11-26-2019, 03:59 AM
(Joint Post with the legendary [nation]Lauchenoira[/nation])
Viorica Aliberti sat glumly in the corner of the locker room, head resting against the wall. She was hidden so that someone passing the doorway wouldn't see her, even though everyone else had long gone back. Really, she wasn't allowed to be alone like this - the Kerlians were meant to travel in pairs. But she was upset by her performance so she'd snuck off. After all, what was the worst that could happen?
Eliza Gerada approached her, breaking the silence. "Are you alright, Madame?". She asked, sitting down beside her. "Why are you in here, and not our exploring?".
Viorica jumped, not noticing the approach of the other woman. "I'm sorry, I just needed to be alone. Please don't tell my coach! I'll get in terrible trouble!" she said, her Kerlian accent getting stronger as she panicked a little.
Eliza looked confused. "It's okay, I won't. But why would you get in trouble? It's not a crime to want to be alone". Her Eirian Accent sounded calming, but oddly formal.
"I'm a Kerlian outside of Kerlile. We cannot be alone, we might be harmed by those who want us all dead," she explained, reciting the reason they were given.
Eliza's confused expression lightened a little. "Well, you can't help the country you were born in. Who would wish you harm?".
Viorica looked at her like she was a little foolish. "Everyone. Lauchenoirians, particularly, because of the war last year. Zamastanians and Maximusians, because they hate us. Shen, because... well, I'm not really sure I understand why they would wish us harm. Something to do with Councillor Chiu. History is not really my strong point."
Eliza's confusion returned. "The Zamastanians and the Maximusians? There's no way the Maximusians would, and Zamastan's new president may be militaristic and deluded, but he's not entirely stupid. And you are not part of the Chiu family, I assume, so you have nothing to worry about from the Shen. Who told you this?".
"The government information pamphlet all Kerlians who are given exit permits get. Look," she said, pulling a small booklet out of her kit bag, and handing it to Eliza. It had the seal of the government of Kerlile, and was titled Foreign Travel Guide.
Eliza narrowed her eyes as she read, handing it back when she was done. "Most of this is untrue, exaggerated, and restrictive. Jeez, I guess I'm lucky, then. Also, where are my manners? I'm Eliza Gerada, from Eiria".
"I'm Viorica Aliberti," she replied, nodding at the other woman. "From Kerlile. Well, obviously. And what do you mean it's untrue? The booklets are meant to keep us safe from foreign males. Why would they lie to us?"
She shrugged. "Well, maybe not lie. Maybe they are just misinformed. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. And Males, in particular? Women can be criminals too. Putting it just on males is a bit unfair, though".
Viorica sat back, and gave Eliza a strange look. "Men have oppressed women for centuries. It continues to happen across the globe. That is why Kerlile exists, because for so long there was nowhere that was completely safe for women. We still get immigrants from all over the world fleeing their abusive husbands, fathers, whatever. There are still countries where women are treated like the property of their husbands, forced to have children, paid less, given less opportunities. Males are the cause of so many woes in the world. Yes, women can be criminals, but men are the danger."
Eliza thought for a second. "So punish the abusive husbands, then, but not all men. If you punish and oppress all men for something not all of them did, isn't that similar to what the oppressive men you speak of did? Punishing them for their gender, giving them less opertunities, treating them lesser?".
"No, that's not..." she trailed off, thinking. "Well, I mean... no. I can't talk about this. It's far too dangerous. If they ever find out I had this conversation I'll end up in prison!"
Eliza looked shocked. "Is it that bad?! I'm so sorry, I had no Idea! I wouldn't want you to be punished! It's just that... In Eiria, this kind of topic would actually be encouraged. Political discussion is not a crime, but recommended. It's sad, that that would earn punishment".
"It's dangerous to discuss this with foreigners. We..." she hesitated. "Well, we are taught that all of you, in the patriarchal countries - that's every country apart from Kerlile and a few others - are raised from birth to accept misogyny as normal. And that if we are influenced by you then we will be weakened and brainwashed until we no longer stand up for ourselves."
Eliza was, once again, shocked. "What?! No! That's very untrue. In fact, I don't think Eiria counts as a patriarchal nation. We have total equal rights. No patriarchy, but no Matriarchy either. Any kind of misogyny is shot down fast".
"I shouldn't ask. I shouldn't. This whole conversation is so dangerous. But... well, can you tell me more about Eiria?" she asked, almost shyly.
She smiled. "Of course. Eiria is pretty much a left wing Utopia. Free healthcare and education, Free speech, free religion, nice jobs, Free press. The only con is high taxes. That's the price of a Utopia. We are very urbanized also".
"That seems like... too much freedom. Don't people just break the law and go crazy?" She asked.
"No. We still have laws, and judges, and fair trials, and order. We're not total anarchy. It's just not a crime to have an opinion. No matter what they tell you, please try to think about what you're doing, and why".
"It has been really lovely talking to you, and I wish I could take your advice, I do," she smiled sadly. "But it's just too dangerous. I need to go and find the others and claim I got lost. Please, please don't tell anybody you saw me? I know the Shuellians probably have a video of this but I trust they won't tell my government. So promise me you won't?"
"I Promise. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Viorica. Maybe sometime you could could come visit Eiria and see how everything works". She smiled. "Have a good day, Madame".
