History Main / TriangRelations

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16746757650.37526900 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

[[quoteright:230:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triangles.png]]
[[caption-width-right:230:The ''worst'' kind of geometry.]]

->"''What's a girl to do when she's stuck between men''\\
''It's like she's a Barbie with two perfect Kens''\\
''But wait, it just occurred to me''\\
''Maybe I can solve this with geometry''\\
''Yes, smarts can help this sitchywation untangle''\\
''So professors, teach me the math of love triangles...''"
-->-- '''Rebecca''', ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epuILDZ3KIo "The Math of Love Triangles"]]

The first assumption in a relationship described as a LoveTriangle is that someone's got to go. There is a lot of good drama/comedy in that little conundrum.

Even if the writer chooses to challenge that assumption,[[note]]see: TakeAThirdOption, MarryThemAll, or {{Polyamory}}[[/note]] there will be some pretty tricky footwork required to make it all come out to a resolution.

Here are the possible triangles. Put one to work.

[[AC:Note:]] These are all point-in-time snapshots. It could be the situation at the beginning or it could evolve into this situation. These are often used to construct different faces of [[LoveDodecahedron Love Polyhedra]]. A common RelationshipWritingFumble is to attempt one type of triangle but end up creating a different one (usually a [[HoYay less heteronormative]] one).
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[[foldercontrol]]

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang1.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type1]]'''[+1+].''' Alice wants both Bob and Charlie, but cannot decide which. Both are unrequited or their wishes are unimportant at this point.
[[folder:Examples]]
* The classic BettyAndVeronica trope. See that page for details.
[[/folder]]
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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang2.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type2]]'''[+2+].''' Alice wants Bob, Bob wants Claire, and Claire wants Alice. Sometimes referred to as a Bizarre Love Triangle, after the Music/NewOrder song. It can involve as many people as you like, turning it into a square, pentagon or more, but ultimately the love remains unrequited.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* The manga ''Manga/GirlXGirlXBoy'' has one of these triangles most of the way through. [[spoiler:Although it later turns out to have by type 4 all along.]]
* [[NationsAsPeople Belarus, Russia and Lithuania]] from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers''. With a twist: Belarus and Russia are [[BrotherSisterIncest siblings]]. [[StalkerWithACrush Completely]], [[{{Yandere}} utterly]], and ''[[ComedicSociopathy hilariously]]'' [[PsychopathicManchild insane]] siblings. [[PsychoticLoveTriangle Poor]] [[TheWoobie Lithuania...]]
* Juri, Shiori and Ruka in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''.
* In ''Manga/SgtFrog'', Ms. Furbottom loves Giroro, Giroro loves Natsumi, and Natsumi loves Ms. Furbottom's regular cat form.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/StrangersInParadise,'' most of the time. David longs for Katchoo, Katchoo for Francine, and Francine for David.

[[AC: FanWorks]]
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12175199/1/A-Carousel-of-Agony A Carousel of Agony]]'' is a ''RWBY'' drabble involving this. Pyrrha has a crush on Jaune, who has a crush on Weiss. Weiss, however, likes Pyrrha and asks her out to the dance. Pyrrha had actually wanted to go with Jaune, but she agrees to Weiss' request.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11099018/1/Who-s-Got-My-Gum Who's Got My Gum]]'': [[WesternAnimation/BigHero6 Hiro, Honey, and GoGo]] have this sort of relationship; Hiro loves Honey, but not[=GoGo=]. Honey loves [=GoGo=]. but not Hiro. [=GoGo=] loves Hiro, but not Honey Lemon. They decide the best course of action is for the three of them to [[{{Polyamory}} date each other]] since they'll all get what they want and no one will get their heart broken. Eventually, they all grow to romantically love each other and not just the one person they were initially interested in.

[[AC:{{Film}} -- Live Action]]
* The 1994 movie ''Threesome'' uses this setup with two men and a woman.
* ''Film/ShesTheMan'': Viola becomes Sebastian, and falls in love with Duke. Duke then falls in love with Olivia, and Olivia falls in love with Viola disguised as Sebastian. There's a bit more to it than that--the real Sebastian, Viola's brother, is dating Monique so she hates Olivia, but Olivia goes out with Duke to make Viola jealous. Coupled with the reason why Viola crossdresses in the first place, it's also a LoveDodecahedron.
* ''Film/FightClub'' features one with the narrator, Tyler and Marla. Although things start to get... Complicated.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* The main three characters in ''Literature/TheRulesOfAttraction'', though they also each have several side-flings.

* ''FightClub'' features the quote "Tyler wanted marla, marla wanted me and I wanted Tyler". Although things get skewed in the third act as certain things unravel.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* An episode of ''Series/TheThinBlueLine'' uses this plot:
-->'''Habib:''' So you're telling me that Kevin fancies me, I fancy you, and you fancy Kevin?
* In the Dutch series ''Series/{{Zenith}}'', Fay is in love with Ricardo, but despite her best efforts, he has eyes only for her best friend Soraya. Unfortunately, Soraya turns out to be in love with Fay.


[[AC:{{Music}}]]
* UdoLindenberg from Berlin made a song about one: A conductor loves a soprano, she loves a dancer from the ballet, [[AlwaysCamp who loves the conductor.]]
* A four-part version is described in the Music/TheyMightBeGiants song "Withered Hope", whose characters are (in typical fashion for the band) rather abstract: a "Very Sad Sack", the Withered Hope of the title, a picture of a crook, and a motorcycle.

[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]
* See ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'': Orsino (A) loves Olivia (B), who falls for Cesario/Viola (C), who loves Orsino.
* ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream'' temporarily becomes a variant of this involving four parties instead of three, once Puck goofs up at applying the love potion.
* Creator/JeanPaulSartre makes this one of Hell's tortures, in his play ''Theatre/NoExit'', when the members of this relationship are put together in a room for all eternity.
* ''Theatre/TheNormalHeart'': Implied to have existed before the play, when Ned (A) unrequitedly loved Bruce (B), who loved Craig (C), who had a crush on Ned. However, the play opens with Bruce and Craig happily in love in a long-term relationship, while Ned's one-sided crush on Bruce continued.

[[AC:VisualNovels]]
* The situation in the prologue of ''VisualNovel/ChronoClock''. Miu likes Shuuji, who likes Michiru, who [[BrotherSisterIncest loves her brother Rei to a worrying degree]]. Rei discovers Miu's feelings, by happening upon a botched confession, and helps her overcome her social anxiety in order to confess properly, by talking and doing couple-like things together, but in the process develops his own feelings for her, thus completing what he calls a "love rhombus". She also starts to like Rei, but he tries to prevent that and pushes her to go ahead with the original plan.[[note]]Incidentally, Miu and Michiru are also close friends, as are Shuuji and Rei.[[/note]]

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* Three of the main characters in ''Webcomic/PixieTrixComics''. Aaron wants Zadie, but she doesn't want him back and just uses his obvious attraction to her for her own benefit. Then [[TheBear Julian]] (previously of ''Webcomic/StickyDillyBuns'' shows up, and Zadie is instantly smitten, but he's more attracted to Aaron (and neither Aaron nor Zadie seem to have realized that Julian's gay yet).

