046 [Voice]

[mountain_sage]

[Someone seems somewhat awkward with public announcements today.]

Good day, everyone. I'm sure you've all heard Lady Rydia's recent announcement. I am one of the scouts that she mentioned; I patrol the forest regularly, especially during a New Feather cycle. If you have need of guidance to the village, please contact me or anyone from the Welcome Center.

[There's a long pause before he moves to the next subject on his mind.]

Marriage...it is a strong and serious commitment, from what I understand. How does one build a relationship to that level? How long does it take? It has to be much different from a simple duty.

[Wait, what is he doing?]

Ah...I'm not even certain why I'm asking. Pay me no mind...

[But feel free to answer the question anyway...]

Comments

[Voice]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Still not sure what to think of these journals, but she speaks up after a moment. Her voice is soft and hesitant.]

I'm new, but I've found my way to the village by now. It's nice that there are so many people to help, though.

[Voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

[Is she really new? He remembers her from when she helped him.]

You're new? But...I remember you from over a year ago.

[Voice]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[A soft sigh.]

People keep telling me that, but I really don't remember any of it.

[Voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry...I'm not seeking to blame you for it. But you did help me when I first arrived here. We hadn't spoken much since then, but I have not forgotten it.

[imperial-uncle.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for your kind offer.

Marriage is a strong and serious commitment indeed. In my world it is often for political reasons, though, so the relationship only builds up after the marriage.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

Ah...I can't say I'm fond of that sort of arrangement. If the relationship fails, what happens?

[imperial-uncle.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the behavior of both parties. Some relationships can fail after marriage, even if they had known each other for a long time before.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

Yes...that's one thing I'm afraid of.

[healedbythelight]

[The romantic in Cheria just couldn't avoid responding to this.]

Marriage is... an incredibly strong commitment, yes. It's the promise to be with one another for the rest of your life. To love them for the rest of your life. Before you can make that decision, you need to be certain that your feelings are genuine. I'm sure how long that would take differs from person to person. It could be one year, it could be five years...

What matters most is that you don't act on a whim.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

That is the difficult part, knowing that those feelings are genuine and that will truly last. The love experiment in Luceti...certainly does not help in these matters.

I certainly don't want to act on a whim. I may spend forever wondering if it would truly be the right decision.

[healedbythelight]

The love experiment... I've not experienced it myself, though I have read about it. I don't think it's right to act upon feelings that came from that experiment. If those feelings weren't there before, why should they be relevant after the Malnosso forcefully put them there?

It is a recreation of love, but I don't think it's the genuine thing.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

They certainly weren't relevant after the experiment was over. Just like that, the feeling was...gone.

voice

[soracles.livejournal.com]

Marriage?

[a pause, as Sora mulls this over, turns it around in his mind.]

I don't... really know. I guess it's different for each couple.

[Voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

It would certainly seem that way. Different personalities would lead to different relationships, I would imagine.

[Voice]

[soracles.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly! I mean, would the time be different if people fell in love at first sight? What if they'd been childhood friends?

[Voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I...can't say, exactly.

[alreadyknowsyou.livejournal.com]

Uhm, the time it takes for two people to foster a relationship strong enough for marriage to be considered tends to take an awful long time, though I suppose it can vary?

A-As long as two people love each other dearly, anything can be possible! ...That sounds like a line from a romance novel, s-sorry.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I see... [He almost asks how long it would take, but if it can vary, there's no point in asking.]

That would certainly be true.

[alreadyknowsyou.livejournal.com]

'Anything can be possible' sounds kind of silly though, doesn't it? I-I think I just got a little carried away... [After a little murmuring, she speaks up again.] W-Would it be alright to inquire as to why you're asking about marriage? I wish you luck if you intend to be asking someone for their hand!

[Written]

[dragoon-pride.livejournal.com]

... [Kain is not used to discussing these matters openly with most people but, he wants to try, especially considering Saleh was there for their marriage.]

It's something I took with the utmost seriousness. I considered the idea many months before following through.

Although I think I somehow knew it would happen a while before that. It was... a feeling I had, once our relationship strengthened. Perhaps it won't make sense until you experience it.

[Voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

[Of course he would expect Kain to be this serious. He wouldn't have gone through with it if he wasn't this serious.]

Hmm. I can see why you would need to be serious in this. I'm glad you went through with it. I pray for a happy future for the both of you.

You may be right, that I would have to experience it myself to understand it.

[Written]

[dragoon-pride.livejournal.com]

...I hope that it will be, especially for her sake. I don't want to ever fail her.

Perhaps one day you'll have that experience. I never thought I would until it happened.

[...because he'd been crushing on the BFF's wife, but he'll just refrain from getting into THAT.]

[voice]

[holyblade.livejournal.com]

You have to trust the other. They're subsequently your best friend and someone who will love you and care for you unconditionally as you would for them. Someone... who if it came to it, would sacrifice themselves for you, and you for them.

[A pause.]

Sometimes, it can take a bit of time and patience. Sometimes, the feeling is just... there. It depends on the person, I suppose.

[voice]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

Hmm...there are many people I care for. But this is entirely different from a family or friendly relationship.

[voice]

[holyblade.livejournal.com]

Of course. However, that sort of bond can form from a simple friendship, as well.