Arranged Marriage Meme (this time with feeling and...prompts!)

[moosejuice]

Arranged Marriage Turned More To have and to hold, you said, till death do us part, all while the sharp, swinging pendulum of obligation hung overhead. But how could you have truly meant those words? This union has been tainted from the start, forever bearing the chains of an arranged marriage. It would be understandable if you couldn't bear to look at your new life partner, eternal reminder of your stolen future that they are, much less like them. Much less love them... Still, things can change. You could realize that they are in the same boat as you or, that when compared to others around you, they are the lesser of evils. Perhaps you even open up to the idea of a friendship; at the very least, an alliance may be in order to become a power couple in a perilous world. From that innocent decision or sense of self-preservation, a new feelings sparks. Something like affection. Something, you realize in the wake of speeding heartbeats, like love. Will you acknowledge this? Can the two of you have a happily ever after - happier than if you'd met in another fashion - or will you hold firm in your distaste? how to play. - Everybody loves "couples forged by less-than-ideal circumstances" tropes! - Comment with your character, prefs, all that good stuff. - Reply to others. - IDEC where you set your threads, it's wide open. Fantasy world with hairy hobbits, old-timey lands, future AUs, do a space marriage for all I care. I'm sure they're still getting married in Star Wars or whatever. 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

Princess Serenity / Sailor Moon / M/F or Futa/F

[moonbunnyusako]

((Open to all prompts. AU/Cross-canon/Assumed CR all fine.))

Neve Stargazer | fantasy OC | f/m

[starstempest]

Mary Crawley | Downton Abbey | M/F

[thequitecontrary]

Peter Parker | MCU | OTA

[spider_m4n]

Winter Schnee|RWBY|ota

[snowldier]

Nico Acosta | OC | M/F

[anoranza]

Evie Montgomery | OC | OTA

[la_bonne_chose]

Rey || Star Wars || F/M

[talentedscavenger]

Ghanima Atreides | Children of Dune

[ghani]

First meeting/courtship

[legbreakings]

Well. When he had made that list of all the things he looked for in a wife, he had not said that he didn't want an empress. Clearly, that had been his first mistake.

The mistakes that followed had been unavoidable in comparison. When you had the chance to become consort to the empress while your once noble house was still recovering from having been nearly wiped out, when you were, in fact, one of only two survivors to your bloodline and you were still recovering from having your entire fighting forces wiped out to the last man, only to turn around and spend what manpower you could rebuild fighting a bloody war of vengeance... Well, the bottom line was, you couldn't afford to say no to such an opportunity.

As a result of all these mistakes, Jiang Cheng of the Jiang sect of Yunmeng found himself striding through the palace to his first meeting with said empress, trying his best to look haughty and not even a little bit cowed by his surroundings.

He also tried his hardest not to look like he dreaded this first meeting, though he did. With his social graces, or lack thereof, it was bound to end in disaster.

He gritted his teeth and sped up his strides, overtaking the guards accompanying him and earning vile looks in the process. His many-layered purple robes fluttered around him with every step, looking just as annoyed as he did.

That would incidentally be the first impression Ghanima Atreides would get of him - storming into the room as if he was being chased by sandworms, a scowl on his face and still stubbornly clutching the sword the guards kept trying to seize from him without causing a diplomatic incident. Clearly, they were the only ones concerned with diplomacy.

This is delightful

[ghani]

It was fortunate that he was storming into the presence of one who could have read his intention even if his body language had not been aquivalent to persistent screaming. Ghanima could see well enough that he was not going to use that sword against her. That he was holding on to it to create some measure of security for himself within this gargantuan palace where he was at a disadvantage in almost every way possible.

She raised a hand to stop the guards from trying to interfere, and remained seated on a cushion in front of a low table, spice coffee ready and waiting to be poured from a pot inherited from her father.

He won it from a Fremen warrior in single combat, when he was still Paul Atreides. Not Muad'dib.

