With a coy smile she bit her bottom lip, “I’m nervous, it is my first time you know?”

Blushing a little, she went on, “Well my first time since … changing.”

Smiling, he pulled her in close, causing her hands to fall upon his bare chest. He felt strong and defined. She pulled away slightly and with one finger, traced the lines of his tattoos down towards his abdomen, rising and falling with the contours of his muscles. His smell was as intoxicating as it was subtle.

She knew he didn’t really smell like that, or, for that matter, possess that body. She knew that at some level, it was all just a beautiful illusion, conjured by the connection formed between their combined software. Something to do with neuro transmissions, projection overlays, and schema reconstruction…

A long time ago, Society and Tradition got married.

Initially they lived in bliss, and humanity prospered. Great cities were erected, laws were created, money was invented, and religions were discovered.

But over time Tradition grew discontented with Society, for Society was always changing, and in turn was constantly pressuring Tradition to change as well. Tradition believed that whilst sex was necessary, it was in fact a necessary evil. One to be tolerated, but also shunned. Sex was best performed via ritual, only ever to be used for procreational purposes…