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Post by Father on Jun 25, 2018 14:54:36 GMT 1
While being a decade older and then some, Lord Bryce Bridges had for a long time viewed himself as of the same generation as Ser Donnel and acted the part, claiming in his deep resonant and cheerful voice on many an occasion that keeping company with those a little bit younger than oneself tricked the stranger into believing that your time would not be up before that of one's companions. He used to be fit and strong for his age as well, a tough opponent in the joust and even more so in the melee. The last time Ser Donnel had faced him, a spectator not knowing better would be well excused to think that Lord Bryce was the younger man, his hair still enviably black, his body muscular and his face full of life. Now it seemed as if the stranger no longer was fooled, Lord Bryce seems to have aged by two decades in just about two years, he clearly has lost weight, his hair was graying and his once vibrant eyes had lost their spark. "It is good to see that there are still proper seasoned knights alive that could care less about all this nonsense, my good ser." His attempt at a humorous greeting is a far way off from the deftness in which he used to deliver them with. |
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 25, 2018 17:05:28 GMT 1
Taken by surprise, Ser Donnel struggles to reckognise who this old knight is.
Understanding slowly dawns upon him, and he remembers how his friend lost his wife just before he stopped making appearances at tournaments.
Stupid! Why did it never occur to me that he might have become devastated... Ser Donnel, never sufficient, never thinking!
To buy time, Ser Donnel grabs the shoulder of his friend, before bringing him in for a hug. I can feel his bones Ser Donnel realizes with horror, before he puts on a cheery face:
"Bryce! Good to see you old friend! I have been looking forward to test my mettle against you again! It was rather undignified the way you unhorsed me at that last wedding tournament! What have you been up to since then? Undoubtedly been busy regaling everyone who would listen about the tales of your heroics?"
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2018 12:12:08 GMT 1
"In the later rounds of the joust, I should hope." Lord Bryce is cheered up by a friendly face and friendly words. "Only the best can be a match for you, and I am no longer at mine. Actually, the story of the great Ser Donnel in the mud would loose it's luster should we face each other again, I think, so let's hope not. I have spent so much time at Lord Tyrell's court that I am running out of tales to tell, must keep those I have."
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 26, 2018 13:27:29 GMT 1
"You stay here at court?" Ser Donnel asks curiously: "Who tends to your lands then? Your grandnephew? I suppose I should be more scared of you now! You have had all this time to hone your skills in the saddle! I fear this will be a repeat, with me ending up in the mud again then!"
Ser Donnel desperately attempts to cheer up his old friend, but he is still shocked at the change. Lord Bryce used to be an icon of how knights should enter their twilight years with dignity... This will not do. Ser Donnel thought to himself we will have to do our best to get you back in the saddle old friend.
See? A double meaning, just like Bryce used to do so well at.
"Now my lord, given that you stay here at court, and how well you befriend everybody, I suppose you can figure out a way to fill our bellies? My brother was the one fortunate enough to recieve the bread and salt!"
I need to know what happened to you friend!
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2018 19:12:25 GMT 1
"Ser Desmond indeed, he does a better job of it than I ever did, so why stick around and undermine his authority? Though Lord Tyrell is not likely to want me as his guest forever, so we'll see. Lady Ysilla really wants me to return though, I suspect she will have forgotten all about that desire once she departs from here." Lady Ysilla is the freest of spirits if there ever was one, carefree, doing as she pleases and living to the fullest in the here and now, had she not been a great bastard, she would never get away with a tenth of it. Donnel mostly remembers her as a girl, and if there ever existed a more energetic child, he never met it. "Leave it to our gracious hosts, Lady Rhonda knows that food and wine is the only way to keep all these people here all evening, or have you been so focused on beating me at the lists not to notice the details of these events" Lord Bryce ignores the hint, he couldn't just leave the reception, that would not do for one who were a guest at Lord Leo's expense.
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 26, 2018 21:32:40 GMT 1
"Aye, I often wonder if it would be better if I stepped back myself. My kids are grown up, the last started serving as a squire last year, but what I always come back to is that they need us oldtimers. My sons needs to be knocked out of the saddle to remember their place... Maybe Ysilla needs someone to guide her more than most? And maybe that is what she has understood when you have been away?"
Ser Donnel shrugs as Bryce decides to stay, it is his choice after all. He jokingly tells Lord Bryce:
"The way we used to drink here, it's a miracle we remembered how to get to this hall at all! I suspect the headaches from being knocked out of the saddle is not helping either."
