text; follow up survey

[indispensable]

Type: Text
Sender ID: vulturvolans (Alhaitham)
To: Public
Subject: Follow Up Survey
Warnings: Subtle unsubtle bragging, and Gay

This is Alhaitham.

I have a survey for people to respond to. Those who have filled up my previous survey from last year may consider this as a follow up of sorts to it—those who have not are free to respond to this one all the same. Regardless, there are similarly no restrictions or stipulations to the nature of the responder; the only thing that I request is for honesty when filling this in.

1) Are you currently in any sort of romantic relationship? (Arrangements made purely for physical reasons do not count.)
2) Does an institution of marriage exist in the world that you come from? Does it play any sort of significant cultural role? Feel free to describe as much or as little as you want.
3) Do you consider the idea of marriage important? What is the primary endgoal in any romantic relationship that you pursue?
4) What do you envision as your ideal future with a partner?
5) What does the concept of 'home' mean to you?

You are free to leave your answers in this post or direct them to my inbox. I will follow up on whatever answers that I feel are necessary.

Thank you for your time.

Comments

Text; un: Pers

[scooba]

...Those are a rather interesting series of questions.

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

It's simply gathering opinions and thoughts on what most consider as the next step in a romantic relationship.

un: octoblot

[octoblot]

And here I thought you didn't care about anyone's love life other than your own.

[azul who even asked you--]

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

It's a survey. Any responses given are completely voluntary.

[If he was really interested you would know, Azul. Because the answers he gets then will be mostly involuntary.]

action

[empyrean_mirror]

[Kaveh snorts very, very loudly.]

Felt like bragging, did we?

action

[indispensable]

I'm simply learning from a broader circle, like you keep telling me to.

[This is not stopping Alhaitham from winding his arm around Kaveh's waist and pulling him in closer even though they're already cuddling in bed.]

text | anonymous (but honestly obvious if you know) cw: homophobia

[astudyinviolet]

[ Considering the last time Sherlock answered a survey from Alhaitham, this may accidentally unleash something. He doesn't know what, but no one has actually answered the survey...

Also he learned a bit from last time because while he's fine with his friends knowing, he doesn't want to out himself to the entire public. ]

1) No.
2) Yes. It is between a man and woman only and expected for some families either for continuing the line or position. Some marry for love. Some have it arranged. For women, marriage may be their only way for financial security but also a form of entrapment as they lose what rights and freedom they had before. There is a reason that murdering their husband might be the only option to free a wife from abuse and cruelty. Men do not have such dangers as law and society favors them.
3) I have never placed much importance on it for I have seen many suffer for it. However, I know that my parents had married for love, and I have seen those happily married and stronger for it. It is not an endgoal for me because it is not possible in my world. Being an invert risks a sentence of no less than ten years in penal servitude if convicted and an affront to God. Marriage between those of the same sex does not exist. Any such relationship will have to be hidden from public eye.
4) Having one.
5) A safe place where I can go and where the people I care about are.

not here | he Knows

[empyrean_mirror]

[Sherlock he has so many concerns do you need a hug]

[indispensable]

[Well its definitely not hard at all to know who this might be.

But where he might tease Kaveh he knows Sherlock has very different struggles and so will not make light of this.]

Thank you for your answers.

[Hm, how to do this 'tactfully', as Kaveh keeps telling him to do so... not that he cares for it but he understands why Sherlock would rather keep it private, and he will respect that.]

I know the circumstances of your world have made it hard, but I do hope you'll take the chance to explore the new avenues granted to you here, whenever the opportunity presents itself for you to feel ready to take it.

[#NailedIt]

text; un: spectacleofphantasmagoria

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

Well now~! What a peculiar survey coming from you, Alhaitham! It makes me wonder if there's an ulterior motive to these questions!

[Hey bestie, it's been a while since he bothered Alhaitham.]

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

[Ah. Him.]

If you have no intention of answering, then stop cluttering this post with your inane comments.

un: noah

[afflatusexarch]

1. Yes, but you are likely aware of that already.

2. It does and the eternal bond varies in importance from culture to culture. Miqo'te, such as myself, do not observe the practice, usually. Nor do Viera who live in their Wood, for that matter.

3. What I think of the eternal bond is that it is a lovely idea. Why wouldn't one want to bind themselves to someone that they love for the rest of their existence? It's quite the romantic notion and I applaud those that have taken that step.

