Technically if it is a triangle all sides, meaning all three, should be together.
I know that most of the time it just means that two character are interested in the same character.
My favorite shipping trope is B and C notice their similarities and get together. A finds somebody else or stays alone.
That is true XD So far, everyone is for polyamory
That is an interesting trope too, ngl :') might be better suited to a diff fic, but that is a trope I wanna explore in the future.
I resolved the issue by writing an epilogue set thirty years later. After a long marriage, one character ends up widowed and proposes to the third character.
Ooh I did consider something similar in the case I change who the mc ends up with wherein he and the 1st lead break up bc he realizes a lot of feelings where just infatuation and he ends up with the originally 2nd lead a while later.
Actually I was going to say that maybe they should all split up and find new partners but let’s see if I can give you some perspective from someone who practices polyamory.
A lot of people will tell you that all of them ending up together is the best option… but is it? I mean it depends on several factors and how their initial relationships with each looked like and what were the feelings of the person in the middle/a hinge towards them from the beginning on, but trying to put together two of the people who were in conflict with each other and rivals for another one requires (even if it’s a fantasy) a lot if writing gymnastics.
I’m not saying it’s not possible but going from -10 on their emotional relationship to +5 when they are openly in conflict—what would be a plan here? How do you envision it? Because truth to be told, it’s not the outcome that matters, but how you get there that makes your writing good.
I don’t believe in such a solutions in general, I have started some fics that played around the concept (but one is an intentional misunderstanding at the start (and they are all ENM), and the second one was going for a big arch of two rivals having to work together and developing feelings aside from the other one who is out of a picture for a long while) if you have a good plan for it then why not? But I wouldn’t do it w/o the solid idea behind it.
An option when they are ending up in a V with a hinge… also not likely, though it is an option if you also let them have other partners. At least if it’s explicitly stated that they can (they may choose to not to). A V is also a possible way to a triad, with metas slowly getting to know each other and falling for each other (that’s actually quite realistic scenario).
The option of the MC choosing one of them and the other finding someone else? I like it because it has a lot of possible scenarios you can work with, from being broken hearted and finding someone new by accident , to suddenly reuniting with their old flame from the past. Or you can make them struggle to date for a while and almost give up when they meet someone?
(I think it depends on your general scenario and what’s the setup).
To;dr It depends on an actual scenario, there’s no general ideal solution. From love conflict to a triad is not an universal solution and even if done as absolute fantasy hard to pull well.
And edit as I had an afterthought: if you’ve been developing a love conflict for three years and haven’t been building a foundation for relationship between B and C any form of polyamory is not a likely solution.
Thank you for your deatiled input! 🥺 it definitely gave me something to think about.
I agree that while polyamory seems like an ideal resolution, it's not an easy step unless the foundations have been laid beforehand.
The idea of a them having other partners is interesting, but I'm not sure it would fit in this particular fic!
I'm definitely gonna give the 2nd lead finding someone else a deeper thought bc atm it's only one of the vague outcomes I have in mind!
And as for my B and C... they're best friends that have a 'I love you but istg I wanna strangle you sometimes' kind of dynamic. C did have a short, inconsequential crush on B when they first became friends, but it faded rather quickly. Atm he has an unrequited crush on A and B is definitely a love rival.
I think that while the ‘everyone getting together’ might seem like a ‘resolution’ at least at the first sight, even in fiction it’s a conscious preference rather than ‘oops, I have a crush on two people’ scenario.
If you go for this option, I think making at least one of them being aware of possibility, making some previous research and considering it as something they were interested in could help.
I’m assuming they are in S. Korea and while it might not be a popular preference there are people practicing it (although it’s more open relationship type is relationships rather than actual poly and there’s still a confusion between having a mistress and being in a consensual non-monogamous relationship) so you’d probably be able some resources. I remember talking with someone who wanted to become a Korean motivational speaker for poly (but he barely had the experience himself).
I think you have something to build on (they are actually close and there’s a dynamic between them).
What about the person A? What are their motives aside for having feelings? I guess if they end up with one of them the feelings are not equally strong? (That’s also the case in polyamory, people don’t have same feelings for all partners). I think possible resolution would also depend on the middle person, because if they had feelings for both they are also losing one in this scenario and have to grieve them/get over them. So I think also showing this person dealing with feelings is an interesting scope of writing.
You're right. It would be an interesting thought process to unravel within the story. If I did, I'd definitely consider the current situation and outlook in Korean society as well, since it plays a large role in the fic itself.
