RttS: Confession Page 5

Talita’s expression when she says “why do you find me attractive” breaks my heart…

marineVerdancy

While it's much more common than xenorelationships, a typ human dating a GMH with radical body plan changes can also get weird looks. If their partner is a unique GMH, the typ may also get accused of being a gold digger (since many of the more out-there humans were designed that way as vanity projects by rich parents).

Jay Eaton

This sequence is apparently taking up enough brainspace in me right now that I last night dreamt about its conclusion. It randomly turned into a wrestling match? in which Shyam actually put up a respectable fight. Even in the throes of REM-sleep it felt very OOC.

Deneb

shyam keeping lists is really sweet to see since i do the same :] poor talita tho im guessing that question comes from a place of pain

Euphrasie Finch

Ohhh, Talita, that's a low blow, even for you, to try to pin her attraction on a -philia. But the look on her face definitely tells me that she has a reason for asking. That's so sad.

Origamigryphon

I wonder, do the more "extreme" GMHs experience similar issues with being exoticised in relationships? Or have humans that look like sphinxes and (earth)centaurs and dragons and such been around long enough that they've lost their novelty in that regard?

“That’s a different list.” 💀 Direct answer to a direct question if I ever saw one! This confession scene is great because these two 1️⃣ are imperfect and have personal baggage 2️⃣ are talking about that baggage directly (thanks Shyam!) which is giving us an interesting and suspenseful look into their minds 3️⃣ have tons of great little body language things to watch for like Talita’s face-trunk tick or Shyam’s tail winding and unwinding 4️⃣ exist in a fictional world that has had literal years of background development and creative efforts put in that really shows in the final product and is greatly appreciated!

Styrofoam Skillet

It's interesting (read: depressing) to read this sequence in light of the Sorrel post-confession comic. Talita really internalized that it's disgusting for people to be attracted to her, huh. And she feels so much pressure to fit in herself that she externalizes and takes it out on Shyam for NOT caring about fitting in. (And on a completely different note, I'm curious as to how Jing navigates societal expectations & discrimination re: interspecies relationships with his seasonal partners!)

honorarycassowary

I can only imagine that the first thing on list 2.0 is “Stronk”

...You'll find out the first one in a sec. Views on interspecies relationships depend where you are and who you ask. They're generally pretty damn rare because of differing cultural ideas on what a relationship or marriage even is, and because most habitats don't have the agriculture and infrastructure to causally support a mixed-species population. Attitudes about it among spacer humans range from "Whatever floats your boat" to "I'm fine with it! As long as you don't make me have to acknowledge it legally or socially or ever at all" to "You shouldn't, that's chemically dangerous and you'll never have a truly fulfilling relationship b/c XYZ" to "Ew."

Jay Eaton

Wait has Talita experienced Xenophilia before? How do people look at interspeices relationships in the future with sentient beings? Very curious.

FloralBlood

I love how during this whole awkward emotional rollercoaster Shyam still just RADIATES "you're so cool and I really like you!!"

Kristen King

People are complicated, gotta organize them somehow.

Jay Eaton

I love that shyam has not one but MULTIPLE lists ready god. The ASD jumped out

Cy

Also I get the feeling that Talita has probably come to the conclusion that no one would ever like her for her. Always being seen as something "kinky" to like and never being able to have a real relationship 😢