[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!

[secondconflict]

Love's one of those things that isn't guaranteed a happy ending, but goin' into marriage just 'cause it's what you "ought" to do makes an unhappy wife and miserable children.

Grab what happiness you can, no matter where it comes from. It's fleeting and will be gone 'fore you know it. Lettin' it slip past will only make you feel bitterness and regret.

[ayao]

[Bitterness...and regret. He knows those two feelings well and he would like to lessen them. And not just for himself.

But he hasn't ever pursued his desires in this way. He found ways to take the edge off and then pretended to be "normal" in public. But here and now, he can be...

Someone new.]

What if the happiness you want causes problems for others?

[secondconflict]

Fuck 'em.

[ayao]

If only it were so easy. [He sighs.] I hail from ancient China. At least, that is the impression I get when I read about history.

[secondconflict]

Ah. Right. Culture's gonna make that shit tough.

You could find a wife who's interested in other women? Make an arrangement.

[ayao]

That would mean revealing my proclivities. [And he doesn't like showing his hand.] I do not trust any woman that much.

[secondconflict]

Well, kid, sounds like you get to choose 'tween being miserable or choosing to fuck 'em.

[ayao]

I could stand against the sects. I could ignore them. [But would the man he loves do likewise?]

[secondconflict]

Depending on the time and culture, you might also end up dead if you're caught.

Folks like us have always had to make that choice.

Wish it were different.

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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.

[ayao]

Precisely. [How romantic to die for love! Yet ultimately useless and painful.]

I would change it. [If he had the power.] I am glad those aboard the train are more...open-minded.

[secondconflict]

Well they better be, considerin' how easy it is to walk in on somethin' here.

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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.

[ayao]

I have seen my fair share of...surprises, yes. [His small smile says he didn't wholly mind.]

[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.

[secondconflict]

For real, kid. I've lived through men like us being hated to being accepted. It ain't easy, but sometimes choosing love is worth it.

Don't be the coward who picks the easy path instead. Just be smart about it.

And you can use this train to experiment in the meantime.

[ayao]

My name is Meng Yao. [And the idea of experimenting leaves a flush on his cheeks.] There are so many variables. I want to act rashly, but rash actions are rarely rewarded.

[Frankly, the one he loves deserves better than that.]

Thank you for your wisdom. I will think on it.

[10billionpercent]

I could, but I'm still not interested in that. It would be incredibly awkward for all parties if we had to try and make that happen, and if we did, it would be Gen over me. [ It still requires sex in his world too, and no thank you. ]

If we have children at all, they'd be orphans who need somewhere to go and Gen is welcome to get as many of those children as he likes.

[ He smiles. ] Thanks, I'm not sure it's courage so much as not really caring what people think. That's always been a problem for me anyway, it's just working out to my advantage here. I'm not even sure people at home would have a problem. I think they'd be confused, but I could be wrong.

[ayao]

Mm I like the idea about adopting orphans. [It's a sweet gesture and Meng Yao knows from experience that those children need the most love and security.]

I fear I care too much sometimes. [No, he does. He gets fixated on certain opinions and it's difficult for him to let them go.] I would welcome confusion. I worry more about outright hate. I don't want to endanger anyone I might be with.

[secondconflict]

And 'm Kerry.

And sometimes rash actions are rewarded. That's rock n' roll.

[10billionpercent]

Our village is a very tight knit community as it is at the moment, so they're careful to look after those who lost their families due to various reasons. We've only been there the last three years, so there aren't any new orphans at the moment, so it's not really a discussion to be had.

[ Not yet, anyway, but in the future...not everyone can live forever. ]

There was some of that, in the country I'm from. It was the kind of place where distinguishing yourself at all was frowned upon, whether that was through sexuality or anything else. There was a level of societal collectivism. I didn't particularly fit into that, neither did Gen really. It didn't cause me as many problems as it could have because my intellect which makes me stand out, can be seen as valuable.

[ayao]

Rock and roll? What is that?