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

Aw, crap! I forgot I hadn't tagged back yet!

[retrieverchef]

[He looks around the room briefly. There's no sign of the red-haired Victor.]

Is he here? I don't see him anywhere.

[FACECLING] I missed you ;-;

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna is slowly panicking more and more. She turns away from the crowd and tries to breath.]

Eliot. [She's desperate. She doesn't know what to do at all anymore.] Eliot please don't make me have kids. Please. [She's begging him, he fingers clinging to the fabric of his suit.] Please. [He voice is still a whisper, but she's starting to choking on her tears now.] They'll look just like my family. I-I can't face that. Not after I had them killed. I can't. [She lets a sob fall.] It's all my fault...

I missed you, too. And then I realized it was my fault bc I hadn't tagged back!

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.]

Shh... Hey, it's all right, darlin'. I ain't gonna make ya do anythin' we don't absolutely have to do. It's gonna be all right. I promise.

[He almost hates himself as he says it. There's no question the president will expect them to have a child within the next year. And it's not like he wants children any more than she does. He barely stand to watch Willow at the Reaping every year. Kane will be even worse in a few years. He can't imagine watching his own children, especially knowing that he'll eventually see them on that stage. But they have to make it through the reception. He can't let Johanna fall apart yet.]

[nuzzles]

[not_like_the_rest]

[johanna just clings to him, her body trembling as she lets a few sobs slip through her lips. It takes her a few minutes to let her panic pass. Before she's ready to let go of Eliot's tie and is able to breath normally again. When she does, she just lowers her head.]

Water, and napkins.

May/can I enable you to a game?

[retrieverchef]

[He nods, giving her a worried look.]

You'll be all right while I get them?

you can try 83

[not_like_the_rest]

Go. [She just pushes him away.] Just go. I- I don't want for him to see me crying.

\o/

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot nods, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Then he slips away in search of some water. Which seems to be much harder to find at the reception than it should be. Finally, he grabs a champaign glass and slips into the restroom. He quickly empties the glass and fills it with water, grabbing a towel as he leaves the room. He slips them into her hands as he reaches her side again.]

You just tagged my Snow

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna takes the glass and drinks before pouring some of the water on the towel and holding it out to him.]

Here, clean me up. I can't see what's wrong.

That's you?! *flails*

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot wipes her face down gently. There isn't much that really needs to be cleaned up but she'll hopefully feel better for it. He sets the towel down on the table and takes her arm.]

Come on now, darlin'. Let's get this over with. So we can go home.

[OOC: TheGames... Please, check it out. We need a Johanna...]

yep

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna puts a smile on. A fake on of course.]

Yes, That sounds lovely, darling. [and kisses his cheek.] I want to get home.

You wanna do another time skip after this?

[retrieverchef]

Well, then, let's get this reception over with.

[And he'll hope he doesn't make himself sick on the food. It's far richer than anything he's even heard of back in 12 and he's seen what happened when someone from the Seam indulged in town food.]

OOC

[not_like_the_rest]

Sure, did you have one in mind? Also that link you gave me didn't work.

Re: OOC

[retrieverchef]

I was thinking of perhaps jumping to them either on the train to 7 or arriving in 7. I'd imagine Jo would have some interesting reactions to Eliot adjusting to Victor's Village as well as a whole new district. Also both of them dealing with being essentially ordered to have children together.

For the link... http://gamemakers.dreamwidth.org/5449.html Hopefully that should work. If not, gamemakers or thegames should work.

Re: OOC

[not_like_the_rest]

How about arriving at her place? Can you start?

Time skip...

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot isn't sure which way to turn as he walks through the door. He'd seen glimpes of Victor's Village back in 12, but he'd never set foot in one of the houses. Compared to the two room cabin he'd lived in before now, it seemed like a mansion.]


This place is huge.

woot

[not_like_the_rest]

Yeah? Well I don't use most of it. All these rooms are pointless. You can take over any of the ones you want. (Meaning stay out of her space.) I need a hot show. (Aaaaaand she just starts to strip in the middle of the living room. It's a nice view, thanks to the capital.)

Man, I don't have the right icon for this!

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot's face turns bright red and he turns away awkwardly. She might be his wife but watching her strip seems like taking advantage right now.]

I, umm... D'you want dinner after?

X3 It's not really an expression that Eliot does though

[not_like_the_rest]

[That just makes Johanna grin. She's not going away right now. No, she's standing tall. She never afraid to show it off. It's not really her's anyway, so why be shy?]

Want to join me? [She teases.]

Think the expression from the pilot where Parker strips on the elevator

[retrieverchef]

[He shoves his hands in his pockets awkwardly.]

Is that really what you want?

[Because he knows his mama hadn't really wanted what led to him and Elan. And Johanna may be offering but he's not sure how much is just resigned belligerence.]

lol, sorry for my all around fail

[not_like_the_rest]

No. (Johanna just states flat out before turning on her heels and heading into the show.)

Take in the view though~. (she teases.)

Done mu own share of failing lately

[retrieverchef]

[He studiously does not look at her as she walks to the shower. He walks around the room, taking everything in before he picks a doorway to wander through. Damn. This house could fit five families easily. At least by Seam standards.]

(hugs)

[not_like_the_rest]

(Johanna is taking a long shower. She needs to wash off the smell of Snow's roses. She's red from the scrubbing when she returns. She's in a simple sun dress that she just slipped over her head, hair still wet.)

So, what's for dinner?

Re: (hugs)

[retrieverchef]

[He looks up as she enters the room.]

Don't know yet. What do you like? And what do you have? Or do we need to get food?

sorry for the late! My computer died and i had to buy a new one

[not_like_the_rest]

[Johanna shrugs.]

Someone from town normally brings me things. You can go see what's in the kitchen. I don't really each much so there are a lot of leftovers.

My sympathy! I've been there...

[retrieverchef]

[He makes his way to the kitchen and rummages through the cabinets and refrigerator. Most of the food are items he's never seen before. But he recognizes meat of some kind and what he thinks are potatoes. What he would give for some sorrel and chickory from the woods back home. But soon the scent of roasting meat wafts out of the kitchen.]