bakerstreet | the marriage life meme

the marriage life meme

marriage life meme
(condensed version)

rules:
* post with your character's name and series in the comment title along with any preferences or notes.
* taggers, go to RNG and roll between 1 and 3, or choose one of the prompt selections down below.
* head back to RNG or go there if you haven't already and roll between 1 and 5, or choose a prompt of your own.
* play out the sequences relevant to that of a married lifestyle.

1. proposal {
1. park - you've been planning this proposal for awhile and have taken your sweetheart to a nice secluded area in the park. are they going to say yes or leave you in the dust?

2. house - dimmed lights, candles, home made dinner. it's obvious you've fixed yourself up for something tonight. let's see if your lover catches on before the question is popped.

3. public event - perhaps you're one who wants to gain a lot of attention; maybe your significant other doesn't as much. either way, this goes from writing their message in the sky with an airplane to something like a flash mob ensemble with others involved.

4. restaurant - nothing romantic like taking them out somewhere ritzy and hiding the rings in that glass of expensive wine.

5. car - you've driven them somewhere nostalgic or meaningful either to you or each other, or perhaps just a good view overlooking the city cause maybe you had no other idea how to do it or couldn't afford anything else.

2. marriage {
1. traditional - both parties have agreed and said yes, and everything goes well just like in the fairy tales you've always dreamed of.

2. arranged - you had no say so in this but somebody else like your parents did. you've never seen this person before until you walk down the aisle. what are your thoughts? are you nervous? what if you two don't get along? looks like you have to deal with it either way. enjoy?

3. elope - nothing fancy. you know, they do make drive thru chapels or perhaps you're just going to experience the excitement of meeting up at the court. all and all, it doesn't matter, just so you have your sweetheart to yourself.

4. shotgun - congrats, somebody is pregnant. there's only one more thing left to do now..

5. disaster - looks like somebody forgot the rings! never mind the fact the maid of honor is having a wardrobe malfunction or that soon to be father in law is causing a scene of some sort.

3. after marriage {
1. honeymoon night - self explanatory! come on, you know what this means. it just wouldn't be the same without this option.

2. new addition - it could be a pregnancy or bringing home a new child, or something as simple as a new pet goldfish.

3. house purchase - after months of living in a trashy apartment, you're both about to sign the dotted line and move into your new place.

4. argument - deep, relationship sort of arguments or something petty like who drank all the milk; it's up to you!

5. divorce - somebody has had enough of this and is ready to move on. how will it all go down?

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[Whatever option you pick, he's going to suck at it.]

[ ooc: oh god, I totally hate myself for this but how about we do pre-meditated divorce? Perhaps Tony keeps cheating on him everytime he gets drunk. And of course the billionaire has no memory of being unfaithful but bruce out of the blue says to a very confused tony; I want a divorce. ]

It's a problem. He knows it's a problem, he isn't an idiot. He doesn't know why, exactly, what shape his nights are taking past the point where he just doesn't remember any more, but he can see in Bruce's face the mornings-after that something is not okay and is rapidly becoming worse.

He finds him in the lab later, and sneaks up behind him, resting a chin on his shoulder. It's Tony for 'I know we need to talk,' but getting the words out isn't coming easy.

[ooc: I'm down! Let's start from there and let them discuss it out. They can either reconcile or decide to split, but I'd love them talking about it like adults.]

[ Bruce blames himself for letting it get this far, but it's not like he hadn't not told Stark not to drink. Afterall, that's what they agreed to when they chose to advance their relationship. Because Banner has a problem with drunks. Because his father had been an abusive drunk towards him nearly every night in his childhood and there's a small fear of that towards one Tony Stark. But the billionaire hadn't stopped, so the other convinced him that they could compromise. Which didn't pan out because the drinking became more constant when parties were being thrown. Bruce, himself, had always excused himself from every event because .. well, too many people. He's a little claustrophobic believe it or not. But then he had to find out that Tony had been cheating on him more times than just the one.

