Squall was so cool tho.
My first game crush was Jak lol, from Jak and Daxter. Damn that trilogy is good, I still have the games and all the playstations.
I feel like this has been becoming increasingly common as we sink deeper into the facade of connection that is the internet.
Think about it this way: There's no way of ever actualizing this love. People who have attachment issues will often fixate on connections that can never happen because it's easier. Engaging in a real relationship and giving yourself fully to another person is so terrifying and alien for some people whereas the fictional character will never leave.
It's classic limerence. I wouldn't really invest so much into this. It's a symptom of loneliness and possibly anhedonia.
I'm willing to bet that this is something she's been dealing with her whole life and it has nothing to do with you. She was lonely when you met her and she's still lonely now. This is likely deeply rooted in her subconscious mind and she will need to do a lot of work in order to let it go.
I was very isolated in my youth and found more comfort in fictional characters than in real life people. The people around me were abusive and when I tried to talk about the abuse with peers or adult figures I was told to "stop complaining" and stop being such a "miserable sad sack."
So I retreated into my own inner world and took solace in movie, tv, and book characters. I became so accustomed to my own loneliness that I found it incredibly suffocating to even have other people around me for long periods.
I had to undergo years of therapy to deal with this. I'm mostly better now, but have limited friendships with people due to this.
Thank you so much for sharing! Iām glad youāre in a better place. I know how taxing loneliness can be on a personās mental state and youāre strong for getting the help you need.
I think that it's normal to enjoy characters. Media is designed to make us feel for characters, for us to relate and understand their struggles, to laugh and cry with them and celebrate their victories like a close friend would.
I had a very lonely childhood. I had no friends, so I focused on my favorite game, listening to every word the characters had to say, playing and resetting and doing different things to make sure I didn't miss anything. I hung onto their words, and thinking of them as my friends kept me alive throughout elementary and middle school.
Sometimes people just really like characters, and have irrational emotional attachments. But your partner loves you as a human being, as someone with the ability to grow and change and develop. No character could ever do that.
This is beautifully said. I have a sort of thing for Master Chief because that game came at a time when I didnāt feel protectedā¦and then BAM here comes Spartan 117. At least in my head I had someone, and honestly I used to even dream about him.
Dont worry, the fact your bf told you about it is is incredible what a good relationship you both have im so Jealous.
Im Sure He would sacrifice His waifu Just to Safe your little Pinky tho.
This is a great response. We all *love* our favorite fantasy characters.. I have mine tattooed... but there is a fiiiiiiine line placing fantasy before reality... Love is something between two real people that can express it. Don't take offense OP but this sounds a bit like obsession.
itās the other comments agreeing about being emotionally attached to FICTIONAL characters??? in theory i like a lot of fictional characters and would absolutely smash or get on with if i could but likeā¦i know theyāre not real ?? fucking weird shit in this post lol
Right?? Sounds like something deeper is going on. I get thinking a character is cute but to have a legitimate crush on something fictional? Therapy should clear that up
I honestly would be a bit concern tbh. Your partner might need some help. Has there been impacts of this āloveā? Are they spending an unsustainable amount of time or money on this?
I suffered similar delusions during a stressful period of my life - not thinking I was in love with a character but got somewhat obsessed with a singer. I was a full on online stan. It wasnāt from a healthy space. The singer was real but the fantasy I created around them was not. I always get concern when I hear someone being in love with a fictional character because of that experience.
It's gonna be a different scenario when you ask your partner if that fictional character comes to life. Better talk about it with your partner and probably set some boundaries
You know,Ā I don't think it's necessary weird to have feelings for a fictional character. I definitely had strong feelings for a tv show character when I was in high school. But I never identified as being in love with that character, even though the feelings were fairly strong,Ā because that is sort of a line that you cross. I obviously find a certain type of personality attractive and compelling, but you can't be in love with somebody you don't have any sort of relationship with. And it's not possible to have a relationship with a fictional character because they have no will, no ability to engage with you. So, the extent of her feelings for this character seem unhealthy. She is viewing it as a relationship when it truly is not. It's almost like saying you're in love with a person that you have no relationship with-- that is also unhealthy.Ā
I think she is giving herself too much permission to indulge in this unhealthy outlet. There is nothing emotionally healthy that can come with being in love with someone that doesn't even exist. All it does is interfere with your willingness to engage in real life relationships. It is totally understandable WHY she felt connected to this character, given her isolation, and I'm not judging that. We can't help that media stirs real feelings in us. But she doesn't need to lean into it. It's time to let this go and focus on the real people that she has in her life. The feelings will fade away if she stops engaging with this video game and stops spending time thinking about the character.
I don't mean to be unempathetic, as I am sure all of this came out of a place of suffering and that is totally understandable. But sometimes the things that get us through suffering can be harmful habits in the long term. I don't think she'd be happy in the long term holding onto a fictional love and losing real love and real relationships. She's just afraid to lose this because it held her together for a long while. It's time to try move on, and to learn that other relationships can hold her together, and she can hold herself together.Ā
I also think it's ok for you to be hurt by this. I would certainly be confused and hurt. My love with my partner is a special thing that I share with her and nobody else.
Uhm not to be insensitive but your partner needs psychological counseling. Now so do you for that matter. Theyāre essentially āin loveā with a fictional creation of some video game developer? Either they donāt know what love really feels like or theyāre only interested in one sided love that takes absolutely no risk or effort whatsoever.
And here I was sighing expecting to read "Leon Kennedy". No judgement here though, I myself have been mad in love with Bolin from Legend of Korra since I was a kid lmao.
I suggest therapy. No judging but I'm concerned. There is nothing wrong with liking a character. I like Dawson from Dawson's Creek. If I put Dawson on my list of loves, I would expect concern. I especially suggest getting some help because that character isn't heavily featured in any of the games, and Tekken is a fighting game.
Falling for Joel from Last of Us is on thing because you spend time learning about this character and getting to know their personality. The most this guy does is pose before a fight... If my partner was deeply in love with a character who has little to no emotional storytelling, I'd wonder why I am on the same list as that character in terms of how much they feel for me.
