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The Soulmate Fuckup Meme

The Soulmate Fuckup Meme
There's a name on your wrist. Maybe you were born with it; maybe it arrived around the time you reached adolescence. It's spelled out, in clear script - the script you learned to read first, your native language. It's the name of your soulmate.

What would a world like this be like?

Fucked-up, that's what.

(Based on this tumblr post.)

PROMPTS:
Choose just one, choose a couple, mix and match. Do what you want.

RELATIONSHIP
1: ORIENTATION CONFUSION. The name on your arm is the wrong gender. Maybe you thought you were straight, but the name is the same gender as yours. Maybe you knew you were gay, but the name is opposite-sex. Maybe you just didn't want anyone to know, and you hide your arm, pretend to be something you aren't. But there it is - the evidence glares at you every time you brush aside your sleeve. The name has to be right. Doesn't it?
2: JUST PLAYING AROUND. You're not soulmates with the person you're with. You're just playing around. Or maybe you're really in love - and no one will believe you. How do you face the complete inability of society to accept you? How do you face the inevitable, fated end of your relationship? How can anything be important, when you know it won't last?
3: ONESOMES, THREESOMES AND MORESOMES. You're soulmates with person A who's soulmates with person B who's soulmates with you. What now? - Or maybe you're meant to be in a polyamorous relationship. Or you're asexual, and the thought of that name fills you with dread.
4: ALONE. Your soulmate died. Your soulmate never showed up. Your soulmate never existed. Or your soulmate refused you.
5: FIRST TIME. You've never dated anyone else before. What would have been the point? And now you're moving in, you're getting married - why wait? You're soulmates, aren't you? What could go wrong?
6: TOGETHER. Yep. Here we are. Here you are, and here I am, and here are our names on each other's arms.
7: OTHER.

STAGE
1: INVESTIGATION. So there's this name, and you've plugged it into Google, and the only match you can find is some asshole's Facebook account. He looks like a real jerk. Or maybe you got nothing, and you hired a private investigation firm that specializes in this kind of thing. Now you have an email address, or phone number, or a home address, and what's next is to pick up the phone, write that letter, knock on that door.
2: REVEAL. A superstar's name is on the wrist of a teenager. The President's name is on the wrist of her opponent. Your name is on the wrist of someone in jail. Turns out that name on your best friend's wrist was yours - only you never knew, not until you found out who your parents were. You've just discovered your soulmate, or just revealed yourself to them. What next?
3: GETTING TOGETHER. You're in the early stages. Dating, maybe. Getting to know each other. Moving in, under the watchful eyes of other friends, happy and soulmated and eager to have their view of the world confirmed in you. But do you even really know this person? What makes you so suited, anyway?
4: TOGETHER FOREVER. Maybe you've been together thirty years, and you still have that same fucking argument about who washes the pans after you cook a steak. Maybe you sit in silence because there's nothing to say, and it's incredibly boring. Maybe you work in harmony, but you wonder: is it because you were supposed to be together all along, or just because you never had another choice?
5: TECHNICALITIES. Society won't let you get married. So what if you just change your name to the name on her wrist, and she changes her name to the name on yours… Or maybe you can't get insurance, because you're not married with a soulmate. Don't have the right to vote. Can't get promoted in your job.
6: A BROKEN SYSTEM. Soulmates might be perfect, but people aren't perfect. The world isn't perfect. And this world has screwed you over, time and time again. But - maybe you still found a way to be happy.
7: OTHER.

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[The name on his wrist is nice and all, but Dodger isn't the type to rely on faith to keep himself entertained. His wrist doesn't say 'Kieron', but it's been wrapped up in a boxing handwrap since years before they met. Kieron is not, under any circumstances, allowed to know what it is. He says it's to preserve the mystery. He really just doesn't want to think about it.

Not that he likes Kieron's wrist with a name that isn't 'Jamison'. It bothers him from time to time, on a basic, possessive level. On the level that doesn't care about marriage rights or social norms, but just wants to see his name carved on the man's skin. He's thought about it from time to time, but it doesn't bubble over this moment, as he watches him take his breakfast, having already devoured as much as he could handle.]

If it was possible to tattoo over those names, would you do it?

[Kieron had never been someone to stay inside social norms. He just didn't care what society thought of him. Those norms and rules was just ways to oppress and limit people anyway. Or so he thought. So when he met Jamison he hadn't let a stupid thing as some wrist tattoo stop him from enjoying himself.

Still on some level he was scared. He was settled now and the idea that his "soulmate" might come around and change everything was frightening. But at the same time... it was faith wasn't it. You were supposed to find that special someone.

Which is why Jamison's question caught him off guard. He have him a look as he considered his answer. It took a second or so before he answered.]

Y'know if it supposedly would work, I might do it. It would get the people which judge our relationship cos we aren't "soulmates" off my back. I'm alright with what we got.

Edited (HTML fail) 2016-03-08 08:56 (UTC)

[There was a spark in his eyes as the man spoke - a glimmer of interest and agreement, before he rolled his eyes quietly. If anything, it was just to seem unattached.]

Like anyone really cares. I bet you half the people that give you shit for it are just vomiting up what the media gives them. I bet they all hate their soulmates.

[In his opinion, there were plenty of worse reasons to hate the two of them. He made a point of making sure his romantic deviance was far from the worst thing about him - there were even several crimes under his belt he didn't feel like Kieron needed to know, just for the sake of keeping him.

He lit a cigarette and re-iterated a point he'd already made from time to time.]

