bakerstreet | Arranged Marriage

Marriage for love is a such a modern concept. In the past, marriage was
recognised as a social contract. Unions were entered into for many
reasons: to obtain property, to unite families, to carry on a bloodline,
et cetera. Whatever the reason, congratulations, you're getting married!

HOW IT WORKS:
❧ Post a comment with your character's name, canon, and any preferences.
❧ If there's a specific set of circumstances you like best, set the scene.
❧ Or leave your comment blank and let others use RNG to choose the scenario. Feel free to mix and match.
❧ Please note the prompts below are merely suggestions and you're more than welcome to come up with your own situation.
❧ Have fun!

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR MARRIAGE:
① Station → You come from a royal, noble, or otherwise distinguished family who has chosen a suitable spouse for you.
② Feud → You are being married to put an end to the bitter enmity between your two families.
③ Economics → Your economic state and/or your station will improve through the union, though one of you may be marrying down.
④ Empire → You and your spouse are merging your businesses and/or property to create something more influential or profitable.
⑤ Tribute → You have been offered as a gift or appeasement, alternately you're the spoils of war.
⑥ Bloodline → Carrying on your distinguished family name has fallen to you and the equally well-bred spouse of your family's selection.
⑦ Disapproval → Your marriage has been arranged to keep you away from the person with whom you truly wish to be.

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:
① First meeting → This is the very first time you're meeting your future spouse.
② Courtship → To get to know each other and encourage affection, your family has approved of you going on dates.
③ Engagement party → Be it a huge, formal affair or a small, intimate get together, you're celebrating (or pretending).
④ Wedding day → The big day!
⑤ Reception → The big party!
⑥ Wedding night → Every meme needs a smut prompt, right?
⑦ Honeymoon → Where will you go with your new spouse and what will you do there?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, that – was probably the strangest compliment she'd ever received. As flattering as it was, Lucina didn't know what to make of it. Still, with that special ease he seemed to have, Morgan startled a small, warm laugh out of her.

"I hardly think that would be the case." And yet she was smiling again, charmed. "If you loved her, she would have been leagues above me no matter what."

She fell silent for a moment, still smiling up at him, as she wondered how special a woman would have to be to win the heart of a man like him. Doubtless, an incredible woman. And an incredibly happy woman. And what of someone like her?

She hummed vaguely, carefully putting that thought aside and sliding her eyes from his to look around them. Her smile turned wry. "I seem to have caused another 'traffic jam' as you put it." She reached out and touched his arm. Perhaps it was her turn to lead. "Shall we then?"

That was some freakishly gracious modesty on her part, Morgan couldn't help but notice. And so effortless?! Impressive, really... but that was neither here nor there. If such a woman existed, Lucina would be correct. But seeing as how such a woman didn't...

In any case his smile grew, and he took her laugh for a success. It wasn't mature like his mother's, or even loud or carefree, but he tucked it away inside him all the same, liking its quiet sincerity.

"I guess we shall," he said, looking down to where she'd touched him. After a second's thought, he offered an arm. That was a thing people did at fancy functions, wasn't it?

Lucina took his arm with a murmured "Thank you," and led them to the tables arranged to the side of the ballroom. Most of them were taken as was expected of a ball this grand, but her aunt Emmeryn had made sure to set aside a special table for the two of them. It was a simple table, draped with heavy white cloth and decorated by a centerpiece of white roses – no different from the rest, really, aside from the placard with the Brand of the Exalt to mark its reservation.

Its position, however, was a treat. Tucked closer to the corner of the ballroom for as much privacy as one could get in such a place, it sat next to a set of large balcony doors, their curtains opened instead of drawn, granting them a lovely view of the night sky above and the garden below.

A crowded ballroom was no place for a nice chat Emmeryn had insisted with difficulty – after all these years, speech still came hard for her – and so it had been done. Lucina had agreed to a degree; the ball was a necessary formality, but that didn't mean they had to be on display all night. Yet nervousness had gnawed at her at the idea of having to sit alone with a stranger and present herself well at that. As if it were so easy...

"Is this all right?" she asked once they neared the table. She wasn’t as nervous now, she realized with a breath, and it was because the stranger was Morgan.

He looked curiously at the arrangement. It was almost exceptionally modest, doing nothing to draw unwarranted attention, yet thoughtful enough to provide a unique backdrop. How... strategic.

"Perfect," he answered, finding that he could speak more softly now, and was glad to be rid of the competing murmur of the crowd. The mellow sounds of the chamber orchestra, on the other hand, were clearer than ever. He let go of Lucina so he could trot up to the view, peering down at the garden below. Even at night, it looked magnificent. Accents of moonlight lit the flowers like jewels, and the trail of lanterns winding around its walkways cast an ethereal glow on what it could touch.

His eyes lingered there for a moment longer, and then he remembered Lucina. Getting distracted again... True, there was a lot to get distracted about, but he had to at least try to keep a lid on it. He turned back to her. "Say, you asked about me, but I never got around to asking about you. Who's the Lucina going around on non-party days?"

Arranged Marriage

but you were awake tho

we were on very opposite ends of the spectrum there

aren't we always

how do we live in the same timezone