Ainmhian IC Inbox

[ralliesprotests]

Good afternoon, you've reached Rowan Lewis at Gay Agenda dot Com.
Unfortunately it's no longer the 90s, so feel free to leave a message after the beep but I ain't gonna check it.
Text me like a normal person. BEEP.

Comments

[ralliesprotests]

Right, I wanted to ask. A marionette is like a fancy puppet, right? But what makes it different to a normal one? Is it just the posh version? [Normally they would google this, but sadly that option has been taken out of their hands, and they have to satisfy this, even if it means admitting to their ignorance.]

[independentwolf]

The only thing puppets and marionettes have in common is that they are representations of either a person or animal that is controlled by another.

A puppet is controlled by a person using their hands, fingers, rods and such to make eyes and limbs move, usually adding their voices to the performance. A puppeteer is either visible or hidden below the stage area. A marionette, on the other hand, is made of wood and controlled by string or wires attached to cross-shaped armatures so the marionettist controls it from above with far more articulation and precision than a puppet.

Pinocchio is a marionette whereas Jim Henson's characters are puppets. I mean, I guess there isn't a whole lot of difference between them but there is a more refined nature to a marionette than a puppet with someone's hand shoved up their ass.

[ralliesprotests]

Oh, okay. So I really was a marionette then. Aside from the dignity aspect. [They might not have had a whole hand up there, but there was certainly attempts made.] Thanks!

How do you know all this stuff?

[independentwolf]

I am a Fine Arts student. Also Tipi Tales. That was a First Nations puppet television show from my early childhood.

[ralliesprotests]

Oh, cool! [Rowan sounds noticeably interested, leaning closer to the tome even though she can’t see it.]

Is that the kind of kids show where they do one traditional tale per episode, then? Or an over arching plot.

[independentwolf]

They were only about ten minute long episodes. No overarching plot. It was just a kids show to teach about how important friends and family are as well as First Nations culture. There wasn't a lot of that growing up.

[ralliesprotests]

Oh yeah, I know the type. Pretty sure there was that sort of thing on the beeb when I was a kid. Just without the cultural stuff, obviously. Or marionettes. I think most stuff was animated. [They have very vague recollections of stuff they watched as a kid, but honestly, the tv has never been much of a draw for them.]

There must be stories and stuff from you culture, though? I'd love to hear some of them, if you ever wanted to tell me. [Every culture has stories after all, it's just a case of what she wants to share.]

[independentwolf]

Yeah, there are. It's been a while since I've told any of them though. Once I hit high school I was a lot more interested in fitting in with the white people and trying not to end up the token 'Mohawk'. My grandparents were the ones that taught me the most, taught me to speak Kanienʼkeháka.

[Lilith thought for a moment.] I need to think about that. I'm in this odd place where it's part of me but doesn't define me so it's always weird when people put an emphasis on it yet I also get annoyed when it gets ignored. I'm not worried too much about you doing that, so don't take my hesitance personal.

[ralliesprotests]

I mean, that's fair enough. All of it. And it's up to you to decide. But if you do want to, like I said, I'd be really excited to hear!

[independentwolf]

Maybe. We'll see. [Lilith might hold onto that to have an excuse to hang out with Rowan.]

Anyway, I feel better now. Less upset. Thanks, Ash.

[ralliesprotests]

No problem. [So do they, actually. It was nice to have a conversation outside of everything that's going on at the moment, even if it didn't start that way.] Thanks for coming to me with it.

[They laugh.] That makes me sound like her manager or something.

[independentwolf]

[Isn't it fun being alpha?]

A little. But no, sometimes I need to complain about wolf stuff. Lucky you.

[ralliesprotests]

[They never asked for this!]

Hey, keeps you coming back to me! How about we actually try for something pleasant next time, though. I feel like one of us owes the other a drink after all of this. No idea which way round, though.

[independentwolf]

We just need to buy each other drinks. That way all bases are covered. Maybe I'll drink enough my reservations about those stories lessens.

We'll see. I'll catch you later.

[ralliesprotests]

See you around! [And Rowan will close the connection with a smile that she can't see.]