text; un: whitneyhouston

[redpumps]

[ She's certainly not used to this sort of technology but there is a sort of safety in being able to write out what she wanted to say and not have anyone immediately know it's her. She'd even figured out she could change her username and no one would recognize it from the previous one she had used. Her encounter with a friend in heaven had brought up issues she's been avoiding since she got here. She doesn't know how safe it is to be her. ]

Where you come from are there people who identify differently than what they were born as or what society tells them they should be?

Specifically, I mean this in terms of sexuality and gender...

There are people where I'm from but it's hard to be like this there. People don't accept us and so we have our own communities and I'm having a hard time finding a community for myself here -- and I don't know if maybe my mistake is that maybe people might be more accepting than I'm used to.

Comments

text; un: piffleprincess

[shutter_hime]

Where I am from, there are. But they've made a lot of headway in recent years to be more noticeable and less stereotyped. There was even a big pride parade the year before last in Tokyo.

Anyway, if you want to hang out and be friends, lmk!

[redpumps]

You had a pride parade in Tokyo?

[ She could remember the Stonewall Riots happening and the concept in a lot of ways was still developing for her. ]

I'd like that. A girl can always use more friends. I'm Angel.

[shutter_hime]

Yeah! Tokyo Rainbow Pride! It usually happens when I'm out of school, but my mom went to take photos last summer.

I'm Kokoro! Maybe we can meet at a tea house or something and get to know each other better.

[redpumps]

I'd like that.

un: clairdelune

[moonotheistic]

[ Shade doesn't use the magicomm network very much, but this post does catch her eye. Maybe it's the use of Whitney's name, or maybe it's the subject matter. Maybe she's just bored and this happened to pop up right at the right time. Whatever the case may be, she does actually feel uniquely inspired to respond.

She understands that "Whitney" is hiding behind a pseudonym. So she will as well; something musical to match. ]

Earth where I'm from has what we call LGBT+ people. I'm guessing that your Earth might call them that as well, or something similar. Humanity is still struggling to accept those who are different. Those who walk a path other than the one society has laid out for them. Some cultures are better about it than others, but unfortunately, even despite marriage laws and gender confirmation surgeries and pride parades, human prejudice still exists.

[ She hesitates before adding more, but decides she may as well make a connection here. ]

If I were to define myself by human standards, I would fall under the LGBT+ umbrella as well, for what that's worth.

[redpumps]

[ She wonders if there's anywhere where it hadn't been such a fight. ]

What other standards would you use if not human ones?

[moonotheistic]

Most gods have no set gender. They are ideas, concepts, not tied to physical bodies.

To exist as your truest self, no matter what your detractors say or think... I would say that is what it means to be truly divine.

[redpumps]

Hm...that's a very interesting way to look at what's divine.

[moonotheistic]

Interesting? Maybe. But I am something of an expert, so it's definitely accurate. That much you can trust.

[redpumps]

Why exactly are you an expect? You go to some fancy school or something?

[moonotheistic]

No school. Just lived experience.

[redpumps]

Lived experience in being divine?

Do you mean literally?

[moonotheistic]

Would you believe me if I said yes?

[redpumps]

It's hard to believe something like that isn't it?

[moonotheistic]

Frankly speaking, whether something is hard or easy to believe is entirely subjective. It's easy for me to believe that I am a goddess because I know it to be true. I imagine it must be harder for you, who has nothing to go on but my word.

[redpumps]

That's a fair point. I guess I'm very curious about what being a goddess is like, what you do... everything.

[moonotheistic]

I can tell you all of that, but I would rather not do it here in the open, online for everyone to see.

Would you be open to meeting in person?

[redpumps]

I would be.

[moonotheistic]

[ The next message is a place and a time for them to meet. Tonight, outside the refugee apartments in Nihonbashi. Shade will be there, dressed simply yet still looking ethereal. The moonlight seems to shine on her like a spotlight, reflecting off her silvery hair and giving her whole appearance an otherworldly quality.

Even if Angel is skeptical that she's really a goddess, she has to admit, there's something different about her. Something... inhuman. ]

[redpumps]

[ Angel arrives a little late to the meeting spot. She's dressed in a cute bright red dress with black combat boots and her curly hair pulled back from her face.

It's not that hard to spot Shade. She stands out and there certainly is something...different about her but goddess? Angel doesn't know. ]

Hey.

[moonotheistic]

[ Shade looks up from where she had been scrolling through her magicomm while she waited. Her expression is somewhat impassive, but not unkind. ]

You must be Whitney. You can call me Shade.

[ She steps forward, her steps full of grace and purpose. ]

Ask me whatever you want to know. I have nothing to hide.

[redpumps]

Name's actually Angel.

[ Angel says but she isn't perturbed at all by the impassive expression. She's used to that sort of expression. ]

What is being a goddess like? What do you do?

