#romance as plot

[itsjulesharper]

Three Act Structure - Love Tractor

Love Tractor is an 8-episode Korean BL drama, adapted from a webtoon, and available on iQIYI. Analysing the scenes and trying to put this series into 3 Act structure was a bit of a challenge, due to the possibility of multiple “Oh, SHIT Moments” and at one stage I was unclear about the Point of No Return, but here’s what I finally settled on.  Remember not all the points follow the same order in every series, and in Love Tractor, some happen quickly while others have a greater build up. But overall, this series is purely romance-as-plot so my breakdown follows that.  Enjoy!

Story Tropes - fish out of water, grumpy seme/sunshine uke, strangers to lovers, slow burn romance, return of the evil ex, pining in secret, asshole father, child in danger, caring small community.

Story Question - will Yul heal from past hurt, follow his dreams and fall in love with farmer boy YeChan?

First Act (The Ordinary World)

We see Yul as the smartest guy in class, on track to go study law at Harvard. Instead, he drops out to look after his grandfather’s place because his grandfather - the local village chief - is in hospital in Seoul.  We see YeChan, a 20yo happy-go-lucky farmer, in his Ordinary World, doing farmer things. Then YeChan rescues Yul’s car from the mud and Yul is suspicious, which is further exacerbated when YeChan appears in the grandfather’s house unannounced.  

Call to Adventure Yul loses his grandfather’s dog. YeChan helps him find it. YeChan is so upbeat and positive (in direct contrast to Yul), but he still encourages the uptight, formal Yul to embrace (and be embraced by) the local village. They wrestle with honourifics and formalities (Yul is 27).

Refusal of the Call —> Acceptance This happens when YeChan drags Yul along to introduce him to the village and the villagers. 

Crossing the Threshold Major culture shock for Yul but also he goes along with YeChan with little pushback.

ACT 2 - Into the New World

Acclimatising to the New World A reluctant Yul starts to accept the ways and laid-back atmosphere of the small community.  He’s given a rice drink (which he refuses multiple times because yucko) and it sits in his fridge for a while.

Enemies and Mentors Yul’s father, who is an arrogant, abusive perfectionist.  The town elder, who is YeChan’s confidante and literal relationship mentor.  YeChan’s mother. Various townspeople. Yul’s vile ex. An orphan girl who makes Yul realise a few home truths. The way YeChan and Yul interact with these people reveals their character and backstory.  

Trials and Errors / Minor Victories Yul has to wrap his head around this quaint town, which is so different from Seoul. The tiny supermarket, the overly friendly locals, the way YeChan is a part of this. Yul finally tries the rice drink and realises he likes it (this act is symbolic of his gradual acceptance of the town and embracing this new adventure he’s on). YeChan helps out with some orphans, teaching them to strawberry pick, and Yul is terrible at it.  He’s also terrible with communicating with the kids, in particular one girl who’s been ghosted by her father. Yul refuses to take his own father’s calls and we find out why later. When Yul and the girl have an accident, YeChan rescues them and now he has to take care of an incapacitated Yul in an arm cast.  

Doing Bonding Stuff Together Strawberry picking, going shopping, having a water fight, driving and talking. Generally looking after each other. YeChan bakes a cake for Yul but the dog eats it. We see Yul giving YeChan preliminary ‘this guy is sweet and interesting’ looks.

When Yul is in hospital, YeChan sleeps on the floor next to him. They bond over daily interactions when they return home and YeChan says he will take care of Yul. Yul appears to be loosening up and smiling more. Yul doesn’t sleep well, so YeChan buys a light to help him, and they sleep side by side on the floor.

YeChan finally talks to the town elder about catching feels for Yul and the way he reacts when Yul says he’s seeing someone is confirmation of those feelings.  YeChan is mega depressed Yul has confirmed he’s taken, but still wants to be in Yul’s presence because that boy has FALLEN HARD.  We find out why Yul hates his father, why he gave up music and why the ex is an ex (at this stage, YeChan has no clue).

