the betrayal/redemption meme

[earthking]

BETRAYAL MEME

You have done something unspeakable to the people closest to you. How did this come to be, and how will you make amends?


Instructions

Post with your character with their name, series, and whether you're the betrayer, the betrayed, or simply leave it blank! Then, either make up your own scenario to your liking, or use our prompts (RNG totally optional) and go wild!

(Example: for organization's sake, denote b3+2 where you killed someone and are trying to hide it or r5+3 for a situation where you side-hopped and now want nothing more than to make things right, so that people know at a glance whether you're betraying or being redeemed and what you did.)

betrayal; you've turned your back on everything you once stood for

1) you're innocent. it's not your fault, but they can never know. maybe you're protecting someone. maybe you're being blackmailed. whatever the case, it's your dark secret.
2) you're hiding. you've done something terrible, but no one knows it yet. how far will you go to bury what you've done for good?
3) you're uncertain. everything is in place now, but nothing's been set into motion yet. maybe it's not too late to turn back. or is it?
4) you're slipping. you thought you could change. maybe for a while you even managed to. but now you find yourself falling back to your old ways, and everyone around you is at risk.
5) you're reacting. they betrayed you first. you're not in the wrong. they deserve this. they brought this upon themselves. you're not really betraying anyone if they pushed first.

redemption; you've done something that can never be forgiven

1) you're trapped. they caught you red-handed, or maybe you turned yourself in. now those you betrayed are free to face you one by one and have their revenge.
2) you're false. this whole betrayal thing isn't working out quite the way you'd hoped. maybe if you play your cards just right, you'll be able to get your old life back.
3) you're selfless. whatever forced your hand to begin with doesn't matter anymore. you'll destroy yourself and play the role of a villain to the very end if that is what it takes to make things right.
4) you're lost. what you did was wrong, and you know that now. you can never be sorry enough, and you've lost your way. all you want to do is find home. won't anyone out there show you the way?
5) you're tortured. you have to make amends for what you've done. you have to. the thought consumes you, possesses you. you have to find them, help them. but after what you've done, will they even want to see you again?

what you've done;

1) you sold them out
2) you killed
3) you joined the other side
4) you stole
5) you lied
6) you simply are. you were never 'good' to begin with.

Comments

Merlin | BBC's Merlin

[destinedtobeunpopular]

1 | b1

[pratful]

That will be all Merlin. You can have the rest of the day off as well if you like.

[ Arthur dabs lightly at his chin, cleaning off the grease from his mid-morning breakfast. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[...now that is just not right at all.]





Really?

[pratful]

Well, after you draw my bath. I trust that won't take too long.

[ now shoving aside his plate and looking rather pleased with himself. It's all forced however. He's feeling wretched inside. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

You never give me time off. Is this a trick? Are you messing with me?

[pratful]

Nope. Just thought you might need it. You've been looking a little peeked lately.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Have I? I'm pretty sure I've been feeling quite alright lately.

[Better than a lot of the time, in fact.

A part of him is wondering what the hell he's doing, questioning that when he could be actually getting time off and do whatever he would like which, indeed, never happens. But a bigger part of him has this nagging feeling that there is something very wrong with it, and that he shouldn't just accept it because that would be bad.]

[pratful]

Oh. Well then. My mistake.

[ He fidgets with his knife, looking at anything but Merlin. Seriously, this was all well and truly vexing. He hadn't wanted to say anything but it had just kind of slipped. What's one supposed to do, really, when one thinks his servant might... When he might...

jkl; He's not going there again! ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Nope, rather than go draw that bath (just yet) and then leave, Merlin will be placing his palms on the desk and leaning down to peer closely at Arthur. Something is definitely off here.]

Are you alright, Arthur?

[pratful]

Perfectly fine. [ still not looking, even if that means he has to crane his neck back to accomplish it. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Why are you not looking at me?

[pratful]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe that's because you smell.

[ he winces, slightly, at the lie. So many lies recently. Piling one on top of the other... ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

...

[Despite being worried, he can't help but laugh at that.]

That's the best you have?

[pratful]

Well, you positively reek. Have you been scrubbing out the leech tank again?

[ shoving Merlin back ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[He stumbles a few steps, and gives Arthur a look that hopefully doesn't give away too much amusement. He can act too.]

Luckily, no. But you should be able to look at me just fine, even if I smell, right?

[pratful]

[ ugh, hit him where it hurts! Steeling his pride, he does look for all of three seconds before he stands up and starts to take off his shirt because, bath.

But then he stops, and puts that shirt back on. ]

You know what. I think I'll go practice. I'll take that bath later.

[ making a beeline for that door! ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Arthur--

[Well, fine. He'll just follow! Arthur may have dismissed him but... since when does he listen, right?]

[pratful]

[ he stops hand on the door. ] You're not going to leave me alone, are you.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Good boy, you guessed it!]

No.

[pratful]

[ he crosses his arms, looking entirely mulish and... is that a slight hint of fear in his eyes? ]

Why? You surely have better things to do with your time then follow me around like some love starved puppy.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Probably, but you're acting weird and I feel it's an obligation to make sure you don't do something stupid.

[Like get yourself into danger and die. Since that kind of screws up this destiny they supposedly share and whatnot.]

[pratful]

Well I'm not going to do anything stupid. Again. [ another cough, to cover that slip of the tongue up. ]

I've given you the day off. Can't you think of something better to do with your time? [ please, please, please say yes. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

...

[And, you know, he does believe he heard that. So... he looks at Arthur for a while, in silence, but decides not to ask. Yet.]

You know, I don't think I want to.

[pratful]

[ have a baleful glare ] Do you really have to be this difficult. [ two can play at this game! ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Actually, yes, I do.