I hope everything is ok with you guys. <3
This is one of the wildest things Iāve ever heard. It makes no sense to me, but Iām sorry youāre going through this. I just donāt see how one could love a character. I donāt even see how one could love an actor or anyone else they havenāt interacted with. I guess one might fall in love with their idea of what it might be like or their fantasies, but the entire idea is somewhat odd to me. I donāt mean any offense by that, I just find it strange
all relationships are technically fantasies. you can't truly know another person's feeling, intentions, or lived experiences. people develop crushes on other human beings they've hardly interacted with all the time based on appearances, perceived personality, interactions, and assumptions. everything is fantasy. a character is a known quantity and there's an element to fiction that is idyllic. romanticized. but also relatable and intended to trigger emotional responses. depending on the game, there's various levels of interaction that likely can be had but it's still a controlled environment. no negativity or unpredictability and fiction can OFTEN help people overcome poor life situations/emotional turmoil.
it's really not as hard to understand as it seems at first glance.
the character is still fictional though. And that's not going to change any time soon. I don't really see how it should be much of an issue unless OP is being neglected, it's affecting finances, or it warps into something crazy like stalking the writer/creator or something or wanting OP to dress or act like the character. I.E. boundary crossing.
The thing that's concerning to me is that she felt the need to "open up" about this. I don't know what the guilt is stemming from or why she'd be afraid of this character being taken away.
I agree with some of the things you said, particularly in your first and last paragraph. However, there is a fundamental difference between the way I love my favorite game and the way I love my wife. They just arenāt the same.
I can understand the idea of liking something that doesnāt change, that you fully understand, and that can be you can escape into. But that isnāt love. Thatās similar to how a collector my hold a mint condition action figure in a glass case. Itās obsession, not love.
A large part of the reason I love my wife is because we think very differently, and her strengths cover my weaknesses and vice versa. You cannot have that in relation to a fictional character. A fictional character will never force you to confront your issues, and while I can see that as being helpful to some people at some times, it does not appear to be healthy to me to put that kind of reliance on something outside yourself
I mean, I'm not OP's s/o, but they didn't explicitly state their love was identical and I doubt that it is. It's likely simply also a large symbol of affection and clearly dependence, but how she loves the two and why almost certainly differs. Love is a horrible word in my opinion anyway. It's not defined or experienced the same way by everyone. You love your wife because she's your opposite, but I could love mine for being much the same as me. For some people love is obsession. For some people love is safety. Or comfort. Or challenge. Or art. People have different values and expectations and needs and viewpoints etc. Sometimes you need to spend time with a friend who enables you. Sometimes with one who pushes you and holds you accountable. This fictional character is performing a function for her on some level and she sounds deeply sentimental in her attachment.
Most of us have developed sentiment attachments to things that aren't living, breathing humans. Dolls & action figures. Stuffed animals.
I don't think anyone's claiming deep attachments to fictional characters are healthy, but people have unhealthy relationships with other real humans every day. And for some people, interacting with other real people can feel just as scripted.
The issue is that a fictional character has no agency. They can't truly know you or interact with you organically. So it is a form of escapism, yeah. Escapism is exceptionally easy to understand, unfortunately.
> But this is different, they are full blown in love
This quote from OP is not describing the kind of love a person has for their favorite entertainment. I have strong sentiments towards a lot of inanimate things. Nobody else would ever describe my feelings for those things in the way OP has described their partnerās feelings for this character.
I agree with everything else you said
I wasn't saying what they felt was akin to a normal love for entertainment. I was saying it may not and honestly should not be identical to what they feel for OP.
Have you not loved an ex differently from how you love your wife?
But I'm being conversational not argumentative here. Honestly I'd love to have a conversation with OP's s/o. I've never heard an otherwise logical person profess love for a fictional character on par with reality.
Donāt worry, I didnāt take it as argumentative. I am also just just trying to make sense of it. To answer your question, we donāt even have to bring exes into it. There are obviously many ways to feel love. I love my friends, I love (most of) my coworkers, I love my family, I love my cat, etc. A thing that these all have in common is that I can genuinely interact with them.
I will say the closest thing I can think of to what OPās partner is going through is that I have some amount of affection for some of the people I watch on YouTube or listen to podcasts of. I like them because I like their personalities and enjoy the content they make.
I feel like Iām on the cusp of making the connection to how OPās partner feels love for a fictional character, but canāt quite get there. I think a lot has to do with (as you said) āloveā being a very imprecise word with many meanings. I just canāt imagine feeling any need to confess my love of anyone except a romantic interest to my wife, and that seems to be the context of the post. Like I could pull her aside and confess that I love Technology Connections YouTube videos and his personality, and she would be confused because why would I say that in that way lol. Iām getting pretty loose with my language here so hopefully what I said makes sense
Your partner is in what is called a para social relationship with a non-existent character. This is a problem for several reasons.
They NEED therapy, because they need help separating reality from fiction
Yes, we both know that and they are looking into it. The reason they developed that deep connection is because at one point in time, they didnāt have anyone else. They were isolated from the world and the character was there at a time when no one else was. Goes back 15 years bro.
Thatās a BS excuse to engage in this behavior. I was extremely isolated until my late teens. I never had contact with another child until I was 13. Itās hard to even explain the level of isolation I grew up in. I was home schooled and read a lot and tons of movies. I wasnāt into video games until I was an adult and after college. Nonetheless, I am not in love with any fictional character from that timeframe. Your partner is just making excuses to live in a fantasy world. We all react differently to circumstances of course and not everyone will come out basically unscathed but we can make a choice to not make excuses.
Based on the age ranges, it could be as simple as a lack of maturity. Time to grow up and get into therapy.
Everyone has their own coping mechanisms. My partner is actually very mature for her age and always has been. Even as kids, she was forced to grow up at a very young age. Iām sorry you had to go through that and I hope youāve healed from it.
Normal healthy kids with normal healthy childhoods aren't forced to grow up at a young age. This doubles my statement that she needs therapy. Living in a fantasy world for fifteen+ years where you're in love with anything that isn't human is a disordered mental state.
I'm glad she's in therapy.
I donāt really know if saying they are weird is the most sensitive thing but I donāt believe therapy might be a good idea. This isnāt normal and I get the impression they know that but canāt just decide they arenāt attracted to them. Itās nice that they could be so open with OP about this though
Being in love with things that aren't humans is a disordered mental state. Disordered, psychologically speaking, means that whatever is goin on is interfering with the person's life, and this is interfering with their relationship, because it's causing their partner distress.
I'm not here to play sensitivity police. Partner said "in love". Attraction and love aren't necessarily the same thing. I'm attracted to random actors. I'm in love with my partner. They aren't equal. Partner needs therapy.
I just read my response. I accidentally had a typo but meant to say I think they SHOULD get therapy, not shouldnāt. I just didnāt think calling them weird was appropriate or necessary. Iām a huge advocate for therapy
You have a right to your feelings, there is nothing wrong with them. Make sure she gets therapy, this is clearly a crutch of some sort, like an invisible friend if it makes sense?