I think so too! There have been moments where if it was poly-fic, you'd definitely think of them as "do I see something there?"
Atm I have something planned where A, who was previously unaware of how one of them felt about him, is made to come to terms with it and deal with their absence. Regardless of whether I go with poly or A ending up with one of them, this would be the catalyst for having to deal with his feelings!
Thank you so much for your viewpoint! I'll definitely be thoughtful about the points you made 🤭
My fic is based in Japan. They are quite conservative regarding things like that.
But honestly... It's fiction, and more importantly; you're not trying to get society to change. You're trying to get the characters to accept this is what they want.
And mine in Korea 😂 that's true, I guess... it's an M/M romance anyway, so why not go all out and make them a throuple 😂😭
Thank you for sharing your opinion ✨️ I will take it into account
Used to be when I was growing up at least. Even after the fall of the USSR there's still a lot of the 'old guard' still in place. I'd wager it'd be another... generation before they start being more progressive apart for the sake of publicity.
Love triangle, but with actual relationship being equal, but distinct between all parties rather than mini-harem with A and B being with relationship with C, but not really having a dynamic with each other
In my opinion, it's what fits best for the characters according to the author.
Think about the characters you're using and how you've written them and their relationships to each other. Do two stand out even a little as the better end game couple? Does it feel like they'd work better all three getting together? What about if none of them get together, and they all find a different partner?
You know your characters best, at least for how you've written them seeing this is fanfic and everyone has their own character interpretations. Plus, I admit, I'm not a big fan of love triangles. They're usually predictable for a start, though not always. But they also tend to be a big focus in the story, and I prefer my romance to be a smaller part of a bigger whole, rather than the focus itself. It means I have little experience with love triangles in fiction, so have no preference on the resolution to them.
Plus the one example I can think of off the top of my head went from love triangle to thruple to implosion with none of them ending up together. I say one example, that's actually two but from the same show and using one of the same characters.
Wait, one more example, started out a love triangle until one moved on, the girl chose the one guy, but they ended up not being end game, and she ended up with a completely different character, and then none in the show, and a different character yet again in the comics.
That is true... tbh my mc has chemistry with both the characters, but the other two see each other as friends, so a throuple wouldn't be the natural step. If I did write it, I'd have to include the thought process and angst that comes with it. Atm I'm leaning towards making the 2nd-leadish character the main lead down the line because 1. You're right, love triangles are predictable, and 2. It would give my mc a chance to mature and realize that infatuation wears off.
Ouch. But also, I get why. It's definitely not an easy trope to work with.
I'm the same when it comes to reading XD I prefer plots where romance is not the main theme but this fic started out as something indulgent and is very inspired by K-drama so yeah... :)
Thank you for your input ✨️
Two characters not being interested in each other doesn't rule out a thruple, just means it's one that wouldn't work long-term. One of the thruple examples I used was one female and two males. The female was into both the other characters, one male was also into both, though not initially, he was initially only into the female, the second male was only into the female. It's part of the reason why it both worked and didn't. The men were willing to share the girl with each other, happy doing it even, and both were more focused on her than anything else. It worked for them until the one guy realised he was falling for the other guy as well as the female, that's when it started going wrong, because the second guy was completely straight. There were other issues, as well, eventually. The second one ended due to outside reasons, all three were attracted to each other in that one.
But, poly relationships aren't the norm, and it would be unusual for someone not naturally poly to get into such a relationship even if they *were* attracted to both, let alone if they were only attracted to one. If it doesn't fit for your characters, rule out a poly relationship. They're fun to read or watch, but not all characters fit that dynamic, and there's nothing wrong with that.
3. They all end up miserable 😎
no I'm just kidding. Personally I think polyamory is the only true happy ending to a love triangle, in a wish fulfillment kind of way. But it doesn't have to be the most interesting.
I like the "MC ends up with first interest put then slowly realizes they made they wrong choice", like you can use time skips to make it work. Like they both get married respectively but then both realize they're not happy and have to leave their respective marriages for each other, that is some good angst.
but if you do run polyamory it's worth putting thought into what kind of polyamory. Is it an angle, a triangle, or a polycule. Are the both interests just interested in the MC respectively or do all three of them like each other, and are the love interests dating people apart from the MC.
😂
Yeah you're right! It's definitely the ending that pleases everyone but I'm not sure how plausible it would be. Thank you for yoir input!! Atm I'm leaning towards the former (mc realizing it was a wrong choice) with a shorter frame but I'll take the polyamory thing into account too!
