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[ Nimona responds with a gasp of excitement! ]

Ooo! Are you dating? Wait, do you know what dating is? Are you betrothed?

[ It sounds as if she's flipping through pages in a book. ]

What's your age difference?

Betrothed is correct. We have agreed to marry but have not set the engagement period or determined when to have the wedding.

[Dating. He knew about that. That usually came before the betrothal in this world, though arranged dates during a betrothal period was not uncommon in his. And many of the activities on dates were ones that Orchid might enjoy regardless. He would have to review his literature on the topic (his romance collection) to determine if there were any Orchid would especially enjoy.]

She is 1500 and this venerable one is over 30,000 years old. She has no parents, however, so there is no generational conflict. And this venerable one is the head of his family, so we are both able to negotiate for ourselves. We can decide the details ourselves.

[Which really meant Orchid could decide the details because he was just happy she said yes.]

Well, let me know the date, so I can send a gift for you two crazy kids. Do you do wedding gifts from guests in your world? If not, you should definitely consider it.

[ Nimona kind of wonders what kind of lady Dongfang is interested in. Obviously, her "eyes sparkle in the morning light". Also, glad to help out on giving the idea of dating. ]

Ok, not what I was asking. But congratulations! So she didn't really like someone else. Or maybe she had a crush, but now she knows what true love is. And you really did have romantic feelings for her, too!

[ Even if he wasn't sure what it meant to feel them when they had that conversation. ]

Yes, yes, you were correct.

[If he sounds a little grumpy and pissy, well, it's because Nimona has made him think about someone unpleasant. He knew for a fact that she used to love Changheng. He had felt her love and affection for him. It had been long enough, though, that he couldn't remember if that love and affection was closer to what he felt for G'raha than it was for what he felt for Orchid.

Bah. He didn't want to think about Changheng anyway. Orchid was marrying Dongfang Qingcang. Changheng lost.]

Do not bring up others. She chose this venerable one.

[A not so small huff.]

Gifts are appropriate.

On the second year of the sixth month, and seventh day, Dongfang Qingcang said to Nimona: "Yes, yes, you were correct." Got it!

[ The sound of a pen over paper. Yes, she sure did just write it down! Because she is still a little gremlin child who was raised in the wild with no manners, and Dongfang is so easy to tease. ]

Hey, no need to get all grumpy! She's marrying you and you're admitting that you have feelings now. Not sure how you see that second part, but the first is something to be happy about! Just think, when you see him again, you can rub it in his face.

[ Is Nimona encouraging a potential fight? Absolutely.

She taps her pen against her cheek. ]

What sort of gifts do married people usually get in your world? I doubt you need the stuff from the traditions of my world, which are basically household supplies.

[It would be very satisfying to rub it in his face. Constantly. But that would require him to be around Changheng. So, pros and cons.]

This venerable one is the ruler of Canyanhai. Appropriate gifts for someone of his status would be rare and valuable plants, legendary relics, and unique or unusual magical treasures that reflected the guests own status and ability within the nine counties. For those of lower status, who serve under the lords and kings of the nine counties, more practical gifts of land deeds, weaponry, or fine jades would be expected. This venerable one is uncertain what the common people usually give or could be expected to provide as gifts. He was never expected to have to attended anything for a someone below the rank of duke.

[And Alhaitham and Kaveh had not helped him in that regard. They only wanted well-wishes.]

[ Hey, you can win and lose at the same time. ]

Well, I'm not people, so I'll just have to come up with my own kind of gift, then. Don't worry, you and your betrothed will like it!

[ Since he may worry about Nimona bringing a joke gift... if he wasn't, maybe he will now. ]

You are a person.

[He corrected reflexively before scoffing at her bold claim.]

You do not know this venerable one or his betrothed well enough to know that we will like whatever you get.

[Another scoff, then in a haughty tone that was very clearly being played up:]

She enjoys pale colors and flowers of all kinds. But especially orchids.

No, I'm not. Because that is putting me in a box of being just one thing, and I'm not. I spent a long time finding who I was, if I was a person, or an animal, or male or female. But I just am. I'm Nimona.

[ Maybe there isn't a lot of identity of self in Dongfang's world, but it's something she struggled with and found her own answer in a world where... who she was is hunted. ]

Okay, good to know. But just trust me, I'll come up with something you'll both want to keep forever.

You can be a person and be and animal and a man and a woman and whatever else you choose to turn yourself into. It does not have to be only one thing.

[There was plenty of self-identity, but there was also a lot of understanding that what one identified as was often determined by the form they wore at the time of their identity. Nimona's claim to being whatever she wanted when she wanted to be it had never seemed strange to him. This insistence that being one thing meant not being another was what was strange. It wasn't as if she were trying to claim to be both fairy and Moon Tribe without any conflict between such identities. It was only her mortal shell that changed, not who she was.

But ultimately, he didn't actually care. So while she couldn't see his shrug, should could hear it in his voice.]

Forget it. If you are only Nimona, you are only Nimona.

[He even waved his hand as if to brush the thought away before becoming suddenly very serious.]

We have had contentions before, but in this, this venerable one asks that you do not base the gift in those feelings.

[ Technically, Nimona said she wasn't people first, not that she wasn't a person. She is currently human-shaped right now, so is a person right now. Labels have hurt her almost her whole life, so she made up her own. All of this she doesn't say, since he's agreeing to it. ]

Look, if you want to talk about it, we can. But maybe not when we're not trying to celebrate your engagement.

[ She can explain it later, if he wants to know. ]

My feelings or your feelings?

If they are ones that would cause pain through intentional rudeness, then neither. It is Orchid's feelings that should be considered. So long as she likes the gift, then it will remain with us, as you put it, 'forever'.

Don't worry, don't worry. I've already got a good idea in mind for your wedding present. I'm pretty sure she's going to love it.

[ It's not a super fancy gift that someone of high birth would give to someone, but simple and lovely at the same time. ]

This venerable one will hold you to your word.

Aye aye, Captain!

[ He can't see her, but she's definitely saluting her shellphone. ]

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