"I see," Desmond said. "So, you're very like us, then. You have many ways of gathering food. You lived in villages, too. And from what you tell me, Elves and humans could have children... hmm." Desmond hummed to himself, and it sounded a bit like purring. "And you, Bejikixen... Now, pardon me if I have this entirely wrong. But I believe you said Atherverticha--still don't think I have that right--but it sounds to me as if you two are pair-bonded? You said you share a 'deep, connecting bond.' I'm curious what this entails. Was there a ceremony for this as well? Do you live together?"
Couples tended to vary radically from world to world. Some cultures had no conception of monogamy, and the idea of taking only one partner was seen as horribly selfish and the height of impracticality. Other cultures were so strictly monogamous that for one half of a couple to simply go out in public without their other was the highest insult. Most fell somewhere in-between, and knowing how to be a couple, at least in public, was an important part of of adjusting to a world. Thankfully, Evelon tended to be a pretty permissive place. There were faux pas to be had there--like that woman who didn't bat an eye at the fact that men sometimes got pregnant on Evelon, but who was horribly offended that some Evelonians had children with their lovers instead of the people whose genes best complimented theirs--but most of those were easily smoothed over.
While Desmond was lost in thought, however, a smell began to waft over them. They were getting close. The smell was sweet and spicy, and even if you were from a world that had never invented barbecue sauce, it was impossible to miss the smell of good things cooking over flame. Not just meat. Vegetables and fruits cooked and smoked so they became juicy and crunchy. Be they vegan or carnivore, they had something for every palette there, which Desmond found made it a very useful place to show people Evelonian cuisine. And they were almost there...