Gender Games

The last few days have gone by in a series of torrid events.

Whether it be a certain loved one's never-ending relationship ups and downs (I was tempted to use the cliché roller coaster) or my own problems with certain members of the opposite sex.

It's because of this that I want to get my thoughts out here so they no longer plague me in the weekend I have classified as The One Weekend I Shall Relax.

If we are going to actually learn from our ancestors and stop pretending that their mistakes are never going to repeat themselves, let's see. In the days of yore, man and woman lived in a strict society setting that was dictated by certain rules of common etiquette.

Ladies, when they liked a young man, they did everything in their power to look beautiful, be polite and entertaining, charm him with their wit and knowledge and hope he returned her affections in a similar way.

Men became enraptured when meeting a lady that they fancied. They transformed into these court jesters, sacrificing their life to get a smile or if they were lucky, a laugh from their lady. They wanted to please her, lavish attention on her and make her feel like the most beautiful woman that had ever graced on the planet.

You know things are really distorted when I am writing this and I feel I am writing a romance novel.

Somewhere along the way, everything changed. Clubs might as well be brothels. Men consider women to be notches on their bed post. They are sex dolls without mind or will. The bigger the number of broken hearts and one night stands, the more virile you are. It's nauseating. Women in turn toy with a man's emotions, consider him to be a means to an end whether it be to satisfy their urges or their needs for a money and a more comfortable life. Or worse, they think that you don't deserve a second of their time because they are superior to you.

So as it is to be expected, nowadays men and women have this composed, complicated game going on when either one shows interest in the other. It is so bloody convoluted that all the players have forgotten the rules of the game and go around pretending they know them. Adding the last ingredient in this recipe for eminent disaster.

Knowledge is no longer power. Oh no. Knowledge is a weapon. The more we know that the other person likes us, the more we use him or her. Another thing, if the person doesn't do what we want them to do, that gives us every right to throw a major tantrum and demand our needs be met.

Bloody bollocks.

I am sick and tired of feeling like I am a prize to be won by the fiercest, nastiest competitor. I am so also tired of having to accept disgraceful behavior from women just because I don't return their sentiment. Women disrespect me by slapping, offending, using or attempting to emasculate me. Do you honestly think that will get my attention? Do you honestly think I'll say 'oh that's a strong independent woman who doesn't take shit from men'?

I won't think this.

No. I will think you're pompous, arrogant, disrespectful and deluded.

So I would really like it, for my sake and a loved one of mine, that you are all just honest and stop dragging us around like we're rag dolls. And most importantly, stop thinking you can just spring forward and do as you please with us. I promise you this, it will bite you in the arse, in the most painful matter.

Acquaintanceships - Veronique

Out of my many acquaintances, I have been frequently asked about a Veronique Reinard Lexington. Some would say we are best friends; I myself like to call her my favorite enemy. We met on the streets of London on a hot summer day. I accidentally bumped into her, which she mistook as intentional. She's quite self-centered you see. After a long diatribe, mostly her trying to convince me that I owed her some kind of apology for what I did, I invited her for coffee. I must admit that her stand-offish demeanor was of no surprise to me but there was something about her attitude that caught my attention. I suppose it was the spunk that emanated from her.

“So what is your name?”

“What is yours?” I asked “Since you’re so insisting on finding out about me.”

“Are you always this evasive?” she asked, quite poshly.

“Are you always this persistent?”

“WHY do you answer my question with another!? It vexes me to no end” she replied.

“I’ll keep that in mind for future encounters”

She quirked her eyebrow with suspicion.

“I highly doubt it. You refuse to tell me your name and I will not tell you mine.”

“Wonderful. Then it will be two perfect strangers sharing coffee in the vast city of London”

She said nothing as she sipped her coffee. I smiled as I did the same, whilst my eyes surveyed her. She looked at me but I could see that I caught her interest by the way she tilted her body towards me.

“Since we are perfect strangers... tell me about you”

I tilted my head to the side. “You’re flirting”

She flinched and sat back. I laughed.

“By your attitude, I say you’re a Taurus... or an Aries”

“By your attitude” I said “I say you’re superstitious”

She appeared surprised, and suspicious.

“Why?”

“Your bracelet for one. It’s filled with good luck charms and... the first thing you threw on the table it’s some rubbish about astrology”

She was obviously displeased with my comment, not to mention offended as most girls get when you put into question their beliefs.

“But you’re right I’m a Taurus”

She continued to question me, not hiding her interest in figuring me out. We managed to stay two whole hours, mostly trying to impress each other with witty banter. At least, she was trying to impress me. I was amused.

She downed yet another cup of coffee. I had lost count by then. She looked at me after looking at her expensive watch.

“Well sir...” she made an emphasis on the sir “I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you. I’m late” she gently stood up and took out her purse; I raised my hand.

“Please. I’ll take care of it”

She looked amused.

“So men like you still exist”

“Gentlemen? We’re dying breed I know” I put the money down on the table and stood up along with her. She extended her hand.

“Pleasure to meet you...”

“Christian. Christian Dominic Percy”

Her eyes widened. As quickly as she was surprised, just as quickly she recomposed herself.

“Earl Percy, heir to the Dukedom of Northumberland...” She spoke as if unfazed.

“Though I prefer Christian. I’m surprised you know that.”

“I know everything about our nobility” she said, her tone getting haughtier by the second.

“So you can marry well?” I quipped. She looked outraged.

“How dare you!”

“Don’t get your knickers in a bunch”

After that, we became fast friends. At some point, we became involved for a short period of time. She was desperate to become a woman, in her own words. It was a one-time thing though I’m pretty sure she had feelings for me when I ended it. Either that or she’s just naturally overzealous and possessive of her friends.