❅ Three (Text)

[stonebird]

A friend brought up an interesting point; one that I do not think many have considered. In our world, it is common for women to wear dresses - or, at the very least, skirts - and for men to wear pants. Why do you think the practice differs in other worlds? Is it simply for convenience's sake? Does it have to do with the environment or are your worlds particularly combative?

If women need to fight, I cannot imagine them doing so in long dresses!

(There was a time she would not have been caught dead in pants, but they have a use. Arya had been right.)

Comments

[stonebird]

Surfacers? I admire you very much, my lady, and I do not think you less a woman for being so strong. I was raised to wear dresses, to embroider, to see to a household and, one day, to bear children. I am not a warrior, but my mind is strong. I will always do what I must.

[paragonbrosca]

Yeah, surfacers. I'm a dwarf; where I'm from, we have a big underground city. Anyone who leaves goes to live on the surface, with the humans and elves and Qunari. I'd been on the surface for a year a and a half before I showed up here, but it's still strange.

[And now she's underground again. Life is weird.]

You're a noble, right? That sounds a lot like what I heard human noble women do. The dwarven ones are raised to some of that, but they're also taught to wear armor and fight. They have to, since Orzammar's always under threat.

[stonebird]

Forgive me, you are the first Dwarf I have ever encountered. You say you have Elves in your world too? Are they like the Arda Elves? And what do the Qunari look like?

(Forgive her enthusiasm.)

Yes, I was born a noble and I was once betrothed to a king.

I wish I had been taught to defend myself.

[paragonbrosca]

Arda Elves? I haven't met those. The elves I know are either slaves to humans in the north, servants in the south, or the forest ones that avoid the hell out of humans, since it's their fault the elves lost their empire and immortality.

Qunari are even taller than humans, with grey skin and horns. Well, most of them have horns. The one I traveled with didn't, and it means something special in their culture, I think?

Hey, it's never too late to learn. You never know when that could come in handy, especially around here.

[stonebird]

They are the Elves that hail from the world Arda. I do not think they are the ones you know as I have never heard them mention being slaves.

(But she is fascinated by the picture Aren paints.)

I would like to learn of the Dwarven and Qunari culture. I suppose I should not take for granted that the Elves you know are like the ones I know, so I would like to learn of them too. I promise I shall not pester you overmuch with questions.

[paragonbrosca]

Tell you what, you can pester all you like with questions as long as I get to do the same. I found a place to live, but I don't know what half this stuff does.

It can't hurt to learn some self-defense, too. Even a couple of simple moves might save your life one day.

[stonebird]

That sounds fair. I will assist you as much as I am able - and if I do not know the answer, I will search for it and send you a message?

You are right. I had been learning from the Arda Elves, but I can always stand to learn more.