crimson_graces | open post 2017

[ her parents would hate this. the idea of her marrying for anything other than love would make both of them so disappointed in her. it's everything her father told her not to do; a sign of complete and total desperation. if there was any other way then she would still be at home in the Enchanted Forest, but Regina's made it so that the entire realm isn't safe for her anymore. she needs an alliance, something stronger than a prince from a neighboring kingdom or a wizard from another land.

all of that works out well for Asgard, because they happen to be in need of a savior, and from what she's heard, she's it. she'll marry their prince - a god - in exchange for their support in defeating the Evil Queen. he's the heir to the kingdom, a warrior named Thor - she's never seen him before in her life, but she looks a little incredulous when he steps into the room where they've agreed to meet. it doesn't seem like this guy would have any trouble finding a wife, but what does she know? she's not all that interested in having a husband.

at least Odin's given them some time to speak by themselves. she'd like to have a little more optimism for their agreement, but this isn't the marriage she wants or how she'd like to achieve one in general. he's not the first suitor she's wanted to roll her eyes at upon arrival, just the first she'll say yes to, because she's out of options and her people need her.

she's silent as he approaches the table, taking in everything from the way he walks to the sound of his boots hitting the marble. he makes an entrance, some women might appreciate that. all Emma does is make sure that she greets him the way she's expected to, with a curtsy and a smile that passes as polite. she'd like to know what she's gotten herself into before she makes any judgements, but right now she feels like she's screwed and tall, blonde, and cheerful over here isn't helping.]

You must be my future husband.

[ she'd introduce herself, but what's the point? he knows. besides, she's not entirely sure if she should go by princess or queen these days. one is the title she had when she left the enchanted forest, and the other is the one she intends to take when she returns. it is, after all, rightfully hers now.]

Edited 2017-04-17 06:24 (UTC)

[To be perfectly honest, Thor would have helped the wayward princess reclaim her throne without a marriage contract. That's his father's doing, and he sees through it for what it really is. A sign that he needs to start settling down. To think about the kingdom instead of the number of trophies he can collect. That he's going to be king sooner rather than later and he needs a queen to rule by his side like his mother has ruled by his father's.

Why Odin can't just say this is beyond everyone's comprehension. That's just how the Allfather is.

Thor stops maybe a few feet from her, and bows to her. She is after all, technically the Queen of Misthaven and he is still a Prince of Asgard even though she has no throne to sit on. That's where he's supposed to come in. He's heard tales of her parents, the brave Prince Charming and noble Snow White. He's heard other, horrible stories of the Evil Queen. What he doesn't know is what sort of woman the princess is. Is she her parent daughter? Or someone else entirely?

She's pretty but Thor knows that beauty and grace don't always go hand in hand.]

I think you can just call me Thor.

[ if her parents were here, they'd advise against anyone deciding the appropriate time for her to settle down and rule a kingdom. it used to be that the only person she had to answer to was herself and her own heart, but she doesn't have the luxury of putting herself first when everyone she cares about is in danger. she'll marry Thor because they might be strong enough to take down the Evil Queen if they work together, and she'll agree to the terms Odin offers.

he's a pain in the ass already, she's a little concerned about the family she's marrying into.

thankfully, Emma knows not to hold someone's family against them. after all, Regina used to be her mother's (crappy) stepmother. she's not sure he's the brave, bold warrior she needs at her side, but she'll find that out soon enough. they'll be married in three days time, and then she'll be forced to get to know him.

for now, she'd rather help plan a wedding than face the marriage that she doesn't entirely know what to do with.]

I think that's only true when no one else is watching.

[ she's the outsider in this world, she has to be careful about how she presents herself to the Asgardians. they need to know that she's willing to show him respect - and he needs to know that she expects him to earn it at some point, even if it's given in advance.]

But, you can call me Emma.

[ she sits so that he doesn't feel obligated to stand, gesturing to the seat closest to her. if she stands she won't be able to stay still - she's uncomfortable and it's to be expected, but she doesn't want it to show.]

