soulbond

plural soulbonds

1. slanglifestyleA fictional character to whom an individual forms an emotional attachment.

   LearethGFS: Heehee... he's my soulbond.... he runs the place occasionally.

   1998, "Arikyas, Leader of the Dark Ones" (quoting "The Cypher"), Re: Atma's confession... (on newsgroup alt.games.final-fantasy)

   1 more example

   Whenever I'm reading a book or watching a movie, I'm there in my imagination, usually as a small (6-ish feet long) dragon talking to the characters, urging them to do what I want, flaming or growling at their enemies, etc. Reminds me of the role my spirit guide/daemon/soulbond/imaginary friend/whatever-the-hell-he-is, Phantos, plays in my life. Except that I directly talk to Phantos, whereas the characters never really notice me.

   2009, Fledgling Raquiri, “Re: On Obsession and Living in Fantasy”, in alt.fan.dragons (Usenet)

2. slanglifestyleA deep, lasting emotional or spiritual connection between two characters, typically of a psychic or magical nature.

   And that's not even getting into some of slash's more science-fictional tropes: soulbonds and telepathy, interspecies relationships; male pregnancy.

   2018, Francesca Coppa, “Slash/Drag: Appropriation and Visibility in the Age of Hamilton”, in Paul Booth, editor, A Companion to Media Fandom and Fan Studies, page 191

   2 more examples

   6 fans (11%) did not like to specify a genre but offered an alternative view of “common tropes” in fan fiction, such as: “The tropier, the better! Werewolves or A/B/O or soulbonds or time travel or coffeeshop AUs. […]

   2014, Lucie Cupalová, "Slash Factor: Characteristics and Varieties of Slash Fan Fiction", thesis submitted to Charles University, page 59

   This is amplified by the common use in a/b/o of the soulmate and soulbond tropes, where two characters are written as destined for each other on a biological level, resulting in near-irresistible mutual attraction and a special connection.

   2017, Marianne Gunderson, "What is an omega? Rewriting sex and gender in omegaverse fanfiction", thesis submitted to the University of Oslo, page 97