And it hurt. The Other Guy was furious, he hulked out one time when Tony was away on business and hulk would have smashed his way to bring some pain to iron man if it hadn't been for SHIELD tranquilizing the big green guy before he could get away. Thank god nobody told him about that little incident.

Then he began to think on why Tony liked cheating on him so much, was it because the other was done with him? Was he just too.. boring for the life of the party that is Tony Stark? All these self-depreciating thoughts and more, he couldn't get out of his mind. As if he didn't already have enough stress to begin with.

The moment Tony perched his chin upon his shoulder, Banner tensed. They haven't had sex for over five months, he's been subtle about it, making up pretty relevant excuses not to do it with his ahem, boyfriend. But this small gesture only makes bruce uneasy. Because he doesn't want to be touched by a man that doesn't want him anymore. Or so he assumes. And it just hurts so much. ]

Tony, not now.

Yeah, sure, Bruce.

[He agrees, nuzzling his shoulderblade once, breathing deeply and hitching two fingers through his beltloops.

It isn't easy, admitting something is out of control, and it isn't easy as just stopping drinking. He's realized that now. Originally, the justification had been easy, don't try to change me this is part of who I am, and then it had been easy just to bully Bruce into staying okay with the status quo, but that isn't right, either. Tony doesn't like the look on his face, doesn't like the distance between them, doesn't like that they haven't touched in so long and that Bruce wants him to back off now. All the same, he lets him go, steps away.]

But soon. I really- really need to talk.

[It's ugly, really, realizing you're out of control, that 'I'll just have one' has stopped working. The 'admitting you're powerless' stage sucks the worst, because now he's face to face with the effects, with someone who he loves who won't look at him.]

Could we have dinner?

Edited 2013-05-31 18:00 (UTC)

[ Bruce doesn't allow himself to cry over any of this; perhaps more than one time when Tony isn't there, he only allows himself to tear up but never downright cry because .. Heart Rate skyrockets and everyone knows how badly that'd be. So he manages not to lose it and hulk out because he was a rational and patient man. This had all been developed when he stayed in the deserts. It's his sacred home away from everything and when things get too complicated, that's where he flee's to. Because he feels safe there. As if nothing could hurt him.

Bruce knew he had no right to ask this of Tony, to stop drinking, but it was already past the point where the spouse should be stating; make a choice, it or me. If alcohol is that important to his partner.. Then, well, he must really not care enough for his husband all that much.

Bruce always manages to push the problems underneath the rug, so to speak, which is why sometimes Bruce is found being his old self again after a while of no parties but then tony just had to throw that last one and screw everything up, make Bruce fall back into his old habits and flee to the desert for a week under the pretext that he had some business to take care of as the excuse.

Bruce slowly turns around as he imagines the other was probably going to say something random like he always does. ]

About what?

[ Dinner was mentioned and Banner couldn't help but put some normalcy into his question- ]

Do you mean go out to eat? Or did you want to stay in, tonight?

About the things I've got to learn to do differently.

[Shoving his hands in his pockets.]

And the ways in which this is not healthy for both of us right now.

[The question about dinner startles him. It's a little slice of the mundane when he's still trying to wrap his mind around talking about this, which already sucks worse than just about anything. Tony Stark is allergic to straight answers, so it's easy to dive on the out.]

Take out? Indian?

[Which he remembers Bruce liking, look, he's trying.]

You're being vague again.

[ He grows quiet for a moment, when the man speaks, since he knows where this conversation might lead but also not knowing when it comes to Stark. Because the avenger is just.. so very confusing yet so simple that it painfully reminds him why he fell in love with Stark in the first place. It had been so hard getting over betty, but it really is true what they say, that he only needed to let time pass.

Banner looks thoughtful about that, weighing his options and as always he's thinking about others above himself. ]

Um .. Alright, but last time we ate that, you didn't like it. We could get schwarma's again, if you really like.

Shawarma.