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* Marinette and Adrien in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' somehow wound up with a strange, two-person variant. The problem arises from the fact that they are not allowed to reveal their alter egos as Ladybug and Cat Noir to anyone, even each other, and they both act significantly different in their civilian identities. Thus, Adrien likes Ladybug, but not Marinette, and Marinette likes Adrien, but not Cat Noir.
[[/folder]]
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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang3.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type3]]'''[+3+].''' The classic love war set up. Bob and Charlie want Alice. Alice is neutral toward, or not initially thinking in romantic terms of Bob and Charlie, or thinking about them ''[[ObliviousToLove at all]]''. Not a bad situation to be in, if you are Alice, though obviously a bit less so for Bob and Charlie. Some Alices will be tempted to see if there is any Type 7 (below) potential in the situation.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* The entire HaremGenre (almost exclusively found in anime/manga/LightNovels) is an [[ExaggeratedTrope exaggerated]] version of this type of triangle.
* The manga ''[=Ichiroh!=]'' gives us A as main character Nanako with B as [[LesYay her childhood friend Shino]] and C as [[BrotherSisterIncest her brother]]. Nanako is painfully aware of their feelings, but can't seem to discourage either of them, leaving the two to fight between each other for her.
* Ren (A) and his two best friends (a guy and a girl) in ''LightNovel/KazeNoStigma'', who are quite jealous of each other.
* Both versions of ''Anime/MyHime'' contain type 3 triangles involving the main character(s):
** (anime) Reito (B) and Yuuichi (C) are both attracted to Mai (A).
** (manga) Yuuichi (A) is sought after by Mai (B) and Natsuki (C), since he is the "Key" to both of their [=HiME=] powers. Eventually, Shiho also tries to claim him.
* In the ''Mazinger trilogy'' (''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Anime/GreatMazinger'', ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer''), Sayaka and Maria both want TheHero (TheLancer in the third series) and ChasteHero Kouji Kabuto, who is usually too busy to think about romance (and is usually too dense to notice).
* In ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', Greece and Turkey both like Japan who backs out of telling them which one he prefers. WordOfGod even defines their relationships as Greece → Japan ← Turkey. However, considering that the ratio of ShipTease is ''heavily'' skewed towards Greece and Japan, many fans see this as more of a Type 4 triangle with Turkey at A, Japan at B, and Greece at C.
* In ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'' in Part I, the two {{tsundere}}s Sakura and Ino (B and C) both like Sasuke (A), who shows no romantic interest in either. Both Naruto and Lee (B and C) have feelings for Sakura, who is in love with Sasuke and thus strongly rejects their initial advances.
* In ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Davis and TK are in love with Kari, or at least Davis is. Many fans support either, and the pairings have been known as dakari (for Davis) and takari (for TK). It is unclear who her husband is at the end of [[Anime/DigimonAdventure02 Season 2]], or if it even either of the two.
* In ''Anime/MyOtome'', Arika(B) and Nina(C) over Sergay (A).
* In ''Manga/GakuenBabysitters'', Inomata and Ushimaru have crushes on Ryuuichi.
* A developing case in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', with both [[WordOfGay Ymir]] and [[AmbiguouslyBi Reiner]] having feelings for Krista. The former is officially stated to be in love with her, while the later has a crush that may or may not be serious. Krista, for her part, hasn't shown that she considers either one of them as anything more than a friend.
* This type of triangle pops in ''Manga/AkumaNoRiddle'', with Chitaru Namatame at A, Hitsugi Kirigaya at B, and Shiena Kenmochi at C. [[spoiler:It ends with all three of them [[MurderTheHypotenuse dy]][[StarCrossedLovers ing]].]]
* During the first half of ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', [[NiceGuy Yuki]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Kyo]] both develop feelings for [[ThePollyanna Tohru]], and subconsciously bicker over her time and attention. An interesting take on the trope though, Tohru's friend [[TheEmpath Saki]] notes that they both have too much chaos in their hearts to have room for love, so they remain unaware of their true feelings for her for a long time (while they sift through all the issues caused by their abusive upbringings). By the time the dust settles, [[spoiler:the triangle is resolved when Yuki realizes that he had wanted a "mother" figure in Tohru [[note]]since Tohru is a warm, loving, nurturing person while his own mother had been cold, distant, and neglectful[[/note]] so he happily stands aside so she can end up with Kyo.]]
* Some of the sub triangles of ''Manga/SchoolRumble''. Harima (A) is too focused in his love with Tenma and is unaware of [[spoiler:Eri (B) and Yakumo (C) feelings. Eri has some kind of rivalry with Yakuno, but it's a friendly one.]]
* ''Manga/StoryOfADumbPrefectAndHighSchoolGirlWithInappropriateSkirtLength'': Akina and Sukegawa are both attracted to Izubuchi, who's ObliviousToLove.
* As of the end of volume four of ''Literature/WanderingWitchTheJourneyOfElaina'', [[CelibateHero Elaina]]'s relationship with [[HeroWorshipper Saya]] and [[MeaningfulName Amnesia]] is like this. Both have stated that they love her, while she has shown no romantic interest in either. At most she'll give a bemused or slightly disturbed reaction to their individual advances, but largely she tries to brush them aside or ignore them. Saya and Amnesia, meanwhile, don't get along very well due to their respective attractions to the eponymous wandering witch.

[[AC:AsianAnimation]]
* In ''Animation/BoonieBears'', the bear brothers Briar and Bramble both vie for the affections of a red bear named Natasha. Natasha sees them as just friends.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: During the Silver Age's "Impossible Tales" most stories had the winged boy "Wingo" and merboy Renno vying for a largely disinterested ComicBook/WonderGirl's attentions, as she viewed them more as friends. Due to the lack of continuity in the "Impossible Tales" their relationship was occasionally presented as a type 7 as she would agree to dates with both of them, but she was never as interested in the boys as they were her.

[[AC:FanWorks]]
* This is how ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'' began as with Germany as B and Japan as C. They both vied over Italy who was A yet didn't know if he requited either of their feelings.
* In ''Fanfic/AncientLanguages'', Elhael and Glorfindel compete for access to Lyla.
* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': Kaworu/Rei/Saburo are a Type 3: Saburo and Rei both want Kaworu, but he wants to be single for now (and he wants nothing with Saburo).
* ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' has this dynamic when Iris joins Ash's group, with her and Misty both attracted to Ash, while Ash only sees them as his friends. However, [[LoveDodecahedron it ceases to be a triangle]] when [[spoiler: Anabel]] joins their group (and that's not even taking Serena into account).

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* See ''[[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307401/ Sabu]]'': Osue is at 'a', in the sights of both Sabu and Eiji, two friends from childhood.
* ''Film/PaintYourWagon'' starts off as this, with Ben winning Elizabeth at auction but with the Stranger longing for her as well. Rectified temporarily when Elizabeth proposes turning this into a Type 7.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' appears to set up this scenario with both Han and Luke being potentially interested in Leia, but later it becomes apparent that it's Han she has feelings for [[spoiler:and Luke is her long-lost brother.]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Anne (A), in ''Anne of Avonlea'', with Charlie Sloane (B) and Gilbert Bylthe (C)--[[spoiler:although it is hinted that she was in denial of a type 4 towards Gilbert all along, or even a type 7 with Roy and Gilbert in ''Anne of the Island'']].
* In the earlier part of ''[[Literature/KushielsLegacy Kushiel's Dart]]'', Phèdre and Alcuin are both completely in love with their SexyMentor Delaunay. Delaunay is ObliviousToLove and has ''no idea'' until he's told--he thinks they see him as a ParentalSubstitute.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' middle season two: Both Chloe and Lana want Clark, who is with [[TemporaryLoveInterest someone else]].
* ''Series/TheBestYears'' has both Devon and Trent in love with Samantha in the first season. This triangle is repeated in the second season with Rich and Jake.
* From Season 3 of ''Series/{{Angel}}'', [[GenderBlenderName Fred]] is A, Wesley and Gunn are B and C.

[[AC:{{Music}}]]
* "The Girl Is Mine", by Music/MichaelJackson and Music/PaulMcCartney.