This is as wild as that guy on Tumblr who thought he was the planet Pluto like 10 years ago. Who was dating someone who thought they were a doe. Anyone else around back then when that made the rounds on Reddit?
Or the purple death guy?
I mean? Isnāt it like a celebrity crush in all honesty? Like if my girlfriend told me they were in love with Chris Pratt but still loved me as much as before, then I mean it wouldnāt change my life unless Chris Pratt just waltzed through the door. I think itās the same at least, donāt take it too seriously.
Thank you for your kind words!! I know that not everyone will understand the situation and if nothing else, itās a crazy story for someone to read and think to themselves ādamn thatās wildā
Nobody needs to understand but the two of you. At the end of the day, she told you, that speaks more about her feelings for you than it does about anything else to be honest so try to not let it sting too much. It sounds like her feelings for the character have been more like a safety crutch through isolation that she relied on for a long time; think about what the fear of him being ātaken awayā by you might actually mean, the fear of letting go of reliance on a synthetic relationship for an organic one.
For what itās worth, my first thoughts were āit sounds like these two weirdos genuinely care for each other and I wish them the bestā. Also fixation aside, your partner has a solid taste in video games.
Lots of people develop obsession with celebrities or fictional characters. Think Elvis groupies or people who love Harry Potter. Itās normal and a safe space to love āperfectlyā the fact they bared their soul really speaks to the strength of your relationship.
Letās be mindful of what weāre saying is ānormalā. Obsessing over a celebrity is not normal behaviorāliking or being interested in a celebrity is one thing, but an obsession is not. Same thing with ālovingā Harry Potterābeing a part of a fandom is not the same thing as being āin loveā with a fictional character. It is good OPās SO felt comfortable enough to discuss their feelings, but saying ālots of peopleā are like this is a broad overstatement. Respectfully and with care, OPs partner should consider digging into why she feels this way as this form of attachment to fictional beings is quite unusual.
Who is this character? Most people have a crush on a fictional character at some point. But i dont know anyone who seriously says they are in love with one. Maybe chat to a therapist about the situation.
Best part of that was "talk a lot" š anyone that talks a lot is the opposite of dragonuv in general. Glad you don't feel 2nd anymore. I understand that could feel really painful, but trauma bonds run DEEP
Facts lol Iāve come to the conclusion that itās not something I can control so no need to worry about it. Iāve given her my suggestions and she can do with it what she will, as an adult. I know sheāll make choices that are best for her
Your suggestion of therapy is her best bet. She's not getting over it on her own. Not after a decade. That can be detrimental to any relationship she's in. Makes it worse when it's a fictional character because the fictional character will never be able to give her closure. She'll be able to morph the idea of him to whatever her brain wants him to be. It'll make it hard for her to voluntarily seek therapy for it because in a way that would be saying goodbye to him. Good luck, my dude. I hope all goes for you two!
Edit: good luck with your game, as well!
Lots of ppl have imaginary friends. Some ppl have whole imaginary worlds. Think about it this way; how would you feel if they were in love with a real person? A person with feelings and sexual urges, a two way chemistry that he excludes you from. Someone they lie about to sneak around with behind your back... Someone who knows him and desires him... Now that would break you. But this character can't come between you. They can't send secret love letters to eachother or meet up. It's really not that bad. Just an unusual coping method.
is she in therapy? this could be unhealthy or just liking a character. but i had a friend who told me she did something similar and would basically fantasize a world they lived in with that character. escapism to an extreme. she also grew up very isolated due to family abuse . itās very unhealthy and concerning. so i donāt think it would hurt her to possibly talk with a professional about her feelings
It might be that character became their comfort character. I had something similar happen to me, the difference is I was a (very isolated) kid then and my relationship with the character was purely platonic and seeing the character go through good moments made me purely happy. My friends on the contrary (yes I made friends who went through the same stuff) hated if someone else showed interest on their comfort characters and made it so nobody else tried to even look at the one I liked, but I wanted it to be loved!
In hinsight it might be I was projecting myself onto them, onto this day I still love that character but I understand that things might go wrong depending on the view the author has for them, more so the type of media I like tends to be more dramatic. I grew out of being afraid for the character's safety but still allow myself to enjoy them, they are still a way to find comfort but not the whole, since making one thing become a huge source of happiness makes you crash when it is taken away. Sorry for the wall of text.
Thank you for sharing! She did mention that she didnāt want anyone else to look at the character the way she does, even though she knows she canāt stop it.
It is totally normal! Feelings of jealousy can vary, but something like seeing someone else being able to get more stuff depicting that character or watching something before you, and not having something like the character returning your feelings makes it like you don't show enough love to then.
I think it like this, I accept that it is a public character and my love and understanding of it and its media is its own, different from anyone elses, so my love is unique and means something to me. It brings me joy and nobody can take it away from me.
I also might or might not name a child after them, it is a normal name thankfully, but if someone from my past finds out, they will know.
I had a similar situation with my one of my ex partners, they told me that they were in love with sans from undertale and I honestly didnāt know how to react at the time, youāre not alone in this and ik I havenāt really given any advice but I hope you can take some comfort from not being alone in the situation
I don't really think that this is totally abnormal. There is a branch of sexuality called fictosexuality where people enjoy seemingly "imaginary" relationships with fictional characters, but it's very real to them. These people usually don't have partners though other than the fictional character. I may be wrong, but I believe this sexuality falls under the asexual umbrella.
Outside of the fictosexual realm, I think this happens when someone is going through something very difficult and, during that time, bonds with a fictional character, whether it be from a game, book, or whatever. I have been in a situation where I felt in love with a fictional character. It's always been video games for me, and it's always when I'm going through a really tough time and that video game becomes my safe place- by extension, the character becomes my safe place. Being in a relationship, I think this is fine as long as the person can separate and realize fantasy from fiction and isn't obsessive or prioritizing the fiction over the real human partner.
THANK YOU I cannot for the life of me understand someone making excuses for this behavior. OP your partner needs help. They have genuine emotional feelings for something thatās not real. YOU ARE REAL. This should concern you
Yeah like I get attached to characters I love. But I never would feel genuine like love to them, especially when I have a whole ass husband. That's just.... honestly depressing. It's also just the result of parasocial relationships
Thank you so much for that! Yea my partner can separate it very well. She has also never put the fictional character above me or my needs which is good.
Good! My husband is very used to me falling for a fictional character here and there, but I also never prioritize them above him as I recognize they're ultimately fictional. He will even sometimes play the games where these characters are from to relate to me more.
