>>5233087It's 40k, so every planet, even ever section of the cult is different and then many planets likely have upper nobles who just bend or break the rules.
Sure some planets might go the mandatory pre-arranged for even the lower ranks.
Others might not. There were two ancient tech-priests who had essentially become brains in jars and forgot what genders each originally were, but still loved each other in . Their partnership was one of mutual research, trust, and joint-effort. In Know No Fear there was even an example of this, even what flirting among techpriests was like. In the end, she would explain to a space marine she supposed that what love was like, and he would have been to others considered a husband even if the Mechanicum at large didn't do such things. A "binary form" she called it.
Also, apparently as the Son of an Emperor, that technically makes us a nobleman. So there's the noble dynasty examples to follow, such as on Dutonis.
I gave the example in the traditional sense, with proposals and rings. But truth be told, QM would be better apt to consider UZ1, Lucius culture, and how Talos would recognize it. Whether "marriage" in any sense is a thing that is acknowledged on Lucius, or if not, then perhaps UZ1 just without words becomes our partner in crime in all but name.
Of course, when the time is right, which Talos should also be able to recognize.
>>5233247There are some curious ways
In Forge of Mars there's apparently a techpriest who when making a clone of himself to raise to carry on the work, ended up accidentally making her a girl. He opted to raise her as a daughter instead, rather than soley as an apprentice. The other techpriest said that was a bad idea, because sentimentality is dangerous and interferes with work. . .like our brother Fulgrim noted.
Sensei being blanks and the possibility of through bio-tank/Ex-vivo generation making more of them by mixing Primarch genes and mortal genes as the Emperor did without knowing, interest me a lot. Trig and Vera could have real siblings who are also blanks.
I can only imagine the shock that would happen to big E and Malcador "You're a techpriest, and we specifically rendered most of you without the desire for progeny. What by the Throne caused you to be different?" 