Snippet: On Losing Virginity
Winter had arrived. Lynn and I sat inside The Lady of Refreshment Cafe. The Cafe was nearly empty, and we sat in a corner booth behind a potted bush of some sort. We had been chatting about our respective relationships. And then Lynn decided that idle chatter had gone on long enough.
“So, have you three consummated the relationship yet?” Lynn asked, clasping her hands beneath her chin and leaning forward.
“Lynn!” I gasped.
“What? It’s only fair. You know exactly when Leon and I consummated our relationship. I deserve the same courtesy from you.”
“I walked in on you two doing the dirty! It was an accident!”
“Once is an accident. You managed to do it twice!”
I stared at my green tea, and then poured half into the bush. I set the tea cup back on the table and reached into my fur cloak. I produced a flask and filled the space in the tea cup with liquid from the flask. I screwed the cap back on and returned the flask to my cloak pocket.
“What is that?” Lynn asked.
“Lemon, mint, cucumber, and gin,” I answered.
“And you need gin to answer my question?”
“I do. I don’t talk about my sex life much.”
“Ossedei must be a challenge then? These people love to talk about sex.”
“Gods, do they ever!” I said. Then I paused. “That said, you’re the first person to ask me about consummating the relationship. I get a barrel full of innuendo. Everyone wants to know who’s in charge in the bedroom.”
“It’s Fiona, right?” Lynn said with a grin.
“It’s Amy. Fiona is a mouse in the bedroom.” I answered, then covered my mouth. “I didn’t say that. Gods, you can’t have heard that. Forget I said it.”
“Hear what?” Lynn said, fluttering her eyelashes, “But you’re right. Yssians love innuendo. The jokes I get about sleeping against the castle walls.”
“What do you mean sleeping against the castle walls?”
She sighed. “Helen caught Leon and I, ahem, indisposed against the castle wall.”
“That’s where I found you.” I took a gulp of my DIY cocktail, “Maybe the problem wasn’t me. Maybe you two are careless.”
Lynn blushed, “It’s hard when I’m in Castle Octavian and Leon is in the Castle by the Sea.”
“I’ll bet it’s hard!” I said.
“Ren! You’re picking up bad habits here.”
“And so Helen told everyone?” I asked.
“Helen didn’t tell a soul. But her excuses were as bad as if she had told the entire staff. So everyone knows. And so the jokes multiply. Somebody put up a sign: reserved for Duke and Baroness use only.”
I burst out laughing. “They didn’t!”
“They absolutely did. I have no idea who did it. Nobody will talk. I’ve got to grin and bear it. There’s no malice at least. The nobles like to clap me on the back and tell me to make sure I make him treat me right and things like that.”
“I imagine it helps that you’re a much nicer baroness than your dad was a baron.”
“Maybe, but either way, spill. I’ve told you even more. Now, I want collateral!”
I giggled, “Collateral is it? Well, if you must know, we consummated the night of our engagement celebration. Of course, that’s all depending on what the bar is for three women consummating anything.”
“I’m surprised you were able to stand after that party. I saw how much you three drank. I know that you can handle your booze, but what about Amy and Fiona?”
“They were a lot less inhibited than usual, I will admit.”
“I bet.” Lynn waggled her eyebrows at me.
“Stop.” I looked away and took another gulp, finishing the contents of the teacup.
“Maybe that’s why.” Lynn said, and I turned back to look at her in confusion.
“Maybe that’s why what?” I asked.
“Ossedei has no concept of homophobia or any lgbtq bigotry, right? Gender equality is the norm everywhere except North Karshvar. You with me?”
“I am. But I don’t know where you’re going.” I said.
“Consummating the marriage was important when lineage was reckoned through the father. You need to confirm that this particular guy is the father, right? But that’s not how monarchies in Ossedei approach succession at all. The eldest child inherits the title, regardless of gender. And the eldest inherits the title. This is regardless whether they are natural born or adopted. Parentage is irrelevant. Now Fiona isn’t going to have your babies. Two women does not a baby make, at least not without modern medicine. And we’re an entire universe away from modern medicine. So Fiona is going to have to either rent a lover or adopt somebody. But the law doesn’t care which one she does. Let's say Fiona left you two. Let's say she had a baby with a new husband after she had adopted a child. The adopted child would still be first in the line of succession.”
“So you’re saying what? Consummating the marriage doesn’t matter, because there are more ways of getting an heir?”
“Exactly. Once Leon and I marry, any baby I produce will be legally Leon’s as well. And it won’t matter if that baby has his DNA, not in the eyes of the law. So who cares about consummating the wedding. It’s not relevant to the process here.”
I nodded, “And this also explains the innuendo. There’s no pressure to be monogamous. There’s no pressure to be heteronormative. And so people are free to joke and play and tease. Only relationships that cross the class barrier are an issue.”
“Exactly. Wait. Did you say Amy is in charge in the bedroom? Meek and polite little Amy? The woman who raises her hand before she talks? The woman still getting used to her status as a noble? She still offers to get people drinks! She still talks like she’s a servant! She’s in charge in the bedroom?”
“You said you didn’t hear it! Remember?”
“Well I don’t think I’ll ever get that thought out of my head now.”
“No! Bad Lynn! Forget the salacious details about my fiancées. You’re allowed to have collateral against me, not them.”
“I’m your best friend. I won’t tell anyone.”
I reached into my cloak for the flask once more.
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