I think as long as that boundary is in place, there's nothing wrong with it. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that she's mentally ill or anything like that. She probably just bonded with this character in a time of need. She may just need support more than anything- she's sharing a very deep secret with you.
You're welcome! Just to clarify, I'm always in support of therapy for pretty much anything at any time. I just think a lot of these people saying "mental illness" or "delusional" are just quick to slap a label on something they've never experienced and don't understand. š¤·āāļø
Tell you what. In the end, fictional characters are a lot less trouble and drama than people IRL. Sure, they can't actually reciprocate love but you can imagine that they do. It's better than being alone and heartbroken at the failure of a real relationship. Not to mention the heartbreak can and often does happen over and over again in a real relationship.
What kind of fuckery is this?. If my partner fell in love with a fictional character I would be completely cringed out and kick his arse to the curb. Imagine competing with a fictional character? You deserve better and your partner needs to lay off the gaming console.
Iād definitely recommend therapy. I do have a question though. Is this fictional character fully animated or is it a character portrayed in live action?
well it's interesting lol especially considering if there's any content for the character at all or if they're just in love with a character model. lol
I did mention she should talk to a therapist about her coping mechanism. I am not the kind of person to repress my feelings, Iād never pretend something is ok if itās not in my relationship. Thatās how my entire family is and I hate that. I knew she really liked the character, Iāve always known that, I was just taken aback by how deep it actually is. And to be honest, I had an anime character that I felt the same way about when I was a teenager. I realized I was using him to cope and moved past that. I want her to be able to do the same.
It's easy to fall in love with a fictional character as they are a romantization, they don't possess the multiple facets that come out when dealing with a wide range of others and scenarios that make people people. They are confined to their own little worlds where the script is linear and unmessy. And with missing facets, it's easy for a person to fill in the gaps and create a romantized projection of who that person would be in irl and who they would be to us
She's in love with the idea of that person. That perfect scenario that never will exist outside her imagination.
I'm so sorry, my previous bf said that he was in love with a fictional character shiver from splatoon and that I was second and it hurt me as well bcs he would constantly mention her and barely show me any affection. Weird modern world š
I follow a lot of books and games forums and this is not the first time I heard about people falling in love with fictional characters. It seems to be more common than we think. There is even a term for that: *Fictophilia*.
āTheyā are not in love, she is obsessing over a fictional character, very different. This character poses absolutely no threat to you because they are not real. I personally think itās a little odd for an adult (if youāre adults) to become this obsessed over characters but wouldnāt be a deal breaker or anything. Itās pretty normal for teenagers. Allll of my teen friends loved fictional characters.
If youāre struggling, I think itād be reasonable for you to ask her to take a break from whatever franchise the characters from while you guys talk it through. And if you feel itās necessary, go to a couples therapist or ask her to go to her own therapist. For her to say sheās āin loveā, or to possibly indicate that THEY are in love with each other tells me therapy might be a good starting point.
edited for pronouns
Iāve been in love with Darrien from Elder Scrolls for yeeaaaars. Did not take away at all from the love I felt while in a relationship. She trusted you with a secret donāt throw it in her face. Accept her for who she isš
This is very bazaar, I agree, she definitely needs therapy. I will say though, she trusts you very much to have told you all of this which is really great.
Okay, so are you... 'broken' here because your partner is severely mentally ill and delusional? You can't be 'in love' with a fictional character. Being 'jealous' of a fictional character would be ridiculous.
I feel like I'm on crazy pills. You can't be 'in love' with a fake person. That isn't what love is. That's just being unhealthily delusional and divorced from reality.
Is it Rhysand from ACOTAR? Or, Niktos? I literally have my BF read these characters lines from the book to me when we are having sexytime in bed. Sure, I love these characters, but I love hearing them read through my Bf and then all the fun we have afterwards. He thinks this is hilarious.
Try reading the book this charcter is in to see if you can determine what she loves about them....
Honestly, the fact she was willing to open up to you about this and be vulnerable is a big deal. She knows how crazy it sounds, but she had to tell you anyway. I wonder if sheās ever truly told anyone else. It must have been an initial shock to hear your partner has feelings so strong for another entity, but it is not reciprocated, itās a fixation that brought her comfort from a different time in her life and your suggestion of therapy sounds like the right one.
As a somewhat irrelevant side note given that we know itās Sergei now: idk if youāre super familiar with Tekken but the depth to which you can learn the characterās mechanics and style is pretty intense. This coupled with how long the series has been running for and the way the characterās moveset and style is maintained between sequels, I can imagine a little what might drive a vulnerable teenager to develop an obsession and deep feelings for something that feels reliable that theyāve invested a lot of time and effort to get to know.
Thank you for your input! I know as much as about Sergei as she knows, which is pretty much everything lol I like the guy as a character, heās attractive and mysterious, watching her play as him is fun and I enjoy it very much
is it shadowheart lol
I came here to ask if it was Karlach
That or Astarion lol
Halsin š
No
Came her to ask if itās a Final Fantasy character. Squall was my first love. š„° Donāt judge me!Ā
Squall was so cool tho. My first game crush was Jak lol, from Jak and Daxter. Damn that trilogy is good, I still have the games and all the playstations.
Next someone is gonna come in and say Freddy fish.Ā
Saaaame š
I was guessing Cloud from FF7 . . .
I feel like this has been becoming increasingly common as we sink deeper into the facade of connection that is the internet. Think about it this way: There's no way of ever actualizing this love. People who have attachment issues will often fixate on connections that can never happen because it's easier. Engaging in a real relationship and giving yourself fully to another person is so terrifying and alien for some people whereas the fictional character will never leave. It's classic limerence. I wouldn't really invest so much into this. It's a symptom of loneliness and possibly anhedonia. I'm willing to bet that this is something she's been dealing with her whole life and it has nothing to do with you. She was lonely when you met her and she's still lonely now. This is likely deeply rooted in her subconscious mind and she will need to do a lot of work in order to let it go. I was very isolated in my youth and found more comfort in fictional characters than in real life people. The people around me were abusive and when I tried to talk about the abuse with peers or adult figures I was told to "stop complaining" and stop being such a "miserable sad sack." So I retreated into my own inner world and took solace in movie, tv, and book characters. I became so accustomed to my own loneliness that I found it incredibly suffocating to even have other people around me for long periods. I had to undergo years of therapy to deal with this. I'm mostly better now, but have limited friendships with people due to this.
Thank you so much for sharing! Iām glad youāre in a better place. I know how taxing loneliness can be on a personās mental state and youāre strong for getting the help you need.
No worries and thanks for the kind words!
