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Post by Father on Oct 15, 2018 11:52:43 GMT 1
Alliser receives an invitation from no other than Lady Alicent Yronwood to share a lunch with her in one of Highgarden's many parks, a most curious occurrence, the logical conclusion being that she must have heard of the mummer's show and managed to track down where it came from. |
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Post by Alliser on Oct 15, 2018 22:16:43 GMT 1
Lord Alliser arrives, bringing along his wife to the picnic. They arrive in a simple black affair, the golden field embroidered upon his chest. He inclined his head respectfully towards the guards, then bows towards the Lady with respect given that to an equal.
"My Lady, you are simply a vision." He comments smoothly like wet leaves on flagstone. "Nearly approaching the beauty of my wife. " He continues on, lying easily through a false smile and giving his wife a kiss."
He gestures towards his wife, "Lady Alicient, may I have the pleasure to introduce you to Lady Levalle."
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Post by Father on Oct 15, 2018 23:31:14 GMT 1
"The pleasure is all mine" Alicent smiles gracefully, a warm perfect hostess, the lunch is light, but she obviously must know what exactly to order from the kitchens of Highgarden. "I had this most fascinating conversation with Ser Parmen and your steward Malyk yesterday, a most remarkable mind the young man has, though I must admit I found myself with great difficulty to make sense of half of what he said, and the other half was puzzling, he asked me about my upcoming marriage among other things and then I learned this morn that a mummer in my lord's employ was hosting a little puppet show some might consider insulting to my lord father, so I had a mind to discover if my lord had any intent behind such an interest with a foreign lady of the court of small significance?" Her words flow like velvet, her pose regal, any admirer of beauty could get lost in the lines of her neck as she cranes it to consume a decadent looking pastry without crumbs falling upon her fine white summer gown. Green intelligent eyes flecked with gold studies him intently for his answer.
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Post by Alliser on Oct 16, 2018 9:57:06 GMT 1
He offers a warm smile, "You must be speaking of Regyn. Indeed he is in my employ. I must say though you do yourself little credit, My Lady, in calling yourself of small significance. Between all the accidents, murders, and kidnappings there does seem to be quite a bit swirling about your and your ongoing betrothal that is of more then passing interest to the well connected. However one question that I feel many have asked, yet you dance around so deftly, is why keep up the charade. You must be getting something of value from the waylaying you have done. Yet war is brewing, my lady, if that farce of a show yesterday is any indication. So why have you not buckled down and submitted to your betrothed to give him a child and Heir. With your words, manner, and face you could live better then a queen should you choose to do your duty with Lord Eldon." He cocks his head sideways, "Yet you do not. Why? Is there something you are waiting for? Or someone? If you are so displeased with the match then there is no better time then now to petition your father to end the contract. The public support for such a thing is never going to be higher. Even if House Tyrell might groan, there is not a single person in the reach that would not support you should you choose to end the marriage now. He has proven his moniker to be a true one, and Alliances have been called off for less egregious offences."
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Post by Father on Oct 16, 2018 14:28:18 GMT 1
"Pray forgive my speculation, my lord, but is that more than mere curiosity I am sensing?" She samples her wine, a most exquisite vintage.
"If my lord might indulge a lady who have much time free to ponder and speculate, and admittedly, she is rather fond of such activities. My Lord's interest predates the most recent developments regarding his lady niece and Lord Willum, though that occurrence suggests that House Levalle might have found incentives to make life difficult for Lord Eldon, scuttling a betrothal for his niece to the highly regarded Lord Karl, and despite the suggestion that I might live like a Queen if I only found myself willing to submit to the lusts and desires of my betrothed, it would appear that my lord is at least equally enthusiastic in his questions about whether I might instead seek to have it cancelled, and his other efforts would at the very least support the theory that this is indeed the outcome so desired"
She studies him intently over the goblet of wine as she has another tasting, clearly enjoying it's aromas with an indulgent smile upon her face. "Though the only ones with a clear motive against the Merryweathers would be the Starlings, and Lord Willem would never condone such underhanded tactics, but the young Lady Lysette might be more open to such means to reach the desired end, and Ser Aemon is one of her suitors, surely Lord Reynald would favor a leal bannerman whom might aid him in this endeavor? Her eyes looks askance upon his face, as if saying "How did I do?".
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Post by Alliser on Oct 16, 2018 19:38:30 GMT 1
Alliser raises an eyebrow, "you have not spent your time idly at court I can see. Impressive deduction, I'm sure Lady Tryell would be pleased." He offers as glowing praise, "although to say I have been sent by anyone would be a mischaracterization, I do indeed seek to be of service, particularly of those whom I feel we can have a mutually beneficial relationship." He eyes her levelly, then with great deliberation takes some bread then spreads a layer of butter. "I'm not a man without resources, as you likely already know." He remarks, dipping the spoon into the salt jar and sprinkling it over there bread deliberately.
