<getting on soap box>
I have two mothers. My mom, and my step-mom.
My mother I hate, and I fight with (and some times it's in armour too), and I help, and I come to for advice. Basically, a normal mother-son relationship. She was one of my first instructors in armoured combat. She can 'do for herself'. If the monster comes through the door she will kill it or die trying.
My step-mother is a weak willed & weak bodied person who is unworthy of respect. Who thought she was peaceful & non-violent even as she would call the cops to do her violence for her. She was once observed to freak out and wring her hands when one of her students became uncontrollable. Neither I nor any of my half-brothers respect her due to this weakness of spirit.
It is one thing to help or defend those who
cannot defend themselves. It is another to encounter those who
will not defend or help themselves but expect, nay demand, you to do for them instead.
My Code demands I help the former, but it makes helping the latter... optional.
<getting off soap box>
Having said the above however.....
I will never be as good in a tournament as those Lords & Ladies I face who can look to the sidelines and see the face of the person they love inspiring them to do well just one more time. Not until I myself have such an Inspiration.
For me my Chivalry is influenced by a few things. Amongst them is Choice, Being An Inspiration To Others, Being Inspired By Others, but sometimes it's all about the Love.
And as to Women well.... Fighter Chicks iz sexy, and sexy is damn inspiring for Chivalry too. (Who here would not show great Chivalry to
Zoe Washburne yes?)
Did any of this make sense?
-Ivan
