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MysticWino
anarchist fringe monkey boddhisatva
      
Date Joined May 2007
Total Posts : 1632
| Posted 4/30/2008 10:36 AM (GMT -4) |   | |
Okay, this is totally opinion, and I would like as much input as I can get from diverse points of view.
Lets say we're in a Sword & Planet situation. The main protag is a female native of the setting planet. She's around 25 years old. She's an Ebrani Ranger, which means she a skilled hunter and tracker and an excellent climber. Needless to say, she's in extremely good physical condition. Nevertheless, she finds herself rescued by the hermit she was seeking. He is from Earth. He's just shy of twice her age in appearance, but he doesn't age here. He has a wife back on Earth and has no idea that she also has a manifestation in the setting world here. Fact is, he left his position as a Luminary in the College of Esoterics in the City of the Sun to avoid the fairer sex as much as to avoid the politics of society and now has lived alone in a cave for over twenty years. He's not been with a woman since his advent here because of his loyalty to her. So . . . turns out my female protag wants to seduce him. How do each of these characters reason through this? >>
He is definitely fascinated by the young woman, but is socially clumsy and resents her powers to tempt him. On the other hand, he's a sorcerer here and so knows that the woman is indispensable to his longterm plans.
She resents his power over her, which she doesn’t even understand. But she is also intrigued with him because of his self-contradictions as well as the fact that he is so contrary to all her preconceptions based on legends of him. She is very much drawn to him physically. She is also drawn to the legend. And the Ranger in her wants the conquest.
What are the moral implications? Is he cheating on his wife if he allows himself to be seduced? Does it make him despicable?>>
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Rob Mancebo
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 911
| Posted 4/30/2008 11:14 AM (GMT -4) | |
MysticWino said...
Okay, this is totally opinion, and I would like as much input as I can get from diverse points of view.
He has a wife back on Earth and has no idea that she also has a manifestation in the setting world here. Fact is, he left his position as a Luminary in the College of Esoterics in the City of the Sun to avoid the fairer sex as much as to avoid the politics of society and now has lived alone in a cave for over twenty years. He's not been with a woman since his advent here because of his loyalty to her. So . . . turns out my female protag wants to seduce him. How do each of these characters reason through this? > >
He is definitely fascinated by the young woman, but is socially clumsy and resents her powers to tempt him. On the other hand, he's a sorcerer here and so knows that the woman is indispensable to his longterm plans.
She resents his power over her, which she doesn’t even understand. But she is also intrigued with him because of his self-contradictions as well as the fact that he is so contrary to all her preconceptions based on legends of him. She is very much drawn to him physically. She is also drawn to the legend. And the Ranger in her wants the conquest.
What are the moral implications? Is he cheating on his wife if he allows himself to be seduced? Does it make him despicable? > >
- Why is he avoiding the fairer sex? Religious groups have reasons other than morals. Twenty years is argueably death (A court would declare him dead). So, is there a chance of him getting back? How long was he married before he was displaced? What sort of person is he? Does he value marriage or is he afraid of what his wife will do to him? At his age the old hormones are not thundering like they are at hers, that--along with his lifestyle--may mean he doesn't even want a physical relationship. Is he from a culture that expects such a relationship? Why would a 25yo woman think a 50yo mage is a hottie? (Unless he's pretty active, 50 can be a very seedy age. I've seen folks at 50 who look 70!)
- In most cultures I've read about, monks and mystics refrain from sex for esoteric reasons. There's also the compatition factor. Women develop chi faster than men. This makes male mages rather irritated and explains the Chinese foot-binding as more than a fashion trend (no grounding makes it harder to develope chi). Women are also a distraction to men who are supposed to be meditating upon the divine.
- Does he even remember his wife after 20 years of magic? Other than an icon of a past life, I mean. Some people obsess about old relationships, others barely consider them. 20 years is a long time, is he obsessive or somehow hoping he'll get back?
