Quadrant System

The Quadrant System is a collection of orientations and forms of attreaction, which are all based around the Troll quadrant romance structure from the online comic Homestuck.

Alternate Names

 * Quadrant-Based Attraction Model
 * Quadrant Spectrum

Pronunciation

 * Quadrant System: QUAH-drent SIS-tem

Definitions

 * The four quadrants are the four different types of romance recognized by trolls ... As humans are socialised to expect their single type of romance, a concept that can be defined by a single symbol (<3), so are trolls conditioned to strive for four distinct types. - MS Paint Adventures Wiki (describing the canon system)

History
The system was first introduced in famous webcomic Homestuck on August 10 2010. In the comic, the quadrant system refers to the types of romance experienced by trolls. While humans only have one form of romance, trolls experience four; matespiritship (the flushed quadrant), moirallegience (the pale quadrant), kismesissitude (the pitch quadrant), and auspisticism (the ashen quadrant).

Although people have used quadrant romance to describe relationships since Homestuck introduced it, mx-princey on Tumblr formalized the terminology on 25 May 2020 for ease of use. In this post, they also coined flags for the four quadrants.

Quadrantromantic along with its flag was coined on the LGBTA Wiki by FANDOM user Literallynotgod on 24 August 2021. It is often conflated with any attraction in the Quadrant System, but actually refers to an aro-spec identity where one only experiences romantic attraction through the quadrant system. It was changed to Quadrantromantic as to not conflict with the existing term quadromantic.

Flushed/Matespiritic
This attraction is most similar to the human concept of romance, and involves attraction and behavior that may be romantic and/or sexual in nature. Flushed attraction is often expressed through actions typically associated with romance, such as kissing, hugging, and sex. A flushed relationship is refered to as a matespiritship, and one's matespiritic partner is a matespirit. The flushed quadrant is represented by the ♥ symbol, or in plain text, <3.

Pale/Moirallegic
This attraction is often compared to queerplatonic partnership, and involves attraction and behavior that may be platonic, queerplatonic, and/or romantic in nature. Pale attraction is founded is founded on a desire to form a deep connection, support, comfort, or otherwise protect and care for a person. It is often expressed though actions typically associated with platonic and queerplatonic love, such as cuddling, hugging, and emotional vulnerability. A pale relationship is referred to as moiralleigance, and ones moirallegic partner is a palemate (informal) or moiral. The pale quadrant is represented by the ♦ symbol, or in plain text, <>.

Pitch/Kismesic
This attraction is often described as hatred combined with sexual attraction or deep desire to better the other, and involves attraction and behavior that may be intellectual, sexual, and/or alterous in nature. Kismesic attraction is founded on hatred or rivalry as well as a deep mutual respect and often sexual attraction. It is often expressed through actions typically associated with sexual attraction and rivalry. The relationship can only function if both involved are consenting, respect one another, are not emotionally harmed (nor physically harmed beyond what is consented to), and are reasonably comfortable with the dynamic. The main stated objective of kismesissitude is to better oneself and one's kismesic partner through rivalry/competition. A pitch relationship is referred to as kismesissitude, and one's kismesic partner is a kismesis. The pitch quadrant is represented by the ♠ symbol, or in plain text, <3<.

Ashen/Auspisic
This attraction is often described as platonic attraction and/or a desire to keep peace in a relationship that one is not in. Ashen attraction is founded on a desire to maintain balance and healthiness in two other people's relationships, especially a kismesic relationship. It may sometimes be considered similar to the concept of agape, or selfless love. It is often expressed through gestures of support, breaking up or preventing fights, and mediating conflicts in a relationship. An ashen relationship is referred to as auspisticism, and ones auspisic partner is an auspistice. The ashen quadrant is represented by the ♣ symbol, or in plain text, o8<.

Subsets

 * Matespiritic
 * Moirallegic
 * Kismesic
 * Auspisic