I am a Pictish Province

Much to the bemusement of William, i have developed a model for understanding human interactions. He wonders why people are always at him to be more communicative and tell them stuff.

1. The hostage situation
This, i tell him, is because most people make friends via hostages. Just as one nobleman cemented his relationship with another by sending his son off to be fostered there, so people make friends. I tell you x amount of me-crap, you tell me x amount of you-crap, and lo! we are in a hostage situation. So that's why people find it really weird being friends with will- he does not give you hostages in return, but he keeps your hostages very nicely in his castle, he hasn't sent an army against you or told nasty tales about you at court.

2. The tribituary relationship
William: ah. I have all of your shit and you have none of mine.
me: exactly. You are Northumbria and I am a Pictish province. I am in a tribituary relationship with you.
William: *silence* right... i'm having that for an MSN name. 'Amy is tribituary to me. Do not know what to think of this.'


ed: actually, the interesting thing about that model is that the picts revolted and killed Ecgfrid of Northumbria. hmmm...