[Voice]

[hasadoctorsnote]

I'm curious about something. I know a lot of mythology from my own world, but I'm interested in hearing about any another kind of mythology that's not well known on Earth around the 21st century. For instance, I remember reading a Greek story about how males and females were first created and I know there's differences between it and, say, Biblical mythology.

The one I remember reading was written by Plato. He said that humans used to be a mix of two people that consisted of one male and one female so they had two heads and eight limbs, but the gods didn't want them getting too powerful so they separated them into men and women. Supposedly that's where 'soulmates' come from, because you're looking for your other half. I'm also a little curious what people think of that story. [He absolutely does not have a personal ulterior motive for asking that particular question, none at all, nope.] Do you think there's any truth to it? That there's really such a thing as 'soulmates'? ... Or if it's even as limited as having to be between a man and a woman?

Comments

[kingforboth]

[Kelson personally took issue with the word mythology and while he kept his voice stern, there wasn't any anger in it.]

What do you mean, mythology?

I'm not familiar with Plato or your religion, but I don't see why gender would have anything to do with finding the other half of your soul, even if it were true.

Reproduction has nothing to do with love, so why would it be confined to a specific genders? And who is to say what kind of love your other is looking for to begin with? There are so many types.

[hasadoctorsnote]

Mythology, as in... stories about how things were created or where things came from or explanations for how things work from one specific culture. I wouldn't say it's my religion, I don't really have one. Mythology is something that some people might actual believe while others think it's just interesting stories... but I guess religion is the same way in that regards too.

[He will quietly raise his eyebrows about the 'reproduction has nothing to do with love' comment.] I'm pretty sure that in the current time I'm from, at least, love has at least something to do with reproduction, although not every time, no. [Because some people and/or gods are idiots and don't think about 'oh, this might result in a kid' and focus on the... act instead, and then out pops someone like a demigod who only sees their godly parent maybe once in their life if they're lucky.]

So are you saying you think there is such a thing as soulmates, but it's not limited to any one gender or even romantic love?

[kingforboth]

[Kelson gave Nico a small smile.] If only every union were created with love, but that's not feasible where I'm from. I've always known that when I marry it won't be for love, and duty always comes first. The matches I've seen that are filled with love, well, I don't know if they'd call each other soul mates or not. Or if they'd tell me it's romantic nonsense. And now I guess I can't even ask them, can I?

I guess, I'm saying I don't know. But in a world where we may not always get who and what we want, it seems awfully cruel if the mate of your soul was a woman you would never have. And I believe most of the cruelty in at least my world is of our own creation.

[hasadoctorsnote]

You sound like you have a lot resting on your shoulders in your own world.

[He listens to that last bit quietly and mulls on it for a moment.] ... Yeah, that would cruel. But then, a lot of things in life are cruel, and some of it you have no control over.

[kingforboth]

I was told it comes with the crown.

Lots of things in life are cruel. But most of those are our own design. Or someone else's design. Having a soul mate you might never meet or even be allowed to be would be cruel on a level I care not to associate with. I refuse to belief that God would be that cruel.

Besides, does it really matter if you're in love whether or not the person is your 'soul mate'?

[hasadoctorsnote]

Are you a prince or king then? Or some other kind of royalty.

[He's not too thrilled about some of his comments, but he only just bristles a bit about it and manages to keep a level voice.] Where I come from, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the gods would be that cruel. They've definitely done worse before.

If the person feels the same way about you, maybe not.

[kingforboth]

Kelson Haldane, King of Gwynedd.

[Be super grateful you didn't have to hear the entire title. Or his entire name. Or see his face when you start talking about 'gods'. He's still not comfortable calling Hope and Fear gods. They're 'not gods' or as he is currently calling them, criminals.]

I'm afraid I'm not really well versed in these kinds of things, but....isn't it normal for you to talk to the object of your affection?

[Also be grateful you didn't have his love life Nico. His first bride had her throat slit during their wedding ceremony and his second betrothed became a nun after getting conned into marrying his conniving treasonous cousin. His issues were as bad as yours.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

Nico di Angelo. [He'll leave his name at that, because he doesn't really want to go into the whole son of the Lord of the Underworld stuff.]

It depends on how acceptable it is to talk about the 'object of your affections'. In some places, you could get hurt or killed talking about it, depending on who you love.