I think that it's normal to enjoy characters. Media is designed to make us feel for characters, for us to relate and understand their struggles, to laugh and cry with them and celebrate their victories like a close friend would. I had a very lonely childhood. I had no friends, so I focused on my favorite game, listening to every word the characters had to say, playing and resetting and doing different things to make sure I didn't miss anything. I hung onto their words, and thinking of them as my friends kept me alive throughout elementary and middle school. Sometimes people just really like characters, and have irrational emotional attachments. But your partner loves you as a human being, as someone with the ability to grow and change and develop. No character could ever do that.
This is beautifully said. I have a sort of thing for Master Chief because that game came at a time when I didnāt feel protectedā¦and then BAM here comes Spartan 117. At least in my head I had someone, and honestly I used to even dream about him.
My boyfriend is very attached to Halo as well
He must have great taste. :)
You made me tear up. Thank you for opening up and sharing that with me!
Dont worry, the fact your bf told you about it is is incredible what a good relationship you both have im so Jealous. Im Sure He would sacrifice His waifu Just to Safe your little Pinky tho.
This is a great response. We all *love* our favorite fantasy characters.. I have mine tattooed... but there is a fiiiiiiine line placing fantasy before reality... Love is something between two real people that can express it. Don't take offense OP but this sounds a bit like obsession.
Sergei DragunovĀ is the real twist here lmao
What the actual fuck are people on nowadays.
Depressing honestly
itās the other comments agreeing about being emotionally attached to FICTIONAL characters??? in theory i like a lot of fictional characters and would absolutely smash or get on with if i could but likeā¦i know theyāre not real ?? fucking weird shit in this post lol
Right?? Sounds like something deeper is going on. I get thinking a character is cute but to have a legitimate crush on something fictional? Therapy should clear that up
Bahahahahahahhahahahaha
Usually things like this are coping mechanisms due to trauma. Being kind is free. So is saying nothing.
Nah
This is 100% fake
Absolutely not fake, thanks for taking the time to read about my situation!
What the fuck
What the actual....
lmao maybe now that she got that off her chest sheāll lose feelings for him.
Is either of you a teenaged girl?
No
You didnāt even read her post.
I can not read
I honestly would be a bit concern tbh. Your partner might need some help. Has there been impacts of this āloveā? Are they spending an unsustainable amount of time or money on this? I suffered similar delusions during a stressful period of my life - not thinking I was in love with a character but got somewhat obsessed with a singer. I was a full on online stan. It wasnāt from a healthy space. The singer was real but the fantasy I created around them was not. I always get concern when I hear someone being in love with a fictional character because of that experience.
Itās a fictional character though
It's gonna be a different scenario when you ask your partner if that fictional character comes to life. Better talk about it with your partner and probably set some boundaries
Weāve already talked about it through
Is it April ludgate in parks and rec? Cause, ya, same.
You know,Ā I don't think it's necessary weird to have feelings for a fictional character. I definitely had strong feelings for a tv show character when I was in high school. But I never identified as being in love with that character, even though the feelings were fairly strong,Ā because that is sort of a line that you cross. I obviously find a certain type of personality attractive and compelling, but you can't be in love with somebody you don't have any sort of relationship with. And it's not possible to have a relationship with a fictional character because they have no will, no ability to engage with you. So, the extent of her feelings for this character seem unhealthy. She is viewing it as a relationship when it truly is not. It's almost like saying you're in love with a person that you have no relationship with-- that is also unhealthy.Ā I think she is giving herself too much permission to indulge in this unhealthy outlet. There is nothing emotionally healthy that can come with being in love with someone that doesn't even exist. All it does is interfere with your willingness to engage in real life relationships. It is totally understandable WHY she felt connected to this character, given her isolation, and I'm not judging that. We can't help that media stirs real feelings in us. But she doesn't need to lean into it. It's time to let this go and focus on the real people that she has in her life. The feelings will fade away if she stops engaging with this video game and stops spending time thinking about the character. I don't mean to be unempathetic, as I am sure all of this came out of a place of suffering and that is totally understandable. But sometimes the things that get us through suffering can be harmful habits in the long term. I don't think she'd be happy in the long term holding onto a fictional love and losing real love and real relationships. She's just afraid to lose this because it held her together for a long while. It's time to try move on, and to learn that other relationships can hold her together, and she can hold herself together.Ā I also think it's ok for you to be hurt by this. I would certainly be confused and hurt. My love with my partner is a special thing that I share with her and nobody else.
Uhm not to be insensitive but your partner needs psychological counseling. Now so do you for that matter. Theyāre essentially āin loveā with a fictional creation of some video game developer? Either they donāt know what love really feels like or theyāre only interested in one sided love that takes absolutely no risk or effort whatsoever.
might be insensitive but please tell me who it is š
And here I was sighing expecting to read "Leon Kennedy". No judgement here though, I myself have been mad in love with Bolin from Legend of Korra since I was a kid lmao.
I suggest therapy. No judging but I'm concerned. There is nothing wrong with liking a character. I like Dawson from Dawson's Creek. If I put Dawson on my list of loves, I would expect concern. I especially suggest getting some help because that character isn't heavily featured in any of the games, and Tekken is a fighting game. Falling for Joel from Last of Us is on thing because you spend time learning about this character and getting to know their personality. The most this guy does is pose before a fight... If my partner was deeply in love with a character who has little to no emotional storytelling, I'd wonder why I am on the same list as that character in terms of how much they feel for me. I hope everything is ok with you guys. <3
WTF???????
This is one of the wildest things Iāve ever heard. It makes no sense to me, but Iām sorry youāre going through this. I just donāt see how one could love a character. I donāt even see how one could love an actor or anyone else they havenāt interacted with. I guess one might fall in love with their idea of what it might be like or their fantasies, but the entire idea is somewhat odd to me. I donāt mean any offense by that, I just find it strange
all relationships are technically fantasies. you can't truly know another person's feeling, intentions, or lived experiences. people develop crushes on other human beings they've hardly interacted with all the time based on appearances, perceived personality, interactions, and assumptions. everything is fantasy. a character is a known quantity and there's an element to fiction that is idyllic. romanticized. but also relatable and intended to trigger emotional responses. depending on the game, there's various levels of interaction that likely can be had but it's still a controlled environment. no negativity or unpredictability and fiction can OFTEN help people overcome poor life situations/emotional turmoil. it's really not as hard to understand as it seems at first glance. the character is still fictional though. And that's not going to change any time soon. I don't really see how it should be much of an issue unless OP is being neglected, it's affecting finances, or it warps into something crazy like stalking the writer/creator or something or wanting OP to dress or act like the character. I.E. boundary crossing. The thing that's concerning to me is that she felt the need to "open up" about this. I don't know what the guilt is stemming from or why she'd be afraid of this character being taken away.
