(no subject)

[sythyry]

Revelations to Yylhauntra [11 Lage 4261]

Yylhauntra:"So, tell me about your child of a count of Daukrhame."

Me:"He's a ..."

Yylhauntra:"He?"

Me:"He."

[Translation note: Sythyry used the Orren-specific gender-ambivalent pronoun, but, since Zi Ri are never male, "he" would have done as well. -bb]

Yylhauntra:"That's what everyone was hinting at?"

Me:"Yes, it is. He's the sixth ..."

Yylhauntra:"You do know the traditional penalty for loving an Orren, don't you?"

Me:"Um ... "

And zie gave me quite a long lecture on it. It's obvious. Orren are flickery-minded, flickery-hearted, quick-living, quick-changing mammals. We are fairly slow-changing lizards: not as tightly focussed as a Rassimel, but fairly invariable. It's not really a good hope for good long-term stability. Indeed, it is begging for heartbreak.

Me:"Well, isn't that like just about every other relationship involving at least one mortal? Or even only Zi Ri, but Zi Ri who might change their opinions or tastes over time?"

Yylhauntra:"I have two stable relationships. Or, at least, they've been stable so far. Verehinga and I spend every twelfth year together. Myrihaaveinen and I spend a month together every three years, arranged never to fall during Verehinga's years."

Me:"So you're alone most of the time?"

Yylhauntra:"Not alone, certainly, but celibate. More or less. I have the occasional other liaison with another Zi Ri."

Me:"And you've had no other lovers?"

Yylhauntra:"Hardly no others! Dozens, at least."

Me:"So ... all but two of your other lovers have brought you heartbreak?"

Yylhauntra:"Not quite that bad! Quite often we agree to a certain amount of physical intimacy, and that is that."

Me:"But most do, even Zi Ri?"

Yylhauntra:"Well, yes"

Me:"So it's not that much different than with Orren?"

Yylhauntra:"Your puny logic may twist my poor neck in knots, but the truth of my words remains true, and, even, truly true!"

Me:"I was afraid of that."

Yylhauntra:"For which many apologies. Now tell me about your Orrenfriend?"

So I did. Zie didn't laugh too much.

* * *

Zie had taught me well.

Me:"O my honored grandparent, you have asked me deep questions about myself. But now you must pay the price. I shall ask you deep questions about yourself!"

Zie laughed for a good two-thirds of a minute at that.

Me:"What would you advise me to do about Ilottat?"

Yylhauntra:"Well, I think you're pretty much stuck with him for now. After he departs and leaves you all covered in misery, perhaps make some better plans for your next lover."

Me:"Have you ever been interested in any non-Zi Ri?"

Yylhauntra:"Not voluntarily."

Me:"Not ... voluntarily? What do you mean?"

Yylhauntra:"Do you really want to know?"

Me:"... I'm not sure ... "

Yylhauntra:"Then you probably don't want to know the details. Ask me later if you like. I have a very good reason for my opinion of nendrai, though."

A complexity-40 Mutoc Mentador spell could turn your native language into lust for the nendrai. Another one could turn your anger at being controlled into lust for the nendrai. For two thoroughly disgusting examples.

[OOC: sorry this is taking so long to write. Reality is kicking my ass extensively and thoroughly. -bb]

Comments

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

For two thoroughly disgusting examples.

Yes. That's completely... um.... disgusting. It's... (mmmm.) a horrible, vile... delicious... idea.

*squirm*

absolutey disgusting.

[waterotter.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there's a World Tree subculture of Mentador, uh, afficionados.

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

They're probably secretive, and afraid of discovery.

And prone to playing little games on each other in public. Just simple, subtle, twisted little ones.

[waterotter.livejournal.com]

I've been tempted to make some World Tree stories of my own, a subplot of underground Mentador fetishists could be quite interesting. Hmmmm.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I imagine there is. There has to be someone for us traffs to look down on, after all.

[waterotter.livejournal.com]

Nice to see some things are universal. Multiversal.

[kistaro]

Or, perhaps, sideways upon! As you comfort yourself with "At least I don't have a Mentador fetish", imagine those with a Mentador fetish comforting themself with "At least I'm not transaffectionate." Transaffectionates with a Mentador fetish, however, may have a more difficult time of things. I'd wonder where they'd take their comfort from, but I'm not entirely sure that trying to figure that out is a path I want to go down. Do you have a parable of any form similar to our song, "The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed the Fly?" [Bard, you may need to explain that one...]

Anyway, I'd say Yylhauntra took things fairly well- it's the answer I'd expect, to be honest, but I'd still say "here's a natural consequence" is fairly reasonable. It's far better a response than I'd get from any of my relatives finding me with any sort of romantic entanglement to someone male or non-Christian! Of course, the first is non-impossible and the latter is quite probable, so I shall simply have to refine my skill at being secretive with regard to my parents.

I would, in general, be inclined to vaguely disagree with Yylhauntra. In an infinite lifespan, infinite quantities of inevitable heartbreak can be accepted when you accept that they also mean infinite quantities of good relationships. Having a finite lifespan and extraordinarily rotten luck at never getting relationships started in the first place is, I suspect, more frustrating, but that may be a bias on my part. (He's not interested, she's taken, she smokes, he's decided to become a Catholic priest, she's convinced I've got to fix my errant religious ways, and then several more convinced I'm a total nutcase... I can't win.) Regardless, you have an indefinite amount of time to make your own decisions...

[redbird]

It's far better a response than I'd get from any of my relatives finding me with any sort of romantic entanglement to someone male or non-Christian! Of course, the first is non-impossible and the latter is quite probable, so I shall simply have to refine my skill at being secretive with regard to my parents.

Either at being secretive, or at being matter-of-fact and refusing to let them shout you out of your happiness. The latter may be easier in the short term.

[kistaro]

Well, they also have full control of my bank account and are paying my college tuition. It's a trade-off I've decided to make. It's a short-term inconvenience for a long-term benefit.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

My situation exactly!