Oh, I'm possessed of female heart and mind in full measure, I like to hear them. Just as few women born can know fabric unless they touch it, unless their hands know it, I am a woman, I'm partially fueled by pretty speech. But the rational side of me discounts much of it, because after the third man left me, while holding me the sweeping beauty beyond compare...it doesn't mean that much, does it?
I thank everyone who calls me pretty. I blush, or simper, or giggle in turn. But pretty, eh, it's surface, and the surface can easily be replaced. Admire my invention, my turn of phrase, tell me I have wit, intelligence, style, compassion--anything other than I'm pleasing to look on? Trust me, my undivided attention will follow such praise, because it feels less effortless, and much more real.
For all the other reasons I've listed, besides, I think that's the one thing that keeps me bound to my three--none of them default to the easy compliments as a matter of choice. Oh, they praise me for beauty, too, but that's part of what being in love is--those you love you find fair, become fair in your eyes when you love them. How could it be otherwise, they find me pleasing? I look upon them and cannot conceive why all women the grid over don't fall at their feet, and some men besides, for they are magnificent, glorious, essence of beauty--hearts, minds, spirits, skin--and it's always been that way for me, for those I love. I have a critical eye, I have a rational mind--at least part of it--but the part of me that loves, loves totally, and with rare reservation indeed.
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee, says the Song of Solomon, and it's as true now as it was then.
And I'm not immune to the lure of the physical, obviously. Dress my loves up and I fall at their feet. The highest compliment, they seem to think, is to reduce me to the point I can't form understandable words. And so be it, if they wish to go to such lengths--I love them, and love seeing them, and yes, love how they make of me a singing chord, a creature bound only by skin around reaching want, thrumming to a single question I desperately hope, each time, will be answered in the affirmative.
And I'm not above saying they look attractive. Among the fae, after all, if someone's made an effort to be attractive, it's considered rude not to notice. And oh, I do notice.
But just as I'd rather hear anything other than "you're so pretty"...I'd rather compliment them on how well they design, how well they build, how well they dance. The intricacies of their minds, the deep compassion of their care, their dry-as-David-Duchovny-in-the-desert wit.
I'd rather say anything, than say something that just stops at the skin. Regardless of how handsome I find that skin to be.
And so I'd rather hear, myself. I won't say it's effortless being pretty. But there is so much more to me than that. And when the compliments stop at skin level...it makes me think they don't care to learn who lies underneath the skin.
4 comments:
One thing to remember dear, especially as a shapeshifter. You have complete control of how you look here, so the external you is frequently a reflection of the inner you. Much more so than in meatspace.
But you are wonderful in many regards, not just the physical. hugs you
Thank you, Seraph. And I do forget sometimes--even shifters get caught up in the laws of the physical, on occasion--but mostly, I know how I look is me. I have moods, and my shape reflects that--I feel injured, I get smaller, I feel wounded, I show wounds...I feel shattered, I have stitches. It becomes much more obvious than in the analog world.
But thank you. *hugs you back*
I remember one young lady be offended when I called her interesting. I had to explain that, from me, interesting is a far higher compliment than being called "nice". Nice usually means I'm just being polite.
And you my dearest Emilly are very interesting indeed. Sometimes frustrating, occassionally annoying but always interesting. Intriguing too.
Our discussions have made me look at many things in new ways and have shown you're very much an intelligent person.
As for the physical, yes well I blame you for my attracted to Nekos and I'm sticking to that story. :-)
::cackles::
Yes, it's entirely my fault. I spread the neko virus, you know. I'm not kidding--first Midnight, then my Ryce, then Lila, then Hank, and all of that was before I left Rivula for the wider grid!
Muahahahaha....I mean, oh, yes, thank you.
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