Knowing details will be sparse with so many people around, Ser Donnel still will attempt to get words of how Bryce is faring:
"Will Ser Desmond attend this gathering? I cannot remember hearing him during the bread and salt, but I might just have been preoccupied." Ser Donnel smiles apologetically: "You know I have never been one for gossip! I like to hear things directly from the source. I would like to know what is new, old friend? I think we both have a lot to share!"
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2018 23:40:17 GMT 1
"Guidance? Her mother encouraged such behavior and when the king had her legitimized, the only way of control left to us would be to have her chained and leashed." Bryce waves away the mere thought of it. "The lady will wear shoes and proper gowns and speak the right words and make the right curtsies when she must, I suspect she even likes it while pretending not to. Else she is her own woman through and through."
"Of course he is here, I may have given him the keys to the castle and the signet ring, but that does not mean that he gets to not come visit, nor give him release to report every little detail of how things are going, for the juicy gossip, I have Ysilla, plus an equally encompassing part that she has made up entirely, then I'll have to go ask around to see which was which."
I don't know what is new, I am getting so old that it is like I have seen it all before, boys grow to young men, young men fight each other for the silliest things, mature men drink and laugh about their past disputes.
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 27, 2018 9:51:07 GMT 1
"Seems you have your task settled for you with Ysilla then." Ser Donnel laughs Who would have thought? Playing two truths and a lie with a bastard, you seem happy friend, that is no less than you deserve after your service! I will not deny you this.
"Aye, the curse of getting old, everything repeats itself, everyday the sun rises, and everyday it sets, we can do nothing about it. All we can do is enjoy the warming sun, and look at the magnificent stars. Although nothing is new, the heat of the sun never grows old!" Ser Donnel claps Ser Bryce on the shoulder: "But something is always different, my brother now has a son, and on the morrow I insist that you meet him! That boy will need to see the look off a true knight!
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Post by Father on Jun 27, 2018 11:52:58 GMT 1
"Yes, yes, when the best he has around is you, ser. I can very much see the need." Bryce pushes a finger into Donnel's shoulder, there is still strength in those arms. "I suppose everyone needs a path to walk, or else they will just wander in circles." It sounds suspiciously like a self-diagnosis.
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 27, 2018 16:19:05 GMT 1
Ser Donnel laughs at the jape, perhaps louder than it merits. That's right old bastard, you hate me way more than you hate yourself. You'll outlive every knight in this room yet.
"Aye, and the path of us knights is a long night, followed by a heavy headache and shivers! And tomorrow you will wear your visor down, so nobody can see how green you are after I drink you under the table!" Ser Donnel slaps the older knights back. And after that we will find you a damn path, even if I have to drag you the whole way.
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Post by Father on Jun 28, 2018 23:22:43 GMT 1
"Hah! Perhaps it is you who have grown so old as to forget your last hangover, ser" Finally, someone who didn't treat him like some withered old whitebeard. "Though I am certain young Lord Willum steal away to Gardenton as soon as he feels he have greeted enough people, I might be persuaded to join those festivities, though only a young man or a fool, a young fool especially, would try to match him drink for drink. But when one is thrice his age or near enough as makes no matter, one can always excuse oneself from partaking in his excess."
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 29, 2018 10:38:19 GMT 1
"Aye, it wouls take a young fool indeed to attempt such a feat! I must admit that I would rather venture to a higher-end establisment tonight, I would prefer to avoid drinking around my son." Ser Donnel smiles: "I do not think I would want to know all his deeds in a place like that, young fool that he is."
Donnel asks Bryce: "You know this city better than I, where would you recomend going?"
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Post by Father on Jun 29, 2018 22:26:47 GMT 1
"I wonder, ser, if your mere presence would ensure that his deeds are a little more respectable?" Bryce shrugs, not caring either way. "As a lord, I learned that oft times one must accept discomfort in the moment to avoid pain in the future."
"Also, if I am to drink tonight, I want to drink where there is life, wizened greybeards ought to know that retiring early and conversing in the morning works just as well as drinking through the night and not be good for much of anything until the afternoon."
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jun 29, 2018 23:31:18 GMT 1
"Aye, I can get that." Seer Donnel is dissapointed not to be joining his friend.
"I will pass on the festivities for today, but I will expect to see you a little worse for wear tomorrow."
Ser Donnel pats his friend on the shoulder as he turns to leave.
[/Scene?"
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Post by Father on Jun 29, 2018 23:39:57 GMT 1
[scene]
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