Continuing our theme on Tribeworld about love and Valentines day this latest Pre-Tribe article takes a look at Bray, Zoot, Ebony and Trudy – and the issue of love…
Before the virus there was love…
What makes people fall in love? What makes people fall out of love?
Before the virus, there were some couples who fell in – and out of love – and their names were Bray, Zoot (Martin), Trudy and Ebony. Sometimes there were “extentuating circumstances” – outside influences or hurdles that were in the way of there being lasting love. Other times love worked – or didn’t – due to the inner chemistry between the couples. Let’s look at the relationships how they were before the virus – what worked, and what didn’t work…
Bray and Trudy
TRUDY liked Bray as soon as she saw him. It might not have been mutual love at first sight – but Trudy was instantly attracted to Bray. It wasn’t just Bray’s good looks and charisma – but Bray was a nice guy to boot, a real gentleman who tried to do good. This appealed to Trudy and she fell for him…
BRAY for his part liked Trudy too but he was not as smitten as she was with him at first. Yes, Trudy was pretty and attractive – but Bray was also attracted to her personality traits – she was innocent, pure, wide-eyed and in some ways naive. She may have been a year younger than Bray but hey, how can a 12 month gap stand in the way of love? Bray started to fall for Trudy the more he saw her…
CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST THE COUPLE – Bray’s younger brother, Martin, was in the same class as Trudy – and he was smitten with her. This would create rivalry and conflict between Martin and Bray over Trudy – and confuse Trudy as well…
Bray and Ebony
EBONY liked Bray instantly as she set eyes on him. She thought him handsome and she knew he was principled and independent – he wouldn’t be chasing her, rather she would be chasing him. Ebony loves a challenge and wooing Bray was exactly her cup of tea. She was determined to catch Bray and make him her’s…
BRAY did not like Ebony to begin with. Yes, Ebony had the looks and was an attractive girl for sure. She was also the new kid in town and Bray may have felt friendly to her on this basis. But as Ebony did her best (honestly and deviously) to ensare Bray, Bray did get charmed by her. The key though was Bray knew Martin loved Trudy and Bray stopped seeing Trudy so Martin could. Bray went with Ebony instead. He didn’t know Ebony that well yet – and didn’t know any better…
CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST THE COUPLE – Time. Fundamentally Ebony and Bray are two different people – they don’t share the same dreams and hopes in life, the same philosophy. There is little chance a couple like they could stay together over time – more likely, they would repel each other…
Martin and Trudy
MARTIN was deeply in love with Trudy – quite infatuated really, even though they were not an “item” and did not know each other that well. Martin before the virus was innocent and very wide-eyed. He had never really been in love before and couldn’t handle the depth of the emotions that he was feeling over Trudy. Perhaps he liked her because in some ways she seemed like him – a fellow innocent person, a nice personality trying to make their way in the world…
TRUDY was flattered with Martin’s attention to begin with. He seemed like a nice guy – a bit quiet maybe – but gentle nonetheless. When Bray stopped seeing Trudy and started seeing Ebony, Trudy was jealous of Ebony and started going out with Martin instead. Maybe part of her was “using” Martin to try to make Bray jealous himself. Trudy liked Martin – but deep down, she never really loved him…
CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST THE COUPLE – One word – rebound! Poor Martin may have felt his dreams had come true when he was going out with Trudy but this was all an illusion. Trudy was only going out with Martin because she was on the “rebound” after Bray had stopped seeing her. A relationship that starts that way does not have good long-term prospects…
Martn (ZOOT) and Ebony
EBONY was ditched by Bray. Bray was upset and traumatised after the tragic loss of his parents – and witnessing Martin’s fall and transformation into Zoot. He also knew the “real” Ebony and didn’t like her at all. Ebony was attracted to Zoot – Martin was a wimp, Zoot was a warrior. He was influential, powerful, oozed charisma (of a kind!). Zoot was the man of the moment – it was his time (with the virus wreaking its toll) and Ebony wanted part of the action in the world that would emerge from the rubble. So she hitched herself with Zoot…
ZOOT (Martin) was distraught that Trudy did not love him. He was jealous of Bray and full of anger. ZOOT admired Ebony’s cool calculating personality, her analytical skills and ambition. She was a tough chick and a babe of steel. She would suit him – to be his Queen, he being the King of the post-virus world…
CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST THE COUPLE – none really. Ebony and Zoot were made for each other. Ebony was not an idealogue, however, and did not seek to build a new world in the ideals that Zoot believed in. So maybe if they had stayed together for time they may have drifted apart – Ebony has great ambitions to do her own thing (regardless of anyone else – or the consequences) so their relationship would have been quite interesting to say the least!
Look into the future, what do you see…?
So the course of true love is never easy – there are always obstacles in the way. Love can be fantastic and frustrating at the same time…
Before the virus these four people – Bray, Martin, Trudy and Ebony fell in and out of the love – and this had consequences which were to affect the new world that emerged from the virus for much time afterwards…