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

[indispensable]

Why not? This concerns your brother after all, does it not?

[Alhaitham thinks its a perfectly reasonable plan of action.]

[scooba]

Yes but they're uh....

[How should he say this?]

...Usually pretty active in their relationship? And I don't want to intrude on that.

[indispensable]

Set a date and time to meet them, then. That way they'll know that they're expecting you.

[And if they try to do anything then well that's their problem.]

[scooba]

Uh...I suppose so?

I haven't talked to them about it in a while. I'm not sure how they'll respond.

[indispensable]

There's no harm in trying.

[Lyney is many things but he can at least appreciate the other's unconditional love for his brother. Alhaitham doubts that the magician will be bothered by Freminet doing this.]

[scooba]

I suppose not.

...But what about you? Do you and Kaveh communicate love anyway?

[indispensable]

I make sure to let him know every day.

[How Alhaitham types that with a straight face, nobody will ever know.]

[scooba]

Doesn't it get too much? But then again, I'm not sure how marriage or romance works...

[indispensable]

Every relationship is different, in the same way as how every person is different. The things that one relationship values may not necessarily be the same for the other, even if there are some basic tenants most relationships tend to operate on. All these are things which you'll have to discover on your own.

[Alhaitham isn't going to just spill out Kaveh's various insecurities and how the reassurance is necessary for him, in the end.]

[scooba]

So I have to find out, huh?

This still seems so strange since I never been in one before.

[indispensable]

That's perfectly fine, and there's no reason to rush for it either. At the end of the day, its just one aspect of the entirety of your life.

[scooba]

Which is a scary thought.

...I don't think I'll ever have one if I'm being honest.

[indispensable]

There's no shame in that. You shouldn't feel pressured to have something simply because other people tell you to do so.

[scooba]

No, that's not it.

...My job really doesn't allow for it.

[indispensable]

[Freminet can't see it but Alhaitham is squinting at the phone now because what?]

I don't think I have to remind you that your brother is literally in a relationship right now.

[Ill-advised and definitely undeserving of Heizou, sure, but its a fact that it is a thing right now all the same. So to say that he can't when the contrary is right there is a little contradictory.]

[scooba]

Yes, I know.

I meant when we go back home.

[indispensable]

I fail to see how that changes anything that I have said.

[Well, provided that they retain their memories, anyway...]

[scooba]

Because our jobs don't allow it?

Especially for someone like me.

[indispensable]

Has there been anything in your House to suggest that? Since the Kna— [-ugh having to mention the Knave even via text is not something Alhaitham likes to do, but he will do so since he has to...] —your father doesn't have an issue with your brother and Heizou, I doubt she will mind whatever relationship you wish to pursue.

[scooba]

...Because I don't know if I'll live long enough to make them happy.

[After all, he was prepared to die if need be. While Father would not appreciate it, it was the truth.]

[indispensable]

And so? Does that mean you'll never let yourself take that chance, just because of a single possibility?

[Not that Alhaitham is dismissing the worry. But it shouldn't hold him back, either.]

[scooba]

I suppose not.

I...I never really thought it would be a possibility for me.

[indispensable]

If its something your brother can have, there's nothing to suggest why you shouldn't be afforded that same opportunity. Unless you're saying the Knave practices favoritism?

[...look he's still not going to cross her path but that doesn't mean he won't take the chance to shittalk a little.]

[scooba]

Of course not...!!

I'm sure father would approve regardless. I just don't think I could ever be with someone at all.

[indispensable]

Why not? Like I said, there's no reason to close yourself off from opportunities simply because of a few benign reasons.