Miqo'te coupling and romance

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03-15-2016, 01:11 AM
Ginal

Miqo'te coupling and romance

So, as far as I've seen presented in-game, both primary cultures of the miqo'te are built on coupling practices where the desired result seems to only be to produce children, but love and companionship are either entirely non existent or otherwise a background matter.

So is it safe to say that, traditionally, miqo'te do not concern themselves with anything romantic in nature? Are miqo'te entering into marriages something only happening in recent years?
03-15-2016, 01:19 AM
PArcher

From what I understand from the lore, the miqote that marry like the other races are all outcasts to their clan, especially the males. So it's likely nothing new, it's just more "hidden" than what is traditional for them
03-15-2016, 02:57 AM
WyrahFhurrst

Quote:

Originally Posted by PArcher

From what I understand from the lore, the miqote that marry like the other races are all outcasts to their clan, especially the males. So it's likely nothing new, it's just more "hidden" than what is traditional for them

Agreed. They seem to view two-person relationships as if they're being selfish or neglectful of their duty to their race. We can see this in male Seekers being almost community property for the females, and Keeper males only being allowed around the females for brief sojourns at a time, and then only when they bring furs or meat to compensate their hosts.
03-15-2016, 05:14 AM
FaerieAura

I wouldn't say that the concept of romance is completely missing from the Miqo'te, however. Given how few men there are, it's quite likely that romance does occur - mostly between members of the same sex. Nothing really suggests that the Miqo'te have a lowered drive or need for companionship (which is evident in that there are Miqo'te outside of their tribes who DO desire such things). They approach the act of propagation far differently than most races, but I'd wager that romance is not an alien concept even within the tribal structure, just a more open concept.
03-15-2016, 06:53 AM
PArcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaerieAura

it's quite likely that romance does occur - mostly between members of the same sex.

I agree there except for one thing; this applies only to female Seekers. We see this in the quest unlocking Wanderer's Palace (Hard); I'm sure he was kicked from his tribe first for preferring men (like lions, I'm fairly sure that the females truly lead Seeker clans, in choosing just which male leads them and gets to mate with them, so any that don't fit their standards are chased away if not outright killed), but then chased around elsewhere for preferring a different race to be his partner (most of Eorzea doesn't seem to care if you're a same-sex couple...but really really hate mixed-race pairings). We also see Seeker females in the Springs flirting with any PC, and I swear there were some flirting with each other at one point.
03-15-2016, 07:55 AM
myahele

Not quite related, but by the end of 3.2 (maybe even sooner?) you see a female miqo'te (seeker?) hiding behind the divider and plant whilst staring at V'mah Tia in the Rising Stones.

Kinda stalkerish, but might develop into a romance in future patches?
03-15-2016, 08:45 AM
dustbunny

Quote:

Originally Posted by myahele

Not quite related, but by the end of 2.2 (maybe even sooner?) you see a female miqo'te (seeker) hiding behind the divider and plant whilst staring at V'mah Tia in the Rising Stones.

Kinda stalkerish, but might develop into a romance in future patches?

I thought she was staring at the Hyur conjurer. Let the shipping war begin!
03-16-2016, 01:41 AM
enthauptet

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustbunny

I thought she was staring at the Hyur conjurer. Let the shipping war begin!

She is definitely checking out the hyur, no doubt about it.
03-16-2016, 01:51 AM
FJerome

Quote:

Originally Posted by PArcher

We see this in the quest unlocking Wanderer's Palace (Hard); I'm sure he was kicked from his tribe first for preferring men (like lions, I'm fairly sure that the females truly lead Seeker clans, in choosing just which male leads them and gets to mate with them, so any that don't fit their standards are chased away if not outright killed), but then chased around elsewhere for preferring a different race to be his partner

I wouldn't think the Seekers would be that harsh; given that most male Seekers will never get a chance to breed there's probably not that much of a stigma against those that weren't interested in doing so to begin with. There's also got to be useful social roles for the Tias to fill because they lead settled lives with the rest of the tribe instead of wandering around like Keeper males do.
03-16-2016, 01:53 AM
FJerome

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustbunny

I thought she was staring at the Hyur conjurer. Let the shipping war begin!

. . . And here I thought she was a fujoshi/slash fangirl just waiting for the two to start making out . . .

ETA: Er, just to add context because that flavour text was several story-arcs ago now; V'mah Tia's romantically interested in the Hyur conjurer, he mentions it way back when you reclaimed the Rising Stones.
03-16-2016, 03:16 AM
Frederick22

Its very possible, but this is could be mostly seen on adventurers that are seekers or kepeers. Those are the ones that could be not be strincly with their traditions and try new things.
03-19-2016, 10:53 AM
Powe

Quote:

Originally Posted by enthauptet

She is definitely checking out the hyur, no doubt about it.

It could be the both of them thought, We're gonna need a bigger ship
03-19-2016, 04:16 PM
Warr_of_Lint

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powe

It could be the both of them thought, We're gonna need a bigger ship

They do both seem drawn to that hyur. I can only speculate what he might be hiding beneath that robe...

http://i.imgur.com/jbwnwG8.png
Of course it has no effect on miqo'te, as it states in the description. So everyone should continue to sell it on the market board at very low prices.
03-20-2016, 11:15 AM
CyberForte

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warr_of_Lint

They do both seem drawn to that hyur. I can only speculate what he might be hiding beneath that robe...

http://i.imgur.com/jbwnwG8.png
Of course it has no effect on miqo'te, as it states in the description. So everyone should continue to sell it on the market board at very low prices.

...except it says the five races. Make of that what you will. =P
03-20-2016, 12:48 PM
PArcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberForte

...except it says the five races. Make of that what you will. =P

I think it was in one of the lore posts from a while ago (may have even been in-game), but the "five races" is still used because Au Ra are really new to Eorzea. Scholars just haven't bothered to start saying "six races" yet (if you really think about it, there's almost no Au Ra in the Shroud, Thanalan or La Noscea, and only a few in Coerthas/Dravania. Even though we know they are common in the East, the term is Eorzea, so five is going to stick for a while)
03-20-2016, 02:31 PM
AskaRay

Quote:

Originally Posted by FJerome

I wouldn't think the Seekers would be that harsh; given that most male Seekers will never get a chance to breed there's probably not that much of a stigma against those that weren't interested in doing so to begin with. There's also got to be useful social roles for the Tias to fill because they lead settled lives with the rest of the tribe instead of wandering around like Keeper males do.

That Miqo from the WP questline is a Keeper, not a Seeker.
03-21-2016, 09:27 AM
CyberForte

Quote:

Originally Posted by PArcher

I think it was in one of the lore posts from a while ago (may have even been in-game), but the "five races" is still used because Au Ra are really new to Eorzea. Scholars just haven't bothered to start saying "six races" yet (if you really think about it, there's almost no Au Ra in the Shroud, Thanalan or La Noscea, and only a few in Coerthas/Dravania. Even though we know they are common in the East, the term is Eorzea, so five is going to stick for a while)

Apologies, that was meant entirely as humor, considering the gaelicatnip reference as a whole was obviously a joke. =P I figured the answer was either that or a translation error.

More on topic, I recall at least one of the huntresses at Forgotten Springs pretty clearly referring to her interest in another huntress, so same sex pairings for romance certainly seems like an option, though I would imagine it being less pronounced in males if only because, for those who have any ambition of becoming Nunh, there would be a natural hostility. Actually, one of the themes I'm finding interesting to explore in a story I've been writing based on one of my alts is how Miqo'te who were raised in traditional Seeker society but broke away from it deal with romantic relationships, considering that cultural context doesn't just... disappear so easily.