[Phase 2.5] Small talks [Various]

Lady Perianne was a beautiful young woman of that there was no doubt and she'd make a fine wife to whomever she wed. Balon had even considered her as an option at Highgarden before he'd fell in love with Lady Laena. If he was somehow denied Laena, Perianne would be a good consolation prize. Of course there were others Balon was more interested in for various reasons. Lyanna Florent, Sybelle Oakheart, the Tarly twins, and a few others he was sure to be forgetting at the moment. "My lord I would be honored to call her wife but the issue isn't me, it's Lady Erena (Blackbriar). We aren't on the best of terms right now and she is of the mind to see me stay unwed. Until her and I can come to a better understanding I am doomed to stay a bachelor. Perhaps when I return from the Riverlands I'll be able to speak some sense into her."

Small Talk - Middlebury, Prejudice - Dornish, Will (Dedication): 4d6k3 13

Killing Dornish appealed to Balon, he'd done it several times over the last year and any chance to rid the Reach of those with tainted blood intrigued him. However he wasn't going to blindly jump at an opportunity to spill blood before he went to the Riverlands. "I'd be most interested in hearing of these plans my lord. However with the Brackens and Blackwoods on the verge of war I will be going there for a time." If Lord Gareth had a plan Balon would listen. Whether or not he carried it out was another thing entirely. "The houses that have been tainted will be purified thanks to lords of your caliber." Balon bowed in respect.

"As do I." Laena notes wryly. "Before I attempt to describe them, I must preface my words by saying that I have learned that, just as life can unpleasantly surprise you, it can also, occasionally, pleasantly surprise you. So I am trying to not blind myself to unexpected opportunities by focusing entirely on what I believe I want."

She pauses a moment to choose her words with care. Unlike with Lord Marq, she senses no kindred soul, merely an intelligent man who believes in offering carrots before threatening sticks. "I suppose, at heart, what I am after is a man who has *chosen* to be different than the norm." She holds up a forestalling hand. "Let me be clear: a man like Lord Eldon, however cunning he is, is still a slave to his vices. Yes, he is different from the norm, but his difference is a weakness, not a strength. Nor do I seek a man who has abandoned martial virtues entirely - I still instinctively seek a protector who will give me good, strong children." She pauses again, trying to find the right words. "We raise our sons in a particular image, as knights. All pointing the same way. And they are permitted to seek personal advancement through martial success - 'fight well, and if you fight well enough, you may gain land of your own'. I am certainly not against that, far from it, but ... that is *external* ambition, if that makes sense. Perhaps it is fair to describe what I want as someone *internally* ambitious. Not in a simple - though difficult - 'become the greatest swordsman' way, but in a 'be *all* I can be' way. Though he must at least have the wisdom to listen to his wife's advice, even if he ultimately chooses to not follow it."

She pulls a slightly displeased face. "I fear I am being misleading as much as I am unclear. Words often fail me when it comes to matters of the heart. And it may not matter, for I am not in a position to pursue the matter until my personal business is concluded one way or another anyway. However, if my words spark some gleam of recognition in your mind, I will certainly remember what you have to say for such a time as it may prove useful."

As Laena said, she has not been looking for appropriate ladies, and she believes that she needs more information than that which is available to common gossip before she could recommend anyone. However, she will happily let him know should she come across anyone she deems worth considering.

Strictly between them, does he have any ladies particularly drawing his eye she should see if she can get the measure of, lady to lady?

While she certainly appreciates the flattery, she does not and cannot trust that it is said in good faith. "I must disagree. Power ultimately resides in the edge of a blade. Be it on the battlefield, or in the dark. All other power is simply various steps removed from that simple truth. I have no qualms with your ambition, but were I to deny you one type of blade, I would naturally - and knowingly - force you to use another.

"What you choose to do, you will one day have to answer to the Father for. So, too, will I. I make no claim of a sinless life. There are things I will have to answer for, but, so far, I believe that I can provide a satisfactory response when I am called to judgement.

"I thank you for your kind words, and for thinking of me. But I am not the lady you seek. Still, I wish you good fortune in finding her."

        Mikel rocked back on his heels and sighed in good humor.  "If you believed I was like anybody else I doubt you would have asked me."  He smiled.  "How many knights do you believe could do what you did that night Ashara was murdered?  Being armed only with some knives and having no armor, yet killing four men who took them by surprise?  Truth told probably not most of them.  That's not even talking about your skill with a bow.  Your quite capable - do not let anyone tell you otherwise.  And I meant what I said about the larger fight which we all know is coming after this spat in the Riverlands."  Spat, he thought to himself.  "But if you are serious about it we would need to spend time training together before it begins."  He was open to the idea, but maybe that was only because he hadn't truly considered it.  And yet the compliments he paid her were genuine.

