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Need to make a character page for both Gameboys & Pearl Next Door in the future...

[] character page for Gameboys

[] list all tropes here, then narrow down purely character tropes

[] move purely character tropes to character page

Add the following tropes:

• something about Gav's room in disarray when he's depressed

To minimize spoilers on the following entries:

• Affectionate Nickname:
  • Pearl calls her ex Gav "Babe". This naturally causes problems for Gav's current pursuits. She eventually extends this to include Cairo too.
  • Pearl also calls Cairo "Boylet" & "Baby Boy"
  • Terrence and Gav apparently used to call each other "Love"

• Amicable Exes:
  • Gavreel with Pearl.
  • Gav also tries to be this with Terrence at his request, until he tries to sabotage his current relationship with Cairo.

• Best Friend: Pearl to the two leads. Cairo & Gavreel will often consult her first for any problems in their relationship.

• Better as Friends: Pearl & Gavreel.

• Bilingual Bonus:
  • See Aren't You Going to Ravish Me? above.
  • Sanaol / Sana-all = (lit. wishing that of everyone). Most common context is to say it sadly because you specifically don't have it. You'll find Cairo's subscribers commenting it when Gavreel is being cheesy. Thus you may not pick up that Cairo's viewers are picking up on the romance.
  • When Gavreel, while en route to him, was telling Cairo to take a shower:
    (translated subtitles)Gavreel: I even scrubbed my body for you.
    (original)Gavreel: Ako nga naghilod, pati singit eh. (I scrubbed my body real good, even my groin!)
  • Cairo's ending response when asked by Gavreel what he wants to do while lying down in bed with him at the end is translated in english subtitles as "It's up to you, baby". While a valid translation of "Ikaw, baby", the line can also be translated as the more direct "You, baby".

• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Terrence. At first he projects this scorned but concerned ex of Gavreel to Cairo by sowing doubt about Gav's advances. He is also concurrently trying to rekindle his relationship with Gav behind Cairo's back. He grows out of it in later episodes though.

• Blatant Lies: Terrence in his story asking if he ever cheated on someone. He cheated on Gavreel with a girl when he was grieving his recently deceased grandmother. Pearl chews him out on this.

• Bookends: Cairo & Gavreel's relationship starts with the latter asking "Pass or Play" ? Reversed in Episode 10, which was supposed to be the end of an already extended run.

• Call-Back: Episode 13 in spades.
  • See Bookends
  • The polo Cairo is wearing in Episode 10 is the same one he wore the first time he and Gav were supposed to meet in Episode 3&4.
  • Pearl waking up Gavreel to meet Cairo at the airport before he leaves in the finale parallels her egging Cairo to get ready to meet Gav in Episode 3, right down to almost walking out the door with no shirt.
  • Likewise, Pearl reassuring a discouraged Gavreel to meet Cairo, only for Cairo to appear right behind him parallels practically the same event happening earlier in Episode 10, but with roles reversed..

• Cannot Spit It Out:
  • Episode 5: Cairo on his doubts about Gavreel's intentions, or who even about who fed him the information.
  • Episode 11-13: Gavreel on his whole feelings about Cairo moving away to Bukidnon.

• Change the Uncomfortable Subject: Gavreel, unsuccessfully. Look at Gav's increasing panic when Cairo asks about Pearl's most recent Ex. Pearl & Cairo shut him up and continue to discuss how the guy was really sweet when they had a virtual relationship, but the sparks died out when they actually met, furthering Cairo's insecurities.

• Chekhov's Gun:
  • Early in Episode 2, Gavreel mentions that he only has a roommate. Later that same episode, we find out that this is his ex-girlfriend and best friend, Pearl. Used again in Episode 13, when Pearl enters the house to join the couple without issue.
    Gavreel: How did you get in?!
    Pearl: Rolls eyes. Shows keys. Duh! I used to live here, remember?
  • Pearl offhand mentioning that both she & Gavreel just had a swab test earlier in Episode 13. The results lead to The Big Damn Kiss and the Power Trio reuniting in person.

• Creator Cameo: Director Ivan Payawal drives the brown Innova fake-out in Episode 4. You can also see the names of various people involved in production sprinkled around as social media accounts.

• Defrosting Ice Queen: Cairo. He starts the series grumpy & annoyed at Gavreel's advances. Through the episodes you can see him slowly warm up to Gav, culminating in fully accepting Gav's Baby and even comfortably using the nickname back.

