howlingplayground | Arranged Marriage

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Arranged Marriage

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Time at Disney had been... idyllic. They'd explored during the days and then during the nights a whole different type of exploration had happened. But there'd been no politics, no worries, no... anything to intrude on them enjoying themselves. They even have pictures of the pair of them. He's got a new lock screen picture: her laughing with a dollop of strawberry ice cream on her nose.

They really had eaten their way through Disney, often returning late into the evening and simply collapsing in the hotel bed, snuggling. He does owe her a couple new shirts - in addition to the souvenir ones they'd bought - because his powers suck and he still feels like he should be apologizing.

He hasn't had his phone on for a while. They'd reached Georgia and he'd turned off the maps. He can follow signs to Atlanta. And he knows, sort of, how to get to Miss Amelia's house.

The sun is setting early in the fall evening, when he pulls the car to a stop in front of a small ranch style house. The door opens as he steps around the car to let Kitty out. "Kevin!" An older black woman, a little stooped, hands holding a cane, her white hair back in a braid, stands in the doorway, smiling brightly. "Kevin! You bring that pretty girl of yours on up here! Gettin' married without family, I just won't hear of it!" Two large shadows appear in the doorway behind her. "Boys, you go get that boy."

One of them laughs. "He's comin' Grandmama." He says, shaking his head.

Kevin surreptitiously slips his suppressor on. He takes Kitty's hand, and walks up to where Miss Amelia is waiting. "Howdy, Miss Amelia." He kisses her cheek. "Ma'am, this is my wife, Kitty. Kitty, this is Miss Amelia and two of her grandsons, Jacob and Mike."

Kitty had really been enjoying the entire trip. Even more than having fun at Disney and eating as much as they could, it had actually been nice just getting to know Kevin better. There were certainly things he still kept to himself, but she felt - or at least hoped - that he was starting to open up to her more. And even nights that they didn't talk, where they would just lie together and quietly hold each other, were starting to feel more natural and easy, and she enjoyed his silent companionship just as much.

As she steps out of the car, she looks over to where the older woman and two guys are standing. And with a small smile of her own, she walks with Kevin up the porch steps to greet them.

"Hello," she says, hoping she doesn't sound as nervous as she feels. "It's nice to meet you all."

"Oh, chil' you come here, now." Miss Amelia says as Jacob puts Kevin into a headlock. "You come sit with me. Boys!" She snaps, tapping her cane on the ground as Kevin has wrestled Jacob to the ground and been dogpiled by Mike. The three immediately stop horsing around.

"Sorry Grandmama." Jacob and Mike say at the exact same time Kevin sheepishly says,

"Sorry Miss Amelia."

She humphs, but she's smiling. "Now, these boys gonna put on a dinner for us. Why don't you come talk to me, just us girls?" She says to Kitty, smiling.

Kitty stifles a giggle as the boys' wrestling is cut short, before turning back to Miss Amelia with a bright smile of her own.

"Sure thing, Miss Amelia."

Kevin sighs and takes Jacob's hand to pull himself up. He knows that's an order. He and the boys - as she calls her grandsons who are twelve to fifteen years older than Kevin - are to 'put on dinner'. So, food is going to be cooked.

"Chicken an' dumplin's?" Mike asks, picking himself up.

He shakes his head. "Kitty's vegetarian." He cautions. "I can make her a vegetable and dumpling stew. With apple crumble for dessert?" Kevin says.

"Now, if she won't eat it, we'll all have what you cook." Mike says, shoulder checking Kevin.

Well, that's the menu settled.

Miss Amelia leads the way into the cooler house. The couch dominates the living room. A black and white cat sits on the back of the couch. He nudges Miss Amelia as she goes past. "Now, off the couch, Tux. C'mon now." The cat meows and doesn't move, making her sigh.

She settles into a padded rocking chair, with sewing next to it. "Kitty, that short for somethin' chil'?" She asks, putting her cane to the side.

She can't help a glance at Kevin as he discusses the menu with Miss Amelia's grandsons. She feels a little bad that they'd all work around her food preferences, but she doesn't get a chance to say anything s she follows Miss Amelia into the living room.

As she takes her seat, she holds out her hand to the cat, just to see if he'll let her pet him, even as she looks over when Miss Amelia speaks again.

"Oh yes. It's short for Katherine."