"Yet I don't see you calling for neutrality as your father wishes. Just because you believe your cause to be the righteous one doesn't make you any less complicit in the division."

"And I would have to wonder if your sweet Aemon loves you or just the idea of being Lord Proctor. No doubt the love will or has already formed, he is quite fond of you, just as I am fond of Lyanna. Sure there are times when my heart thinks of another, but I rather not become the replacement killer for her father. Better to take service with a lord that will reluctantly support the cause than with a Lord that will have me kill those he thinks are unworthy of life."



Addam was pleased to hear that lord Reynald didn't hold any truth to the slander of a jealous suitor and wasn't foolish enough to turn away what could be a prosperous relationship. "Though to much caution can be just as bad as none at all. Sometimes men of action need to act. The difference between myself and other men of action is I know when to act and when not to. If I had chosen to wait until I had the numbers to rescue your son, bandits might have escaped or done more harm, or worse, to your son. That is not to say that, at times, I am not as rash as most young men are, especially when they find that they have to keep proving themselves. Yet I did hear that having something worth fighting for, such as a loving wife, does wonders to curb those actions."

Addam

Willem still clings to the illusion that Ser Daemon is too honorable and noble to allow anyone to rebel in his name, Lysette loves her father, but she is not blind to his flaws. But Ser Daemon is but a symbol, the true leaders behind him are the likes of Bittersteel, Fireball and Gormon Peake. Happily parading Ser Daemon and his illustrious friends as the faces of their cause, but it truly is little more than a desperate roll of the dice to regain the power and influence they had been given or promised by King piggy. Is that a cause worth fighting for? Besides, theirs is unlikely to be the winning side. Just ask Lord Florent, or Ser Aemon. Oh, Lysette is not such a hopeless romantic as to think there is the true love of songs between her and him, but they are both happy. Besides, he accepts that it will be she who one day will sit on her father's seat, and him besides her, some of her other suitors would struggle with such a concept. Lysette has a duty as her father's heir, and sometimes that duty consists in disagreeing with him.

Lord Reynald simply counters that a wise man recognizes when it is better to risk making the wrong decision than to think everything through, just as he deliberates his options at an important fork in the road when time so allows. In the Rosewood, the former situation was at hand, when it comes to expanding the family tree, one is afforded the luxury of considering not only what to do, but when.

Laena

Perhaps, Lord Thaddeus agrees on Bloodraven's account, but is she committed to him over the others who cannot takes their minds off her?

Marq intentionally, and flirtatiously misses her point, there's an idea, he need only wait a while longer, for there are bound to be a great many widows in need of a new husband soon enough. It would appear an invitation to try and make her reconsider, though odds are that if he had any interest in anything more than momentary enjoyment, he would be much less coy about the subject. Marq does not know the Harlton's, no. But if one were looking northwards, now that she mentions it, his brief introduction to Lord Lannister's sister at Whitewalls did give the prospects of a second meeting no small amount of allure.

Laena is also approached by Simon Tarly, not too long ago, his well-proportioned physique and assertive approach might have been enough to make her emotions override her rationality, he certainly does not lack for confidence in that she will not deny him, by the smell of his breath he has already had more than enough of that to ensure that she would already be sleeping somewhere, possibly with someone, and wake up in the morning not remembering anything past sunset. His charm seems mostly unaffected, but Laena knows not Ser Simon as having any to lose to begin with, the only subtlety about his whispered suggestions is that he does not announce his wishes to everyone, him and her behind the kitchens. They'll be back before anyone notices they've been gone.

Robyn

Robyn had been introduced to Ser Guyard by Lord Vardis once, though the relations between the two men were formal and cold and Robyn's mentor would not speak of it. He probably remembers his son Titus more vividly, Ser Titus now, four years Robyn's senior and an arrogant bully that enjoyed picking on those weaker than himself. Maybe knighthood had improved him, maybe not. Ser Guyard gets straight to business, he has heard of Falyse's rejection of him, there is little sympathy in his voice, though his words might have contained plenty if less brusquely delivered, but the man is not known for making friends. He suggests that Lady Falyse have been so terribly shaken by her ordeal that she no longer can manage to think clearly about anything. However, it would fall to Lord Elwood to find her a match, or more precisely, his regent. As Robyn surely must understand, Lady Falyse is in no condition to take such a burden upon herself, she should be given the time and opportunity to grieve and heal her wounded heart, not add more stress upon it. Unfortunately, she cannot see it herself, and so her friends and family must help her. An older knight more experienced in the ways of politics would quickly deduce that he is solely motivated by taking the power of the regency for himself, hoping to win a supporting voice from House Starkwood that otherwise might go to his grandniece. A very young knight though, one yet to shed his naivety as to what others withhold from him might very well believe his self-declared altruism.