[[AC:NewspaperComics]]
* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' starts here. Peppermint Patty and Marcie are both shown interested in Charlie Brown. Chuck/Charles isn't quite noticing of them...

[[AC: Professional Wrestling]]
* Most noticeable of late is the situation in which Wrestling/DanielBryan found himself with Monday Night RAW's resident twin tag-team teases/terrors, the Bella Twins (until they found him making out with Gail Kim--they didn't take that well).

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* This is how ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' {{fanon}} portrays Marisa's [[ChickMagnet effect]] on pretty much [[HoYay every other character she meets]], but especially so with [[{{Hikikomori}} Patchouli]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Alice]]. [[MemeticMutation Marisa steals the precious things.]]
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' Tifa and Aerith both have feelings for Cloud, but he is unaware of this fact. One death and one (optional) RelationshipUpgrade seems to resolve this later, but all subsequent storylines deliberately keep things up for debate. Even [[WordOfGod Tetsuya Nomura]] outright states that "I have no idea" if Cloud ever made his choice.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'': Volnutt is A, with Roll Caskett at B and Tron Bonne at C.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'': Both Luna Platz and Sonia Strumm have feelings for Geo Stelar, who may or may not like them back. It is never resolved by the end, so it's all open to debate.
* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': The [=NPCs=] you can meet in the shrine include a young boy who is being fought over by two young girls. The boy, who the text refers to as "Weak-Willed Boy", gets dragged along with whatever the girl that got to him first that day wants. For his part, he just wants to play soccer. Towards the end of the game, both girls get sick of his milquetoast attitude towards them and ditch him, becoming [=BFFs=] in the process.
* This is how most of the weeks and rivalries in ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'' will be portrayed: Yandere-chan is in love with Senpai. So is the rival of the week. Senpai is oblivious to both their affections. {{Yandere}}-chan must find a way to get rid of her rival before she confesses her love to Senpai. (Exceptions are Muja, who Senpai seems to mutually crush on, Hanako, who's instead Senpai's [[ClingyJealousGirl clingy little sister]], and possibly Megami, as it isn't clear at this time whether she actually has a crush on Senpai or not.)

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
** Agatha (A), Gil (B), and Tarvek (C). Bit of a cross with Type 1, as Agatha likes both of them, and oscillates between which one she wants, but has not committed either way. An added twist is that Gil and Tarvek are each aware of the other, and [[VitriolicBestBuds hate each other]] (for reasons unrelated to Agatha).
** Agatha and Gil have started to express their feelings for each other, making this somewhat type four-ish (With Tarvek as A and Agatha at B).
** [[MalevolentArchitecture Castle Heterodyne]] clearly [[ShipperOnDeck supports]] type 7, and if Gil and Tarvek resolve their issues, it would go to a type 8.
* Trudy and Ki of ''Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault'' are both attracted to Nick, who is struggling with his feelings for the two of them and his own attitudes toward relationships. After Nick and Ki get together, this turns into a Type 4.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', both WV and AR are infatuated with PM, but PM either is oblivious/doesn't have a preference.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In the ABC/Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}''. Patti (A) is unaware of Doug's (B) feelings and the triangle is completed when Guy (C) debuts (he falls in love with Patti pretty quickly). Both want Patti both have some kind of rivalry and Patti has a good friendship with both. [[spoiler:The triangle is dissolved when Guy gives up, but is uncertain if Doug an Patti ended together.]]
[[/folder]]
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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang4.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type4]]'''[+4+].''' Alice wants Bob, who is already in a relationship with Claire. Bob is unaware/neutral (leaving Alice as a HopelessSuitor), or is aware of the interest and can't/won't reciprocate (leaving Alice in the "friend zone"). As the most complicated set of relations which is compatible with both monogamy and heterosexuality, this is very common.
[[index]]
* TriangRelationships/TypeFour
[[/index]]
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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang5.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type5]]'''[+5+].''' Alice loves Bob, but Bob loves Claire. Claire doesn't have feelings for either. Alice might try persuading Bob to give up on Claire. If Alice is AxCrazy (or otherwise [[LoveMakesYouEvil extremely jealous]]), she might attempt to MurderTheHypotenuse. Alternatively, Alice might just [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy want her beloved to be happy]], and try to set Claire up with Bob. This is the smallest situation directly involving at least three characters where AllLoveIsUnrequited.

This can potentially involve more than three people, with Claire having feelings for David, David having feelings for Eric, and so forth (perhaps even looping around to Zeke loving Alice in a [[LoveDodecahedron dodecahedral]] version of Type 2.)
[[index]]
* TriangRelationships/TypeFive
[[/index]]
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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triang6.JPG
[[hardline]]
[[#type6]]'''[+6+].''' Alice wants Bob and Claire, who are already in a relationship. In this one, the "want" may or may not be sexual in nature--this could just be a platonic thing. PairTheSuitors is what happens when a type 1 or type 3 turn into a type 6.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/SnowWhiteWithTheRedHair'': Shirayuki and Zen are in a relationship and Obi confesses that he loves Shirayuki and makes a more ambiguous confession of "liking" Zen. The fact that he ends up frequently staring at Zen and flirts with him constantly to see him flustered makes this like less ambiguous. He refuses to come between them as he is dedicated to their happiness and safety.
* Tatewaki Kuno in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' is the "a" in this scenario (although he doesn't know/won't admit it), with Ranma ([[SexShifter as a girl]]) and Akane as "b" and "c".
* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' {{Fanon}} [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation theorizes]] that Rei Hino (a), Mamoru Chiba (b), and Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon (c) are in this stage. In canon, their relationship was more of a type 4 triangle.
* [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Kyon and Mikuru]] (B and C) are mutually attracted to each other, while Haruhi (A) lusts after both. And Oharuhi-sama gets what she wants... HilarityEnsues.
* In ''Manga/LoveHina'', it's (humorously) implied that Mutsumi is in love with Keitaro ''and'' his [[FirstGirlWins destined love]] Naru, but that she [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy wants to see both of them be happy together]].
* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'': Kyoya's [[Creator/JMichaelTatum English voice actor]] thinks Kyoya is in this type of scenario as the A with Tamaki and Haruhi as the B and C, and that Kyoya is okay with this, and would rather see them [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy happy with each other]] than be with either himself.
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' plays with this a bit. Yukari is into both Tsukune and Moka, who are pretty much an OfficialCouple. Her plan? [[ShipperOnDeck Push them that last mile]] and [[{{Polyamory}} get in on the action]].
* In Manga/{{Clover}}, Suu has a crush on both Ora and Kazuhiko, who are in a relationship with each other.
* ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'' starts off as a Type 4, with Nyarko head-over-heels for Mahiro, who likes her but is {{Tsundere}} and CanNotSpitItOut, and Cuuko having an unrequited PsychoLesbian crush on Nyarko. Cuuko eventually warms up to Mahiro after he treats her with genuine kindness and decides she's totally okay with their becoming [[{{Polyamory}} one big happy threesome]].
* Suzu and Matsuri of ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' have a mutual (and [[TwiceShy mutually reluctant]]) love for each other, even after Matsuri [[GenderBender is turned female]]. Soga is attracted to both in different ways: He unhesitatingly loves Suzu, which he's able to confess [[LoveConfessor to Matsuri]], but can barely talk to Suzu [[CannotTalkToWomen or girls in general]]. Soga also has feelings for [[JumpingTheGenderBarrier Matsuri's female form]], which Soga rejects because Matsuri still identifies a male--yet for the same reason, Soga is much more talkative to Matsuri than any other female, furthering his infatuation.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* In ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'', Carol (a) grows feelings for married couple Rick (b) and Lori Grimes (c), constantly telling them both she is in love with them, and suggesting to make a polygamous relationship work and raise one another's children together. However, she is shot down by both Rick and Lori on this idea, and berated for not focusing on being a mother to her daughter Sophia.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'', Emp is in a relationship with Thugboy, and Ninjette has feelings for both of them... [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Which, since they're her friends, she mostly keeps to herself.]]
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Diana and ComicBook/SteveTrevor are the official couple, and Keith Griggs spends most of his time preoccupied with both of them. He flirts openly with Diana, but pays more attention to Steve.

