eastbound: inbox

[reparo]

Hermione Granger
missives | encounters

Comments

text; average sighren

[lanclan]

Hermione, you are a young lady. May I ask you some questions about such pleasant creatures?

text

[reparo]

I am not sure I would be qualified as pleasant on most days, but certainly you may.

[lanclan]

I recently decided with my brother that I would open up invitations for marriage proposals when I return home. It would be appropriate after so long declining them. I am not so unsure how to respond to a male suitor and I was trained in etiquette when it comes to attending ladies, but ...

I have not had female friends before and I would like to be better prepared to show a potential wife the consideration she would deserve. Could you, please, give me some ... tips?

I apologise for the forward nature of my call.

/screams

[reparo]

I feel very honoured to have been trusted with it! The call.

We're not different from male friends, you know? I know already from Hanguang Jun that there is a decidedly present respect for women in your clan, and overall the people who are here from your world. So it's a good starting point, to consider that women and men are equal?

:')

[lanclan]

Of course, I would not treat her as any less than my equal.

I was always very careful in respectfully declining offers of marriage from women in particular, as sect leader of a prominent clan. I didn't intend to cause offense anywhere. It's quite tricky, that's a good word for the politics of it. A man in my world can save face many ways but a lady is more restricted.

[reparo]

If I can be frank with you, Zewu-Jun, I thought you were - as clan leader - celibate by default?

[lanclan]

Celibacy is not a requirement of my cultivation and a sect leader can take a partner. My father did, though not ... conventionally. It is not forbidden.

I would prefer not to cultivate toward immortality, as another option.

[reparo]

It's overrated, I've found. Immortality. That way lies darkness - one loses track of what matters when life is infinite, and on many occasions one loses their humanity in the chase.

But, all this to say - what is it that you hope to achieve with this? A friend? A person to court? A relationship? Or is it to fulfill a duty?

[lanclan]

I should like to have someone to care for, I think I could be a good husband. Is that a poor reason, in your opinion?

[reparo]

In my opinion? I don't know, I think it's in our human nature to want to take care of people.

But I have to ask, as clan leader, don't you have a whole clan to care for? Unless of course you mean it romantically, in which case ignore that.

[lanclan]

Yes, romantically. I would like to have someone just for me.

1/2

[reparo]

That's...very sweet.

[reparo]

I can relate to the sentiment.

[lanclan]

Is there someone you miss, Meimei?

[reparo]

There are many people I miss back home. There are many people I will miss from here, also.

[lanclan]

Romantically, as you put it.

[reparo]

I don't know. There are times when I think I would like someone just for me, as well.

[lanclan]

I tend to fall for ghosts of possibilities. It's pleasant, but then when the possibility dissolves it becomes tiresome.

1/2

[reparo]

Well, now, we should probably stop being similar in that way.

[reparo]

Alright, let's stay on the subject. Why don't you ask me some questions about making female friends, and I will see what I can answer.

[lanclan]

Good idea.

What do women like as gifts? Which subjects are entirely out of bounds which a man may not be aware of? If I find myself courting a wife instead of a husband, should I take a slower initiative in the marital sense?

I would have consulted my library back home, but alas, I doubt it would be of much use on this occasion.

1/3

[reparo]

You can court both?

[reparo]

Cloud Recess really is such a progressive place, I would love for it to be an example for some of the places I know.

3/4

[reparo]

BUT TO YOUR QUESTIONS!

[reparo]

It depends on the woman, don't you think? I enjoy books personally, but I know there may be women who enjoy good food, or jewels, or handmade objects, or art, or flowers. You'll have to speak to them, get to know them even a little bit, and then decide.

I don't personally think any subject should be out of bounds entirely, but again this might depend on the lady? Perhaps it's best to become acquainted to the art of apology if you should make a misstep - which you might! And that would be fine.

Also I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer the last question.