Miqo'te coupling and romance

[Ginal]

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?

[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

[WyrahFhurrst]

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.

[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.

[PArcher]

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.

[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?

[dustbunny]

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!

[enthauptet]

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.

[FJerome]

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.

[FJerome]

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.