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MysticWino
anarchist fringe monkey boddhisatva
Date Joined May 2007
Total Posts : 1632
| Posted 4/30/2008 12:01 PM (GMT -4) | | |
Why is he avoiding the fairer sex? To avoid the temptation to sleep with them – actually to keep from objectifying them.>>
So, is there a chance of him getting back? He’s pretty sure that he can get back; he’s just afraid to try it. If he fails to get back, it means his death.>>
How long was he married before he was displaced? Does it matter how long? He took a vow. Call it ten years.>>
What sort of person is he? He thinks of himself as a scholar more than anything. He also admits to having a terribly overblown sense of responsibility – because he has a great deal of power.>>
Does he value marriage or is he afraid of what his wife will do to him? Yes  Both. He’s torn between what he is, what he wants to be, and what he thinks he should be. >>
At his age the old hormones are not thundering like they are at hers, that--along with his lifestyle--may mean he doesn't even want a physical relationship. hmmm. Very good point. And definitely true of him. Is he from a culture that expects such a relationship? Which relationship? He’s from presentday lace w:st="on">Americalace>. lace w:st="on">Midwestlace>. Husbands are supposed to be faithful. Why would a 25yo woman think a 50yo mage is a hottie? Good question. But I see it all the time – on the ground as well as on TV. Women are drawn to men for different reasons than men to women – and the same, I guess. He’s got power and influence, and all the security and material wealth anyone could need – though it’s irrelevant to this story. (Unless he's pretty active, 50 can be a very seedy age. I've seen folks at 50 who look 70!) He got into condition when he was transplanted as a matter of survival. He’s a mountain man through and through. Also keeps fit for the sake of keeping his mind nimble. - In most cultures I've read about, monks and mystics refrain from sex for esoteric reasons. His mysticism actually finds great power in the sex act. But he’s not a powermonger. He’s one of the most knowledgeable mages in the setting world because of his love of knowledge, one of the most powerful because he feels responsible to use his knowledge and power to benefit humanity. Though he doesn’t really care for people in general. - Does he even remember his wife after 20 years of magic? He probably writes her a poem every other day. His memory of her keeps him breathing through the long winters. Other than an icon of a past life, I mean. He refuses to concede his life to the past. In part, this keeps him both sane and insane. It’s a large part of why he’s so eccentric.>>
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Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
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tchernabyelo
Acolyte
Date Joined Oct 2006
Total Posts : 434
| Posted 4/30/2008 1:20 PM (GMT -4) | | If he has a wife, then he's cheating if he sleeps with another woman.
At a guess, if he does sleep with her, he'll then be subject to enormous amounts of guilt.
Brian Dolton
Land Of Wind And Ghosts stories:
"The Box Of Beautiful Things" - IGMS#3
"The Man Who Was Never Afraid" - Abyss and Apex #20
"At Blue Crane Falls" - Abyss and Apex #25 "Where No Wind Blows" - Staffs & Starships #2
"What The Sea Refuses" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"What The Heart Bears" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"Above The Clouds" - Paper Blossoms, Sharpened Steel (forthcoming)
"The Dragon Path" - Fictitious Force (forthcoming)
"Three Out Of Four" - Sorcerous Signals Feb-Apr 08
"The Last Arrow Of Liang Xi" - Darwin's Evolutions (forthcoming)
Stories in other settings:
"The Unicorn Hunter" - OG's Speculative Fiction #8
"Call Centre" - Necrotic Tissue #1
"When Winter Came" - ASIM #32
"Cold Fire" - Flashing Swords #9
"St. Saviour And The Devil's Dandy" - Flashing Swords (forthcoming) | | Back to Top | | |
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MichaelEhart
Sage
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 2324
| Posted 4/30/2008 1:37 PM (GMT -4) | | I'm 52, and I'm still a hottie. My wife is 14 years younger than me and stunning.
At 52, believe me, I still enjoy a "physical relationship" :) --you know, shuffleboard, canasta, looking for my dentures.... sheesh. Go read Kinsey.
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"Without Napier" Every Day Fiction, April 9
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"Only His Name" Every Day Fiction, March 30
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Rob Mancebo
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 911
| Posted 4/30/2008 6:47 PM (GMT -4) | |
MysticWino said...
You've evidently read another of my stories with this ambiguity . . .