Can I ask why you've agreed to this, or are you going to keep me in suspense until we're married?

[Well, she's certainly going to be a handful regardless.

Thor chuckles as he takes a seat where she gestured. His father means well, but no one can deny that the Allfather likes his riddles and his cryptic comments. He holds things close to the vest. He's a good and wise king. Perhaps a little unoriginal and set in his ways but Asgard has flourished under his rule. It's known as a beacon of hope and peace and Thor wants desperately to follow in his father's footsteps.

He won't tread the same path but perhaps they share a destination.]

I admit, and you'll share with this no one or I'll know who told-- I would help you regardless of whether you promised to marry me. Your parents were good and kind people. Your people don't deserve the injustices inflicted on them. The rest is my father's idea.

You'd rather marry a stranger than stand up to your father?

[ it's easy for her to say, when she was raised to believe that her duty to her kingdom wasn't so great that she should be forced to go without love. Thor's father is more set in antiquated beliefs, yet Emma's never needed her father's blessing to help someone when they were in need. he may say he would have offered his assistance, but she's already agreed to Odin's terms.]

It doesn't matter, I've already sent the blue fairy back to Misthaven with news of our engagement. It won't be long until Regina hears the rumors; that I sought refuge in Asgard and fell in love with their - well, you.

[ their prince, but it doesn't matter who it is. if she's going to marry him, she'll use it to defeat the Evil Queen with any and every opportunity that might arise. and if he doubts the value of that rumor, which he seems to, if the clueless look he sends Emma's way is any indication, then she'll just have to explain herself:]

In the Enchanted Forest, true love is the most powerful magic there is. It can break any curse. My parents had it, and I'm the product of it. If Regina believes we love each other, she'll start to get desperate, and then she'll get sloppy.

[ and while she's distracted, Emma can find what she needs to defeat her.]

The good news is, you don't actually have to love me for this to work.

[It isn't that simple and she's no longer in the Enchanted Forest. The people of Asgard fancy themselves above everyone else in the realm. That Odin is promising his only son and his army to support the princess is no small matter. Not in the way she seems to be treating it.]

So you mean to use me.

[If not his name, then his sword. His warrior's swords. Warriors that he is rather protective of, men and women that he would willingly lay down his life for. The problem isn't going to be the war that's coming with Regina's forces, he thinks. It's going to be this partnership he's forging with Emma and how he suspects she's not used to leaning on anyone for support.]

And have you given any thought to what will happen if she discovers the ruse? Or say she doesn't, what happens after we defeat her?

More like I mean to use our marriage. You should hear your father's speech about the light in me, he means to use me, too.

[ if he'd prefer to make it sound like he's being used for his skills or his name or his godlike status, he can pick any one of those and Emma will nod along. she doesn't take any joy in marrying Odin's only (decent) son. this doesn't do anything for her ego or elevate her to any sort of status. it may among the Asgardians, but in the Enchanted Forest, there's no kingdom more powerful than the one she's fighting to restore.

she leans back with a sigh, because of course he wants to know what happens when they get caught. he's immortal, Emma isn't. seems like one of them has to worry more than the other.] Well she could try to steal away my happiness, but there's nothing left to take.

[ it's a little softer, probably too honest - and oh, slightly bitter, too.]

What happens after we defeat her will depend on what the kingdom needs to recover. Defeating her is basically the first step, the people of Misthaven have been suffering for a long time.

[If he seems to soften at her brutally honest and bitter confession, well. It's because he does. As much as a six foot man made of muscle can really look soft but when she says that she hasn't any happiness left to steal, it makes him sad for her. It may look like pity but really he wants to help her regain her kingdom and bring something of a happy ending back for her.

Doesn't necessarily have to involve him but she'll be his wife, it would be nice if they could find some happiness together.

They don't have to, he understands that. First things first, defeat the Evil Queen. Maybe find his wayward brother at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. The last anyone in Asgard heard, Loki was traveling in that direction but no one's actually seen him since he was banished. Loki isn't the type to take his punishment in silence.]

