I haven't actually had these pets, but if you imagine having a pet turtle and a pet chinchilla at the same time, then the chinchilla will probably get more attention because chinchillas require more care. And they're also cuter and fluffier and probably more lively. But the turtle might still need attention or do cute things once in a while and you might think "aww, I should show you more attention" and you won't want to give the turtle away, but you might not spend that much time with it either? Or get frustrated that it's stupid and poops in the wrong place and is boring.

And I guess you can argue that this is all in my mind and not based on anything the turtle directly wants from me, but I feel like those things factor into our interaction anyway, because they change my behavior? Because the turtle can't tell me it doesn't want these things either. "Dude, don't worry about it. Just feed me and stuff."

I guess it says a lot about me that my first example of a complicated relationship is basically just a lot of guilt. Oops.