Hey @the-bar-sinister !What is your favorite villain dynamic? And can you share a line from one of your stories that highlights this dynamic? I love to see how characters interact ✨
Oooh our favorite dynamic is when a hero or civilian is in love with the villain and has to convince them they they’re the same. The villain who is convinced no one could love or understand them, they’re a monster, and everyone else– especially the person who has fallen in love with them– is making some terrible mistake and doesn’t know how awful they actually are.
But their lover does know– and wants to come all the way down with them.
from “Like a Thief in the Night” (explicit, mind the tags!)
“Please,” Akira repeated. His fingers traced and cupped Goro’s jaw. “It’s the real you that I’ve always wanted. The one that no one sees. Not the pretty lie. We’re so alike. I’m a monster inside too.”
Goro hissed derisively, and snapped at Akira’s fingers like an animal.
“And you’re a monster who wants to be broken?” he demanded with reproach.
“Only if it’s by you,” Akira murmured. “We can be broken together.”
“You’re insane."
Goro’s gloved hands pressed down on Akira’s throat, and Akira swallowed in a thick, deliberate motion.
"I hoped that you knew that."
Ooooh I LOVE that dynamic! Goro seems incredibly intimidating, and Akira is the “I’m your ride or die regardless” type. Love it! I’ll have to check it out! 💖
Here, have some lovely angst from my TLOZ ganlink fic, The Wingman:
Dragmire slammed the side of his fist against the wall, causing a crater and a loud crack to creep up the foundation. The Hylian jumped at this sudden violence, and Piggles squealed in distress as he hid underneath the bed. Ganon’s breath became labored with fury as he stared hard at his furious foe. “You want me to be a bad guy? FINE. Forget about all the times I’ve helped you. Forget about the sex, the vulnerability. Forget about me, I don’t give a shit. ”
“Ganon—”
“ —DON’T. Don’t look for me, don’t think of me, don’t even speak my name.” Ganondorf’s tone was apoplectic, but with deep undertones of hurt and sadness. He conjured a quick portal to Hyrule, holding his forehead in his hand as he tried to contain his fiery wrath. “I want you gone. Leave.”
“So. That’s it, then?” Link’s tone wavered, teetering on anger and dejection. “We’re going to reside in our own miseries, and forget about everything? We’re just gonna…..magically wake up from this nightmare?”
Ganondorf’s tone was noticeably calmer, yet was low and threatening an explosion at any given moment. “….I’ve been trying to wake up from this nightmare for centuries , Link. You’ll never understand.”
“All this because I went to your study?” Link closed his eyes and sighed roughly. “What secret is so important that you’d push everyone away?”
“You have no idea. And you never will.” Ganondorf shook his head slowly, biting through every word as if a thorn was stabbing into his side, getting out every pained utterance. “Mark my words: you best stay away from a monster like me. I’m not your friend, not your lover, not even a person you wish to confide with. I am a threat. And if you don’t leave here in the next five seconds, I’ll show you JUST how serious I am.”
The very powerful villain dynamic, with the Hero trying to see the good in everyone, is one of my favorites. Just as Ganon brings out the darker side of Link, Link inversely brings the light out of Ganon. Perfect balance ☯️
Thank you for sharing! ✨
Ganlink angst my beloved!!! 😭😭😭😭💖💖💖💖
Beautiful dynamic on display here too, thank YOU for sharing!
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