By Robyn Fleming
One of the things I was most excited about when I got married was that I was going to get a chance to wear a tiara. And not just any tiara, but one created specially for me by my good friend (and awesome artist) Rachel Edidin [Editor's note: See Rachel's "Craft Check: Make Your Own Tiara," in this issue]. When the package from Rachel arrived, I ripped it open in a fever of excitement and, making high-pitched noises of glee, immediately tried on my shiny new crown. And then I photographed it, uploaded the photo, and made a post in my LiveJournal titled “I AM A PRINCESS.”
My wedding accessory was not my first crown. Another favorite head-ornament of mine is a circlet-like creation of fine chainmail, of the type available for sale at renaissance faires everywhere. The circlet consists of a band of mail that goes across my forehead and several thin chains that loop down on the sides, draping over my ears and hair. There’s a sparkly blue pendant on the front that rests between and slightly above my brows. When I wear it, I feel like some kind of elven princess.
I also have a weird headdress made of leather (another ren faire find) that looks like a cross between a helmet and a crown. Warrior princess? You betcha.
I’ve enjoyed my share of elaborate fantasy gowns, too. My wedding dress had floor-length sleeves. My dress-up box when I was a child was stuffed to the brim with satin and lace. But despite my enduring love of princessy accoutrements, I’ve never been attracted to the idea of playing a princess in any of the many RPGs I’ve participated in over the years. I played a noblewoman once, but I’m much more likely to pick scrappy fighter types – characters a little bit more like, well, me.
I’m not in the line of succession for any crown, which is a crucial factor in true princess-hood, but I’m not even a good candidate for the non-royal type of princess. I’m not tall and willowy. I don’t have a porcelain-like complexion; my skin is rough with calluses and is covered with bruises and scratches more often than not. I’m only as graceful as I am because I’ve been doing martial arts since I was six. And I still bump into tables and other furniture with painful regularity. My voice is husky rather than bell-like.
Of course, in a fantasy RPG, none of that matters. So why haven’t I taken advantage of the opportunity to be anyone, and used it to play a character who can fit the princess role in every way?
I guess I’ve just never really wanted to.
I like to read stories and watch movies featuring princess characters now and then – both the classic, delicate and lovely kind and the resourceful, tough ones – but for myself the attraction is all about the accessories. After all, I can be my stocky, coarse, pugnacious self and still wear the occasional sparkly tiara. And if I can have the cool stuff, why would I want anything else?
Article © February 2008 by Robyn Fleming.
