(no subject)

[sythyry]

The Interrogation of Jyondre [3 Thory 4385]

Me:"Jyondre, my Native Guide, how is it that you did not mention the peculiar meaning of mentioning that one is traff here? To wit, that when one declares onesself traff, one is, in effect, making a quite direct pass at the person to whom one is making this confession?"

Jyondre:"Is that actually peculiar?"

Me:"You have seen the wrongfolk sit around the parlor for hours at a time discussing the theory and practice of transaffection!"

Jyondre:"And split off by twos or threes afterwards!"

Me:"We split off by twos or threes after nearly everything; most of us are attached. I am referring to the peculiar Eigrach -- or Srineian? -- custom."

Jyondre:"But it is not a peculiar Eigrach -- or Srineian -- custom. It works just as well in Ketheria."

Me:"Oh, does it?"

Jyondre:"When one finds oneself wedged against the flank of a vast and quite appealing Gormoror woman due to the fortunes of seating arrangements in a floor-meeting in a Ketherian dormitory --- fortunes which one has arranged carefully based on rumors and suggestions --- and when, after the meeting is over and most of the participants have left, and one is still wedged up against her flank despite the couch being not a bit crowded in either direction any more --- and one mentions that one is traff in the shyest and most casual of tones --- one may well find onesself kissing within the next minute. And within the hour, being told that, should one sleep on the wet spot and, slumbering, slip into water form, that she would find that circumstance amazingly cute and be suitably moved. And within the day, each declaring that they have found true love in the other."

Yerenthax:"You exaggerate slightly! That bit about the wet spot -- well more than an hour. Nearly a dozen!"

Jyondre:"The prosody works better my way."

Yerenthax:"Bah! Set it to Gormoror staves! That is how truthful boasting is best declaimed!"

Me:"I suppose I can't deny that that confession works in Ketheria too. It's not the only way to present one's intentions there though."

Jyondre:"Nor in Srineia. Merely the best."

Which got him a well-deserved and ferocious Gormoror kiss from Yerenthax, and an end to further interrogation by me.

Comments

[tracerj.livejournal.com]

An interesting perspective on it....

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Yeah. It woke me up and insisted I write it down. -bb]

[redbird]

There is--at least in my world--a difference between mentioning "you know, I'm traff|lesbian|into X" as a way of indicating receptivity to someone a person is interested in, after some degree of conversation and/or nonverbal flirtation (such as Jyondre describes), and the idea that if I tell anyone of the appropriate species/gender that I am bent in that direction, it means that I am attracted to them and interested in pursuing that attraction.

In my culture and social circle, in fact, it is appropriate and not that uncommon to say things like "you know I'm bi, but I'm not looking for other partners right now" or "this is not a pass, but if you're modest about such things, you might not want to change clothes in front of me, because I am attracted to women." Or even as a way of saying "no" to a person of the non-desired gender, who may have assumed the possibility of interest because of their gender.

Again, I have a friend who is generally cuddly with her friends, regardless of gender: it is relevant that she knows that I'm queer, that I know that she's not, and that we can snuggle without me reading it as an offer of more.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

There is -- at least in my branch -- a vast difference between possibility and necessity, between "When I say thus-and-so, it sometimes implies this-and-that" and "When I say thus-and-so, it always implies this-and-that".

Srineia is clearly not my branch. I report on it; I do not necessarily approve of it, or even like it. And I have only had reports from two people, both Orren, and both with a definite stake in having the answer be "mentioning it is a pass".

I daresay I should get strangled fewer times if I visited your cultural and social circle. I daresay I should be happier that way.

[Also: in your cultural and social circle, bisexuality is more acceptable than transaffection is in Srineia. -bb]

[redbird]

Indeed, Srineia is not your branch--I apologize for implying that you, as a first-time visitor, are in any way responsible for Srineian mores.

Also, it is true that just about any remark can be inflected/pronounced in such a way as to (also) signify "I want to have sex with you," in my world as well as yours.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

True, true. Though doing so to such common phrases as "The postillion has been struck by lightning" or "A bad cold is a joy forever" is beyond my powers of seduction, alas.

Because, really, I do admire the glorious scarletitude of your feathers!

[redbird]

Thank you very much.

Are there more postillions on your branch than I had realized, or is this now idiomatic for something not actually involving that style of fortification?

[mharreff.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you show him your old journal entries, in which people ask if you are traff and you say yes, and that does not lead to practical experience(possibly because the one who asks is the cisaffectionate Cani and nobody transaffectionate).

Sometimes it is the pass, yes. But "sometimes" is not "all times."

Of course, even in Ketheria there are silly notions about what it means to love another prime species.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Ketheria, not Srineia! For which I am glad!

[rowyn]

The World Tree is a silly place! All worlds are, rather.

Also, this is a good response.

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

"No, on second thought let's not go to Camelot. 'Tis a silly place..."

[bloofox.livejournal.com]

Yerenthax:"Bah! Set it to Gormoror staves! That is how truthful boasting is best declaimed!"


You have now inspired me. I now have a burning and passionate desire to, sometime in my life, brew some mead (I wanted to do that anyway), cook large quantities of rasted meat, and invite SUITABLE friends over for a large feast that involves someone boasting in grand style after every round of booze. It would just be the single coolest thing ever :)

(I just hope I can keep the desire long enough to actually plan and execute it. Especially considering how long it takes to make mead.)

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

Ahh, you want to go to an asatru camp out! Find the ones that like Thor.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Ah yes the OTHER World Tree folk!

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

Personally, I found it rather uninspiring. There wasn't any aliteration at all. ;>

*sigh*

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Some cultural divergences are hard to pin down. Sythyry is hardly the first person to run afoul of such hazards while traveling.

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

I managed to forget the simple principle "when you're from the forest the trees don't seem worth mentioning" when wondering out loud about possible answers to that question ;P.