Swimming upstream (open)

[Mariuset]

"Some Atlanteans have.....relations with them, although its considered shameful to have it discussed in public." Mariuset replied "Not that Zeryn ever has, but it happens, and Lemurians sometimes tease them about it."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev choked on his drink as this was explained. It took him a moment to recover, and when he did his eyes were red.

"Oh...that's just..." he coughed. "Really? Wow."

[Mariuset]

"Its well known." Mariuset replied "And yet it is Atlanteans who say that we are perverse."

[Trev Anderson]

"Why do they say you're perverse?"

[Mariuset]

"Because many Lemurians are polyandrous." she replied.

[Trev Anderson]

Trev chewed his food thoughtfully, not quite sure what to say.

"Many as in 'all' or many as in 'it's a common thing, but not everyone does it,' or many as in 'gosh, that's so old fashioned'"? he finally settled on, more curious than anything.

...what the fuck is old fashioned about getting double-teamed in bed?

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Its common, but not everyone does it." Mariuset replied "Many women are called to become Priestesses, and most of the orders are celibate, so there is a practical need, but by now, its customary. Atlanteans find it quite barbaric and perverse. Fortunately, Zeryn is more understanding."

[Trev Anderson]

"...Zeryn seems like a pretty cool guy. It's cool you have someone who is at least a bit more familiar with the world you know."

...what am I getting myself into?

[Mariuset]

"Sometimes it seems that we're as far separated from one another as we would be if one of us was from the surface." Mariuset replied "In any case, we're to make our home on the surface."

[Trev Anderson]

"And I'm glad to be here to show you around," he smiled.

[Mariuset]

"It is quite pleasant." she replied, smiling back "I do hope that you and Zeryn can become friends."

[Trev Anderson]

Oh god what does that mean?

"I'm sure we can," he smiled

[Mariuset]

"Good." she said, smiling happily "That pleases me. It is so much easier when both of one's men are on good terms."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev just barely managed to avoid choking or doing a spit take with his drink a second time.

"Oh. So you two are...?" he trailed off

[Mariuset]

"Betrothed, yes." Mariuset replied "Zeryn didn't want it to be common knowledge, for a number of reasons, but I think that you ought to know, all things considered."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev put down his fork, his eyes wide.

"...so you're engaged to be married to him?"

[Mariuset]

"Eventually, at any rate." Mariuset replied "He has insisted that I graduate from the high school program at XI before he will even consider setting a date when the actual marriage will occur."

[Trev Anderson]

"....I...wh...did you just say...high school?" Trev asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

[Mariuset]

"Yes, I attend the highschool program." she replied, bemused "Is something amiss with that?"

[Trev Anderson]

Trev sighed, trying not to look so immediately defeated.

"I...I'm at the university. And...we should probably not be anything more than friends. I don't think they'd look kindly on someone trying to start teaching classes dating someone I could be teaching."

[Mariuset]

"I see." Mariuset replied, not understanding at all "It would not be enough for me to avoid your classes you are teaching?"

[Trev Anderson]

"no...no," he said. "It...I mean in a lot of places it's not even like. Legal to date if there's an age gap and one of the people is an adult and the other still isn't. At least legally speaking. And it's worse if I was, say, your student teacher."

God damnit.

[Mariuset]

"But I am an adult." Mariuset replied "I had my womanhood ceremony two years ago. And I am fairly certain that I am an adult by surface dweller rules as well-I became eighteen years old last month-not that is anything that has meaning below the waves. If that is the only reason it would be improper...."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev sighed "Okay...okay. That's...that's a bit better. But still. College high school romances probably aren't a good thing..."

God damnit. Swore I would never get involved with another high schooler again.

[Mariuset]

Mariuset sighed "I should not wish to do anything improper, of course."

[Trev Anderson]

"Okay. Thanks for being understanding--it's nothing personal. I just...yeah."

And dating someone who has a fiancé just seems....odd. And said fiancé probably has a fucking trident. And maybe Atlanteans don't like sharing their women like Lemurians do...

[Mariuset]

"I understand." she replied "I do hope that we can continue to be friends, however."

[Trev Anderson]

"Of course," he smiled. "You've got plenty of the surface to see, and we can definitely keep showing you around your computer."

[Mariuset]

"Excellent." she said, smiling at him "That sounds delightful."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev smiled, resuming his meal, the difficult conversation seemingly resolved.

now we just hope and pray no one catches wind of me trying to go out with a high schooler. Again.