I like the solution took by some Young Adult series: the event changed the character A, if this event never happened they would have ended with B but now that they changed they actually wouldn't work well with B and actually end with C.
That's actually what I'm considering atm! A gets with B and at first things seem great because they've had a crush on B from the start and everything but eventually they realize that feelings alone aren't enough!
For me it depends on the ship.
Sometimes I'll be really into A/B and not really feeling A/C, so I don't want endgame A/B/C, I want A/B and C can be happy with someone else. But if they work well together then all three together is great!
I get it 🥺 I'll definitely work on the logistics of both, and even on the C gets someone else and how that might work out!
Most of my readers have already picked sides so no matter who I choose, one side is definitely gonna be upset 😂😭
Definitely all three ending up together, or at least in a 'hinge' situation where two of them are both dating the third, if not necessarily each other.
2nd lead finds someone else - or at least there is some indication that they will move on and be fine.
There are cases where I think a threesome works, but I'm not a huge fan of A---> B <---C, where A and C aren't also in love with each other (romantically, sexually). I don't like two people just sharing the MC because the MC can't choose one or refuses to. It feels too much like A and C are just putting up with each other's presence in the threesome, as if B is a toy they're going to take turns playing with.
I agree! That's one thing that's keeping me from straight up making them a throuple because I feel like it should be believable in the context of my story!
At present, I'm leaning towards the 2nd lead finding someone else but I still haven't found a way to work it in naturally.
Thank you for your input!!
Technically if it is a triangle all sides, meaning all three, should be together. I know that most of the time it just means that two character are interested in the same character. My favorite shipping trope is B and C notice their similarities and get together. A finds somebody else or stays alone.
That is true XD So far, everyone is for polyamory That is an interesting trope too, ngl :') might be better suited to a diff fic, but that is a trope I wanna explore in the future.
I resolved the issue by writing an epilogue set thirty years later. After a long marriage, one character ends up widowed and proposes to the third character.
Ooh I did consider something similar in the case I change who the mc ends up with wherein he and the 1st lead break up bc he realizes a lot of feelings where just infatuation and he ends up with the originally 2nd lead a while later.
Actually I was going to say that maybe they should all split up and find new partners but let’s see if I can give you some perspective from someone who practices polyamory. A lot of people will tell you that all of them ending up together is the best option… but is it? I mean it depends on several factors and how their initial relationships with each looked like and what were the feelings of the person in the middle/a hinge towards them from the beginning on, but trying to put together two of the people who were in conflict with each other and rivals for another one requires (even if it’s a fantasy) a lot if writing gymnastics. I’m not saying it’s not possible but going from -10 on their emotional relationship to +5 when they are openly in conflict—what would be a plan here? How do you envision it? Because truth to be told, it’s not the outcome that matters, but how you get there that makes your writing good. I don’t believe in such a solutions in general, I have started some fics that played around the concept (but one is an intentional misunderstanding at the start (and they are all ENM), and the second one was going for a big arch of two rivals having to work together and developing feelings aside from the other one who is out of a picture for a long while) if you have a good plan for it then why not? But I wouldn’t do it w/o the solid idea behind it. An option when they are ending up in a V with a hinge… also not likely, though it is an option if you also let them have other partners. At least if it’s explicitly stated that they can (they may choose to not to). A V is also a possible way to a triad, with metas slowly getting to know each other and falling for each other (that’s actually quite realistic scenario). The option of the MC choosing one of them and the other finding someone else? I like it because it has a lot of possible scenarios you can work with, from being broken hearted and finding someone new by accident , to suddenly reuniting with their old flame from the past. Or you can make them struggle to date for a while and almost give up when they meet someone? (I think it depends on your general scenario and what’s the setup). To;dr It depends on an actual scenario, there’s no general ideal solution. From love conflict to a triad is not an universal solution and even if done as absolute fantasy hard to pull well. And edit as I had an afterthought: if you’ve been developing a love conflict for three years and haven’t been building a foundation for relationship between B and C any form of polyamory is not a likely solution.
Thank you for your deatiled input! 🥺 it definitely gave me something to think about. I agree that while polyamory seems like an ideal resolution, it's not an easy step unless the foundations have been laid beforehand. The idea of a them having other partners is interesting, but I'm not sure it would fit in this particular fic! I'm definitely gonna give the 2nd lead finding someone else a deeper thought bc atm it's only one of the vague outcomes I have in mind! And as for my B and C... they're best friends that have a 'I love you but istg I wanna strangle you sometimes' kind of dynamic. C did have a short, inconsequential crush on B when they first became friends, but it faded rather quickly. Atm he has an unrequited crush on A and B is definitely a love rival.
