arranged marriages

[funandcutememes]

Arranged Marriage 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

[kaveh]

( is this guy seriously just sipping his coffee like he has nothing else better to do? like he isn’t anticipating his new fiancé’s arrival? how pompously selfish. )

They gave me the address, of course I’d find it.

( kaveh grabs at his bags at his feet, gesturing to them with a huff because they’re heavy and he’d really like to head inside and set them down, thanks. )

Can you show me where to put these? ( aka show him his room.

… he does have a room, right? he temporarily forgot this was a fiancé thing and not just a matter of convenience. )

[folios]

[Right now? No, there's nothing better to do. This is his time, after all.]

Did you consider not?

[Finding it, that is. Truly, he has no idea what the Akademiya was thinking with this match. Even knowing what he did about the optimized pairing system, he isn't convinced that human nature is so easily broken down and perfected for something like this.

He stands up straight, turns on his heel, and leaves the door open behind him for Kaveh to follow,]

It's a house. I'm sure you can figure it out.

[Where to put things. He is, after all, an architect. He knows how buildings work. He should know where things fit.

(There is, in fact, a guest room that he's done little to prepare for beyond taking back some of his books and papers).

(And no, he will not help carry any of those bags).]

[kaveh]

( okay jerk.

kaveh’s jaw goes slack. it takes him a few moments to process that alhaitham certainly did say that and that he actually meant it. what a fiancé. what a guy. )

Don’t put down your coffee, Archons’ forbid.

( kaveh sighs it, dramatically wringing his hands in the air, before he grabs his belongings again and stubbornly storms past alhaitham.

it’s not a bad house. he wants to complain about it but it seems cozy and something he wouldn’t mind living in if he had had a real choice in the matter. maybe that’s the only reason they matched them together.

he finds the guest room. and — shouting: )

It’s a mess in here! Honestly, did you even try?

[folios]

(Romance isn't dead.

(Because it was never alive to begin with.))

I don't plan on it.

(And he sure is just going to take his coffee to the next room, not too far from the guest room. He'd been given some time off to welcome home his fiance and well, he'd done just that so that leaves the rest of his morning to enjoy at his leisure before going in later in the day.

It isn't a bad house. It's plenty for one person and enough for one person. There isn't much for decoration. Most things appear to have a practical use. There may be a few things that seem a little out of place in comparison-- some pieces of art or odd trinkets that look like they may have been gifts.

Really, it's the guest room that is the most offensive. Did he just shove the things he didn't care to deal with in there? Miscelleneous commemorative items given to him from the Akademiya or things that served a specific purpose at one point but no longer have much purpose now. Random things from past travels that he'd purchased or obtained.

Look, it's not like he regularly has guests over. The guest room might as well be a nice storage room, okay. And now it can be Kaveh's room which it sounds like he's found.)

Why would I have to try? It's my house.

(He shouldn't have to do anything for anyone?)

[kaveh]

( this room is a mess. this room is probably just the perfect representation for kaveh’s whole life at this exact junction. the way alhaitham acts like this isn’t some crazy deviation from the norm, just rolls with it, it’s remarkable. if kaveh wasn’t so irritated maybe he’d be a little impressed. )

What? ( and a bit louder as he sets his bag down so dramatically the whole neighborhood could maybe hear it. )

This is a mess! A true pigsty! How do you live?! ( oh no. oh no, no, no. kaveh huffs and storms out of the room, into the hall, to find where alhaitham is. ) The least you could do for your fiancé was clean up!

[folios]

(From the other room, )

Just fine in case you can't tell.

(He raises his voice but only by a bit, just enough for Kaveh to be able to tell that, he, too, is irritated. Still, he's much calmer than the architect.

But he isn't wrong. It's a good house! Even if it isn't designed to Kaveh's tastes, that's fine because up until now, it's just been him and he has everything he could want and need right now. He's comfortable.

He returns to lean against the doorway now. He has a new book and a now empty coffee cup and you know what? For all of those comments? He's going to set his coffee cup down right here... right on a dresser by the door.)

How am I supposed to know what you want from me? It's not like I'm a mind reader. (Or that they've ever really understood each other. They're off to a great start.) Besides, I'm not your maid.

(Don't make him say fiancé.)