Anyway, I bet my soulmate makes you look like a saint. No one really wants me with them if they know what's good for 'em.

That's pretty much obvious. The media and everything is systematically brainwashing people and giving them unrealistic expectations.

[He rolled his eyes and violently stabbed his bacon with his fork. What Jamison said next however made him look up. He wasn't exactly sure how to approach that. Feelings and such had never been his strong suit. Or maybe he was just burned.]

Well, I'm here with you so you're doing something good. You're a pretty good lay too.

Pretty good, huh? [He laughed quietly, scratching his covered wrist as he did.] You're not too bad yourself...

[He hesitated, and his tone softened just a bit.] And I don't mind being with you. Even with all the shit we get from the peanut gallery.

[He acted nonchalant, but it was warm coming from him. He tended to insult everything around him, even Kieron and himself. For a moment, he looked like he was going to say something else... then backed out and picked up his fork to poke at another strip of bacon on Kieron's plate.] You gonna eat that?

I aim to please. [He smirked back at Jamie.] I say fuck them, we do as we please.

[Sure it may not be the healthiest relationship but it was good enough for him. He was rough around the edges and he needed someone who could challenge and keep up with him. Something Jamie could.

He swats away Jamie's hand from his bacon.]

That's mine, hands off. [He said and stuck the fork into it and divulged the entire strip.]

Edited 2016-03-11 18:50 (UTC)

[There was another small spark in his eyes, as he considered fighting for the strip of bacon, but it was already in Kieron's mouth. And for a moment after that he considered kissing him to steal what was left of it, but... as usual, he decided that was a little extreme even for him.

He paused for a bit, before tapping out the end of his cigarette on his dish and speaking again.]

I'm serious, though - about the tattoo. I wanna look into it. There's gotta be some sorta underground connection for that, heh?

Well I guess there's a possibility for that. [He shrugs and glances down onto his own wrist.] Why the interest? I get that it could be a way to rid us of judgmentals but they don't really bother me. You're not getting worried or something?

It's not worry.

[He said it a bit sharply; Dodger's always been too used to brushing off the implication that he worries. Strictly because he's paranoid.]

I just, uhh... [He hesitated, made a vague gesture with his hand as he thought of a smooth way to voice his thoughts.] I just like the idea. You being marked as mine, and all.

[Though, it was worth noting he hadn't said anything about tattooing his own wrist.]

Fair enough. What about you then? Gotta match and all. [He comments and points his fork at Jamie. The other man could try to coat it any way he wanted but he saw through that. Cos he had the same paranoia, buried deep inside. He wasn't fond of surprises.]

Edited 2016-03-18 07:37 (UTC)

[That makes him pause. Actually, it makes him freeze. And a moment later he slowly begins scratching at the wraps over his wrist, looking distinctly uncomfortable.]

What's it matter what mine says? No one's going to see it, anyway. [He narrows his eyes.] For all you know it already says 'Kieron'.

It takes two to tango bud. if your name isn't on mine, my name can't be at yours.

[He then shakes his head and scowl]

Why are we even arguing about this? I like you and I don't care which name is where. But if I made that tattoo it would have been nice if you did too.

Well, I care. Because I don't want you just-...

[He paused, and hesitated before starting again.]

I don't want things to change if one of us meets their one. See? Mine's just... no one sees mine, it doesn't matter. Everyone can see yours. So, it matters.

[He falls quiet after hearing Jamie's concerns. He knows exactly how it feels. It sucks.]

I know. I feel the same. But y'know there's like 8 billion people in the world. Finding your soulmate in that mess would be impossible, like 1 in 8 000 000 000. Even if I hide it tho, it doesn't mean my soulmate won't find me. It takes two y'know.

I just don't care? They can stare on my wrist all they want and scowl at my choices. It doesn't affect me. I don't see a reason to change cos society demands it.

For you tho... I might.

[There's visible relief as the topic moves away from his wrist, and he stops scratching it. But he's not comfortable just yet... he rarely is.

He lights a new cigarette and gets up to pace, get his thoughts in order.]

Okay- let's put it like this. Right now your wrist says... y'know, that. [He'd never liked saying the name aloud, it made it too... real.] So that person finds you, reads your wrist, and theirs says Kieron, and you're a match. And you've gotta pick between them and me. And maybe you pick me, but that's not the point. You're gonna wonder what would've happened if you went with them. Because that's how humans work, they get curious and then they fuck everthing up.

[He stops pacing and takes a long drag from his cigarette.]

But if they find you and your wrist says my name, what the hell are they gonna say, right? You're not their one anymore. You're mine. So you don't have to choose, right? 'Cause you'll never know you had a choice to make. [His eyes narrow.] And you'll still wonder what would've happened if you didn't get the tattoo, but you won't have a face to put on that.

And the fact their wrist says my name won't confuse them? If I get the tattoo. [He comments before snatching the cigarette from Jamie and taking a drag of it himself.] Not to mention the same contrails to you.

[He shrugs noncommittally, slumping back into his chair.] There are plenty of Kierons. Plenty of Jamisons, too. They'd just figure you aren't their Kieron.

[This is a blatant lie, he could count the people he knows with his name or Kieron's on one hand. But he doesn't want to lose his point.]

And anyway, even if someone thought they were my soulmate they couldn't confirm with me. My wrist's my own business.

Fair enough, can't argue that point. [He subconsciously glances at Jamie's wrist. But he doesn't comment.] Not too hot on changing myself cos of society tho.

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