bakerstreet

THE FALSE PRETENSES MEME
a shipping meme

It's only a natural response to want to be shown love and affection, no matter how hard your exterior is. If not in those words - if you truly are that cold - perhaps what you seek is adoration or worship. Regardless of how you slice it, there's something invigorating to the ego in being the object of someone's ardor. And that's what you are now, to put it mildly; the way they look at you, you'd think you hung the moon and stars. In fact, their love for you has lead to a relationship with them. Congratulations! It's all going so well.

Except that it's all based on a lie.

You're not the person they think you are...maybe even literally. They could think you're someone else completely, as such, or it could be more abstract. They don't know what you've really done, do they? The crimes you've committed, the blood on your hands - what if blood they cherished? It's doubtful if they knew what you truly were, they'd look at you with such tenderness. That's not something you can deal with. You've grown used to them and don't want to let them go. Not now.

You love them. They've wormed their way into your heart, and you just can't lose them. You just...can't. Despite what your intentions were at the beginning (you were being purposefully cruel, you were playing along, you didn't want to hurt them, you wanted to give them what they wanted), you've bought into your own hype. Whatever you have to do to keep this ruse up, you'll do.

But, of course, what's done in the dark will be brought to the light. Soon, those eyes that look towards you will be filled with pain and doubt; you can't keep your little secret forever, and it will only gut your lover in the end.

Comment with your character and preferences.
Be sure to include which side you want to play (the "deceiver" or the "deceived"), if applicable. The more info you share, the more taggable you are.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Very likely deceiver, but if anyone wants to switch it up, that's interesting! ]

[either/or with the possibility of being a HYDRA agent]

[ I mean. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]

[ Could go either way. It's possible she might have to hide her ability for some reason and would try to have a "normal" life. Maybe she's an agent or something, idk. But she could also be the deceived in just about any scenario. ]

[ this one is a deceiver. ]

[ooc: Either role.]

[ooc: it is the nature of things.]

[ either role. modern au also available. ]

[ooc: Welp … ]

[Almost definitely the deceiver. Adult characters only for shipping. OTA if you'd like to do some gen relationship deception instead. Open to cross-canon.]

[ Deceiver, probably. Simply, her lover is a means to an end... or was at first before she got herself entangled with them. ]

[ the deceived. ]

( good for either role! )

[ Very likely deceived. Could be deceiver if circumstances push him to it (but unlikely to be any good at it.) ]

Edited 2020-08-04 12:04 (UTC)

[ Very likely to be the deceiver, or both playing another. ]

[ deceived for sure ]

[ after the war, regulus left. he took his inheritance and left the wizarding world to live among muggles, to chase a life where no one knew who he was. he barely survived defecting from his side of the war, and a lot of people would still be after his blood for the betrayal, so here he is.

he's fashioned a name for himself as part of a well-off muggle family--the lost heir con works well when you already have the same last name--and if he says something a little off sometimes it's written off as his war trauma or just being an eccentric rich man.

over the past few months he's been carefully courting the time and affections of christine daae. he's genuinely fond of her, certainly, but he hasn't told her anything about his real life because that seems like a recipe for disaster. his deception isn't due to malice, but fear--he's carefully balancing a life here and the smallest thing could send the whole thing toppling. he's a well-liked patron of the arts, a war hero, things immutable that can't fall out of place if he's to continue living this way.

anyway, those thoughts are always at the back of his mind. tonight he stands to wait for the cast of the opera to appear after the showing, grip a little too tight on the head of his cane.

the smile when he first spots christine is genuine though, head inclining in a slight but attentive bow. ]

Miss Daae, you were as enchanting as ever tonight.

[ She shouldn't leave too soon. There is, after all, much she still has to learn. To do. Christine might be regularly in the main role now- but that doesn't stop her from always feeling the need to improve.

But she had seen him tonight- in a box he so often chooses... though he is quiet whilst supporting the arts, Mssrs Firmin and Reyer often make note of when those active in supporting the Opera Populaire are viewing the shows. She leaves her dressing room with Meg, though her friend is quick to leave her side the moment she's addressed.

Smiling brightly, she ducks her head a little as she sees him. ]

You are very kind, monsieur. Thank you.

[ he has made a name for himself, a young war veteran with a love for the arts--and how quaint, to be a man who would never have been conscripted to take place in the war with the common man!

of course, his records are falsified. it's not that he didn't act in a war, but that he acted in the wrong war on the wrong side.

but that's neither here nor there tonight. tonight his focus is on her, and he smiles.

his one hand is still tight on his cane, but the other sweeps out to take one of hers, gentle as ever, so that he can bow properly (with some effort--the lingering infirmity isn't put upon) to brush a kiss across her knuckles before releasing her. ]

I'm very glad I managed to make my way out tonight. You never disappoint.

[ There's a faint curtsy in response to the kiss on her knuckles- and perhaps Christine was bold enough to give his hand a light squeeze as he held hers.

There is, of course, the part of her that wishes to dote on him. This man who has consistently shown her nothing but kindness when he still suffers the ill effects of war. But for the time being, however, it isn't her place and to do so may be an insult. Instead, she meets every smile he shares with her with one of her own. ]

I'm delighted you were able to attend tonight. Your kind words overwhelm me.

[ the squeeze emboldens him, but he's still a proper gentleman. he smiles, easier than he might've in his younger years, and waves off the commentary with a low, genial laugh. ]

I wouldn't miss it for the world. Truly, you make the trip out worthwhile.

[ he lives out of the city, taking his place at one of the homes his "family" owns as a loner and a difficult to please master. but that never translates here, to where he's fond of christine and treats her as well as he might've another heir of a wizarding family before the war.

it's just that this affection isn't falsified. ]

Am I keeping you? I'm sure you have many others to greet tonight.

[ It's hard for her not to smile at his words- always delighted by kind reviews. But as he asks whether he's keeping her, Christine shakes her head a little. ]

No, you're not keeping me.

[ There are others to greet, yes, but none whose company she enjoys quite as much... and none who she will be chastised for not greeting. ]

Were you planning on staying long?

[ P. much going to be the deceiver. Almost everything about him is a lie of some form. ]

Liar

Kieron Dawn | OC | M/M

Marcus Pierce (Cain) | Lucifer | M/M

Maria Hill | MCU | F/M

Cassian Andor | Rogue One | OTA

Claire Bennet ∞ NBC's Heroes ∞ OTA

xue yang | mo dao zu shi | m/m

Jyn Erso | Rogue One | OTA

Cassia Andor | Rogue One | OTA

Essa Erso-Andor | Rogue One OC | OTA

margaery tyrell | asoiaf/got | ota

Cassian Andor | Rogue One | OTA

Rey | Star Wars | OTA

Sauron | Tolkien Legendarium | OTA

Remilia Scarlet (aged up) | Touhou Project | OTA

tahani al-jamil | the good place | ota

vasquez | mag7 | ota

Jiang Cheng | The Untamed | OTA

Jin Guangyao | The Untamed

Ben Solo | Star Wars | OTA

Christine Daae | PotO

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Nico Acosta | OC | M/F

Evie Montgomery | OC | OTA

Ganymede | mythology

jyn erso || rogue one || ota

cassian andor || rogue one || ota

rey || star wars || ota

ben solo || star wars || ota