More Obstacles Yul’s vile ex turns up and does that smarmy, passive-aggressive ‘I know stuff about Yul, we have a past and a connection, you’re just a randomer’ and YeChan knows he a) cannot compete with this shiny, smooth urban guy and b) won’t confess his feelings because that would just ruin everything and YeChan is not a selfish guy.  And so, YeChan steps out of the picture. Ex stays at Yul’s house, goes with him to get his cast removed.  We find out more of Yul’s past: the vile ex cheated on him, pursued music, and is now someone in the industry.

Point of No Return YeChan visits Yul the next day with a cute keyboard he bought BECAUSE THE MAN IS SO FRICKING SWEET but the vile ex is all ‘you don’t know him AT ALL it will only cause him pain if you give this to him.”  Yul senses something’s wrong, you can see how gentle he is with YeChan (and so can vile ex) but YeChan eventually leaves.  Next day Yul says to the ex, “we need to talk,” but the ex is “come back to Seoul with me.” YeChan suddenly appears and is all “NOOOOO.”  Yul tells vile ex a few home truths (vile ex is all ‘what about meeeee??? How do you think I felt when you gave up music??’ and SIR take your pity party and LEAVE), says they will not get back together, that he should go home to Seoul.  YeChan is relieved.  Yul doesn’t know it yet, but he’s emotionally invested in this relationship now.

————> STORY MIDPOINT <———————

Removing the Armour / Being Vulnerable Yul still can’t sleep, so YeChan takes him apple picking - physical labour to tire him out.  We now see Yul clearly getting the heart eyes for YeChan.  They make wine with the town elder, get drunk and eat together. YeChan has a sexy dream about Yul and is totally embarrassed. Now avoids him.

Oh, Shit Moment Finally, Yul asks what’s wrong and YeChan confesses he likes him.  Yul is shocked, says he’s sorry, and he doesn’t have the energy to think about someone right now.  “Let’s pretend nothing happened,” Yul says. At this point, the answer to the Story Question appears to be no.  No happy ending for YeChan and Yul???

ACT 3 - The New Improved World

The Journey Back This happens quickly, in ep7. Yul wants to forget YeChan’s confession, YeChan is WTF NO I SAID WHAT I SAID. Yul says YeChan is a younger brother to him, then pulls the “you’re young, you don’t know how you’re feeling” and tries to backtrack (aka the I Wanna Go Back To My Ordinary World, This is Too MUCH EMOTION CANNOT DEAL) and good on YeChan for getting angry and WTF you DID NOT just say that to me. Now he’s all “I will prove it to you, I will make your heart race every time you look at me.” (!).

Reflection/Revelation/More Feels YeChan is on a mission now, trying to find out how to make ones heart race. He takes Yul to the strawberry farm. Panics when he thinks Yul has run away from him (he just went to meet a friend). YeChan takes Yul to see a piano hidden in a shed and Yul realises it’s his from childhood, and his grandfather has been looking after it. YeChan tells Yul if he really loves music, then he should pursue it. YeChan mirrors the words that Yul said to him in Act 1 (“I think it’s cool to pursue something you like doing.”)  Yul finally reveals that he stopped music because of his father. YeChan gives Yul a cute bracelet to show him how much he likes him.

One Last Challenge Yul’s father turns up and tells him to go back to law school, attempts to smack him about when he refuses. Yul glances at the bracelet YeChan gave him and then says that from now on, not to contact him, stop interfering in his life. He will be doing music now. Has a friend send him his music equipment.

More Feels/Romance Development We are now seeing Yul slowly falling in love with YeChan through his selfless acts - making sure Yul sleeps and eats and looks after himself, enjoying his composition, then telling him to go to Seoul to pursue his music. Of course YeChan will be sad but he’s so Team Yul that it makes my heart ache.  Yul gives YeChan a matching bracelet… “are we a couple???” After an outing, Yul gets all massive heart eyes and EMOTIONS and drags YeChan in for a passionate kiss.

(Yul’s omg fuuuuuck I love you! moment)

(KISSING! Also, look at Yul‘s hand on YeChan’s neck AHHHHH) 

Resolution / Final AHHHHH happy moment After a month of FaceTiming and YeChan being sad because he misses his bf, Yul finally returns. “I’m home,” he says.  Massive hugging, lots of happy YeChan.

