bakerstreet | the mutual captivity dependency (romance) meme

the mutual captivity dependency (romance) meme

the mutual captivity dependency (romance) meme

No matter how hard you fought, how subtly or overtly you rebelled, or how many times you tried to escape, you ended up at this point all the same: you're a prisoner. Perhaps you're just a regular, run of the mill captive, perhaps a hostage, a science experience, a weapon to be used, yet, no matter what, you're not free.

But you're also not alone.

There's someone else confined along with you, who you met through your mutual imprisonment. The only thing you two may have in common is that you're both trapped here - and that's enough. The two of you grow close (it seems you're closer to them than you've ever been to anyone, but that could just be the situation); soon, something begins to start between you, tiny and delicate. You can't speak to what that something is, not in a place like this, but you know you want it to last. They are another reason to keep going.

Captivity, of course, has a way of stripping everything from you, including reasons to live. Surely, it is only a matter of time before this small - and still somehow world encompassing - comfort is taken from you...

...no. Not this time. They've taken all you have, right down to your freedom, and it stops now. You won't let the person who's become most precious to you in this hell be stolen away.

No matter what.

HOW TO PLAY

Comment with your character and preferences. Are you open to AUs and assumed CR? What are your limits? Given the subject of the meme, there's likely to be triggering material here. Do you prefer very dark fare or a light at the end of the tunnel scenario?
There's one prompt that could be smut, but feel free to play it in others if you're open to it. However, I'm going to be posting this as a smut meme on TLH later this week.
Reply to others. RNG.

PROMPTS

Prisoner of War: Who's side were you on? Or were you just an innocent civilian caught in the mire?

Hostage: Take heart. You're worth more alive than dead.

Scientific Experiment: What an interesting specimen you are. You will have to be tested.

False Charges: One or both of you are here because of lies told against you; eventually, though, you may begin to believe that your worth is truly that low.

Do the Dirty Work: Your powers are useful, maybe even enough to use you as an unwilling assassin.

For Different Reasons: You're imprisoned for different reasons, and you still draw close. After all, does it matter when you're both stuck?

Most Unforgivable Sin: One of you is a prisoner in the most basic of senses: hostage, slave, what have you. The other? Well, it's much more complicated. The other is a person forced against their will to be a lover, spouse, or sex slave of those in charge. What if that other does find someone they actually love? It could cost you both your heads.

Equalized: Maybe you were in different social strata before, but now, you're both common dirt.

Should Be in Charge: One of you has a higher ranking in the system. Will you use your power to manipulate them or to skew things in their favor.

Beneficial: You both have something the other wants. It's a mutually beneficial set-up, and that's all it needs to be. At least, that's how it starts.

Love at First Sight: You never thought you'd see someone like them here, and maybe it's because you've been cut off for some long, but you're feeling so smitten, even if that's usually not you.

Needy: You're not cut out for this. Almost immediately, you reach out for anyone who can offer to take you under their wing.

Won't Fall: To you, it's all to keep yourself sane. You won't actually fall in love, not in a million years.

Traumatized: It's hard to care for someone so broken, someone who's seen such terrible things, but you do it anyway.

Brainwashed: Before you met them, you never doubted your masters. But now...

Flower of Hell: Such a beautiful ray of light should not belong here in this darkness. Cruelty will snuff if out. You don't want that to happen.

Kindness: They showed you an unprecedented act of charity and selflessness. You feel drawn to them.

Tend to Wounds: It's easy to get hurt while captive. At least you don't have to wait for your wardens to fix you up. You have someone kind or dedicated enough to tend to you and you alone.

Anything to Protect You: They can't protect themselves, so you'll do it for them in any way you can.

Using Them: Really, you don't care for them. You just want their protection and their help. At least, that's what you keep thinking.

Burned Before: You had another prisoner before that you loved, and they were sent away or killed. You want let down your guard again.

Human Contact: You've been deprived for so long, you crave any attention.

Can't Touch: You're in cells, kept apart. You can never touch.

