You'll do your duty

[mirrormirrormeme]

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

Sir Lancelot | Arthurian Legend

[pained_longing]

Cassandra Velvet / original / f/m

[velutinous]

( rich bitch noblewoman with commitment issues. Gonna have to be pretty special to get her to love you. )

[miseenscene]

(ooc: Heavily bending history for the sake of a rp thread. Lord Melbourne is from the tv series 'Victoria'. He's about 50, I guess (yes, sorry about throwing an old man at your lady), had a son who died and a wife who left him (plus she cheated on him anyway). No magic in his world but you are of course welcome to keep Cassandra as she is. Maybe her family thinks there's something to be gained by this marriage and moving to India. Melbourne never went to India in the tv show, nor in real life, as far as I know.)


Lord Melbourne didn't care if his wife loved him or not. In fact, he never once expected she would. This was a marriage of convenience. If she liked him enough to behave in a civilized manner, that would be plenty.

He certainly didn't love her. Nobody thought he did. Those he was closest to knew that after his failed first marriage, he wasn't cut out to form a new relationship. There was someone he did love (it was an open secret), but that person carried the crown on her head. Melbourne would never ever have allowed Victoria to give that up for him.

And Cassandra, well, she was too young for him by far, but her family was ambitious. When the news were out that he would be appointed as the next Viceroy of India, they were determined to get their piece of the deal.

"Surely you need a wife to go with you?"
"A lone man will not be regarded as highly as one who is married."
"Cassandra will take care of your household, host parties and socialize with the right people."

He caved in eventually. She seemed sensible enough, didn't harbour any childish dreams of ever-lasting love with a kindred spirit. Maybe she would indeed be the asset he needed, the kind she was painted to be. Melbourne figured they could live together - separately.

The wedding was held just a day before they were to board the ship to India, via Cape Town, naturally. He did not look forward to the journey. The ceremony itself was small, and held at his family estate, the Brocket Hall.

"No regrets yet, I hope? I assume either one of us could still run away," he tried to make light of the situation as he brought a glass of champagne to his... bride. Gosh, that was so odd.

"Once we're on The Eleanor, and there's nothing but blue ocean around us, it's too late."

Gaius Octavius | Rome

[ancient_story]

((That said... he has divorced twice and has a rumor as a lover of other men's wives. (Never mind being in love with his own sister.) Fair warning.))

Robin of Locksley | Robin Hood

[og_archer]

edelgard von hresvelg | fire emblem: three houses

[crestsidestory]

[ most familiar with CF and AM routes but happy to play from others. crosscanon and AUs welcome! ]

Sonya Blade | Mortal Kombat

[earthrealmblade]

[Open to cross canon. Sonya's a military lieutenant and Earthrealm champion. I see her being involved in a marital alliance with the leader of another realm or military.]

Pero Tovar | The Great Wall | ota

[elmercenario]

[A traveling mercenary. Here for all kinds of pairings.]

black jack randall, outlander.

[flogs]

Sansa Stark | Game of Thrones

[notenderheart]

[My kingdom for a Tyrion]

Allura | V:LD

[making_sacrifices]

Elizabeth Bennet | Pride and Prejudice

[a_sharp_wit]

[AUs, canon and cross canon welcome.]

Maria Renard | Castlevania

[holybeasts]

[AUs, canon and cross canon welcome.]

Lan Wangji / Lan Zhan || The Untamed || m/m

[frozenjade]

1-1

[weiward]

[wei ying's first reaction is to refuse the arrangement. his second and third reactions are to drink and drink some more. he spends most of the trip to gusu with a hangover, and tells himself that he's miserable because of that, and not at the thought of leaving lotus pier and shijie behind. at least jiang cheng comes with him, and wei ying can tell that he's worried about him and maybe a little for himself as well. so wei ying jokes and throws his arm around him, and reminds him of the girl in red who he knows his brother has feelings for. he makes jiang cheng promise that, future clan leader or not, he will never accept this for himself.

it's different for wei wuxian. he was an orphan, but he was raised along with fengmian jiang's own children, and he's the first disciple. he's also extremely mischief, a challenge for anyone who dared to wed him. the second young master of the lan clan has a pristine reputation, skills of his own, and perhaps most importantly, is known to be incredibly disciplined. according to his older brother, it may be that lan wangji alone can tame the untameable.

or wei wuxian might drive him to drinking too. ah, but there's a problem-]

"Drinking alcohol within Cloud Recesses is forbidden?"

[is he reading that right??]

Mary Crawley | Downton Abbey | M/F

[thequitecontrary]

Kuja | Final Fantasy IX | OTA

[fallen_stage]

[Crosscanon, OCs, and AUs very welcome!

Kuja is likely marrying for status, wealth, or otherwise with a goal. I would love for him to accidentally catch feelings (which can be the feeling of friendship).]

Malcolm Bright | Prodigal Son | M/F

[prodigalmess]

[ His family's rich, so... ]

Audrey | Disney's Descendants

[callingme]

[m/f pairings; ota to discuss the arrangements with her]

rey | star wars

[youreafraid]

aurora | maleficent | m/f

[fleured]

[ so she works really well for this! young, scrappy, and not at all interested in an arranged marriage. ota canons and mediums. ]

Cassandra de Rolo | Critical Role

[ofwovenstone]

[M/F but OTA for castmates; AUs, canon and crosscanon all welcome]

Sylvain Gautier | fe3h | ota

[ruinedsky]

(sign me up for that resentment-become-more. Or maybe someone even caught feelings before the ceremony and has been hiding it! This is my jam.

Route flexible, AUs welcome.)

Mordred (Saber) | Fate/Apocrypha | OTA

[ifshecouldbeaking]

Nyx Ulric | Final Fantasy XV

[nyxly]

Bai Qian | Eternal Love | M/F for shipping

[white_foxing]

[OOC: Open to all prompts except feud, f-list linked in her profile... Qian did spend years pretending to be a male disciple of a famous teacher, so 'Si Yin' could certainly be gently coerced into marrying for station or tribute, but won't be planning to go anywhere near having a wedding night with the bride.]

Rey | Star Wars | ota

[reydacted]