Are you guys ready for some lore?!

Because I sure as hell am!

And look, I did as I promised. Two chapters in one day. Absolutely unheard of! : )

Dealing with Thanagarians: Romance

By Hal Jordan, Green Lantern

So, you want to court a Thanagarian. Keep in mind, I made this handy manual mostly so I have something to throw at potential suitors for my lovely niece in case either the Halls or I can't explain it in person. But let me warn you first, Thanagarians take this stuff seriously.

Okay, they take pretty much everything seriously.

But this is very serious.

Before I get into the steps, I need to reiterate a few points. First of all, cultural differences are to be expected. Second, Thanagarians have no qualms about same sex relationships or polyamory. They do still possess personal preference, mostly about personality, but they rarely reject advances based on gender alone. It's all up to the individual, really.

Third, and this is important, is the distinction between what I refer to as 'casual' and 'sincere' courting. 'Casual' means that you aren't looking for a lifelong commitment, more akin to dating around or summer flings. 'Sincere' means that you are going in with the full intention of bonding one day.

Oh, bonding is the Thanagarian equivalent of marriage, by the way.

Anyway, it is very important that you decide for yourself exactly what you're looking for in a relationship and choose your path accordingly. And don't worry, if you decide that you'd like to have a sincere relationship instead of a casual one, there's protocol for 'advancement'.

Casual Courting

Step One: Interested parties engage in a one on one fight (can have happened at any time, even before the idea of courting has even reached an individual's mind). You don't even have to announce "Hey, I'm fighting you because I like you." The only stipulation is that the two of you have fought one on one at some point and you don't even have to be the victor.

Step Two: A courting gift is presented. For casual courting, the gifts are usually cheaper trinkets, something you can easily buy, find, or make with very little time. Maybe something like a potted plant, or a nice mug. It can still have some sentimental meaning without you having to worry about it being misconstrued. Shayera tells me that a Thanagarian can always tell intent, even if it comes from a non-Thanagarian.

Step Three: The initial receiver becomes the giver, offering a gift in return as soon as they are able, of similar quality to the one given.

Step Four: The relationship progresses from there, much like a regular human one, where it goes as far as the individuals involved are comfortable with.

Ending a Relationship: The romance officially ends with a mutual re-exchange of the courting gifts.

Sincere Courting

Step One: Identical to step one of Casual Courting, ie, fighting each other

Step Two: A courting gift is presented, though this one bears far more meaning. Something you spend hours making or hours searching for, something that contains real danger in acquisition. When I asked Carter for examples, he said that finely made weapons are the most common, as is armor. He apparently knew a woman back when he was a cop on Thanagar that hunted down a giant sea serpent, killed it, and presented its tooth to her intended. The tooth was reportedly three feet long. Now that's dedication.

Step Three: If the courting gift is accepted, the giver must then engage a representative chosen by the receiver in a fight. And win. This time, winning is important. The representative is typically blood family, but kast members stand in if the former is not an option.

Step Four: The receiver then battle's the giver's chosen representative, because all is fair in love and war. Once again, they must actually win. I asked Shayera about what happens if they lose, she said that it is rare, because the motivation drives a Thanagarian to succeed at all costs. You know, as if they weren't like that already. Though she did admit that there are cases where a representative will purposefully throw a fight, or a weak representative is chosen on purpose in order to allow the courting to progress. Yeah, you read that right. Thanagarians are actually willing to throw fights when it comes to matters of the heart. Like I said at the start, they take this stuff seriously.

Step Five: Now that both intendeds have survived and won their fights, the initial giver in turn becomes the receiver, getting a gift from the initial receiver that is just as important. At this step, the courting essentially becomes an equivalent of an engagement. There is often a gap between this step and the next as the relationship progresses.

Step Six: Plans for a bonding ceremony are made, and the 'dating' part of the relationship ends.

Evolution of Casual to Sincere Courting

One of the recipients offers a far worthier present, usually an upgrade from the previous one. If it is accepted, the courting will proceed as normal from Step Three (ie, fighting a chosen representative).

Bonding

I can't tell you too much about this, mostly because it's pretty secretive, but I can tell you the end result. Instead of exchanging rings, Thanagarians are branded around the right wrist as a sign of bonding. These burns are patterned and intricate, often bearing important names and phrases and designs that indicate rank and deeds. Your brand represents your partner. For example: Shayera's bears Katar's name, family name, and the pattern denoting him as one of the Wingmen, while Katar's has Shayera's name, family name, military rank, and her military specialization.

Despite what you may think, considering their whole etiquette with masks, Thanagarians are surprisingly open about their brands and will show them to you happily.

Divorce

Courted pairs can get divorced. In that situation, there is a short ceremony to 'break the bond'.

Brands are kept intact as reminders not to be so foolish in choosing or not to make past mistakes in a new relationship

Re-Bonding

Courting proceeds as normal, but a new bonding ring is branded further up the arm.

There are no limits on the number of bondings.

The Thanagarian record for bonding has been held by the scientist I'to Laamal for three centuries. He had a total of twenty three bondings over the course of his eighty two year lifespan.

In Conclusion

Romancing a Thanagarian might seem intimidating, but at the very core of it, they love just as deeply and intensely as humans do, they just have a far more… structured way of approaching relationships. And as a note to any potential suitors of Skylar's that might be reading this…

Remember, I fully qualify to be chosen as Skylar's chosen representative and I will not go easy on you.

Good luck!