Viorica Aliberti sat glumly in the corner of the locker room, head resting against the wall. She was hidden so that someone passing the doorway wouldn't see her, even though everyone else had long gone back. Really, she wasn't allowed to be alone like this - the Kerlians were meant to travel in pairs. But she was upset by her performance so she'd snuck off. After all, what was the worst that could happen?
Eliza Gerada approached her, breaking the silence. "Are you alright, Madame?". She asked, sitting down beside her. "Why are you in here, and not our exploring?".
Viorica jumped, not noticing the approach of the other woman. "I'm sorry, I just needed to be alone. Please don't tell my coach! I'll get in terrible trouble!" she said, her Kerlian accent getting stronger as she panicked a little.
Eliza looked confused. "It's okay, I won't. But why would you get in trouble? It's not a crime to want to be alone". Her Eirian Accent sounded calming, but oddly formal.
"I'm a Kerlian outside of Kerlile. We cannot be alone, we might be harmed by those who want us all dead," she explained, reciting the reason they were given.
Eliza's confused expression lightened a little. "Well, you can't help the country you were born in. Who would wish you harm?".
Viorica looked at her like she was a little foolish. "Everyone. Lauchenoirians, particularly, because of the war last year. Zamastanians and Maximusians, because they hate us. Shen, because... well, I'm not really sure I understand why they would wish us harm. Something to do with Councillor Chiu. History is not really my strong point."
Eliza's confusion returned. "The Zamastanians and the Maximusians? There's no way the Maximusians would, and Zamastan's new president may be militaristic and deluded, but he's not entirely stupid. And you are not part of the Chiu family, I assume, so you have nothing to worry about from the Shen. Who told you this?".
"The government information pamphlet all Kerlians who are given exit permits get. Look," she said, pulling a small booklet out of her kit bag, and handing it to Eliza. It had the seal of the government of Kerlile, and was titled Foreign Travel Guide.
Eliza narrowed her eyes as she read, handing it back when she was done. "Most of this is untrue, exaggerated, and restrictive. Jeez, I guess I'm lucky, then. Also, where are my manners? I'm Eliza Gerada, from Eiria".
"I'm Viorica Aliberti," she replied, nodding at the other woman. "From Kerlile. Well, obviously. And what do you mean it's untrue? The booklets are meant to keep us safe from foreign males. Why would they lie to us?"
She shrugged. "Well, maybe not lie. Maybe they are just misinformed. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. And Males, in particular? Women can be criminals too. Putting it just on males is a bit unfair, though".
Viorica sat back, and gave Eliza a strange look. "Men have oppressed women for centuries. It continues to happen across the globe. That is why Kerlile exists, because for so long there was nowhere that was completely safe for women. We still get immigrants from all over the world fleeing their abusive husbands, fathers, whatever. There are still countries where women are treated like the property of their husbands, forced to have children, paid less, given less opportunities. Males are the cause of so many woes in the world. Yes, women can be criminals, but men are the danger."
Eliza thought for a second. "So punish the abusive husbands, then, but not all men. If you punish and oppress all men for something not all of them did, isn't that similar to what the oppressive men you speak of did? Punishing them for their gender, giving them less opertunities, treating them lesser?".
"No, that's not..." she trailed off, thinking. "Well, I mean... no. I can't talk about this. It's far too dangerous. If they ever find out I had this conversation I'll end up in prison!"
Eliza looked shocked. "Is it that bad?! I'm so sorry, I had no Idea! I wouldn't want you to be punished! It's just that... In Eiria, this kind of topic would actually be encouraged. Political discussion is not a crime, but recommended. It's sad, that that would earn punishment".
"It's dangerous to discuss this with foreigners. We..." she hesitated. "Well, we are taught that all of you, in the patriarchal countries - that's every country apart from Kerlile and a few others - are raised from birth to accept misogyny as normal. And that if we are influenced by you then we will be weakened and brainwashed until we no longer stand up for ourselves."
Eliza was, once again, shocked. "What?! No! That's very untrue. In fact, I don't think Eiria counts as a patriarchal nation. We have total equal rights. No patriarchy, but no Matriarchy either. Any kind of misogyny is shot down fast".
"I shouldn't ask. I shouldn't. This whole conversation is so dangerous. But... well, can you tell me more about Eiria?" she asked, almost shyly.
She smiled. "Of course. Eiria is pretty much a left wing Utopia. Free healthcare and education, Free speech, free religion, nice jobs, Free press. The only con is high taxes. That's the price of a Utopia. We are very urbanized also".
"That seems like... too much freedom. Don't people just break the law and go crazy?" She asked.
"No. We still have laws, and judges, and fair trials, and order. We're not total anarchy. It's just not a crime to have an opinion. No matter what they tell you, please try to think about what you're doing, and why".
"It has been really lovely talking to you, and I wish I could take your advice, I do," she smiled sadly. "But it's just too dangerous. I need to go and find the others and claim I got lost. Please, please don't tell anybody you saw me? I know the Shuellians probably have a video of this but I trust they won't tell my government. So promise me you won't?"
"I Promise. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Viorica. Maybe sometime you could could come visit Eiria and see how everything works". She smiled. "Have a good day, Madame".
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