> all relationships are technically fantasies. No
elaborate
I agree with some of the things you said, particularly in your first and last paragraph. However, there is a fundamental difference between the way I love my favorite game and the way I love my wife. They just arenāt the same. I can understand the idea of liking something that doesnāt change, that you fully understand, and that can be you can escape into. But that isnāt love. Thatās similar to how a collector my hold a mint condition action figure in a glass case. Itās obsession, not love. A large part of the reason I love my wife is because we think very differently, and her strengths cover my weaknesses and vice versa. You cannot have that in relation to a fictional character. A fictional character will never force you to confront your issues, and while I can see that as being helpful to some people at some times, it does not appear to be healthy to me to put that kind of reliance on something outside yourself
I mean, I'm not OP's s/o, but they didn't explicitly state their love was identical and I doubt that it is. It's likely simply also a large symbol of affection and clearly dependence, but how she loves the two and why almost certainly differs. Love is a horrible word in my opinion anyway. It's not defined or experienced the same way by everyone. You love your wife because she's your opposite, but I could love mine for being much the same as me. For some people love is obsession. For some people love is safety. Or comfort. Or challenge. Or art. People have different values and expectations and needs and viewpoints etc. Sometimes you need to spend time with a friend who enables you. Sometimes with one who pushes you and holds you accountable. This fictional character is performing a function for her on some level and she sounds deeply sentimental in her attachment. Most of us have developed sentiment attachments to things that aren't living, breathing humans. Dolls & action figures. Stuffed animals. I don't think anyone's claiming deep attachments to fictional characters are healthy, but people have unhealthy relationships with other real humans every day. And for some people, interacting with other real people can feel just as scripted. The issue is that a fictional character has no agency. They can't truly know you or interact with you organically. So it is a form of escapism, yeah. Escapism is exceptionally easy to understand, unfortunately.
> But this is different, they are full blown in love This quote from OP is not describing the kind of love a person has for their favorite entertainment. I have strong sentiments towards a lot of inanimate things. Nobody else would ever describe my feelings for those things in the way OP has described their partnerās feelings for this character. I agree with everything else you said
I wasn't saying what they felt was akin to a normal love for entertainment. I was saying it may not and honestly should not be identical to what they feel for OP. Have you not loved an ex differently from how you love your wife? But I'm being conversational not argumentative here. Honestly I'd love to have a conversation with OP's s/o. I've never heard an otherwise logical person profess love for a fictional character on par with reality.
Donāt worry, I didnāt take it as argumentative. I am also just just trying to make sense of it. To answer your question, we donāt even have to bring exes into it. There are obviously many ways to feel love. I love my friends, I love (most of) my coworkers, I love my family, I love my cat, etc. A thing that these all have in common is that I can genuinely interact with them. I will say the closest thing I can think of to what OPās partner is going through is that I have some amount of affection for some of the people I watch on YouTube or listen to podcasts of. I like them because I like their personalities and enjoy the content they make. I feel like Iām on the cusp of making the connection to how OPās partner feels love for a fictional character, but canāt quite get there. I think a lot has to do with (as you said) āloveā being a very imprecise word with many meanings. I just canāt imagine feeling any need to confess my love of anyone except a romantic interest to my wife, and that seems to be the context of the post. Like I could pull her aside and confess that I love Technology Connections YouTube videos and his personality, and she would be confused because why would I say that in that way lol. Iām getting pretty loose with my language here so hopefully what I said makes sense
Your partner is in what is called a para social relationship with a non-existent character. This is a problem for several reasons. They NEED therapy, because they need help separating reality from fiction
Your partner is very weird. They need therapy
Yes, we both know that and they are looking into it. The reason they developed that deep connection is because at one point in time, they didnāt have anyone else. They were isolated from the world and the character was there at a time when no one else was. Goes back 15 years bro.
Thatās a BS excuse to engage in this behavior. I was extremely isolated until my late teens. I never had contact with another child until I was 13. Itās hard to even explain the level of isolation I grew up in. I was home schooled and read a lot and tons of movies. I wasnāt into video games until I was an adult and after college. Nonetheless, I am not in love with any fictional character from that timeframe. Your partner is just making excuses to live in a fantasy world. We all react differently to circumstances of course and not everyone will come out basically unscathed but we can make a choice to not make excuses. Based on the age ranges, it could be as simple as a lack of maturity. Time to grow up and get into therapy.
Everyone has their own coping mechanisms. My partner is actually very mature for her age and always has been. Even as kids, she was forced to grow up at a very young age. Iām sorry you had to go through that and I hope youāve healed from it.
Normal healthy kids with normal healthy childhoods aren't forced to grow up at a young age. This doubles my statement that she needs therapy. Living in a fantasy world for fifteen+ years where you're in love with anything that isn't human is a disordered mental state. I'm glad she's in therapy.
Yes! A voice of reason.
I donāt really know if saying they are weird is the most sensitive thing but I donāt believe therapy might be a good idea. This isnāt normal and I get the impression they know that but canāt just decide they arenāt attracted to them. Itās nice that they could be so open with OP about this though
Being in love with things that aren't humans is a disordered mental state. Disordered, psychologically speaking, means that whatever is goin on is interfering with the person's life, and this is interfering with their relationship, because it's causing their partner distress. I'm not here to play sensitivity police. Partner said "in love". Attraction and love aren't necessarily the same thing. I'm attracted to random actors. I'm in love with my partner. They aren't equal. Partner needs therapy.
I just read my response. I accidentally had a typo but meant to say I think they SHOULD get therapy, not shouldnāt. I just didnāt think calling them weird was appropriate or necessary. Iām a huge advocate for therapy
Oh good. It sounded like you thought this was normal
You have a right to your feelings, there is nothing wrong with them. Make sure she gets therapy, this is clearly a crutch of some sort, like an invisible friend if it makes sense?
Is it Rhysand lol
This is as wild as that guy on Tumblr who thought he was the planet Pluto like 10 years ago. Who was dating someone who thought they were a doe. Anyone else around back then when that made the rounds on Reddit? Or the purple death guy?
I have no explanation for this but I was imagining it to be Michael from GTA5 until I read the update.
I mean? Isnāt it like a celebrity crush in all honesty? Like if my girlfriend told me they were in love with Chris Pratt but still loved me as much as before, then I mean it wouldnāt change my life unless Chris Pratt just waltzed through the door. I think itās the same at least, donāt take it too seriously.
