Another companion piece to Frontier, this time touching on Atriean relationships and a little biology. Apologies if this makes no goddamn sense.
For those reading ItSotV, you may want to pay attention.

by the way, I've had this kicking around in my files for around nine months

"Well, I make love to you,
And lord knows you'll feel no pain."

---

Atriea does not have clearly defined gender roles. Men and Women have had equal opportunities throughout Atriean history.

'Mating season’ or the ‘heat cycle’ or whatever you want to call it: In the past, (for example it is this way in ItSotV) during this time, whichever two Atrieans happen to mate were mated for life (The equivalence of a marriage on Earth, with a heavy stigma towards people who wanted to choose a different mate). This caused some unhappiness with people who hated each other being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it was a practice enforced by most religions at the time, and was the way Atrieans evolved. Of course, as Atrieans gained a knowledge of how a more fair and desirable society should be, they realized that there should be no obligations on either partner in an ‘unfortunate mating’. Even through the outrage of the fundamentalist Drifrasa followers and the remnants of the Church of Laroja, a paradigm shift occurred. With the creation of a very effective heat suppressant drug, the mating cycle became easily controllable, though couples will find going off the drug when trying for children quite enjoyable. Many do not take the drugs at all, which raised some issues as sometimes it became difficult to control their instincts. There is debate on weather or not it should be mandatory to take suppressants.

Atrieans and marriage: When Humans were made contact with, (about 50 years before the events of Frontier) most Atrieans could not grasp the concept that a silly ceremony made two people mates, and argued that sex was a much more meaningful way of creating such a relationship. However, a clever Atriean lawyer came up with the idea that marriage could benefit Atriean society. Since there was no paperwork involved with choosing a mate, legally it was difficult for people to share funds as a couple, and many loopholes were found and scams pulled off. (For example, an individual would seduce someone in the space of a day or two, have their unfortunate partner give them some money, then run off without leaving any proof he or she was ever there at all.) This culminated in a legally binding ‘love contract’ that allowed both partners be protected, and also allow them to more easily share funds. Most people, however, did not partake.

Thanks to pro-suppressant supporters, It become mandatory to take suppressants if you happened to be working on a spaceship when in heat. Some went with this, seeing the logic and the dangers, while others simply landed during this time, bypassing the law. However, officers of the military and Special Forces are required to take suppressants as they had to be on duty most of the time, preventing them from taking shore leave that long.

Sexually desirable traits: Atrieans and Human share some desirable traits for some of the same reasons. From an evolutionary standpoint, being muscular and tall in males, or having large breasts or wide hips in females (though muscular females are often sought after by men) are desirable traits as they help continue the species. There are differences from humans, however. A clean, shiny and soft coat of fur is seen as attractive as it indicates an healthy body. Intelligence is also highly valued in a mate, and unlike in Humans, can sometimes play a more sexual role.

Perhaps the most important sexual trait to Atrieans is their winter coat. Grown for about fourteen out of the eighteen month year period on Atriea, it is an especially thick and shiny patch of fur which starts around the neck and extends down between the pectorals, making a ‘V’ shape. It usually does not cover the shoulders, and connects just below the nape of the neck. It is thickest where it ends, between the pectorals. The thicker and healthier the winter coat, the more attractive it is seen as. Styling, dying and trimming of this coat is commonplace. Some Atrieans do not grow this coat, Fennecs, for example.

Parental relationships: parents usually encourage their children to be independent of them, as back when medical science wasn’t advanced, older parents might die when the child is eighteen to twenty years old. This practice was not detrimental in modern times, and seems innate to Atriean psychology.

The Atriean Endocrine connection: Atrieans form close bonds with other Atrieans through hormones that they release. These chemicals have two uses: One, it helps kick-start the Atriean endocrine system at a young age, through the consumption of Atriean hormones during breastfeeding. The other is a social use. The more of another Atriean’s hormones is in the body, the more prone the two individuals will be to feel kinship and love towards one another. An Atriean has a close bond to their mother due to hormones in their milk, while Atriean fathers and children may struggle to feel close. Of course, hormonal social bonds do not dictate who Atrieans keep company with. They only help strengthen social bonds. For this reason, and the stigma associated with separating from your mate, success rates of Atriean relationships are startlingly high, though those numbers drop the closer you get to the events of Frontier, as more and more people feel comfortable separating from bad relationships. However, it should be noted that the most effective way of strengthening your relationship with your partner is to have sex with them, as it is during sex that the most hormones are exchanged.

Humans struggle to grasp this aspect of Atriean relationships. Some say that it’s not a real relationship if it simply is dictated by a chemical exchange.

A common misconception. Where humans form these so called ‘chemical bonds’ with each other solely within their own body (for example, the feeling of euphoria you get when seeing a loved one being caused by a chemical in the Human brain) Atrieans simply require another Atriean’s hormone to trigger that response.

This presents a problem, however. Atrieans do not do well alone. Without stimulation from another Atriean hormone, the effects of social isolation is much worse in Atrieans than it is with Humans.

Interestingly enough, when the knowledge of this began to be publicly published, Atrieans who were good friends began to hug more to strengthen their bonds. This happened with such speed and in such startling amounts and to such noticeable effect that that point in history is called the “Hug Apocalypse.”

Hugging is still a common way for friends to show affection towards one another.