bakerstreet | And the Emperor has no sons, and his daughters are yet to marry. "You’d make a play for the throne?"

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?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Preferences | Edelgard is an Emperor and the bearer of a fancy bloodline trait so the marriage could be arranged for status or a grab for the power her bloodline holds. Which means Reasons #4 and #6 are pretty much built in. I'm OTA but favor Reasons: 2/3/5 and Scenarios: 1/2/4/6]

[ love crosscanon | AUs. ]

[Princess, diplomat, hostage... take your pick.]

[ i mean he'd be going kicking and screaming but imagine josephine finally got him to give in to one of those dozens of marriage proposals and go from there? ]

[Prince here, so it's right up his alley.]

[hit me with your best AU]

( ~~I am a simple girl, and this is a favorite trope.~~ She's a queen or could still be a princess if a surprise elder sibling of hers survived, or before her coronation. Options 1 & 4 are a given, #8 counts in the sense that's she's the last of her family. )

Edited 2021-11-11 17:35 (UTC)

( ota m/f, in game choices. marrying mira would allow for a stake/control in westero's ironwood supply which would be a really big deal. her family would also likely want her to be married as it would offer them protection since they're kind of in shambles right now or dead... most of them are dead, thanks to the whitehalls and one ramsey bolton. )

( he's a prince/king (depending where you want to start) in a world where he has a bloodline trait. so 4 and 6 are mostly implied. i'm a sucker for 2 and 5 for reasons, open to any of the scenarios! )