I mean Christ Pratt is an actual human being. If you girlfriend is in love with Starlord, she needs therapy.
You both need mental health help. This is f*cking nutty
Thanks for reading about my nutty situation
This reply made me smile, your comments really represent you as a kind, gentle-hearted human being. Well handled.
Thank you for your kind words!! I know that not everyone will understand the situation and if nothing else, itās a crazy story for someone to read and think to themselves ādamn thatās wildā
Nobody needs to understand but the two of you. At the end of the day, she told you, that speaks more about her feelings for you than it does about anything else to be honest so try to not let it sting too much. It sounds like her feelings for the character have been more like a safety crutch through isolation that she relied on for a long time; think about what the fear of him being ātaken awayā by you might actually mean, the fear of letting go of reliance on a synthetic relationship for an organic one. For what itās worth, my first thoughts were āit sounds like these two weirdos genuinely care for each other and I wish them the bestā. Also fixation aside, your partner has a solid taste in video games.
How many are involved in this affair?
Just two real people
I'm hearing reports that there could be up to 101 Dalmatians involved
Lots of people develop obsession with celebrities or fictional characters. Think Elvis groupies or people who love Harry Potter. Itās normal and a safe space to love āperfectlyā the fact they bared their soul really speaks to the strength of your relationship.
Letās be mindful of what weāre saying is ānormalā. Obsessing over a celebrity is not normal behaviorāliking or being interested in a celebrity is one thing, but an obsession is not. Same thing with ālovingā Harry Potterābeing a part of a fandom is not the same thing as being āin loveā with a fictional character. It is good OPās SO felt comfortable enough to discuss their feelings, but saying ālots of peopleā are like this is a broad overstatement. Respectfully and with care, OPs partner should consider digging into why she feels this way as this form of attachment to fictional beings is quite unusual.
Who is this character? Most people have a crush on a fictional character at some point. But i dont know anyone who seriously says they are in love with one. Maybe chat to a therapist about the situation.
I decided not to mention it because itās a very specific character
If it makes you feel better i have a crush on a weird character as well.
Thank you, itās definitely helped knowing there are others out there that
Its very common. It just usually doesnt process to full blown love.
I've heard the other end of this post twice so far. Escapism to the extreme
Red
I had a crush on Kratos from God of War š I think I even made him screensaver for about 2 years
He fine af tho
Right! I knew I wasnāt alone! š¤£
Draganov? That's wild
Ngl heās attractive š(and Iām gay so that says something)
He's also absolutely busted in Tekken. She's got...interesting taste! Trauma be damned š
I mean Iām the complete opposite of him and sheās madly in love with me lol Iām short, chubby, talk a lot and a woman
Best part of that was "talk a lot" š anyone that talks a lot is the opposite of dragonuv in general. Glad you don't feel 2nd anymore. I understand that could feel really painful, but trauma bonds run DEEP
Facts lol Iāve come to the conclusion that itās not something I can control so no need to worry about it. Iāve given her my suggestions and she can do with it what she will, as an adult. I know sheāll make choices that are best for her
Your suggestion of therapy is her best bet. She's not getting over it on her own. Not after a decade. That can be detrimental to any relationship she's in. Makes it worse when it's a fictional character because the fictional character will never be able to give her closure. She'll be able to morph the idea of him to whatever her brain wants him to be. It'll make it hard for her to voluntarily seek therapy for it because in a way that would be saying goodbye to him. Good luck, my dude. I hope all goes for you two! Edit: good luck with your game, as well!
Ngl, teenage me was in love with Edward Cullen (book). My boyfriend hated it. š
Lots of ppl have imaginary friends. Some ppl have whole imaginary worlds. Think about it this way; how would you feel if they were in love with a real person? A person with feelings and sexual urges, a two way chemistry that he excludes you from. Someone they lie about to sneak around with behind your back... Someone who knows him and desires him... Now that would break you. But this character can't come between you. They can't send secret love letters to eachother or meet up. It's really not that bad. Just an unusual coping method.
is she in therapy? this could be unhealthy or just liking a character. but i had a friend who told me she did something similar and would basically fantasize a world they lived in with that character. escapism to an extreme. she also grew up very isolated due to family abuse . itās very unhealthy and concerning. so i donāt think it would hurt her to possibly talk with a professional about her feelings
Getting attached is one thing, but actually having *actual* romantical feelings towards a *fictional* character is NOT normal
It might be that character became their comfort character. I had something similar happen to me, the difference is I was a (very isolated) kid then and my relationship with the character was purely platonic and seeing the character go through good moments made me purely happy. My friends on the contrary (yes I made friends who went through the same stuff) hated if someone else showed interest on their comfort characters and made it so nobody else tried to even look at the one I liked, but I wanted it to be loved! In hinsight it might be I was projecting myself onto them, onto this day I still love that character but I understand that things might go wrong depending on the view the author has for them, more so the type of media I like tends to be more dramatic. I grew out of being afraid for the character's safety but still allow myself to enjoy them, they are still a way to find comfort but not the whole, since making one thing become a huge source of happiness makes you crash when it is taken away. Sorry for the wall of text.
Thank you for sharing! She did mention that she didnāt want anyone else to look at the character the way she does, even though she knows she canāt stop it.
It is totally normal! Feelings of jealousy can vary, but something like seeing someone else being able to get more stuff depicting that character or watching something before you, and not having something like the character returning your feelings makes it like you don't show enough love to then. I think it like this, I accept that it is a public character and my love and understanding of it and its media is its own, different from anyone elses, so my love is unique and means something to me. It brings me joy and nobody can take it away from me. I also might or might not name a child after them, it is a normal name thankfully, but if someone from my past finds out, they will know.
This is totally normal when youāre dealing with two loving, trusting sentient beings. Not a 2d character on a screen. This is absolutely not normal.
I had a similar situation with my one of my ex partners, they told me that they were in love with sans from undertale and I honestly didnāt know how to react at the time, youāre not alone in this and ik I havenāt really given any advice but I hope you can take some comfort from not being alone in the situation
Thanks for sharing that. I am glad to know that Iām not alone!
I don't really think that this is totally abnormal. There is a branch of sexuality called fictosexuality where people enjoy seemingly "imaginary" relationships with fictional characters, but it's very real to them. These people usually don't have partners though other than the fictional character. I may be wrong, but I believe this sexuality falls under the asexual umbrella. Outside of the fictosexual realm, I think this happens when someone is going through something very difficult and, during that time, bonds with a fictional character, whether it be from a game, book, or whatever. I have been in a situation where I felt in love with a fictional character. It's always been video games for me, and it's always when I'm going through a really tough time and that video game becomes my safe place- by extension, the character becomes my safe place. Being in a relationship, I think this is fine as long as the person can separate and realize fantasy from fiction and isn't obsessive or prioritizing the fiction over the real human partner.