4. Happiness. That is the ideal future and end goal. To be supported and to support one another.

5. "Home" is where the "heart" is so they say. I didn't understand the concept before. Mayhap I have a better understanding now.

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your answers.

[Hm, there's a few things here that catch his interest. Which one to choose...]

I assume family units still exist in your culture, even if the practice of marriage itself is uncommon. Does the Miqo'te observe another sort of process then, in that case?

[Where do the daddies and mommies come from, G'raha.]

text; un: catsgothistongue

[catsgothistongue]

Another love survey? What, are ya and Kaveh having some trouble in paradise?

[He's only jerking the man's chain, he'll answer the survey in a bit. Probably.]

[empyrean_mirror]

Quite the opposite, actually, let's not manifest problems where there aren't any.

now for an actual answer

[catsgothistongue]

1. Here or back home? And what kind of 'arrangement for physical reasons' are we talking about here?
2. Yeah. Between a man and a woman, typically to continue the family line, to get something like riches or ownership or to pay off a debt, or cause a royal jerk decides he wants a bride.
3. Haven't really put much thought into it unlike everyone back home. I guess so?
4. A long and happy future? Just about what anyone would want out of a married life.
5. Some place where I can settle down and don't have to leave forever.

[empyrean_mirror]

[Son I've got some Concerns.]

text | un: netherese

[netherese]

This is a rather detailed series of questions! I'm hardly surprised to see you be so thorough, though the topic at hand is curious. I didn't think you were so interested in interpersonal relationships.

[Or people, in general, beyond a certain architect.]

I simply have to ask: what do you intend to do with this data of yours, hm?

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham isn't going to pretend that Kaveh has never been his singular hyperfixtation ever since he got to know him, or the fact that it remains true even today.

Also the fact that the survey is really just his way of bragging about his (very happy) marriage.]

Cataloging, mostly. I am primarily interested in how other worlds regard these societal concepts in their own way.

[It kind of serves no real purpose beyond that but its still intriguing to know all the same. Not everyday that there's a gathering of people from other worlds together like this after all, everything else aside.]

Text, anonymous

[telepathicignorance]

I'm not telling you that.

Marriage is just a way for the government to force you to pay more taxes while also dictating which couples get to be "real".

Anyway, I can't get married so I'm pretty sure my opinion doesn't count.

Fuck you.

I'm not going back.

(They almost didn't answer this. But somewhere between boredom and the urge to be an annoying shit to this guy they found themself doing it anyway.)

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses.

[Since its anonymous he doesn't know who it is, and its not uncommon for him to be cussed at, so he doesn't even bother to try and connect any dots together.]

Why are you unable to get married?

[Is it a society thing or. Inquiring minds want to know.]

text; un: midifications

[midifications]

Another one of these, huh?

1. Nope!
2. Yep! Not really to the second part of this as far as I know. If you love someone you just get married.
3. I mean I guess? I'm not really thinking about that right now anyway, so... I dunno.
4. Uhh. Whatever my dad and Benedikta has, or maybe Clive and Jill? I'd like that, if someone can put up with me!
5. Anywhere I feel safe, and with people I care about. That's everyone in the Roost and whoever's a part of the Hideaway. It doesn't need to have a roof, though that's nice.

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

[Somewhere in the distance, Alhaitham thinks he feels the rumble of thunder.

Is the Raiden Shogun better or worse than Cid, he wonders.

...some questions are best left unanswered.]

Thank you for your responses.

It's fine to not think about it. I wasn't actively desiring to pursue a relationship myself until Kaveh confessed to me.

[And even after that it did take a while, so.]

text; perfpilot

[sos_pilot]

boy, pretty specific theme we got going on here, huh?

but sure, why not? sounds like fun, let's take a crack at it.

1. Nope! Single but not ready to mingle.

2. Sure does! IDK what you mean by 'cultural role' but it's a pretty normal thing? Not everyone has to do it, though! No shame either way. Some people want it, some people don't, and neither one is wrong!

3. To each their own! If someone I care about wants to get married to their partner, I'll support them 110%! And if you ask me, there is no 'endgoal' in a relationship. It's about being with them together forever, right?

4. I'm not looking to hook up with anyone right now, but if I did? I'd want someone who'd love my kids as much as I do, who can keep me in line and make sure my stupid choices don't do as much damage. I wouldn't want someone exactly like me - that'd be boring. I want someone who can make my life exciting!

