" after finding out (as Marinette) that Chat ''is'' serious does not help her case. She gets worse (as Marinette) in the third season, repeatedly denying any interest in Adrien and having their friends do the same, which, combined with the fact that Adrien has basically NoSocialSkills due to [[GildedCage his upbringing]], is a recipe for disaster, [[spoiler:and probably played a role in pushing him toward Kagami in "Heart Hunter".]] In the New York special, Alya even points out (in response to Nino lampshading Adrien's [[ObliviousToLove insane obliviousness]]) that Marinette isn't sending clear signals.

** Adrien is the more obvious of the two - many of his interactions with Marinette push into ShipTease territory, to the point where even ''other characters'' notice it, but whenever he's called on it, Adrien insists that Marinette is "[[MemeticMutation just a friend]]". In his defense, a lot of it comes from [[SidekickCreatureNuisance Plagg]], meaning he can probably be excused for writing a lot of it off as just the kwami {{troll}}ing him as usual. Ironically, he runs into the opposite problem as Chat Noir - while he is serious about his affection for Ladybug, he expresses it in such an [[LargeHam over-the-top manner]] that she thinks he's just joking.
** Marinette isn't quite as bad as Adrien in this regard, but she (as Ladybug) occasionally returns Chat Noir's over-the-top flirting, under the impression that he's not being serious, leading Chat to suspect she was just toying with him. The fact that she starts calling him "[[AffectionateNickname kitty]]" after finding out (as Marinette) that Chat ''is'' serious does not help her case. She gets worse (as Marinette) in the third season, repeatedly denying any interest in Adrien and having their friends do the same, which, combined with the fact that Adrien has basically NoSocialSkills due to [[GildedCage his upbringing]], is a recipe for disaster, [[spoiler:and probably played a role in pushing him toward Kagami in "Heart Hunter".]] In the New York special, Alya even points out (in response to Nino lampshading Adrien's [[ObliviousToLove insane obliviousness]]) that Marinette isn't sending clear signals.

The UnluckyEverydude will often act this way toward the members of his UnwantedHarem, especially if he's aiming to MarryThemAll. In a GirlsLove series it is customary that at least one pairing is like this.

* ''Literature/GrandmasterOfDemonicCultivationMoDaoZuShiJinGuangyao:'' has a rare mutual example between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. When Wei Wuxian is resurrected at the beginning of the novel, he is utterly baffled by Lan Wangji's indulgent behavior towards him, and tries to get a rise out of him by acting like an outrageous flirt. While it is incredibly obvious to the ''readers'' that Lan Wangji is in love with him, the AnachronicOrder of the novel hides the fact that Wei Wuxian is so confused because Lan Wangji acted so hostile to Wei Wuxian in his first life (for a number of reasons) that ''everyone,'' Wei Wuxian most of all, genuinely believed that Lan Wangji hated him. The indulgent behavior in his second life is such a bizarre turn that it takes ''months'' for Wei Wuxian to get a clue. On the flip side, Wei Wuxian's [[UnreliableNarrator terrible memory]] hides the fact that [[spoiler: Lan Wangji [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove confessed to Wei Wuxian]] shortly before his death, and Wei Wuxian (who wasn't exactly in a stable headspace) apparently rejected him in a cruel manner]]. Since Lan Wangji believes Wei Wuxian remembers this event, Wei Wuxian's flirting and general outrageous behavior must have appeared very differently to him.

