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RustBeard
Since: Sep, 2016
14th Apr, 2021 02:29:03 PM
That sounds like a subversion of I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy.
So here's the scenario; Alex is in love with Jackie. They were soulmates but something happened to where they were separated and Alex thought Jackie was dead. This caused Alex to move on and find someone else but Jackie was alive and was still searching for Alex. Eventually, after some time, Jackie finds Alex but sees that Alex has moved on but accepts it for what it is, taking on a "I Want My Beloved to be Happy" mindset, and Alex still wants Jackie to be a part of his life even though they're no longer together romantically and Jackie sticks around as a friend. Eventually Jackie finds someone else and moves on as well, but Alex isn't thrilled about this. Alex isn't willing to accept Jackie's new relationship like how Jackie accepted his. In truth, Alex was hoping that there could be some work around to his current relationship and his old one to where he could have both of them at the same time as he does genuinely love his current partner but also doesn't want to lose Jackie again which is why he's so adamant to keep Jackie close as a friend in hopes that eventually Jackie can be incorporated back into Alex's life as a partner again. Alex wants to have his cake and eat it too and is willing to sabotage Jackie's relationship if it means he can hold on to Jackie as a possible mate again.
I've been trying to find a trope that fits this situation well and I came across "If I Can't Have You..." but I'm not sure if that would work all that well because even though Alex is being selfish, that trope is more geared towards a villain who's trying to kill their love interest so that no one else can have them. Alex doesn't want to kill Jackie so no one else can have Jackie, he just wants to keep Jackie to himself and will actively get in the way of Jackie's relationship to make that happen. If that's the most accurate trope then just let me know but if anyone has any other ideas I'd love your input.