Post by Thaddeus Levalle on Feb 1, 2022 4:40:26 GMT 1
Ser Thaddeus Levalle(Updated)
Heir of House Levalle and Eldest Son of Lord Alliser Levalle
Firstborn…Eldest Son…Heir…of House Levalle…Page…Squire…Knight…if a poor one in most eyes. These were the words his world had used to define him his whole life. There were other words mentioned surely in the Tear or in other corners of the Reach he hoped…perhaps clever, charming, handsome and generous would be fair in his humble opinion. Rich would surely be commented on by others and he was glad of it…he’d yet to run into a time when he was inclined to have less coin available to him. And in the unlikely event that day happened, he was nearly as accomplished at giving it away as he was at spending it!
A few might throw harsher words he knew and they were ones he was not unaccustomed to…wastrel, carouser, sinner. They were unfair to be certain as they were descriptions of moments, hours, nights rather than the whole of his life. But for every clever word he spoke through a constant smile on his family’s behalf…for every deal he negotiated with some merchant or captain in a distant port…for every hour of careful diligence he spent reviewing a new business contact, contract or ally…there were those who only recall or comment on a few hours of revelry in a nearby inn, tavern or brothel.
But to be certain at least those were ones his own actions had earned if only in passing from time to time. There were darker ones that seemed to cling to him like shadows nigh chains since his birth…upjumped, opportunistic, disreputable and of course…Spongeholder. Well son of the Spongeholder in his case or “Daddy Sponge” as one self-styled clever squire had quipped in his youth. He’d long ago learned to ignore the soft whispers or the surely so clever, subtle and unnecessary comments in an otherwise perfectly pleasant conversation. Well…mostly he had but sometimes people surprise you and sometimes people disappoint you…but it’s the having expectations for them at all that probably fucked you in the first place.
For the most part, he preferred his time away from the Reach in a distant city or port. One where he could be a clever, charming, handsome and wealthy stranger to the masses for a time. Honestly a place where he could just be himself rather than the latest product or spawn of something else.
Yet he’d had other words drilled into him since birth…Duty not the least among them. Or their House Words…Resourceful, Resilient, Resolute. He wasn’t sure if he was more than 1 or 2 of those at best but everyone has to start somewhere. And more recently Fear…though he was no great fighter not a fear of the battlefield but a fear of losing what his father or grandfather had compiled… no matter the means.
So he travelled often, sometimes of his own accord but mostly on behalf of his family’s interests. No matter if it was a tour of the Free Cities, an extended stay in the Summer Isles or a trip to King’s Landing or Lannisport…afterward he always returned home…to his family…to his duty. As capable as he was, someone had to help Father from time to time and The Seven knew it wouldn’t be his brother. His feelings for his brother were complicated but in truth if it wasn’t horses, armor, swords or wine his brother had little use for it. But he was knighted a year younger than I lest me never forget. I was nine and ten though damnit, no matter if the next day was to be my name day!
His feelings for his sisters were simpler…Love, Joy, Amusement…but he knew his father would marry them off where he saw advantage. The first marriage had turned out well enough it seemed but that left one remaining and a sister’s hope or fear with it. The only marriage talk he had ever won against his father were in regard to his own and he was fairly certain that war was now ending with his own certain surrender. It was time though he supposed. There was a smell of conflict maybe even war in the air and in those times both allies and heirs were needed. He imagined so were clever, charming, handsome and wealthy men or at least he hoped. Even those that are a bit undisciplined and wish they were elsewhere from time to time.
Heir of House Levalle and Eldest Son of Lord Alliser Levalle
Firstborn…Eldest Son…Heir…of House Levalle…Page…Squire…Knight…if a poor one in most eyes. These were the words his world had used to define him his whole life. There were other words mentioned surely in the Tear or in other corners of the Reach he hoped…perhaps clever, charming, handsome and generous would be fair in his humble opinion. Rich would surely be commented on by others and he was glad of it…he’d yet to run into a time when he was inclined to have less coin available to him. And in the unlikely event that day happened, he was nearly as accomplished at giving it away as he was at spending it!
A few might throw harsher words he knew and they were ones he was not unaccustomed to…wastrel, carouser, sinner. They were unfair to be certain as they were descriptions of moments, hours, nights rather than the whole of his life. But for every clever word he spoke through a constant smile on his family’s behalf…for every deal he negotiated with some merchant or captain in a distant port…for every hour of careful diligence he spent reviewing a new business contact, contract or ally…there were those who only recall or comment on a few hours of revelry in a nearby inn, tavern or brothel.
But to be certain at least those were ones his own actions had earned if only in passing from time to time. There were darker ones that seemed to cling to him like shadows nigh chains since his birth…upjumped, opportunistic, disreputable and of course…Spongeholder. Well son of the Spongeholder in his case or “Daddy Sponge” as one self-styled clever squire had quipped in his youth. He’d long ago learned to ignore the soft whispers or the surely so clever, subtle and unnecessary comments in an otherwise perfectly pleasant conversation. Well…mostly he had but sometimes people surprise you and sometimes people disappoint you…but it’s the having expectations for them at all that probably fucked you in the first place.
For the most part, he preferred his time away from the Reach in a distant city or port. One where he could be a clever, charming, handsome and wealthy stranger to the masses for a time. Honestly a place where he could just be himself rather than the latest product or spawn of something else.
Yet he’d had other words drilled into him since birth…Duty not the least among them. Or their House Words…Resourceful, Resilient, Resolute. He wasn’t sure if he was more than 1 or 2 of those at best but everyone has to start somewhere. And more recently Fear…though he was no great fighter not a fear of the battlefield but a fear of losing what his father or grandfather had compiled… no matter the means.
So he travelled often, sometimes of his own accord but mostly on behalf of his family’s interests. No matter if it was a tour of the Free Cities, an extended stay in the Summer Isles or a trip to King’s Landing or Lannisport…afterward he always returned home…to his family…to his duty. As capable as he was, someone had to help Father from time to time and The Seven knew it wouldn’t be his brother. His feelings for his brother were complicated but in truth if it wasn’t horses, armor, swords or wine his brother had little use for it. But he was knighted a year younger than I lest me never forget. I was nine and ten though damnit, no matter if the next day was to be my name day!
His feelings for his sisters were simpler…Love, Joy, Amusement…but he knew his father would marry them off where he saw advantage. The first marriage had turned out well enough it seemed but that left one remaining and a sister’s hope or fear with it. The only marriage talk he had ever won against his father were in regard to his own and he was fairly certain that war was now ending with his own certain surrender. It was time though he supposed. There was a smell of conflict maybe even war in the air and in those times both allies and heirs were needed. He imagined so were clever, charming, handsome and wealthy men or at least he hoped. Even those that are a bit undisciplined and wish they were elsewhere from time to time.