D&D General How would people react to a visual age difference for couples of the same age?

[MGibster]

Americanism thats pushing into global zeitgeist. My wife is 10 years older than me and its never been an issue (albeit I was 24 when I met her)

I think maybe there’s a difference between a 10 year age gap and a century. Especially when in 50 years one party is still in the prime of their life and the other is close to the end. I’m pushing 50 right now, I can scarcely imagine trying to get romantically involved with someone in their twenties. We’re just so far apart in where we are in our lives.

There’s always going to be an element of tragedy to any romance between a species that lives for centuries and another that hardly ever lives to one. Imagine a poor elf pining for his true love who died if old age 250 years ago.

 

[Clint_L]

I've seen the comparison before that from an elven POV an emotional relationship with a human is somewhat similar to a human's emotional relationship with a dog. Yes, it can be extremely deep and meaningful. But there's also an understanding that it will eventually end. And while the ending experience is sad, there's also a basic expectation that people will move on with their lives without excessive pomp and circumstance. Perhaps even some negative stigma around people who have trouble moving on after an acceptable amount of grieving time.

Extrapolating that onto the OP's scenario, I can see how humans and elves might see the situation differently. And that could definitely result in some uncomfortable dialog or scenarios.

Oh ouch. I would be super insulted if I was the human in that scenario. Being sentient and all.