• Dutch Angle: Pay attention to Cai's screen in the aftermath of his and Gavreel's fight.

• Forced Out of the Closet: Cairo, courtesy of his former best friend Risa.

• Foreshadowing:
  • Terrence can be seen liking Pearl's posts, and in Gavreel's Vidgram photos before he is properly introduced in the story.
  • Cairo's Childhood Friend, Wesley, seems a little too enthusiastic about Snape's childhood crush on Lily Potter. If you were also paying attention amidst Gavreel roasting him, he talks about Cairo extensively as the inspiration for one of his paintings.
  • If there was any doubt, there a Freeze-Frame Bonus in Episode 12 where you can read "Be With Me" on his shirt while on a call with Cairo.
  • The references to magic & the number seven in the acquaintance Terrence meets in the dating app might clue you in that the person he's speaking to is actually Wesley.

• Friendless Background: Prior to the story, it doesn't seem like Cairo has any other significant relations outside of his family. And even then you can feel that there's a thorn in his relationships with his mom & brother. Justified in that his prior relations were probably undermined by being Forced Out of the Closet by his former best friend Risa. Gives much more layers to...
  Cairo: I said I'm not jealous! I thought you could be my friend. It was stupid of me to expect anything from you. We're just strangers online.

• Geeky Analogy: Used to heartbreaking effect when Cairo compares how motivated he is to master a game only to forget it when a new game comes along to Gavreel's advances.
  Cairo: You know, every time I discover a new game, I just want to master it in every way. I want to level up fast, especially if it's a difficult game. Once you've mastered a game and a more exciting game comes along, you forget about it.

• Guilt Complex: One significant dimension to Cairo's hesitation of entertaining Gavreel's advances is that he feels being gay caused his dad contracting & dying due to COVID-19. See also My Greatest Failure. This is why he asks forgiveness for it from his mom later on.

• Hates Being Alone:
  • Gavreel. Imagine losing both your parents, the grandmother who raised you, & getting cheated on by your boyfriend while you're grieving said grandmother.
  • Also Terrence being desperate to talk to ANYONE as revealed in Episode 13.5.

• She Is Not My Girlfriend: Cairo, in true Tsundere fashion, refuses to call Gav, "Baby" for much of the story. Pearl is ecstatic when she finally hears Cai call Gav "Baby" back.

• Hidden Depths:
  • When they first meet in person, Gavreel admits that despite the boundless confidence he has always showed, he was also scared that Cairo might drive him away when they actually meet.
  • The effeminate Achilles is shown to be lifting weights.

• Incurable Cough of Death: Averted with Gavreel after unsuccessfully trying to visit Cairo. He never displays symptoms again, and is confirmed negative via swab test for the finale. The scare due to cough being a symptom of COVID-19 Pandemic is real though.

• Incompatible Orientation: Pearl jokingly reminisces with Gavreel how he refused to kiss her when they were together. Tragically, this is also the reason for Cairo turning down Risa, his long-time best friend who confessed to him.

• Jerkass Has a Point: While it was underhanded of him to try to drive Gavreel & Cairo apart, Terrence asks important questions during their confrontation.
  Terrence: You'll fight for him? Will he also fight for you? And in the first place... does he even like you?

• Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Gavreel. Deconstructed later by giving more focus to his fear of abandonment with Cairo moving away with his family to Bukidnon.

• My Greatest Failure: Cairo, when he ran away in fear when he was outed to his family. His father got sick of COVID-19 while looking for him, and eventually passes away. His older brother London is upset with him over this. The two siblings get better, though.

• Not Good with Rejection:
  • Gavreel. During big confrontations he'd rather end conversations abruptly than get rejected.
  • Also Cairo's best friend Risa outs him to his parents, and publicly by posting.
  • Averted with Achilles.

• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: You know it's his lowest point when Cairo, who has not taken a swig of alcohol the entire time, ends up drinking in the car with several bottles in the backseat.

• Parental Favoritism: Part of the reason London is upset with Cairo could be read as this.
  London: You're probably his favorite. That's why even though it would compromise his health, he went looking for you. You didn't have to run away. He'd understand.

• Parents as People: Mommy Leila asking for support from Cairo for the family to stick together in moving to Bukidnon can appear overbearing for western cultures. It also doesn't help that she kind of guilt trips Cairo into it. But then again, she did just lose her husband, and her family's financial situation isn't looking great.

