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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 4, 2018 7:06:26 GMT 1
Ser Balon's night had been interesting. To say anything less would've been an understatement. His gaffe with Lord Leo had been a breath away from disaster only to have Lady Laena (of House Starkwood) sweep in and save him. His inability to secure an audience with Lord Roxton was followed by an encounter with the beautiful Lady Jeyne. As the evening progressed his embarrassment with Lord Tyrell seemed like a distant memory.
He looked across the room and noticed an enchanting beauty in a gown of white. Balon stayed his distance for awhile and observed the young woman. He wasn't sure of who she was but it seemed she was in high demand. As she was talking to an individual Balon felt like she made eye contact with him and smiled. Feeling confident after his one-on-one with Lady Jeyne, Balon polished off his cup of wine, combed back his mop of brown hair, and wiped away any wine in his goatee. When she was alone Balon strode up confidently and bowed to the Lady. "My name is Ser Balon Blackbriar. I've traveled the Reach but don't recall ever making your acquaintance. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Balon is being honest, he is unaware of who you are.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 5, 2018 4:46:48 GMT 1
Lysette was rather surprised at the knight's words. Not that she fancied herself any kind of celebrity in the Reaches, but most knights of his age would know of the Companions, and from there it was a short hop to the Lord's yet-unwed daughter. Especially with her House's unusual situation.
She offered a curtsy, her moment of confusion delaying it just a breath longer than was strictly proper.
"I'm Lysette Starling," the lady said then with a nod. Then she added, "It's likely you've heard of my father at least, Lord Willem Starling of Kingsbridge. Or have you not considered throwing in under the banner of the Companions?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 5, 2018 8:04:05 GMT 1
Balon's eyes widened when she said who she was. The name was known to him as most female heirs were highly sought after, though that's not why he had approached her. "Forgive me my lady. I have indeed heard of you," Balon smiled, "but those that have described you failed to accurately portray your beauty." The compliment was genuine if not a little ham-fisted. "But now I fear you'll think I have an ulterior motive speaking with you." Balon couldn't remember her paying homage to Lord and Lady Tyrell but was happy he'd missed it as he'd probably stayed clear had he known who she was.
Looking around to the crowd Balon asked, "I suspect events like this can be both exciting and tedious for you. Exciting to make new friends and reacquaint with old ones. Simultaneously annoying to have so many lords and knights seek your attention for all the wrong reasons." Balon shrugged his shoulders, "What is a lady to do?"
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 5, 2018 23:55:01 GMT 1
"Attend and do her best, I suppose," Lysette replies with a smile. "Secure in the knowledge that this too shall pass."
"I'm curious though. If you do not have an ulterior motive for speaking with me...what motive do you have? Just seeking conversation?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 6, 2018 4:11:42 GMT 1
"All things pass." Balon said ruefully, as if he was speaking of something else. Quickly bringing his attention back to the lady in front of him he answered her question with light hearted self-deprecation, "Oh I'm not smart enough to have an ulterior motive my lady. My conversation with Lord Leo earlier this evening proves that." he smiled sheepishly, "I saw a young lady that drew the interest of many men here and wanted to know why. Simple curiosity is my motive. I may not be the most learned man but it doesn't mean I don't enjoy understanding."
Balon thought back to advice he was given when he was a squire, "What does a woman like you enjoy? The company of other ladies? The joust? The melee? Or the fastest way away from it all?"
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 7, 2018 0:54:35 GMT 1
Lysette's eyes widen slightly and she starts to repeat, "The company...oh!" she breaks into a flustered laugh. "I must have my ears checked by our maester."
With a little cough to clear her throat, she turns to the question at hand. "Ah, lets see. Enjoyment. A curious word, isn't it? What brings one joy."
She trails off thoughtfully. "Calm and quiet. Long discussions by a fire, or perhaps by water. A dog curled up over my feet asleep. A stack of books close at hand, and a bit of wine and cheese to enjoy while reading them."
"Small things, I suppose. Maybe even boring? But those are the times, when I think back, that I felt joy."
