Old Man Shows His Age

[lonelysmiles]

Sender: Alastor
To: Everyone
Subject: Sin Celebration Months?

Apologies in advance for my ignorance, but these large ears of mine overheard discussion of a month-long celebration of the sin of Pride. Flipping through previous journal messages, I saw someone's question regarding whether or not Reverein celebrates it.

Well, that got me curious because we haven't had any variant of King Lucifer appear in quite some time. If this were the Pride Ring in Hell, I'd understand it, but I'd no idea that other worlds filled with the living celebrated the Deadly Sins!

What months are for the other six? We used to have avatars of Greed and Wrath, so they might be flattered to have their month-long celebrations should they ever return. It never hurts to get on the good side of a Deadly Sin's avatar!

Comments

[lonelysmiles]

Do I? Perhaps someone would be so good as to enlighten me.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda can't help but wonder if Alastor really doesn't know what Pride Month is or if he does and is just being coy (as he is wont to do). ]

I have only just learned about it myself, so hopefully my explanation will not be inaccurate, but the month of pride observes one's gender- and/or sexual identity. As I understand it, it is a celebration of those who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender, as it seems such individuals are sometimes victims of persecution in their worlds. One takes "pride" in their non-heterosexual/cisgender identity and celebrates it with similarly-identifying individuals.

[lonelysmiles]

I don't even know what a "cisgender" is.

[Old man is old.]

Though given the context, I assume it to be related back to sex in the end. How disappointing.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Don't worry, Alastor. Zelda will teach you all the important new lingo all the kids are using...

...which she learned from her mom friend who was the leader of an all-female tribe. ]

Somewhat, but not entirely. The term "cisgender" applies to someone whose gender identity as the same as their physical sex as defined at birth. One may consider "transgender" an antonym, wherein one's gender identity does not match their physical sex as defined at birth. But it is important to note that these two terms are neither exact opposites nor the only terms to describe gender. There are a wide variety of ways to describe one's gender and [ why does she get the feeling she's boring him? ]

You find the subject matter "disappointing," Alastor?

[lonelysmiles]

[You're losing him, Zelda. Partially because to him "gender" and "sex" are one and the same. Also "defined at birth"? What is that supposed to mean?]

Incredibly so. I'd expected something more than one more outlet for Lust.

[He rests his chin on his hand as he continues to write.]

Sex and by extension lust has never held any interest for me. It gets rather tiring to admit this to someone attempting to convince you that they'll "change your mind" on the matter. Or they'll assume there's something wrong with you.

[Pause.]

Admittedly there's plenty wrong with me but this is something else.

[multidisciplinary]

[ "Or they'll assume there's something wrong with you" hits home, although not in the same way Alastor means. ]

Well, it is not entirely about [ virginal hesitation ] intercourse. I believe at least part of the idea is to celebrate one's identity in whatever form it takes. Taking "pride" in who you are, so to speak, regardless of how others may feel about you.

[ To an extent, taking pride in one's self is something she's used to seeing from Alastor. He is never anything if not authentic to who he is. To hear him say something with less than his usual zest is... unexpected, to say the least. ]

[lonelysmiles]

Everyone I've spoken to who's seen fit to correct me has used some version of "sexual rebellion" as the reason for "Pride" Month when in reality "Lust Month" seems more appropriate. As if my generation wasn't the one who got the ball rolling. Each new generation constantly trying to outdo the previous one in regards to sex as if they just discovered it themselves.

[Incredibly bored and very irritated.]

As someone without any interest in lust of any form, this month isn't for someone like me. Even if I was, it still wouldn't be for me unless I had alternate sexual proclivities than the biological standard. If I expressed pride in having a wife, for example, I'd be shouted down as being "privileged" or some other such nonsense that the most recent batch of demons likes to spew.

No no no no, this month truly isn't for someone like me.