• Parental Obliviousness: Averted with Mommy Leila. She mentions knowing all along about Cairo's sexuality when apologizing to him. She's also not fooled when he says his t-shirt & pillowcase were from his "fan".

• Pair the Spares: Terrence & Wesley. Reinforced by Episode 13.5

• Power Trio: Cairo, Gavreel, & Pearl.

• Real Life Writes the Plot: Being shot & set amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines, the virus and it's effects permeate the story.
  • Various social media posts on characters' walls reference COVID-19 case numbers, health and safety reminders, or posts people would make in response to the pandemic.
  • The constant acknowledgement of travel restrictions (e.g. Gavreel is only able to deliver food to limited places because food delivery is one of the essential industries, and having the necessary permits to do so).
  • You can feel the general anxiety of being separated from loved ones & fear of infection from practically anywhere in almost all episodes.
  • Cairo mentions being the only one in his household allowed to get groceries. Part of Enhanced Community Quarantine measures is only allowing one member of each household to go out for critical errands.
  • We see Pearl disinfecting her groceries outside while talking with Gavreel, even asking him sarcastically if the (epidemiological) curve has been flattened.
  • Mommy Leila is cleaning a family condo unit in case Cairo's father gets discharged, as well as isolating in it when she gets exposed to a lot of people while getting his ashes later.
  • Gavreel mentioning the possibility of localized stricter quarantine measures if a COVID-19 positive case was discovered in your area.
  • Part of what makes the both of the Big Damn Kiss scenes iconic is how they take precautions against the virus to do it (a disinfected plastic barrier for the first one, and both parties being swab test negative for the second one).
• Repeated for Emphasis: Pearl? Pearl?! Pearl.
  Pearl: (after being accused of something) Me? Me!? Me again??!!
  Pearl: (after waiting for someone's tirade to end) Are you done? Are you done? (continues talking)
  Pearl: (moments when the pair are meeting) OH MY GOD!! That's him! That's him!! That's HIIIIIIIIM!

• Relationship Sabotage: Terrence's plan to win Gavreel back. There's also something not quite platonic about how he 'advises' Cairo about Gavreel.

• Relationship Upgrade: Arguably occurs at the end of Episodes 8 and/or Episode 10. Visual confirmation is in Episode 12, where Gavreel's & Cairo's statuses no longer say that they are single.

• Single Tear: Cairo
  • Almost when at first he thinks that Gavreel might not accept his rap apology.
  • When he see Gavreel cry due to uncertainty of Cairo moving to Bukidnon.
  • Part of the buildup to the last Big Damn Kiss.

• The Big Damn Kiss: The Stingers of Episode 10 & especially Episode 13 gives us two amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, complete with lampshaded safety protocols.
  • In Cairo & Gavreel's first meeting in person, Gav prepares a disinfected plastic barrier with arm slots for both of them so they can finally hug. The look of genuine joy in their eyes to experience something discouraged even for household contacts was priceless. After much buildup, the couple take off their facemasks and kiss through the barrier.
  • After a surprising reunion, and talking through the issues that caused their biggest fight yet, Gavreel receives the result of his swab test. Cairo lampshades that they are both negative as he was supposed to fly with his family to Bukidnon. Cue an epic 3-minute sequence of Gav taking off their facemasks, and a passionate 52-second around-the-world skin-to-skin kiss to end the season.

• The Beard: Michelle was this for Terrence.

• The Grovel: Terrence.

• True Companions: Cairo, Gavreel, & Pearl again.

• Uke: Cairo is the emotionally-withdrawn Tsundere of the leads. Justified in this being his first relationship, and his father being sick with COVID-19 & his overwhelming guilt for having caused such. He gets better & more proactive in the relationship when the latter is resolved.

• Wham Line: Translated:
  • Episode 2: "Wait, I'll call him. Gav. Gav! Babe!" Cue visible heartbreak & anger from Cairo.
  • Episode 4: Cairo to a viewer: "Welcome! What's your username so we can play? ... GavreelsOnlyLove...??"
  • Episode 8:
  Gavreel: "Baby, did you change your username?"
  Cairo: "Ah, yes. It's now 'Gav'sBaby' ", doubles as the first time Cairo openly reciprocates Gavreel's affections.