bakerstreet | Forced family unit

Forced family unit

The Not So Happily Married Meme

(or the FORCED FAMILY UNIT meme)

Let's get one thing straight. Not all marriages are happy. They don't start with love, and they don't end with it. In fact, some marriages are more arrangements that anything. Whether it be through the will of an iron-fisted totalitarian government or something as ancient as tradition, people end up stuck. And now, you're one of them. Maybe you were assigned you partner. Maybe your parents picked them out. Maybe it's something different all together. But no matter what, you're going to be with them in some shape, fashion, or form.

So, what can you do? Do you just deal with it? Try to find a way out? Or worst of all, do you blame your so-called "spouse" for all this? You'll have to do something.

HOW TO PLAY;
1. Comment with your characters, putting any preferences you have in the subject. These are your OOC preferences, however. Remember, in meme your character's preferences won't matter.

2. Reply to others! You can use the RNG to roll for the WHY (why are your characters in this mess), the WHEN (what stage are they at), and the HOW (how do they feel about their partner). Or just wing it.

3. The fun of this meme is putting together characters who would normally never be together or have no business getting married, whether it be cross-canon, enemies, or strangers. But feel free to do what you want. Unlike your characters, you're never forced.

4. This is not a smut meme, nor is it a romance meme. There is a smut option and a romance option, but neither are required. The focus here is on CR and coping with situations that might be fairly unpleasant.

5. Have fun! And by that, I mean be miserable.

WHY;
1. GOVERNMENT: You live in a world where all aspects of life are controlled by the government. This includes who you're matched up with. Take "government" to mean anything you want it to, whether that be actual government or something like gods.

2. ARRANGED: Due to your culture, status, or family, you have an arranged marriage. Your significant other was picked out long before now.

3. SOLD: One of you belongs to the other in some way. At any rate, it's not a completely consensual arrangement.

4. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES: You don't particularly care for this person, but you have to look good for some reason. They'll do for that.

5. SHOTGUN WEDDING: Because of outside circumstances (read: an unplanned child), you're stuck together.

6. CURSED/POTION: At least one of you is under the effects of a curse or potion that binds you both.

7. THE BEST I COULD GET: Either one of you or both of you are settling. This is just a marriage of convenience.

8. Wildcard/free space.

WHEN;
1. JUST MET: You've never seen this person that you're engaged, intended, or assigned to. This is your first meeting.

2. JUST MARRIED: Ceremony or knot, you've just tied it.

3. CONSUMMATE: What's a married live without consummating the union? Whether it's for some kind of ritual, a fulfillment of a contract, or the need to produce offspring to become workers, you have to come together.

4. IN THE FAMILY WAY: Congratulations! You're about to bring a child into this (potentially loveless) family. Are you proud?

5. MARRIED WITH CHILDREN: You have kids already. They might be biological, or they might be state-assigned. How's the family life going?

6. FILLING YOUR ROLE: The two of you have a job or purpose, such as starting a business.

7. TRYING TO ESCAPE: You have to get out. You can't take this life anymore.

8. THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE: Since you didn't ask for this marriage, one of you has a lover on the side. Do you tell your spouse upfront, or do they find out themselves?

9. Wildcard/free space

HOW;
1. STRANGERS: You hardly know this person. Getting to know them is important (since you're only going to be spending the rest of your lives together) , but are you willing to put forth the effort for that?

2. HATE: They've ruined your life. Maybe not directly, but they're there and that's enough.

3. LOVE: There might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps you do love each other, or you're at least learning to do so.

4. IN THIS TOGETHER: It may not be perfect, and you might not be be in love, but you're making it work for yourselves or for any children you might have. And hey, sometimes friendship like that can be a strong enough bond.

5. Wildcard/free space

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[ info in journal, especially interested in "mavis won spouse in trial by combat and now you're hers forever"; f/any. ]

[[Not really interested in shotgun wedding, but anything else is great. Could maybe have something to do with her situation after her father's guilt, or trying to hide on the run, or even have been arranged before everything went down in an AU where it's mandated and now, whoops, sorry, your wife is coming with all sorts of unexpected baggage? I'm up for anything basically.]]