Her sapphire eyes lifted to meet Balon's. "Tell me what brings Balon Blackbriar joy."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 7, 2018 5:10:57 GMT 1
Realizing what he'd asked had more than one meaning Balon chortled as Lysette laughed. She trails off thoughtfully. "Calm and quiet. Long discussions by a fire, or perhaps by water. Thinking back to his childhood Balon agreed, "I do enjoy the water. As a child I remember playing in the creek for what seemed like forever then lying on a blanket and letting the warm breeze dry me. My brother and I would stare up at the clouds and talk about what famous knights we'd be when we grew up. Everyone in the Reach would sing of our tales." Balon smiled and sighed at the memory, "The carefree days of youth..." Turning his attention back to Lysette, "And while you're by these fires and water my lady, what do you like to discuss? The finer points of jousting I assume?" he lightly teased. "A stack of books close at hand, and a bit of wine and cheese to enjoy while reading them." "I read from time to time. As a page to Lord Gormon he said it was important for a knight to know how to read and write. Tell me Lady Lysette, Kostagon ao pikībagon Valyrīha?" To save you the time 'Kostagon ao pikībagon Valyrīha?' is 'can you read Valyrian' in, well, Valyrian. lol "Small things, I suppose. Maybe even boring? But those are the times, when I think back, that I felt joy." This was the second time tonight he'd heard from a lady that what she thought interesting was boring. Again Balon offered the opposite, "If it brings you joy then it's not boring, my lady. Just because the young and cocksure knights might not want to partake doesn't mean it doesn't have value." What did ladies do for fun? Needlepoint? Gossip? Balon realized he didn't have the slightest idea. Well there was one thing, but he wasn't bringing that up. Her sapphire eyes lifted to meet Balon's. "Tell me what brings Balon Blackbriar joy." Balon stumbled over his words for a moment as he looked into her sapphire eyes, finding himself lost in them for a moment, "Wha... what do I find joy in?" Balon began the mental process of scratching out what he couldn't say aloud, "If you'd asked me three years ago I would've said tournaments. What knight doesn't like having women swooning over him, handing out their favors, the chant of the crowd." Balon added honestly, "Now true I still very much like those things but as I get older I look for comradery among the knights of the Reach and hopefully," Balon was slightly embarrassed, "the companionship of a woman." Balon quickly realized what he'd said wasn't what he meant and choked as he tried to clarify, "I meant, eh, I hope that I find a woman who'd be honored to call me husband someday." By the Seven keep it together Balon he chastised himself.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 7, 2018 6:46:11 GMT 1
To Balon's inquiry in Valyrian, she just smiled a little and replied, "Kessa, gaoman."
The little smile stayed the same as Balon stumbled over his answer to her question for him, somehow amused without quite being mocking.
"I suppose I can imagine the appeal of winning a tournament, and companionship is something anyone can want. But I'm curious about the camaraderie among knights. What is it knights do together, when they're not pretending to smash each other open on fields...or not pretending on other fields?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 8, 2018 6:10:13 GMT 1
Balon's smile grew wider when she spoke Valyrian. " Comely, well-read, and speaks Valyrian. I'm beginning to understand why so many lords and knights seek your audience, my lady." There was the fact she was a female heir, but Balon assumed that was the last thing she wanted to hear about. "I suppose I can imagine the appeal of winning a tournament, and companionship is something anyone can want. But I'm curious about the camaraderie among knights. What is it knights do together, when they're not pretending to smash each other open on fields...or not pretending on other fields?" Balon thought for a moment and laughed a little when he came up with an answer, " Mostly we talk about all the times we pretended, and actually, smashed each other." There was a thoughtful expression on his face as he continued, " But when it comes to real friends? Then we talk about everything. Not just the martial pursuits but our hopes. What we want and how to attain it. Seeking advice and wisdom in difficult times. Take the current state of the realm for example." Balon's tone turned more serious, " A great many people are not happy with the King's rule and the way he brought Dorne into the kingdom. What better way to to express your concern than with your comrades?" " Do you not worry about the Dornish and their long history of violence and treachery against the Reach? Now King Daeron expects us to call them brothers. I've spoke with other knights about it. Haven't you spoken with your close circle about it?"
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 8, 2018 6:36:30 GMT 1
"Ahh, politics," says Lysette. "I prefer to avoid it when I can. Very few things turn a friendly conversation into something more uncomfortable faster."
"That said, it's a common enough sentiment held among knights of the Reach. I suppose maybe it's in the nature of those trained for war to want war. It could certainly explain the bleak cycles of history."