Don't worry, it won't hurt them to eat vegetables. Besides, they still get the dumplings, which are the important part.

Tux is completely uninterested in Kitty. He cracks open an eye and goes back to sleep, immediately. He's not interested in people. He's a twelve year old cat that has no time for people shenanigans.

"When's Tom comin' home?" Kevin's suothern accent always grows thicker around people that share it.

Mike glances at his watch. "Two hours, we's got time.... Not the asparagus!" He complains. "It gets mushy."

"Not if you roast it first." Kevin bumps Mike, smiling. He winks at his wife, seeing her watching.

Miss Amelia catches the wink. "He likes you. Weren't real sure that he did when he called 'bout the weddin'." She shakes her head. "Always been a bit odd, loved his mama somethin' fierce, and 'bout curled in on himself when she passed, but he's a good boy, don't you worry about that."

When Tux doesn't respond, she lets her hand drop, just a touch disappointed by not really that surprised. Instead she focuses back on Miss Amelia and, to a lesser extent, the guys as they were cooking. Especially as Kevin's accent had also caught her attention; it wasn't as pronounced as Rogue's back at the institute, but there was something charming about hearing it more now.

The wink gets a smile from her, before she turns back to Miss Amelia. "Oh, I know," she replies. "I trust him."

Even though they hadn't known each other very well before getting married, she had at least known the Professor wouldn't have picked someone bad for her, even if she hadn't agreed with a fixed marriage. More than than that, though, Kevin had been nothing but concerned and accommodating towards her since the ceremony, and he hadn't done anything to give her a reason not to trust him.

"Oh don't mind that ol' cat." Miss Amelia tsks. "He's ol' and cantankerous." She shakes her head. "Don't even know why I keep him around." But she loves him and it's obvious.

"Now, why don't you tell me all about you, while them boys start cooking?" Miss Amelia asks. "And don't leave anything out. I know that boy ain't just welding and forging up in New York. He seems to think we don't get the news down here, but we do."

"Oh, um...Okay," she says, suddenly feeling a little nervous. She never knows what to say when put on the spot like this. But she also can't help worrying that she'll say something that would make Miss Amelia dislike her.

Eventually though, she does start talking about herself, though it's mostly just basic things to begin with; where she grew up, being Jewish and a vegetarian, what she was thinking of studying in college, and so on.

Kevin keeps an eye on Kitty. He knows how Miss Amelia gets and Kitty's never been under investigation by a southern Grandmama before. Miss Amelia can be even more intrusive than Miss Rogue.

But Miss Amelia knows a Yankee when she hears one. Besides, she's not going to do nothing that'll upset her boy's wife.

"Jewish?" Miss Amelia asks. "That gonna be a problem when Kevin goes to Mass?" She asks as Mike, the larger of the two brings in a pitcher of ice tea along with two full glasses. "Sweet tea?"

She pauses a moment as Mike comes over, looking up with a smile. "Oh, yes please," she replies.

Then she turns back to Miss Amelia. "No, it shouldn't be. He would still go to Mass, and he could come with me to services if he'd like. And I could go with him to Mass if he wanted me to."

Maybe not all the time, but she'd go if he asked her to.

Mike smiles, and hands her her glass, while winking at her.

"I saw that Mike, leave my wife alone." Kevin's teasing though. Mike responds by taking Kitty's hand and kissing her fingers. "Miss Amelia, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take Mike outside."

Miss Amelia laughs. "Now, you go on cookin' boy. Don't worry none 'bout this boy." She whacks him gently with her cane. "Now, you stop toyin' and go on and help cook." She orders her grandson. He grins and winks at Kitty again and heads back into the kitchen to help.

"Don't pay them no mind, Kitty. Boys bein' boys." Miss Amelia shakes her head fondly. "But I'm glad to hear that Kevin can keep up with his faith. He still blacksmithin'?"

Kitty can't help a giggle herself, rolling her eyes playfully at the exchange.

"Oh, I know," she replies after taking a sip of her tea. "The guys back at the institute can be like that too." Kurt had been so much worse when the two of them had first met.

"But yeah, I wouldn't ask Kevin to give up something so important to him. And yes, he's still blacksmithing." Twisting the ring on her finger, she slides it off to show Miss Amelia. "He made our wedding rings."

Miss Amelia takes it almost reverently. "Oh, now that's just beautiful." She says, softly. "To think, my little Kevin can do such beautiful work." She shakes her head and hands it back to Kitty.

