off-brand arranged marriage

[liltuna]

the government assigned spouse meme because the powers that be know what's best... Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone, I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One. I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done. Diana Gabaldon Sci-fi fans, lock in. For some reason, in some alternate dimension, partners are picked by the government and suddenly dropped on your door when the time is right. Why is this done? When is the time 'right'? Do these forced marriages ever work out? You decide! — comment with your character + prefs. — those who tag in are knocking on your door, marriage papers in hand, federal agent at their side. — surprise! today's your lucky day!

why + how... Population Assurance. The world has to keep moving, so the government has stepped in to ensure future generations. Productivity. In this dystopia, people need to work! Let the government take care of pesky things like dating so you can focus on what matters. Tradition. There's no real reason, per se. It's just how it's always been. You've grown up hearing stories of how happy people are on this day, and now it's finally your turn. Cue Shirley Jackson. Uprooted. One day, you're living a normal life. Next thing you know, agents are telling you to get in the van to meet your spouse. You had a good thing going up until then! Trained. Some people exist solely as marriage fodder. At a base, or in a lab, or at a compound, you spend every day being drilled on how to be a good spouse. Time to put those lessons to the test. Fuck the System. You're something of a rebel, always have been. You've been planning infiltration and insurrection to end this cycle of marriage. Too bad you're caught in it now. here + now... Reaction. The immediate reaction. Joy, excitement? Surprise? Fear? Not My Type. The person standing on your door isn't who you'd usually go for... are you disappointed that you didn't get that supermodel of your dreams? Anger. Rather than see this day of one of magic and whimsy, you hate how much influence the government has on your life. You never wanted this. Government Assigned Gay. If the government decrees it... Better learn to like this gender you've never considered before. Cohabitate. Well, they're here now. The least you can do is give them a tour of the place. Made Sexy. Since the government is deeply concerned about this first meeting, both parties are offered an aphrodisiac in the form of tea or coffee. Just something to make sure the sparks fly. Hate. Y'all can't seem to get along no matter what. This isn't a romantic, fated first meeting; it's a fucking nightmare. Love. It might take some time, but maybe the government is right after all. Maybe the two of you will fall in love. Mistake.  These things happen! So what if things are going well? A glitch in the system says this spouse was never meant to be your spouse, so they're going to have to leave.  Other Lover. Just because the system says this is who you're supposed to be with doesn't mean it's true. Plenty of people have true loves on the side. No one talks about it lest they face Big Brother's wrath, but it's out there.

Comments

Bucky Barnes | MCU

[endof_theline]

gov assigned gay + cohabitate + made sexy

[discobaron]

"It was all part of the arrangement, I hope you don't mind. I figured I would suggest one of my properties as our new home, that way we'd have everything we need to be comfortable."

You know. After being legally wed by proverbial gunpoint all in the name of whatever-the-fuck the government thought they were doing putting the two of them together like this.

The "arrangement" isn't like any parole the baron's experienced or even heard of before. In any country he's been to, really. Instead of a parole officer he has a partner - a husband - and along with him, a new wedding band to wear with the other he refuses to take off his finger even after all this time. Tarnished and old, polished and new. They will coexist on his hand forever as far as he's concerned. Even death couldn't part his beloved Heike from him, and neither will this.

"I could show you around. Give you le grand tour. There's an upstairs, plenty of land surrounding the house. We're in a rather remote spot if you couldn't tell." (And the absolute trek it took for them to get out here wasn't a total giveaway.)

Zemo just keeps talking, sounding utterly foolish and unlike his usual self. It's apparent from the way his speech seems to speed up and he falters over some of the words and the fact that he's wringing his hands in front of himself that he's nervous about everything that's happened. Upset? Worked up? Mostly nervous? Sure. Take your pick. It could be any combination of the three and then some.

Whirlwind of change would be the most extreme understatement in this situation. One minute he's slated for indefinite incarceration, the next he's allowed to go home - to one of them, whichever he picked. And he has a husband to look after him too. James.

Under any other circumstances the baron would be utterly overjoyed. But right now... he isn't quite sure, and that leaves him feeling uneasy. He doesn't know how his new husband will take to all this, especially since neither of them had any say in the matter.

Tess Mercer | Smallville

[havenomercy]

[After everything she's done for them...]

arthur curry | dceu | m/f

[fishtalk]

Dorian Storm | Critical Role C3 | OTA

[makingmyway]

Rowan O'Cleary | OC | OTA

[medicalling]

[Whether the government knows who/what he is or not is up to the tagger.]

Jon Sims | Magnus Archives | ota

[joe_spooky]

Tim Drake | DCU

[success_story]

[bodyslidebyone]

[Let me know if you want me to change anything here!]

"There you are." A heavy, metal hand falls on Tim's shoulder as Nathan looms behind him, casually blocking him from view in case he hasn't finished planting the bug. "It's time to stop being so shy and hiding away. I've had too many people ask why I'm not paying more attention to my pretty new wife."

It's a warning that people are starting to notice and question why they're not spending their time together as is expected of them. As much as it would be more expedient if they were able to operate independently, that's not an option here. Too much time apart, and their dedication to the organisation will be called into question. It's too soon for that; they still haven't found any trace of those who have gone missing shortly after joining and consummating their assigned marriage.

