Paul Verlaine (Bungou Stray Dogs)
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Paul Verlaine |
| Occupation: | Ex-spy; mafia executive; trainer of assassins |
| Relationships: | Former partner of Arthur Rimbaud; self-declared older brother of Nakahara Chuuya |
| Fandom: | Bungou Stray Dogs |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Paul Verlaine, inspired partly by the French Symbolist poet of the same name and partly by poet Arthur Rimbaud, is a character in Bungou Stray Dogs. He appears in Stormbringer. He has gravity manipulation powers and can form a singularity known as Demonic Beast Guivre.
In Canon
Paul was created as an experiment and enslaved by his creator before breaking free and being saved by Arthur Rimbaud, who became his spy partner. They were sent to obtain Nakahara Chuuya from a facility. Wanting Chuuya, who Paul saw as a little brother, to have the childhood he never did, Paul betrayed Arthur to save him, but Arthur got away with Chuuya. Years later, Paul has become the King of Assassins and uses his abilities to kill people connected to Chuuya, including the Flags, so that Chuuya will be left with no one else but Paul and will keep him company. In the end, Paul becomes Guivre and is nearly killed by Chuuya but is saved by Arthur's singularity. Paul spends years mourning and writing poetry, becomes an assassin trainer for the Port Mafia (with trainees including Izumi Kyouka and Akutagawa Gin), and becomes a Mafia executive while continuing to live in "the basement."
In Fandom
Most discussion of Paul is in the context of his interactions with Chuuya or Arthur. He is nearly universally shipped with Arthur. In fic AUs, the two sometimes serve as parents or guardians to Chuuya. It's also common for Paul to be biological or adopted siblings with Chuuya and sometimes also Kouyou or others in AUs. Kouyou, who acts as an older sister figure to Chuuya, is frequently compared to and contrasted with Paul.[1]
Paul is frequently headcanoned as a trans man, since he identifies as a man in canon and unleashes his powers of destruction by reciting part of a poem by the real Rimbaud which is about periods.
Paul is often interpreted as struggling with a mental illness, such as BPD, which is sometimes the focus of angstier fan works. Also common in angst is him mourning for Arthur and having difficult but reconciliatory discussions with Chuuya.
Paul's character design is very well-received in the fandom. He won a Reddit poll for best hair on a BSD character.
Some fas theorize that Paul, who thus far has not appeared in the BSD main manga or anime, will come out of the basement and become relevant in a future arc.[2]
Fan Works
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Writing
Art
- Float away, my verse of repentance by @annie-baynton
- another page 🥹 by @lila-s-art
- VERLAINEEEE as promised by @lotus-pear
- Your hand in marriage, good sir? by @hyacinthe99
- Shark Verlaine here we goooo by @yebyyhfushi
- New bsd chapter?? Welcome back chuuya nakahara by @evermorethecrow
- Don't see enough abt Verlaine in the lab so by @lalaooopsie
Miscellaneous
Archives & Links
- Paul Verlaine (Bungou Stray Dogs) tag on Ao3
- #bsd verlaine and #paul verlaine on Tumblr[3]
Notes & References
- ^ Kouyou and Verlaine are so similar, no wonder they are both Chuuya's older sibling figures and Kyouka's mentors by @theghostinabadbook
- ^ low chances of this happenimg but we js wait 🏹🏹🏹 post by @nininikolai
- ^ Some posts in this tag are for the real-life poet Paul Verlaine.