The Forced Family Unit Meme

[celebratory]

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

Comments

[bloodisthicker]

[TARRLOK IS A CLASSY GENTLEMAN BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO BOIL HIS OWN WATER

SO ANYWAY

HE'LL PUT THOSE EGGS IN

(ALONG WITH SOME VINEGAR)

COVERS THAT SHIT

PUTS THE HEAT ON LOW

AND WAITS!!!]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[KORRA HAS NO PATIENCE, WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT CALLED WAITING?!]

That's it? That's all you do?

[bloodisthicker]

Maybe things would turn out better for you if you actually bothered to read a cookbook first.

[IT'S ONLY THREE MINUTES!]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[You're lucky there would be a lot of questions if you were in public with third degree burns on your face, because the temptation to bend the boiling water at you is immense.]

And just where would I find that in the heap of the other hundreds of books you have?

[bloodisthicker]

It's right over there, Korra.

[well, to be fair, keeping the cookbook in the kitchen could result in food getting all over it...!]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[That's where cookbooks belong though! Where she could easily destroy their precious pages with odd mixtures it tell her to do.]

That doesn't mean it's easily accessible! Plus why would I want to read that boring old thing anyway when I'm still trying to think of a master plan for both of us!

[You know, to take Amon down with.]

[bloodisthicker]

You're saying that like it takes a huge chunk out of your day to follow some simple instructions.

[WHO KNOWS MAYBE IT WILL INSPIRE YOU]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

Yes.

[Take that jerk, she'd rather read ancient scrolls than that monstrosity out of principal now...Or just because she's being terribly difficult.]

[bloodisthicker]

Being deliberately contrary isn't going to get us anywhere, Korra.

[...by the way, eggs are done, so he'll be taking care of those now...]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[She doesn't want-wait, never mind. Her stomach told her she does totally want the eggs that he made.

A soft grumble could be heard from her as she got down the egg cups he showed her to use one time, placing them on the small table where they had their meals along with some utensils.]

[bloodisthicker]

[at least there's one thing she can't be all contrary about

tarrlok 1, korra... what even is the score here

WELL, WHATEVER. BREAKFAST IS SERVED IN AN INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATED MANNER.]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[She'll settle the score one day.

...Whatever the score is...

Quietly Korra cracked into her egg, being as careful as she could to peel the shell off. With precision, she cut off the top to reveal a perfectly cooked egg...much to her dismay. It was then a certain thought occurred to her; big blue eyes gazed up at him in curiosity.]

So does this mean you're the woman in this relationship?

[bloodisthicker]

[>smells like a lady

>spends hours in the bathroom in the morning

>has a bunch of basic domestic skills]

...Why do you keep testing my patience like this before I've had my coffee?

[translation: YEP...]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[Korra smiled ever so sweetly at the man, even if it was mischievous in nature. ]

Maybe you should have some, husband~

[bloodisthicker]

...I'll make it, if you don't mind.

[it's hard to fuck up coffee

but she could do it]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[She probably could...

And would take great pleasure when his face contorts from the first sip.]

I don't mind watching.

[bloodisthicker]

[...what were you going to do to that coffee, Korra]

I thought you wouldn't.

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[...Wouldn't you like to know?]

Oh? I suppose I could keep my eyes to myself.

[bloodisthicker]

[...you know...]

Actually, maybe you should.

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[What...no. This is a challenge if she has ever heard one. After finishing off the last of her egg she made her way over to where he was, determined to now watch and ask a million questions.]

[bloodisthicker]

[SO

HE WILL TAKE A MEDIUM SIZED POT

AND FILL IT WITH SEVERAL CUPS OF WATER!!!]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[WHAT IS THIS WIZARDRY?!

Korra watches before a sly smile crosses her lips. Ever so slowly she wrapped her arms around his waist, playing her move very cool.]

[bloodisthicker]

[IT'S MAKING COFFEE WITHOUT A COFFEE MAKER

...BECAUSE DO THEY EVEN HAVE THOSE IN THIS UNIVERSE, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE woah korra what are you

well it must just be his raw animal magnetism that's all.

...okay he'll go to put a couple of tablespoonfuls of coffee in]

[notmuchofalegendyet]

[WELL THEY DO NOW.

OTHERWISE HE'D HAVE TO USE A FRENCH PRESS BETCHAZ LOVE FRENCH PRESS.]

So how do you know how much to put in?

[Totally Animal magnetism, that's all Korra understands]

[bloodisthicker]

I've been doing this for a long time, you know.

[THAT AND HE READS THE DIRECTIONS...

and aw yeah

he is the man your man could smell like

if your man smelled like a lady.]