forum Marriage or Death // OxO // Open

Started December 13, 2020 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Every five years, in autumn, the horns of the Erlkonig sound in the forests as he rides with his Hunt. Everyone knows what that means. It means he hunts for a new spouse to take back to the Underground with him. When he rides, families hide their children of eligible age, both male and female, out of sight. They don't want their child taken away, because taken children never come back. Gender doesn't matter to the Erlkonig, he'll take anyone between the ages of 18-22.

(Name) remembers the last time someone was taken. They were too young to be in danger then, but they are old enough now. Now, they are one of the ones hidden away so that the Erlkonig cannot find them.

But they have always loved the autumn, and surely it cannot be that dangerous. So they sneak out, go into the forests to see the leaves turning color. Just for an hour, and then they will go home.

Unluckily for them, they are found by the Erlkonig.

Perhaps the first thing they notice is how beautiful the Erlkonig is. A beauty they were never told of. A beauty of curled brown hair and finely shaped lips, yellow-green eyes and high cheekbones, a tall, slender body, and a pair of curling horns the shade of coffee.

But, just as the stories say, the Erlkonig lifts them as if they weigh nothing, sets them on his mount, and rides away with them.

They will be the spouse of the Erlkonig this time.

So basically: your character is (Name) and mine is the Erlkonig. Yes, he has a name, and you will find it out eventually. This is gonna be a fantasy romance.

Rules:

• andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer)'s rules apply
• descriptive, three sentences minimum
• active at least once a day, preferably
• smut will be taken to PMs
• there could be triggering content, please let me know if you have any triggers you'd like to avoid
• homophobia, transphobia, and racism are a big no
• I reserve the right to say no

Ooh, may I? Also, is smut required or can we avoid it?

Smut is not a requirement, no! And can I see a sample of your typical RP style please?

Smut is not a requirement, no! And can I see a sample of your typical RP style please?

of course, one moment please!

The first day was always the hardest. Tobias never knew what to expect from their clients, whether they'd react calmly to them or with rage. With compassion or cruelty. To be fair, it wasn't their fault that people disliked them. Androids were difficult to socialize around, but Tobias was specifically designed to learn social cues and acclimate to a more human environment. It was their job to assist people, mainly those who had been through trauma, and it was tiresome. People always assumed the worst, which while hardly was an unreasonable reaction, was a difficult one. Tobias stared out the window, seeing the pale silver sheen of their artificial skin glimmer in the reflection and wonder if they'd ever be human enough for anyone. It wasn't like a robot to wonder these things, so they shut it down and wandered into their creator's kitchen, finding Elias Mitchell standing it the middle of the room staring at nothing in particular. Had they been doing this for hours? Suddenly, their protocols activated and they reached out to touch them on the shoulder, gently alerting them to their presence. Elias Mitchell flinched, and turned around.

Am I good?

(you're great! I gtg to bed soon so this is probably my last post. Here's the template:)

Name:
Gender and sexuality: (idc what gender your character is, they can be whatever you like)
Age: (18-22)
Looks:
Other:

Name: Erlkonig
Gender and sexuality: cis male, pan
Age: appears 22-23
Looks: About 5'10", with a slender but muscular build. Curly brown hair. Pale skin. Yellow-green eyes. Long fingers. Dark brown horns. Wears old-fashioned clothes
Other: Aesthetic

Sorry for lack of details, in a hurry. Also the time period is approximately like…the 17-1800s

Name: Eros Heather
Gender and sexuality: (idc what gender your character is, they can be whatever you like) Bigender, he/she, biromantic asexual
Age: (18-22) 20
Looks: https://picrew.me/share?cd=9QKW75eOm8
Other: Eros is sort of a scientific type. She wants to figure out the world around him, but never is able to get conclusive answers due to constant second-guessing. Likes torturing small animals to see what will happen, and is a bit self-absorbed. (EDIT: aesthetic board for her: https://weheartit.com/tragicprince/collections/179298721-heather)

(alright!)

The horns of the Erlkonig and his Hunt had sounded in the forests. The Erlkonig searched for a spouse, and the Hunt would not leave until he found one. Of course, the hunt was active in years other than the spousal year; the spousal year was just the only time that the specific horn of there Erlkonig sounded, clear and dark with a full sound.

Today was one of those uncommonly beautiful autumn days, where the sun streamed through yellow and orange autumn leaves in streaks of warm light. It would be a perfect one for wandering the woods. Except, of course, for the fact that the Erlkonig was on the hunt.

