bakerstreet | arranged marriages

arranged marriages

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?

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[ He can't help a smile of his own as she responds. Even if he doesn't play herself, the overall appreciation for it is something they can at least agree on.

As he sets his cape over his shoulders, he considers that for a moment. Well, what harm could it do? Even if this does lead his father discovering the flute in his possession, he had encouraged Brontë to do whatever he can to appeal to the princess. So this would only be doing as he asked, wouldn't it?

With that in mind, he finishes securing his cape before grabbing the flute and tucking it into his robes. Then he turns to Allura with another smile. ]

All right, I'm all set. Lead the way.

[A light nod, and Allura leads him down the halls, trying to keep the conversation going as she does. It's a decently long walk, but soon they reach the hangars and the myriad of vehicles used by the royal family and their attendants. Allura approaches a small, light shuttle in the Altean signature white metal with black and and crystal blue accents, one that can sit three or four comfortably. After setting the picnic basket in one of the back seats, she holds out the front passenger door for him. He's her guest, after all.]

After you.

[ He's a bit surprised as she holds the door open for him. Not really because of whatever perceived gender roles (which really, was an antiquated way of thinking anyway), but more because of their respective stations - she does quite frankly outclass him, so it was more proper for him to be doing this than she is.

Still, he doesn't argue with it as he nods his head with a small smile. ]

Thank you.

[ He steps into the vehicle, making sure his cape wouldn't get caught in the door. ]

[A light nod, and she waits until the cape's safely swished away before closing. Sitting down in the pilot's seat, seat belts on, hangar bay doors opening as she turns on the engines... and then the shuttle ZOOMS out of the castle, starting on a long road paved with more white metal and blue crystal piping. The Castle of Lions and the capital city surrounding it is perched along the coasts, the seaside and the architecture both serving to protect from the harsh sunlight- even collecting the abundance for solar power- but the mountains aren't too far away at all, especially at the pace they're going. Of course the princess isn't outright breaking any traffic laws or doing anything to endanger her passenger, but she definitely seems to enjoy the faster stretches of road, and is more than confident weaving through other vehicles as she needs to.]

[ Brontë can't help a startled cry as the vehicle jettisons off, and feels like he has to hold onto something but there isn't anything really to hold. While it's not entirely reckless driving, it's certainly faster than anything he'd experienced before - faster than any of the vehicles they owned in the Silken Squall - and it was a bit terrifying.

And yet...also a bit thrilling. ]

[Okay, she does try to slow down just a hair when she takes a glance and sees Brontë scared. Not wholly, but enough so there's more thrill and less terror.]

Apologies... I forget other realms aren't used to these speeds. All of Altea's vehicles are designed with the finest safety features possible, and... [she blushes a bit] I won't let anything happen to you.

[She meant to say that as a host taking care of a guest but... huh, the words came out a little more personally than she expected.]

[ He can almost feel the shift in gravity when she starts slowing down, and he takes a breath before looking at her, quiet for a moment before he smiles. ]

It was a bit...startling at first. But I think I can understand the enjoyment of flying at such high speeds. And...I trust you.

[Oh... She turns her eyes back to the road, but the sheepish, slightly dazzled smile doesn't leave her face as she gradually speeds up again.]

Thank you. It'll be better once we reach the mountains; straighter roads and fewer obstacles to worry about. [Indeed, the ascent is beginning already, and with a more confident smile she nods towards Brontë's side: white-washed buildings surrounded by spans of green and colorful flowers, bright blue sky and sun, and a vast, deep blue ocean blanketing the horizon, slowly giving way to sprawling, green-cloaked hillsides as they climb.] And the second nicest view Altea has to offer.

[ As Dorian glances out, his breath catches softly. ]

It’s beautiful. [ Then he glances back at her with a curious smile. ] So what’s the first?

You'll see.

[Allura smirks as they climb up and up the mountain, heading towards bright blue sky before cresting over the lip of the valley. Thankfully, the descent is short and surprisingly gentle, and after the easy swoop down, Allura slows and parks the shuttle on a shelf of rock. The whole rest of the valley, though, is covered in a thick plain of lush, green grass, and all the grass is covered just as densely in deep pink flowers with long golden pistils. Green and pink all the way to the borders of indigo mountain peaks, all framed by perfectly blue sky.

Allura's smile softens more than Brontë's ever seen her... maybe the most she's done in months.]

This is the finest view in Altea.

[ Dorian’s eyes widen as he takes in the view, of the spread of color before them. It truly was a breathtaking sight.

But as he takes a glance at Allura, as he sees the softness in her smile, genuine in a way that he hasn’t seen her before, he can’t help one of his own. ]

…Amazing.

[She turns that smile to him as she speaks.]

The juniberry fields are one of the most important places in Altea, both agriculturally and culturally. The juniberry is one of the few native plants in Altea where every part is edible and none are toxic. The whole plant from petal to root can be ground into flour and other starches, and the berries are extremely nutritious as well. Every summer, the whole kingdom gathers here to celebrate the harvest, and juniberries symbolize the cycle of life and rebirth.