5) Home is where my family is.

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

[Sorry duck lady this man is just a big twitterpated fool.]

Thank you for your responses.

[...it takes a second for him to decode what 'IDK' is, but contextual clues are enough for him to figure it out. It also helps that he studies language as his main interest.]

By 'cultural role', I am asking if the concept of marriage holds any significance in the world/culture you originate from. From my understanding some places hold it with more meaning than others, so I was curious on that spread in regards to other worlds.

As for your response to 4), I can concur. It makes sense that somebody who desires to be in every part of your life should also accept the things that already exist within it. To disregard that would be dishonest on their end.

Finding somebody different is also something I can agree with—it is only through differing perspectives that one can gain a better understanding of the world around them.

» text | un: tilfrosset

[tilfrosset]

I don't think I took part in the last survey, but I do have some free time to answer your questions.

1) Yes. There may be some things he and I need to discuss about it, but all in due time.

2) Marriage exists both in a romantic sense and a political sense. Some people marry for love, others for power. Some don't get a say in who their spouse ends up being, unfortunately.

3) Only if both parties consent to it. If two people are happy just residing together outside the institution of marriage, who am I to judge them? As for me, I am—was? still am?—betrothed so perhaps that is the end I see for myself, but again, things that need to be discussed.

4) A future where we are free to be whatever we choose to be. No more violence, no more fighting, no more living for survival instead of living for life's joys itself.

5) Home? As in the building or the concept? If you mean the latter, I'll have to repeat myself and say it's wherever I have my freedom, preferably with those I care most about.

text; un: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses. Seeing how people interpret the last question is one part of the response in and of itself.

[Well Joshua has kind of. Talked about the political aspect a bit (or rather Alhaitham kind of inferred the rest from what he'd heard) so he knows better than to tread on that topic.

...honestly a lot of things are best left unsaid when it comes to the people from Cid's world. He's heard more than enough to know why none of them have the plans or desire to return to it, after all. Which is why—]

Aside from that, I am certain that you and the others will be able to carve out the life that you wish in this place.

text; Anonymous

[multidisciplinary]

[ Well these are some interesting survey questions... Zelda can't help but wonder what's Alhaitham's reason behind gathering this kind of data.

A year ago, Zelda would've answered these questions easily. Romantic relationships and marriage were just abstract concepts to the princess. But being in a relationship with Darin, she's finding it a lot more difficult to answer. Dating a man from a different world doesn't exactly align with a princess's marriage duty. ]

1. Yes, I am currently involved in a romantic relationship.

2. Yes, marriage exists in my home world. Its cultural significance varies among the different racial and ethnic groups of the land, but within my own, it is a formal recognition of devotion a partnership. Greater importance is placed upon formal marriages within the ruling classes than within the general populace.

3. As a member of a ruling class, marriage is of the utmost importance to me. It formally recognizes my spouse as my ruling consort and legitimizes their leadership and decision making as an extension of my own sovereignty. This legitimacy is further extended to our offspring, who will be officially recognized by both church and state as my rightful heirs.

The primary endgoal in any romantic relationship I pursue is to identify a suitable partner to rule at my side.

4. My ideal future with my partner is one in which our reign shepherds a time of peace and prosperity within my kingdom. Ideally, my partner will be someone with whom I can work amiably and trust wholly in governance, and with whom I will be able to have heirs.

5. 'Home' is a place where one is loved wholly and completely, where one can be true to themselves without fear of persecution. Home is safety and security.

[ It may, perhaps, be worthy of note that Anonymous answered the first four questions with 'I' statements, but the fifth with 'one' statements. It seems to suggest that Zelda does not apply her definition of 'home' to herself, nor sees it as an aspect of her future marriage. She has answered these questions from a very dry, impersonal, scientific perspective, rather than from her heart... a heart which has no idea how to resolve her conflicting feelings of love versus duty. ]

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses.

[Alhaitham has very definitely noticed the shift in perspective in that last question. And while other people might be more tactful about that Alhaitham... does not bother.]

While I appreciate the answer you have given in regards to the last question, I am asking for your personal thoughts on it, not the one that you feel should be espoused, though I personally feel that there shouldn't be any differences between the local citizenry and those of higher stature.