Barely See You: There kept away from you and everyone else for most of the day, but you still have feelings for them.

Separate: They're to be taken away, perhaps even to another outpost. What will you do?

Frustration: How long has it been since you've been with someone? You may take any opportunity to get some privacy.

Have Hope: You don't want your partner to lose faith, so despite your own beliefs, you'll stay positive.

Promises: You keep telling them things, swearing that you'll follow through and you'll both be okay. Inside, a part of you may fear it's all hollow words.

Escape: You're going to leave, but not without them.

Punishment: For your crimes, both of you will be punished. How much will your affections mean then?

Forced to Torture: Not only does your closest person have to be tortured, but you're the one who has to do it.

All a Sham: The truth is out. They were only playing you. In fact, they may

Turncoats: Your captors have pitted you against each other.

Fight: You may argue or even come to blows, yet soon enough, you'll be wanting to forgive and forget because there's no one else to look out for you.

Jealousy: They're all you have here, so you're not inclined to share.

Taken by Another: Someone else captured here with you all saw what you had and decided they would steal away your significant other.

Know How to Break You: Your tormenters know they can't hurt you with torture, but if they hurt the one you care for? That's another story.

Death: There's no need for prisoners who won't keep on the straight and narrow. You've pushed the envelope too many times, and now, execution is the easiest option for your captors.

Finally Free: The two of you have finally made it out alive. Suddenly, in the light of day, things seem different. Was all of this, all of these feelings...were they true or out of some desperate need?

WILDCARD

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Unfortunately for Poe, the breakdown wasn't a breakthrough yet.

When he crouched down in front of Kylo Ren, he was met with a confused, somewhat frightened expression. Ren flinched at the touch, expecting there to be pain as he desperately begged the Supreme Leader to forgive him for his weakness.

Some things were just going to take more time...

After just a moment, he let his hand fall away. He did his best to keep his expression carefully blank but it was hard to keep the dismay off his face. This wasn't something he was good at. Flying, yes. Fighting, of course. People to an extent, but this... this was out of his comfort zone. In the back of his mind, he pondered telling Leia he couldn't keep doing this, as much for his sake as it was for Ben's.

Before he moved away, he slowly reached for the cuffs and while he knew it probably wasn't the right time for it, he couldn't keep them on his old friend. It just didn't seem right. A few quick taps of his fingers and the cuffs snapped open. Without another word, he backed away only to settle back against the wall opposite Ben.

It was a show of trust and a clear sign that Poe wasn't afraid of him either. Whatever Ben did with that was up to him.

He flinched again when Poe went for the cuffs, almost jerking his hands away entirely. But when they snapped open and fell into his lap, Ren was absolutely stunned.

If he truly wanted to, he could try and run. The door was unlocked and he was completely unrestrained. Granted, there were enough Resistance guards to stop him from getting very far, but if he truly wanted to, he could make the attempt to return to the First Order.

The cuffs clattered to the floor as Ren shifted. It had been days since he even tried to stand, and it was fairly obvious that he wasn't going to last on his feet for long. Still, he managed to stagger forward a few steps, finally moving into the light. Hunched in dirty robes, his height wasn't nearly as menacing. Greasy hair framed a pale face that he still tried to hide.

He stopped, glancing down at Poe, not exactly sure what was going to happen next.

Dark eyes peered back up at Ben but he stayed where he was. There was no fear in that gaze. No anger. At that moment, the infamous Poe Dameron wasn't the playboy pilot that his reputation seemed to insist on. No, he was simply a man left weary but hopeful that his recent faith hadn't been misplaced.

It was true, he could try to run but the guards weren't that far off and if he tried, it'd likely end in his death. Maybe that was what he wanted. Maybe not. It was up to him to decide.

"You have a place here, if you want it. I'm willing to help you as much as I can, but you have to show everyone that you're not a threat. Don't run. Please."

Faith? In him? After everything he'd done within the First Order? He took another couple of steps toward the open door, but stopped before he reached it.

