shitposting rave 3: Dawn of the third rave

Ford frowns. "But I know how that man treats women."

 

Oh? I'd interested in hearing. I can never get anything out of Tori and Kallystine is hardly a good judge.

It still leaves the problem of lack of influence. Women are more breeding stock than people. The ladies at least.

Detestable, yes, but not a thing I can change. There are reasons I rule in my brother's name.

 

At least not quickly.

 

"He's a sadistic rapist," Ford says flatly. "And I don't understand how it is that a culture in which women can control conception becomes a patriarchy. I've always believed that that's why Talassani society never went that route. Rape culture is a foundational principle of patriarchy but the cattes don't have it, and...I've always thought the cattes don't have it because it doesn't work as a reproductive strategy. And they don't even control conception as well as Kencyr women do; they go into season, but if a man who they've rejected manages to get hold of one and traumatise her, she'll miscarry even if he can manage to get her to ovulate."

 

Not surprised.

As far conception goes that only holds for Highborn women. Kendar and Arrin-ken women are another story. The former is a problem. One I'm frustrated that I can't solve. Turns out rushing forth with wild abandon isn't the key to politics. Webs of lawful and unlawful lies are. And patience.

The how is complicated. I can't say I know it myself. A turning point was the Fall of the Dreamweaver, however. Falsely or not, she took the blame for her twin. Every other woman did as well. Especially Highborn women. The seeming lack of our God's favor and the missing nature of the Builders hasn't helped.

I can't imagine my secret getting out would either. A mad Knorth and a vile Shanir woman leading us? Of course things have been going poorly. Best solve that.

 

"I've always thought," Jame says as she emerges from the shadows, "that it was the frailty of Highborn women, and our horrific rates of death in childbirth, that started things down that path. Things were already uneven even in the Dreamweaver's time. She was the co-ruler in theory, but bound to obey in reality. I wonder if he blood-bound her? And how was he allowed such unchecked power? The Arrin-ken should have seen it and stopped it. Alas they did not. Perhaps they thought the two of them were two of the three pillars of the Tyr-ridan, but they never found a third."

 

Ford hugs Jame. "Why is it I see you more here than at home, diamond?"

 

You're both frikkin workaholics.

-She drapes against Jame's back, peering around at Ford.-

 

Ah. The other me has arrived. Good. No better way to learn about her than from her.

Frailty could be it, yes. At least in part. Certainly where the start is concerned. The progression? A significant chunk there is simply that there was an imbalance at all. It's hard to stop the ball of tradition. Infuriatingly so.

And another one I'm fond of. Huh.

Likely because she is me.

 

"Clover's got the right of it," she admits. "I get all focused on things and don't notice the world going on around me, at times."

 

Hmmm? What do you mean?

 

"I recommend stabbing the ball of tradition, and then stamping it flat."

 

"I suggest just leaving the ball to crash."

 

They'd probably take that as their opportunity to banish me, sadly. Violently if need be. Which it would need to be.

Another person I don't know that the other me does. One she's fond of. That's curious. Why wouldn't it be?

 

Unfortunately I'm in charge of this ball of fools.

 

"Duty and honor and responsibility. It's our curse."

 

What a curse it is. One with stacks of paperwork and the worry that I'm one paper away from the end.

 

"I still suspect you open your mail quicker than my Tori," she laughs. "Sit and talk with me a bit, if you can? It's strange but fun to talk to another myself."

 

Does he recoil in terror of it for weeks at a time? -she also laughs-

And it is isn't it? Honestly, it makes me hope for more of us to show up. What an intriguing conversation that would be. A dangerous one too, granted.

 

Jame laughs too; she knows exactly what other-Jame means.

"We don't tend to be the one starting things, though. Just finishing them." She pauses for a second. "That probably means all our enemies join forces ..."