[[Bio + preferences. Congratulations, you've gotten yourself married to a demon! Probably was a stipulation in a contract made with him or in return for some kind of payment he gave them, but other options also welcome. On the bright side you'll have all sorts of material things! On the downside, he's most likely doing this for some ulterior motive of his own as well, or under instructions from his bosses.]]

Edited 2023-03-24 03:12 (UTC)

(( Most likely Arranged and Keeping Up Appearances ))

[If he found a partner before he was twenty-five, then his partners would annul the arrangement. That had been the deal and Red Son knew he was lucky to get that. Many of his status never got the option and it was purely because of how much his parents valued their love for each other to let him try for love before it came to power.]

[But his twenty-fifth birthday came and went and he had never even gotten close to even attempting to court someone, so it came down to the arranged marriage. The second heir of the Wyvernwind family, one of the most influential, and rich, Air Genasi around. His mother was from a fairly influential family amongst her people as well, but nothing compared to the Wyvernwind. But hers was enough to get their attention and the steady growth of his father's kingdom (primarily a mix of tieflings, firbolgs, fire, and earth genasi) was enough to seal the deal at the time. There had been a plateau some years back of its growth, but his parents were hopeful this union would help change that.]

[Which...]

[Okay, Red Son, has hoped to one day for a marriage of love. He had always admired what his parents had, for as cold as they could seem to outsiders. He had just been too BUSY with learning magic and machines to really...socially interact with too many people in a meaningful way. He had made a few friends recently, and, well, nothing like that came up.]

[But he had a deal with his parents and he would rather die than disappoint them, so for better or worse, here he was. At the party welcoming his family to the Silken Squall, a few days before the wedding proper, to meet his betrothed.]

[The fire genasi pushed back his hair. He didn't usually like having it down if he wasn't going to sleep, but his mother insisted, as well the red and gold hanfu. His mother insisted on their making a good impression. As much as his parents loved to use intimidation to make a good impression, Iron Fan knew that a marriage was about playing nice and looking good, and imparted that importance on her husband and son. And warned them to watch their tempers.]

[That would be the real challenge, but Red Son was determined to not let his parents down.]

[He watched his parents be announced, and he breathed in deep, letting his hair flicker into flames around him, and let it out, letting his hair calm to simple red strands as his name was called.]

[He stepped into the party, shoulders back, head held high, holding himself as lofty and regal as his position demanded, and followed his parents to meet his betrothed's family.]

[ Within the Silken Squall, a union of one of the heirs to the guiding winds with a Fire Genasi would have been out of the question. Not just because of Air Genasi’s attitude towards those of fire in general, but also because of the importance of keeping the line pure typically meant marrying another Air Genasi.

However, the prestige and power held by this particular family could lend itself as a valuable asset for the Wyvernwind family, who had been looking to expand their knowledge of the world and their influence beyond the edges of the floating island of their tent city. But since the integrity of their Air Genasi lineage was still crucial, the marriage then fell onto Dorian so that Cyrus would still be free to marry one of their own kind.

And while Dorian had wanted his family and his people to be open to and learn about the rest of the world, this isn’t at all what he had in mind.

There had been a part of him that had hoped the marriage wouldn’t happen at all. When he had left home and traveled the world, he had imagined that he could convince his parents to leave behind such old-fashioned practices, or at least show them that this wasn’t the life he wanted to lead. But there was only so much they were willing to listen to when he finally returned, which is how he found himself here, standing with his parents and brother to meet his betrothed days before they were meant to be married.

For all that he had learned and developed during his adventures on the surface world, he still was unable to refuse his parents’ command. No matter how he personally felt about the matter. ]

[It had been the only time Red Son's mother has expressed disappointment he took more after his father than her. She knew it would be a more sure thing if Red Son had been an air genasi like her and not taken fire from his fathers tiefling blood. It was why it was so important to impress. The wedding could still be cancelled without too much damage to reputations.]

[So he walked through with the grace befitting someone with years of martial training, not even deigning to glance at those who whispered around him, questioning if a fire genasi was really worthy of even the second son. Red Son kept his hands folded behind his back, letting his hair hide his clenched fists as he fought back the desire to show them just how 'worthy' he was.]

