Hi I have a question about the centaur lore. How would centaurs react to a non-taur farting? Either a stranger in their presence or someone they've befriended?
Thanks for being so interested in my ideas! :3
That answer has two parts to it. First, we'll start with Part A: all non-taurs/humanoids.
When it comes to non-taurs farting, centaurs would generally react in non-negative ways. It all depends on context, of course, such as the personalities of those involved, whether or not it was an accident, etc. But here are common responses:
Amusement: Centaurs not only fart a lot, but they fart impressively. Centaur farts are either loud and sputtering, loud and long, or silent and SUPER long (with an audible hiss and visible flapping tail). Either way, they're usually always thick and strong-smelling, not necessarily bad but always noticeable. This means that when a non-taur/humanoid farts, some centaurs will just laugh and go, "Awww, how cute. That all you got?" They find "weaker" non-taur farts kinda silly and adorable. Imagine how you feel when you hear a dog or cat farting.
Relief: In the case of the non-taur farting intentionally because they're relaxed (or they just don't care), a lot of centaurs will assume this means the other person doesn't mind a centaur relieving themselves as well. Society at large has the taboo against farting, and most non-taurs don't have bodies that make it really hard to avoid being "rude." Farting intentionally around a centaur basically says there's nothing to worry about around you, and maybe even that you're joining them in "transgressing" this idea of politeness. Don't be surprised to hear a centaur mutter, "Oh thank god," before letting out a pent-up horse fart that puts the non-taur's to shame.
Competition: This response will usually only happen around a certain type of centaur and a certain type of non-taur. If a non-taur lets out some gas that's anywhere CLOSE to the level of a centaur's, some centaurs may find they're being... challenged. Sometimes the centaur will put a little more force into a fart than usual to outdo the other person. It's unlikely that a non-taur will win if they turn this into a fart-off, but that won't stop people from trying, nor from having fun.
A sub category to competition is interest: If a non-taur lets out a fart close to the level of a centaur's, a centaur may be genuinely interested in just what that non-taur ate (or how their body works) to make such gas possible. Not all non-taurs are comfortable answering that. The ones that are... curiously, they often become great buddies with centaurs.
Of course, there's always the matter of how a centaur would feel if a non-taur farted while riding them. If a non-taur becomes a centaur's "rider" (a special bond where the centaur will always be comfortable giving them a lift for hours on end), then the centaur wouldn't mind HOW many farts get drilled into their back. "Ride or die" has never been more appropriate.
In all other cases, the reaction is how you'd expect. Unless the centaur has a great personal fondness for farts, they'd enjoy getting farted on less than somebody farting around them. Still, they'd probably just brush it off, only really getting annoyed if the farts sounded or smelled particularly disgusting. Ultimately, it's up to the personality of the centaur involved. (In most cases, the centaur will back their ass up into their rider once they've climbed off, let out a thick one against them, and claim that now they're even.)
Now we get to Part B, the one thing that occurred to me a while ago, but that I've never brought up until now. What happens when another KIND of taur farts around a centaur?
I present you with: the minotaur. The only animal hybrid whose guts are on par with a centaur's.
Minotaurs and centaurs aren't enemies, no way. But they ARE rivals. Think of it less like warring families or classes and more like... local sports teams, the kind that meet up in the park every so often and will take breaks from trying to beat each other to get drunk and have a nice time.
When a minotaur farts around a centaur, there's a 50/50 chance a centaur will either respond to it like a competition (especially if the minotaur was trying to start one) or in encouragement (the minotaur was finally letting out something that was bothering their stomachs all day; the centaur welcomes this and joins in too).
... welp, this got very long. Hopefully I've sufficiently answered your question!