[He agrees, and then, because now or never.]

I'm quitting drinking. That doesn't mean you aren't irrevocably fucked when it comes to me, you're still allowed to be, I know it's a lot to come back from and I know stopping now doesn't undo jack all. But this has been not okay for you, lately, and I've noticed.

[Even if he doesn't know the worst of it. It's not hard to see Bruce is out on the edge.]

So. We can talk now or we can talk over dinner. It's up to you. I know some changes I've got to make, but I think I need to hear where you are, since I've been shutting you down for a while.

[ The clipboard he had been holding in both his hands, ( apparentlyy he still doesn't know his own strength ) suddenly snapped in half in unison with when he spoke- ]

Noticed. What else have you noticed?

[ He turned to the other, a bit ashamed of letting some of that anger show in his features because it sent the wrong message. Or perhaps all too true a message but not one he had been comfortable in showing so abruptly like he had done. Bruce pauses for a good while to collect his thoughts of what he wished to reveal. Not everything, just a hint of how he felt about this surprising news. ]

Do you really mean that or are you just saying what I want to hear and then end up drinking behind my back?

[ It was a simple question, there was no pointted stare about it, Bruce just wanted to know. ]

I'm doing this. I'm not promising I'm not going to slip, because I've tried to quit before- but I don't know if I've meant it like this before.

[He says, trying very hard to bite down his defensiveness, though he can't help taking a sharp step back.

He always feels like his heart is slamming against the metal in his chest, when he gets going like this. It turns out, he's learned the last couple of days, when you stop self-medicating you're more sober, but still crazy. Anxiety burns in his chest, breathing is unaccountably difficult.]

I've noticed we don't have as much science fun together.

[ Bruce recognizes that defensiveness but never before has he actually seen Tony move so abruptly. Sure, maybe in the past, right before he hulks-out, people do the same thing. Alert and defensive but never when bruce was .. well, bruce. But now Stark's actions just prove that maybe he had been lying about certain things. For example, hulk. And not being afraid of him. Well, now Tony was just like everybody else. Bruce knew what's what when it comes to fear. Even the smallest hint of it.

He slightly raises his hands half way up as a gesture saying that he's still calm, nothing to worry about and then he walks away so the other feels safe if he isn't already. ]

Did I ever tell you why I don't like it when you drink? A little is just fine, that's not the problem. It's the constant drinking until your just punch drunk that.. Upsets me.

[ He was careful not to use the word; dissappoint. Because he knows how delicate that is for Tony. Because they all have daddy issues and it's not fun. ]

[He holds up his hands to him in return, palm out. He doesn't know how to impart, he isn't scared of the other guy.

He'd actually be much more okay seeing him, right now, than having to look Bruce in the eye and admit;]

I think that's the problem? I've- been meaning to drink like that. I've meant it with everything in me for the last few months, not to have more than one. But this isn't something I have control over.

[ Okay, get ready for the bombshell, tony. Bruce didn't want to do it like this but sometimes iin order to get through to someone, you just have to lay it all down on them or else you'll end up in an endless cycle of repeatances. ]

Well, then, I don't know what else to say other than.. You need to figure out some way to control it or I'm ..

[ He squints just a bit in distaste as he finishes his last sentence already regreting the words as soon as they left his mouth. ]

I want a divorce.

[He knows it isn't possible that his heart has stopped in his chest.

It just feels like it.

He has a quip for every occasion, something sly to say to just about every serious problem, easy response after easy response. But right now, when it matters, he's got absolutely nothing.]

All or nothing, huh, Bruce?

[It's amazing he manages to get it as calm as he does.]

[ Bruce looks at the other a bit confused, he would've thought Tony would've brought up cheating on him by now or at least have the decency to fess up to it but he's been given nothing so far. Banner fights the urge to flee to the desert, so far but it's not easy. ]

My father was abusive in my childhood, he would beat me and my mother almost every night, Tony. I was witness to .. I mean, I've tried so hard to block this out but I, as a kid, watched as my father killed my mother. This is why I'm weary when you're drunk, but it's more complicated than that..

