bakerstreet | You'll do your duty

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wangxian.

[he repeats, rubbing the side of his nose. Why does that sound so...familiar?

it takes him a moment to realize where the name truly comes from. he sits up a little straighter, not exactly blushing himself, but definitely moved.]

Lan Zhan...

[He'd almost been hoping Wei Wuxian wouldn't realize, but of course he does, and Lan Wangji looks away, gaze skittering to the far wall as his ears continue to burn.]

We would not have to call it that.

[He doesn't fidget, too in control for that, but it's a near thing.]

I want to call it that!

[he didn't mean for him to think otherwise. wei wuxian stands, and literally crosses over the table in order to be on the same side with him.]

It's just... [he trails off, the frown on his lips akin to a pout.] I feel like you've given me something, and I don't have anything to give you in return.

[Lan Wangji looks back at Wei Wuxian with a blink when he crosses over the table instead of going around it, eyebrows raising. His expression softens at that almost-pout, however, and in a brazen move, he grabs Wei Wuxian's hand again.]

You do not have to give me anything.

[it's ok, he likes brazen moves. especially he thinks he could probably count the number of brazen moves that lan wangji has made in his entire life on a single hand.]

I wouldn't give anyone anything just because I had to.

[some would call that defiance, look down upon it.

he gives the other young cultivator's hand a squeeze, continuing in a soft voice.]

I want to. Lan Zhan, close your eyes.

[Despite only having known the other a very short time, Lan Wangji believes Wei Wuxian wouldn't gift someone out of sheer obligation to do so. More than likely, he thinks he'd probably go out of his way to avoid gifting them anything at all in that case. There's only a moment of thoughtful hesitation before he complies and closes his eyes.]

[lan wangji is learning him already. because he would resist giving just because it's expected. he'd rather endure all punishments than reward the unworthy.

lan wangji is not unworthy. in fact, studying him for a moment right now, wei wuxian thinks he could search for the rest of his life and never find anyone more worthy. so he leans in to press a kiss against his lips. it's soft and chaste, but still more than enough to make any elders furious if they were caught.]

[He's not sure what he's expecting, but it isn't the press of soft lips against his own. Lan Wangji startles but doesn't pull away. It's improper, against every rule — they aren't even married yet, definitely shouldn't be kissing — but Wei Wuxian had called it a gift, and so he accepts it, even presses back into it himself.]

... Wei Ying.

[It's a breath between them.]

[the kiss has ended, the contact between them broken, and wei wuxian is still holding his breath. he's waiting for the other's reaction, not knowing if he'll be pushed away or scolded. maybe he'll even want to fight him. he wouldn't be in the wrong for it, at least not according to the rules about such things. wei wuxian overstepped.

but lan zhay says his name in a soft voice instead, and looking into his eyes he finds that he can breathe again. his kiss wasn't meant to tarnish or taint. it was a first for him too, and he wanted lan wangji to have it.]

It's yours now, Lan Zhan. You can never lose it, no one can ever take it from you. I hope you'll cherish it.

[Before all this, he definitely would have scolded. But Wei Wuxian broke down his barriers so easily. He can feel his ears burning and he feels vulnerable, a state he isn't used to, but he's obviously not alone in that.]

Thank you.

[He pauses, fingers flexing unconsciously in their shared grasp.]

You seemed disappointed when you arrived. Are you still?

Ah, I was only disappointed in all the rules.

[he seems almost bashful, or as close to it as wei wuxian ever gets. he realizes that that doesn't completely answer his question though.

he looks him in the eyes, a smile on his lips before he shakes his head.]

I'm not disappointed at all. I think I could be happy anywhere as long as you're there.

[now, whether or not uncle lan can be happy with him there is an entirely different question. wei wuxian won't change his ways.]

You'll do your duty

i'm sorry i've been slow, but i do love these two ;;

It's all good! ♥

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject