It's dangerous to go alone

[promenades]

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

Claire Bennet ∞ NBC's Heroes ∞ OTA

[infinite1ups]

[ Canonically, Claire is a Very Protected Person. She would say too protected. But it's a plot device I love so I'm happy to play it out any which way. ♥ ]

felix hugo fraldarius | fire emblem: three houses | m/m

[bloodyblade]

Ellie Williams || The Last of Us Part II || F/F

[notathreat]

[Much more likely to be the protector, because she won't comply with being protected unless she's Very Hurt.]

[thinline]

[ if you'll give this battle royale ninja another chance, am down for any scenario of your liking! wraith is similar to ellie in being a protector over protected (is an assault character after all), but her aggressive strategy can get reckless and dangerous. overall, there's potential for a deep camaraderie through survival between them. :) ]

wei wuxian | the untamed/mdzs

[yilinglaozuo]

[if it's wangxian then honestly probably a mix of both? depending on when in canon/post-canon/canon-diverge you'd want to go. if not wangxian, then protector.]

hawke | dragon age | ota

[gawke]

( very easily protector or protected! )

Barry Allen | DCTV | OTA

[adultflash]

[Either role]

Pero Tovar | The Great Wall | ota

[elmercenario]

[Protector.]

Dedue Molinaro | FE3H | ota

[derelictions]

[ more likely to be the protector but happy to switch it up ]

sansa stark | asoiaf/got | ota

[eyried]

[ the protected ]

Donna Troy | Titans

[wonderously]

[ Either role though will insist she can protect herself and probably be a bit precious about being protected. ]

Conner J | Original

[defensemechanisms]

[ about | protector, m/m or m/f ]

frisk | undertale | ota

[datepower]

Jyn Erso | Rogue One | OTA

[wherehopegoes]

[ooc: Either role.]

Cassia Andor | Rogue One | OTA

[yo_me_rezo]

[ooc: Either role.]

Essa Erso-Andor | Rogue One OC | OTA

[theresalways_hope]

[ooc: Either role.]

padmé 🌹 star wars

[nabooedup]

[ the protected. ]

[twowaypath]

[idk if you know the Rise of Kylo Ren comics, but Tai is one of Luke's students. Up for some kind of time travel weirdness throwing them together?]

Cain (Marcus Pierce) | Lucifer

[sonofadam]

[ Protector, or protected if someone loyal feeling unnecessarily protective. ]

keeping this open for their psl but yes

[extensively]

He knows his Master is, for now, functionally immortal. In every sense of the word. But old instincts are impossible to resist and Sebastian jumps to protect Marcus even though he knows better, even though he knows that the abomination's soul will still be there for him as soon as he heals.

Sebastian might even scold Marcus, for taking a case when he didn't have to. A case that's predictable gone bad, with guns drawn and the obligatory human betrayals. Later. Not now.

Now Sebastian tugs Marcus's limp body under cover, eventually shouldering him until they can hobble down the street, down twisting, reeking alleys, and Sebastian wonders if Marcus knew there was a Reaper mixed in all this. A Deathscythe to the gut, and even a demon like him is gasping along on his last legs.

They make it to the docks before Sebastian collapses onto his knees, coughing up red blood, and the first thing he does is roll Marcus over so he doesn't drown in a puddle like some undignified mortal.

"Master?" Sebastian cups Marcus's slack face with a bloodied hand, for the first time during their contract actually concerned. "Master!"

cloud strife | final fantasy 7 | ota

[bravers]

[have a (terrible) protector doing his best and screwing it up regardless! Will go for protected with the right characters ♥]

Cassian Andor | Rogue One | OTA

[in_this_fight]

[ooc: Either role.]

Rey | Star Wars | OTA

[thesefirststeps]

[ooc: Either role.]

Mirai Akarui | Original | OTA

[fatedmahou]

[Voice testing a magical girl. Can be either role.]

Ben Solo | Star Wars | OTA

[neverreallygone]

[ooc: Either role.]

Jaskier | The Witcher | ota

[dandybard]

[ protected, but probably being a pain about it; prefer m/m for ships ]

raiden | metal gear

[controlled]

[ ota for both gen and shipping. the protector under most circumstances, but he can be the protected if i take him from an early canonpoint. ]

Nico Acosta | OC | M/F

[anoranza]

[ooc: Either role.]