MEME: Arranged Marriage AU

[frozenfractals]

We were craving a meme, so after some digging around, we've got something new and different for you guys, with a huge hat-tip to the bakerstreet RP memes comm (original post here). Let's get some of those marriage feels sorted.

Time to get your faux-historical/fantasy novel on. For today's meme, your pup is getting married, whether they want to or not. It's arranged marriages time!

HOW IT WORKS
❧ Post a comment with your character's name and any preferences. This should include whether you're open to full threads or mostly dialogue, Test Drive-style, if you have a preference.
❧ If there's a specific set of circumstances you like best, set the scene.
❧ Or leave your comment blank and let others use RNG to choose the scenario. Feel free to mix and match.
❧ Or even just write drabbles to any (or none) of the prompts.
❧ Please note the prompts below are merely suggestions and you're more than welcome to come up with your own situation.
❧ Have fun!

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

[silenttrainbaby]

(ooc: what ifffff there's an AU version of the Train where everyone totally doesn't die and Aimee was farther forward and becomes a spoil of war?)

[spectacularly]

[*____* Yes, gimme!]

[silenttrainbaby]

Nothing had changed, not really. And yet everything had. People from the Tail came pouring forth into the other cars, much to the chagrin of the highest classes. There was some abuse, yes - going from nothing to something could cause some to lose their heads. Curtis did his best to maintain order, though. Secretly, though, he told those who fought and lived to have what they wanted; he'd have their back. The train, after all, was theirs now.

Grey didn't want much. He wanted to wash the blood off him, he wanted to eat.

That was when he saw her. She wasn't like the others, not painted and doll-looking, but real and in that way, more alive. He was holding something big and orange, pulled from a tree earlier in the car; it smelled sweet and tart at once and when he approached her, dirty, bloody, clad only in his filthy track pants, he held out the piece to her. She shouldn't be afraid of him, please don't run.

[spectacularly]

All I've ever known is the train. I've never questioned it. But when the people from the Tail come forward, everything changes, and I start to question everything I've ever known. So many of them just glare at me that I'm caught off guard at the gesture of the boy offering the orange. He's filthy, a sure sign he's from the Tail. I can't imagine how bad it must have been back there. "Oh," I say. "No, that's okay. You should eat it."

He needs it.

[silenttrainbaby]

A shake of his head and Grey pushes the orange again. She's so pretty.

Someone shoves him from behind and he jerks an elbow back, pushing someone back.

She'll get hurt. He urges her forward, a hand on her elbow, away from the pushing and shoving mass.

[spectacularly]

I hold the orange in my hand but it's all but forgotten when he pushes me forward. Maybe I should fight him off, but I don't think he's a threat. Not like the rest. Not with the kindness he's shown me, offering me food when he's clearly not had enough himself. I'm not sure I've met anyone like him before, and he hasn't said a word. I let him move me forward, eyes on the ground and not looking back. "Thank you."

[silenttrainbaby]

Into a cabin: a room that someone had all to themselves. Grey shoves the door closed, bracing himself against it, against the flood of people who want to take, hurt.

Even with that, though, it's almost quiet here. She has no reason to fear him. He has no shirt on, so she can see the words written on his chest, he shows her one: Grey.

His name.