[Ruling classes hasn't really existed in Teyvat ever since the fall of the aristocrats in Mondstadt, but like it or not Alhaitham was in a position of authority for a while... so he can harbor a few guesses on this matter.]

un: book2thehead | text

[book2thehead]

Oh? Are we trying to figure out what comes next in your love life?

I'd say "having children" is often the next step after marriage, but you and Kaveh seem to have some already.

un: paridisaea

[empyrean_mirror]

what do you MEAN we already have children

text: un; gruffier

[gruffier]

[ This......... honestly feels like a bit of a sore subject for him, considering his untimely disappearance. But Clive is happy for the two love-birds regardless. ]

Your unyielding love for one another is beyond admirable, Alhaitham. It is good to see you two are well.

text; id: paradisaea

[empyrean_mirror]

he's just showing off, Clive. There's no need to answer if it...doesn't suit you.

text; un: haveaflare

[haveaflare]

I shall endeavor to answer as succinctly as I can, but know that some situations are deeply personal.

1) Until quite recently, yes.
2) Yes. It unites families politically and financially, depending on station.
3) A complicated question, but succinctly, no. Marriage is more for the legitimacy of heirs than any representation of love, which should have no goal. It simply is, as a strength and a balm. A port in a storm, if you will.
4) Peace.
5) Idealistic, perhaps, but "home" is the resting place of your heart, where it might lay down its burdens for at time.

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses.

[Admittedly Alhaitham hadn't really known Dion at all when he was here previously, and what he does know now is through the one time Joshua came to hang out with them over his heartbreak which, well. He knows a bias when he sees one.]

Based on the responses here so far, most if not all do take a very idealistic on what 'home' means. You are far from the only one that holds such a notion.

[Its certainly more evident for people who still have societies of higher and lower classes as well... unsurprising, in the end, but its still something worth noting.]

text; un: readytogo

[stealthpun]

1. No.
2. It does exist. I believe that however important it is ends up being circumstantial to each individual, and how each marriage is arranged depends on one's heritage. There are many islands and countries in my world, after all.
3. If I were involved with someone romantically, it would be an ideal matter to consider. As it stands, I currently have no plans nor involvement.
4. I will not repeat myself for your sake.
5. Wherever my chosen family is.

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses.

[Succinct and more or less to the point. Alhaitham does appreciate that.}

I agree that the importance of marriage should vary based on each individual. It wasn't something I thought much of myself until my husband proposed the idea and talked about what it meant for him.

Text un: Psylocke

[serendipitously]

Quite the intimate series of questions. I have to wonder what you're getting out of the answers?

1. That's very complicated.
2. It exists. The role it plays has lessened significantly in recent years, but there are still some political marriages here and there.
3. No. There's much bigger commitments a person like me can make to someone I'm in a relationship with beyond just marriage. I can't say I have an end goal with the relationships I've had. Maybe just for them to last without one of us dying.
4. You could say I lived it in a vague way. But I guess beyond that, just having one.
5. A place with my people. Home is people, not a place.

text; id: vulturvolans

[indispensable]

Thank you for your responses.

As I've mentioned to somebody else, I'm primarily cataloging all the answers that I get here. I'm simply asking out of academic curiosity.

[That aside... well. There's certainly a bit to unpack with these questions, but the real question is if Alhaitham will even care to.]

You said that you 'lived' though a relationship? Is that something you're willing to elaborate on?

[That's an interesting choice of words there, to be sure.]

Text | un:inherlight

[inherlight]

Oh this is interesting. If I may ask, what is all this information for? I don't know if mine will provide any useful information but here they are in order:

1) No, I am not currently in a relationship. I have had two in the past, though I would hesitate to call my first one a "relationship".
2) While marriage does exist in my world, among my own people, it does not. The closest thing we have to that is strong alliances, but it is only reserved for females.
3) For me, I do like the idea of marriage. To have someone by your side who you trust with you whole being is something I find appealing. A partner. Its something unheard of for my people and its something I want to change.
4) My ideal partner? Someone who is passionate, noble, driven... challenges me to be a better person.
5) This might sound cliche, but for someone like me where I live on the move, home is where your heart is. Its not just one stationary place. Its where your most important people are.

I hope that helps in some way.

un: paridisaea

[empyrean_mirror]

He's bragging.

That said, it's not really about if the information is useful, but it's interesting to see how different worlds and different cultures handle the topic, isn't it? Thank you for your answers regardless.