username: ArtMajor
clan: Shinshima
link to last post: Will send in dms
pairing: Glaciershipping (
Cole &
Zane from Ninjago, happy to send more pics / yap about them in dms/discord if wanted)
prompt:
When it comes to romance, many of Shinshima time their proclamations of the heart around Ai no Saiten, the Festival of Love. While the festival is primarily a day to celebrate hoikushi (parents) and the sacrifices they make to raise the next generation, it is also a day for honoring expecting hoikushi, as well as a day for confessing love and expressing the desire to start a family. While it is not forbidden to declare courtship on Ai no Saiten, many find it romantic. The second most popular festival to profess love is on the Cherry Blossom Festival, underneath the freshly blossoming sakura trees just outside the camp. Whether the relationships last is up to the cats, but often declarations of mateship are made around these festivals as well, and in the months to follow.
While it is encouraged for partnerships to form for life, the clan is understanding that sometimes cats may drift away from one another, or be forced apart by their situation (such as death). In these situations, a mourning period is expected, of a minimum of six moons. After this, the cat(s) are free to pursue romantic relations again. Cats who choose to ignore the mourning period are seen as suspicious for moving on so quickly. If a cat chooses to take a partner outside of the clan, they are expected to make an effort to visit their partner. Flings are...less accepted, but not outright rejected at the least. Though it is rather unlikely a cat who partakes in flings will find a life partner, especially if they have multiple flings with multiple other cats.
Relationships that are formed (whether through courtship or declaring one another as mates) on festivals (but especially Ai no Saiten and the Cherry Blossom Festival) are seen as lucky, and likely to be longlasting.
Relationships that fall apart, amicably or otherwise, on the day of a festival (especially the more spirit-driven festivals) are seen as unlucky, regardless of any extenuating circumstance.
Courting is a rather formal affair. The cats involved in a relationship are expected to spend at least one season in courtship ((Shinshima uses 24 micro-seasons to divide the year, so essentially 15 days)) before declaring their mateship. ((There are 14 days between Ai no Saiten and the Cherry Blossom Festival, and this is seen as an acceptable length of time, due to the festivals. Courtships declared outside of the festivals are encouraged to go the full 15 days, if not longer.)) During this time, the cats are expected to spend time with one another, learning about each other, and giving each other gifts.
If, after the courtship period, the cats decide they are not meant to be, there will be a formal declaration of the Courtship's Dissolution. It is expected that there will be a season-long waiting period, out of respect for each other, before any of the cats involved start to pursue romantic relations again. The longer the wait, the better any new courtship is likely to be received.
If, after the courtship period the cats do decide to be together, there will be a formal declaration of Mateship, announced to the clan at the nearest festival. If the cats decide not to wait until a festival (Say during the winter periods when there are less festivals), they may request the Jōnin to call a meeting, in which the entire Clan will be in attendance to make their declaration. If a cat is not present for their declaration, it can be seen as them being snubbed by the mateship, except in emergency situations (where a cat may not be present due to being at the Shrine for long-term healing.)