[serial-unaliver]

ENOUGH

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

This wine tastes like pigs blood!

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[yandere-writer-momo]

Why write the usual when I can make everybody sad? This is a different take on the Yandere trope with the reality of being involved with someone who is obsessed with you (worse case scenario).

Yandere Short Stories: The Consequences

Yandere Ex Husband x Deceased Fem Reader

“(Your name)?” Alec stepped back in disbelief, his hands rubbed his eyes to make sure that the figure in front of him was really real. “(Your name)! Oh my god!��

Alec ran towards the young woman and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. His whole body trembled as his hazel eyes began to spill salty tears. He couldn’t believe it… he couldn’t believe this was real.

Her hair still smelled like (scent)… this couldn’t be a dream! This had to be reality! Yes… she came back to see him again.

They were together so many years ago and then she vanished into thin air. To see her again was like a dream come true! To know she was still on this earth and she had returned to his side was all the relief he needed.

Alec pressed a kiss to her head before he pulled away so his hands could hold her face. His thumbs traced over her pink lips as a sad smile crawled on his lips.

“You… you don’t look a day over twenty six…” Alec’s brow furrowed. How did she still look so young when it’s been over a decade since they last saw each other? How was that even possible?

(Your name) softly smiled at him, her hands rose up to gently hold the backs of his palms. Her hands were like ice… no. Her hands were as cold as death.

“This isn’t real, none of this is.” (Your name)’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I died, silly. Don’t you remember?”

“No… you’re not dead.” Alec’s lip quivered and his eyes became crazed. “You can’t be dead, we just had an argument was all.”

“Yes… and you killed me. Don’t you remember?” (Your name)’s form slowly began to melt away into that of a rotted corpse. “You stabbed me to death and buried me in the garden.”

“No! No, I didn’t…” Alec began to sob and shake his head. There was no way… he didn’t. He wouldn’t have… he loved her!

“It’s too late, Alec. What’s done is done.” (Your name) the crumbled onto the floor in a pile of bones.

Alec fell to the floor in a panic. Her tried to piece back together her bones back together but it was futile. “No! Please stay with me!”

Hot tears flowed down his cheeks, another sob racked through his chest. He pulled her skull toward his chest to cradle it. “I’m sorry… I just didn’t want you to leave me! We were so happy and… I wanted you to be happy forever.”

Alec continued to sob on the floor that slowly melted away into that of a white padded cell. Reality slowly began to slip in.

(Your name) would be happy forever in death while he would rot forever in this padded cell. This was the reality of his kind of love. This was the consequence of his actions.

[wigglebox]

Sad Bois’ Story Time

Bonus:

[dewdropdinosaur]

White Gold Glitters Too

ALASTOR x READER SMUT Summary: Lucifer takes too much of a liking to Alastor's wife and he seeks to claim her and prove his dominance. Fucking her for Lucifer to hear sounds like a good option. Warnings: NSFW/18+. MINORS DO NOT ENGAGE. You are responsible for your own media consumption. Oral Sex, Reader has a Vagina, Heavy Sex, C*m, Implied P in V Sex, Jealous Fucking, Mention of Restraints, Tentacles I have never written smut before...so I am sorry. REQUESTS OPEN

Alastor, the infamous Radio Demon from Hazbin Hotel, was known for his charismatic yet enigmatic presence. He ruled over his domain with a devilish grin and a penchant for blood. But beneath his charming facade lay a heart that beat fiercely for one person: his beloved wife, Y/N.

Y/N was the epitome of grace and beauty, with a kindness that melted even the most hardened of souls. She had captured Alastor's heart as soon as they had entered through the doors of the hotel, and he would do anything to keep her by his side. Having been newly wed, Alastor’s possessive nature seemed to rear its head often when it came to his bride. 

