bakerstreet | A token of my affection for you

LOVE TOKEN Meme

favor

: to prefer (someone) especially in an unfair way : to show that you like or approve of (someone) more than others

: to approve of or support (something)

: (NOUN) a token of love (as a ribbon) usually worn conspicuously

The male lead is about to go off to fight the Big Bad (or, on occasion, just the bad guy of the week, or even just in The Tourney, perhaps even with her watching), and there is a very real possibility that he won't be coming back in one piece. Knowing this, his female love interest decides it would be a good idea to hand him an object — some piece of jewelry, a trinket, a piece of clothing, a token of some sort — that she claims is of great personal importance to her (how important it really is is arguable, but more often than not, it's really only valuable in the personal sense). In some settings, she often made it herself. She makes him promise that he will give it back to her, thereby creating a small bit of assurance that he will return from the battle alive. He invariably will, if for no other reason than he promised he would return her "most prized possession."

You fight. You fight because you have to, because you want to, because there's no other way for you. It's been like that forever, it seems. Is there no end to the fighting? Or, perhaps, it's just this one fight, but the battle appears insurmountable in your eyes, the competition too stout. Those were all things you thought before you met them. You could have fought those feelings, too (after all, all you do is fight), yet eventually, you gave in.

A little. Sort of. Unless you wholeheartedly embrace the ideals of romance, which is probably unlikely, given your situation.

But now, at the penultimate peril, they come to you and give you a token of...of your growing love, or at least affection. What it actually is doesn't matter: something physical or even words of encouragement. What does matter is that, implicitly, they want it to show that they will be with you and, most likely, they want it returned. You are not allowed to die under any circumstances.

Just another thorn in your side, isn't it? ...isn't it?

You may not admit it, but this simple gift makes you want to fight harder. Why? That's something you'll have to figure out without using brute strength.

Despite the picture and some of the concepts used, characters and threads don't have to be historical or ancient. It can take place in modern times, as well! Also, there is set and defined gender roles. The TV Tropes blurb up there is just to help set the mood and provide information for those who may be unfamiliar.
With that out of the way, reply with your character, preferences, and any information you'd like to include. Feel free to indicate which role they'd play - or try both! (If you're character's giving something, it'd be helpful to say what kind of gift they might bestow.)
Reply to others.
Thread out anything fitting the theme, from first meetings to getting the "favor" to deadly fights to returning said favor.

A token of my affection for you

Cassia Andor | Rogue One | OTA