[Voice]

[wavesofjade]

Recent.. ah, personal events have given me cause to wonder.. and with the range of experience and potential views within this place, I find that I am compelled to ask...

What is the purpose of 'dating', in a romantic sense, in your respective cultures?

Comments

Voice

[replicatedcourage]

Umm...

[Hi Grandma, your adopted grandson actually kinda knows a little about this.]

Well I don't really know for all of Hyrule, but... I know I wanted to be with Johnny because he needs someone to protect him and sometimes stop him from doing stupid things, but also because he's fun and he protects me too and, um...

[You can almost hear him turning red.]

Because he makes me feel like I'm important.

Voice

[wavesofjade]

[Oh, hello Sola. He's not someone she expected to answer this question, but she's pleased to be able to speak of it with someone she knows. There's a pause while she considers what he says, nodding to herself before realising he can't see that.]

I see.

[There's a small smile on her lips, bleeding through into her voice.]

I believe that answers more than one other question I might have had.

Voice

[replicatedcourage]

Um... does it? What other question?

[He's pretty sure he didn't really explain that right. His feelings about Johnny are just so big, way bigger than he can condense into words even if he tries.]

[voice]

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane has been pinged by the voice of an elegant and beautiful sounding lady. ]

It really depends on which date you're talking about. The first few are usually so you can get to know each other better and to, you know, test the waters, make sure you get along and things aren't awkward. Gradually the dates continue because it's really nice to spend time with the person you like and do special things with them.

[ He considers himself a bit of an expert here. ]

I'd be more then happy to escort you on a date too if you'd like to experience it for yourself.

[voice]

[wavesofjade]

[Such flattery!]

It is something that I have been experiencing recently, but I had wondered of its importance to other people. [A short pause, while she considers.] It appears to be a common fixture for many worlds.

[ video ]

[beauchevalier]

[What is with people and asking about dating these days? But it's that nice woman troll he spoke to before.]

Courting or dating is quite complex, at least in my world. When a man courts a woman, he usually does it for profit, being in an arranged marriage, or he wishes to seek her as a bride later on in life. Of course there's first meetings, getting to know one another, and then either falling in love or not. If they do fall for one another, it usually ends in marriage.

[ video ]

[wavesofjade]

[She doesn't recognise his face, but his voice is familiar. It doesn't take her a moment to but two and two together and realise that it's the young man she had conversed with a short time ago.]

That sounds.. complicated. [A beat.] You must forgive me, many of the words I hear here are unfamiliar.. what is 'marriage'?

[crabbygenius]

Dating is a way to get to know your prospective partner. Why do you ask?

[wavesofjade]

I believe that I may be engaging in it, and find myself curious of the opinions that other people have on the subject.

voice;

[seablaze]

[He knows this!]

It just makes the whole ride more interesting. Figuring our meanings or purpose might just give you a headache, lass. Just go out and have fun.

voice;

[wavesofjade]

[That gets a soft, warm chuckle.]

I intend to, but.. the concept is a strange one to me, and some curiosities will not rest until they are satisfied.

voice;

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

[Minako is rather amused at this, she seems like the best example to answer this question, what being the Goddess of love and all.]

I am the Goddess of love, so I can easily explain it to you. Dating in a romantic sense is the best way top get to know another person. This is mostly in a blind date sense. For someone you already know somewhat, it's more to have fun and spend time together, because everyone knows spending time together is good for a relationship and is what makes it strong.

voice;

[wavesofjade]

[She makes a quiet, thoughtful sound.]

Then a 'blind date' is to engage in these practices with someone you do not yet know? [It's not really a question she needs answering, more a confirmation of her own thoughts, so she asks something else instead.]

Would it be possible for the time spent together to be too much?

voice;

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ Well, this comes out of nowhere, but he's also been unconscious for a while now. ]

You are engaged in a romantic situation, Dolorosa?

voice;

[wavesofjade]

Little one.. Ah, it is good to hear your voice again. [Her own is as warm as it ever was when speaking to him.]

I.. perhaps. I am unsure as of yet.

[Video]

[closedcircuit]

[In his culture...well. So long as they don't have to talk about personal experience, because Ky doesn't have any of that.]

To get to know another person, to move towards marriage.

[Video]

[wavesofjade]

[That word has come up before, that 'marriage'. It isn't one she knows.]

This.. 'marriage'. Would that be its only purpose?

voice

[paladaddy]

[Well, seeing who it is, Shiro is okay with responding.]

Dating is a way of getting to know someone, to make sure they're the right choice for you. Marriage is forever, so it's always a good idea to know what you're getting into before you commit to anything. Dating is how you figure that out.

Why do you ask? Do you have a beau trying to woo you?

voice

[wavesofjade]

[Oh, you get a chuckle out of her, Shiro. She almost sounds a bit coy.]

Perhaps. My feelings are undecided. We have a.. difficult past, and he has changed much in his time here before my arrival.

[Not as difficult as some, but still a sticking point..]

[voice]

[styxiedust]

Well, I suppose it's been explained to death, but humans use it to get to know potential romantic partners or--if they're not interested in marriage for one reason or another--just to pass the time with someone they like!

But there are an awful lot of fascinating layers to human relationships. Some don't even want a romance in a relationship.

[voice]

[wavesofjade]

That does not sound so different to the way relationships work where I am from. Some function without the use of romance.

[A pause. It has indeed been explained to death and she's getting a run-down of this odd-sounding 'marriage' thing from Angelo, but the idle question she asked initially has now given rise to a good few more.]

However.. I do think that humans look upon their relationships with others in a different way to what I am accustomed to.. It is interesting to hear about it.

[Video]

[sylphauxiliatrix]

Hello Dolorosa. I may not know the extent of dating rituals in the myriad cultures that make up this place, but I do have my own experience to draw from.

I guess this is an awkwardly indirect way of informing you that I have been human dating recently. Uhm.. That is, dating in the human fashion and also dating a human, I guess. I can at least give you my reasons for the activity.

[Video]

[wavesofjade]

Ah, hello, dear. [Kanaya gets a warm smile, that only lingers as she makes that admission.]

You have? Ah, you cannot simply leave it there. Who is the lucky human?

[shippingmath]

An indication of romantic interest. [He doesn't say getting to know the other person, because in his opinion, you don't have to date to get to know someone.

And that's all he has to say on that topic. Surely Dolorosa will understand.]

Why're you asking?

[wavesofjade]

[She would agree, though these dates seem to be showing her a side of her interest that she would never have thought to see. It's definitely an enlightening experience.]

Curiosity, partly inspired by my current situation.