However, trouble brewed when Lucifer, the fallen angel and hellish king himself, began to take an seeming interest in Y/N. His smooth words and suave demeanor drew her attention, much to Alastor's dismay. Alastor’s confidence was shaken when Lucifer Morningstar began to show a keen interest in Y/N. Despite her loyalty to Alastor, Lucifer's suave demeanor and irresistible charisma stirred a jealousy deep within Alastor's demonic heart.

It has begun innocently enough, with Lucifer's smooth compliments and flirtatious gestures towards Y/N whenever they crossed paths. Then it turned to a hand atop hers or brushing hair out of her face while she worked on fixing up the hotel. At first, Alastor attempted to suppress his jealousy, masking his feelings with his trademark grin and witty remarks. But as Lucifer's advances towards Y/N became more pronounced, Alastor's facade began to crack.

One fateful evening, as the flames of Hell danced in the distance, Alastor found himself unable to contain his simmering jealousy any longer. He watched from a distance as Lucifer flirted shamelessly with Y/N, his patience wearing thin with each passing moment.

His once cheerful demeanor turned dark as he became increasingly passive-aggressive, making evil eyes at the short king(yes my dears, narrators can make a joke occasionally.) But still, Lucifer persisted in his advances, seemingly unfazed by Alastor's silent warnings. Y/N, momentarily stepping away at Charlie’s call for some assistance, left the two men alone in the lobby. 

“Well, well, if it isn't the charming Lucifer. Quite the show you're putting on tonight”

Lucifer smirked, “Ah, Alastor, always a pleasure to see you. And might I say, your wife looks positively radiant this evening. You picked a good one.”

Alastor forced a smile, a natural habit of his that was wearing on him. “Why, thank you, Lucifer. She does tend to have that effect, doesn't she? Though I must say, your interest in her appearance is unexpected.”

“Oh, Alastor, there's no harm in appreciating beauty when it's right in front of you. And your wife is truly a sight to behold.” Lucifer leaned closer, using his elbow to nudge Alastor in the ribs playfully; unaware of the brewing violence in the red demon before him. Or maybe he did know and elected to ignore it. Lucifer did get terribly bored. 

Alastor spoke firmly through clenched teeth “Indeed, she is. But I must warn you, Lucifer, my patience wears thin when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“Just engaging in some harmless conversation. Does that bother you?

“Of course, how silly of me to assume otherwise.” Both men quipped back and forth so sarcastically it could've been considered the eight deadly sin. 

Returning from aiding the princess, Y/N resumed her place by Alastor’s side and back into the conversation. Unable to contain his jealousy any longer, Alastor put a hand on his wife’s shoulder and looked towards Y/N with a forced smile plastered on his face. "Darling, would you care for a stroll?" he offered, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

Y/N, oblivious to the turmoil raging within her husband, nodded with a smile and waved goodbye to Lucifer. As they walked through the dimly lit corridors of Hell, Alastor's mind seethed with anger and resentment. 

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Alastor halted abruptly and turned to face Y/N. "Tell me, my dear, what is it about Lucifer that captivates you so?" he demanded, his words laced with bitterness.

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change in Alastor's demeanor. "Alastor, what are you talking about? Lucifer is just being friendly," she protested, confusion etched on her face.

"Friendly? Yes, that's one way to put it. Though, his friendliness seems rather... focused, wouldn't you say?"

Y/N glanced at Alastor, sensing the tension in his voice. She attempted to defuse the situation with a reassuring smile.

Y/N: "Alastor, there's no need to worry. You know where my heart lies."

Alastor's smile tightened, his grip on Y/N's hand becoming just a tad too firm.

Alastor: "Of course, my dear. I'm well aware. But it's amusing, isn't it? How Lucifer seems to find you so... intriguing."

Y/N shot Alastor a puzzled look, sensing the underlying resentment in his words.

"Alastor, you're being awfully aggressive. Is something bothering you?"

Alastor's grin widened, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he turned his gaze back to Lucifer.

Alastor: "Bothering me? Not at all, my dear. Just finding it fascinating how Lucifer can't seem to keep his eyes off you. Quite the dilemma, wouldn't you agree?