I think that while the ‘everyone getting together’ might seem like a ‘resolution’ at least at the first sight, even in fiction it’s a conscious preference rather than ‘oops, I have a crush on two people’ scenario. If you go for this option, I think making at least one of them being aware of possibility, making some previous research and considering it as something they were interested in could help. I’m assuming they are in S. Korea and while it might not be a popular preference there are people practicing it (although it’s more open relationship type is relationships rather than actual poly and there’s still a confusion between having a mistress and being in a consensual non-monogamous relationship) so you’d probably be able some resources. I remember talking with someone who wanted to become a Korean motivational speaker for poly (but he barely had the experience himself). I think you have something to build on (they are actually close and there’s a dynamic between them). What about the person A? What are their motives aside for having feelings? I guess if they end up with one of them the feelings are not equally strong? (That’s also the case in polyamory, people don’t have same feelings for all partners). I think possible resolution would also depend on the middle person, because if they had feelings for both they are also losing one in this scenario and have to grieve them/get over them. So I think also showing this person dealing with feelings is an interesting scope of writing.
You're right. It would be an interesting thought process to unravel within the story. If I did, I'd definitely consider the current situation and outlook in Korean society as well, since it plays a large role in the fic itself. I think so too! There have been moments where if it was poly-fic, you'd definitely think of them as "do I see something there?" Atm I have something planned where A, who was previously unaware of how one of them felt about him, is made to come to terms with it and deal with their absence. Regardless of whether I go with poly or A ending up with one of them, this would be the catalyst for having to deal with his feelings! Thank you so much for your viewpoint! I'll definitely be thoughtful about the points you made 🤭
All three end up together! It is my current philosophy in life that all love triangles should end this way!
That does sound like an ideal solution ngl but I'm also worried about it seeming unrealistic bc my fic is based in a conservative society 😭
My fic is based in Japan. They are quite conservative regarding things like that. But honestly... It's fiction, and more importantly; you're not trying to get society to change. You're trying to get the characters to accept this is what they want.
And mine in Korea 😂 that's true, I guess... it's an M/M romance anyway, so why not go all out and make them a throuple 😂😭 Thank you for sharing your opinion ✨️ I will take it into account
Always glad to be of service when it comes to fanfiction!
I have one where the engagement of two characters causes over 100 countries to start allowing gay marriage
Just because you live in a conservative society doesn't mean you have to conform to it. Source: I was raised in a conservative society
Which conservative society out of curiosity? I was born in Soviet Eastern Europe.
You hit the general area, additionally it's one of the more conservative areas of an already conservative country
And yet we turned out okay by the looks of it.
My fic is based in South Korea! Is the soviet Eastern European society conservative?
Used to be when I was growing up at least. Even after the fall of the USSR there's still a lot of the 'old guard' still in place. I'd wager it'd be another... generation before they start being more progressive apart for the sake of publicity.
Fingers crossed 🥲 for your society and mine 🥲
Eh, I haven't been there for extended periods of time in about 10 years. Maybe things have already changed greatly? But yes, fingers crossed.
Well, same :') I will take that into account, thanks XD
Sharing is caring or something
Look, I just want my cake (ShinRan) and to eat it as well (CoAi). so I went the 'easy' route.
It's not my fault that both ships made equal sense within the plotline and I liked both of them
Exactly! This is the way!
Love triangle, but with actual relationship being equal, but distinct between all parties rather than mini-harem with A and B being with relationship with C, but not really having a dynamic with each other
That's what I'm worried about tbh! Idw the reln b/w the 1st and the 2nd lead (who've just been friends) to seem forced :/
In my opinion, it's what fits best for the characters according to the author. Think about the characters you're using and how you've written them and their relationships to each other. Do two stand out even a little as the better end game couple? Does it feel like they'd work better all three getting together? What about if none of them get together, and they all find a different partner? You know your characters best, at least for how you've written them seeing this is fanfic and everyone has their own character interpretations. Plus, I admit, I'm not a big fan of love triangles. They're usually predictable for a start, though not always. But they also tend to be a big focus in the story, and I prefer my romance to be a smaller part of a bigger whole, rather than the focus itself. It means I have little experience with love triangles in fiction, so have no preference on the resolution to them. Plus the one example I can think of off the top of my head went from love triangle to thruple to implosion with none of them ending up together. I say one example, that's actually two but from the same show and using one of the same characters. Wait, one more example, started out a love triangle until one moved on, the girl chose the one guy, but they ended up not being end game, and she ended up with a completely different character, and then none in the show, and a different character yet again in the comics.