[kingforboth]

[Of all the things Kelson isn't ready to deal with, finding out there's more than one god and they have kids is right there on the top.]

A lot of things can get you hurt or killed. It's a very fine line.

[That, Kelson understood. Being a member of a magical race the Church demonized for the last two hundred years, it was a very fine line Kelson walked. Out yourself and you scare people, men and women of lesser status than he had been killed or burned. He 'merely' got excommunicated, his mother briefly disowned him and then retired to a convent to pray for his soul and, well, people aren't exactly thrilled. You had to be careful.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

True. But why would you willingly talk about something or do something with someone you know might get you killed?

[kingforboth]

I think for myself that would depend on the situation. A lot of lives are held in the balance with my decisions.

But I have a good friend who would, no matter what. He refuses to be seen as anything but what he is. I can't say it's made life easy for him, or for me having to deal with the consequences, but he's true to himself, and he's taught me a lot about life.

Everyone has to make their own choices. I know another man who hid who he was for years, knowing that if his secret was known, he would quite possibly be killed.

[hasadoctorsnote]

What kind of consequences did you have to deal with because of him?

[kingforboth]

He was taken prisoner, tortured, and the actions that resulted in his escape caused the Church to excommunicate him. I had a choice, to lose my General with war approaching on two fronts, or receive him and risk excommunication myself and put my kingdom at risk of Interdict.

I had only been king for a month or two, and at fourteen I didn't exactly know what to do. Both were bad options.

[hasadoctorsnote]

... What did he do that was so bad he was tortured for it?

[kingforboth]

Nothing. He existed and refused to repent for who and what he was.

[hasadoctorsnote]

That's a really stupid reason to put him in jail. If you were the king, couldn't you have just changed some of the laws?

[kingforboth]

People can be very cruel and ignorant. I've tried to lead by example, to straddle the line between teaching and causing fear.

[Unfortunately for Kelson, he's still only eighteen. And sometimes lessons can only be learned by experience, as Nico no doubt knows. Kelson as of yet has not realized that his actions are only prolonging ignorance.]

I was able only a few months ago to convince the Bishops to change the Church doctrine. I'm afraid if I do too much too soon, it won't leave people time to adjust.

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Ouch. That hits a very strong nerve with Nico, and his voice goes lower.]

... Adjust? People need time to adjust to changes? When these people are torturing and killing other people for simply existing? You're serious?

[kingforboth]

I put a stop to the killing. I executed the Archbishop responsible. There are things I will not tolerate in my kingdom.

[As if those still countenancing such things, if they were still alive, would admit it. Just because certain people were not alive anymore didn't change attitudes. It just made things less likely.]

My people are scared. Their entire lives they've been told certain people are evil. If I just....declare otherwise they might riot. I'm not certain they can handle it.

[hasadoctorsnote]

I bet the people they thought were evil and were perfectly willing to murder for no reason were even more scared.

Wasn't there a way to just show that the people they were afraid of weren't dangerous?

[kingforboth]

[Kelson was silent for a few moments before he spoke again.]

May we talk in private?

[hasadoctorsnote]

Fine.

[kingforboth]

[He could tell this young man was unhappy with him, but what he was going to tell him, or pray, show him, as far as Kelson was concerned was not for public view. Not yet. He wasn't ready yet. Not here.]

Thank you. Is there a way to make these private or shall we meet?

[Sorry Nico, the 12th century king has no idea what he's doing. He's worse than you are.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

Hang on.

[He himself has to fiddle with the device a bit to switch it over to the private setting since he's not the best at technology either but he can figure it out with some time.]

There.

[And everything from here on out is now officially Private on the network.]

[kingforboth]

[At least no one had to explain to you what a toilet was, Nico. One day he was going to have to ask someone how to do what Nico just did. But he might need a few more lessons.

Kelson is fast losing his nerve. Back home, everyone knew what he was, he just went out of his way to not make a big deal of it, not flaunt it unless he needed too. Here, alone, in a foreign place with no familiar faces and uncertain reactions? He wasn't ashamed to say he was terrified.]

Oh. wait. You can't see me can you.

[Kelson fiddles with the device himself now, having been shown how to do video at least, and switches the connection. Raising a cupped hand, he summons a crimson ball of light and waits for a reaction before he continues.]