bakerstreet | like shackles on your feet, like a halo in reverse

The Not So Happily Married Meme

(or the FORCED FAMILY UNIT meme)

Let's get one thing straight. Not all marriages are happy. They don't start with love, and they don't end with it. In fact, some marriages are more arrangements that anything. Whether it be through the will of an iron-fisted totalitarian government or something as ancient as tradition, people end up stuck. And now, you're one of them. Maybe you were assigned you partner. Maybe your parents picked them out. Maybe it's something different all together. But no matter what, you're going to be with them in some shape, fashion, or form.

So, what can you do? Do you just deal with it? Try to find a way out? Or worst of all, do you blame your so-called "spouse" for all this? You'll have to do something.

HOW TO PLAY;
1. Comment with your characters, putting any preferences you have in the subject. These are your OOC preferences, however. Remember, in meme your character's preferences won't matter.

2. Reply to others! You can use the RNG to roll for the WHY (why are your characters in this mess), the WHEN (what stage are they at), and the HOW (how do they feel about their partner). Or just wing it.

3. The fun of this meme is putting together characters who would normally never be together or have no business getting married, whether it be cross-canon, enemies, or strangers. But feel free to do what you want. Unlike your characters, you're never forced.

4. This is not a smut meme, nor is it a romance meme. There is a smut option and a romance option, but neither are required. The focus here is on CR and coping with situations that might be fairly unpleasant.

5. Have fun! And by that, I mean be miserable.

WHY;
1. GOVERNMENT: You live in a world where all aspects of life are controlled by the government. This includes who you're matched up with. Take "government" to mean anything you want it to, whether that be actual government or something like gods.

2. ARRANGED: Due to your culture, status, or family, you have an arranged marriage. Your significant other was picked out long before now.

3. SOLD: One of you belongs to the other in some way. At any rate, it's not a completely consensual arrangement.

4. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES: You don't particularly care for this person, but you have to look good for some reason. They'll do for that.

5. SHOTGUN WEDDING: Because of outside circumstances (read: an unplanned child), you're stuck together.

6. CURSED/POTION: At least one of you is under the effects of a curse or potion that binds you both.

7. THE BEST I COULD GET: Either one of you or both of you are settling. This is just a marriage of convenience.

8. Wildcard/free space.

WHEN;
1. JUST MET: You've never seen this person that you're engaged, intended, or assigned to. This is your first meeting.

2. JUST MARRIED: Ceremony or knot, you've just tied it.

3. CONSUMMATE: What's a married live without consummating the union? Whether it's for some kind of ritual, a fulfillment of a contract, or the need to produce offspring to become workers, you have to come together.

4. IN THE FAMILY WAY: Congratulations! You're about to bring a child into this (potentially loveless) family. Are you proud?

5. MARRIED WITH CHILDREN: You have kids already. They might be biological, or they might be state-assigned. How's the family life going?

6. FILLING YOUR ROLE: The two of you have a job or purpose, such as starting a business.

7. TRYING TO ESCAPE: You have to get out. You can't take this life anymore.

8. THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE: Since you didn't ask for this marriage, one of you has a lover on the side. Do you tell your spouse upfront, or do they find out themselves?

9. Wildcard/free space

HOW;
1. STRANGERS: You hardly know this person. Getting to know them is important (since you're only going to be spending the rest of your lives together) , but are you willing to put forth the effort for that?

2. HATE: They've ruined your life. Maybe not directly, but they're there and that's enough.

3. LOVE: There might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps you do love each other, or you're at least learning to do so.

4. IN THIS TOGETHER: It may not be perfect, and you might not be be in love, but you're making it work for yourselves or for any children you might have. And hey, sometimes friendship like that can be a strong enough bond.

5. Wildcard/free space

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[One moment, the girls had been going about their lives, in their own worlds. The next, they were waking up in white, empty rooms. They were two of the many who had been brought in. Doppelgangers, their captors called them, but that wasn't entirely accurate. Some looked identical, some had the same name, others didn't resemble each other in any noticeable way. The captors said that they were the same, just products of different timelines, different decisions, different paths of history. And their lives had been decided long ago. They were part of a prophecy, had an important part to play, though the captors wouldn't say what.

They are committed to each other in a binding ceremony, then each pair is led down a long, stark, white hallway. Each pair is herded through a door that leads to a room with a bed, two dressers, a bathroom, and other minimal furnishings. They are told to await further instruction and then they are locked inside with no further explanation.]

There's got to be a way out of here, right?

[The red haired Bonnie is pacing in front of the door, back and forth, but enough is enough. She goes to the wardrobe and begins looking through for anything that can maybe pick a lock.]

[The dark haired Bonnie has been doing a little pacing of her own. She's already tried every spell she's committed to memory, but none of it's worked. She's not one to sit around and do nothing, but she doesn't know what she can do.]

There always is, we just have to find it.

[Think, Bennett, think!]

[She pulls out nondescript clothing items. The wardrobe is fully stocked with various clothing pieces in neutral colors.]

There's a lot of stuff in here. At least it doesn't look like they're planning to kill us tomorrow or anything.

[Chances are slim, but she begins going through the pockets of the clothing. Maybe someone else had worn them before? Maybe something got left behind? A key would be nice.]

Small favors.

[This Bonnie takes a cue from the other and joins her in searching with her own wardrobe.]

[Bonnie glances in her companion's direction uncertainly, then back to the bed, then back to her. She has some idea what it is they were locked in here to do, given the lack of things to occupy themselves with, but--well, no, they need to escape.]

So I've never been married before.

[She laughs as she continues to go through her things. It's quiet, but she does. It shouldn't be funny, given they were forced into this, but for some reason she can't help it.]

Part of me thought I never would be. [She glances in the redhead's direction.] Guess I was wrong.

like shackles on your feet, like a halo in reverse

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you're awesome

pfft

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