History Main / TricksterGirlfriend

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Similarly, in ''Manga/DontToyWithMeMissNagatoro'' it's very clear that Nagatoro and her Senpai really like each other, but between her constant teasing and bullying, or her getting flustered when he ''does'' fire back, there's not much progress on the "girlfriend" part. Still, when she does mellow out, she fits the trope to a T.

[[folder:Film]]
* In the 2012 Spanish movie ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_%282012_film%29 The Body]]'', Mayka Villaverde, the main character's wife, has pulled many pranks on her husband, including jokingly saying "No" at the wedding altar and pretending that she fired him from her company. [[spoiler: It later turned out that she and her husband were not such a loving couple at all when he cheated on her and then poisoned her to get her money.]]

* In ''Series/{{Castle}}'', Kate Beckett absolutely loves to play jokes on Castle. Special mention goes to the episode ''Lives of Others'', in which it turns out that [[FriendlyScheming the WHOLE murder mystery was staged by Beckett]] [[ScarySurpriseParty as a pretext for a surprise birthday party for Castle]].

* In ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' [[ProperLady Penelope]], of all characters, may be the UrExample. She is revealed to be pretty sharp herself (Odysseus must have married her for a reason) as she keeps the suitors under her thumb with various tricks...and then she plays a mind game with her husband, the King of Tricksters, when he shows up in disguise, giving orders to drag Odysseus's bed from their chamber--causing Odysseus to demand who dared to cut the bed from the living olive tree he carved it from. It's something only the two of them knew, thus tricking him into proving his identity while she proves her fidelity to him in a single move.

* Amy Dunne from ''Literature/GoneGirl'' is an extremely dark subversion of this trope. She really likes to mislead other people, including her husband Nick, but instead doing it just for fun, she's ''very'' serious about it, and she ''does'' intend to ruin their lives.
* Tzigone from ''Literature/CounselorsAndKings'' is a street-smart girl, a little bit thief, a little bit con artist, a little bit actress, and a little bit wizard. There are romantic overtones between her and the protagonist Matteo, and she really loves to play tricks on him, including stealing his Jordaini medallion and pretending in public that she spent a night of love with him when she's disguised as a courtesan. She also believes that [[ConsummateLiar telling the plain truth is boring, and it's better to add some "color and flash" to it]].
* Miss Rin, a mysterious and charismatic art teacher from ''The Magic of the Season'' by Sarah Bartash (published in the anthology ''Love is on the Wind''), becomes a ManicPixieDreamGirl for the lonely teacher Nathan Fishbrook. She repeatedly teases and plays tricks on him, for instance, by [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane incinerating his Christmas list]].

* The titular character of ''Manga/TeasingMasterTakagiSan'' relishes in this trope with her crush Nishikata. Their entire relationship is based on Takagi teasing and/or embarrassing Nishikata because [[ItAmusedMe it amuses her]] and the latter trying to get back at her but (usually) [[NoSell failing miserably]]. A running example is challenging Nishikata to tickle her sides and [[{{Cantactpervertedtowardaloveinterest}} watching him struggle to do so]]. [[spoiler:Even after the two are married this continues, with Takagi coming out on top most of the time, and their young daughter also seeing it as the best way to show her father affection]].

Compare PranksterParent, for the same kind of thing in parent-child relationships.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: In the Golden Age Diana's relationship with ComicBook/SteveTrevor had tones of trickery, with her liking to cover his eyes from behind to make him guess who she was, which he always got right away since he knew her voice, and generally doing things that would make him frazzled before leaning on him and saying things about what a useful boyfriend he was.

* Downplayed in ''Manga/UzakiChanWantsToHangOut'', as while Hana and Shinichi are romantically interested in each other, they aren't officially a couple yet precisely ''because'' Hana's constant teasing and smug attitude makes it difficult for either of them to actually confess their feelings, much to their friends and families' frustration.

* The ''Manga/SpiceAndWolf'' character Holo enjoys teaching Lawrence ([[spoiler:her future husband]]) about human nature, often by showing off her skills in manipulation. Even when flirting with him, she speaks in indirect terms like "Women enjoy men's jealousy" and lets him figure out their personal subtext.
* C. C. from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is very sarcastic and often keeps secrets from Lelouch, and there are implications of a romance between them.

