Token Marks

Token Marks are a short courting ritual among elves to show romantic intent and openness. It may be done at anytime, but is most regularly done during organized events such as feasts, parties, dances and festivals. A suitor will present a woman with a token, most commonly a flower or a hair pin, which the woman may accept by putting it somewhere visible on her person or reject it by dropping it. If she accepts, she will place a token, commonly a feather or a ribbon, somewhere on the suitor's person. The suitor's token can increase in expense and pristine as the relationship progressions, but it is considered presumptuous and tacky to begin with expensive or unique tokens that are not flowers.

The tokens "mark" the couple as each others until the tokens are removed. It is considered uncouth to make amorous advances towards a marked person which is one of the few instances where public rage is acceptable. Traditionally, the woman is under the man's protection which in practice generally consists of him walking her home. They are not expected to spend every moment together, but it is rude to leave one's partner alone for too long. Marked couples are not presumed to be stable or committed, merely that romantic interest is present and reciprocated as such, it is not unusual for an individual to form many different marked pairs in a year and is seen as a normal part of courting . Giving or accepting tokens only from individual is typical of more committed relationships that are moving towards betrothal.

Public displays of affection such as hand holding, light cuddling, chaste kissing and lap sitting are socially acceptable between marked couples, but not without the tokens. Even betrothed and married couples may get looks of disapproval if they engage in such public displays without visible tokens. It is generally discouraged to engage in public displays during the first marking with someone and if someone still regularly forms marked pairs with numerous people.