I Want My Beloved to Be Happy/Playing With

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Basic Trope: A character decides to stop pursuing another romantically so they can be with the one they love.

  • Straight: Bob and Charles are in love with Alice. Once Bob realizes she really wants Charles, he stops pursuing her so she can be happy.
  • Exaggerated: Bob, Charles, and a bunch of guys down to Zeke are all in love with Alice. Once they realize she loves Zeke, they all step back and let him have her.
  • Justified: Bob's hoping that Alice will see him letting Charles win and fall for him instead.
    • There are factors besides Alice's feelings that make Charles more suitable partner. Perhaps Bob has a painful addiction or anger issues. Maybe Charles is rich while Bob is poor, and thus can provide for Alice better. Or maybe Bob's leading a life of crime and doesn't want Alice hurt.
    • Bob cares more about Alice's happiness than his own.
  • Inverted: Murder the Hypotenuse; If I Can't Have You
  • Subverted: Bob appears to step back and let Charles declare victory, but when he and Alice are alone, he starts trying to woo her again.
  • Double Subverted: ...Turns out they were just rehearsing a play. Bob really did give up.
  • Parodied: Both Bob and Charles try to pull this, and they get into a knock-down, drag-out fight as to who gets her.
  • Zig Zagged: Bob steps back and lets Charles get Alice, but hits on her when they're alone. Then it turns out they were rehearsing a play. But the reason Bob's performance was so heartfelt was because he still loves Alice...
  • Averted: Alice makes it clear from the get go that she's only into Charles.
  • Enforced: "Alright, this harem anime is getting close to the end. It's time for Alice to pick her suitor."
  • Lampshaded: ???
  • Invoked: ???
  • Exploited: Pretty much the same as Justified, actually - Bob steps back, specifically so Alice notices and chooses him instead.
    • Or Alice/Bob wants to leave their partner (for any reason, ethical or not), so s/he use Bob's/Alice's behavior to separate without much trouble.
  • Defied: Bob tries to Murder the Hypotenuse.
  • Discussed: "Bob is by far the better choice for Alice. After all, he is willing to give her up just to make her happy!"
  • Conversed: "We must be getting to the end of this romantic comedy, because it looks like Bob's about to throw in the towel."

Listen, I've enjoyed my time with you, but I know where your heart longs to be. Go back to I Want My Beloved to Be Happy.