* ''Literature/MoDaoZuShi:'' has a rare mutual example between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. When Wei Wuxian is resurrected at the beginning of the novel, he is utterly baffled by Lan Wangji's indulgent behavior towards him, and tries to get a rise out of him by acting like an outrageous flirt. While it is incredibly obvious to the ''readers'' that Lan Wangji is in love with him, the AnachronicOrder of the novel hides the fact that Wei Wuxian is so confused because Lan Wangji acted so hostile to Wei Wuxian in his first life (for a number of reasons) that ''everyone,'' Wei Wuxian most of all, genuinely believed that Lan Wangji hated him. The indulgent behavior in his second life is such a bizarre turn that it takes ''months'' for Wei Wuxian to get a clue. On the flip side, Wei Wuxian's [[UnreliableNarrator terrible memory]] hides the fact that [[spoiler: Lan Wangji [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove confessed to Wei Wuxian]] shortly before his death, and Wei Wuxian (who wasn't exactly in a stable headspace) apparently rejected him in a cruel manner]]. Since Lan Wangji believes Wei Wuxian remembers this event, Wei Wuxian's flirting and general outrageous behavior must have appeared very differently to him.

* Parodied in WebVideo/TomCardy's "Mixed Messages". The singer has just began a committed relationship, but swings wildly between wanting to be affectionate and being a nuisance. He gets to the point of straight up ''assaulting his girl's father'' multiple times, but still madly in love with her anyway.

'''Tea:''' "I meant as a ''friend'', Yugi.\\

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* ''Series/CobraKai'': In season 3's "[[Recap/CobraKaiS3E3NowYoureGonnaPay Now You're Gonna Pay]]", Samantha [=LaRusso=] visits Miguel Diaz in the hospital. Despite acting aloof and sounding like she's only interested in trying to be friends with Miguel again, she gives him a card with a smiling octopus [[CardiovascularLove holding a heart]] saying "You [[IncrediblyLamePun Octopi]] My Thoughts", leading Miguel to think back to happier times when Sam won a stuffed octopus on their first date at Golf 'n Stuff in season 1, indicating she wants to be more than just friends with him.

* Simon and Derek both to a certain extent in Kelley Armstrong's ''Literature/DarkestPowers''. Simon constantly flirts with Chloe, but in such a friendly way that she’s sure he’s completely unaware that it could be taken romantically and is just treating her as he would a little sister, and Derek goes out of his way to protect her and try to help her learn more about her powers, though has a fairly hot temper and admits that he’s been trying to push her away because he thinks he doesn’t deserve her. He’s pretty quick to give in when she kisses him though. He and Simon are both usually the ones to initiate any physical contact with her as well.
* Ariana Ortega from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. It's outright stated that she married her current husband specifically so she could spend eternity screwing with his mind.
* In Creator/LinneaSinclair's ''Games of Command'', Kel-Paten is hopelessly in love with his subordinate officer Tasha Sebastian, who's ObliviousToLove. She jokingly tells him "I think I love you," when he completes a tricky bit of navigation. Later when she needs Kel-Paten distracted, Tasha leans in close to him and speaks softly, and agrees that walking through a fairground with him sounds like a ''wonderful'' idea. She's surprised how effective her very mild flirtation turns out to be.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Katniss Everdeen towards both Gale and Peeta. Peeta eventually calls her on it. Her motives are less ambiguous in the books than in the films, since the books take place from her POV. Katniss did not want to bring children into the CrapsackWorld she lived in, and so she didn't want to let herself fall for either Gale or Peeta.
* ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'': Elinor Dashwood meets Edward Ferrars at the beginning of the novel, and they seem to hit it off, or at least Elinor's mother and sister think so. Elinor admits she likes him, but she says it's nothing serious because Edward never said he loved her and he never proposed to her. The reason for his mixed signals gets revealed soon, and it's not Edward's jerky relatives who think Elinor is not rich enough or genteel enough. Actually, [[spoiler:Edward is involved in a dead-end relationship with Lucy Steele. He doesn't love her anymore, but considers his engagement binding.]]
* ''Literature/MoDaoZuShi:'' has a rare mutual example between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. When Wei Wuxian is resurrected at the beginning of the novel, he is utterly baffled by Lan Wangji's indulgent behavior towards him, and tries to get a rise out of him by acting like an outrageous flirt. While it is incredibly obvious to the ''readers'' that Lan Wangji is in love with him, the AnachronicOrder of the novel hides the fact that Wei Wuxian is so confused because Lan Wangji acted so hostile to Wei Wuxian in his first life (for a number of reasons) that ''everyone,'' Wei Wuxian most of all, genuinely believed that Lan Wangji hated him. The indulgent behavior in his second life is such a bizarre turn that it takes ''months'' for Wei Wuxian to get a clue. On the flip side, Wei Wuxian's [[UnreliableNarrator terrible memory]] hides the fact that [[spoiler: Lan Wangji [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove confessed to Wei Wuxian]] shortly before his death, and Wei Wuxian (who wasn't exactly in a stable headspace) apparently rejected him in a cruel manner]]. Since Lan Wangji believes Wei Wuxian remembers this event, Wei Wuxian's flirting and general outrageous behavior must have appeared very differently to him.
* While most of the miscommunication between the OfficialCouple in ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' is due to Mr. Darcy having NoSocialSkills and way too big an ego, Elizabeth isn't blameless. For example, when she runs into him while taking her stroll through Rosings Park, she makes sure to tell him this is her favorite place to walk. Her goal was to make him avoid the area, but it's no surprise he assumed she was inviting him to meet her there and thereafter constantly shows up to walk with her.

