bakerstreet | Captive Hearts

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Captive Hearts

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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[Slowposting prose/assumed cr preferred]

[ M/F for shipping, OTA for gen. ]

Enchanter Brigham is not unused to his opinion on the Circles being an unpopular one. When the former Grand Enchanter Fiona had voted that the Circles split from the Chantry, Brigham had resisted the result. He would stay with the other loyalists, and the Templars of the Circle. But the loyalists were few, and many Templars were called away to fight, or went of their own volition. Eventually, there were so few left in Markham Circle that to remain seemed more dangerous than leaving.

The main body of the rebel mages- those who wanted peace, but freedom, ended up gathering in Redcliffe; sanctuary granted by King Alistair. It was as good a place as any— at least, until a Tevinter magister arrived. Two days after the Conclave was destroyed by an explosion, the magister arrived with his men, offered succor and protection to the mages where they suddenly had none. Many mages were killed at the Conclave - First Enchanters, Senior Enchanters, countless others, but so was the Divine, the heart of the Chantry. An explosion so large, and the torn sky, could more easily be attributed to the devilment of mages than anything else. But this magister, with honeyed words, glossed over the darker clauses of such a contract, of what the mages would be required to do, to give.

Foolish or not, Brigham had spoken out, angry for Fiona's choices that led them to such a hopeless situation, and more so for her then indenturing them to Tevinter, taking no responsibility for her own failures and shackling those that had faithfully followed her.

He supposes he is lucky he was not killed.

The dungeon is little kinder. It is cold and damp and he is hungry and tired for trying to sleep on creaking wooden slats. It bothers him more, though, that there is someone here- a boy that has not seen enough winters to justify such punishment.

The guards, lazy in their appointment for the older charge has made no trouble yet, idle out of earshot. "How are you managing?" he ventures to ask his new cellmate, voice gentle.

Jack, in a way typical of the carelessness and passion of youth, dared to speak out against Fiona's choice to join up with Tevinter rather than seize the opportunity for all out mage freedom. He never really expected the consequence of his words to earn him a place in the dungeons, with only a thin cloak over his clothes to keep him warm.

It's a good thing he excels at ice magic, or he might be freezing by now.

Whatever Tevinter plans to do with him, Jack has no idea. Perhaps starve him to death-- make an example of him.

But then he's joined by an older mage, one he's sure he's seen before but can't put a name to just then. Is throwing disagreeable mages in the dungeons going to be the new norm? So much for freedom.

When the man addresses him, Jack sits up and looks him over. His face is definitely vaguely familiar, he's sure of it. "My joints ache and I haven't had enough to eat or drink," he answers honestly. There's no point in lying or trying to make their predicament seem more palatable.

"What's your name? I'm Jack." If they're going to be sharing a cell, they ought to know each other at least a little bit.

Brigham, likewise, does not know what the magister intends with him, and now this boy. Perhaps just keep him out of sight, perhaps wait and see if he cares to recant later. It does not matter, right now. Jack's plight is familiar, and he nods in empathy. There is little he can do to make it better. A fire is tempting, and it would be easy enough to create a magic warmth that offers no threat, but Brigham does not yet know the guards temperament, and to risk their ire on Jack, too, is not a risk he cares to put upon the boy.

"I am Enchanter Brigham," he introduces himself, pauses then for a moment as though to correct himself - remains silent, instead. The title of Enchanter has little meaning in Redcliffe, and littler still in the dungeons, but Jack would know that just as well. A moment longer, then:

"Why have they brought you here?"

"You seem familiar," he decides to voice his thoughts, though the name doesn't ring a bell. Maybe he'd seen Brigham at Redcliffe before he'd been imprisoned. That would make sense.

"I spoke against Tevinter. Passionately." To put it mildly. Jack had probably given them little choice but to put him away from the other mages. Honestly, he's lucky they hadn't executed him outright. At least the mages hadn't fallen that far, to kill one on their side just for having a differing opinion and not acting out violently.

"What about you?" he asks, scooting a bit closer. After being alone for awhile, the thought of warmth from another person is tempting. His usually pale skin is even paler from the dark and cold, though he doesn't shiver.

Edited 2017-12-09 13:40 (UTC)

"I have been here for a fortnite or so," he says, though the pause suggests he is surprised that Jack noticed him enough to find him familiar. Unless they come from the same Circle, but sure Brigham would have seen Jack. "Before that, I hailed from the Circle at Markham."

