Arranged Marriage Meme

[atyourservices]

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?

Comments

[gandere]

Let's analyze it like magi then, Waver.

[ It's something they shouldn't do, but here they are. ] Neither of us have good experiences with relationships and in fact, it can be said that we're opposites in that regard. I become attached, you become detached, which means after a period of time one of us is going to have to change our ways.

... it's our engagement night and we have to fill it with compromises. This is the day I was so excited for in many of my other relationships--I mean, you know that. How many times did I tell you that they were bound to propose and then...

[ She sighs again. Rin's doing an awful lot of that, but it's better to air it out than bottle it inside. ]

[gordianknots]

[No, they shouldn't be doing it, and Waver nearly vocalizes that protest. He silences himself instead, forcing himself to listen.

He nods along in agreement. It's how they work as magi, isn't it? They're skilled enough at analysis that even emotions can be broken down into a logical train of thought - as much as they can be, at any rate.]

It always hurt to watch when it didn't happen. I wanted to punch them, you know. Or have VH do it.

[gandere]

So it makes sense that you're the one to excel where others have failed, correct? [ Now bear with her on this one. ] Which means where others have failed for you, I'll succeed.

I don't see any other alternative.

[gordianknots]

Come now, you know I could find about five if I wanted to. Don't challenge me like that.

[It's the worst attempt at humour, and Waver's tired voice only makes the attempt fall flatter.

He sighs, weary, and fixes his eyes on the water below.]

My worries stem from the bedroom, Rin.

[gandere]

There's nothing wrong about how much sex I have-!

[ Because that is where she thinks he's going with this. ]

[gordianknots]

No, there isn't. It's that I'm....

[God, he hates vocalizing this.]

I don't. When I've dated in the past, it's been the point of contention. I get bored during the act after a while, and I'm just a poor partner. My mind drifts to work I could be doing, video games I could be playing, a million other things beside the moment.

And you don't deserve that lack of attention.

[gandere]

Then your other partners suck. [ Clearly that's it. ]

... anyway it isn't as if others are loyal. If we just say that's the kind of relationship we have from the start, would it be a problem?

[ She says that now, but Rin would kill anyone who touched him. ]

[gordianknots]

If it's consistent across my entire dating history? That's on me.

[Waver finally turns to Rin, tilting his head slightly.]

How do you mean?

[gandere]

[ It's embarrassing. She might have thought about jumping him once or twice throughout the past few years only to chicken out. If he had interest in her, he would have taken advantage of the many times they've slept together to actually sleep together. Now to find out he just couldn't focus... it's kind of a challenge, in that way she tries to fix people and therefore holds her interest.

... but it's also clearly what ruined all of his relationships. With time, she'll grow out of her sex drive and then it won't matter. ]

I mean plenty of men take up whores.

Why can't I?

[gordianknots]

--That'd work. And if it goes beyond that, we can find a way to compromise for all involved parties.

[The thought had vaguely occurred when they found out about the whole thing, but there had simply been no time. Figuring out the politics to play on, how to make everything work, that had taken center stage.

Waver knows that both of their drives aren't likely to morph any time soon. This solution's the best one.]

[gandere]

I can even bring some home for you. [ A light jab. ]

... can I still sleep in your bed?

[gordianknots]

You'd bring me home a rock, and I'd have to go pretend to be inappropriate with it just to get back at you.

[There's a little more life in the sarcasm.]

And yes, of course. That won't change unless you want it to. I'd...feel weird not having you there.

[gandere]

All right so the first rule is no whores in our bed... [ See?

She's trying! ]

[gordianknots]

But spare bedrooms are fine, just give me a heads up that I should expect someone.

[And to know what that noise is.]

I'll leave tea outside whenever you're done.

[gandere]

All right, but you're not allowed to get angry with me if I feel bold enough to try to seduce you. [ Because they both know how she gets. ] Promise?

I don't want us to lose our friendship because I decide to try to screw you stupid.

[gordianknots]

As long as you are all right with being told "no" when I catch on to what you're doing.

[gandere]

Come on. If I'm really good, you won't be able to resist.

Which I am.

I'm really good, Waver.

[gordianknots]

And where you're good, I'm really bad. Opposites, remember?

[gandere]

I'll be so good it'll make up for how much you suck.

... or don't suck, I guess is the proper way to say it.

[gordianknots]

[Waver snorts, clapping a hand to his face.]

Well put.

[gandere]

[ Looking back down over the railing. ] I think we'll be all right.

Our preferences in relationships might cause a few problems here or there. Overall though? I think we'll nail it.

[ He's her best friend and in that, they can't fail. ]

[gordianknots]

[There's that steadiness Waver knows that he'd be lost without, exactly where he needs it. The waves of his doubt can crash against it all they like, but they'll always settle.]

So, does that mean you accept this second and more refined proposal?

[gandere]

I do accept it. As always, you have a way of discovering what it is my heart needs and fulfilling those desires without hesitation.

[ Instead of sealing it with a kiss or anything of the sort, she holds out her hand for... a handshake? How typical of them. ]

[gordianknots]

[Waver takes the hand, and after a single firm shake, he moves in, transforming it into a tight, tight hug.]

And in return, you've always been the one thing I can equilibriate against when my mind is at its worst.

[gandere]

[ Throwing her arms up over his shoulders, she pulls herself in just as tight. She's still shorter than him, but not by much these days. ]

We really are soul mates, aren't we? I never believed in that nonsense before I met you.