[A slight pause... and then she looks away with that stubborn blush again.]

And... marriage and like symbolism as well...

[Romance and fertility, she means romance and fertility. She hesitated on leaving that out, but being gifted a potted juniberry seed by family is an important wedding tradition.]

[ He can feel a blush creep across his own cheeks, and he clears his throat as he glances away. ]

A-Ah. It sounds lovely. [ He winces a bit as his voice cracks on the word. ] Celebrating the harvest, I mean. Of course the…symbolism is lovely too, uh…

[ He’s starting to ramble, he knows it, he needs to change the subject before he gets worse. ]

We should, um…go, yes? Unless we’re planning to eat in here…

A-ah, yes! [WOW her voice went high. Throat-clearing time.] This way.

[Out towards the field. When they approach the edge of the rock shelf, Allura holds out her free hand to help him step down.]

[ Brontë focuses on following her path, if only so he doesn’t have to think about the irregular rhythm of his heart.

When she holds out her hand, though, his heartbeat kicks up again, and with a bit of a sheepish smile he takes her hand. ]

Thank you.

Of course.

[Her own heart is racing already, more so as he accept the offer and puts his hand in hers. Ancients, why is she so nervous? Once Brontë is safely on the ground, however... she hesitates maybe a second too long before letting go. She's wary of pushing herself onto him too strongly.]

Father, Mother, and I will often visit here for a day off, when the season permits.

[ If he notices her touch lingering a bit longer than necessary, he doesn’t comment on it. Instead he focuses on listening to what she says, a small smile playing on his face. ]

That sounds really nice. I can imagine a place like this can be quite soothing. [ He takes a moment to glance around again. ] We don’t have anything like this in the Silken Squall. The altitude is much too high for most plant life to flourish. So even the “gardens” surrounding the grounds is little more than stubborn shrubs and hedges.

Really? That makes some sense, but I'm still surprised. What is the Silken Squall like then?

[She's done plenty of research in books and scrolls, preparing for this diplomatic visit that turned into this... but it's different than hearing from someone who's lived there.]

[ He shrugs with one shoulder, a casual but still somehow elegant gesture. ]

Certainly not as big as this. The Silken Squall is a tent city, to allow the winds free movement through our homes, as our city floats above the rest of the lands. The only real building is the one for our family, the Wyvernwinds, to symbolize the stability and leadership of our line.

[A light nod as they find a good spot and Allura begins to lay out the thin blanket she brought, letting Brontë help if he wishes.]

Meanwhile, we've needed sturdy fortifications for most of our history. The ecosystem here is harsh; fierce beasts, toxic flora, volcanic bursts instead of rain. But there's beauty here, and the people of Altea have learned to work together, and to use our intelligence to overcome challenges. Strong fortifications, particle barriers, pioneering the sciences and martial arts. [Her smile sobers a bit.] And the royal family's foremost duties are to protect and support our people, however we can.

[ He helps so much as he takes whatever she hands him and finds a place on the blanket for it. ]

From what I’ve seen during my visit here so far, I can see how your people have managed to thrive under your family.

[ With as little time as he’s been able to spend with the royal family themselves, that much has been obvious. ]

I would be very much interested in learning more about your people and your culture, if you would be willing to teach me.

[Allura straightens with pride at that... but with a high enough insight, he might also notice a tensing. Her parents' initial purpose for these negotiations was to gain aid and resources in case of a military conflict. Alfor had made strong allies of the Galra during his reign, but something about his former friend Zarkon's actions left him feeling uneasy. Hopefully they would be resources that Alfor would never need to tap into, but...]

Thank you. And... I would like that. And I would like to learn about your culture as well.

[After all, if they do marry, he'll be apart of their family, and the Silken Squall's culture will be part of their children's heritage as well.]

[ He does notice the slight stiffness in her posture, and it’s no wonder as to why. There had been whispers on the wind about some tension with the Galra, and while they had yet to see if there would be a conflict, he could understand the desire for preparation.

Another reason his parents had been pushing for a union between their nations. The Silken Squall sought protection, and would have been willing to provide resources to ensure it so.

Resources that, it seems, included Brontë himself.

It’s not quite the topic for this time, though, and instead he offers a smile and nods. ] I would be happy to share that with you. But perhaps another time. For now, I think I would rather spend this afternoon learning more about yourself, Princess.

[ And there might be the charm his parents asked him to pull. ]

[Oh... well, it's not like she's never been flirted with before, but she does blink and blush at the charm. His flashes of sincerity earlier do help her to not roll her eyes at it, or sense his walls coming back up.]

O-of course... the feeling is mutual.

[And she means it; if she's going to trust the rest of her life and the future of her people with Brontë, she needs to get to know him first. Where to start...]

You know most of the basics already, I'm sure. I am my father and mother's only child, and chosen heiress to the throne. While most of my education has focused on the sciences, law, and politics, I've also received training in melee combat and piloting.

[Allura, this isn't a job interview. ... Well, sort of, but still.]

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I keep forgetting to call him Brontë geez

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