[[AC: FanWorks]]
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': Asuka and Shinji are in a relationship, and Rei has comes to love both of them, but Rei is unwilling to rock the boat by trying for the [[UnusualEuphemism "Israfel Special"]]. Much to the frustration and disappointment of many of the readers!
* ''Fanfic/TheresMoreMagicOutThere'': Kagami is in love with both Marinette and Adrien, though believes she can only pick one. Meanwhile, while Marinette and Adrien aren't dating, [[EveryoneCanSeeIt it's clear to everyone, including Kagami, that the two have feelings for each other]].
* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Symbiosis}}'', Captain Torch has feelings for [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[{{Muggle}} Atsushi]], whom are both in a relationship with each other.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* Played for (very uneasy or extraordinarily guilty) laughs in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'', in which Dr. Frank-N-Furter (a) seduces both Brad and Janet (b, c) with practically the same dialogue in back-to-back scenes. [[SoBadItsGood Yes, it's that kind of movie.]]
* ''Film/SophiesChoice''--Stingo loves Sophie and Nathan dearly, even if not sexually in the case of Nathan.
* In ''Film/PlanB'', Bruno (A) tries to seduce Pablo (B) as part of a scheme to get him to break up with Laura (C). His ultimate goal is to switch places with Pablo in this triangle as he's actually straight and Laura is his ex-girlfriend he wants to get back together with by hook or crook. [[spoiler:Except that it turns out he's not as straight as he thinks he is and ''Laura'' is the one who ends up switching places with him as he and Pablo develop genuine feelings for each other to the point where they're forced to tell her that neither of them can be with her.]]
* ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'': The Black Queen wants both Barbarella and Pygar, who reject her. Barbarella and Pygar have already had sex, and while it's dubious to call their relationship romantic (it's a sex comedy), they do feel some loyalty for each other.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* It's very easy (and entertaining) to read the Sid/Michelle/Tony triangle in ''Series/{{Skins}}'' this way.
* There has been more than one gay-themed [[RealityTV dating show]] where two of the contestants chose each other over the bachelor.
* Mulan is heavily implied to have fallen for both Philip and Aurora (who are married) in ''Series/OnceUponATime''

[[AC:{{Music}}]]
* Evoked for laughs in the Fred Godfrey song "Now I Have to Call Him Father" (the protagonist is "A"):
--> He used to come and court his little Mary Ann
--> I used to think that he was my young man
--> But Mother caught his eye and they got married on the sly
--> Now I have to call him Father

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', Tali'Zorah seems to be in a bad case of this in regards to Female Shepard and Garrus. She gets flustered and nervous when telling Shepard she'd be willing to [[MakesSenseInContext link suits with her]], one of her species' most intimate shows of trust. Likewise, if she was not romanced by Male Shepard or if Garrus was not romanced by Female Shepard, Tali hooks up with Garrus at the end of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''.
** Comes to a head in the Citadel DLC, where, if she gets drunk enough, she mumbles as though in the middle of a threesome fantasy between herself, Female Shepard, and Garrus.

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* In the webcomic ''Webcomic/BoyMeetsBoy'', Tybalt (a) tries to seduce Harley (b) away from Mikhael (c), who used to be his boyfriend. It's implied that Tybalt still has residual feelings for Mikhael, so his fixation on Harley probably has to do with jealousy as much as with desire.
* Happens in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' with Eridan (A), Feferi (B), and Sollux (C). Feferi and Eridan were originally [[MoralityChain moirails]], until Eridan developed flushed (romantic) feelings for her and wanted to transition their moirallegiance into a matespritship; however, not only did Feferi reject him, she also broke off the moirallegiance, since it had become emotionally exhausting for her. Feferi and Sollux later end up dating, and as a result, not only does Eridan's one-sided crush on Feferi remain, he also develops caliginous feelings (a hate-crush) for Sollux, who definitely does not feel the same way.

[[AC:Web Original]]
* ''Fanfic/MisfiledDreams'' uses Jenny in A with Ash and Emily at B and C. As Emily puts it, Jenny is attracted to Ash, Emily, ''and'' the relationship Ash and Emily have.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Pearl wants to fuse (a metaphor for some kind of relationship) with Garnet (who is a relationship and fusion between Ruby and Sapphire), and while Garnet (and thus Ruby and Sapphire) seems to be up for it ocasionally, Pearl manipulates the situation in a way that breaks consent and is unhealthy, thus making it Type 6.

[[/folder]]

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[[hardline]]
[[#type7]]'''[+7+].''' The classic "affair" set up. Alice is in a relationship with Bob, but she's also in a relationship with Charlie. Either Bob and Charlie don't know about the other's involvement at all or Charlie knows he's the secret lover and acts accordingly. Much of the drama/comedy comes from all the work needed to make sure that the space between B and C stays free from any sort of information flow. A lot of geography between the two helps, or maybe a good social divide.\\
[[index]]

* TriangRelationships/TypeSeven
[[/index]]

[[folder: Examples]]
* ''Series/TheLWord'': Alice is dating Tasha when the latter becomes attracted to Jamie. Tasha resists the urge to cheat, but they break up anyway.
[[/folder]]

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[[hardline]]
[[#type8]]'''[+8+].''' When all three parties are devoted to each other in some manner. This needn't be sexual, but this is the type that's the most compatible with {{polyamory}} in its various forms. The most obvious example is a straight-up [[OT3 threesome]]: Alice, Bob, and Charlie are happily in a relationship together. Or two of them are in a relationship and the third is a [[FriendsWithBenefits Friend With Benefits]] that they occasionally fool around with. Or Bob is in a relationship with both Alice and Charlie, while the latter two are friends but not intimate, possibly due to IncompatibleOrientation.
[[index]]
* TriangRelationships/TypeEight
[[/index]]
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[[hardline]]
[[#type9]]'''[+9+].''' Bob and Charlie are attracted/loyal to each other but are also attracted/loyal to Alice. Bob and Charlie might be best friends or [[SiblingTriangle siblings]], and much of the conflict comes from wanting to pursue Alice but not wanting to hurt the other.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', Sheryl and Ranka are both in love with Alto and are good friends (sometimes acting quite sisterly) with one another. [[spoiler:The last scene in the TV series even has Ranka declaring to Sheryl that she's not giving up on him, to which Sheryl smiles and nods encouragingly.]]
* In ''Manga/Touch1981'', twins Tatsuya and Kazuya are both in love with the same girl, Minami Asakura, who loves them both. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, this one loses a leg early on in the series. Fortunately (well, fortunately-ish), it's not the leg she's interested in romantically.]]
* Just one of many situations in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', Yue and Nodoka are best friends who are both attracted to Negi. Being bookworms, both the girls are incredibly GenreSavvy as to how its likely to end and the presence of a triangle is even {{Lampshaded}} by them at one point.
** Konoka and Setsuna both initially showed interest in Negi (enough to pactio, at least), but as the series continues it's become increasingly obvious that the two will end up together. At this point, the pairing is one step short of canon. [[spoiler: It's heavily implied ([[TeasingCreator but not confirmed]]) that the two of them got married in 2017.]]
* A Type 9 forms the core of ''Manga/MyMonsterSecret''[='s=] conflict. Asahi is very much in love with Youko, but she's ObliviousToLove for a good part of the story. Aizawa develops feelings for Asahi, and briefly tries to sabotage his attempts to confess to Youko, but feels guilty about it and quickly stops. She and Youko are good friends and start cheering each other on, though Youko doesn't realize her own deeper feelings for Asahi until the sight of him with Aizawa starts making her feel [[GreenEyedMonster sick and upset]]. Eventually Aizawa throws her full support behind Asahi and Youko (which leads to their finally confessing and becoming a couple), and finally gives up on him… or at least tries to, but her body has a hard time following her mind.
* Two intertwined cases in ''Manga/OuranHighschoolHostClub''. On one side there is Haruhi-Kaoru-Hikaru. Haruhi likes the twins (platonically though), both twins are in love with her and the brothers love each other just as much. It breaks when Kaoru willingly gives up his love so Hikaru can have a real shot at getting Haruhi's attention. The second triangle is Haruhi-Tamaki-Hikaru. While the relationship between Tamaki and Hikaru is very strained especially during the main arc of this conflict, they always hold respect for each other. By the point that Tamaki finally manages to confess and date Haruhi, Hikaru is ready to give up and fully supports the couple. In general it has been implied that (almost) every member of the club had at one point fallen for Haruhi while staying very loyal to the others and the club.