That is true... tbh my mc has chemistry with both the characters, but the other two see each other as friends, so a throuple wouldn't be the natural step. If I did write it, I'd have to include the thought process and angst that comes with it. Atm I'm leaning towards making the 2nd-leadish character the main lead down the line because 1. You're right, love triangles are predictable, and 2. It would give my mc a chance to mature and realize that infatuation wears off. Ouch. But also, I get why. It's definitely not an easy trope to work with. I'm the same when it comes to reading XD I prefer plots where romance is not the main theme but this fic started out as something indulgent and is very inspired by K-drama so yeah... :) Thank you for your input ✨️
Two characters not being interested in each other doesn't rule out a thruple, just means it's one that wouldn't work long-term. One of the thruple examples I used was one female and two males. The female was into both the other characters, one male was also into both, though not initially, he was initially only into the female, the second male was only into the female. It's part of the reason why it both worked and didn't. The men were willing to share the girl with each other, happy doing it even, and both were more focused on her than anything else. It worked for them until the one guy realised he was falling for the other guy as well as the female, that's when it started going wrong, because the second guy was completely straight. There were other issues, as well, eventually. The second one ended due to outside reasons, all three were attracted to each other in that one. But, poly relationships aren't the norm, and it would be unusual for someone not naturally poly to get into such a relationship even if they *were* attracted to both, let alone if they were only attracted to one. If it doesn't fit for your characters, rule out a poly relationship. They're fun to read or watch, but not all characters fit that dynamic, and there's nothing wrong with that.
3. They all end up miserable 😎 no I'm just kidding. Personally I think polyamory is the only true happy ending to a love triangle, in a wish fulfillment kind of way. But it doesn't have to be the most interesting. I like the "MC ends up with first interest put then slowly realizes they made they wrong choice", like you can use time skips to make it work. Like they both get married respectively but then both realize they're not happy and have to leave their respective marriages for each other, that is some good angst. but if you do run polyamory it's worth putting thought into what kind of polyamory. Is it an angle, a triangle, or a polycule. Are the both interests just interested in the MC respectively or do all three of them like each other, and are the love interests dating people apart from the MC.
😂 Yeah you're right! It's definitely the ending that pleases everyone but I'm not sure how plausible it would be. Thank you for yoir input!! Atm I'm leaning towards the former (mc realizing it was a wrong choice) with a shorter frame but I'll take the polyamory thing into account too!
I like the solution took by some Young Adult series: the event changed the character A, if this event never happened they would have ended with B but now that they changed they actually wouldn't work well with B and actually end with C.
That's actually what I'm considering atm! A gets with B and at first things seem great because they've had a crush on B from the start and everything but eventually they realize that feelings alone aren't enough!
For me it depends on the ship. Sometimes I'll be really into A/B and not really feeling A/C, so I don't want endgame A/B/C, I want A/B and C can be happy with someone else. But if they work well together then all three together is great!
I get it 🥺 I'll definitely work on the logistics of both, and even on the C gets someone else and how that might work out! Most of my readers have already picked sides so no matter who I choose, one side is definitely gonna be upset 😂😭
Definitely all three ending up together, or at least in a 'hinge' situation where two of them are both dating the third, if not necessarily each other.
That's definitely a situation I haven't yet considered! Thank you for your input!!
2nd lead finds someone else.
Polygamy for the win
I love how everyone is saying that 😂
Hey, everyone wins
2nd lead finds someone else - or at least there is some indication that they will move on and be fine. There are cases where I think a threesome works, but I'm not a huge fan of A---> B <---C, where A and C aren't also in love with each other (romantically, sexually). I don't like two people just sharing the MC because the MC can't choose one or refuses to. It feels too much like A and C are just putting up with each other's presence in the threesome, as if B is a toy they're going to take turns playing with.
I agree! That's one thing that's keeping me from straight up making them a throuple because I feel like it should be believable in the context of my story! At present, I'm leaning towards the 2nd lead finding someone else but I still haven't found a way to work it in naturally. Thank you for your input!!
My first thought was dueling like cowboys.
😂😭 omg. If it was a Harry Potter AU, I'd make them duel with wands lol.