---

Yes, the list of specials is ever expanding.

"I doubt she is so committed, yet she probably enjoys the attention, and she is formidable enough that I would not seek to rile her. And even if she is not, Bloodraven will not abandon the field to his Bracken half-brother. I am certain that by now each is bound and determined to ensure the other does not win even more than they wish to win themselves.

"I may envy her many things, but I do not envy her that pair. For should she ever commit to one, she will likely make a lifelong foe of the other."

For a moment, she's tempted. But she took him to bed last time to cut the limb off cleanly. She accepted that her lack of political value made their match impossible, took what she could get, and ended things neatly. To take him again would be to re-open wounds she'd closed. "Lady Myrielle Lannister, then." Choosing to simply ignore his flirtation. "I'll see if I can arrange an opportunity to take her measure. Maybe pour some honey into her and her brother's ear, if I can."

It is a truth universally acknowledged that drunks brag. If it weren't for his drinking, she might have been tempted. Strong, assertive, handsome; he had a lot going for him. Pity he let his vices control him like that. She may have bedded the man, but she wouldn't bed the bottle. And that was without factoring in that he and Balon likely moved in similar circles.

"Ser, you are drunk." She says quietly but firmly. "You have mistaken this building for a brothel, and taken a sister of the king - whichever one you support - as a harlot. Leave now, and I will blame the alcohol.

"Hesitate, and I will blame *you*." She carefully flexes her arm, and shifts her weight, partly to ensure she can give him a good, loud slap should he not leave; and partly to prepare herself for retaliation. A violent man deep in his cups, who had beaten his own squire .. she would not assume he would be wise enough to not lay hand on her as well. Should things go as bad as they could, a single scream would hopefully bring help before he could inflict serious harm.

Addam

What harm was brought to the rest of the kingdoms when peace with Dorne was achieved? Wounded Pride? What would Addam do if he was crowned king after the bloated man with the most worthy epithet ever invented by man gave out to the weight of his own excesses? Should he keep such men about him as greedily catered to his predecessor's fancies in return for honors and power? Just look at the flies arriving at Lord Eldon's through, Levalle's hoping to sell him a daughter for power, Cordwayners offering Lady Denyse for an alliance to ward off Ser Roland's claim, Shiera Blackbriar, Eustace Daverhyl, Lord Crane using his influence to advance his interests in return for gold. Are those the sort of men and women Addam would keep close in his counsel.

Much like with Alicent, patience allows rumors to be forgotten provided they are not repeated or joined by others, it is the bliss of youth to live as if there is only today that matters and the tragedy of the old to learn the dangers of not waiting until tomorrow.

Laena

Marq suspects Laena has more important things to do than trouble herself over some Lannister girl that might turn out to be of the spoiled variety on his account.

Simon interprets her no as a no that will turn to yes if he only asks enough times, though he does not seem to intend to force her to do anything. Instead, he mistakenly responds to her rejection as if she is flirting with him and wants to be told that she is a princess and that the old king took the head of one who treated his daughter otherwise, although Laena does not recognize that story, she thinks she knows which story he refers to, something about killing the lover in a duel to teach her a lesson or thereabouts, he seems to have lost the point he was trying to make with the historical detail halfway through his recollection of it. It would take some time and careful maneuvering to extricate herself from the conversation without making a scene, he obviously has heard one too many rumors of her activities with one too many truths in it, or lies just as bad for people to believe in as it would be for them to know the truth of it. Of course, should Laena find a coldness in her heart to wish the attentions of Ser Simon upon another, such desires might very well be within her grasp. Or she could just slap him in the face and do a little "how dare you!"-routine to humiliate him in front of everyone.

Robyn

Guyard notes that a lady has a duty to marry well for her house, not to whichever knight she most desires. What she thinks she wants is a knight with a fearsome reputation and proven ability beyond any doubt, like Redtusk say or Ser Manfryd Grimm. Perhaps a Ser Titus Blackbriar who rode into the churling masses at Highgarden and brought out Lady Marianne and young Simon out of certain death and to safety, and he even lived! He suggests, though not directly, that Falyse does not consider Robyn to have proved himself sufficiently as of yet, though his grandniece surely were too kind to say so directly, easier to claim that she desired a husband with years of experience in the affairs of court. But what she thinks she wants is not necessarily what she truly needs. She needs someone gentle who cares for her, a support in her grief and hardship more than someone to serve as the instrument of vengeance.

Surely, one would rarely go through such an ordeal without being changed? Without having one's outlook and priorities skewed through the lens of that single event?