She peers up at Balon for a moment, then says, "I'm not trained for war, so I'm sure there is nuance to the position that I don't understand. Maybe you can enlighten me? What would you prefer to see happen? Imagine that the king was persuaded, as if by magic, to overnight support your views in their entirety. What would he tomorrow order?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 8, 2018 7:11:06 GMT 1
"Ahh, politics," says Lysette. "I prefer to avoid it when I can. Very few things turn a friendly conversation into something more uncomfortable faster." " Aye, that is true my lady. But sometimes it's necessary to know where one stands." Balon realized his tone seemed off-putting and added, " This not being one of those times." She peers up at Balon for a moment, then says, "I'm not trained for war, so I'm sure there is nuance to the position that I don't understand. Maybe you can enlighten me? What would you prefer to see happen? Imagine that the king was persuaded, as if by magic, to overnight support your views in their entirety. What would he tomorrow order?" " Excellent question my lady." Balon stood in silence for a moment. Pondering what the King would do in this scenario. " First and foremost he'd correct the mistake of passing over Ser Quentyn Ball for a position in the Kingsguard. I can think of no finer knight worthy of that particular honor." Balon thought back to the main points older knights and lords had objected to when an accord with Dorne was reached, " The Dornish wouldn't be allowed to retain the title of prince and princess. All the kingdoms bent the knee to the Targaryens. The kings and queens of old were no less noble," Balon corrected himself, " more noble in my opinion. To not carry the same title is a stain on the honor of all Lords Paramount." " And why does Sunspear get to collect the taxes meant for the Red Keep but the Reach doesn't? Yet another slap in the face of us Reachmen. That would end. Thirty years ago an entire generation of Reachmen bled and died on the sands of Dorne in support of the King and we're repaid by the Dornish," Lysette could hear the venom in the word Dornish, " receiving concessions never granted to us." " And worst of all was their treachery and violation of guest right that led to the death of Lord Lyonel Tyrell and his men. Why bring a viper into your bed?" Balon took a deep breath and calmed himself, " I'm sorry for all of that my lady. I just get so worked up about all of this."
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 8, 2018 17:57:03 GMT 1
Lysette felt counterarguments burbling up from within, but held her tongue for the moment. This wasn't the time to get into a fight over things. Still, something was odd. She tilted her head slightly, trying to suss it out.
"Forgive me for my presumption, but you don't strike me as someone who would be so passionate about matters of abstract policy, like who's in the Kingsguard, or the intricacies of tax policy. Is there some personal grief you lay at the feet of Dorne, by any chance?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 8, 2018 19:19:40 GMT 1
As Balon regained his composure he realized he'd left out an important detail, "My apologies my lady for I failed to mention I squired for Ser Quentyn Ball. Hence why I care so much about the dishonor he received by being passed over."
"As for Dorne," it seemed obvious to him, "I need to look no further than the history between them, the Reach, and the Stormlands. As you said, you're an avid reader. Surely you've read of their duplicity and treachery. Their odd customs and lasciviousness nature. They can't be trusted. I share the same grudge all proper knights of the Reach have." Balon looked at her quizzically, "I understand you're under no compunction to answer but has your father never shared these concerns with you?"
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Post by Lysette Starling on Jul 8, 2018 19:42:06 GMT 1
"Ahh, I see." Lysette nods. "My father fought against the Dornish honorably and well, and has spoken of his campaigns at length with me. I don't know that he has the same fire of passion you do, but he calls no one from Dorne friend."
"For myself, I realize there are long-standing differences between their people and ours, but I've always been of the hope they can be resolved peaceably over time." She smiles at that. "Perhaps a last scrap of fading innocence, who can say?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 9, 2018 4:43:30 GMT 1
"The feats of your father on the battlefield are well known and celebrated. Like the Oakhearts, the Starlings have long been stalwarts against the Dornish menace." Lysette could tell Balon was being honest. He clearly viewed her father as a heroic figure.
"As to peace, a thousand years of violence suggests otherwise but what does a simple knight like me know?" Balon was polite in his disagreement. "As for innocence, I suppose we all lose it as we grow older. The world has a way of doing that to the best of us." Seeing the conversation had took a decidedly wrong turn Balon decided it was a best to depart.
"My lady, you've been very kind in entertaining me but I'm sure you have more important people to speak with. I hope you have a wonderful time at Highgarden. Perhaps we'll run into each other on the library." Balon smiled and bowed then left after Lysette replied.
With Day 2 starting it makes sense to go ahead and end this. Thank you. [/scene]
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