The 'Are They Lovers? Worse' meme originates from the world of online fandom and shipping, often used to describe two characters whose relationship is more intense, chaotic, or deeply complicated than a simple romance. While it gained significant traction within the Genshin Impact community to describe the dynamic between Alhaitham and Kaveh, the format has since expanded to include any duo—from historical figures to fictional rivals—who share an inexplicably close yet tumultuous bond. It taps into the humor of the 'it's complicated' trope, suggesting that some connections are so intense that calling them 'lovers' would actually be an understatement or a simplification of their chaotic reality.