Alastor refused to be swayed by her words. With a fierce determination, he pulled Y/N flush to his chest and pushed her back against the wall, his grip possessive and demanding. Peering down into her eyes, his own glowed with a dark green hue. 

"I'll show you who the better man is, my dear," he growled, his crimson eyes blazing with intensity as he slammed his lips to capture hers. Moaning into the kiss, Y/N slowly brought her hands up to find themselves tangled in Alastor’s red locks. 

Trailing his hand up to her waist, Alastor gave it a tight squeeze that made his wife squeak. Chuckling at the reaction, both their lips remained interlocked for what seemed an eternity. Deciding she had enough teasing, Y/N grabbed hold of Alastor’s cane and used its shadows to transport them to their shared bedroom. Taking the hint, Alastor walked their bodies to the king sized bed and laid down on the red silken sheets. Now with back flush against the mattress, Y/N wasted no time in relocking her lips back to her husband's. 

Nimble fingers traced up her waist, tugging softly on the waistband of her shorts before suddenly ripping them off of her body. Exposed to the cool air, Y/N let out a gasp of surprise that was quickly replaced with a lewd moan as Alastor traced a knuckle up her clothed core. 

“Darling, tsk tsk. We haven’t even begun and you are drenching my fingers through these clothes.” Continuing to drag his finger across her pantie-clad slit, Alastor mumbled the words into the base of her neck. 

“Stop–fuck–stop teasing Al.”

“Oh but dear, that’s half the fun.” Despite his words, he obliged her request by removing the offending garment from her body.​​ Working his way down, his face ended between her thighs. His eyes widened at the glittering white gold slick that painted her hole. 

“Gorgeous darling, glittering gorgeous.” Diving in, his tongue lapped up all the juices that spilled from her needy cunt. Sucking softly here and there while delving as deep as his tongue would allow(he would not admit to using magic to make it longer), Y/N let out wanton moans and lewd hisses of pleasure. Gripping the sheets beneath her as her eyes remained shut in ecstasy. To make matters worse, or better depending on who you ask, Alastor inserted his finger into her while continuing to feast. He could see her holding back some of her noises, desperate to control her lust.

"Darling, do not hide from me."

"But normally you don't want people to hear--"

"That does not apply today. Let all of Hell and that filthy king know you are mine."

Stretching her open, he added another finger; scissoring her wide. Y/n’s eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body involuntarily shifted away from the overstimulating assault. Taking his other hand, Alastor placed it on her hip and held her in place. 

“Unless you would like to be restrained, I insist you remain in place.” Perking up at the thought, Y/N gulped. Being restrained by Alastor’s slick tentacles, forcing her legs open so he could do as he pleased; letting him use them to fill every hole piqued her interest. Perhaps for another time. 

The thoughts and stimulation from Alastor’s mouth and his fingers nearly had her cumming, mumbling incoherently for just a bit more to push her over the edge. Smirking, Alastor brought a third finger into her hole, its walls squeezing onto him for dear life. Using his thumb to rub against her clit, the stimulation was bearing nearly too much. 

“Go on Y/N. Tell me….tell me how I can only make you feel this good. That even the King of Hell couldn’t make you cum just from his fingers.”

That’s what did it, Y/N felt the coil in her stomach snap as she cried Alastor’s name. Surely, the whole hotel had heard her by now. Just as Alastor wanted. Cum now coated his fingers and the bedsheets below as her high overtook her senses and she saw stars. 

Drawing his fingers slowly out of her and bringing them to his lips, Alastor sucked on the white gold juices. Both parties covered in a layer of thin sweat, panting heavily and overcome with arousal. Walking his hands forward till both of his arms caged her in on the bed and she could feel his growing bulge against her thighs, Alastor whispered darkly. 

“Now dear, feel like letting Lucifer know how good round two is about to feel?”

[powdermelonkeg]

How to make a romance story:

Braid it.

Each of your characters should have their own lives, wants, desires, etc going on that intersect often. They each have a different plotline of their own going on. THEN you have the romance plotline weaving between their two lives.