Eros could faintly hear the horn in the distance, but she didn't care. This was the perfect day to study the leaves, and she was damn well going to study those leaves if it was the last thing he did. She snuck out of his brother's house, leaving a note explaining he wouldn't be gone long, and ran off into the woods. She took her data kit with her, the horn was far off in the distance and couldn't harm him, the studies had shown. The farther off the horn was? Less likely to get hunted, her notes read, and it was true. It was only a faint whisper here.

The horns didn't sound all the time, only occasionally. Trees rustled and leaves floated gently to the forest floor, creating a crunching carpet of leaves beneath her feet.

Gradually, the horns of the Hunt began to draw closer, the mournful sound of the Erlkonig's horn sounding clear from the midst of the other hunting horns. If she was paying attention, she might notice and, if she hurried, he would make it home in time. If, however, he did not hurry…well. The mounts of the Hunt moved fast.

Eros didn't notice, being too busy writing down everything he saw to care much about the Hunt. She examined the rot of a nearby fallen tree, scribbling down notes furiously as he went. He continued to note-take, observing everything and anything and ignoring all common sense that screamed at her to get inside already, dammit.

(I just wanna give you a heads-up that I'm not quite familiar with characters that use revolving pronouns like this, so I might fuck up. If I do, please let me know and I will fix it immediately)

There was the sound of hooves dancing over the leaves, and a large black stallion stopped, six feet away from her. A man dismounted, his strange, slitted eyes flashing to her as he stepped closer, stopping when he was a foot away. He was rather tall, with curly brown hair and horns the color of coffee, that curled up from his head. The stallion snorted, pawing impatiently at the leaves, eager to be moving again. The Erlkonig tipped his head faintly, studying Eros where he crouched on the fallen leaves.

Eros continued to see nothing, oblivious to, well, everything. He simply was too busy to notice if some tall, handsome rider had driven his horse into the woods to potentially kidnap her. She stood up, turned around, and finally noticed him. "Oh, hello. Are you in need of anything in particular, my good sir?" she asked, gathering up his research kit.

The Erlkonig blinked down at her. "Come." Was all he said, before scooping him up and carrying her easily to the black stallion, depositing him on the horse before climbing up behind. "Please do not fight me; there is no need to make this ordeal any harder."

"Your horns are fascinating. Would it hurt if I sawed them off?" she asked, clutching his supplies close to his chest. "I bet it would, but I'm sure you're perfectly alright with testing the theory anyways. My saw is at home, I'll… wait. You're that thing, right? The Erkiegolgie or whatever they call it. Is it true, as the stories? Are you an immortal wanderer, cursed to the Hunt for all time?" Eros turned her head around. She wasn't much bothered by this current state of affairs, nor was she scared. Mainly curious. "What do you do with your spouses when you're done with them? I mean, it is only five years time they spend with you. They must go somewhere. Sorry, am I being too forward?"

The Erlkonig nudged the horse's side with his knee, and the stallion leapt into motion beneath them. "Yes it would hurt. No, you will not be sawing them off. Erlkonig, and yes, I am. Many of the stories are true. I am not an immortal wanderer, no. Immortal, yes, wanderer, no. As for my spouses…" He chose not to answer that question.

"Hmm. Strange that you aren't answering that last question. What, do they die? Are they stupid? Or do you just get tired of them and drop them when they no longer entertain you?" Eros wouldn't let the question go, it was too important to her. She didn't even notice he was carrying him away until several minutes had passed, and upon that realization, rolled off of the horse in a sudden burst of movement.

The stallion stopped as soon as Eros rolled off, circling back around as the Erlkonig leaned off and scooped Eros up again, arms wrapped tightly around her chest. "I shall answer that question when we arrive at my home. Please do not try to run, as it shall cause unnecessary trouble for us both, and I do not want to have to deal with that. I will if I have to, but I would much prefer if you came quietly."

"I'd prefer to have my answer… now? I'm sorry if you happen to not understand the concept, but now means immediate. Instantaneous. With great haste? How many ways must I explain the concept to you before you understand that I need my answer soon, and as soon as possible? I am apparently to be your spouse, I need to know what happens to me after all." he said, looking a little tired and distressed.

The Erlkonig set Eros on the stallion again, and the horse kept moving. "My good…I'm afraid I do not know your gender, but my good person, I cannot. It is a difficult thing to explain and it will be easier done when we are both sitting down and not on a moving animal."

"My good bastard is acceptable. And we are sitting down, the moving animal thing simply cannot be helped." Eros pointed out. "Whatever. How soon will we be arriving then? It would be useful to know, for comfort reasons."