random break up ideas?

[magycmyste]

I need some random, crazy ideas here.

The setting is an alternate world, a bit remniscent of Victorian America, but with steampunk elements. Magic/energy in this world is evthene, composed of revtha (physical) waves, and kethna (spiritual) waves. There has been a lot of research into manipulating revtha (think kinetic energy, temperature, electricity, etc.), but not much is known about using/controlling kethna.

I need ideas for a guy trying to politely discourage a girl who wants to marry him, without offending her or her father (who has a lot of political influence, and is bad to offend, basically). He has a sister who likes to invent things, and is pretty good at manipulating revtha.

Good and bad ideas are welcome. Actually, bad ideas might be even better than good ones, though I'd appreciate some heads up on the ways the bad ideas could go wrong (For the most part, at this point, this is for conversation pieces, as the guy and his sister brainstorm ways for him to get out of his betrothal, as neither of them can really stand the bride-to-be for long periods of time). I'm thinking that later on, they might try one or two of them.

Help!

Comments

[melannen]

Well, depending on how similar your Victorian England is to ours - fake a poltergeist or spiritual visitation telling him not to let her marry the guy?

Some with good mechanical skills in Victorian tech can do amazing things with faking ghosts, and unexpected people being into spiritualism is part of Victorian milieu - depending on how your kethna has changed things.

[magycmyste]

Ooh, I think this is one I might want to play with more! It's not a particularly spiritual society, and there is no religion to speak of - at least, not at this point.

However, a visitation from a long-gone beloved relative? Depending on who it was, that might actually convince the bride-to-be.

[magycmyste]

Thank you!