In search of discreet advice about romantic traditions

[katayoku_tenshi]

I... er... have some questions I'd like to ask.

I believe I have performed adequate basic research upon the upcoming holiday, but, as ever, the details prove both essential to master and challenging to select.

Would anyone who is familiar with Cloud's world

any world?

...I may need all the help I can get...would anyone feel inclined to offer

Comments

[katayoku_tenshi]

Ah -- Father Abel... thank you!

I'm not certain whether your profession allows you to comment upon the romantic potential of a particular restaurant. But since I believe Father Tres would make an excellent assessor of the privacy-and-security balance of the city's more civilized restaurants, I think you would make an equally excellent assessor of their food. Or at least I've heard you express quite a few more opinions on food than Father Tres does.

With the caveat that I would like to locate a restaurant with some sort of nutritional main course available before one looks at its dessert menu -- are there any restaurants that you would recommend as quiet, mature, civilized locations that also serve tasty and nutritious meals?

...Preferably some place that doesn't show up on the list of local bar fights, robberies, and break-ins on a regular basis?

Oh -- and one more question as well. It seems as though long-stemmed roses are traditional for the expression of love. But long stems would, presumably, offer thorns.

Is this somehow symbolically an acknowledgement of both the beauty and danger of love?

Or is it simply an occupational hazard of growing roses, so that I wouldn't be damaging the symbology if I trim the thorns back before presenting them?

[cheery_reaper]

Oh, honestly! I'm sure I've told you before; there aren't many things the church prohibits me from talking about, really.

On the subject of restaurants, however, I do know one excellent location. I went there with Miss Caterina a while back, it was very professional. I thought the food was too small, myself, but what there was was fantastic.

I suppose the atmosphere wasn't that bad, either, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. I think it was quiet, and the lights were fairly low--not the sort of place where anyone would start a fight or break in. I'll have to get the name from her, I forgot that, too... But I must have written down the number somewhere!

Hm--on that second note, I would have to assume it's not actually that important. Most flower shops do offer the option of removing the thorns for you, unless I'm mistaken.

It's the thought, and not the flower itself, that is most symbolic.

[katayoku_tenshi]

I misspoke a bit; I'm sorry. I'm sure you are at liberty to speak of romantic things; I simply wasn't sure whether you felt at liberty to take personal note of them, given that you have sworn to deny yourself such joys.

I wondered if discussing topics with a particular emphasis on their romantic potential might be as uncomfortable for a priest as offering a diabetic a hot fudge sundae that he can't eat. But if that's not the case, then yes, I do of course welcome your thoughts on the matter.

From your description, that sounds like an excellent place to begin my search for a resrvation. The Duchess has given me the name and address; I thank you both. It's clearly not the sort of place I would have been likely to discover in the course of police investigations -- which makes it equally clearly well suited to this purpose!

Ah -- the shops themselves will take care of such things? Then it must not violate any holiday protocols, or else they would lose their sales. Thank you again.

I think I may have an idea for another symbol I would like to offer him, as well. And I promise it does not involve blood, fire, evisceration, organ harvesting and transplantations, or any other possibly overliteral interpretations of the associations between internal organs and the holiday itself. Is there any religious or civilian objection to creating one's own personal symbology as an expression of love?

[cheery_reaper]

I apologize, I didn't actually mean to sound so harsh. But--I do have to say, once again, that I think you're mistaken. Not that I want this to turn into another debate, but sometimes I guess I can't help myself.

It's not like that at all. I find just as much joy in life as the next person. It doesn't always have to be about romance; I don't see why a friendly love can't be as deep and meaningful. Besides, I've never been much of a romantic!

Oh she did? I'm glad. I really couldn't find that number. I guess I must have tossed it out. ...Or lost it in the rest of this clutter.

Yes, actually, if the customs are at least a bit similar here as they are in Rome. The last time I bought roses was quite a while back, I'm sorry I can't be of more use.

There's no taboo on it as far as I know. Like I said, it's the thought behind the act that matters most--what you give isn't nearly as important as why you do.

[katayoku_tenshi]

You didn't sound harsh to me; also, I am growing accustomed to being mistaken about your religious habits, I think.

I'm certain friendly love can be quite deep and meaningful, yes. It's the romantic aspects of this particular holiday that I need to study, though -- finding the proper balance between expressing one's appreciation and desire without embarrassing one's beloved, being solicitous without overbearing, confidence without arrogance... there are so many balances to keep. I hope that diligent study may help me learn to balance well enough to offer him the type of romantic, elegant, civilized evening that he deserves...

...actually, I don't suppose that anyone offers training courses in the various worlds' holiday traditions, do they? It could prove an invaluable cross-cultural service. Particularly when given the existence of worlds where a blow is a form of romantic gesture, as opposed to those for whom a blow is a form of domestic battery. I wonder if we ought to reinforce the patrol roster for that evening, if any other cross-worldly miscommunications about the nature of romance and the proper expression of courtship seem to arise...

[cheery_reaper]

The Church has evolved quite a bit over the years, it's understandable that certain do's and don't's would be more than a little confusing. It's like looking at any society from the outside. Unspoken rule is much more difficult to convey than what is written.

And I have no doubt you'll be successful in that, of course. But a big factor in romance, if I'm not mistaken, is creating a stress-free environment for the evening. You have to relax and enjoy yourself, too, you know. --And listen to Miss Caterina. I'm sure any advice she has to give will be better than mine!

If a class like that exists, I certainly haven't heard of it. But you're right, maybe that would be useful. Or at least a little entertaining. But what in the world does any of that mean? Uh, maybe schooling is more important than I thought.

[katayoku_tenshi]

I certainly agree on the importance of a stress-free environment. Panic loses the battle, no matter what the battle -- whether in the boardroom negotiating for budgetary raises or in combat attempting to avoid losing one's head.

That's why I'm collecting all this advice in advance, so that I can determine the best possible course of action and practice the events and their alternatives. That way, I should be both prepared for and familiar with the proper order of the rituals on the day itself. :3

It means, roughly speaking, that there are people here who consider a slap in the face to be a proposal of marriage. There is an entire world full of them. Obviously, this fact came out under misinterpretable circumstances, since the slapper was not previously aware of the slappee's traditions and the slappee was unaware that the slapper lacked those traditions and... well. They've sorted it out by now, of course, and the two of them do seem quite happy.

But I remain concerned about the potential for other misunderstandings among individuals who perform the romantic gestures of their own world, and offend or upset a recipient for whom those gestures mean something quite different...