* ''LightNovel/{{Oresuki}}'': The first arc happens largely due to Himawari and Cosmos acting affectionate to Joro and even asking him out on a date, and right when it seems they're about to confess to him, it turns out they just wanted to play matchmaker and hook them up with his friend Sun-chan. Much to his frustration, telling him about their crush on Sun-chan doesn't change one bit how affectionate they are to Joro.

* While Sousuke's been absolutely head over heels for Kaname following the first volume of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', but thanks to his [[NoSocialSkills terrible social skills]], utilitarian approach to all things in life, [[ObliviousToLove apparent ignorance of all things romantic]], and ambivalence towards his commanding officer/(very forward) other suitor, he's so bad at clearly expressing it that Kaname has trouble figuring out if he even likes hanging around with her at all or just does it because he's obligated to as her bodyguard (even after he starts doing it entirely pro bono).
* ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'': Nyarko is a ManicPixieDreamGirl and GenkiGirl who repeatedly tells Mahiro that she loves him… but also clings to him like a barnacle and plays around with him and his friends (like claiming she's already pregnant with their first child). In episode 7 of the first TV series, Mahiro outright tells Nyarko that because of her zany, playful nature and tendency to tell tall tales, he has a hard time believing her when she talks about love. Nyarko (who's been on better behavior this episode) explains that it's hard to say it when she's not being silly, but that she's being completely honest and will say it as many times as she needs to; then she turns around, looks Mahiro in the eyes, smiles sweetly, and simply says "I love you."
* Kyousuke of ''LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}'' light novels toward his [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend childhood friend]] Manami, who has a crush on him. He calls her plain and unremarkable, yet says that this is his favorite thing about her since the familiarity is comforting. He keeps saying how much he appreciates her, and enjoys his study sessions with her. He also tells her that every time he's with her it's like his soul is healed of his troubles. One time he offered to take her someplace special, she accepts and they have a NotADate at the park. There she hints at him to kiss her, and he [[ObliviousToLove misses the cue]] to her disappointment. He even wants to go to the same university as her to make their comfortable relationship last as long as possible. Yet, in all those instances, he always mentions (to himself and others) that he's definitely not in love with her.

* To a lesser extent Gourry towards Lina in ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''. Romance isn't played up all that much, but in the few times Gourry seems like he might be interested in Lina, something always happens to make us unsure again (it was usually some kind of spell or misunderstanding).

* ComicBook/{{Superman}} was like to Lois Lane in the Silver Age, and it drove her nuts. He always maintained that he had to keep her at arm's length to protect her from his enemies, but it seemed that everyone on the planet already considered them an item, so it should have been a moot point. He finally started to relax about it and show her his true feelings in the Bronze Age.

