[Then Jaina's a stronger woman than she is. She doesn't know what to say about this. On one hand, it's Jaina, and she respects her as a person first and foremost. On the other, Jaina's a researcher who once held a relationship with someone, and... it's a conflicting image. She's silent for a little while, then, very quietly-]
[Blink. That seems like a rather large leap in logic to her.]
Had we remained together, it's probable that it would have happened someday. But that... certainly wasn't our intention. [She's trying very hard to keep her tone measured and calm, especially in front of Rita no less, but this is something that strikes hard at her emotional core.]
[Not her intention, huh. Somehow, this entire situation felt something like a betrayal of a sorts. It's always the unintentional that brings about the unwanted. She wonders if Dalaran had libraries that spiraled up to the sky, and children between shelves like the pages of a book.
As he was royalty and my father the Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, we knew we couldn't keep our relationship secret for long. Arthas was... he was concerned that if we were to be in the public eye, I would be unable to concentrate on my studies and he would be unable to concentrate on his Paladin training.
He told me he didn't think we were ready. I... was younger, and may not have fully understood at the time. Now, though... [a pause] ...he was right, of course.
Unfortunately, now it isn't exactly... [Jaina trails off.]
[She knows this story well, if only as an alternate. It's what she could have imagined, if she just sat herself down and tried. That Jaina was someone like this, though... this, she couldn't have seen coming.
She huffs.]
... So, you just let him decide, like that? I mean, just because you were young, doesn't mean...-
[Clamps her mouth shut. Jaina... Jaina doesn't need this right now. She doesn't need this right now. She doesn't-]
What... well, what did you think about it? This whole thing, I mean. Was it...?
[The sorceress is quiet for a moment. She wonders if Rita is thinking of her as weak.]
I didn't understand, because... perhaps I didn't want to understand. I was... in love with him, Rita. That can make fools of us all.
But if he didn't think he was ready - if he was worried that he wouldn't be able to carry on a romance with me and fulfill his duties to his kingdom - then who was I to tell him otherwise? I wasn't happy with his decision, but I respected it as best as I could.
[Awww, Jaina. D: She... doesn't get it. This whole... love thing. In fact, when Jaina brings it up, she's surprised, and you can see it written all over her face like that. What she had once thought was a mere dispute over class and child suddenly delves into something... that she can't scratch on an intuitive level.
She frowns.]
... I guess if he felt like he wasn't ready, then there wasn't much you could have done but wait, right? But that still doesn't feel right, you know? Why should he get to decide for both of you when there're two of you in the picture? That just doesn't make sense to me... is all.
But then again... this whole situation doesn't really... make much sense at all.
He didn't decide for both of us, Rita. He decided for himself, and I made the choice to respect that choice... if our roles had been switched, I would hope he would have respected mine as well.
[A pause. Jaina knows it's hard for HER to step out and look at this from a wide perspective.] It doesn't...? If I'm explaining it poorly, I apologize.
[She... still doesn't get it. But, Jaina sounds really serious, and she doesn't seem to be saying anything otherwise. Is this how she really thinks? She wants to understand, really understand, but... it's just... well, weird.]
... No, no. It's definitely not your fault, okay? So stop apologizing randomly like that -- it's annoying. I'll... think about it. It's just that it's weird, okay? I don't get how... I don't know, you two are so... you know, making it so damn complicated. It just sounds... so simple to me, really. I mean, if he doesn't want a kid, then why don't you just go find someone else and have a kid with them?
I mean... if you wanted one so badly, then there isn't much a difference, right?
[Oh jeez. Jaina should have thought of that... as intelligent as Rita is, it makes complete sense that she would think of it only in her precise, scientific way. And suddenly Jaina *gets* where Rita is coming from, and... oh, this just got much more awkward.]
It certainly can be. From a ... purely biological perspective, yes it is. But for many people, procreation is far from the primary reason to be intimate with another person - if a factor in their decision at all.
... Well that doesn't make sense. Intimacy is supposed to be that weird feeling that you get when you look at someone who's really eligible to be a good mate, right? So obviously it's just natural selection at work here. Which just aids in procreation, right?
[Oh Light, this is going to be a bit difficult, isn't it.]
