When it comes to zorphin courtship, in particular The Darling's Dance, do zorphin like to plan it out together beforehand or improvise as they go? Do pairs ever fumble during their dance and laugh it off and try again and are there any zorphins who take it super seriously?
Usually, it's a case of mirroring what the other does and then they mirror what you do. It's usually a back and forth winging it by feel and what's fun. But there are those who like to plan out the basics ahead of time. Usually, the dance is formed from the twitterpated partners having studied the way the other swims and sings and moves in general, and formulates the dance based on copying their partners natural swimming and playing behavior.
The song of the dance the two sing together while they dance doesn't have lyrics as its usually hums, clicks, and vocal calls and more harmonizing without words. But some couples make up a song with lyrics and all especially if they are constantly performing the dance together over multiple seasons to reinstate an established bond. (usually done if the couple travels in different sub-pods outside the winter Isles reunion)
Over generations there are several maneuvers that are commonly used that were learned from older members of the pod by watching their dances that have become the default. And every darling's dance ends with a special maneuver that results in a kiss. It's known as the lover's loop and looks like this.
It's not uncommon for someone to fumble during their first dance. Usually, it is laughed off and tried again. But some Zorphin have a strike system. Fumble the dance badly enough the pair has to restart the dance three times in a row, and the other will break off the dance and tell you to try again later. Unless the person has taken the fumbling as an insult as in a "Ok you're just mocking me and leading me on...but won't try hard enough to actually do it correctly..." then they will 100% tell you to get choked and snub you off for awhile.
Those who aren't native to the pod often are the ones most prone to fumbling especially on their first tries. Usually, a pod member will be far more patient with someone not born in their culture than someone who was. After all being born and raised in the pod means you should at least know the basics!
Most take it a bit seriously as the Darlings dance is basically an invitation to go much further in a relationship. Basically if a pair chooses to engage in the dance they are telling their partner/the pod "THIS is MY mate" and is usually used to signal to the partner "I want more than just cuddles and kisses, I want babies" without the same like ultimate swear to monogamy/loyalty that is a pearled union as that's more equivalent to marriage.
Some Zorphin may breed with someone without the dance, but its seen/treated more like a one-night stand of "we have zero loyalty to each other, and this doesn't mean we're a couple" as a majority wont breed with someone or call them a boyfriend/girlfriend without performing it first. A relationship is just casual flirting and nothing serious or of note until a dance is performed in the eyes of most Zorphin. And after performing it the pod will respect that union until the two break it or consummate the union by having a calf. In either case be it cease or calf the partners may dissolve that bond at any time unless bound by pearl.