[[AC:Fanfiction]]
* In ''Fanfic/MyImmortal'', Harry/Vampire (b) and Draco/Darko/Drako (c) are both utterly in love with [[OverlyLongName Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way]] (a), but that doesn't stop them from [[YaoiFangirl having an active sexual relation with each other.]]
* In ''Fanfic/LostInCamelot'', Bo, Merlin and Morgana form a Type 8 by Chapter 30. [[spoiler:At first, it was simply that Bo and Morgana were each attracted to Merlin while Merlin was attracted to the two women, with Bo interested in Morgana while Morgana was just willing to consider the idea of a more-than-friends relationship with Bo, but after Bo was abducted saving Morgana from kidnappers, by Chapter 35 Morgana has accepted her romantic and sexual desire for Bo as well as Merlin]].

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* The relationship between the main characters in ''Film/BeingJohnMalkovich''. Maxine (A) gains the affections of both Craig (B) and Lotte (C) who are married to each other but she doesn't care for either of them nearly as much as they do for her, treating Craig with disgust and Lotte with indifference unless one of them is inhabiting John Malkovich's body... [[MindScrew long story there]].
* ''Film/MyFatherTheHero'', where a girl tells the boy she likes that her father, who has taken her on a holiday, is actually her lover. Wackiness ensues.
* In silent comedy film ''Film/HandsUp'', the protagonist, a Confederate spy in TheWildWest, falls in love with each of a pair of daughters. Each daughter nobly offers to step aside for the other one. He resolves this dilemma by ''[[MarryThemAll marrying them both]]''.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Ron and Hermione are a case of OppositesAttract. But one thing they do have in common is their shared loyalty/affection toward Harry.
* Delia(A), [[VictoriousChildHoodFriend Eric]](B) and [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Fitz]](C) in ''Literature/VanishingActs'' by Creator/JodiPicoult, only Delia and Eric are engaged, which makes it also have elements of Triang Relation #4(with Fitz as as A, Delia as B and Eric as C). Fitz eventually [[spoiler: gets Delia]], though.
* In ''Literature/VampireAcademy'', Dimitri and Rose are in love, but worry that their relationship will get in the way of their mutual duty to protect Lissa.
* In ''Literature/ShanghaiGirls'', sisters Pearl(C) and May(B) both want Z.G Li (A). In Pearl's eyes, she is Z.G.'s true love, but that is not the case. [[spoiler: Z.G. and May have a relationship and May ends up getting pregnant.]] In the sequel ''Dreams of Joy'', there is a partially platonic one going on, with both Pearl and her daughter Joy [[spoiler: actually May's child with Z.G.]] both wanting love and affection from him.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* This variant occurs in ''Series/DoctorWho''. The Doctor at A, Jack at B, and Martha at C. The Doctor, wary of relationships to [[CartwrightCurse himself]] and [[AnythingThatMoves Jack]], tries to keep all three relationships platonic.
* In the KoreanSeries ''Series/TheFirstShopOfCoffeePrince'', you have this trope bordering on LoveDodecahedron. Cousins Choi Han Kyul and Choi Han Sung both crunch on same two women (but not at the same time). It all sorts itself in the end.
* In ''Literature/DarkestPowers'', in pure SiblingTriangle fashion, Derek and Simon are brothers and best friends, but both are very attracted to Chloe. Despite this, they don't fight about it and neither wants to hurt the other. It's to the point where Derek tries to push her away and over to Simon so that his brother can be happy, but then Simon turns around and does the exact same thing upon realizing that the one Chloe likes is actually Derek. Not that Chloe is aware of this at the time, however, and remains in denial about it for a while even after Simon tells her so.
* On ''Series/{{Glee}}'', this happens with Jake and Ryder, who go from bitter enemies to frenemies to best friends due to their shared interest in Marley. Some might argue that the two boys had better/more interesting chemistry with ''[[HoYay each other]]'' than either of them had with her.

[[AC:NewspaperComics]]
* In ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', Peppermint Patty and Marcy are both fond of Charlie Brown but are often perceived to [[HoYay be more than just friends]]. Charlie, for his part, is pretty oblivious to anything but their friendship.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', Seifer's henchmen, Fujin and Raijin, are utterly loyal to him. As he grows more distant, they start to depend more and more on each other, eventually parting ways with their leader.
* In ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorialGirlsSide'', activating Rival Mode with a female friend causes this. The strength of the B-C bond (and [[{{Determinator}} how persistent you are in making up]]) determines whether she steals your guy or decides IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy and [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer tells you to take care of him for her]].
* Occurs twice in the ''[[VideoGame/Persona2 Persona 2 Duology]]'', both times with [[CoolBigSis Maya Amano]] as A and [[TheHero Tatsuya Suou]] as B. WordOfGod says that Maya was Tatsuya's first love; he is fiercely determined to protect her, but due to the nature of their relationship does not see her as an eligible romantic option. Maya's feelings for him are unconfirmed. The role of C is filled by [[GayOption Jun Kurosu]] in ''Innocent Sin'' and [[SiblingTriangle Katsuya Suou]] in ''Eternal Punishment''. Jun is Tatsuya's best friend who shares his devotion to Maya, but is also romantically interested in Tatsuya himself. Their pairing has been [[WordOfGay borderline confirmed]] and the promises they have made to each other drive the plot. Katsuya, on the other hand, is Tatsuya's older brother who falls in love with Maya over the course of the second game, though his devotion to the former prevents him from acting on his feelings for the latter.

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* A downplayed example in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''. Ellen and Nanase are devoted to each other, but both of them have expressed attraction to Grace. Downplayed because neither have any intention of seriously pursuing that relationship, as Grace is already in a committed relationship with [[SingleTargetSexuality Tedd]].
* A viral Tumblr/DA comic shows [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] and Bowser both being rejected by Peach, at which point Bowser puts on the Super Crown from the Switch version of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' (which normally turns Toadette into Peach), [[GenderBender turning him into a version of Peach]], and the two go off together.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'' Courtney (B) and Gwen (C) are good friends but both want Duncan (A). Since Courtney and Duncan are in relationship and Gwen has been hiding her feelings from both this has elements of Triang Relation #4. Then Duncan reveals he wants Gwen, causing both of their relationships with Courtney to implode. When the dust settles by the time of ''All-Stars'', the triangle becomes a type #6, with Duncan dating Gwen, trying to keep Courtney's attention, losing both of them because of this, and the two girls making up and entering a PseudoRomanticFriendship.