There's much more to it than pure biological facts, Rita. [Though she's keeping her tone calm, there's a bit of a flush to her cheeks now.] From a simple physical standpoint, it's... rather pleasurable, which is in itself a reason for many to engage in the act.
But there can also be a strong emotional significance to it - even if one never intends to create a child.
[Have a raised eyebrow, because retarded tsundere is retarded. She can't believe what she's hearing right now.]
... You mean they just do it because it feels good?
... Do they really have nothing better to do than to take advantage of what nature kinda intended as, you know, a stimulation reward? That's just... weird. I mean, the system was probably put in place so that they'd be more likely to have children, right? But if they're not making children, then...
It's so weird.
Reply
... Were you... actually going to have a kid?
Reply
Had we remained together, it's probable that it would have happened someday. But that... certainly wasn't our intention. [She's trying very hard to keep her tone measured and calm, especially in front of Rita no less, but this is something that strikes hard at her emotional core.]
Reply
Scattering.
She pauses.]
... Why aren't the two of you together anymore?
Reply
As he was royalty and my father the Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras, we knew we couldn't keep our relationship secret for long. Arthas was... he was concerned that if we were to be in the public eye, I would be unable to concentrate on my studies and he would be unable to concentrate on his Paladin training.
He told me he didn't think we were ready. I... was younger, and may not have fully understood at the time. Now, though... [a pause] ...he was right, of course.
Unfortunately, now it isn't exactly... [Jaina trails off.]
Reply
She huffs.]
... So, you just let him decide, like that? I mean, just because you were young, doesn't mean...-
[Clamps her mouth shut. Jaina... Jaina doesn't need this right now. She doesn't need this right now. She doesn't-]
What... well, what did you think about it? This whole thing, I mean. Was it...?
Reply
I didn't understand, because... perhaps I didn't want to understand. I was... in love with him, Rita. That can make fools of us all.
But if he didn't think he was ready - if he was worried that he wouldn't be able to carry on a romance with me and fulfill his duties to his kingdom - then who was I to tell him otherwise? I wasn't happy with his decision, but I respected it as best as I could.
Reply
She frowns.]
... I guess if he felt like he wasn't ready, then there wasn't much you could have done but wait, right? But that still doesn't feel right, you know? Why should he get to decide for both of you when there're two of you in the picture? That just doesn't make sense to me... is all.
But then again... this whole situation doesn't really... make much sense at all.
Reply
[A pause. Jaina knows it's hard for HER to step out and look at this from a wide perspective.] It doesn't...? If I'm explaining it poorly, I apologize.
Reply
... No, no. It's definitely not your fault, okay? So stop apologizing randomly like that -- it's annoying. I'll... think about it. It's just that it's weird, okay? I don't get how... I don't know, you two are so... you know, making it so damn complicated. It just sounds... so simple to me, really. I mean, if he doesn't want a kid, then why don't you just go find someone else and have a kid with them?
I mean... if you wanted one so badly, then there isn't much a difference, right?
Reply
You ... think we were intimate solely to conceive a child?
Reply
... isn't making a kid, you know, the point?
Reply
It certainly can be. From a ... purely biological perspective, yes it is. But for many people, procreation is far from the primary reason to be intimate with another person - if a factor in their decision at all.
Reply
... Well that doesn't make sense. Intimacy is supposed to be that weird feeling that you get when you look at someone who's really eligible to be a good mate, right? So obviously it's just natural selection at work here. Which just aids in procreation, right?
That's just how things work.
Reply
There's much more to it than pure biological facts, Rita. [Though she's keeping her tone calm, there's a bit of a flush to her cheeks now.] From a simple physical standpoint, it's... rather pleasurable, which is in itself a reason for many to engage in the act.
But there can also be a strong emotional significance to it - even if one never intends to create a child.
Reply
... You mean they just do it because it feels good?
... Do they really have nothing better to do than to take advantage of what nature kinda intended as, you know, a stimulation reward? That's just... weird. I mean, the system was probably put in place so that they'd be more likely to have children, right? But if they're not making children, then...
Ugh. This doesn't make any sense.
Reply
Leave a comment