Arranged Marriage

[bostonhowler]

It's a trope near and dear to our hearts. Arranged marriage.

Maybe it's for the family. Maybe it's for a friend. Maybe you know the person and have been expected to marry them for years. Maybe it's the wedding day and you have no clue who it is you'll be tied to for your natural life. Maybe you've been married a while, and you're just now starting your life, away from the expectations of others. Or maybe, the "others" are watching, waiting, making sure this marriage sticks.

Prompts for those who need them:



Reasons:

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.
6. Tribute → You have been offered as a gift or appeasement, alternately you're the spoils of war.
8. 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.

Scenario:

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?
8. Been at this a while → Just starting to get to know the other person

Comments

[goingthroughaphase]

She can't help a slight frown, sad that such a precaution has to be done. But she nods in understanding anyway. "Right," she replies. It made sense, unfortunately. There were too many people out there who only see them as just mutants, whether that gives them a reason to hate them, or use them as a gimmick.

[southernreaper]

Unfortunately, for him, it's also a safety issue. That's a lot of people in a small area, and if he's going to be standing close to them, he doesn't want to accidentally give himself away by killing someone... or even just removing their shirt.

"But, let's worry about that another day. Right now, we've gotta eat and then head for Disney." He's trying to be upbeat and failing. "You ever been?"

[goingthroughaphase]

She smiles, gently squeezing his hand, recognizing how much he tries. "Not in Florida," she admits. "My parents took me to Disneyland in California once, when I was younger, but that's about it."

[southernreaper]

"California, huh?" He says, curious. "I've never been to either one. Dad and I couldn't afford it, after Mama died." His father had later explained it to thirteen-year-old Kevin: Her medical bills had devastated them. But it had been worth it. So big trips like Disney just wouldn't work.

"So, we'll have to explore together?"

[goingthroughaphase]

She nods. "Yeah, that sounds fun. I've heard that it has a lot more than the one in California, so I'm kind of excited to see as much as we can."

[southernreaper]

He smiles crookedly. "So, we don't have to explore it all in one day. You realize that, right?" He teases her.

He takes a bite of his omelette thinking about what they're going to do. "I think one of the restaurants has a reservation for us tonight." He double checks his phone. "Yeah, Victoria and Albert's." There's a star next to it, and Kevin clicks it. He snorts in amusement. "Apparently, we have to put on nice clothes for it." Josh's note says "dress up stupid".

[goingthroughaphase]

She giggles softly. "I know. There's a lot to do there, but we can take our time." The point of a vacation was to have fun, after all.

Taking another bite of her own omelette, she then sips on her coffee before speaking again. "Really? It's not too fancy, is it?" She doesn't think she has anything too formal in her bag.

[southernreaper]

"Well." Kevin doesn't know. "I think we'll have to google their dress code. Josh says I have to dress up, and there's some garment bags in the trunk. So maybe they thought that far ahead?" Josh would've. He doesn't know about whoever packed for Kitty.

[goingthroughaphase]

"Oh really?" She hadn't noticed the garment bags. She'll have to check and see - really, any of the girls probably could have packed something for her.

"What time's the reservation for?"

[southernreaper]

"Eight. So, we've got time to get there, get changed, and make our reservation." He shrugs and puts the phone down, finally truly digging into his omelette. He's hungry, but he's been so focused on her, that he hasn't been eating.

"Unless you just want to get a pizza again?" Smirk.

[goingthroughaphase]

She laughs, lightly nudging him with her shoulder. "We'll see what they have on the menu," she replies.

[southernreaper]

He grins. Actually, full-on grins. "Well, if you insist I let you put on fancy clothes and eat at a restaurant." A sigh. "What's a poor husband to do but concede?"

[goingthroughaphase]

Her smile brightens at seeing his; it's a good look for him.

"Well," she says, her voice dropping so only he could hear her, "maybe you'd like taking off my fancy clothes afterwards?"

[southernreaper]

Yes! Yes he would. He chuckles, soft and low, so only she can hear it. "I would." He agrees, digging into his omelette. "Come on. We should get on the road soon."

[goingthroughaphase]

With a giggle, she nods. She only gets about halfway through her omelette - if that - before she gets full, but she finishes her iced coffee at least.

"Do you want any of this?" she asks when she decides she's done. "With the pizzas we still have, I don't want to take it with us."

[southernreaper]

He shakes his head. His own omelette is probably only 3/4 of the way finished. He probably should've gone for the pancakes, though he needed the protein this morning. "Nah. We'll tip well, and just head out."

Kevin flags down the waitress and gets their bill, leaving a ten on the table for her. "Ready?"

[goingthroughaphase]

She nods. "All set," she answers, slipping out of the booth.

Heading to the car, she looks over at him. "Do you want me to drive for a while? You seem to like driving, but I just thought I'd ask."

[southernreaper]

He stops. "Do you mind if I drive?" He has to remember, she's not Josh. Josh hated driving, and was glad to let Kevin do all of it. But if she wants to drive, he'll try to hide his anxiety and just let her do it. But she's right, he loves to drive. He loves it. If he weren't a mutant, he'd drive for a living.

[goingthroughaphase]

"Nah, I don't mind," she says with a wave of her hand. "I just thought I'd ask, in case you were tired of driving the whole time. But if you're okay with driving, that's fine."

It's probably just as well. She's gotten better since learning to drive, but she's still not the best driver.

[southernreaper]

"I really like driving." He says, opening her door for her. He enjoys driving more than he enjoys about anything else. Well, except forging. He climbs into his seat and buckles up. "Why don't you take that nap? I'll get us to Florida, no problem." He says taking her hand.

[goingthroughaphase]

Buckling her own seat belt, she takes his hand as well. “I can’t really sleep so soon after eating,” she says with a small laugh. “But I might fall asleep later.”

[southernreaper]

"Well, don't feel like you have to keep me company, all right? If you need to sleep, sleep." He says gently. He can entertain himself on a long car ride.

But he does stop for gas before they leave town, and gets a full tank before they head out on the freeway for Disney.

[goingthroughaphase]

She nods, though she does try to stay up a little while longer during the trip. A little conversation, some songs on the radio. But eventually, she does start to drift off during the long drive.

With an arm pillowing her head as she leans against the passenger door, Kitty is lulled to sleep.

[southernreaper]

When he stops, he pulls a coat over her. But, then, he gets right back on the road and heads south. Finally, around mid afternoon, he pulls into the resort where they'll be staying. "Kitty?" He reaches out a gloved hand and strokes her hair. "Kitty, time to wake up."

[goingthroughaphase]

"Mm...?" she murmurs sleepily, stirring slightly as she's roused awake. She yawns and rubs her eyes, glancing around as her mind tries to catch up.