[[/folder]]
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[[hardline]]
[[#type10]]'''[+10+].''' Alice and Bob are in a relationship, but Bob is attracted to Charlie. How sympathetically Bob is played [[TheUnfairSex depends on their gender]]. Similar to Type 4, but with a different point of view.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/MaisonIkkoku'': Kozue (A) is dating Godai (B) who is too wishy-washy to break up with her, while he pines over Kyoko (C).
** The last major conflict of the series to be resolved is that Kyoko is B to Godai's A and her late husband Soichiro's C. [[spoiler:Godai decides it's Type 8.]]
* ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' starts out like this. Makoto and Sekai are childhood friends, and Makoto has a crush on Kotonoha. (And Sekai has a secret crush on Makoto.) [[IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Sekai helps Makoto and Kotohona get together]], turning it into a Type 7 or 8 depending on how you want to interpret [[{{Yandere}} Sekai]] and Kotohona's relationship. When Sekai and Makoto take their relationship to another level, however, things go bad and [[FromBadToWorse then get worse]]. [[AxCrazy Much,]] ''[[MurderTheHypotenuse much]]'' [[NightmareFuel worse]].
* ''Manga/VampireKnight'' Yuki (B) chooses Kaname (A), but admits to still having feelings for Zero (C). Could also be a number seven, if Zero (still) feels the same about Yuki.

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]
* Interestingly done in the original ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' comics. For a while, Peter and Mary Jane were in a relationship, but Peter wanted to be with Gwen. At the same time, Gwen and Harry were in a relationship, but Gwen wanted to be with Peter. Interestingly, both Peter ''and'' Gwen are seen sympathetically, despite their gender. Then again, the male is [[UnluckyEverydude Spider-Man]].

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'': Dianne (A) and David (B) have a relationship but [[spoiler:it turns out that David has an unrequited crush for Shaun's girlfriend Liz (C)]].

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* ''Literature/EthanFrome'' revolves around this kind of triangle, with Zeena at A, Ethan at B, and Mattie at C. [[ForegoneConclusion It ends tragically.]]
* In ''Literature/WingsOfFire'', Starflight (B) falls in love with two other dragons: Sunny (C), and later Fatespeaker (A). Sunny gently turns him down when he confesses because she sees him like a brother, and nudges him towards Fatespeaker, who reciprocates his feelings, and whom he eventually ends up with.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' late season one: Chloe is in a relationship with Clark, but Clark also wants Lana.
** Very briefly in the [[spoiler:finale of season five: Chloe gives Clark a passionate NowOrNeverKiss and he definitely reciprocates... but he never, ''ever'' gets over Lana.]]
* Simon's attraction to Jenny despite being in a relationship with Maggie in ''Series/Teachers2001''
* Early [[Series/{{Frasier}} Niles and Daphne]] again, this time with Maris at A, Niles at B and Daphne at C.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Lilah as A, Wesley as B and Fred as C.
* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', [[StalkerWithACrush Spike]] seemed to have trouble remembering that Harmony was his girlfriend.
* In ''Series/DowntonAbbey'', Mary and Matthew are clearly attracted to each other despite each being engaged to other people. [[spoiler: This doesn't last; Matthew's fiancee dies of [[UsefulNotes/TheSpanishFlu Spanish flu]], and Mary breaks it off with her fiance when she decides the dirt he plans to blackmail her with isn't enough to risk a miserable marriage to him]].
* In ''Series/{{Poldark}}'', Demelza (A) and Ross (B) are married, but Ross also loves Elizabeth (C).

[[AC:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/{{Finale}}'' has this with Tyler as B, Dylan as A, and Alex as C. A slight mix with this and type 4, as Alex reciprocates Tyler's feelings.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* {{Fanon}} likes to paint the [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Snake/Otacon/Naomi]] mess in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' as this. Snake(A) and Otacon(B) are even raising a child together and Naomi(C) acts as a foil for their happiness [[spoiler:right up until she dies.]] Naomi is usually portrayed as only using Otacon's affections to further her own goals.
* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'': Both Torn and Jak end up the target of Ashelin's affections, but only Torn shows romantic attraction towards her in return, even though he's not good with women. They become an OfficialCouple in ''VideoGame/JakXCombatRacing'', while Jak is paired with [[FirstGirlWins Keira Hagai]].

[[AC:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/ManicPixieDreamWife'': Chance and Simone are married and they love each other, but Chance begins to feel attracted to Serenity who seems to enjoy flirting with Chance.

[[/folder]]
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[[hardline]]
[[#type11]]'''[+11+].''' The classic affair set up with a twist. Alice is in a relationship with Bob and Charlie, but Bob becomes attracted/loyal to Charlie. Bob and Charlie may or may not know about the other's involvement with Alice. This situation is clearly the fault of Alice, who failed to control the information flow properly. ''Bad'' philanderer! No biscuit!

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''Literature/{{Toradora}}'', this is the case with Ryuuji (A), Minori (B) and Taiga (C). This is a very strange twist of MatchmakerCrush. Taiga is trying to set up Ryuuji (who starts to take care of her) with Minori (who is Taiga's best and initially only friend). Taiga develops an emotional dependence on Ryuuji, who develops feelings as well. It turns out that Minori already had a crush on Ryuuji, but also had strong feelings for Taiga. Taiga remains good friends, but doesn't quite reciprocate Minori's feelings. Since the OfficialCouple is actually the title of the show/novels, [[ForegoneConclusion bummer for Minori.]] Since everyone in this triangle is too nice to betray anyone, this draws out for a while.
* ''Manga/DeathNote''
** L (A) is obsessed with his suspects, Misa (B) in love with and obsessed with Light but teases / flirts with L, and Light (C) obsessed with L and pretending to have a relationship with Misa.
** Another one crops up later with Takada (A) seeing both Mikami (B) and Light (C) but Mikami is also VERY loyal to Light...
* There is a complex relationship dynamic going on between Nanoha, Subaru, and Teana in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'': Subaru (B) is Nanoha's biggest FanGirl (following a HeroicFireRescue that turned her life around) and is about [[MemeticMutation as straight as a rainbow]] for Teana, her longtime partner and soulmate. Teana (A) will [[{{Tsundere}} never admit liking that baka Subaru]] and simultaneously has a RageAgainstTheMentor-turned-{{Rival}}ry relationship with Nanoha (C), who seems to acknowledge said rivalry (if ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaViVid ViVid]]'' is any indication, the two of them still have a bone to pick over who is better at Shooting magic) but does not pay much mind to Subaru's fangirling beyond encouraging her to follow her dreams (which boil down to being more like Nanoha, anyway). And just to make the parallels between Subaru's relationships with Nanoha and Teana more blatant, ''[[AudioPlay/StrikerSSoundStageX Sound Stage X]]'' has Teana rescue Subaru by creating a DungeonBypass in a manner very similar to her aforementioned HeroicFireRescue by Nanoha.
* ''Manga/{{Horimiya}}'' sets up this type of relationship with Miyamura (A), Sawada (B), and Hori (C). Hori and Miyamura are dating, Miyamura and Sawada have a brother-sister dynamic, and Sawada has a crush on Hori. It was initially type 4, but Hori was annoyed watching Miyamura and Sawada compete over her and basically forced them to hang out and get along.
* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' has Kashiwagi (A), Maki (B) and Tsubasa (C). Maki and Kashiwagi are best friends, while Tsubasa is Kashiwagi's boyfriend. Maki has also had a crush on Tsubasa since before they started dating (the relationship having only started in the first place because one of their other friends' attempt to get her to confess had GoneHorriblyWrong), but both Kashiwagi and Tsubasa are oblivious to her feelings. To complicate things further, there are hints that [[AmbiguouslyBi Kashiwagi is actually bisexual]] and is in love with both Tsubasa ''and'' Maki.
* By the conclusion of ''Anime/CrossAnge'', Ange (A) has become the primary in a bisexual polyamorous relationship: she's consummated her relationship with her male LoveInterest Tusk (C) but has also expressed a mutual interest in Hilda (B), who [[ButNotTooBi prefers women but also once offered to sleep with Tusk]] in exchange for him helping her rescue Ange (he didn't take her up on it).