[His parents would work to sell their influence and he knew they could do that. His mother knew how to play the political game well and his father was just an oppressive presence that made him hard to question without being at least nervous. His job was to seem like a good potential spouse.]

[They finally reached the Wyvernwinds, his mother and father offering the minimal greeting as visiting dignitaries, polite, but not ones to show anything less then steel to others. The kind of presence that demanded respect, a force that would not take being challenged well, but powerful allies to have.]

[Red Son waited until he was introduced and he offered more than required in his bow, technical and formal, but he wasn't a force to challenge. After all, they were his future in-laws and he was to show them respect as future family.] It is my greatest pleasure to meet you. I have heard wonderful things about your family.

[Only then did he let his eyes wander to his future husband.] And you must be Bronte. [He reached for his hand to kiss the back of it, and though his front was not the worst, there was certainly an air of one moving through the motions. Red Son knew what to say, but acting like he's sincere was not his strong suit.]

[ It probably really was only because of the heritage of Red Son’s mother that the match had even been considered, but Dorian can’t help a small frown at the whispers starting to rise as the family approached. His own reservations about the union notwithstanding, it was exactly this kind of elitist attitude that Dorian wanted to open the minds of his people in the first place.

So, tempering his own feelings, he manages a smile as he meets his betrothed’s gaze, placing his hand in the waiting one as is expected of him. ]

I am. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you as well.

[ If he notices that Red Son is perhaps lacking in convincing genuineness, he is polite enough not to say anything. He can hardly blame him, given his own feelings about the arrangement. His own acting is only as good as it is due to being perfected after so many performances as a bard, and even then it’s difficult to truly seem excited about a forced marriage. ]

[Fronting was not Red Son's strong suit, but at least he was perceptive. Bronte is either a good actor or unbothered with the union. If he had to guess, it was the former. Red Son may not have be involved much in the courts, but between his mother and his own skills, they were good at gathering information.]

[Heirs pleased with their lot in life didn't leave home as soon as they could get away with it.]

[Though finding out what he had been doing had been a lot harder. Probably a false name and something Red Son was to find out. What Bronte did on his own was less his family concern as long as the union went forward and whatever it was wouldn't cause problems.]

You are as handsome as the stories say. [There is the kiss before he straightens up, glancing to his mother. She gives a slight nod and his smile widens.] If you would do the honor, I would appreciate a chance to get to know my betrothed. Perhaps on the dance floor? [And allow his parents to get more in the Wyvernwinds good graces without Red Son and lower the risk of Red Son potentially being judged inadequate.]

[ Even though he is acting, he can’t help feeling even a little bashful at the compliment. ]

Thank you.

[ The request has him hesitate a moment, but a quick glance towards his parents and seeing their expectation on their faces, he finally responds with a nod. ]

I would be happy to share a dance with you.

Excellent. Then let us be off.

[He manages to sound at least a little more sincere about it.]

[The decision makers are their parents, after all. There is less fear he will fail his parents alone with Bronte than potentially offending the Wyvernwings.]

[He offers his arm to Dorian as he turns to head to the dance floor.]

[ With one last glance towards his parents, Dorian links his arm with Red Son’s to walk with him onto the dance floor.

As they step out onto the floor, some of the gathered make room for them to be able to dance, while music begins to rise into the air, a slow waltz-like song. ]

mavis (original)

Abigail Hobbs | Hannibal | OTA

Tag | original | ota

Dorian Storm | Critical Role | OTA

Re: Dorian Storm | Critical Role | OTA

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Shi Qingxuan|TCGF|m/m

Red Son | Lego Monkie Kid | OTA

Reigen Arataka | Mob Psycho 100 | OTA

Blitzø ♠ Helluva Boss ♠ OTA

Genya | Genasi OC | ota

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I finally have enough bandwidth to draft a starter...

uraraka ochako || my hero academia

Dont mind me...

Boromir | Lord of the Rings (book canon) | OTA

Éowyn | Lord of the Rings | OTA

weiss schnee . rwby . f/m