[moonotheistic]

[ Shade takes a deep breath, sighing somewhat. ]

It can be... lonely. It's a solitary life, removed from all of the Earth. My particular domain is the nighttime, while my sister's is the day. We take turns watching over humanity from the heavens, observing and guiding. Though, in recent centuries it has been more of the former and less of the latter, as our believers' numbers dwindled over the years.

[redpumps]

[ Angel listens intently, giving Shade her full attention and taking it all in. ]

That sounds...

[ Angel frowns a little and she's still mulling it over. ]

Let's get a drink while I think about this.

[moonotheistic]

[ Shade nods. ]

Alright. I have some shochu inside. Unless you'd rather go out?

[ Sunny isn't home at the particular moment, but Shade knows her sister wouldn't mind her inviting someone into the apartment they share. If anything, she'd be happy that Shade was reaching out and meeting people. ]

[redpumps]

No, that’d be fine.

[ Angel loves to go out but there’s always something nice about having a drink at the home of a friend or acquaintance too. She can appreciate both options. There’s something about this whole experience that seems like it will be easier to digest with less distraction. ]

Text | crypt_thing

[bloodyroses]

in terms of sexuality no one really gives a shit where I'm from

I literally only found out what "gay" referred to after coming here which is hilarious because I'm gay as fuck

In terms of gender, I can't really say because I always felt pretty comfortable about being a girl

But it's usually not too big a deal, most people just tend to need some time to get used to the idea if you tell them you're like that

Oh and. Also we got magic for that if people wanna go that route, if you can find a skilled enough transmuter

[redpumps]

It's interesting to know there is a place like this that exists. I find it hard to even imagine a world like that...

[ Everything about who Angel is is deemed other where she's from and looked down on. It's mind-boggling there's a place where sexuality wouldn't matter. ]

Magic...?

[bloodyroses]

I got no actual experience with this,

but it's not entirely unheard of where i'm from for people to magic into a body that's a better fit for them.

Some methods I heard of:
-if you got the money or the material components a wizard can fix you up a ritual for it, I think it involves crushing some rocks into a mud bath that you then get into?
-it's not as common as the mud bath spell, but you can sometimes find a witch or an alchemist or something to brew you a potion with the same effects, it's a lot cheaper but rarer and also you don't get the dramatic mud bath
-every so often you hear rumors about magic springs in the mountains or some sort of desert oasis where if you soak in the water long enough this happens, apparently at least some of them are true because there's people who've gone on quests to find one and supposedly succeeded
-the same as #2 but with weird magic fruit trees growing in enchanted forests that you can eat
-some people can literally just decide what sex they want to be at will because they're shapeshifters, I know a girl who's like this
-deals with gods
-or fairies
-there are recorded instances where this just sort of HAPPENED to people with little to no explanation

I guess other cultures' understanding of this sort of thing is different, but in Vanth, where I'm from, we got a pretty established cultural understanding of the soul being separate from the body, and there's actual extensive research that if you become a ghost or get your soul disembodied or astral project you just show up as however you see yourself.

So the idea of someone's body not 100% lining up with who they actually are? Not super common, but also not unheard of; everyone just kind of accepts that it happens sometimes.

[redpumps]

[ It's a lot of information to take in, surprising and giving Angel a dangerous seed of hope. People like her didn't have the luxury of hopes and dreams.

Survival. That's it. ]

This is really helpful to hear. it sounds like maybe... there might be some options for me.

[ Maybe. ]

I really appreciate you takin' the time to talk to me about this.

[bloodyroses]

Not a problem. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one from my world here, so like, I don't really know how common this is with other people.

[redpumps]

It doesn't seem so common.

[bloodyroses]

I get people telling me that about my world and a LOT of things, not just this.

So I can't say I'm surprised, but I'm honestly a little disappointed.

[redpumps]

you’re disappointed?

[bloodyroses]

It really sounds like other worlds got a whole lot of stupidity built in.

[redpumps]

it’s a natural occurring phenomenon.

text; un: redwine

[judgementor]

Seeing individuals identify as something other than what they are expected to be - at least in this context - isn't unusual where I come from. Nor is it looked down on by most. There is a certain measure of confusion about it from some corners, however, though I don't believe that to be malicious.

[redpumps]

What is it like where you are from? Is it like this place at all?

[judgementor]

Like this in what way?
I can draw some similarities. Some cities look like this one. The magic is very different though, as is the culture overall.

[redpumps]

There is no magic where I'm from at all.

[judgementor]

Did you only mean to ask for comparisons of the magic?

[redpumps]

No, not really. Where I'm from... the feeling is very different. The places and transportation -- everything.

[judgementor]

Then being here must be incredibly jarring for you.

[redpumps]

It is but meeting people makes it easier.

[judgementor]

I imagine that it does. Adjusting to such a strange situation is difficult enough without needing to do it alone.