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* Karla, Daken, and Lester of Creator/MarvelComics ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'' seem to be dancing around becoming this. Adding Daken's emotion controlling pheromones into the situation just complicates things further.

[[AC: {{Fanfiction}}]]
* [[http://crystalrobot.deviantart.com/ Crystal Robot’s]] ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' fic, ''A ZADR Story'', starts off with this love triangle. Dib is dating OriginalCharacter Cassie, [[CousinOliver Cassie is Zim’s sister]], and Zim is attracted to Dib. [[spoiler: Later on, Zim and Cassie switch places, until eventually, Cassie’s relationship with Dib dwindles to a close friendship, turning the love triangle into a type 7a.]]
* ''Fanfic/KatawaShoujoBlooperReel'', which sets up the game as having AnimatedActors, sees Rin (B) and Emi (C) [[RomanceOnTheSet fall the hardest]] for Hisao. Rin makes it well-known that she not only wouldn't ''mind'' sharing, [[{{Polyamory}} she'd prefer it.]] Hisao is [[GirlOnGirlIsHot perfectly fine with this idea]], but Emi isn't, hence the placement (although Rin and Emi still are friends just like in canon).

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* Sho, Kei, and Yi-Che in ''Film/MoonChild''.
* In ''Film/TooManyHusbands,'' (a comedy version of ''Literature/EnochArden),'' Vicky loves both Bill (her first husband, who returns after being declared LegallyDead) and Henry (her second husband, Bill's business partner). They both love her, and they are best friends with each other, but each wants Vicky exclusively.
* ''Film/{{The Secret Garden|1993}}'': The 1993 film plays this way up. You can almost feel the U(non)-ST coming off of Dickon and Mary (swing scene particularly), and Colin flat out says he wants to marry her.

[[AC:Folklore]]
* Some versions of the ''Literature/TristanAndIseult'' story portray the love triangle this way: Isolde (A) is married to Mark (C) but in love with Tristan (B), who is in love with her, but is also loyal to Mark, who is his uncle.
* Same thing happens in Myth/ArthurianLegend: this is how the relationship between Guinevere (A) is married to Arthur (C) but in love with Lancelot (B), with Lance torn between his attraction to Gwen and his loyalty to Arthur.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''Literature/EnochArden,'' Enoch (B) and Philip (C) both love Annie (A); all three are also [[TwoGuysAndAGirl childhood friends]]. Annie first marries Enoch and then, after he is lost at sea and [[LegallyDead presumed dead]], she marries Philip.
* The interpretation of [[Myth/ArthurianLegend the Arthurian triangle]] that Marion Zimmer Bradley gives in ''Literature/TheMistsOfAvalon''.
* The overarching plot of Tabitha King's ''Pearl'': Pearl develops a romantic relationship with both Reuben and David without knowing that the two men have a had a decades-long, extremely painful history with one another before Pearl's arrival. David has only recently forgiven Reuben, while Reuben, out of guilt, is now highly protective of David. Pearl realizes that telling either that they are now romantic rivals might push both over the edge.
* ''Water For Elephants'', kind of: Jacob feels guilty about his attraction to Marlena at first because he is loyal to August, but [[spoiler:when he realizes how dangerous August is and how he mistreats Marlena, he grows to hate him. However, he has to pretend to still be loyal to him to protect the two of them, as well as his other friends in the circus. Marlena struggles with her residual feelings for August before finally realizing that he's terrible and Jacob is far better, but must also keep up pretenses so they don't all get fired and/or killed. Phew.]]
* ''Literature/TheSecretGarden'': Mary, Colin, and Dickon. Make of that what you will.
* In ''Fear of Flying,'' Isadora and her husband Bennett go to a conference in Germany, where Isadora starts having an affair with Adrian. It's strongly hinted that Adrian is interested in Bennett as well--the narrative comments on it several times--and at one point, it's implied that the two men slept together.
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' once Egwene (C) leaves the White Tower and realizes her feelings are for Gawyn (A) and not his brother Galad (B) it turns to a type 11. Both brothers are loyal to each other and both have feelings for Egwene, but she only reciprocates Gawyn's feelings.
* In ''Literature/{{Seraphina}}'', Lucian and Glisselda have an ArrangedMarriage necessary to ensure the stability of their country, but are LikeBrotherAndSister. Lucian and Seraphina fall in love and eventually begin an affair. Glisselda also has feelings for Seraphina, which she realizes are unrequited, but [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy decides to support Lucian and Seraphina]]. While the details are left ambigious, they seem to end in a stable polyamorous relationship, and the companion novel implies that Glisselda will raise Seraphina and Lucian's child as her own child by Lucian.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Rose, [[AnythingThatMoves Jack]], and the Doctor. Rose would be A, Jack would be B, and The Doctor would be C. Rose and The Doctor are heavily implied to have feelings for one another in the first season of the new Doctor Who series. When Jack shows up, its obvious that there's something between him and Rose as well. However, while Jack initially simply seems to feel competitive towards The Doctor, the feelings seem to develop into... [[UnrequitedLove something else]]. However, it's clear that things won't go beyond flirting where Jack is concerned, and the Doctor tends to flirt back at him, making this an oddly chaste and playful 8.
** Nothing "odd" about the chasteness. The Doctor had previously been presented as asexual so they didn't want to upset the old fans. Plus, it's a family show with a primary audience of kids. The fans of this OT3 normally see it as a case of a blooming relationship tragically cut short by [[TheNthDoctor character]] [[WeHardlyKnewYe death]].
* Cook/Effy/Freddie in ''Series/{{Skins}}'' (B/C/A respectively) reaches this point at the end of series 3. Effy loves Freddie, and he loves her back, but Cook also holds affections for her, and Freddie does not want to betray Cook by going out with Effy.
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' had a variation on this with Frasier playing the role of (C). Being romantically interested in a woman (A) who was in a romantic relationship with another man (B), but is herself at least very open with Frasier. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, has no idea that Frasier is a romantic rival and thinks his constant presence is a result of his undying loyalty as a friend.
* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' has this with Matthew (A), Mary (B) and Lavinia (C). Matthew and Lavinia are engaged, but Matthew and Mary are still in love with each other. However, Lavinia turns out to be a sweet girl and she and Mary become close, causing Mary to feel torn between her love and her friend. (It's worth noting that Mary and Lavinia's friendship is strong enough to make ''them'' one of the more popular non-canon ships.)

[[AC:Visual Novels]]
* Sasami's route in ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters'' has this going on with Riki (A), Sasami (B), and Kengo (C). Kengo and Riki are ChildhoodFriends, and throughout the route, Riki starts to develop feelings for Sasami, who likewise starts developing feelings for Riki. However, Sasami already had feelings for Kengo before the start of her route, and Riki starts out trying to play TheMatchmaker between the two of them, which develops into a MatchmakerCrush. Kengo [[spoiler:admits that he is aware of Sasami's interest in him, but he rejects her feelings when Riki pressures him into admitting how he feels about her]].

