(Avoidance of) Soulmates

-interlude-

Hello, handsome/beautiful/attractive reader.

I hope I find you well.

I interrupt the narrative to add some of the needed explanation for what on earth is going on: soulmate bond edition! There really is so much context needed to understand a story, and I do hate inserting too many asides in your regularly scheduled narrative. Thus, I will have regular (unless I forget, and they become irregular--this could very well happen) interludes between chapters to share essential tidbits of information.

Now, on the subject of soulmates. You see, when one is born, one has a certain someone--or ones--who they are meant to be with. Destined, if you will. This is generally a romantic relationship, though platonic soulmates are valid as well. Your wonderful narrator themself is very asexual and is oh so immensely grateful for their platonic soulmate. Oh dear, referring to myself in the third person is odd. Anyway, ace/aro people have nothing wrong with them. I'm getting off track again, aren't I?

Well, the way one finds their soulmate is through a kiss. It only works if it's on the lips, and when soulmates touch their lips together they feel a feeling of bliss combined with the certainty of a) the fact that this person is most definitely their soulmate and b) whether or not they have other soulmates yet to be found.

This is the simple part.

Unfortunately, life is complex. (I'm dramatically swooning as I say this, darling reader--I felt you needed to know that for tone reasons) A person only has a certain amount of chances, shall we call them, to find their fated one (or ones). Nobody knows how many opportunities they have, but it's often similar to a "three strikes--you're out" sort of situation. Once your chances are used up, you will never know whether or not you have met your soulmate. Tragic, I know.

So most people are cautious with their kisses. Others eschew the system and find someone (who isn't their soulmate) and kiss them over and over and over. Regardless, it is important to know that kissing people is exactly what Drew and her sibling gang made a pact to avoid. Poor babies. The plot won't let that work out for them.

One other thing. After two soulmates have bonded (through the kiss), they feel sparks whenever they touch each other's bare skin. It is considered a benefit by most, but some find the little tingles can get slightly annoying.

Back to the story, loves!