You.. You've hurt me much worse than I could ever imagine. Do you know what you do when you're drunk?

[He shakes his head, weakly.]

Blackout. Did I- touch you? With or without the suit, Bruce, I didn't-

[He has his own demons there. The thought that he could have thrown a punch of his own at him is unconscionable.]

No, you didn't. Nothing like that.

[ This is where Bruce looks his most vulnerable, he's rubbing the back of his neck, he has to breath evenly just to remain in control of his own emotions. ]

You.. Cheated on me. On more than one occassion. Sometimes with a man, other times mostly with a woman.. I mean, you couldn't have had blackouts all those times. I understand that maybe you did it because I'm boring but I can't .. I can't be married to a man that can cheat on me so easily.

Bruce.

[He doesn't remember- this might be a case of his reputation combining with reality. There had been slips, yes, bad slips- nights he knows he went further than he should have. There had been nights he'd woken up in hotel rooms and wondered. But add that to the rumour mill, the tabloids, the liars, and indiscretion is easily magnified into deliberate cruelty.

The doesn't make it all right, and that doesn't make it easier to breathe.]

You aren't boring. And you need- we need to get tested, right now, have you made sure-?

[He could have put him in such danger.]

[ Out of all the main parts of concern and that's what Tony chooses to mention? He wonders if the other even feels apologetic, at all. He doesn't want to ask because.. well, he's afraid of what might be his spouses answer. When he hears his name, he only looks away, not entirely sure they can fix this. Now Bruce is no psychologist but he knows that most times people in a drunked state end up doing things that are usually deep within their conscience, things that they would never have done had they been sober. But some speak louder than most and this just tells Bruce that deep down, he can't satisfy the world famous billionaire.

Banner knows it's his fault, he took too long when they first started out; it had taken a whole year before he even considered trying sex with Tony no thanks to his condition. And then it had taken a couple months afterward before he really felt comfortable with his body. In no way did he ever consider it sexy, still doesn't. Bruce doesn't really care about his image all that much. Being a sex symbol was Tony's forte. And in reflection, it's what's tearing them apart. Because Tony just can't keep his manhood tucked away for a long extended amount of time. ]

Are you sure that's the first thing you want to discuss?

[ After a moment of ruffling his own hair, he then added- ]

No, you know this already, I'm immune to any and all diseases. The perks of having the hulk.

Edited 2013-06-01 06:23 (UTC)

Right, yes, of course, right-

[But that makes it harder. That was the first thing he lept to, of course, because it was the easiest way he could see to make sure Bruce wasn't hurt by this, wasn't harmed by this. An infection is something tangible, measurable, a risk he'd exposed him to without his consent.

What he's done to his self-esteem, to his heart, that's harder to fix. He scrubs a hand over his eyes and rallies.]

I don't. I don't know where to begin. What- when? Did I?

It's happened everytime you've heavily had one too many at nearly every party you throw.

[ Bruce looks straight into Tony's eyes because at least the man deserves that amount of concentration as he begins to enlighten the other of his consequencial faults. All this just makes him want to commit suicide again but he's unable to ever do that successfully. Compliments of The Other Guy. Taking a seat on the sofa, Bruce continued- ]

It has happened at least three times. You just keep doing it and there's only so much I can take. Maybe it's best this way, getting divorced. That way, you can fool around with anyone without me interfering. I knew from the start I could never satisfy you.

Okay, hey, no. I will take all the stuff in the world you want to throw at me, but it's on me, not on you.

[He says, moving forward fast, taking the seat next to him and reaching to touch his hand without thinking.]

