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Troubadour
Cross species relationships (of the romantic variety) are not uncommon in fantasy works. However, these relationships generally occur within the umbrella of humanoid characters--humans and elves or elf-like races being the most common, it seems. What you don't see very often are relationships between humanoid characters and non-humanoid characters.
I bring this up because I have a bit of a dilemma. I just started writing a new POV character in my book, and he's a dragon. However, he's been cast out of his aerie and now lives among humans, in cities and towns, and works as a mercenary. Shortly after we meet him, he learns (from another dragon) of the brewing war between humanity and the non-humanoid races on the sub-continent where he lives. While I plan to have him ultimately end up taking part in the war on the side of his own kind, I want him to be very conflicted, and have divided loyalties.
Since he's a young adult (about 20), and has only been living among humans for about two years, the most plausible way for him to rapidly develop an attachment to humanity seems to be through a romantic relationship. My dragons are based closely on Dromaeosaurids, such as Velociraptor and Utahraptor (including the feathers), so we're not talking a ten-ton monster here. Dude's about 6 feet tall at the hips and about 10 feet from nose to rump. So, uh, mechanically it should be possible, I suppose.
Now the problem I've got is that while this would be a good solution for what I need plot-wise, there's kind of the whole bestiality angle. I don't want to gross out my readers, and it is a little icky. Obviously it's not as bad, from an intellectual standpoint, because these dragons aren't animals--they're intelligent and capable of communication with humans. But ultimately it's a basically a very large bird schtupping someone. It's weird. Can't really get around it.
So, can I make it less weird? Obviously I would avoid any kind of sex scenes, but other than that how can I reduce the discomfort level? Or, is it worth the discomfort for the plot's sake? Or should I come up with an alternative to a romantic relationship altogether?
I bring this up because I have a bit of a dilemma. I just started writing a new POV character in my book, and he's a dragon. However, he's been cast out of his aerie and now lives among humans, in cities and towns, and works as a mercenary. Shortly after we meet him, he learns (from another dragon) of the brewing war between humanity and the non-humanoid races on the sub-continent where he lives. While I plan to have him ultimately end up taking part in the war on the side of his own kind, I want him to be very conflicted, and have divided loyalties.
Since he's a young adult (about 20), and has only been living among humans for about two years, the most plausible way for him to rapidly develop an attachment to humanity seems to be through a romantic relationship. My dragons are based closely on Dromaeosaurids, such as Velociraptor and Utahraptor (including the feathers), so we're not talking a ten-ton monster here. Dude's about 6 feet tall at the hips and about 10 feet from nose to rump. So, uh, mechanically it should be possible, I suppose.
Now the problem I've got is that while this would be a good solution for what I need plot-wise, there's kind of the whole bestiality angle. I don't want to gross out my readers, and it is a little icky. Obviously it's not as bad, from an intellectual standpoint, because these dragons aren't animals--they're intelligent and capable of communication with humans. But ultimately it's a basically a very large bird schtupping someone. It's weird. Can't really get around it.
So, can I make it less weird? Obviously I would avoid any kind of sex scenes, but other than that how can I reduce the discomfort level? Or, is it worth the discomfort for the plot's sake? Or should I come up with an alternative to a romantic relationship altogether?