[Video] Kazoo 16

[ayao]

Forgive me for being...selfish...

And I warn you, the subject matter of my question might be sensitive...

[But why not make this inquiry here rather than in his world where it would surely bring negative repercussions.]

What are your thoughts on two men being in a relationship? [He doesn't dare say married, but he is drawn to the idea.] Do you perceive it as...wrong? Should the men instead continue their respective lines with wives?

[Heirs are important. Yet can they not be had in other ways? Of course said ways are illegal and immoral in the land he knows.]

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[secondconflict]

You want the opinion of a man who's done both?

[ayao]

Please? I would find that most helpful!

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[mtsilver_conquor]

Why would it be wrong?

[It's an honest and more than a little baffled answer.] If two boys -men- want to have a relationship, cool. If they want to start a family, there's lots of ways to do that, from adoption, to the tanks -artificial wombs with a lot of laws around them-, to surrogates or even concubines.

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[ayao]

Artificial wombs? [He understands the rest. Just not...that.] My land is not so...progressive, you could say. Lines must be carried on by a male heir usually. Thus sons are expected to marry wives who can conceive.

[10billionpercent]

As a man who's marrying another man in a number of days, I'm rather indifferent to the whole thing. I come from a culture where at one time it wasn't considered acceptable. [ So he knows a bit what that perception can be like. ] But things have changed drastically, and while probably I'd be expected to have an heir, I'm not interested. The line of the village will have to continue some other way. I'm sure our priestess won't mind.

[ Senku, no, that's none of your business. ]

[ayao]

You could acquire a surrogate to carry your heir. [But in his day and age, that still requires sex. Inventive sex, perhaps, depending on how well body parts respond.] I am envious of your courage. I hope you are blessed with many happy years together.

[runicfeathers]

[An odd question to her for certain, as one of her best friends has had many a male lover and she herself fancies women as well as men, so forgive her very confused at first expression here.]

Why would one perceive such a thing as wrong or immoral? Where you are from, are you not allowed to be with those you love regardless of their sex?

[She has yet to be among enough humans in her world to know many feel different than most immortals or long-lived beings about who one loves.]

[ayao]

By law, no. There are certain expectations and marriages cannot be performed between two males or two females. [It's complicated and it leaves those like him miserable and confused.]

Love isn't even always a factor in marriages between the nobility.

[not actually a verbal response]

[deadwenwalking]

[Wen Ning attempts to speak several times. This isn't a Jin Guangyao who's guilty of so many atrocities in the future - but he's still someone who could become capable of them. He can't blame him for what hasn't happened. Answering these questions rudely wouldn't be right. It won't fix anything and it won't help anyone.

Eventually he gives up, not having managed any response at all. Then, in a fit of frustration, he shoves his fist through the ICP he's standing in front of.

Only after he's done this does he stare at the damage in shock. His eyes dart guiltily around the cabin before he makes a hasty exit from the scene of the crime.]

[ayao]

[There is a sound - a crunching - and he stiffens, on alert. One of his hands slips up his sleeve to find his sword. Yes, it's there. Will he need it? He hopes not. But he would be a fool to not guard himself.]

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[obliviouspatriarch]

[Perhaps it's a good thing Wei Wuxian hasn't yet connected that this is Meng Yao from a different world as he just blurts things out.]

Why would I think it's wrong when Lan Zhan and I are married? [A pause, then snort.] Jiang Cheng doesn't like that though.

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[ayao]

Jiang Cheng understands the laws that govern our society. We can't all be Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. [Nope, not bitter at all. Not one bit. See? Look at all of this non-bitterness.]

[eternalgrief]

You are more stupid than I thought.

[ayao]

Why do you say that?

............. video

[weifinder]

( Deadpan from whatever ICP he's standing before, Wei Wuxian has both his eyebrows quirked, and rolls his eyes. )

In the long list of the amount of things you get horrifically wrong, should I bring up what you marrying a woman led to? Or the rest of the manipulations of the people who sincerely loved you.

( He flicks his fingers at the screen. )

You never had an obligation to continue a bloodline until you created it for yourself. Why you always cared more for what society said about you than what you felt for the ones who loved you remains a mystery to me. Why are you projecting the same nonsense here? Whose approval do you crave? What justification are you looking for? Cut the babble, Meng Yao. You broke everything he believed in with your manipulations. You don't have the backbone even now to say, I'll be honest, I'll take the flack, I'll stand by your side, no matter what?