That they have. One way or another, we will get your kingdom back.

[Maybe she's heard, when Thor gives his word about something, he means it. And it will be done. Because he's that awesome.]

Anything else you wanted to know about me?

[ she doesn't want him to pity her, that's not her intent in telling him what she's been through. it's more that she knows how Regina operates. she's seen time and time again that the woman likes to take whatever her enemy holds dear, and she did that when she took the lives of Emma's parents. she should be able to leverage their marriage as a threat to Regina's power, but he can handle himself better than any human man could.

besides, no matter what circumstances they've met under, he's still going to be her husband. she has her own magic to protect him with, and if she falls in trying to save the Enchanted Forest, he'll have claim to the throne once they're married. there's a rumor that he likes humans, she doubts he'd do wrong by them.]

Uh, yeah... literally anything would be good.

[ any hobbies, pets, scary workout routines? she's coming into this thing blind, she'll take whatever it is he wants to tell her. might be nice to know a few things about her future husband before they get up in front of all of Asgard and commit to this. though if they've made a terrible mistake, it's already too late.]

[Thor laughs softly because he honestly knows nothing about her either. He's heard stories about her parents, can assume what kind of daughter they raised, but the assumption and the reality are often not the same. For instance, he doesn't know that she has magic so that will be a fun surprise when he discovers that.]

I'm not certain what you want to know. I've lived in Asgard my entire life. Whatever tales you've heard of me as a warrior are probably true.

[Frost Giants? He's pissed off a few in his lifetime.]

I like a good fight, and a decent ale better. My companions are the finest warriors I've had the pleasure of fighting with. I wish things could have gone differently with my brother. When we're married, I expect we'll be partners and nothing less.

[ ale and fighting, she can see it now. her handsome husband getting in fights at the pub and storming into the castle drunk off his ass. maybe she'll luck out and discover gods can hold their ale better than the men of the enchanted forest, but it isn't what she's used to. she barely drinks socially, having grown up with a father who was always cautious about how much he had to drink.

what really sparks her interest is his comment about when they're married, which sets an expectation of an event set to occur only a few days from now. when they're married, they'll be partners - in name, in title, in fighting for the safety of their kingdoms. he's nice to look at, but the emotional piece of this is going to take time, if they ever get there at all.

she's not exactly in any kind of place to start a relationship, yet here they are.] Do you know how to be someone's partner?

[Well Prince Charming was a lightweight. The god of thunder can hold a few drinks better than most men.]

I imagine we'll find out.

[He thought, once upon a time that he was partners in crime with his brother and the entire realm knows how that turned out. It's a lonely place, to be the heir presumptive to the throne of Asgard. Even his friends, his comrades that he would lay his life down for, they have never been equals. They are his subjects, when it comes down to it, if he commands something which is rare, then they would obey.

But Emma is a queen in her own right. They will have to be equals if it's going to work.]

Do you?

No, that's - I usually had better things to do.

[ it's not meant to be an insult. people tend to think being a princess is all parties and poofy dresses, she'd spent more time learning how to lead. she knows most of her subjects by name and can tell what they need from her before they can ask for it. her father trained her with a sword, her mother with a bow, and both showed her how to lead with compassion. there wasn't a whole lot of time for falling into a partnership, although the list of suitors seemed endless.

it didn't matter, when her father was convinced that none of them were good enough for her anyway.]

My parents were each other's equal but they -

[ married for love? now that might be better left unsaid, so Emma's mouth closes as quickly as it opened. it's not like it's a secret, everyone in the kingdom knows her parents had true love. it's why they'll be so quick to believe the same of her. her kingdom needs hope, she can provide it - even if it's not the real thing.]

I'm willing to learn if you are.

open post 2017

arrangedmarriagesarecool.au

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what if loki is working with regina

perfect

gd loki!!

gd loki and regina literally the worst combination ever

the most evils of evils

with such flashy clothes, too.

fashionable evil

emma likes to think of herself as fashionable tho!