"...why?"

It was a soft, simple question. Why shouldn't I run? Why would I have a place here? And most importantly, why are you, Poe Dameron, so willing to help me?

Such a simple word. Such a loaded question.

He was surprised that he didn't make a break for it while he could. Poe was hoping that in some way, he trusted him even if he didn't realize it. Even if he didn't, there was still some hope left if he hadn't tried to get away the moment he had the chance.

"Because I think that most everyone deserves a second chance. I won't lie and say that everything you've done can be forgotten. Some still want you to die for all of it. Some think imprisonment is a better option, but some of us think that you deserve another chance. Snoke was in your head for a long time. I know the horror and pain of having someone prying into your deepest thoughts. I want to see how you do when it's Ben Solo in there instead."

Huffing a soft groan, he heaved himself to his feet but made no move to try and stop his companion.

"If you try to leave, you'll be taken by force to be imprisoned. If you stay here, under my care and supervision, you can earn your freedom in time. In a way, helping you... helps me."

He used to be the one prying. His mind was once filled with the thoughts, memories and screams of the First Order's enemies. Now, there was only a deathly silence. Which made it all the more apropos when he turned away from Poe and simply whispered, "Ben Solo is dead..."

Kylo Ren walked to the door, but stopped again when he heard Poe stand. Swaying slightly, he put his hand against the wall to steady himself.

"Ben Solo is dead... He... was weak. I killed him." He chanced a glance back, and realized once and for all that the other man was not going to stop him.

Fate, however, would. And it would make the choice a broken man was unable to make for himself. One moment, Kylo Ren was standing in the light. The next, he dropped to the ground, having fainted from hunger and dehydration.

The dehydration was something the medtechs could handle so without a second glance, Poe had them take charge. Once they'd done all they could in a cell to alleviate the problem, they were sent on their way and Poe followed, making sure the door was secure behind him. As much as he'd hoped things would be different, they just weren't. Deep down, he wondered how much longer he could continue on without any signs of progress.

Maybe he was right. Maybe Ben Solos really was dead. Maybe this was all pointless. He felt like such a failure when he checked in with Leia and even though she encouraged him to keep trying, he felt it pointless. It was like watching a caged animal beat itself brainless against the bars of its cage. It was cruel and Poe hated it. It was in his nature to be stubborn and loyal, but cruel? Never.

Still, he made his appearance the next day, bearing the freshest, most tempting food he could offer. It was a far cry from the mess service offered to prisoners. He didn't saw a word as he approached the other, just settling it in arms reach before he found somewhere to sit himself down.

He never tried to touch him. He never tried to look him in the eyes. He kept conversation as light as he could manage save answering questions that Kylo Ren asked.

Each day, the same thing. He'd arrive, bringing fresh tasty food and himself as company. Questions were answered and stories told. He recounted a few times that Ben had visited his family on Yavin 4. He told him about the last time he'd seen Ben before he left for his training. He told him how much he missed his friend, and that he was proud of him and a little bit jealous since, hey, Luke Skywalker.

This went on for a week until one day, Poe didn't make it. The guards were in a flurry, all tense comments and even tenser nerves. There were whispers of violence and still, Poe didn't show. Every day, food arrived along with supplements that could help counter the effects of malnourishment, but still, no Poe.

It took four more days before he did, and when he did, it wasn't the same Poe. This one was pale and bruised, arm in a sling and stiff backed. He moved like someone that needed a lot more rest and medical attention, and at the moment, he might just agree with that. At the moment, his willpower was the main thing keeping him upright.

"... sorry I haven't been here though I'm sure you didn't miss my nonstop chattering."

Progress was minuscule, but it was there. He didn't eat what Poe brought on that first day in front of him, but the guards reported that he ate at least some of it after he'd left. He didn't make much eye contact, and barely moved? But he listened to the stories, asked more questions, and generally showed far more attention to Poe than he did some of the others that came down that way.

