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

[retrieverchef]

[Who knows and who knows what else it'll do. But...]

Bite them? I thought biting was more Enobaria's thing. [She seems like she'd rather something more light-hearted, less personal.]

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna just rolls her eyes.]

I was being stupid.

[retrieverchef]

[He sighs quietly. He can't blame her. If he didn't have Kane and Willow to protect, he'd probably have done some stupid shit himself.]

Everyone is at some point in their life.

[not_like_the_rest]

Tell them I threw up on my dress. They'll open the door then, help clean me up.

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot nods. And walks over to the door. A few minutes later, a couple Avoxes come in and start to clean Johanna up.]

If you could bring a couple mugs of chamomile tea when you're done.

[not_like_the_rest]

[After she's doing better, Johanna finally gives him a good look over.]

So, what's your name?

[retrieverchef]

Eliot Spencer.

[He looks up as one Avox comes back in with the tea. He takes both mugs, handing one to Johanna.]

Thanks.

[not_like_the_rest]

So, Eliot, since I have to act like I love you, Tell me about yourself. [She takes a sip of the tea.]

Before or toward the beginning of the trilogy?

[retrieverchef]

[He sits down beside her, feeling distinctly awkward in the suit they'd forced him into.]

There's not that much to tell. I'm from District 12. It's just me, my mama, my sister, and my nephew back home. My brother... Well, he's probably why I'm here.

[He shrugs and takes a sip of his tea. It's easier just not to talk about Elan.]

before

[not_like_the_rest]

I meant more personal stuff. Like, your favorite food? [She leans on a little.] What makes you laugh. All that annoying stuff you get to know about you're supposed to get married.

cool

[retrieverchef]

[He'll have to forgo the favorite food question. If he answers that, he'll have to admit to poaching and he's not naive enough to think no one's listening in.]

Well... I like cooking. Doesn't really matter what. My sister and my nephew are usually the ones who get me to laugh. They're more like brother and sister than aunt and nephew. I hate my job. It's too gloomy. I'd rather be outside. I don't mind the hard work, just... I like being able to see the sky and feel the breeze.

What about you?

cool

[not_like_the_rest]

I cut wood. It's distracting. Hang out with the other victors here. Guess you'll meet them. They're okay for a laugh. I like sitting in the tops of the trees and just watching the clouds.

[retrieverchef]

Sitting in the treetops... That sounds nice. Can't say I've had the chance to do that yet.

[Even when he went hunting, he never climbed too high. It took too much time that he didn't have.]

The view musy be nice.

[not_like_the_rest]

After the wedding we can do whatever we want... [She hopes, Johanna doesn't even want to think about what they will expect after the wedding.]

[retrieverchef]

Mostly. [He nods, wondering if he'll be allowed to see his family or if his only contact with them will be occasional phone calls.] I'm looking forward to seeing your district.

[not_like_the_rest]

Hey, kiss me. We have to make it a good one in front of the crowd out there.

[retrieverchef]

[He raises an eyebrow briefly. He hadn't expected that from her yet. But he leans over and gently brushes his lips across hers, letting her decide how deep she wants to take this.]

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna doesn't want to make it deep, but she will press her lips back against his. Her lips are soft and supple thanks to the Capital. She pulls away and grins after a sew moments, looking into his eyes.] Not bad.

[retrieverchef]

[He chuckles at her reaction.]

You're not bad yourself.

[not_like_the_rest]

I bet some of them will cry. "oh how wonderful for a victor to find love~. [She says in a mocking capital accent before fake gaging.]

[retrieverchef]

[He laughs freely at her imitation of the Capitol accent.]

It could be worse. It could be Finnick and Willow. They'd call them star-crossed lovers or something equally stupid.

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna just looks pissed at that.]

They need to leave Finnick the fuck alone.

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot leans away from her, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up anything sensitive.

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna shakes his head.]

You'll learn. We aren't like people see on the screens. We all have our one stories.

[retrieverchef]

[He sighs quietly and shakes his head.]

I try not to pay attention to any of that anyway. Especially where Finnick is concerned. That wasn't what I was referring to when I said that.