I've backed off you lately, but it wasn't anything you did, and it isn't that you're not enough to satisfy me. I know you've got... stuff, obviously, with your heart rate and your big green, and I knew going into this that the fact that I want to throw you over every lab table in this place was going to have to take a backseat to the fact that you need to find your zen, and in particular you needed to find your zen around me, but that doesn't mean anything bad about you. It means I'm an asshole who apparently- can't keep it in my pants when I drink, but the last little while without... I just. I thought you wanted it, I guess. I'm not easy not to want to punch in the face, so I thought I just wasn't pushing.

Apparently I sucked at that, and this is coming out wrong because in no way shape or form are you responsible for my choices, I am, but. I want you more than anyone I've ever known. Pending divorce and all. I don't know where this got so screwed up because I saw, I still see, you here with me for the rest of our lives. Maybe I don't deserve that any more, that I can see, but I don't not want it. This isn't on you, it's on me.

[ Trying to find the peace of mind to participate in any sexual act with anyone was always difficult, especially with Tony because there were high expectations-- or at least, on their first time, considering Stark's reputation, Banner had thought there were. Which was why he had been hesitant and immediately spoke of all the dangers that their coupling would bring on. But Tony was very persuasive, bruce himself might have been very shy their first time but having the perfect lover made everything all that much smoother, no pun intended. Not to say there wasn't pretty close calls but all that mattered at the time was that he can achieve anything he wants, there just needed to be alot of concentration and patience. Especially patience because if one wanted to have sex with Bruce, they'd better prepared to take it easy. Banner always needs to prepare himself at least a half an hour of physical and mental excercises before initiating into the act of intimacy. Though tony has cut that time by half the moment bruce had fallen into the habit that this was a normal routine with them.

And everytime he feels like he's losing the other because Bruce himself takes so damn long and most times he doesn't know why Tony bothers with him.

As Tony adorably babbled on, Bruce nodded every now again when he agreed with some key points of what his spouse said, tony even managed to make him break a smile at the comment about wanting to do him in this very labroom. But other than that, he remained silently listening to Tony. It's really tony's fault, he's not really leaving any room for him to speak much. But when he finds that window to do so, he takes it. Bruce allowed the other to touch him this time and he slid his hand on top of the others own.

Out of all this talk and Bruce has noticed one thing. Tony still hasn't apologized, sure, the billionaires words are an aplogy all together but it's almost like Stark's weaving his way around to not have to say it. The doctor pressed his palm firmly against his own chest as he said these,next words because already his heart was beginning to speed up. Not yet in danger of hulking out but still. ]

Is this all true? Because I did try to stop you. From .. you know, but you only pushed me away and said .. -

[ Bruce found it difficult to finish his words and if you paid attention, you could hear his voice crack for the slightest of seconds as he summarized- ]

You said I .. I'm not enough. I know you were drunk but it still.. There's still some truth into what drunks say and now I realize that it comes from your heart. I'm .. I need to leave. This is just.. too much.

[ By now, Banner has already carded his fingers into his hair, lightly pulling at it in frustration as he bowed his head as a means to stay in control. He wasn't losing it yet, contrary to this clutching-scalp-manner. ]

Edited 2013-06-02 22:12 (UTC)

[He still hasn't quite absorbed it. It's like it's happened to someone else, and he's having to step into the role of apologizing for an embarrassing friend. It just doesn't make sense to him, particularly Bruce's assertion that he'd said as much to his face.

It's finally what gets him to nod.]

Yeah. No, I get that, I do. I'd leave me too if I were you.

[The joke is weak, a little quiet.]

I've never believed that, you know. That there was truth in what drunks say. Maybe. Maybe it means I wanted to hurt you, but you need to know, I have never thought anything but highly of you.

[It'd felt like borrowed time, in a way. The months together before Bruce realized exactly what Tony was worth. A snatched little story before the other shoe dropped.]

What do you need from me tonight? Space, more talking- anything. Whatever you need.

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saveitforwhat - 2013-06-02 22:48 (UTC) - Expand

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st_a_rk - 2013-06-02 22:52 (UTC) - Expand

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the marriage life meme

Tony Stark: MCU: OTA

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Sounds good to me~

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