* ''Film/TheGame'': [[spoiler:Christine definitely qualifies as this for Nicholas; downplayed, since being a trickster is part of her job as a CRS employee, but while playing tricks on him, she has genuine feelings for him.]]

Nevertheless, they seem to be a very loving and mutually understanding couple... This is because, unlike the BastardGirlfriend, the Trickster actually has a heart of gold, upholds a strong moral code, and cares for her beloved very much. Once things get really tough, she will drop the "trickster" facade in an eyeblink and give him all the love and support he needs. Basically, the primary reason she puts on the facade is that she knows that though her boyfriend/husband would never admit to it, this is exactly what attracts him to her. Besides, with a girlfriend like her, you will forget what the word "boredom" means.

If her boyfriend is "turned on" by being the victim of her pranks, this may also overlap with PowerDynamicsKink.

* Similarly, in ''Manga/DontToyWithMeMissNagatoro'' it's very clear that Nagatoro and her Senpai really like each other, but between her constant teasing and bullying, or her getting flustered when he ''does'' fire back, there's not much progress on the "girlfriend" part. Still, when she does mellow out, she's fits the trope to a T.

* In ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' [[ProperLady Penelope]], of all characters, may be the UrExample. She is revealed to be pretty sharp herself (Odysseus must have married her for a reason) as she keeps the suitors under her thumb with various tricks...and then she plays a mind game with her husband, the King of Trickters when he shows up in disguise, ordering to drag Odysseus's bed from their chamber -causing Odysseus to demand who dared to cut the bed from the living olive tree he carved it from. It's something only the two of them knew, thus tricking him into proving his identity while she proved her fidelity to him in a single move.

* Tzigone from ''Literature/CounselorsAndKings'' is a street-smart girl, a little bit thief, a little bit con artist, a little bit actress, and a little bit wizard. There are romantic overtones between her and the protagonist Matteo, and she really loves to play tricks on him, including stealing his Jordaini medallion and pretending in public that she spend a night of love with him when she's disguised as a courtesan. She also believes that [[ConsummateLiar telling the plain truth is boring, and it's better to add some "color and flash" to it]].

* ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'': Portia, who arranges a complex prank on her fiancé Bassanio. First, she gives him a ring and makes him promise that he won't give it to anyone. Then, disguised as a male lawyer named Balthazar, she saves his friend Antonio in court and asks for "himself" this ring as a sign of gratitude. When he comes back to her after that, she teasingly pretends to be angry and accuses him of infidelity, then takes out this very ring and says that she slept with Balthazar to get it back... And finally, she admits that she was Balthazar herself.

* The titular character of ''Manga/TeasingMasterTakagiSan'' relishes in this trope with her crush Nishikata. Their entire relationship is based on Takagi teasing and/or embarrassing Nishikata because [[ItAmusedMe it amuses her]] and the latter trying to get back at her but (usually) [[NoSell failing miserably]]. A running example is challenging Nishikata to tickle her sides and [[{{Cantactpervertedtowardaloveinterest}} watching him struggle to do so]]. [[spoiler:Even after the two are married, they are still persisting with teasing with Takagi coming out on top most of the time]].
* Downplayed in ''Manga/UzakiChanWantsToHangOut'', as while Hana and Shinichi are romantically interested in each other, they aren't officially a couple precisely because Hana's constant teasing makes it difficult for either of them to actually confess.

* ''Manga/UzakiChanWantsToHangOut'': Hana and Shinichi aren't officially a couple yet, but EveryoneCanSeeIt and Hana constantly has fun teasing him.

->''Nothing is falser than the idea that mockery is necessarily hostile. Until they have a baby to laugh at, lovers are always laughing at each other.''

--> -- '''Literature/TheFourLoves, Creator/CSLewis'''

The type of girlfriend who would reply to everything her beloved tells her (including compliments) with [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic witticisms]]; who would [[DelightingInRiddles deliberately speak in riddles]] and [[TeasingFromBehindTheLanguageBarrier foreign languages she knows he doesn't understand]] to amuse herself at his expense; who would arrange [[FriendlyScheming complex pranks]] and April Fools jokes on him ([[PrankPunishment especially as payback for misbehavior on his part]]), and would not waste any opportunity to demonstrate that she is smarter than him. In detective couple series, she would usually figure out the mystery before her boyfriend/husband does, and [[LovesSecrecy keep him]] LockedOutOfTheLoop until TheReveal.

