History Main / RejectionAffection

* ''Manga/AhoGirl'': Protagonist Yoshiko constantly insists on trying to seduce Akuru, even though he made it very clear he had no interest in her.

** In "The Masseuse", George goes from merely wanting to get along with Jerry's girlfriend (he seems genuinely upset that she dislikes him, especially as he's neither said nor done anything to warrant this), to being downright obsessed with making her like him, to actually being ''attracted'' to her ''because'' she doesn't like him.

* WesternAnimation/PepeLePew is practically the poster child for this. No matter how many times Penelope flees from him, or even attacks him, he always thinks she's just playing hard to get.

* ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies'': Gonzo continually woos Piggy, despite her greeting his advances with contempt and karate chops. This is borrowed from ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', where it occurred less frequently.

This trope happens when a male or female character refuses to take any hints or outright rejections in their pursuit of the object of their affection. The suitors are often very vocal and aggressive in their courtship despite the lack of progress or even outright disgust exhibited by the recipient of their love. As creepy as it sounds, this is often played for comedy or even shown as romantic.

Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl. Girl rejects boy. And again. [[RuleOfThree And again]]. Does boy take the hint? [[SelectiveObliviousness Nope.]]

In the world of fiction, unless a character intended as one-time is the suitor and one of the main protagonists is the object of the unwanted affection--after all, no "boy wants girl no matter what" story arc means no story ideas to attract audiences and ratings – this trope often plays out straight, and frequently leads to [[NoMeansYes the target being worn down and giving in]]. [[HilarityEnsues In the real world]], ignoring enough "no's" ''could'' legally qualify as stalking or harassment (or both), and ''can'' lead to criminal charges and/or restraining orders...or, at the very least, a warning from the police to '''back off'''.

MadLove could become the result of this trope if the admirer's advances are rejected both often and strongly enough, but they still remain crazy in love. [[IfICantHaveYou If they start refusing to take "no" for an answer]], then they likely have become a full-blown {{Yandere}}.

* ''Manga/AhoGirl'': protagonist Yoshiko constantly insists on trying to seduce Akuru, even though he made it very clear he had no interest in her.
* ''MangaCrossplayLoveOtakuXPunk'': Shuumei's friend Kanoko is [[LovesMyAlterEgo head-over-heels for Mei (Shuumei's female alter ego)]], even stalking her, despite her making it clear that she wants nothing to do with him.

** A distilled version in one episode: An entire sub-plot revolves around Chandler getting his best friend Monica to acknowledge he's 'boyfriend material'. He doesn't succeed [[spoiler: but they get together a season later, making it ambiguous whether his joking persistence was serious or not.]]
** In a later series, Joey gets an attractive model as his roommate after Chandler moves in with Monica, who turns out to not be attracted to him at all, but he isn't convinced. They do end up getting together a few episodes later, but then she suddenly reveals she can't stand Chandler and Monica, which breaks them up.

---> '''Kramer:''' You see? Women, they like that! Yes! I understand women. The snub is good, they love the snub!\\

* The example involving Yuki and Matt in ''Webcomic/MenageA3'' which currently serves as the page image was less about affection than a straightforward and essentially pragmatic wish for sex. (ItsALongStory.) Funnily enough, [[spoiler:not only did Matt eventually succumb -- partly thanks to some interference by a third party -- but the two of them ended the comic in an actual and quasi-romantic relationship]].

* {{Downplayed}} in ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', but it's there. Marty's rejection of the attentions of his [[ParentalIncest future mother]] helps fuel her attraction.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Darla Aquista seems to think Tim just needs a bit of time to get used to her father's criminal activities and then he'll say yes to her attempts to ask him out, despite the fact that Tim is ''quite happy'' with his [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 current girlfriend]] and has absolutely no interest in Darla, which means she keeps it up in hopes of getting a different answer. When she returns from the dead she's even worse and decides they're dating.

* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'': Edith pursues her neighbor Sir Anthony Strallan aggressively even though her parents AND Strallan[[note]]who, it must be noted, ''does'' have genuine feelings for Edith, but doesn't want her to spend her life as a nursemaid[[/note]] are against the match. She finally gets the hint when he leaves her at the altar.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Insaniquarium}}'': One of the enemy aliens, known as Psychosquid, is named so as a nickname from a past ex-girlfriend, who started to refer to him as such due to basically being in denial in their relationship ending and acting as if the rejections never happened.
[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'': Mr. Collins initially takes Elizabeth's first rejection as encouragement to continue courting her (see article quote), but he soon finds out that she is serious. But his initial interpretation of her rejection as a positive step in their relationship reflects on his views of women in their culture.

Related to NoMeansYes. Expect the StockPhrase "Your mouth says no, but your eyes say yes."