History Main / DrowningOurRomanticSorrows

So, TheHero and TheLancer are in [[TriangRelations a love triangle]] with the WhiteMagicianGirl or the ActionGirl. They both love her, and they each know that the other loves her, but she doesn't know how either of them feels. They CannotSpitItOut to their LoveInterest that she is a love interest. Since it would take too long for either one to [[FigureItOutYourself work this triangle out on his own]], they decide to talk with each other first.

An AlwaysMale version is for the two [[RomanticFalseLead romantic]] [[TheRival rivals]] to [[CockFight fight over the woman]]. Something intervenes, and they end up getting drunk instead. Especially common with a WorthyOpponent. They might come to a new understanding and appreciation of each other, [[SnapBack but it's not guaranteed]].

->''It's a quarter after one''
->''I'm a little drunk''
->''And I need you now''

* In [[https://www.shortpacked.com/comic/gaybar this]] ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}'' comic Amber shows up to do this after dumping her long distance boyfriend Nathan for liking Carlos Mencia. Ethan, who had already started drinking because he had been dumped by Thad, complains that she could get any guy in this bar and he didn't have that option.

Sometimes, especially if they're female, the rivals will decide that it's all the LoveInterest's fault and will present a [[EnemyMine united front]] against him. Usually, this united front dissolves before the end of the episode.

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[[folder:Fan Works]]
* Hefty Smurf in the ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' story "Empath's Wedding", on the night before Empath and Smurfette's wedding, spends the night alone in Tapper's Tavern with a single glass of sarsaparilla ale, barely even touching it, wondering why Smurfette wouldn't even consider him as the Smurf that she would want to marry above all others, including Hefty's rival Empath. Empath sits with Hefty to discuss what's on his mind, although Empath doesn't order a drink. On the morning of the wedding, however, he is [[CantHoldHisLiquor hung over on that single glass of ale]].

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* Hefty Smurf in the ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' story "Empath's Wedding", on the night before Empath and Smurfette's wedding, spends the night alone in Tapper's Tavern with a single glass of sarsaparilla ale, barely even touching it, wondering why Smurfette wouldn't even consider him as the Smurf that she would want to marry above all others, including Hefty's rival Empath. On the morning of the wedding, however, he is [[CantHoldHisLiquor hung over on that single glass of ale]].

* This happens in ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'', between HB and Abe Sapien. Don't ask how a psychic fish-man and the Beast of The Apocalypse gets drunk on ''light'' beer, but they do. Afterward, [[spoiler: they sing a duet of 'Can't Smile Without You'.]] SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

* The female version is played with in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', where Vixen and Shayera bond over drinks and making fun of [[GreenLantern John's]] foibles.

So, TheHero and TheLancer are in [[TriangRelations a love triangle]] with the WhiteMagicianGirl or the ActionGirl. They both love her, and they each know that the other loves her, but she doesn't know how either of them feel. They CannotSpitItOut to their LoveInterest that she is a love interest. Since it would take too long for either one to [[FigureItOutYourself work this triangle out on his own]], they decide to talk with each other first.

Sometimes, especially if they're female, the rivals will decide that it's all the LoveInterest's fault and will present a [[EnemyMine united front]] against him. Usually this united front dissolves before the end of the episode.

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** This actually happens twice. In the first instance they come to an agreement that it's all Kyoko's fault for stringing both of them along, but afterwards you just get a SnapBack. The second time is when they are trying to fight, and this time the aftermath results in some major consequences that ends up leading to the GrandFinale.
** Godai does this several times with Sakamoto over the course of the series, although usually they are not after the same woman. Though that might be more DrowningMySorrows.

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* Bill and Henry do this offscreen in ''Film/TooManyHusbands'' when, tired of Vicky's inability to make a choice between them, they both leave her and go out for a night of drinking.

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* In ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'', Imriel does this with Maslin in [[FantasyCounterpartCulture fantasy-counterpart Russia]] in the dead of winter. Apparently no one told them that alcohol can expedite hypothermia.

* Can the scene in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' be considered, where Anders is drunk over Kara's disappearance, and falls off a Viper, and Lee comes to his aid? Anders and Lee both had feelings for the apparently dead Kara Thrace. Of course, Lee wasn't drunk.

* A one-sided and thus really awkward version happens in ''Series/TheWestWing'' episode "Commencement." Amy, Josh's on-again-off-again love interest, and Donna, his assistant and long-time WillTheyOrWontThey, are working late together. Donna has had one beer; Amy has had three or four. Early in the episode Amy said something to Josh that bothered him and she doesn't know why, but Donna does, and they've been skulking around the issue all day. Amy finally brings it up. Donna says, "You have to get Josh," and explains at length. Amy says, "You said 'you have to get Josh'?" Donna, now in the other room: "I didn't mean to say that you don't... get him." Amy: "Are you in love with Josh?" Donna: "...." Massive Attack: ''Love you love you love you love you...''

* Used to the point of being a RunningGag in ''Series/ChinesePaladin 3''. At first, the use of the trope is genuinely tragic (TheHero moping over his IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy decision), but then becomes funnier when a pair of lovers in the midst of a MasochismTango are competitively drinking each other under the table. By the end of the series, when a former antagonist struggling with WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove comes up, the hero merely hands him a bottle and sends him off.
* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' Barney and Ted, both ex boyfriends of Robin's, go on a drinking binge together and bicker about which of them is right for Robin. Ends in them ''both'' professing their love for her outside her window.

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* This happens in ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'', between HB and Abe Sapien. Don't ask how a psychic fish-man and the Beast of The Apocalypse gets drunk on ''light'' beer, but they do. Afterward, [[spoiler: they sing a duet of 'Can't Smile Without You'.]] CrowningMomentOfFunny.

* The ''{{Elvis Costello}}'' song Blue Chair is about this.

* The musical ''Sweet Adeline'' built the male ensemble number "Some Girl Is On Your Mind" out of this.

* ''MaisonIkkoku'': Godai and Mitaka are intending to fight each other, but due to various complications they end up just getting drunk together.

* The female version is played with in ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', where Vixen and Shayera bond over drinks and making fun of [[GreenLantern John's]] foibles.

* This happens in ''[[Film/{{Hellboy}} Hellboy II]]'', between HB and Abe Sapien. Don't ask how a psychic fish-man and the Beast of The Apocalypse gets drunk on ''light'' beer, but they do. Afterward, [[spoiler: they sing a duet of 'Can't Smile Without You'.]] CrowningMomentOfFunny.

* Can the scene in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'' be considered, where Anders is drunk over Kara's disappearance, and falls off a Viper, and Lee comes to his aid? Anders and Lee both had feelings for the apparently dead Kara Thrace. Of course, Lee wasn't drunk.

* Used to the point of being a RunningGag in ''ChinesePaladin 3''. At first, the use of the trope is genuinely tragic (TheHero moping over his IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy decision), but then becomes funnier when a pair of lovers in the midst of a MasochismTango are competitively drinking each other under the table. By the end of the series, when a former antagonist struggling with WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove comes up, the hero merely hands him a bottle and sends him off.

* Tom and George empty a decanter of brandy this way in NoelCoward's ''Design for Living''.