helloo how do u feel abt the trope where darling chases after yandere but after a while realizes that maybe yandere doesnt like them at all so darling moves on AND THEN yandere is the one chasing them now, but like not in a cute-sy way, yandere is running full speed 160km/h towards darling, he wants us back <33
TW: yandere/abusive behaviors, mention of cnc/noncon in communities, gaslighting, manipulation, yandere themes
Hmm, honestly I feel like that trope hasn't been touched on enough. I mean-- a big part of the "appeal" of the yandere is absolute (mostly one sided) obsession, right? So having a person return feelings, in any caliber, isn't commonly written about. Noncon/dubcon is also tied into the yandere genre a lot too; cnc in any form in the yan community is hella common. Part of the reason why I love it! It's nice having someone obsessed with you first. But, I really enjoy the slow burn, "takes a while to realize my love" kind of trope!
I feel like when I think about this... I think of desire. The yandere wants to be desired; If their darling is already worshipping the ground they step on, and is begging for their attention, there's no need to go after them. This trope reminds me HEAVILY on the bully/self righteous/celebrity yandere stereotypes. Yan is treated like royalty, believing its everyone's duty and a treat to worship them. So when a person who was just another love letter in their locker, starts to lose interest, it's like a shot to the heart.
Maybe anybody could be a darling; maybe multiple people at once, if they all start to drift away from the yandere. Suddenly that bashful secret admirer stops?? It's like having withdrawls; so used to the praise and love, its agonizing to have it ripped away.
The yandere could have never met the darling, could have never even cared. But now it's different; something is so clearly missing, and they need it back.
Maybe by the time they catch their darling, that obsessive need for attention will be gone, replaced by someone new. Or, maybe darling is the only one they want the love from. it was so normal and regular like any crush--, but they don't think so. They crave praise, and approval from their darling to know that they still care. And if they don't have feelings anymore? A yandere won't hesitate to "force them back."
It's like trying to gain approval from your peers and loved ones: you want to make them proud so bad, but they just don't give a care in the world. If darling indulges them, that may actually be their downfall. Yandere will grow bored; used to this attention once again.
Or possibly, they finally realized that darling was the one they needed. They couldn't see it before, but now they understand how willing and loving their darling was; someone who matched their energy.
This kind of yandere, I see as either the prideful or the puppy dog. They'll either refuse to admit that they want your attention, never mentioning how obsessive they are, or they'll absolutely crowd their darling. They'll be begging, pleading for attention again, and if darling wasn't weirded out before, they sure will be once friends start disappearing. The prideful yandere might send their darling notes of their affection, playing it off as someone else of course. They might blackmail friends and family to subtly hint about how their darling's dwindling affections were causing a ruckus. When you have all your family and friends convincing you to be with someone, it's bound to be messy. A yandere with a pride complex might not admit anything until they finally crack; their darling will be lost and confused, wondering why they are chained up in the basement by the person who claimed to be annoyed by them.
I personally adore the prideful, almost tsundere-like attitude of these kind of yanderes. They might be sweet and gentle at first, knowing how much they mean to their darling. But the process will be gruesome and unkind, they'll force their darling's attention onto them and them only.