( Also the Lans clearly believe in adoption. Whatever else one wants to say, no one is suspecting Lan Wangji actually knocked someone up to end up with Lan Sizhui, and if they do, they probably also suspect Wei Wuxian's (actual and intact) virginity and (fabricated and inconceivable) womb. )

If you care for someone more than yourself. If you love them more than your prestige and power, then whatever the world says, whatever accusations against filial piety you have shoved in your face, you'll stay the path. If you can't find that out on your own, then don't. Don't start this.

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[ayao]

I do not need you to remind me of my future sins. [He emphasizes the word "future" for this Wuxian's benefit.] I have not repeated those mistakes as I acknowledge that they are mistakes.

[He bites the inside of his cheek so hard that he tastes copper. Whose approval do you crave? That has always been...mixed, hasn't it. My mother's. My father's. Nie Mingjue's. Lan Xichen's. And, if he is honest with himself, he craves his approval too. Standing outside and looking in doesn't feel good and he isn't as brave as Wuxian and Wangji.

Though that hurts to admit.]

It is not for myself... [He grumbles, flustered and in pain. Teeth hurt!] I know he would come for me. I know he would do it. But can you imagine what he loses in the process?

[In other words: am I worth that loss? From a future perspective, the answer is a resounding no. But as he is now...?]

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[knifewithnoname]

Why would it be being wrong?

[She mostly ignores the constant chatter of voices through the ICPs on the train. People talk too much.

But this had caught her attention and she looks incredulously through the camera.]

If two women can be getting married and be being in a relationship then so can two men.

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[ayao]

[He is tired and sad - and his voice likely demonstrates those emotions.]

Two women could not get married - legally - in my land.

[sciencegirl]

There are places where people think it's a problem?

[Entrapta has never heard of such a thing. What... what kind of terrible way to live is that, if you can't just be with people you love?]

[ayao]

Apparently. [Procreation is valued over love in the society he knows. Unfortunately.] It is difficult.

[zombiemessiah]

I worried what people thought about it before the apocalypse, but honestly, after?

Just take what you can get. There's a huge deficit of people that'll give a damn what happens to you or look at you in your best light in the world. It's stupid to shove that aside and wait for what looks good on paper.

[Murphy's not really great at committed relationships. He has, however, fallen for both men and women. Before the apocalypse? Exclusively women.]

Paper rots, my man. Paper burns and tears.

[ayao]

You make a good point. [He is realizing that if he wants his heart's desire, he is going to have to strip off all he has ever known. Which means disappointing his deceased mother, turning his back on his father (no loss there) and standing starkly against society as he knows it.]

I could be free.

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[jinlingers]

You of all people should know that there are many ways to continue or end a line.

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[ayao]

Legitimacy is important. [He frowns at the voice, however, and the familiarity.] Who is this?

[Video]

[helborn]

... I used to think that it was. My father told me it was wrong, that it was immoral and impossible.

It's not.

There's a lot of options for continuing family lines, like adoption. Adoption is a perfectly reasonable way to continue a line.

[Apparently it's what's going to happen with his godly line in the future, but who the hell knows.]

If it's only continuing your line there are options. If you believe that the relationship itself is 'wrong', that's a different problem.

[Video]

[ayao]

I was raised in a brothel and my father was well-known for his love of women. In a way, I presumed I had to be like him. I wanted to be acknowledged as his son so badly and so I built my world around what I knew of him.

[How foolish. What a waste of time!]

Adopted children would never be accepted as heirs by those like my father.

[Meng Yao wrinkles his nose in disgust. Guangshan is better off dead.]

I do not believe it is wrong. I merely see the complications brought forth by society.

muuuch much later, action, on the assumption that meng yao will look for him

[lanxichen]

[ This time, Xichen is sitting in the garden car with the guqin across his lap. His fingers are on top of the strings, but they are not moving. ]

[Action]

[ayao]

[He approaches him like a naughty child, carrying a tray of tea. The cups clink together as he shakes nervously. Seeing Xichen so still worries him and he sets the tray down before kneeling.]

Xichen...

[mynameisallen]

From all my travels both back home and the worlds, I have been to. I've seen love shown in many different ways.

