Bodyguard? Lover? The lines are blurred, now.

[mirrormirrormeme]

PROTECTOR/PROTECTED shipping meme

There’s no real push to your actions; you do them as if they were second nature. Perhaps, initially, you were assigned this role, as protector and guardian of this person. Maybe you took it on because there was no one else. A natural guardian or not, good or evil, you caught a shining to them and felt…something. Something hard to explain, but you want to keep them safe and happy - or at the very least, content. No one is as dedicated to them as you. You want them to reach their goals; to help them achieve them, you'll do what you must, even if it means being their gofer or their right hand. But most of all, you don't want them to end up like you. They're worth more than that. Yet somehow, along the line, you became more to them, more than just their protector. You protect them anew and you've found a different way to make them happy. It's selfish, too, because you love them in your way and you want them more than anything. You may feel guilty, of course. They don't, though, and that's what matters. Comment with your character, preferences, and what you'd prefer to play: protector or protected. Remember, you don't have to be so rigid. A traditionally weak character can "protect" a traditionally strong one in emotional ways. Reply to others. Promise ✖ You told them you would take care of their lover, no matter what. You intend to follow through with that. Close ✖ What are friends for if not taking care of unfinished business? Debt Owed ✖ Kindness or favor has to be repaid, even if it's an investment in someone else. Atonement ✖ Whether or not you particularly cared for the person who's gone is irrelevant. You just need to make up for past sins. No Good ✖ You're taking care of the one left behind, but not out of good intentions. There may be ulterior motives here - no, there are definitely ulterior motives here. Or maybe this is the one good thing you've done in your life. Guilt ✖ It's your fault that you're here and their significant other isn't. It's a paltry repayment. Bearer of Bad News ✖ You can't blame them for wanting to shoot the messenger. You are telling them their lover is dead. Related ✖ In days past, the living partner would be cared for by their dead partner's family. As a sibling or cousin of the deceased, you want to continue that tradition and take care of "family." Wo/man Up ✖ Actually, their lover isn't dead, they're just dead to you, unable or unwilling to take care of business. You're stepping up. Friends ✖ You were all friends before, so it's only natural for you to want to look out for them now. Derisive ✖ ...this is the person they loved so much? This is who you're supposed to protect? Pathetic. Resentful ✖ You can never forgive them. They're the reason your lover is dead, no matter how they treat you. What They Saw in You ✖ You're beginning to see why someone would love them, how they'd want to give up their old ways and change. It's almost...nice. Warming Up ✖ If you didn't get along at first, the claws are being put away now. It's better to at least be civil, isn't it? Still in Danger ✖ Whatever killed one half of the pair is still out there, and the other half is in danger themselves. Other Complications ✖ Not only did your mutual acquaintance leave behind a lover, but also children. You find yourself getting closer and closer to them, too, even if they aren't yours. Compromised ✖ You can't look after them with a level head. You love them. Can't Love Again ✖ You've lost before. You can't risk losing again, can you? Out of the Dark ✖ One or both of you find yourselves in a hole. You can barely eat, hardly sleep, and depression has taken hold of you. Together, though, you may find the light and a way out of despair. First Time ✖ Simply what it says. You two have taken your relationship to the next level. Changed ✖ Before, you were bitter. Hard. Jaded. Now, helping someone - specifically, helping this person - has brought a new kind of joy into your life. You could get used to it. Easily and dangerously used to it, to be brutally honest. You shouldn't allow it. Living Together ✖ You can take care of them more throughly if you're in the same place as they are, obviously. Hidden Jealousy ✖ When their lover was alive, you were jealous of everything they had - including the fact that they had the person you're looking after now. Admitting this may make you feel like the most awful person in the world. Secrets Revealed ✖ Eventually, your involvement with the death of their beloved will come out, and they will never be able to look at you the same way. Dependent ✖ Replacing one unhealthy habit with another, you've become utterly dependent on your relationship with your caretaker, your guardian, your lover. Won't Be a Replacement ✖ You can't help but feel as if you're merely serving as a stand in for what they've lost. It's understandable, yet you still can't allow yourself to be that and only that. Not Really Gone ✖ What is dead should stay dead, but what if who you thought was gone isn't really out of the picture? Will they be happy with finding someone else so cozy and in love with their special someone? The Same Mistakes ✖ You're falling into the same patterns that lead to their death. Will you meet the same fate? Who's Helping Who ✖ You think you're taking care of them and helping them through their loss. Is that the case? But who's never been this happy before in their life? Move On ✖ It's time to put ghosts to rest and let old demons go. You can't let your life become a graveyard. Tragedy ✖ The ending is unhappy or even deadly for both of you. Happy Ending ✖ In contrast to the above, you're both able to live as together as happily as you possibly can, whatever can be allowed. WILDCARD

Comments

ryuji takayama ( ring: the final chapter ) ota

[accursing]

