Kamui and Fuuma don't seem to mind the chains...
"Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love."
Together we'll break these chains of love."
— Erasure, "Chains Of Love"
An Anvilicious version of the Red String of Fate, Chains of Love are often utilized in manga artwork, especially in Shoujo and Yaoi. Used to indicate that two people are "bound" together literally and often unwillingly, perhaps suggesting that one of the two is the "old ball and chain" to the other. Often used to generate sexual tension between the chained parties that may or may not progress into Slap-Slap-Kiss depending on the plot.
May overlap with Because Destiny Says So and What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic? If used in a villainous or negative way, this often overlaps with Bondage Is Bad.
Alternately can be seen as bits of cloth, thorns, or in one case, red wires, an amalgamation of the Chains and Red String that's possibly even more Anvilicious than the two separately.
On the non-symbolic side is the Chained Heat plot. See also Slave Collar.
Examples:
- CLAMP is fond of this imagery, to the extent that it's not clear if they have a bondage fetish or simply enjoy teasing the fans.
- Code Geass:
- Quite frequently with Lelouch and Suzaku in official art. The art book "Mutuality: CLAMP works in Code Geass" is full of this.
- Exaggerated in the second season's first ending theme; which puts everyone in chains (with the exception of Nunnally, who gets ribbons instead). The second ending sequence puts Lelouch and Suzaku in chains again.
- Drug & Drop: The two leads appear multiple times in bondage-gear, playing up the Ho Yay even further.
- Manga/X1999: Kamui and Fuuma are shown several times in these, tying into the "destined" aspect of their relationship and rivalry.
- Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-: Sakura and Syaoran are shown sporting the chains in some color pieces, and at one point, all the main characters receive clothing with prominent chains.
- Code Geass:
- Death Note Light and L are literally chained together during a story arc to prove an amnesiac Light's innocence. Genre Savvy Misa points out that the main symbolic meaning is something else entirely.
- Descendants of Darkness: The back cover of one volume and at least one or two other official illustrations show Depraved Bisexual Muraki and Tsuzuki in this pose, featuring red or black ribbons or chains. Not surprising given Muraki's tastes...
- The Familiar of Zero: Used in the second season's Ending Theme; Louise mentions taking Saito for a walk with the "chains of love" (or "leash of love", same difference). Given how she treats him normally, this is entirely unsurprising.
- Full Metal Panic!: One gag doujinshi rom in an episode of Lucky Star features Gauron and Sousuke
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- Loveless: Happens both literally and in the official artwork; in the literal case, it's used as a spell to try and immobilize the protagonists.
- Shinigami Lovers: Miku becomes chained to the shinigami Sei, her Love Interest, after a near-death experience.
- Strangers in Paradise: Katchoo and Francine are handcuffed together by their friends Casey and David in an attempt to make them finally work out their differences.
Films — Live-Action
- The 39 Steps: It is commented that after being handcuffed together for most of the film, it makes sense for the male and female protagonists to marry.
Literature
- Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts: Played for Laughs. Yandere Shouko Kirishima will do whatever it takes to bring Tsundere Yuuji Sakamoto with her to the movies. Even if it means chaining him up and applying her reluctant boyfriend a Static Stun Gun for some Shock and Awe and a twisted variant of Electric Torture.
- Carole King: "Chains," first recorded by the Cookies and later covered by The Beatles.
Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains
And they ain't the kind that you can see
Whoa, these chains of love got a hold on me
- Done metaphorically and maternally in Bally's Wizard!!; the backglass shows Tommy's mother Nora with a heavy silver ball shackled to her ankle reading "Tommy."
- The Pajama Game: In the Fashion Show finale, Hines and Gladys are brought on in convict-striped pajamas, and are revealed to be handcuffed to each other.
- Meine Liebe Weider puts Ludwig in chains in the OP.
- Pandora's Tower: Aeron carries around a literal chain, enchanted with a lock of Elena's hair, allowing him to track her location and monitor the progress of her curse. It avoids being too ostentatious since apart from being an incredibly dangerous weapon that gets stronger with the couple's bond, it's also an exploration aid and device-activating multitool, among other plot-driving powers.