The only ones that ever felt wrong for some cases were when Cupid went on a shooting spree. But that was because those are forced. If two people love each other or care for one another, what's wrong with that?

[ayao]

I see nothing wrong with it. [But he can't play naive, either, and pretend his experience thus far has made his choice easy.] If it were only about love, the subject wouldn't be complicated.

[chocobosnap]

[ He sounds a little nervous, but he can only imagine this poor stranger must be feeling even more nervous asking something like this. ]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Um, some people are like that, they like other guys.

[ He offers a bright little smile. ]

If you love someone, I th-think that's really nice!

[ayao]

I have always been drawn to both. [But now... He is deeply in love with a man.] My love is one of the only bright spots in my life. I would not trade it for all of the gold in every world.

[morganizedchaos]

[Although there is definitely a person on the other end of the video, the 'voice' part doesn't come from his mouth. It's not quite clear where it's coming from, since Ghost has his phone hovering near the ICP's mike and this, kind of out of view.]

Okay, so I think everyone else has handled the 'two guys' angle pretty well, so I'm going to focus on a different part of what you said for a minute.

[He takes a deep breath, which is clearly to steady himself.]

You shouldn't have kids just out of obligation. That's not fair to the kids. Children know when they aren't really wanted and it screws them up. If you're going to be a parent, then you should be a parent first, not someone who just wants heirs for the sake of continuing some kind of family bloodline. That applies regardless of what kind of partner you have.

[ayao]

[This man is a puzzle and Meng Yao blinks, focusing on him and what he has to say. Oh...the part about children. Of course.]

...does it now. [He is a child who wasn't wanted by his father.] I am only speaking of the law; not personal feelings. Any child I had, I would love.

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[sos_pilot]

I think you could do with a saying that's become pretty common in my home - love is love.

Follow where your heart goes.

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[ayao]

I shall, thank you. [He has to make this simpler or he will shatter. Again.]

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[azurebichen]

[he's being suspicious by this post]

Marriage is not for you, let alone the idea of producing heirs. [which is a horrifying thought by itself]

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[ayao]

You might be right. [His future says otherwise, unfortunately.] I can't help what I want.

video. sorry bb

[fennu]

Don't you have other things to be worried about?

[ His brother is a Known Lan worshipper. C'mon. ]

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[ayao]

The list is long. [He isn't sure how to begin on any of it.]

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[hashtagparkerluck]

Not even a little bit. You can't choose who you fall in love with, it just happens. Most of the time people that are against it are just people insecure in their own sexuality so I wouldn't put much stalk in what they say.

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[ayao]

I'm...not. [Insecure, that is.] I have always been attracted to both genders. That means I can reside in the "right" - the expected - and find what happiness I may when I am not watched.

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[ballseeker]

I don’t see why it should matter, really.

There are more than enough people in the world to my knowledge, and if you really want children there are other ways to do so. Adoption, surrogacy..

If someone is telling you it’s wrong to care for someone and want to love them and be with them I think it’s more of a problem on their end than your own, really.

[ take it from the woman who married the alien that once wanted to blow up her planet and annihilate her. ]

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[ayao]

What of magical prowess? A great deal of that is passed down through bloodlines. Adoption, in that case, would not be a suitable alternative. Surrogacy, however, would be.

[He smiles to himself, giving a soft laugh.]

I have learned.

voice; I'm so sorry about her

[promiselisting]

... Let me guess. Asking for a friend?

[ Like given some of the other discussions she's seen, that's almost certainly what's happening. ]

voice

[ayao]

It would be foolish of me to try such a ruse.

[So, no, he is not asking for a friend.]

/comes in late with Starbucks

[hotheadwarmheart]

Me personally? I've got no problem with it. Or with two women in a relationship for that matter. If heirs need to happen, they could use a surrogate, or even adopt. That's basically what our king did back in the world I grew up in.

And honestly, here on the train? Anybody who that is a problem for might want to take a look around, realize that they're on a crazy, flying, void-traveling train full of people from multiple universes and consider adjusting their priorities. Yeah, relationships might be complicated in other ways, but I doubt just the fact of two men being together is gonna be an issue for anybody here.

[ayao]

Your king adopted? [He really is overthinking this whole matter. But he is young and rather inexperienced in healthy relationships.] When you put it that way, yes it does seem silly to judge personal choices as long as no one is being hurt.