Nathan's hand slides down to the small of Tim's back, urging him around to tuck into Nathan's side. The long-sleeved, collared shirt and formal jacket he wore for the communal wedding make it easier to pass the gleaming metal of his left arm off as an advanced prosthetic, so he gets slightly fewer stares. The crowd still parts easily before him as he guides them through the large hall, all decked out for the ceremony that initiated them and the other new recruits.

"You're going to make me seem neglectful before we even get to the honeymoon." His smile is practised and easy as he nods to the other couples around them. In contrast, his telepathic 'voice' in Tim's head is all business. Do you need longer here? If you're done, we can put in a dance for show, and then make our excuses.

Marvin Milk | The Boys | ota

[milkpunch]

Ilya Rozanov | Heated Rivalry

[roomnumber]

[ citizenship, but at what cost ]

'zosia' | pluribus | ota

[notraban]

Rumi | KPop Demon Hunters | OTA

[denyingit]

[Welcome to the Huntrix penthouse... 20+ OTA. Castmates (especially JINUS and her girls), crosscanon, crossmedium, assumed CR, AUs, OCs etc all always welcome.]

edelgard von hresvelg | fire emblem: three houses

[crestsidestory]

[ info in journal. I'd just make this a game-like jamjar setting equally open to canon and cross 20+ but I'm also happy to think about actual au ideas with canonmates. she'll be reluctant and has probably been working on ways to attempt getting out of this/getting back home but I'd love dynamics capable of interested tension and finding common threads. ]

Maureen 'Ducky' DeCecco | Lavender Jack | OTA 21+

[astraythought]

[A woman with many secrets to hide, a spouse complicates everything about her life as a spy/part of a vigilante team perfectly normal housemaid.]

[damnedduke]

[[Hi there, I think you and I have tagged once or twice before on my Philip Marlowe journal halfsmart. Would you have an interest in a government assigned marriage between Ducky and this gangster OC of mine? Joe could be a mark or possible underworld contact for the LJ crew. Joe's canonically gay but that could be a fun element to play with if they're being extralegally wed]]

flambae | dispatch

[vcut]

( government mandated mean-ass superhero [?] husband. )

Techie | Dredd | OTA

[clan_techie]

[Hope you like them nervous and reclusive!]

Luci | Urban Fantasy OC | OTA (M/M leanings)

[fey_bear]

[Potentially how peace is kept among the factions? I'm down for whatever, though.]

Adelia | Urban Fantasy OC | OTA

[ihazaraven]

[If you aren't allergic to birds, and can handle her occasional '''Business Trips''' everything's probably going to be fine.]

Eddie + Stranger Things + OTA

[jukebox_hero]

[Weird fuckin' afterlife...]

Gabreel King + OC + OTA

[malecompanion]

[More than likely one of those academy-trained spouses]

[facelikeyours]

[i have no solid ideas, only an Urge. pre-show/AU arranged marriage deal? post-movie job where a friend of inara's has to be simon's husband? open to anything!]

selina kyle | dc comics | ota

[catscratching]

( canon, cross-canon, cross-medium, all good ❤️

time to make you regret wanting this

[headhunt]

( traditions are meant to be respected.

that's what karlach has been told her entire life—much like everyone else that she knows. it's one of those things that you don't really think about as a child. it's something that you simply hear and accept because of course. it must be true. if all of the adults around you keep saying it then why wouldn't it be true?

traditions are meant to be respected.

when she was a teenager, karlach started to question this line of thinking. particularly when it came to one of the most prominent traditions of society: life partners were assigned to those unwed by a certain age. the idea of marrying for love is a silly one. who needs to do that? the art of matching partners has been refined over centuries.

the matching department claims that they get it right every time, that they've got the entire thing down to a science.

and after all, it's tradition!

karlach always thought that she'd rebel or manage to do something before hitting her 30's and losing her window to choose her own partner. the years had just come quickly and now karlach is here.

now karlach is standing in front of the home of her freshly assigned spouse. two armed guards stand beside her, holding a couple of her bags. karlach imagines that their presence is to keep her from running away. it's probably something that happens a lot. despite the call to always respect tradition.

with a careful rap of her knuckles, karlach knocks on the house door. she can already start to feel her nerves getting jumbled. while she knows that whoever is behind door has been expecting her, has been informed that she's coming, but she cannot help but feel anxious.

but who wouldn't be if they were meeting their spouse for the first time? )

Hey! Looks like I'm your wife!

( she says stupidly when the door eventually opens. )

Shaundra | Were-leopard OC | OTA

[omnomnomtail]

[Could be a Pack thing, could just be a government thing and they gotta make do same as anyone else.]

Susanna | In Time OC | OTA

[onstolentime]

[Something that the folks with hundreds of years of time do that she didn't know about before.]

Shiny \ Fabulous Killjoys OC \ OTA

[twice_as_shiny]

[This is definitely the kind of thing BL/ind would do]

bucky barnes | mcu

[bustincaps]

Igarak [Dark Urge] // Baldur's Gate 3 // OTA

[wasisweetonce]

[ info & prefs/permissions! ]