But the biggest change, the guards told Poe, was during the mission.

Kylo Ren couldn't feel the Force. He didn't know what was going on outside that cell, much less neighboring star systems. But there was enough light to tell day from night. He knew Poe wasn't there and how many days he'd been gone.

"He asked about you the day before yesterday." The guard reported sheepishly. "Like he actually came to the door, tapped on it and said, 'is Poe all right?' We didn't know what to tell him, so Jess asked if he missed you."

Apparently, Kylo Ren didn't say a single word after that. He just went back to that corner, silently refusing to acknowledge anyone or anything that came through the door.

But then Poe came back.

Kylo Ren was on his side with his back turned to the door, so it took a moment to notice that he wasn't alone. When he heard the familiar voice, however, his eyes opened. He shuddered a little. Was his mind playing tricks on him? No... No, that wasn't possible now... He sat up, glancing over his shoulder nervously. His eyes traced over every one of Poe's injuries before settling on the ground again.

"You're hurt..."

Well, that was certainly an understatement. Usually, Poe would chuckle wryly and just shrug it off, no big deal. Now, all he did was glance away. He looked beaten. he looked defeated. In truth, he shouldn't even be there. He should still be in the medbay but Poe, as charming as he could be, had conned the techs into letting him out early as long as he promised to behave himself and rest.

This wasn't exactly resting.

Every time Poe left Kylo Ren, he told him he'd be back and he wanted to make sure he knew that he meant what he said. Just because Snoke had abandoned him didn't mean everyone else would. For now, he felt like they both needed something familiar.

"... yeah. It's been a rough few days."

Had he said the first thing that came to his mind, It would have been the Supreme Leader's mantra, 'focus on the pain. It's good for you. It will make you stronger.' But that didn't seem all that empowering anymore. In truth, he wasn't sure what to say.

"...What happened?"

"You actually care?"

The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it. There was no real heat behind it, just weary frustration. There might have been anger behind it if he'd told him to focus on his pain but in a way, he was right and honestly, the pain had been a constant companion for the last few days. There were few moments that he wasn't focused on it, even if he wasn't wanting to.

Sighing, he mumbled an apology before he let himself lean against the wall. Sitting down was something he sorely wanted to do, but that would just make his ribs hurt more and getting up was a chore at the best of times right now. It took him a moment, leaning there with eyes closed as he tried to focus on something else.

"Escort mission gone wrong. There are still pockets of loyal First Order troops. We were escorting senators and high ranking officers to 'peace talks', trying to ease things a bit but... they set off a bomb."

The immediate assertion made Ren curl back in on himself.

He remembered the Supreme Leader's warnings on the subject of sentimentality and how it brought down the great Galactic Empire. But at the moment, he struggled to actually berate himself for it like he should. All the stories Poe kept telling - the two of them were friends, once. Friends were... supposed to care... Right?

He glanced back up when Poe described their latest mission. That was not a move the First Order would normally make. They engaged to demonstrate their military prowess, not to resort to guerrilla tactics and minor acts of terrorism. It reeked of desperation, whether it was successful or not.

"Were I leading that charge, there wouldn't have been any bombs." He whispered. He didn't mean for it to sound like a threat, but it might have.

It did reek of desperation. The First Order was dying out, the remnants trying to keep themselves relevant as they scrambled to survive and until now, their scuffles with the Republic had been mostly cosmetic and collateral damage. This time, they'd been a good deal more successful. Several senators had been killed and those that weren't wouldn't be leading the political charge for change and reform anytime soon.

The military had lost a decent chunk of their leadership as well. That single action had shoved Poe up the ladder of rank far faster and further than he ever wanted to be. For now, and for the foreseeable future, he was grounded and he hated it.

Ren's words made his gaze settle heavy on him, lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to lash out at anything that even smelled like the First Order and right there before him, he had a target. It'd be so damn easy, but he wouldn't. That wasn't Poe. No, instead, he closed his eyes with a sigh and gingerly straightened up as if preparing to leave again. There was no telling if the pain on his face was from his injuries or the uneasy feeling of failure that knotted his gut.

