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Sailing from Themyscira: Names
“I’m just concerned, Diana. The only people I’ve seen before who were as eager as you to go to war… well, it didn’t go well for them, is all. It turns out to be a lot more, and worse, than they expect.”
The Amazon is unmoved. “I know what war is, Steventrevor. I have studied it for all of my life.” She continues watching the turquoise water, not even turning to look at him.
Steve sighs. “Look, we’ve been over this. You don’t have to call me by my whole name all the time. You can just say ‘Steve’.”
“You have said so, yes. But that seems very disrespectful. I wouldn’t call Antiope ‘Anti,’ after all.”
Steve pauses, sorting through the cascade of Greek names he’s struggled to master over the past few days. “Wait, your general? But I thought she was your auntie.”
Her head swivels sharply at this, braid swinging. “Are you trying to make a joke from the name of the finest warrior who ever lived on Themyscira, Steventrevor?”
His hands fly up. “No, no! I was–oh, look, sorry, I think I just misheard you. No, listen, I don’t think I’ve explained nicknames properly. Do Amazons not have nicknames– I mean, short friendly versions of each other’s names?”
“We call each other by our names. For Amazons, names are names. Friendly or not does not matter… also, I do not think I like any ways my name could be shorter.”
“Okay. Well, all I mean to say is, this is something men do. And for me, I’m more comfortable if you just call me Steve.”
Diana turns fully towards him, clearly curious. She sets aside her bow and its tethered fishing arrow and sits back against the gunwale, knees drawn up. “Really. You are telling me that men are less proud than Amazons? This is not something I had expected.”
Steve considers this, starting once to answer before catching himself. Finally, warily: “I would not say less proud, exactly. Men are proud of different things, I think. And proud in different ways.”
The slight vertical crease forms on her forehead that he is starting to learn means a curve ball is coming. “When you say men…” she muses. “Do you mean all people in Man’s World, or the men specifically?”
Even as Steve feels he should know better, he answers at once. “Oh, everyone, definitely.”
“Well if you mean all humanity, you should probably say so. I assumed you were talking just about men.”
“I’ll, uh, try to do that. But when it comes to pride and being touchy about it, I don’t think men and women are that much different.”
“That seems unlikely to me. But no matter, I wouldn’t expect you to speak for women. I’ll learn about that on my own, or from someone else.”
Steve can’t help feeling hurt by this, given how patient he always is with her, how much he tries to help her understand. “Look, I wasn’t trying to speak for women. I’m just telling you what people do!”
Diana leans forward, puts her hand on his arm. “Of course! I understand, and I’m very appreciative.” He is instantly mollified. Then she goes on, “I just realize there’s a lot you don’t know. I wouldn’t want to expect too much of you.”
She sits back, giving him her dazzling smile, happy to do him this little favor. The combination feels to him like he’s just been thrown off a carousel at high speed. He blinks, trying to stop the spinning. Trying to get his wind back.
“So,” she resumes – content to have resolved that side-trek – “People are proud differently from Amazons, and not about their names. Men and women throughout the world have long proper names, but do not use them. Yes?”
“Oh.” Steve feels like he’s just back on his feet and she’s already off and running again. “You know, I actually have no idea how common nicknames are around the world? But I can at least say they’re used by most everybody in America and England.”
“I see. Yes.”
“And, well… people do prefer their full names sometimes. Actually, you should always use proper names, and titles if appropriate, in formal settings. Or when dealing with any important people. Nicknames are for– between friends. Or colleagues, anyway.”
“I think I see. And which are we?”
“Both, I hope.” He wonders why he is fiddling so much with his unraveling shirt button as he waits for her answer.
At last she says, “Yes, I think so too. And because it will make you more comfortable, I will call you Steve.”
Steve gives a quick relieved exhale: half sigh, half laugh. “Thank you.”
“And you will call me Diana, and not nick my name.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Diana.” He couldn't be more serious.
The Amazon is unmoved. “I know what war is, Steventrevor. I have studied it for all of my life.” She continues watching the turquoise water, not even turning to look at him.
Steve sighs. “Look, we’ve been over this. You don’t have to call me by my whole name all the time. You can just say ‘Steve’.”
“You have said so, yes. But that seems very disrespectful. I wouldn’t call Antiope ‘Anti,’ after all.”
Steve pauses, sorting through the cascade of Greek names he’s struggled to master over the past few days. “Wait, your general? But I thought she was your auntie.”
Her head swivels sharply at this, braid swinging. “Are you trying to make a joke from the name of the finest warrior who ever lived on Themyscira, Steventrevor?”
His hands fly up. “No, no! I was–oh, look, sorry, I think I just misheard you. No, listen, I don’t think I’ve explained nicknames properly. Do Amazons not have nicknames– I mean, short friendly versions of each other’s names?”
“We call each other by our names. For Amazons, names are names. Friendly or not does not matter… also, I do not think I like any ways my name could be shorter.”
“Okay. Well, all I mean to say is, this is something men do. And for me, I’m more comfortable if you just call me Steve.”
Diana turns fully towards him, clearly curious. She sets aside her bow and its tethered fishing arrow and sits back against the gunwale, knees drawn up. “Really. You are telling me that men are less proud than Amazons? This is not something I had expected.”
Steve considers this, starting once to answer before catching himself. Finally, warily: “I would not say less proud, exactly. Men are proud of different things, I think. And proud in different ways.”
The slight vertical crease forms on her forehead that he is starting to learn means a curve ball is coming. “When you say men…” she muses. “Do you mean all people in Man’s World, or the men specifically?”
Even as Steve feels he should know better, he answers at once. “Oh, everyone, definitely.”
“Well if you mean all humanity, you should probably say so. I assumed you were talking just about men.”
“I’ll, uh, try to do that. But when it comes to pride and being touchy about it, I don’t think men and women are that much different.”
“That seems unlikely to me. But no matter, I wouldn’t expect you to speak for women. I’ll learn about that on my own, or from someone else.”
Steve can’t help feeling hurt by this, given how patient he always is with her, how much he tries to help her understand. “Look, I wasn’t trying to speak for women. I’m just telling you what people do!”
Diana leans forward, puts her hand on his arm. “Of course! I understand, and I’m very appreciative.” He is instantly mollified. Then she goes on, “I just realize there’s a lot you don’t know. I wouldn’t want to expect too much of you.”
She sits back, giving him her dazzling smile, happy to do him this little favor. The combination feels to him like he’s just been thrown off a carousel at high speed. He blinks, trying to stop the spinning. Trying to get his wind back.
“So,” she resumes – content to have resolved that side-trek – “People are proud differently from Amazons, and not about their names. Men and women throughout the world have long proper names, but do not use them. Yes?”
“Oh.” Steve feels like he’s just back on his feet and she’s already off and running again. “You know, I actually have no idea how common nicknames are around the world? But I can at least say they’re used by most everybody in America and England.”
“I see. Yes.”
“And, well… people do prefer their full names sometimes. Actually, you should always use proper names, and titles if appropriate, in formal settings. Or when dealing with any important people. Nicknames are for– between friends. Or colleagues, anyway.”
“I think I see. And which are we?”
“Both, I hope.” He wonders why he is fiddling so much with his unraveling shirt button as he waits for her answer.
At last she says, “Yes, I think so too. And because it will make you more comfortable, I will call you Steve.”
Steve gives a quick relieved exhale: half sigh, half laugh. “Thank you.”
“And you will call me Diana, and not nick my name.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Diana.” He couldn't be more serious.