Tropes

SHIPPING TROPES

Tropes are re-occurring patterns in storytelling that are so typical they are known tools to creators and reviewers alike. Some tropes are archaic, misogynist, heteronormative patterns of storytelling that we can keep track of to criticise and help eradicate. Other tropes can be part of what makes storytelling so satisfying.

This is a guide to tropes related to relationships, mostly romantic, that can be added to the ship pages. To add a trope to a ship page, enter into the ship infobox section called tropes. Happy browsing!

NOTE! The links send you to the trope central, All The Tropes. Also there do exist strictly subjective tropes, which are not featured here nor allowed on this wiki

B

 * Badasses who fight together, stay together
 * Badasses who fight together, stay together


 * Similar people in a relationship
 * Similar people in a relationship


 * An example
 * An example

C

 * Can't tell you how I really feel
 * Can't tell you how I really feel


 * We grew up together, but then we get older and we fall in love.
 * We grew up together, but then we get older and we fall in love.


 * We're kids and they ask me to marry them and I promise that I will when we grow up
 * We're kids and they ask me to marry them and I promise that I will when we grow up

D

 * A character is in a relationship with an antagonist/former antagonist
 * A character is in a relationship with an antagonist/former antagonist


 * When a character suddenly becomes OOC in order for writers to break up their (potential) relationship, so the character's SO can be paired with someone else
 * When a character suddenly becomes OOC in order for writers to break up their (potential) relationship, so the character's SO can be paired with someone else

F

 * There is an official couple/plan, but this is the couple the audience wants to see happen NOTE! This only applies to the most popular couple, not personal preference. Check fandoms, reviews, writing about the work if you are unsure, or ask an admin for guidance :)
 * There is an official couple/plan, but this is the couple the audience wants to see happen NOTE! This only applies to the most popular couple, not personal preference. Check fandoms, reviews, writing about the work if you are unsure, or ask an admin for guidance :)


 * We didn't like/know each other, then we went through hell and now we're close
 * We didn't like/know each other, then we went through hell and now we're close


 * The first love interest introduced in the work is the character's endgame
 * The first love interest introduced in the work is the character's endgame


 * Yup
 * Yup

H

 * Both James and Harry Potter, with Lily Evans and Ginny Weasley, respectively
 * Both James and Harry Potter, with Lily Evans and Ginny Weasley, respectively


 * We're not in love, but we put each other before anyone/anything else. Eg. Stucky
 * We're not in love, but we put each other before anyone/anything else. Eg. Stucky

I

 * Either they're not interested or they're scared of losing the person altogether if they should break up
 * Either they're not interested or they're scared of losing the person altogether if they should break up


 * I was just about to tell you how I feel and then a meteor hits earth!
 * I was just about to tell you how I feel and then a meteor hits earth!


 * The hero keeps their identity a secret from those closest to them, most specifically a love interest.
 * The hero keeps their identity a secret from those closest to them, most specifically a love interest.

L

 * The character's endgame is the last love interest introduced
 * The character's endgame is the last love interest introduced


 * I mean... yeah
 * I mean... yeah


 * The Bickersons, who aren't in a relationship... yet
 * The Bickersons, who aren't in a relationship... yet


 * I'll call you at 5AM your time
 * I'll call you at 5AM your time


 * We are from opposite sides but together and have to deal with the outside world possibly not approving
 * We are from opposite sides but together and have to deal with the outside world possibly not approving


 * A character has two suitors
 * A character has two suitors

M

 * The hero has to leave their dates/show up later or never, and can never provide a proper explanation because of their secret identity.
 * The hero has to leave their dates/show up later or never, and can never provide a proper explanation because of their secret identity.


 * Someone comes into a character's life and lights it up with sparkly colours the character has never seen before, but this new person lacks any substantial characterisation
 * Someone comes into a character's life and lights it up with sparkly colours the character has never seen before, but this new person lacks any substantial characterisation

N

 * Romance where a person who hasn't been seen before shows up, and is the hero's long lost love/old flame
 * Romance where a person who hasn't been seen before shows up, and is the hero's long lost love/old flame

O

 * "Oh, we broke up over the summer"
 * "Oh, we broke up over the summer"


 * When a relationship is made canon in the work.
 * When a relationship is made canon in the work.


 * When cold meets heat you get lightning
 * When cold meets heat you get lightning

P

 * The academics/genii/scientists etc., eg. Science Boyfriends
 * The academics/genii/scientists etc., eg. Science Boyfriends

R

 * The hero takes on a protégé/mentee, and gets exasperated when the sidekick doesn't exactly follow orders/wrecks missions.
 * The hero takes on a protégé/mentee, and gets exasperated when the sidekick doesn't exactly follow orders/wrecks missions.


 * A relationship which ends up being "just" an obstacle for the "official couple" to happen
 * A relationship which ends up being "just" an obstacle for the "official couple" to happen

S

 * Deadpan snarker-loner character with high energy/enthusiastic character
 * Deadpan snarker-loner character with high energy/enthusiastic character


 * A character gets over a death/break-up with their first love and finds love again
 * A character gets over a death/break-up with their first love and finds love again


 * ♫ Nobody knows it ♫
 * ♫ Nobody knows it ♫


 * When nobody can understand what you went/are going through, this person can
 * When nobody can understand what you went/are going through, this person can

T

 * Resolution to a love triangle: a character begins a relationship with a third person
 * Resolution to a love triangle: a character begins a relationship with a third person


 * Can depend upon one another — they are like family
 * Can depend upon one another — they are like family

U

 * In spite of the gendered name, all significant others who accept and support their love's otherworldly nature/powers and superhero responsibilities
 * In spite of the gendered name, all significant others who accept and support their love's otherworldly nature/powers and superhero responsibilities