Basic Trope: A tough character dates a more gentle character.
- Straight: Alice is a tough soldier Action Girl, and she's in love with Bob, a very soft and gentle man.
- Exaggerated: Alice is an extreme badass that regularly mows down enemies with a machine gun, but Bob is so nice he wouldn't even hurt a speck of dust.
- Downplayed:
- Alice is a rather tough character, but has a soft spot.
- Bob is usually very nice, but Beware the Nice Ones.
- Justified: Bob fell in love with Alice because he wanted someone who could protect him from danger.
- Inverted: Soldier Alice is the soft one, while Full-time-parent & Housewife Bob is the tough one.
- Subverted: Though Bob is believed to be a very gentle character, he later shows that was an act in a battle, where he manages to show that he is not someone to mess with.
- Double Subverted: ...Which was just because he had to; Bob later resumes his gentle, soft nature.
- Parodied: Visual Pun: Alice is an anthropomorphic pitbull, while Bob is a cute Pomeranian.
- Zig-Zagged: Whether or not Alice or Bob is the soft or tough one depends on the writer.
- Averted: Both Alice and Bob are equally tough.
- Enforced: "We need a nice "opposites attract" couple, right? How about one who's tough and one who's gentle?"
- Lampshaded: Another character comments on Alice and Bob's contrasting personalities, acknowledging the trope of the tough character dating a more gentle one. For example, a friend might say, "Isn't it funny how Alice, the hardcore soldier, ended up with Bob, the sweetest guy you'll ever meet? It's like they're from different worlds!"
- Invoked: Bob deliberately presents himself as a gentle and kind person to attract Alice's attention. He knows that she is attracted to softer personalities and uses it to his advantage.
- Exploited: Bob uses Alice's tough nature to his advantage in certain situations. For example, he may rely on her protection in dangerous situations or use her reputation to intimidate others when needed.
- Defied: Alice actively avoids getting involved with a gentle character, preferring someone who matches her toughness instead.
- Discussed: Alice and Bob's relationship becomes a topic of conversation among their friends, who speculate on why they are attracted to each other despite their differences.
- Conversed: "I wonder why the tough character goes for the nice, gentle one."
- Deconstructed: Alice and Bob find difficulty with their relationship due to their differences.
- Reconstructed:
- Played for Laughs: Alice and Bob's contrasting personalities are exaggerated for comedic effect. Their interactions often lead to humorous misunderstandings or comical clashes.
- Played for Drama: The differences between Alice and Bob's personalities become a source of conflict and tension in their relationship. It creates dramatic moments and challenges for them to overcome.
- Implied: It is hinted or suggested that Alice and Bob's relationship follows the trope off-screen, without explicitly showing their interactions or dynamic.
- Played for Laughs: Alice's attempts to be tough around Bob consistently backfire in comical ways, leading to humorous situations.
- Played for Drama: The stark contrast between Alice's toughness and Bob's gentleness creates emotional tension and conflict within their relationship, leading to dramatic moments and challenges they must overcome.
- Played for Horror: Alice's tough nature eventually becomes dangerous or harmful to Bob, causing fear and tension in their relationship. Her actions may escalate to an extreme level, putting Bob's well-being or even his life at risk.
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