Nevertheless, they seem to be a very loving and mutually understanding couple... This is because, unlike BastardGirlfriend, she actually has a heart of gold, upholds a strong moral code, and cares for her beloved very much. Once things get really tough, she would drop the "trickster" facade in an eyeblink and give him all the love and support he needs. Basically, the primary reason she puts on the facade is that she knows that though her boyfriend/husband would never admit to it, this is exactly what attracts him to her. Besides, with a girlfriend like her, you will forget what the word "boredom" means.

If her boyfriend is "turned on" by being the victim of her pranks, may also overlap with PowerDynamicsKink.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In the Golden Age Diana's relationship with ComicBook/SteveTrevor had tones of trickery, with her liking to cover his eyes from behind to make him guess who she was, which he always got right away since he knew her voice, and generally doing things that would make him frazzled before leaning on him and saying things about what a useful boyfriend he was.

The type of girlfriend who would reply to everything her beloved tells her (including compliments) with [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic witticisms]]; who would [[DelightingInRiddles deliberately speak in riddles]] and [[TeasingFromBehindTheLanguageBarrier foreign languages she knows he doesn't understand]] to amuse herself at his expense; who would arrange [[FriendlyScheming complex pranks]] and April Fools jokes on him, and would not waste any opportunity to demonstrate that she is smarter than him. In detective couple series, she would usually figure out the mystery before her boyfriend/husband does, and [[LovesSecrecy keep him]] LockedOutOfTheLoop until TheReveal.

* River Song from the ''Series/DoctorWho'' series is this for the Doctor himself. She really enjoys teasing him and [[LovesSecrecy withholding information from him]] (as a time traveler, she has to conceal information about the future to avoid a time paradox, but she turns it into a way of amusement); "I know something that you don't" is basically her motto.

Nevertheless, they seem to be a very loving and mutually understanding couple... This is because, unlike BastardGirlfriend, she actually has a heart of gold, upholds a strong moral code, and cares for her beloved very much. Once things get really tough, she would drop the "trickster" facade in an eyeblink and give him all the love and support he needs. Basically, the primary reason she puts on the facade is because she knows that though her boyfriend/husband would never admit to it, this is exactly what attracts him to her. Besides, with a girlfriend like her, you will forget what the word "boredom" means.

* In the 2012 Spanish movie ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_%282012_film%29 The Body]]'', Mayka Villaverde, the main character's wife, has pulled many pranks on her husband, including jokingly saying "No" at the wedding altar and pretending that she fired him from her company. [[spoiler: It later turned out that she and her husband were not such a loving couple at all, when he cheated on her and then poisoned her to get her money.]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* Emmie Reese, the main character's wife from ''Literature/TheHarryReeseMysteries'' series by Robert Bruce Stewart. She simply loves all sorts of pranks, surprises and schemes, and keeps many secrets from her husband.

* ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'': Portia, who arranges a complex prank on her fiancé Bassanio. First she gives him a ring and makes him promise that he won't give it to anyone. Then, disguised as a male lawyer named Balthazar, she saves his friend Antonio in court and asks for "himself" this ring as a sign of gratitude. When he comes back to her after that, she teasingly pretends to be angry and accuses him of infidelity, then takes out this very ring and says that she slept with Balthazar to get it back... And finally she admits that she was Balthazar herself.

* In ''Literature/TheOdyssey'' * TricksterGirlfriend: [[ProperLady Penelope]], of all characters, may be the UrExample. She is revealed to be pretty sharp herself (Odysseus must have married her for a reason) as she keeps the suitors under her thumb with various tricks...and then she plays a mind game with her husband, the King of Trickters when he shows up in disguise, ordering to drag Odysseus's bed from their chamber -causing Odysseus to demand who dared to cut the bed from the living olive tree he carved it from. It's something only the two of them knew, thus tricking him into proving his identity while she proved her fidelity to him in a single move.