Moirallegience
, also called moirallegiance or sparingly moirallegence, is one of the four quadrants recognised in troll romance. It is a form of red romance, like matespritship, and is a conciliatory quadrant like auspisticism.
Moirallegience is represented by the diamond (♦ or <>) symbol and a pale red color; as such it is known as the pale quadrant. Moirails might also be informally referred to as a “palemates” by outsiders to the troll race.
Concept and creation[]
Etymology[]
Like the names of the other quadrants, moirallegience plays on the term soulmate; μοῖρᾰ or moîra was an Ancient Greek word meaning portion and which came to mean the 'fate' or 'destiny' one was "portioned", while allegiance is a loyalty between two people, particularly a one-sided loyalty from one person toward a person or entity of higher rank (relating to the word liege).
Purpose and practice[]
- “Trolls are a very angry and violent race. Some are more hot-tempered and dangerous than others, to the extent that if left to their own devices, they would present a serious threat to society, or even to themselves. Such trolls will have an instinctive pale attraction to a more even-tempered troll, who may become their MOIRAIL. The moirail is obliged to pacify the other, to function as the better half. The two partners in a strong pale relationship will serve to balance and complement each other's emotional profiles, and thus allow their other relationships to be more successful.”
- — Homestuck, p. 2401
As red romance, moirallegience is “rooted in strongly positive emotions”. Karkat Vantas describes the emotions behind moirallegience as “MYSTERIOUS FORCES” deriving from pity, which is in his words are themselves “JUST THE TONED DOWN VERSION OF [...] HATE”, the emotion central to black romance.
Though moirallegience may be compared to “the concept of a soul mate”, it has “a more specific social purpose”. Put bluntly;
- “The purpose is to pacify a partner who is dangerous. It's not all about being platonic soul bros forever.”
- — Andrew Hussie, October 18, 2010.
That being said, moirails still feel some form of love or affection for each other, and in many cases, especially for young trolls, it can be unclear whether a relationship is a moirallegience, merely “a bond formed between an acquaintance”, or “romantic intentions of a more flushed nature”.
While it would seem apparent that the more violent troll benefits the most from having a moirail to pacify them, it is possible the more hot-tempered of the two might benefit their moirail by providing physical protection and/or a deterrent to any would-be nuisances. Nepeta Leijon's bright blue accessories, for example, may signal that she is closely allied with a troll of a much higher social standing, and should not be messed with as one might usually mess with a member of her caste.
Examples[]
[S]ome pale pairings, as the one above, will be strikingly obvious to all who know them.
Nepeta Leijon and Equius Zahhak are used as an example of an immediately recognisable moirallegience.