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* The "not necessarily sexual" type in the version of the Arthur/Guenevere/Lancelot triangle seen in ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace''. Arthur and Guenevere are married and in love, Lancelot and Guenevere are having an affair and in love, Arthur and Lancelot are HeterosexualLifePartners and Arthur knows about the affair but (mostly) is happy that his friends are happy. And then, in the final strip, [[spoiler: it turns out he was attracted to Lancelot as well, but knew Lancelot was straight and didn't want to push it.]]
* Incredibly, this is the ''resolution'' of the love triangle in ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'' (at least where the original ending left things). By the time of The {{Revival}}, they've graduated to type 8, as [[TheWoobie Rumy]] and [[PerkyGoth Aly]] both decided that IfItsYouItsOkay.
* ''Webcomic/HighClassHomos'': This occurs between princess Sapphia (A), Odette (B), and Marla (C). Sapphia and Marla are dating, while Odette has an interest in Sapphia that she mistakes as being for Marla. At the same time, Sapphia shows at least some interest in Odette. Eventually, Marla breaks it off with Sapphia, leaving Sapphia and Odette in the running to become an OfficialCouple.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', this is the general idea of the Dale-Nancy-John Redcorn triangle. Dale and Nancy are married, Nancy has had a years-long affair with John Redcorn (and has had his son, who Dale believes is his, being oblivious to the obvious clues), but Dale has generally positive feelings about John Redcorn who he believes merely treats his wife's headaches. Comes to a head when Dale assists John with his suit to gain land as reparations from the government, and John decides to end the affair since he cannot screw over someone who has treated him as a friend.

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[[hardline]]
[[#type12]]'''[+12+].''' Alice and Charlie are in a relationship, often married, but Alice likes Bob and Bob likes/is loyal to Charlie. Depending on genders this can be a hilarious or very tragic set up.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* With all the HoYay floating around, it's hard ''not'' to read the main LoveTriangle in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' this way, with Casca serving as A, Griffith as B, and Guts as C. After some developments, this setup evolves into a Type 11, then reverts back to 12 in the most tragic way possible before being ripped completely apart by the events of the Eclipse. [[DysfunctionJunction If you haven't figured it out yet, relationships between people in Berserk are kind of screwed]].
* In ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'', Kozue, Miki, and Anthy have this relationship. Kozue is in love with [[TwinCest her brother]] Miki who is in love with Anthy. Anthy manipulates Miki but doesn't return his feelings and it eventually leads to [[spoiler: Kozue and Anthy making out in a car in front of him.]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* The backstory to ''Series/SlingsAndArrows'', with A being Ellen, B being Oliver, and C being Geoffrey.
* The relationships between Johnny, Lisa, and Mark in ''Film/TheRoom''.

[[AC:{{Music}}]]
* A variation on this takes place in the Vocaloid song "The Butterfly, Flower, and Spider" by Hitoshizuku-P. The flower (C), a knight, and the butterfly (A), his childhood friend, are in love, but the spider (B), a prince, catches sight of the butterfly and wants her for himself. The butterfly begs the flower not to let the spider take her away, but the flower, who swore his loyalty to the spider, is unable to save her from the royal's clutches. It is essentially the regular type 12 except the arrows between B and C and between A and B are pointing in the opposite direction.

[[AC:VisualNovel]]
* Hisao, [[spoiler:Misha, and Shizune]] respectively, in ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo''. What makes this situation particularly interesting is that one bad choice on Hisao's part (when the unfortunate [[spoiler:Misha comes to ask Hisao for "comfort"]]) can unravel ''all three's'' relationship.
* ''VisualNovel/{{Flowers}}'' has an all GirlsLove version. Rikka likes Suou. Mayuri likes Rikka, but also ends up falling for Suou. Suou can end up with either, but [[spoiler:Mayuri is her [[CuttingOffTheBrances canonical love interest.]]]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' features a Type 12 love triangle from the point of view of B. [=BoJack=] (B) falls for Diane (C), who's in a relationship with [=BoJack=]'s rival, Mr. Peanutbutter (A), who in turn wants to be [=BoJack=]'s friend.

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[[hardline]]
[[#type13]]'''[+13+].''' Alice must choose between Bob and Charlie, but Bob is also attracted to Charlie. Could arise in a gay/bisexual situation, or could be non-sexual in nature. The non-sexual setup might be something like a boy having a family member get in the way of his relationship.

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' has this with the titular butler at point C, Hinagiku at B and Nishizawa at A. Of course, this being a HaremSeries, there's a much larger LoveDodecahedron involved.
* In ''Manga/YuruYuri'' Kyouko is A, being interested in both [[ChildhoodFriends Childhood Friend]] Yui and [[MagicalGirl Mirakurun]]-lookalike Chinatsu (although it's more lust than love). Chinatsu in turn is head over heels in love with Yui, while Yui doesn't show any such feelings to anyone and is happy with being friends with both.

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* Eric in ''Series/That70sShow'' was in the second situation for an episode. He was dating Donna and loyal to his mother, Kitty. Kitty and Donna then start going out shopping and lunching, cutting down on Eric's intimacy with Donna.
* In season one of ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'', Gwen has a bit of a celebrity, would-never-admit-it crush on Arthur, but spends most of her time pining over Merlin. Too bad Merlin is too preoccupied with his [[FanPreferredCouple Completely]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners Platonic]] [[BecauseDestinySaysSo Destiny Says So]] [[HoYay Soul Mate]] Arthur.

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'': Put Michelle at A, Stan at B, and Rich at C.
* ''Candi'': Bisexual Trevor is at A, having to choose between Laura at B and Matt at C. Laura is attracted to Matt, though she won't admit it.
* Downplayed in ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' where Elliot (A) and Clinton (B) are both somewhat interested in Brun (C). Each feels outclassed by the other, while Brun is at least somewhat aware of their interest but doesn't reveal whether she sees either as more than friends. Elliot later reveals that he's bisexual and also interested in Clinton, while Clinton, unaware of Elliot's interest, says that he might be amenable to "the right dude".

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'': in "Lost at Sea", Tommy is A, Didi, his mother, is at B, and his girlfriend Rachel is at C.

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* In the Literature/{{Xanth}} novels, Dolph, Nada, and Electra have this relationship. One of the books spells out the problem (with the solution not in sight, even though it is eventually resolved): "Electra loved Dolph, and Dolph loved Nada. Nada didn't love Dolph, and Dolph didn't love Electra."

* ''Series/FamilyMatters'': Steve Urkel has an unrequited love for Laura. Myra has a love just as great for Steve, but Steve doesn't really reciprocate, because any love he has for Myra is always limited by the fact that he make it painfully clear that he values the possibility of a romance with Laura more than any more attainable relationship with his girlfriend who actually loves him already.

[[/folder]]

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[[hardline]]
[[#type6]]'''[+6+].''' Alice wants Bob and Claire, who are already in a relationship. In this one, the "want" may or may not be sexual in nature--this could just be a platonic thing. PairTheSuitors is what happens when a type 1 or type 3 turn into a type 6.

[[folder:Examples]]

* ''Series/FamilyMatters'': Steve Urkel has an unrequited love for Laura. Myra has a love just as great for Steve, but Steve doesn't really reciprocate, because any love he has for Myra is always limited by the fact that he make it painfully clear that he values the possibility of a romance with Laura more than any more attainable relationship with his girlfriend who actually loves him already.

* ''Series/TheLWord'': Alice is dating Tasha when the latter becomes attracted to Jamie. Tasha resists the urge to cheat, but they break up anyway.

[[folder]]