like shackles on your feet, like a halo in reverse

[ferries]

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

Comments

[note_atem]

[It takes him a moment but he gets what she's going for and crosses his arms defensively.]

Does it bother you? [He hates being called short. HATES IT.]

[csillag]

[She had to smile at his reaction. Coming from a short person like herself to another...]

Not at all. But there would be members of the Court who would try to goad you about it. That's why I'm warning you. We'll have to train you to dismiss those remarks.

[note_atem]

[He eases a little.] I can handle insults. [Despite what he just did.]

[csillag]

If you're certain. We still need to talk to get to know each other, Atem. Like if you have family or what is your favorite meal.

[note_atem]

[Hm. While the whole story is rather ridiculous and hard to believe, he knows, he's not sure what he'll lose by being truthful.]

My entire family line is deceased. [He looks away upon saying this.] ...and I'm not very picky.

[csillag]

I'm sorry.

[Esther murmured, walking towards him to pat his shoulder sympathetically.]

I have only my distant relatives left, so I'm on my own as well.

[note_atem]

[He tenses, not used to physical affection but he doesn't shy away from it or push her off. His eyes meet hers.]

So we have at least some common ground. [A small, but at least not forced, smile.]

[csillag]

Mmhmm. I was also teased about my "growth" a lot.

[Until she had her spurt and it wasn't only her height Father Nightroad made fun of.]

[note_atem]

It's only until fairly recently that people started having an issue with my height. [Because who would dare make fun of the Pharaoh?]

[csillag]

Really? Maybe in your home land, people were about our height. [While everyone in Albion seems to tower Esther by a head or two.]

[note_atem]

[Technically Atem would have been the normal one, and everyone else would have been giants. But we don't talk about that and he merely shrugs.]

I just don't think they had cause like everyone else to comment on it. [May be giving a hint to his status.]

[csillag]

Aren't there gossiping tabloids in your country, Mister Atem?

[Even those of high status were not spared from embarrassing criticism.]

[note_atem]

If there were those who spoke about me behind my back, and I'm sure there were, I was blissfully unaware of them. [He had other things to attend to, at least. And his Court was at least good at keeping things like that from him and keeping his reputation pretty well kept.]

[csillag]

It can't be helped, but-- Did you encourage them to speak to you?

[She asked. Esther believed that a fluid dialogue was the solution for half of those court intrigues that were a headache.]

[note_atem]

I always welcomed critique. [The throne room was always open to those who wished to express it. He always worried about not doing a good job, even in such a high position.]

[csillag]

Were you trained from birth for that position? [She wondered.Esther was suddenly thrust into the throne when they found out she was the legitimate heir and her half sister, Mary Spencer, burned some bridges.]

[note_atem]

Aa, by both my mother and father. [He figures she's got some of it figured out now so continuing to be truthful holds more benefit.]

[csillag]

[Esther had been trained in investigation as an agent of the Vatican in the past, those hints were not lost to her.]

I didn't know until last year. But you've been following the news, right?

[note_atem]

[He so quickly seems lost.]

News?

[csillag]

Eh? You don't know about the situation in Albion at all?

[This was bad.]

[note_atem]

[An awkward shuffle. His hands go into his pockets.]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this land, in its entirety, at all.

[csillag]

This is bad.

[Esther froze.]

We need to begin with the basics.

[She offered her hand.]

I'll take you to the library so you can study its history.

[note_atem]

[He looks at that offered hand before slipping his cautiously into it. At least the grin he's giving in return seems sure.]

I'm a fast learner. [AT GAMES and he actually truthfully hates studying, but when things are important he always comes out ahead. And this seems important to her, so it's important to the overall game, and thus important to him.] I'll do my best.

[csillag]

[She wasn't going to bite the hand, she would drag him along with her towards her personal library.]

I'm still learning about Albion history. So we can revise it together. The most important news is that my grandmother, Queen Bridget II, passed away last year.