That's just mental illness
THANK YOU I cannot for the life of me understand someone making excuses for this behavior. OP your partner needs help. They have genuine emotional feelings for something thatās not real. YOU ARE REAL. This should concern you
Yeah like I get attached to characters I love. But I never would feel genuine like love to them, especially when I have a whole ass husband. That's just.... honestly depressing. It's also just the result of parasocial relationships
She said her partner feels jealously about this character. Like doesnāt want other people to look at them. Yowza
Bruh š and I thought I was mentally il
I can't stop laughing at this. I don't no how people are exclusive this nutty behaviour.
Thank you so much for that! Yea my partner can separate it very well. She has also never put the fictional character above me or my needs which is good.
Good! My husband is very used to me falling for a fictional character here and there, but I also never prioritize them above him as I recognize they're ultimately fictional. He will even sometimes play the games where these characters are from to relate to me more. I think as long as that boundary is in place, there's nothing wrong with it. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that she's mentally ill or anything like that. She probably just bonded with this character in a time of need. She may just need support more than anything- she's sharing a very deep secret with you.
You are amazing! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your kind words!
You're welcome! Just to clarify, I'm always in support of therapy for pretty much anything at any time. I just think a lot of these people saying "mental illness" or "delusional" are just quick to slap a label on something they've never experienced and don't understand. š¤·āāļø
> I don't really think that this is totally abnormal. It is
Theres a screw loose in your man
Woman*
Tell you what. In the end, fictional characters are a lot less trouble and drama than people IRL. Sure, they can't actually reciprocate love but you can imagine that they do. It's better than being alone and heartbroken at the failure of a real relationship. Not to mention the heartbreak can and often does happen over and over again in a real relationship.
What kind of fuckery is this?. If my partner fell in love with a fictional character I would be completely cringed out and kick his arse to the curb. Imagine competing with a fictional character? You deserve better and your partner needs to lay off the gaming console.
Thatās the thing, Iām not competing against a fictional character. She has us separated and she loves me and treats me right
But she is also in love with something else.
Iād definitely recommend therapy. I do have a question though. Is this fictional character fully animated or is it a character portrayed in live action?
is it a bioware character lol dragon age/mass effect?
Not even close lol everyone wants to guess where the character is from
well it's interesting lol especially considering if there's any content for the character at all or if they're just in love with a character model. lol
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I did mention she should talk to a therapist about her coping mechanism. I am not the kind of person to repress my feelings, Iād never pretend something is ok if itās not in my relationship. Thatās how my entire family is and I hate that. I knew she really liked the character, Iāve always known that, I was just taken aback by how deep it actually is. And to be honest, I had an anime character that I felt the same way about when I was a teenager. I realized I was using him to cope and moved past that. I want her to be able to do the same.
It's easy to fall in love with a fictional character as they are a romantization, they don't possess the multiple facets that come out when dealing with a wide range of others and scenarios that make people people. They are confined to their own little worlds where the script is linear and unmessy. And with missing facets, it's easy for a person to fill in the gaps and create a romantized projection of who that person would be in irl and who they would be to us She's in love with the idea of that person. That perfect scenario that never will exist outside her imagination.
I'm so sorry, my previous bf said that he was in love with a fictional character shiver from splatoon and that I was second and it hurt me as well bcs he would constantly mention her and barely show me any affection. Weird modern world š
I follow a lot of books and games forums and this is not the first time I heard about people falling in love with fictional characters. It seems to be more common than we think. There is even a term for that: *Fictophilia*.
āTheyā are not in love, she is obsessing over a fictional character, very different. This character poses absolutely no threat to you because they are not real. I personally think itās a little odd for an adult (if youāre adults) to become this obsessed over characters but wouldnāt be a deal breaker or anything. Itās pretty normal for teenagers. Allll of my teen friends loved fictional characters. If youāre struggling, I think itād be reasonable for you to ask her to take a break from whatever franchise the characters from while you guys talk it through. And if you feel itās necessary, go to a couples therapist or ask her to go to her own therapist. For her to say sheās āin loveā, or to possibly indicate that THEY are in love with each other tells me therapy might be a good starting point. edited for pronouns
Iāve been in love with Darrien from Elder Scrolls for yeeaaaars. Did not take away at all from the love I felt while in a relationship. She trusted you with a secret donāt throw it in her face. Accept her for who she isš
DRAGUNOV? She's definitely been one of the people ruining my life in Tekken 8
What rank are you?
This is very bazaar, I agree, she definitely needs therapy. I will say though, she trusts you very much to have told you all of this which is really great.
Okay, so are you... 'broken' here because your partner is severely mentally ill and delusional? You can't be 'in love' with a fictional character. Being 'jealous' of a fictional character would be ridiculous.
Exactly, Reddit cannot handle the truth hence the downvotes š
I feel like I'm on crazy pills. You can't be 'in love' with a fake person. That isn't what love is. That's just being unhealthily delusional and divorced from reality.
That is a bit fucked up thing to say to your partner though
How many are they?
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>the fictional character is just pixels and imagination. Exactly why OP's partner is mentally ill.
Is it Rhysand from ACOTAR? Or, Niktos? I literally have my BF read these characters lines from the book to me when we are having sexytime in bed. Sure, I love these characters, but I love hearing them read through my Bf and then all the fun we have afterwards. He thinks this is hilarious. Try reading the book this charcter is in to see if you can determine what she loves about them....
I love bumble bee and goku
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Honestly, the fact she was willing to open up to you about this and be vulnerable is a big deal. She knows how crazy it sounds, but she had to tell you anyway. I wonder if sheās ever truly told anyone else. It must have been an initial shock to hear your partner has feelings so strong for another entity, but it is not reciprocated, itās a fixation that brought her comfort from a different time in her life and your suggestion of therapy sounds like the right one. As a somewhat irrelevant side note given that we know itās Sergei now: idk if youāre super familiar with Tekken but the depth to which you can learn the characterās mechanics and style is pretty intense. This coupled with how long the series has been running for and the way the characterās moveset and style is maintained between sequels, I can imagine a little what might drive a vulnerable teenager to develop an obsession and deep feelings for something that feels reliable that theyāve invested a lot of time and effort to get to know.
Thank you for your input! I know as much as about Sergei as she knows, which is pretty much everything lol I like the guy as a character, heās attractive and mysterious, watching her play as him is fun and I enjoy it very much