[ Alexandrie shakes her head slightly, although she answers Kitty's sudden ebullience with a smile of her own. ] Do not mistake me, I am both blade and wielder.
The power allotted to women is a subtle one, but by improving myself, by being pretty, laughing prettily, being clever, clawing my way to the center in the ways that are provided for me, I make it more likely that I find a husband who is himself a fine blade to wield. If I am lucky and clever and pretty enough, I find myself bound to a true partner, and we are a force to be reckoned with. I bear heirs, the family prospers, and we may do such things as make sure our cities are built with well paid and well treated workers. If I am not? [ a small wry half-smile ] Then I bear the price of that failure as a swordsman might bear the price of a poorly executed block in combat.
As far as working within those rules? [ she flicks the surface of the water again. ] It is what it is. Being constantly disaffected with my place in society would bring me more pain, consternation, and sleepless nights than I am given by existing as I do. If it were else, I would perhaps attempt to circumvent them more than I do, which, I suppose, is where revolutions like yours come from. The struggle against a much larger force being less painful than enduring where the force has placed you.
[ and then, a complete digression: ] Have you scrubbed enough? The water is cooling enough that I should like to ring for the next.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2018-07-24 07:15 pm (UTC)The power allotted to women is a subtle one, but by improving myself, by being pretty, laughing prettily, being clever, clawing my way to the center in the ways that are provided for me, I make it more likely that I find a husband who is himself a fine blade to wield. If I am lucky and clever and pretty enough, I find myself bound to a true partner, and we are a force to be reckoned with. I bear heirs, the family prospers, and we may do such things as make sure our cities are built with well paid and well treated workers. If I am not? [ a small wry half-smile ] Then I bear the price of that failure as a swordsman might bear the price of a poorly executed block in combat.
As far as working within those rules? [ she flicks the surface of the water again. ] It is what it is. Being constantly disaffected with my place in society would bring me more pain, consternation, and sleepless nights than I am given by existing as I do. If it were else, I would perhaps attempt to circumvent them more than I do, which, I suppose, is where revolutions like yours come from. The struggle against a much larger force being less painful than enduring where the force has placed you.
[ and then, a complete digression: ] Have you scrubbed enough? The water is cooling enough that I should like to ring for the next.