He's easy to drug. Makes his own wine and is fond of a certain intoxicating mushroom - though he also chews a mixture that keeps his head clear most of the time. The mushrooms are great pain killers, and he suffers from chronic pain. This reason has yet to be outed, though, as it is his most protected secret. At least protected most from others . . . He's not even aware at this point of the greatest secrets of his life, which he has hidden from himself for . . . a very long time.
I think I'll go with this, though it doesn't let him off the hook. He'll assume that he subconsciously wanted to be seduced and is therefore culpable. Guiltridden, he'll try to prevent the catastrophe he knows is meant to befall her. But that may be beyond the scope of this tale . . . no idea yet. - Wheeeew!  I can't believe you're going to slip him a "Date-rape" drug and call it good. If you reversed the genders here you'd probably get any sales picketed by N.O.W. And, of course, she's going to be okay with explaining to her daughter, 'Yes Honey, Daddy's not around because I slipped him a Mickey and had it on with him when he was unconscious. You know, any way you can get 'it' is okay.' ????
- Now maybe I'm a little hyper-sensitive because I occationally deal with wandering psycho/perverts in my security job, but this doesn't seem like a good solution to me. Sorry.
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Rob Mancebo
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 911
| Posted 4/30/2008 7:06 PM (GMT -4) | |
MichaelEhart said...I'm 52, and I'm still a hottie. My wife is 14 years younger than me and stunning. At 52, believe me, I still enjoy a "physical relationship" :) --you know, shuffleboard, canasta, looking for my dentures.... sheesh. Go read Kinsey.
Kinsey? Oh yes, the guy who proved he never passed statistical analysys by sending out 300,000 surveys, getting 3,000 back, then claiming to the world he knew all about everyone's sex life.  (But he certainly had 'marketing' figured out.)
- I'm fifty this year and I've had to start having my wife come to lunch at work to chase away the 18year old girls. But you can't judge every character by yourself. I've seen plenty of pot-bellied, potato-nosed, bandi-legged, craggy, wheezy, apathetic, foul-tempered, semi-invalid, all-around physically disfunctional 50-year-olds. I've also known folks who were active through their 80s.
- There are people who just physically and emotionally wither at that age, hence the question.
Adventure-History-Fantasy-Folklore www.geocities.com/robmancebo/
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Rob Mancebo
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 911
| Posted 4/30/2008 7:32 PM (GMT -4) | |
MysticWino said...
Why is he avoiding the fairer sex? To avoid the temptation to sleep with them – actually to keep from objectifying them. > >
- A quick(old) story:
A pair of monks came to a swift river crossing where a girl was sitting, unable to cross. The older Monk carried the girl across, blessed her, and continued on his way with his young fellow following along. Some way down the road, the young monk--much troubled by what he'd seen--asked his mentor why he'd picked up the girl when they were bound to avoid contact with women.
The elder monk replied, "That was simple charity. Yet I put her down upon the bank of the river, why are you still carrying her?"
- A true mystic deals with problems.
How long was he married before he was displaced? Does it matter how long? He took a vow. Call it ten years. > >
- Of course it matters. The first year is all stars and romance. If he loses her then, he'll be mourning a fantasy. If he's been married ten years they'll have fought their way through the old 'Seven year itch' and be fairly stable. Then he'll be missing a real person. If they've been marries 20+ years then either she's the old ball & chain that he's just too lazy to shed, or they'er really entrenched in each other's lives and her loss would be emotionally crippling.
"Why would a 25yo woman think a 50yo mage is a hottie? Good question. But I see it all the time – on the ground as well as on TV. Women are drawn to men for different reasons than men to women – and the same, I guess. He’s got power and influence, and all the security and material wealth anyone could need – though it’s irrelevant to this story."
- That's a specific question, not generic. What's the attraction between these two. That will help us answer the questions. What's the chemistry between A & B character. (you cover that more throughout these posts.)
"He probably writes her a poem every other day. His memory of her keeps him breathing through the long winters."
- Well that pretty much clinches how he'd feel having an affair, doesn't it? It would destroy life as he knows it. A character who is a self-aware fifty is a little old to be jumping off that silky cliff.
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