* ''Series/DarkMatter'': One has this view of Two early on, when their relationship is filled with {{UST}} that she won't acknowledge. It comes to a breaking point in episode 7, when One enters [[TheLeader Two's]] cabin to give her a status report on the ship, only to find her fresh out of the shower wearing only a ModestyTowel. Flustered, he tries to leave but she tells him it's fine to stay. During his report, she [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl casually drops her towel]] and starts getting dressed ([[ToplessnessFromTheBack with her bare back to audience]]), unperturbed by his presence while he tries his best to IgnoreTheFanservice. He tries calling her out over whether this is her version of flirting but she just shuts him down by saying "it's complicated".

* Miroku in ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}''. One moment he's doing sweet things for Sango, or [[HandsomeLech groping her]] or telling her how she owns his heart, and the next he's trying to bed every single pretty girl that crosses his path. He continues this sort of behavior right up through the episode "Miroku's Most Dangerous Confession," at the end of which he quite seriously tells Sango that he thinks of her as a comrade in arms rather than as a woman… and then asks her to marry him and have his children.

%%* Kyoko from ''Manga/MaisonIkkoku''.

* Asuka Langley Soryu has this flaw in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. While she has an obvious crush on Shinji, she alternates between provoking him into making a move and tormenting him for doing so because she is afraid of being rejected. Doing this gives her an out if she is indeed rejected.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* Byakuya in the {{Manga/Bleach}} fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8222340/1/Chasing-the-Moon Chasing the Moon]]'' does this, pretty much driving Yuzu to the point of a DidYouThinkICantFeel speech. It doesn't help that they're both dancing on opposite sides of the SubordinateExcuse, being the captain and vice-captain of their Division respectively.

[[folder:Light Novels]]

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[[folder:Literature]]

* Holo is this to Lawrence in ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf''. The main problem is that Holo is a ''massive'' [[TheTease Tease]] who engages in ungodly amounts of flirting (and is intimately comfortable with Lawrence physically) even though she knows their journey has to end and thinks a long-term relationship would only end in heartbreak. Furthermore, she intermittently a) coaches Lawrence about relationships and to act in a manner that she considers romantic, and b) manipulates him with those same behaviors to make fun of him and get things she wants. Throughout all this, she still has enough moments of honesty that they grow just about as close as possible without actually becoming a "couple". It's a weird example of the trope, as she's not really being coy about the fact that she likes him, she just likes messing with his head until he has no idea how to react. And as the series progresses, he figures out how to get the better of her and starts treating her the exact same way.

* In the ''Man and Elf'' sequel to ''VisualNovel/SablesGrimoire'' Lisha becomes this to protagonist Sable. She's fallen for him hard but a combination of being a {{Tsundere}} and not wanting to drop her CantArgueWithElves attitude is making her scared of taking the next step. So the two spend most of their time together and she'll get right to the point of doing something unmistakably romantic before chickening out and running off. Given that Sable has trouble with being ObliviousToLOve at the best of times he has no idea what's going on.

* In the ''Man and Elf'' sequel to ''VisualNovel/SablesGrimoire'' Lisha becomes this to protagonist Sable. She's fallen for him hard but a combination of being a {{Tsundere}} and not wanting to drop her CantArgueWithElves attitude is making her scared of taking the next step. So the two spend most of their time together and she'll get right to the point of doing something unmistakably romantic before chickening out and running ff. Given that Sable has trouble with being ObliviousToLOve at the best of times he has no idea what's going on.

* In the ''Man and Elf'' sequel to ''VisualNovel/SablesGrimoire Lisha becomes this to protagonist Sable. She's fallen for him hard but a combination of being a {{Tsundere}} and not wanting to drop her CantArgueWithElves attitude is making her scared of taking the next step. So the two spend most of their time together and she'll get right to the point of doing something unmistakably romantic before chickening out and running ff. Given that Sable has trouble with being ObliviousToLOve at the best of times he has no idea what's going on.