"I am indeed in a position where I feel I may be of help to you. And my discretion is legendary, although some might call it less savory terms."
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Post by Father on Oct 16, 2018 20:22:40 GMT 1
"Are my lord assuming that I could use his assistance cancelling a certain betrothal? And find it desirable?" She looks askance. "For I do believe that I never once indicated any such thing, but I seem to only be half right in my deductions? Then what could possibly motivate a lord if not to assist his liege? My Lord might forgive me for not giving chivalry and the kindness of his heart much consideration as motive, I would almost have suspected that my lord might have designs upon gifting his daughter's hand in marriage in replacement of my own, but why then have his niece act as she did? Unless she was acting independently or my lord has the ambitions to attempt both?"
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Post by Alliser on Oct 16, 2018 20:38:00 GMT 1
He nods, "just so on cancelling your betrothal. And while some might call me mercenary, I am also not heartless," hedges the Lord.
"And I will confess to not being omnipotent, but only a blind man could not see Eldon's excesses. I have a certain... Affinity to ensuring maids do not end up in compromising positions." He shrugs, "I imagine that this stalemate has served you well. However I can only imagine how irked those surrounding Lord Eldon must be. I know the rumor suggested that it was a case of mistaken identity. But rumors are fickle creatures and sometimes miss important tidbits." He gives another noncommittal gesture, "perhaps you will no longer be safe until this marriage is settled. I do not know, but I do know that I am here to help you get out, should you wish. Otherwise I can only offer my own warning as someone who has played this game for a while," He takes a petite bite of his salted bread, then offers the words of the ceremony.
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Post by Father on Oct 17, 2018 0:32:55 GMT 1
She pauses for a long time, skillfully taking an almost unladylike big bite from her pastry, holding up a finger to signal that she needs to chew it down first, taking her good sweet time, Alliser has little difficulty guessing that she in fact is thinking about it while pretending not to, she then takes another sip of the wine to wash it down before talking. "If my lord would be so eager to assist, there is one thing in particular that would be very helpful if, hypothetically, I were no longer promised to any man." She pauses for another tasting of the wine, the goblet makes for her lips, but hardly any of the liquid finds it's way inside. Alliser has played this game enough to see her leaving him hanging, waiting for more, she would have a younger, less experienced and less patient man helplessly hooked with that move, reeling him in. "I heard this interesting rumor the other day, everyone did, of how supposedly Lady Maegelle Cordwayner have been unfaithful, and that her children are not those of Lord Ilyn, Ser Normyn put an end to such talk, but it seems to me an odd thing to let the truth be decided at the point of a lance, would my lord not agree?" She pauses for emphasis, but not long enough for him to answer that question right away. "It just so happens that if this rumor were to be proven beyond a doubt to be true, I would find the prospect of no longer being Lord Eldon's intended to be substantially less intimidating, why, just the prospect of a sincere and thorough effort to seek such proof would greatly alleviate such fears." Only now does she consume enough wine that one could tell that anyone had been drinking from the goblet, she studies Alliser as if wondering whether he wants this badly enough to commit to do this task for her.
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Post by Alliser on Oct 17, 2018 0:50:03 GMT 1
yeah that's going to be an auto fail from me. Such thoughts had already crossed his mind. When I get home I'm going to write a bit Alliser was used to resisting the charms of women. Such things had become second nature to dismiss having spent so much time in brothels, both in kings landing and more exotic locals. She was good though, even though his loins did not stir with the frequency of when he was a young man Alliser still was not dead. However it was more her subject manner then mannerisms that stirred him now. The thought of her ending the charade and his daughter becoming regent was enough that Allister nearly gasped in anticipation. Alliser lets out a small chuckle, "Now why would a simple maid be concerned about the prodigy of Cordwayner?" likely has to do with a handsome young knight is my guess. The Corwayners are a house similar in prestige to the Merryweathers. If I could get her in a position of power such as the Lady of that house she might be grateful, and that would not hurt my feelings in the slightest. He took another discrete bite considering. "My Lady asks a difficult thing, but it is not impossible. You may speak in hypotheticals, but let me respond as Lord Levalle and say yes." He smiles, his face softening, losing some of his courtly armor, "I will look into the rumor and let you know what I find. I will also ask a friend whose web is even deeper then mine." he bows his head towards Lady Alicent, "My Lady, you are truly a treasure. I do hope that however this ends up you find your happiness." Alliser accepts and will call in his reward from a previous event to ensure he gets the information. Do you want to continue with meeting him in this thread?
[/spoiler] |
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Post by Father on Oct 17, 2018 18:15:34 GMT 1
"If my lord enjoys this game as much as I, he should hardly find any difficulty imagining what a lady might have in mind." She smiles secretively, though it should be easy enough to put two and two together considering her rescuer. The Cordwayners were hardly as prestigious as Florent or Merryweather, but rich and respectable nonetheless, if perhaps with some unrealized potential.
Calling in that favor requires you to get in line, he's very busy so would be needing a delay until D9.
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