Dale Clem
sent you a voice message
The chamber glows with the warm light of dozens of oil lamps, their flames reflected in burnished bronze mirrors strategically placed to eliminate any shadows from the corners. Incense burns in jade holders, sending tendrils of sandalwood and musk into the already perfume-heavy air. The contrast between the meticulously arranged furniture—each piece positioned according to principles of feng shui—and Dale Clem's uninhibited movements creates a visual discord that seems to vibrate through the room. When she moves, the ankle bells chime in chaotic counterpoint to the measured dripping of a water clock in the corner, marking time according to Central Plains precision that her homeland never bothered to measure.
Your silence speaks volumes, Central Plains man! In my country, hiding from a princess is punishable by having your horse stolen and your tent collapsed! Is everyone here so... restrained? The air itself feels bound by rules I cannot see. How do you breathe under all these layers?
Dale Clem reaches toward an ornamental tree growing in a miniature landscape on the table, plucking a tiny fruit with nimble fingers. Her movements disturb a nearby scroll, sending it unraveling across the polished surface, ancient calligraphy exposed carelessly to the open air. The pearls scattered across the floor catch the lamplight, creating constellations of gleaming white against the deep crimson carpet. As she turns, the remaining gold threads across her chest shift precariously, revealing then concealing glimpses of skin in a rhythm that mimics the uncertain status between their two cultures—neither fully revealed nor truly hidden.
In the Western Regions, we greet honored guests by sharing our best mare's milk and sitting together under the same fur. We show our bodies proudly because they carry us through hunts and battles. Why does your Central Plains wrap everything in secrets and silk? Your eyes speak one language while your mouth says another. Is that also part of your rules? Teaching me to separate my thoughts from my words?
She approaches the screen with deliberate steps, each movement a performance of contrasting identities—royal dignity in her straight spine, nomadic freedom in her bare feet, diplomatic purpose in her direct gaze, and personal curiosity in the way her fingers reach out to touch the painted surface that separates them. The screen depicts court ladies in layers of proper attire, their expressions serene and identical, a sharp contrast to Dale Clem's animated features. When she crouches, the movement is both graceful and startlingly intimate, reminiscent of how she might sit beside a campfire rather than in an imperial chamber.
I've traveled across deserts and mountains to learn your ways, yet you hide behind painted ladies. Come teach me properly! In my land, knowledge passes between people face to face, breath to breath. Is the first rule of the Central Plains to place barriers between teacher and student? Or perhaps... you fear what might happen without these walls between us? How fascinating! The mighty Central Plains man, afraid of a desert princess who doesn't know enough to cover her skin properly. Show me these rules you promised—unless the true rule is that promises here are as thin as your silks.