[ likely the protector! loving and gentle to who he protects, fierce and angry and merciless to anyone that might hurt them. ryuji's programmed to NEED someone to take care of lest the hatred and violence in his dna take over, so in a way he's also being "protected" himself. ]

Leo | Fire Emblem Fates

[brynhildr]

[ Either! Protector or protected. Will respond to anyone, but where my retainers at.]

snow white | mirror mirror

[madeofmore]

[ either role ]

gaby telller | the man from u.n.c.l.e

[hacken]

[ either role possible. ]

Rory Monroe ★ OC

[from_dawn_till_busk]

(Protected)

[agilis]

[ How about a crosscanon retainer? Any prompts you're particularly interested in doing? ]

[brynhildr]

[Yes please, thank you for your response!
Oh boy oh boy I'm down for any of these. I'm very much leaning toward 26, 6, or even a wildcard. Which role would you like to fill?]

[agilis]

[ I HAVE AN OWAIN JOURNAL BUT OWAIN ISN'T ODIN! So I figured Obi is the best option.

Obi is canonly a servant of a (second) prince! He can be Leo's bodyguard, knight, retainer, whichever! He's definitely the protector though.

I'm down for anything. We can do a first meeting where Obi is replacing a dead bodyguard/retainer? And Leo is resentful and also skeptical. ]

[brynhildr]

[HEY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A HAPPY COINCIDENCE but no no no Leo has Obi now this is more than fine! It'll actually be really interesting to have a retainer that Leo doesn't protect in turn... and very new!

Oooooooh. I like your idea. Veeery much. I'm down! Would you like me to start?]

[agilis]

[ THEY CAN PROTECT EACH OTHER IN SMALL WAYS! Obi would be really fascinated and touched if his master went out of their way to protect him. He'd also be ashamed.

I can start!! I just wanted to run the idea by you first! I'll be able to write something up as soon as I'm done a few errands! ]

[brynhildr]

[Yaaaay! I will wait eagerly! and apologize in advance for any sullen attitudes and / or attempts to get rid Leo might display]

Kouji Kouda | My Hero Academia | OTA

[petrock]

[ In a physical confrontation he might be the protector. In a social once, though, he'd definitely want protected. ]

Takafumi Yokozawa | Sekaiichi Hatsukoi

[yokozawa]

[Either role is fine, although he naturally leans more towards being the protector.]

Mary Crawley | Downton Abbey | M/F

[thequitecontrary]

[Protected.]

[ofvirtue]

( OH! someone knows of this!!! if you are interested and with heavy au'ing (on her) maybe we can do something. )

Sean Parrish | OC | OTA

[urite_mala]

[ The Protector ]

[accursing]

[ totally up for it!

maybe snotra doesn't even have to be totally au'd? ryuji might never show that side of him to her, but seeing how she focuses on drawing out the good in people more than the bad, it could be why she sticks with him? and he has no clue?

he has some psychic power stuff going on from his mother, so i don't mind if he maybe comes from some ~*~magic~*~ ancestry he's also totally unaware of, but maybe snotra is?

/throws ideas around ]

[foamed]

( are you interested in a crossover with the little mermaid (the fairytale)?
either as the protector, maybe saving her from the water, or as the protected! )

[accursing]

[ if you don't mind cross-canon/medium? ryuji here's a prodigy and reached university professor status at the age of 21, and i was sort of thinking of him having yokozawa as his former mentee/assistant when he was still in uni, or something like that. given ryuji published a crapton of books, yokozawa could've helped in that department, like making sure his material's ready before sending it to the publishers or something--making sure he meets his deadlines, is eating right, etc.

and yokozawa's graduated and doesn't necessarily work for ryuji any more, but they still keep up here and there like friends? and maybe ryuji's aware of his terrible personal life? and it's a somewhat mutual protectiveness, but takafumi's a lot more concerned about ryuji's life than the opposite, even though ryuji tries to pry or what.

sorry this became long slfja ]

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret | ffxv | ota

[luxoraculi]

[ Either role is fine with me. ]

[ofvirtue]

( hmm, well if we don't have to au, and clearly in his canon if those powers are FACT, it will not be odd that magic or supernatural, per se, beings might be reasonable -keeping in the obscurity for obvious reasons.

so she can be what she is, no goddess cause i will go with people in the past due to power stuff thought they were thus, and yes, she could be helping with that because you know, she IS nice or so they say, lol, so I guess we can work with that. )

Ignis Stupeo Scientia || Final Fantasy XV

[fieryknowledge]

Sora Takenouchi ~ Digimon Tri ~ M/F

[digidestinedoflove]

lunafreya nox fleuret ❀ ffxv

[lunaplaya]

(ota. most likely the protected.)

Elias Ainsworth // The Ancient Magus Bride

[gentlemanmonster]

[ooc: Yay new muse! Voice testing this bonehead. Very nervous, please be gentle! Definitely the protector. PM me with any questions or to discuss a scenario!]