"Practically raised that boy, after his Mama passed. When he went missin', sent my grandsons lookin' for him." She says, softly. "All of them are police, just work different shifts." She smiles, listening to the banter in the kitchen as the three men cook with the ease of long knowledge. "But you'll be good for him. He needs someone who ain't gonna let him get too deep in his moods." She worries about Kevin. She doesn't like it him being up in New York. His family is down here. But, if he's going to get a family in Kitty, she supposes that's alright.

With a smile, she nods and takes back the ring, sliding it back onto her finger.

"I'll do my best," she replies softly. Honestly, part of her worries that she wouldn't be good enough to help.

Miss Amelia reaches over and touches her hand. "You ever get overwhelmed, or that boy ain't doin' what he's supposed to, I'll give you my number an' you just call me up and I'll set him straight." She promises. Kitty has been adopted. Welcome, they have people who can cook.

"Now, tell me all about the weddin'. Wanted to go north for it, but the doc wouldn't let me." She shakes her head. "Outlived two husbands, and two children and he thinks a little thing like an airplane ride gonna do me in."

With a small giggle, she nods. "Okay, sounds good...thank you." Kitty could hardly complain about that.

"Oh well..." Kitty twists the ring on her finger a bit. "It kind of went by in a blur, but..." She begins recounting as much as she could of the wedding, up until she and Kevin ditched the reception.

Amelia laughs at the thought of that huge dog of Kevin's - she's met Mimsy - with a bright pink bow on her head. The dog adores Kevin and that's what's important, but she does look dangerous.

"I don't blame you for leavin'." Miss Amelia looks up and smiles, seeing Kevin come over and sit on the couch next to Kitty. "Dinner cookin'?"

"Along with both apple crumble and some sort of peach concoction that Jacob's makin'."

"Concoction!" The indignant yelp gets a completely shit-eating grin from Kevin. Who promptly gets thumped on the leg with the cane.

He grumbles, rubbing his leg.

"You stop baitin' 'im." Miss Amelia chides. "Now, your lady here was tellin' me about the weddin'. Where'd you go on your honeymoon?"

Kitty giggles softly as she watches, before turning her attention back to Miss Amelia.

"Disney World. We'd just left from there before we came here."

"Disney! This time o' the year?" She asks, surprised. Kevin just chuckles and puts his arm around Kitty.

"Well, I s'pose I could bring out all the little pictures of Kevin." Miss Amelia says, making Kevin color in mortification.

"Now, Miss Amelia..." He whines.

Kitty can't help but laugh. "I would love to see them," she says, throwing Kevin a mischievous smile.

Miss Amelia smiles. "Now, you don't wanna go keepin' secrets now do you?" She waves to a bookcase. "Go on over an' get my photo albums." She tells Kevin.

He sighs and rolls his eyes at Kitty's grin, but gets up and fetches them. He hands them to Miss Amelia, and then goes back into the kitchen when a timer goes off, muscling his way back in between the other two.

Miss Amelia gets up and sits on the couch next to Kitty. She opens the first and taps one arthritic finger against a picture. Standing there, in nothing more than overalls and a big floppy hat is a toddler, grinning as he holds up the hat. Next to him is a brunette, looking strained around the eyes, but she's got a huge smile on her face, and she's obviously been gardening with dirt on her knees, and gardening gloves on. "Kevin's mama. Angelica loved that boy..." She shakes her head. "Would take him out to garden and he was always the best little helper."

Leaning over to see the picture better, Kitty can't help but smile. "Awww...that's so sweet." She can't help another giggle. "And he looks so cute!"

Said loud enough for him to hear from the kitchen.

"Awww, she thinks you're cute!" One of the boys starts teasing Kevin.

"Better'n your ugly mug." Kevin smirks at the indignant squawk that gets out of one of them.

The pictures go on, Kevin with both of his parents, laughing, smiling. His mother gets thinner and thinner as the pictures go on. She starts wearing scarves on her head, and it's obvious, she's bald. "Last picture of the two of them." Miss Amelia says, running her hand over a picture. Kevin's about six, lacking a couple of teeth, and sitting next to his mother who is resting in a lounge chair on the grass, her big roses behind her. He's got his head down and a book in his lap. "She passed on about a week after this." She shakes her head.

ATLANTA

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