A forcedship

[anonconda]

THE FORCED
COURTSHIP MEME

You have to court them.

Not marry them. Not fall in love. Not yet.

An old custom got invoked. Magic took something literally. Their people have rules about this sort of thing, and you have already satisfied the first condition.

So now there are gifts to bring, visits to keep, gestures to return. You may despise every moment of it.

You will court them all the same.

HOW TO PLAY

⁕  Comment with your character and preferences.

⁕  If you're willing, tag others and use the prompts below.

PROMPTS

1. YOU STARTED IT: You did something innocent. To them, it was a declaration as binding as any oath.

2. THE RULES: There are steps to this. You have already failed several. Learn what follows, or the next failure will cost more.

3. FIRST OFFERING: The next stage requires a gift. There is no neutral choice; whatever you bring says something about what you want from them.

4. RETURN GIFT: They accepted yours. Custom binds them to answer in kind, and everyone who knows the rules will read the answer carefully.

5. CALLING HOURS: You are expected to visit. Leave too early and it counts as rejection. Stay past the proper hour and that means something else.

6. PROVE IT: Their attention must be earned. Tradition gives them the right to decide what would convince them.

7. WITNESSED: This part must be performed before others. Every observer understands exactly what they are watching.

8. THE TOKEN: They give you something to wear or carry. Everyone who knows the custom can recognize it, and taking it off would be an insult.

9. THE NAME: Courtship gives you a particular name or title for them. You are expected to use it now, and anyone who hears will know exactly what it means.

10. REFUSAL: There is a polite, accepted way to end this. The chance comes and goes.

11. COMPETITION: Another suitor begins to court them. No one obliges you to care. But there are rules for answering a rival.

12. IN SEASON: Courting season has begun. People around you start treating this as serious long before either of you is ready to.

13. TOO SOON: You perform a gesture reserved for much later. They know what it means before you do.

14. IN PRIVATE: Most of the ritual is public. This part requires an answer that no witness is permitted to hear.

15. YOUR TURN: The courtship was easier when only one of you was obliged to participate. Then the other starts courting back.

16. THE LOOPHOLE: You find a way out. It works. Neither of you uses it.

17. INSTINCT: Custom only explains part of this. One of you begins doing things the ritual never required, and the other keeps answering.

18. THE LAST STEP: You complete the final requirement. Nothing compels either of you to see the other again.

19. WITHOUT CAUSE: The courtship is over. Later, one of you keeps one of its rituals anyway.

20. WILDCARD

Comments

Penelope | the odyssey

[weaveandwait]

[her life in a nutshell. Happy to do something with the suitors or pre canon before Odysseus. Oc and cross canon friendly! Also open to aus]

Maedhros | The Silmarillion | OTA

[holdshisown]

edelgard von hresvelg | fire emblem: three houses

[crestsidestory]

[ info in journal, into canon and cross 20+. cool with canon-smushing or making it a jamjar setting. ]

William Laurence | Temeraire

[firmus]

[He works very well for any Regency-era shenanigans.]

[safine]

[ Interested in something with this lady maybe? ]

sandor clegane | asoiaf

[houndedby]

[he is an extremely unpleasant person who will go crazy for someone if they're a little bit nice to him so this will be fine.]

Genya Safin | Grishaverse | ota

[safine]

[darotisentys]

[He offers her a manicured bouquet of flowers clearly from the castle's gardens.]

I have been informed that if I am to continue our liason, it must be made official.

[safine]

[ And she accepts it, pleased but also clearly a little confused. ]

You have? By who?

[ Not that she disagrees, but he hadn't exactly seemed to understand what she was getting at when she spoke of the fact that he had arranged a marriage with someone else, and that she was not wild about the idea of being a mistress. ]

[darotisentys]

My mother. She insists that if I am to carry on outside my betrothal, then it must be replaced.

[So simple. So formal.]

[safine]

I'm sure that what she meant was for you to stay true to your original agreement.

[ Genya hardly brings an equal amount of value in terms of a political alliance. ]

[darotisentys]

I walked through an open door. Do you accept?

[safine]

Do I accept what?

[darotisentys]

Courtship.

{Isn't that obvious?]

[safine]

Will this cause conflict with the family of your current intended?

[ He's trying to fight a war here, so she is trying to not be selfish. ]

I'm not rejecting you, I'm just... trying to understand what has changed to make you want this.

[darotisentys]

I like you.

[More simplicity.]

She is a means to an end.

[safine]

I like you too. And I accept.

[darotisentys]

Excellent.

[There's a brief hesitation and then he leans in to kiss her on the cheek.]

[safine]

[ She smiles at him, and then smells the flowers he gave her. ]

These are lovely, thank you.

[darotisentys]

You are welcome. Shall we go for a walk?

astrid becke | critical role

[thehardchoice]

[ ota, more interested in 21+. ]

rumi || kpop demon hunters || ota

[hun_trix]

(ooc; sign me up for all the au's.)

Malroth | Dragon Quest

[wreckitroth]

[ It's like everywhere he goes, he ends up having to play a supporting role in reviving some old tradition he doesn't even understand...

BONUS OPTION: Since he is kind of an ancient god of destruction, there could also be some kind of sacred ritual aspect, if that's your thing. ]

Hiroe Matsudaira | OC | F/M lean but OTA

[kuukokujinjanozenko]

[As the daughter of a branch of a politically powerful family, most likely caught up in things someone else accidentally started, and playing along to keep the main family off her parents' backs. ...and maybe because it's entertaining sport and/or a good chance to be pampered and flattered for a while.]

Perne Archevauliere | FFXIV OC

[porcelainandblood]

[There is information and perms in her journal. I usually play her as a non-WoL, however, can adjust that as needed. Open to prompts, but I especially like 3, 4, 8, and 12.]

Joe Saturn -OtA- M/M shipping

[damnedduke]

[[Ice cold gangster, not at all romantic but if you like frozen bitches you won’t find one better!]]

Luka -OC- OtA

[forrestertailor]

[[Hunky elder vampire absolutely here for courtships of all sizes. He may play the evil warlord but Luka has a poet’s temperament and will become an Austenian hero if you play your cards right.]]

Luke Skywalker | Star Wars

[jediwithoutorder]