Consider:
Fae romance where giving someone your name is a sign of trust.
Fae have really long names, the more you know of it the more power over them you have. They might have 7 or 8 different names, each with another layer of familiarity attached.
You can always get a new name, but it’s a whole process. Plus the old name usually has a bit of power left over the person. So most tend to keep their names their whole lives.
Unlike humans, Fae actually have an additional name. It’s one they get when they turn adult. This isn’t a name they can get rid of, it’s attached to the very core of their being, engraved into their soul. Those names are usually kept secret forever.
When you first meet, the Fae gives you a random fake name. It isn’t attached to anything else, so they don’t invest anything into the relationship.
Or perhaps they’re a shopkeeper, with a common name attached to their reputation. They sell mysterious wares, traveling from town to town. You’ve heard their name in whispers. But this is about as meaningful as the name of the store. It can be changed, it doesn’t give you any actual power over them.
Once you’re proven not to be a threat, they’ll give you one of their real names. It’s attached to them at a surface level. You don’t gain much by it, but it’s a sign of trust. They can feel you using it. They use your first name now as well- or like a nickname or something. Whatever name you’d usually use to introduce yourself. If you want, there’s magic so you can feel it like a fey can. Then you’d be able to feel a little tug whenever they spoke about you.
As you grow closer, they give you more and more names, each more special and secret than the last. You take this responsibility seriously. Eventually, you two close enough that they can trust you. They give you one of their more secret names. They instruct you not to use it in public, names are important. Not just anyone gets the privilege of knowing their name.
It takes quite a while for the Fae to get comfortable with giving you their more secret name. It’s a lot of power, you know. Like trusting someone with your passport. Or giving them the keys to your house. Likewise, they now know yours. You can feel the pull when they say it. It’s like a rope around your mind, keeping you connected to that person. It can’t be cut without taking a part of you with it.
It’s a mutual trust between you two- neither use the name unless in private, or unless you really need to.
Perhaps sometimes, late at night, you feel the pull of your name. You’re both alone, so they must be talking to themselves. You don’t know the context, you only know that your name is being said over and over.
Perhaps you ask about why were they were calling you so late at night. They blush, blame it on talking in their sleep. This may or may not be true.
It takes a while for you to ever say their name, but when you do, it’s got them so excited. They practically melt. Fae are more sensitive to names, so they even get to hear the way you said it. They love the sound of your voice when it’s saying their name, and they’d want to hear it all the time, if it wasn’t so precious.
From that day on, they’ve been doing a lot of favors for you. They’ve been extra sweet. Eventually you confess your feelings for them, they already knew but were being polite about it. They know that being a human, you don’t have the same sensitivities they do.
At one point, you start using their name in magic, like they do yours. It’s used when enchanting items. It does put a bit of vulnerability on you- if the object got stolen, someone could steal your name. But you trust each other enough to take such good care of it that it doesn’t really matter.
After years and years of being together, going through everything together, you both learn another chunk of each others names. This is one used for close family members. They consider you family. It’s the most trust that anyone would expect, and you’re touched. They now know your full name. The two of you are connected together. Interwoven to the point where it would be nearly impossible to separate. To do so would mean to give up everything they have. They trust you with everything, just as you trust them.
Decades go by, you two remain connected strong as can be. One night, you’re completely alone together. They look directly at you, and tell you their true name.
You’re amazed. It’s incredibly rare to know that much about a Fey- most never reveal their true name. They’ve given you themselves- you’d have power over their soul for all eternity. You could abuse that power completely: you could take their soul after they’ve died, force them to act to your whims, alter their mind and body to your liking. But they trust you not to do that. They trust you to never betray them.