[di-daynamic]

No, but the Hunger Games did need the romance plotline. See, Snow got it all wrong for the cause of the districts' rebellion. He thought an act of love is entirely separate and different from an act of rebellion, that the two are mutually exclusive. But we saw even in Katniss' though process that the two are mixed. And for the districts, the two are the same thing. For seventy-four years they've been forced to watch their children, grandchildren, siblings, niblings, friends die in the Games or through exploitation, are told it's an honour for them to die for the Capitol and are not allowed to grieve. And then suddenly this girl comes up and plants her feet and says 'no'. She survives through illegal hunting, avoiding the miserable death via starvation or the terrible community home. She doesn't stand by to watch her sister die, she volunteers. She doesn't treat her friend's death as one of a tribute to the Capitol, but as the horrible killing of an innocent little girl who deserves to be memorialized. She thanks and humanizes another district's people. She gives another tribute a merciful death. She refuses to give up on the man she loves, repeatedly. Defying all sense and establishment.

That is rebellion, for the Districts. Love, loyalty, grief, kindness, mercy - they're all rebellious sentiments.

And romantic love is an integral part of that. Not the be all end all, but an intrinsic part. We see sisterhood with Prim, we see friendship with Rue and Finnick and Johanna (and Gale and Madge a little bit), we see mentorship and connection with Haymitch and Boggs, so of course we need the romantic angle with Peeta. Of course we need the dandelion that grows after the war, the dandelion that started it all through one act of kindness to the starving girl he loves.

[redysetdare]

I think queer stories would be better if people stopped assuming that queer representation hinges on if two characters are romantically involved at all. Like the moment you accept characters as being queer without needing romance to prove said queerness then i think we'd find ourselves with a lot more unique, nuanced, and interesting queer stories. but by limiting queerness to only romance you are stifling queer stories.

[accioepiphany]

IF I SPEAK-

[ruporas]

kiss the pain away

[theandrosaur]

I'm doodling them while I watch the series and get inspired in the meantime.

Did I already said Cole?

[improper-use-of-germx]

I know you’ve probably writing about it before, but there is just something so lovely about a human not understanding alien courting customs and accidentally doing a lot of them to an alien, who is feeling like they are getting a lot of mixed signals from their human friend! Would that be a usable request? Love your writing!!!

OOOH anon I'm such a sucker for "accidentally doing something considered flirtatious by a different species toward a member of said species"

I feel like in the kind of modern sci-fi settings I use for my writing there's an extra level of awareness and drama, because while an alien surrounded by members of their own kind might assume you're coming onto them purposefully, your alien crewmate is very aware of the cultural differences that come with interspecies work. They know you're unaware of the courting methods of their species, much less the specific traditions of their people.

They wouldn't expect you to know that sort of information anyhow, so they're not offended when you offer to share from your canteen during a mission without realizing the intimate, personal implications of the gesture. How would you know? Humans share drinks all the time, they were thirsty. What kind of friend would you be if you didn't share?

You were right, of course. Water-sharing to you was just a kind gesture, there was no reason to deny your affection. Their mouth met where yours had been, and they feel so close to you they ache.

There are times they feel guilty. When you shut your eyes and stretch, casually letting the entire universe know that you trust them to protect you when your tired, or when you drape one of your blankets over the both of you while you watch a movie and they can smell you from all sides. There are times they want to tell you: This doesn't mean as little to me as it means to you. You're kissing me in my native tongue, y'know.

They know they shouldn't be indulging in the idea that you're acting on any kind of romantic interest, but they just can't bring themself to tell you. There was too much of a chance you would stop.

[dinklebat]

guys please watch romantic killer on netflix it’s the most bisexual show I’ve seen

[adamparrishmybeloved]

AU car racer ronan lynch ends up in a forgotten town by mistake has to do community sentence because he wrecked something, meets former lawyer adam parrish that ran away from the city hustle after being very successful at it. is this something? does this mean anything to you? yeah, it’s the plot for the movie cars and what about it.

[a2zillustration]

Part 2 of 2

Thanks for tossing me the ball on this one Larian I am now running with it at mach speeds.

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