"Well, it was effective enough without your help."

Poe's heavy gaze and pursed lips were met with a very torn expression.

First Order rhetoric still played, first and foremost, in his mind. He couldn't stop himself from relishing in the victory won by the Supreme Leader and his forces. But that battle contained none of the 'order' that drew him to the First Order in the first place. (He remembered it more clearly now - the chaos of a post-war childhood he yearned to escape from, lying awake at night and listening to the soothing voice in his head that always said he was more powerful than they led him to believe.)

Other thoughts surfaced - including a hypoethetical scenario in which he could have been there - not with the First Order, but with Poe. He could have used the Force to shield them from the blast... But no. That would never happen. That couldn't happen...

Silence stretched between them for an uncomfortably long amount of time before he finally just whispered, "...I'm sorry."

The look on his face suggested he did, in fact, mean it.

If anyone understood being a post war child, it was Poe. The thing that had made the difference for him was the simple fact that his parents had removed themselves from the chaos that was left behind. Ren's hadn't. Really, what could they expect? He was one of the legendary Skywalkers. To Poe, Ben had always been meant for great things. Seeing him there, so damn broken, felt like a failure on everyone's part.

The apology was unexpected. To see the sincerity on Ren's face was shocking. For just a moment, Poe once again thought that just maybe, his old friend could be redeemed. Of course, that thought was fleeting thanks to his failure up until now. He had absolutely no idea how else to try and reach him. Poe wasn't normally one to give up, but for the first time, he might've bitten off more than he could chew. If that was the case, he'd not only be letting Leia down, he'd be letting Ben down.

"So am I."

About everything.

He stood slowly and picked up the plate of food that he still hadn't touched. He carried it over to Poe, and hesitantly held it out for him. It was an offering, more or less, something vaguely sentimental that probably felt as alien to Poe as it did him.

If Ben Solo was supposed to be a shining star, then Kylo Ren was a supernova - volatile, powerful on the verge of exploding and taking the entire galaxy down with him. Unfortunately, when the dust cleared, all that was left was a black hole that was, perhaps, neither wholly Kylo Ren nor Ben Solo.

It was a thought no one had really considered until he replied, with just as much sincerity and a trembling arm still outstretched, "...and I'm sorry Kylo Ren killed your friend..."

It was the first time in a while that Poe actually looked at Ren. He could see the unease in him. He could see that he'd been wrong. Sure, there he was right there before him, no hint of violence or attempt to escape. There was also no hint of his old friend and the failure settle even deeper into Poe's gut.

Slowly, he let his gaze drop to the plate that Ren held between them and oddly enough, a smile twisted his lips. It wasn't one born of laughter, even if his face was more suited to it. No, this was sadness and a quiet acceptance that he hadn't wanted to show. His fingers finally curled around the edge and when he took it from the other man, he didn't look back up.

"Me too."

With that, he turned to leave knowing that he'd been wrong all along. Ben Solo really was gone.

He watched Poe leave, and the closed door was latched.

The emptiness inside cut deeper than anything he could remember. For a moment, he was a small child, forty hours awake and counting, searching desperately for a familiar freighter in the sky. Then he was a man, kneeling before his master, both dreading and anticipating the next attack. He was running from the chaos. He was begging to come home. He was bleeding out into the snow. He was in a cell, wondering if his only friend was gone for good this time.

Kylo Ren stood watching that door for an hour or more before he finally turned away. He curled up in the corner, silently resigning himself to the void in his heart.

For a while, he pondered if he should even go back. People told him that someone can't be helped unless they want to help themselves, but Poe wasn't one to give up. It was hard, though. He was discouraged and tired of reaching out only to be withdrawn from each time he tried. It was disheartening, even to the most stubborn of souls.

