[Verdant] Native Views on Quadrants

Romance and romance-related taboos on Verdant vary slightly from Alternia's traditional romance taboos and quadrantal organization.

MATESPRITSHIPS are taken incredibly seriously on Verdant; this is partially due to the fact that a violent, hateful breakup on a planet so fragile could potentially resort in property damage that goes beyond 'a broken vase' and into 'culled grubs and a trashed Brooding Cavern'. Trolls are expected to carefully choose their matesprits. Those who pursue fleeting relationships are viewed negatively; those who pursue one-night-stands are almost unanimously shamed and stigmatized. This, of course, causes immediate tension when trolls from this 'seed vault' planet meet Alternian trolls. Matesprit relationships generally last anywhere from three sweeps to a lifetime for trolls on-planet. There is immense societal pressure to stay with your partner, lest you be seen as flighty, untrustworthy, and incapable of commitment.

MOIRAILLEGIANCES are the domain of Jadebloods, though of course not exclusively. The opinions of this rare caste dictate a large amount of how moiraillegiances work. It is considered extremely taboo to entertain pale feelings with more than one person--though in Alternia, red cheating is considered more taboo than pale cheating, it is the opposite on the Verdant. It is seen as easy to give into physical temptation, considering trolls' tendencies to vacillate. In contrast, it is seen as an incredible display of disrespect and emotional betrayal to confide in someone who is not your moirail. Moiraillegiances are, in some ways, even more important than matespritships on this planet, as they are seen as the relationships which prevent bloodshed and tragedy. Shooshpapping someone you are not in a diamond with is seen as the deepest betrayal one could commit; such an act would only be appropriate if bloodshed was about to occur, and even then, a pale breakup would likely be in order (as it would be obvious to onlookers that the moirail hadn't been doing their job in the first place).

AUSPISTICESHIPS are taken seriously, albeit not emotionally. Many auspistices are professionals, hired as 'counselors' of sorts, third-party psychologists or Legislacerators who understand the two other parties intimately and know how to calm them with biting words or a simple talking to. Though some auspistices may take a gentler hand, the quadrant is considered to be more detached than the other three. Auspistices are expected to keep an emotional distance to the two involved parties, to ensure they aren't also swept into the vacillation (or whatever romantic debacle has befallen the other two). Teals are considered to be exceptional auspistices. Jadebloods are also considered adept at mediation, though they tend to have a 'softer' touch.

KISMESIS is the least understood and least pursued quadrant on Verdant due to the inherent danger of having a kismesis. In general, kismeses do not find each other--a time-honored system of matchmaking black romances is common on the planet, and midbloods are often in the business of setting up pitch speed-dating with clientele they believe are particularly suited to each other. Kismetic pursuit begins, generally, as red flirting; displays of money, gifts of flowers and jewelry, and extravagant shows of power help to show a pitch partner that you are worthy of their hate. Once it has been decided that the two are an excellent match for pitch romance, pretenses of civility are abandoned and a traditional kismesis begins.

WHAT MAKES A STRONG DESCENDANT is a question labored over Purpleblooded scribes, Rust spirit-talkers and Teal seers for sweeps. The theory that the majority of the planet has adopted is as follows: the stronger you feel for a troll, either red or pitch, the stronger your descendant will be (and, potentially, the higher their caste). This also contributes to the overly-serious way in which quadrants are viewed, as one-off flings are seen as overtly detrimental to troll society at large, since they create weaker individuals/lower-casted individuals. This is also a reason for the moiraillegiance-pailing taboo: not only is it emotionally harmful to both parties, but if slurry from a <> were to be contributed, the resulting descendant would be both lowblooded and unskilled in every single way--a coupling this taboo could even produce a mutant. Though it seems to be backwards thinking, the majority of the planet abides by it, and it is seen as logic, not folklore.