Jack answers, and the copper-haired mage frowns at such a thing. That the boy would be tossed in the dungeons for such... "The same," he replies, and his steely tone is not directed at Jack. In fact, though he moves neither closer nor farther, he does adjust one arm that might make it easier for the boy to sit close. He cannot fault Jack for wanting warmth.

He sighs softly. "I am sorry you were trapped in this." And angry, too, at the utter mess the former Grand Enchanter had made of... everything for the mages.

"That long?" He questions. Maybe that's why he seems familiar... he might have seen him in the dungeon on the way in.

Despite being strangers, there's something about being imprisoned together that makes someone feels closer than they actually are. That's why Jack doesn't mind scooting closer until he can sit up next to Brigham, taking in some of his body heat. As much as is still there, anyway.

"It's okay. There are two of us now, which means we might be able to get out of here," he answers in a soft tone. Sure, it might be dangerous to attempt and escape, but staying here is awful in its own right. The guards pick on him since he's young and small, and he has a few bruises on his face to prove it.

"I refuse to die in a dungeon. No way."

He considers the boy at his side with quiet surprise. He had not considered escape, not really. But then, he had always been lawful (obnoxiously so, depending on whom you asked). But this wasn't really something that deserved lawfulness, was it? This takeover that could only be called hostile, even if it wasn't violent.

But the guards are close, and Brigham's gaze flickers briefly towards them to make sure they paid them no mind still. "Mind yourself," he murmurs, but his voice is gentle. "You will not die here- I'll make sure of it."

Perhaps it was a bold claim to make to a stranger, in such a situation as they're in, but he means it, at least. Jack didn't deserve to be here, young as he is, much less die for speaking reason.

"Really?" He asks, voice even softer than before as a guard walks by. It is a bold claim to make, but Jack is going to take it seriously.

"Thank you, Enchanter." He presses lightly against Brigham's side, taking in a bit more of whatever warmth the man has to offer. He expects they'll be ridiculed for this, not that the young mage cares much about that at this point. It's a game of survival: he intends to win.

"You know, I'm surprised they put us in a cell together. It seems dangerous for them," he notes, the footsteps of one guard fading down the hallway. Are they growing careless? Or are they so confident that putting two of them together doesn't worry them at all?

"Brigham is fine," he replies, though he misses 'Enchanter'— not for the power such title suggests, but because it reminds him of a stability they as mages no longer have.

He places a hand, light, around Jack's other arm to balance them, and perhaps to provide support. Loyalist though he is, and serious in demeanor, many apprentices and initiates found him to be stable, too, someone they could depend on for comfort. Besides - it is warmer this way.

A small shake of his head. "I do not know." He would not question it, for company seems fortuitous (and one cell door is easier to find open than two, now that he thinks of escape), but could it be so simple as casual oversight? Or was there something they were overlooking?

"Brigham, then."

He appreciates the show of support, as well as the extra warmth. Right now he couldn't care less whether the man was a fellow rebel or a loyalist, so long as he's there to keep Jack company and, potentially, aid in an escape.

"I guess we'll find out what they're up to eventually," he says. After that Jack falls silent, his head leaning on Brigham's shoulder. With another person here, he thinks he might be able to regain the strength he'd lost in mild despair. Being alone has that affect on him, in particular. The younger mage has always been extremely social, so being all alone has a terrible effect on him. It makes him feel invisible. More than just lonely.

For that same reason, it's difficult for him to stay quiet for long.

"So, what do you like to do in your free time?"

Brigham has always been comfortable alone. He was a strange child to most, eerily calm and mature far beyond his years, and a loyal supporter of the Circles even as an adolescent, when many that had been compliant because of their parent's teachings began to rebel against the idea. He was kept company by the Chant and his faith.

He is comfortable in silence, but Jack's question draws his attention. Just idle conversation then, sound to fill the space. He understands.

"There is little to do here," he points out, and perhaps there is the slightest bit of humour in his tone. "Though there is always the Chant. I enjoy music- although not here, of course."

"Of course I didn't mean here," he points out, though he picked up the hint of humor in Brigham's voice, he isn't quite sure the older mage knew what he meant exactly.

"I like music too."

Though it isn't common for him to hear it, aside from examples like the chant. Jack would have preferred more opportunities for singing and dancing, but that'll have to wait for the end of the war.

If that end ever comes.

"And training. You should see the kinds of things I can do with ice." Yes, he's bragging a little, and that seems ridiculous when faced with a much more experienced mage who could probably do far more interesting things than Jack can. Still, he's proud of his abilities with ice magic. Many say he's exceptionally talented in it for his age.

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