#lovesickness

(Source: The Knight's Tale, by Geoffrey Chaucer)

The effects of Lovesickness described in Canterbury Tales.

In the medieval period, "Lovesickness" was treated as a genuine physical and mental illness that arose from an imbalance of bodily humors and the sight of a great beauty. In particular, it was associated with the nobility and it affected men, hence why Geoffrey refers to it as a "Malady of Heroes" in the image above.

It's this medical treatment of Passionate Love/Eros/Amor that informs many of the strange-to-modern-ears actions and habits of literary characters, such as Sir Lancelot, Galehaut and even Uther Pendragon:

AU Version of Adeline in The Freak Circus!

Name: Adeline

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Hobbies: Romantic Stories

Favourite Animal: Cats

[Information]

college au

(written for fem reader but can be interpreted as whatever)

Atticus thinks you can do better

A/N: SHOUTOUT TO MY FRIEND THAT FIXXED MY GRAMMAR ISSUES ILY -

Atticus has a knack for finding patterns. Specifically, patterns involving you. One of these involves you and your "boyfriend" (a title that Atticus continues to resent along with the man) where you would come home from a date, beaming from ear to ear, then after 18 hours you would be obsessively checking your phone for a notification. It seems your boyfriend has you wrapped around his finger, showering you with just enough love to keep you around before ghosting you for up to a week.

“He should have replied by now…” you bite your nails, looking anxiously at the screen of your phone while tapping idly. Though Atticus hated him, he also hates your worrying.

“Do you have his location?”

“No, we trust each other!”

“….Awfully convenient for him…” he mutters, his head resting on the table’s cool surface, matching your own displeasure

The phone buzzed, lifting only one of the two’s spirits…

he’s busy rn girlie attached: 2 images 1 videos

Immediately both went slack jawed. Atticus took initiative and threw the phone toward the couch, not wanting you to see the picture his eyes caught a glimpse at when grabbing the phone. “That’s disgusting!”

“Why would anyone do that???”

“How could he do that to you???”

Atticus kept spewing phrases of disbelief and hovering around you while you stood there in shock.

He’s busy.

He’s. Busy.

Your body felt like it wasn’t yours, a chill creeping in with the feeling of nausea as your tongue grew heavy.

How long had he been cheating?

Why had he cheated?

Was it something you did?

Something you didn’t?

Something you should’ve done?

Atticus is still going on and on “- and that’s why he was never good enough for you in the first place! Look at you! You’re so- so smart and amazing and perfect and he looks like he’s a rat on the subway! You should have a guy that cares for you and doesn’t take you for granted!” he sat your shell-shocked self down at your desk as you question everything that you believed your relationship was. “But why would he-?” you try to speak but Atticus quickly interrupt you by putting a finger on your lips.

“Shhhhh don’t speak. You’re going through a very difficult time right now. I’ll restore your honor, as your roommate.” He talks to you like you’re a scared animal. His eyes are shining with a certain mischievous glimmer. “He won’t even know what hit em…I’ve been watching tae kwon do videos on TikTok….it’ll be a flawless victory!” he takes his finger off your lips to show his stances and kicks.

“…..Atticus you’re gonna be pounded. He literally benches thrice your weight.”

“No! He won’t even get to lay a finger on me!” And with that, Atticus storms off to teach your ex a thing or two.

…He’s cooked. He knows he’s cooked. But his ego is too inflated with the thought of being your knight in shining armor.

-

Atticus called you approximately 10 minutes after he “talked” with your ex. He was breathing heavily into the phones speaker and seemed to be running.

“BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING I WAS ABLE TO MAKE HIM BLEED- CAN YOU- CAN YOU UH- HE’S FAST- DAMN- CAN YOU OPEN THE DOOR???” Atticus pleads, sounding increasingly more scared with every word. You jump off your bed and open the door just in time for Atticus to run in and slam the door, heaving. Looking through the peephole, you see your angry bull of an ex with a bloody nose and bruised temple. He pounds the door in anger before storming away. Atticus is still wheezing on the floor, and you get a look at him. He has bruises all over his face, his lips are bleeding, and he’s hunched over grimacing.

You sit down in front of him, his watery eyes tugging at your heartstrings. “….Did your arm always bend like that?” You reach out to touch it but hesitate, not wanting to hurt him more.

Atticus lifted his arm and it dangled unnaturally “No, but at least I can’t feel it.” He tried to move it a bit before wincing.

“…..We’re getting you to the ER”

-

bonus!!!!

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