~~ 1x2x5 is a crowd

[reenka]

The problem with threesome relationships-- in fics, anyway-- is that they're inherently unstable, I think, sort of like a table with three legs or something. And it occurred to me that most fics I've glanced at try to eliminate this problem by attempting to convince the reader that the relationship -is-, in fact, stable, and that all parties want/love/need (are "in love with") each other equally, and have strong bonds in all directions. Which, I guess I refuse to believe on some basic intuition. Romantic/sexual love is just fundamentally, almost biologically a pair bond, and that's all there is to it, though people can feel it (and be torn) in different directions at once, paradoxically-- but that breaks up under such stress.

But... what if the fic capitalized on this inherent imbalance instead? You could, theoretically, write about a three-way bond that -wasn't- equal, which would work if the people involved were okay with that. Like... there would be a central couple who had the dominant pair-bond, and the third person who largely had strong ties of friendship to both, and most probably more intense ties of friendship/lust to one. It's imperative this third person not be -in love- with either of the other two, I think.

In this scenario, the third person would then be included from time to time, as sort of a frequent visitor. It has to be natural, of course, and I think it would be important that no official commitment be involved. Most of all, normal ties of friendship (a couple being friends with one particular person) would have to be maintained. This third person would have to be single and not looking for serious attachments at the time. And this isn't "swinging", either-- that's important too. This is just that... they all want to and are just that comfortable with each other. I wish I could remember the single H/R/Hr fic that ever did this.

In fact, it seems to be that this is how I see the obvious possible threesomes in several fandoms I know. Ron/Hermione/Harry, for one (Harry being the odd one out). Gundam Wing has possibilities, -maybe-, with Heero/Duo/Wu Fei (though, well, Wu Fei is so... straight). It's veeerry distantly possible with Buffy/Spike/Angel but I don't think so, actually, because they're all way too possessive. There -has- to be someone who'll back off while retaining ties to avoid trauma. *sigh* Anyway, dunno about real life, but. I just really wish people would stop it with the "and then all three of them lived happily ever after" fics :/

Comments

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

You know, that imbalance thing could definitely work.
I once had this strange drunken evening with a couple I'm good friends with, where both of them were trying to get me to kiss the guy and eventually succeeded after pouring a truly phenomenal amount of drink down my throat, and if we were all more attracted to each other than we actually are, that thing you describe could have resulted. The dynamic would sort of have been ready-made.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

In a way, I can't help but believe that if there -was- a significant amount of attraction rather than friendship, all the attendant confusion would've come with it, though. Attraction always messes with the head. It's hard to keep up friendships in the face of it, 'cause everyone's good sense and reasonableness wavers in the face of hormones. I guess it's not enough to just be friends-- you'd have to be -really- good friends. Otherwise the friendship wouldn't be able to survive the amount of attraction needed to sleep with someone when one's not drunk.

At least, that is my very uneducated guess :> haha
...I'm such a psychology witchdoctor, I really am :>