History Main / FriendVersusLover

HilarityEnsues. Except when the friend is [[PoisonousFriend poisonous]], the love interest is [[ClingyJealousGirl clingy]] or [[{{Yandere}} psycho-possessive]], one or both might decide to MurderTheHypotenuse, leaving the other a CassandraTruth. Least murderously, both start a secret war for the affection and attention of the third party, trying to slander the other while seeming innocent. By the end one or the other usually reveals they were [[DerailingLoveInterests less than ideal]] as a friend or lover and get cropped out of the picture.

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* In ''SkipBeat'', Ren (mutual crush) and Moko ([[{{Tsundere}} best friend]]) sometimes act like this towards Kyoko. On Kyoko's birthday, they were secretly trying to figure out who could get her a better present.
** Averted, Ren was taking the mature route of "it doesn't matter which gift is the better" and Moko originally didn't know it was Kyoko's birthday but had gotten her a gift anyway.
* In {{Baka To Test To Shoukanjuu}} [[ClingyJealousGirl Shoko]] (the love interest) thinks she and [[IdiotHero Akihisa]] (the best friend) are in this for Yuuji's affection. In reality, Akihisa doesn't see her like this and is willing to sell Yuuji out so he can win this competition against her.
* In ''PandoraHearts'' Gilbert and Alice sometimes do this over Oz.

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* Notable for its aversion in ''{{Merlin}}''. Arthur and Merlin are HeterosexualLifePartners, but when Guinevere starts to catch Arthur's attention, Merlin [[ShipperOnDeck couldn't be more delighted]]. [[HetIsEw This poses quite a problem for the slashers]] considering Merlin and Guinevere are LikeBrotherAndSister, and more often than not it is Merlin encouraging Gwen to spend time with Arthur.

->'''Ian:''' [[PuppyDogEyes 8C]]

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* In ''SkipBeat'', Ren (mutual crush) and Moko ([[{{Tsundere}} best friend]]) sometimes act like this towards Kyoko. On Kyoko's birthday, they were secretly trying to figure out who could get her a better present.
** Averted, Ren was taking the mature route of "it doesn't matter which gift is the better" and Moko originally didn't know it was Kyoko's birthday but had gotten her a gift anyway.
* In {{Baka To Test To Shoukanjuu}} [[ClingyJealousGirl Shoko]] (the love interest) thinks she and [[IdiotHero Akihisa]] (the best friend) are in this for Yuuji's affection. In reality, Akihisa doesn't see her like this and is willing to sell Yuuji out so he can win this competition against her.
* In ''PandoraHearts'' Gilbert and Alice sometimes do this over Oz.

* GunnerkriggCourt: Antinomy is [[GreenEyedMonster jealous]] of Alistair who strikes it off so well with Kat. She stifles it and insists they get a proper farewell, leading to their discovery that Alistiar is [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting being turned into a bird]].

In GilbertAndSullivan's Iolanthe, Lords Mountararat and Tolloller both want Phyllis. They were friends from their childhood. Eventually, Phyllis persuades them that this rivalry is not worth the cost of their friendship, and to both give up their desire.

* Subverted on an episode of ''AdventureTime''. Jake likes Raincorn. Finn is jealous. Then Finn likes Raincorn and Jake is jealous.

* On ''{{Jimmy Two-Shoes}}'', Jimmy's HeterosexualLifePartner Beezy and his {{Yandere}} Heloise are constantly at war for his attention. The only reason they remotely tolerate each other is to stay around Jimmy.

* One of the more central themes in ''{{Scrubs}}''.

When the third party manages to put their foot down, they might manage to mediate a solution. However if both descend far enough in this petty politicking, the third party may well dump them ''both'' as an incentive to make them get over themselves.

* ''PrettyInPink'' has two of these: Ducky/Andie/Blaine and Blaine/Andie/Steff - the latter with the twist that Steff also tries to get together with Andie.

->'''Ian:''' [[PuppyDogEyes :C]]