M. C. A. Hogarth ([info]haikujaguar) wrote,
@ 2007-04-09 12:25:00
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Current mood: amused
Entry tags:meta-conversations, writing

Culture Clash
Cheerfully I say to Shame, "Elizabeth thinks you need a massage." ...and then I laugh at his expression.

After he recovers his composure, Shame says, "You have perverse friends, aunerai."

The Calligrapher just shakes his head.


***

Lands, but some of your comments just make me want to draw more pictures. It's worth it just to get gems like that I can use to shock them. *laugh*

Edit: [info]dulcinbradbury, you're right: The Calligrapher needs light. But not for the art. :)

Stardancer Home.


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Hee!
[info]dakiwiboid
2007-04-09 04:34 pm UTC (link)
I'll volunteer to help with that massage! (And I'm slightly qualified, having taken a workshop or two from Elizabeth and Doug.)

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[info]shadesong
2007-04-09 04:53 pm UTC (link)
Hm.

I need a massage therapist in Shayara.

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[info]haikujaguar
2007-04-09 05:06 pm UTC (link)
What is health care like over there anyway?

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[info]archangelbeth
2007-04-09 05:10 pm UTC (link)
Backrubs -- or more general massage -- are perverse?

*beth looks shocked and horrified* haikujaguar, you didn't say that the civilization was a dystopia!

...though I suppose if you weren't careful, it might muss the fur... Do they have full-body fur? Or is it just heads, ear-tufts, and tails/tailtufts?

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[info]_eljefe_
2007-04-09 05:14 pm UTC (link)
Well, if you look at what Shame is, and how his thought process works. . . .

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[info]haikujaguar
2007-04-09 05:18 pm UTC (link)
*nods* Got it in one! :)

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[info]haikujaguar
2007-04-09 05:17 pm UTC (link)
No, no! There's an entire caste-rank devoted to doing things like that. I'm not exactly sure how much access normal people have to them--I haven't really investigated that part--but they do exist.

Normal people take care of their touch needs with interpersonal relationships (carefully negotiated). A normal person has family with staggered levels of touch-permission, and additionally a romantic interest and friends with additional touch-permissions. Some friends are even friends specifically for the purpose of just giving each other needful hugs.

Shame's problem is that he doesn't let anyone touch him. Which isn't weird in his society, but not considered optimal for health. And the notion of massage from people from unknown castes and of unknown trust levels? Freakish!

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[info]_eljefe_
2007-04-09 05:25 pm UTC (link)
And the notion of massage from people from unknown castes and of unknown trust levels? Freakish!

That just dredged a short story I read years ago to the top of my mind. In the culture represented, paranoia was defined as believing that everyone was not out to get you. I'll have to see if I still have it somewhere.

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Ah ha!
[info]_eljefe_
2007-04-10 05:56 am UTC (link)
Found it. "Space Dreadnoughts", edited by David Drake. The story was by Algis Budrys, and called "Shadow on the Stars"

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[info]archangelbeth
2007-04-09 07:02 pm UTC (link)
Ohhhhhhhh, okay.

I was worried that it was the thought of backrubs themselves which were generally perverse.

Whew!

Shame totally, totally needs a hug in context with all that, unless I miss my guess...

And I need a "whew!" icon.

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[info]gryphart
2007-04-09 06:28 pm UTC (link)
Heh. Shame just sounds like most of the people I get along with, though obviously a slightly more extreme (and more prettily dressed) version.

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