bakerstreet | Dark romance

THE DARK ROMANCE MEME

Rules:
1. Post your character.
2. Tag to others using RNG
3. Profit!

01. [Foe yay] Whether you've been mortal enemies for a lifetime or just recently became arch-nemesis, the point is that, for all intents and purposes, you hate each other. Or at least that's how it's supposed to go, though just might be something else there.

02. [Kiss with a fist] What it says on the label. You're in an abusive relationship, mutual or not, and somehow you just can't seem to get away from it. Nothing says "I love you" like a good slap across the cheek... right?

03. [Drugs are bad] Maybe you're in a co-dependent relationship, maybe you're trying to get your partner to quit-- or maybe you're trying to drag them further down the addiction pit! As long as you need each other, all is well.

04. [Stalker with a crush] You are completely obsessed with someone, and all you want is to protect them and have a little bit of attention. Best course of action? Follow them until they love you-- you are their biggest fan, after all!

05. [All your love is revenge] You have the biggest grudge on your ex, and the best way to get back at them is to hook up with a very close friend of theirs! Healthy relationships and happy endings all around-- except not really.

06. [Stockholm Syndrome] You're held captive against your will, but instead of hating your captor, you may find yourself attracted to them. Did you take a Pet the Dog moment too seriously, or are they really not all that bad after all?

07. [Mind Rape] You are inflicting the worst possible kind of non-physical pain on your beloved, with memories and visions or whatever else. You want them to be rendered completely powerless and numb, just like a broken puppet. And then they'll be all yours.

08. [Love makes you evil] You could be unleashing a psychotic criminal back into society or breaking the laws of the universe to bring back a deceased one-- nothing really matters. Being with your One True Love comes first, so screw the world!

09. [Love you to death] Yes, you're willing to kill anyone that gets in the way of your relationship, including the very object of your affections. Because if your beloved's heart can't be yours, then you will take it by force-- even if it means literally.

10. [Death by love] the other side of the spectrum; you actually want to die, but only by the hands of your One True Love-- who may or may not be willing to do it. What better way to forge an eternal bond between the two of you, right?

11. [Mad love] Unrequited love sucks, but you're still willing to do absolutely anything for your love interest, no matter how often (and sometimes violently) turn you down! But will they use these powers for the good of all or...?

12. [Made a slave] Put on display and bought in a market, you now have a master to serve and cater to every need. But who knows, they might treat you with some semblance of respect, or show some-- what was it called again-- compassion! If you're lucky.

NOT SAFE FOR WORK:

13. [Bathe her and bring her to me] You are trapped and about to face off with the perpetrator-- but first, a bath would do you good! This might as well further serve their sordid purposes, perhaps by watching you clean up or helping you out themselves...

14. [Sadistic choice] Here's the deal: either relinquish your virtues or watch a fate worse than death befall the person who is dearest to you. Basically, screw or get screwed-- it sounds like a perfectly reasonable offer, doesn't it?

15. [Out with a bang] Maybe you do it for the fun of it, or maybe you just want to lower their defenses-- point is, the minute you're finished, so is the life of your sex buddy. But you're not going to tell them that, of course-- they wouldn't really enjoy the ride.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Honestly all except 15 for the NSFW prompts as I'm not interested in writing that, alongside 3, 11, and 12.]

[ You alright with a combination of 13 and 14? Probably after she had to do the latter with her own hands to someone she cared about to sever her ties, and maybe working 6 and 7 in over time? ]

[13 & 14 definitely go in line with things Muzan would do to crush someone's soul to keep them in his grip. This man's the king of gaslighting, I can see 6 and 7 gradually occurring after it builds up. Probably got interested considering her biology might serve to further his cause. Someone hit him, please. Preferably with a shovel made of scarlet ore.]

[ Niiiice. I can def get us started with her just showing up a mess at whatever rendezvous point house they agreed on prior (that probably serves as a jumpcut portal to his usual MC Escher hangout lmao) ]

[Not interested in prompts 9, 10, and 15.

I can translate Shalom's ability to magic, as I know PTN's rather obscure. Given her nature, any love will be one-sided.]

{ooc: Glancing over Shalom's deal, I can't help but think she'd be perfect for Stockholm Syndrome type things with a girl who falls far too easily for a pretty face and a calculatedly kind gesture.

Essentially, I'm thinking Natsuru's (forced) loyalty goes beyond into devoted admiration very easily, and Shalom treats her in the way she determines is most effective - potentially by feigning enough of the affection she craves to keep her so deeply enthralled. Either in the simply doing things to keep Natsuru happy but the actual feelings are purely one-sided... or for a darker flavor, using affection as a reward to manipulate a kind, caring person into something else more useful to Shalom...

Any thoughts? (And did I understand the character right so far?)}

[This sounds like the start of a beautifully horrific interaction, and I am very much down for it. There's actually a character in canon for her that she even managed to ensnare with more or less identical tactics. While Christina managed to become aware of the Mark and her loyalty being a large product of it, she was able to resist things on a physical level by interfering with a carefully lain plan but couldn't stop herself from still loving Shalom.

We could probably start it off with/assume CR of Natsuru being a subordinate of Shalom's, and after a near death incident that she was saved from is when Shalom left her 'Mark'. Thread could be a day of 'affection as a treat', agreeing to spend time with Natsuru on a rare occasion that she has some time for leisure.

Also, yes! You've got a pretty dang good grasp of Shalom, I'm honestly pretty ecstatic about this.]

{Heh, I do enjoy being horrible to Natsuru and digging into messed up dynamics~.

That setup sounds absolutely perfect. Shalom saving her from near death is just going to make her admire her more already, let alone adding in the 'Mark' to really lock down her loyalty.

So in that case, would you mind starting us off? Or if it's easier for you, I can try some setup of Natsuru pining on her own before Shalom comes to get her... I just figured Shalom is going to be the real driving force of getting this started, lol.}

"I'm sorry to make you wait."

Though Shalom speaks as if she's taking her out for a quick brunch (which they will be doing once the hospital gives the okay), it's more a matter of helping check the girl out of the hospital after that nasty hit she took. While Hush had certainly helped to prevent the worst of it with her power ~~for a price~~, it was always safer to have an injured party be properly examined by a licensed doctor.

"How are you feeling, has your treatment been going well?"

Her voice is as gentle as always, the faintest of smiles on her lips as her heels click across the polished floor.

Natsuru feels her heart jump in her chest at the sound of the familiar voice. Turning to face the source, her face lights up in a bright smile.

"Miss Shalom..."

Whether Shalom prefers it or not, that's how Natsuru habitually defaulted to addressing her. She has a hard time hiding how much she admires the other woman, especially now that she feels particularly indebted to her.

"Thank you. I'm feeling... much better."

She blushes pretty fiercely, the thought of adding a 'now that you're here' tracing at he back of her mind. But that sentiment will remain unspoken, as obvious as her feelings are.

"They said I should be fully recovered soon. So... really, thank you." With a soft sigh, she adds, "I'm so glad you're here..."

There's a quiet laugh from her upon hearing that title--It's not new given her authority, but hearing it like this still amused her somewhat.

"There's no need to be so formal, you did risk your life on my behalf."

Though Shalom says as much, she's certain that this won't change, and she's fine with that--It may cause some tension with others if Natsuru refers to her too casually, after all.

"I see. That is a relief to hear, the doctor tells me that he was concerned for some time regarding your condition."

There was some insistence that the young woman take it easy for the next week or so, a term that was accepted without protest--Rest was important, even moreso after being treated by her abilities. This would aid in the recovery process, and more importantly--It would further instill those feelings of loyalty.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to come sooner."