I rewatched The Princess Diaries 2 tonight and it made me wonder something. Has anyone ever read a fic where there is an arranged marriage and a suitor but the people who were arranged fall in love instead?
I don’t know it just seemed like turning the trope on it’s head. Go into an arranged marriage for ‘reasons’ and think love is impossible, love supposedly comes along but then find out it was under nose entire time.
Oh and by fic I mean Rumbelle fic obviously. I don’t know what the setup would be or why it would happen but Rumple and Belle are arranged to marry, some guy comes along to sweep Belle off her feet (perhaps Will, maybe Gaston) and instead naturally Belle falls in love with Rumple, her intended.
Arranged marriage is a good idea for once.
It could bring the quote “It was an arranged marriage, I was doing you a favour.” Into a whole new context which is always fun with AU’s.
I like!
Please someone write this! I never liked the guy Mia ended up with in Princess Diaries 2. He was a smug jerk who never would have looked at Mia twice if she hadn’t had her makeover in Princess Diaries 1. I loved her “intended.” He was sweet, decent and thoughtful. I’d love it if someone Rumbelled this and Princess Belle ended up with her woobie intended.
I hated the second movie and I’m pissed that they strayed so far from the book series tbh.
I find the Princess Diaries movies are best enjoyed if I don’t think too deeply about them. Much like all the things I like most it’s the potential I see in it, that sets my imagination afire. The potential/unanswered questions/unexplored avenues/twists etc.
Personally I like the SwanFire twist I thought of this morning better. I might be tempted to write that in some form.
However, if I was to Rumbelle it then Rumple wouldn’t be the dark one, maybe I would do a light one AU. Yeah Sir Rumple, Knight of the realm, hero and ogre slayer etc.
Sticking with the movie plot sort of, Princess Belle must marry and produce an heir in order to inherit the kingdom from her ailing father King Maurice. He arranges the marriage with Sir Rumple and Belle isn’t impressed. She doesn’t want to marry a brute of a knight – she dreams of love.
When Rumple arrives Belle is surprised “you aren’t who I thought you were and I’m glad” as he possesses a keen mind and he isn’t a hulking brute.
To break up the marriage and absorb Avonlea into his domain (and gain control of it’s profitable trading ports) King George dispatches Sir Gaston to Avonlea to romance Princess Belle.
That obviously doesn’t work out. I suppose for there to be any plot Gaston would have to be suitably charming for a short time and maybe Rumple is irritating in some fashion. However, ultimately no contest. Belle falls in love with her betrothed – Sir Rumple, leaving Gaston and King George disappointed and assuring the safety of Avonlea.
Hmm ok I quite like this now. It’s basically a variation of the SwanFire version I thought of this morning.
Please, please, pleeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase write it!
I sent a stripped down version of this prompt last night to @endangeredslug as they were requesting prompts. I don’t know if they like it or will do anything with it though.
To be honest I don’t have the time to write it anytime soon. If I say I will write something then I am planning on doing so within the next month, or two on the outside. I have too much in the pipeline to get to this before November probably, maybe even later.
I do like this plot scenario, especially the details I came up with today. I might do something with it eventually but yeah it won’t be anytime soon. I got my current WIP to finish and I’ve already picked and started work on my next two WIPs.
I know I need to learn to write faster! 🙂