The next day almost passed without a visit, but he knew that, for as bad as he felt, Ren more than likely felt lost. For now, Poe was all he had and he wouldn't take that away from him no matter how much it hurt to see him like that. When he finally showed, it was late.

The door clicked open and he slipped in as quietly as he could manage. For the first time, he wasn't in uniform and it was clear by the loose curls atop his head that he was fresh from a shower. In his hands was a bowl and by the smell of it, it was something freshly prepared. Without preamble, he crossed the room and settled the bowl next to Kylo Ren then moved back to sit himself down close by.

As usual, he didn't touch him.

There was no way to hide the hiss of discomfort as he settled himself down but there was no other complain from him. After a long few moments of silence, his voice split the dimly lit room.

"I realized something last night. I've been wrong. I came in here expecting Ben Solo. That's who I've been trying to reach, but... maybe he really is gone. It's not... fair of me to keep pushing you for that. I want to help you, but I don't know how. This... you aren't someone I know. You aren't Ben, but you aren't the same person that tortured me, either. I'm sorry for assuming so much."

He didn't acknowledge the guards when they brought food to replace what he'd obviously given to Poe, or when they brought something else the next day. He didn't even move. But when Poe did finally return, Kylo Ren weakly sat up.

He winced empathetically as the injured pilot lowered himself to the ground, a little closer than he usually did. He gave the bowl a quick glance, but it wasn't as important to him as the other man and what might be the last time he'd ever return.

Any time might be the last time. The more he looked back on it, his life was full of 'last times,' more often than not, his fault.

"Ben Solo... is dead."

His voice quivered, fearing that uttering those words, even in the face of an apology, would be the beginning of the end. He glanced down at his own hands. The gloves were gone, and the sleeves of his pleated cloak were filthy and frayed.

"...I don't know what Kylo Ren is anymore."

In a way, he knew. He'd resigned himself to that fact the night before. In private, he'd mourn the loss of his old friend, but while he was in the cell with Ren, he'd keep it separate. In Poe's mind, he hadn't been the only one to kill Ben off. Snoke held a good deal of responsibility for that and it was something that Poe would happily pay back. He wans't a man prone to violence, but if given the chance, he'd sacrifice his own life to choke the life out of that monster.

For a long, silent moment, Poe watched his companion. There was concern in his gaze. Was Ren just biding time until he finally died? Was he intending on starving himself? Did he even think he could save him? He'd helped save him from those that wanted him executed along with Hux, but could he save him from himself? From the dark that still lurked in his soul?

Poe wished he had the answers.

"Well, maybe that's what we're here to figure out. Like I said, I want to help you as much as I can, but you need to talk to me. I need to know what you're thinking and I really need you to start trying to take care of yourself. Like, eating. That's why I brought you something I made. Something my dad taught me when I was younger. It's simple, but it'll fill you up and it's pretty damn good. At least, I think it is."

The offer stunned him for a moment. He had the memories of Ben Solo and Kylo Ren. He had been both of those people at some point in his life, but trying to discern what was truly left of either was a devastating task. Poe, though... Poe wanted to help him. If he could figure that out, maybe... maybe there would still be something left of his life to cling to.

First thing's first. Talk to him. Tell him what was floating around in his mind. He drew a shaky breath, and forced himself to look Poe in the eyes.

"I don't think a day went by where Ben Solo wasn't haunted by the darkness. And I know there wasn't one where Kylo Ren wasn't haunted by the light... I always thought one was the opposite of the other. But I was wrong. It is far worse... to be haunted by nothing."

Nothing, as in nothingness. As in emptiness. Every bit of passionate adventure in Ben Solo and violent rage in Kylo Ren came from the same living Force. Remove that, and you might as well remove someone's very soul. He still felt emotion, especially fear. He still ached at the prospect of loneliness. But he was still a caged man in a cell. He had no intentions, just resignations. He really was just biding his time, as there was no purpose left other than to eventually die.

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the mutual captivity dependency (romance) meme

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... Our redemption arc has really taken a sad turn.

These two are just sad. I think it can work, though.

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