"Jiang Cheng. Welcome."

[legbreakings]

The utterly unruffled welcome he received had him grind to a sudden standstill, both his rapid movements and the broiling storm of his emotions coming to a halt as he sized up the woman who looked, all things considered, unassuming to him. At least not what he would have expected from the empress - sitting at a table waiting with coffee, she didn't strike the intimidating figure on a throne, ready to flaunt her superiority over him, that he had already decided she would be.

Chagrined now, he took care to bow low with all the respect her position demanded while keeping his distance until he was expressly permitted to step forward. "Your Majesty." Even with the pointedly low bow, his voice was still clipped, a little bit brusque despite his best efforts. Anxiety had never served his temper well. "You humble me."

He couldn't help regarding her curiously. He'd only heard stories about her and her legendary family, and yet here she was, a person of flesh and blood.

Nie HuaiSang | Mo Dao Zu Shi

[fanoperator]

Lan Xichen | MDZS

[unimpeachable]

Wei Wuxian | MDZS

[undisciplined]

Jiang Yanli | The Untamed/MDZS

[velvet_glove]

Jin Ling | MDZS

[impetuosity]

Girl raised as a boy AU as discussed...

[sizhui]

There have been... words, about possible matchmaking for the young Sect Leader Jin. And Sizhui knows that the attempts have made her

Friend. Her friend. Both sad and angry. And Sizhui knows what that look she is getting means. Regret. Reaching... Refusing resignation.

When matchmakers come to the Lan Sect, she has already talked with her uncle, now a year or so out of seclusion. The offer would be difficult to refuse, with the young cultivator A-Yan as bride. But she...

She knows that she should tell Jin Ling herself.

It's the most terrifying thing she has ever had to face. Still, she flies to the Jin center of power as she often has, over the last few years. Lets herself in as he has insisted many times.

Waits for him, preparing tea.

Re: Girl raised as a boy AU as discussed...

[impetuosity]

He hadn't been expecting a visit, had been fighting with the elders about this whole marriage thing for months, rejecting offer after offer because he didn't want to marry someone he barely knew. And he knew his heart had already been taken by someone who would never be a suitable option.

And both his uncles had been giving him advice, trying to help but nothing was going to feel right unless he was free to marry as he wished. Still, being told he had a guest waiting for him had him putting work aside to walk to where Sizhui is waiting for him.

"...Did something happen?" Because usually they plan these visits and they're rarely here in Jinlintai even when they do.

[sizhui]

"It... no, nothing bad has happened. I have... some things to say to you, and I know you probably think it might not be a good time, but I'll ask you to hear me out. It might... make things a little easier to you."

She looks down, but then raises her eyes to meet his.

"Please?"

[impetuosity]

The way Sizhui says that has him going still, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness, something about the way he's acting putting Jin Ling more than a little on edge. Making it easier sounds ominous and he's not sure he wants to hear this.

But he finally exhales a breath and nods, moving to join him at the table.

"I'm not agreeing to anything stupid, just so you know. So none of that giving up so I can do what's right crap."

[sizhui]

"That... is not what I am trying to do. Unless you are too angry, in which case it would be about following your wishes, rather than giving up."

She takes a deep breath.

"You... probably know that I was not born a Lan but was instead adopted, yes?"

[impetuosity]

"You've never made a secret of it, so yes."

His gaze is fixed on Sizhui now, some of the tension slipping from his body at the admission this isn't about Sizhui walking away from him. Because that's the one he can't let happen.

[sizhui]

"... no, I have not, but there have been two things about it that... have been secret. One might make your life a lot simpler. One might make the hope that the other one brought go all bad.

"Which should I begin with?"

Yes, she's nervous. Very, very nervous.

[impetuosity]

"...I don't know, Sizhui, why are you being all weird suddenly?"

Because he has no idea what's going on and the idea they still have secrets is something he's not comfortable with.

At all.

"Just tell me what you need to tell me."