Don't Be Afraid To Be Who You Are - Isle Side

[missrecalled_mods]

The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down

Just over a week after the Isle visit people would find themselves drawn outside. The weather was finally getting warmer, but that wasn't all of it. A strange foul smelling - and fairly toxic - mold had begun growing in some of the classrooms. Thankfully not the ones where people were sleeping but it was still enough to make it unpleasant to remain indoors. Some might blame the growth of the mold on a certain obsessive compulsive cleaner, though others might say that he just discovered it and accidentally gave it access to oxygen and such.

Whichever the reason, sleeping outside for a few days was sounding like a better and better plan with every passing minute. Even the drizzling weather couldn't make the indoors terribly appealing for anyone with a sense of smell.

And it was over night on one such night that the rain was... different. Warmer and a bit tingly. And some people would awaken quite a bit older than when they fell asleep, perhaps. Their memories might have caught up with their age, or might come to them slowly. However it happens, there might be some very confusing moments as those who seemed to be young just a moment before are now... less so.

Gift In Time Gift In Time Nary A Reason Nary A Rhyme Gift In Time!

Weirdly, there was something good to come not long after the rain. In addition to aging some folks up, it also seemed to wash away the worst of the mold, allowing people to return indoors once more. And each of them would find, soon after, in some place that they considered theirs... a small gift. It was rare that positive things happened on the Isle, but perhaps this was a sign of things to come.

Or perhaps even a broken clock is right once in a blue moon...

Comments

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I wish I could say that I have no idea what that is like, but in my world there are so many minorities you could lot into where you put yours. Based on kin color, where you were born, religion, gender, lack of gender orientation... you name it." A deep breath, "To that point, I keep meaning to thank you for something, by the way. That you so easily just use my pronouns and more importantly, Chara's. You have no idea how... affirming... it is for a child that age to feel seen, to have their basic identity accepted so easily to someone they respect and love."

As to the music there was a warm smile. "I love music. I'm actually the music anchor on our trivia team back home. Once you get the basics down, if you want I can help you learn some songs from my world."

[mist_the_point]

He quirked an eyebrow at that. "Truth be told, I wasn't certain what you preferred, and simply chose the option I felt was least likely to give offense, expecting that I'd be corrected if I was wrong," he said. "So you could say that it was simply a lucky guess in your case. It was much the same with Chara, and there's far less of an obvious distinction with children in any case. Nonetheless, you're welcome."

"Your genders never struck me as any great issue; tis not an especially common thing in my homeland, but neither is it unheard of. Eorzea is a land of many divisions and troubles, but one's gender or sex or that of one's chosen partners is seldom a source of contention. If I were to guess, that may be a consequence of there simply being so many Spoken races, whose societies, values, and sometimes physiologies are vastly different. To give just a few examples, Miqo'te Keepers of the Moon are traditionally a highly matriarchal society, while among Seekers of the Sun, each tribe is led by a male chief called a Nunh. And in Viera, a child's sex doesn't even become apparent until they reach puberty."

"And then there are beast tribes, such as the Sylphs. Sylhphs use no pronouns of any sort, for either themselves or others. Instead, everyone is 'this one' or 'that one', sometimes with a descriptor, sometimes not. And while there do seem to be two or more distinct types, given that they're Seedkin- that is, plant creatures-, gods know whether those types can truly be compared to ideas of 'male' or 'female'- or even sex or gender at all- as we might understand them. Faced with such a hodge-podge, I suspect our ancestors simply threw up their hands at some point and decided they had more pressing matters to worry about."

And while he opted not to ask what a music 'anchor' might be... "Regarding the lute, however, it did actually come with a small book of sheet music. I haven't looked at it in any great detail yet, but I could go and retrieve it, if you'd be interested."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"There is a fan theory about genders in Undertale when it comes to children, but I honestly never thought that I'd be in a position to find out for sure, short of interviewing Toby Fox. But it basically amounts to what you said about the Viera." They shook their head. "But where I come from it is a big deal. Being Non-binary, Gender-queer, gender-fluid, trans... People like us... Well some of us can hide it, if we really wanted to. I know I did my fair share of hiding growing up. But for some of us... we can't hide. And even if we could? It hurts. It hurts so much to be misgendered, especially when it is a loved one that you took the risk to come out to. It is like being told that the person loves their idea of who they think you should be more than they can ever love you as you are." They shook their head again. "But thankfully it seems as though Chara will never have to go through that with you."

"I wouldn't mind looking over the music, if that would help you."