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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 13, 2018 0:09:04 GMT 1
Laena was determined to exhaust every avenue available before she gave up. And one had occurred to her.
She had waited until after the Briar Run, figuring her target would be fired up by competitive spirit beforehand. She hadn't heard any talk about how proceeding with the run was 'what Lord Bryce would have wanted', like there was with the Hunt, and Lord Jon's death. Steadily, we become inured to the horror of death. Part of her wanted to burn the whole maze down, with the runners still inside it, for daring to have fun on this day, but she recognised that even in summer, the maze just wasn't that flammable. Oh, and it would be deeply immoral and completely unjustified. And hard to get away with. So, she'd refrained.
Now, the race was done, and she'd finally tracked her quarry down to the tourney grounds.
Ser Balon the Snakeslayer.
That may not actually be his epithet, but it probably should be, since it defined him far more than the wearing of an impractical helmet. Really, silly headwear should be left to the ladies.
So much had happened between him and her house since last they spoke. They'd both done ... questionable things individually, as well, though the man she did her questionable act with was rather more pleased with the act than Ser Balon's partner. And tensions between the two factions were only rising higher. In sum, they were different people in different circumstances.
And she was here to find out whether he still saw himself as the same man who owed her a favour for helping him out at the bread and salt ceremony. He'd called her 'friend'. Time to see what that was still worth.
What face do I make? The thought occurred to her as she approached. She didn't have an answer, so she just defaulted to a blank, expressionless face as she greeted him. "Ser Balon. I would like a word. Are you available?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 13, 2018 1:32:10 GMT 1
Balon was making his way back to the Blackbriar pavilions, quietly cursing to himself over his crappy performance in the maze run. As he stared off into the distance a familiar voice called to him. Turning he saw the blank face of Lady Laena. The death of Lord Bryce was known to Balon and while he knew the two had been seen together he didn't know how close they actually were.
He stopped, turned towards her and smiled, "I'm always available to you, my lady."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 13, 2018 2:34:51 GMT 1
Ah, a smile. Her lips remain flat. Never mind, then."Over a week ago, Ser Balon, you offered a debt, and called me 'friend'. Now, I come to you to see if that still holds true. "You know Lord Bryce was murdered last night." It was more a statement than question. "I do not wish this to spread further than it has to, given the unpleasant rumours that have already been spread against me, but when he was slain, Lord Bryce was considering asking for my hand. A good friend of his who I spoke with believed he would decide to ask. I tell you this so you understand that this matter is both personal and important to me. To the point where it is not within me simply to sit back and wait for others to provide answers, if they are even capable of doing so." Throughout, her voice is flat, almost expressionless. "The most obvious suspect is my brother, Ser Farman. He is far more charming and charismatic than the man Lord Bryce wished to serve as regent for his lackwit son. He could use the death and his charisma to oust Ser Desmond, and become regent himself. But just because he takes advantage of the death does not necessarily mean he is responsible. And when there is a single, very obvious suspect, I find myself unwilling to trust it. But nor can I ignore it. "I wish for you to help me determine the truth of the matter. Meet up with Ser Farman at the feast tonight, and talk with him. Invite him to drinks afterwards. Bond. Get him drunk, to loosen his tongue. Then talk with him about Lord Bryce's death. Offer your condolences, maybe. He shares your politics, so he's likely to open up to you. Find out: is he mourning, or happy? If you can get him to flatly admit his guilt, all the better. Should guilt be uncovered by someone within the same faction, hopefully Lord Bryce's death and the investigation won't become politicised. Too much. He deserves better. "And naturally, should he be innocent, then my brother gets a friendly shoulder to cry on, metaphorically or otherwise, and hopefully ends a trying day in a pleasant drunken haze, and maybe he begins to heal.
"Are you willing to do this for me?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 13, 2018 7:49:26 GMT 1
"Over a week ago, Ser Balon, you offered a debt, and called me 'friend'. Now, I come to you to see if that still holds true." I called her friend but she does not. Interesting. Considering her demeanor it was hard for Balon to miss the omission. "You know Lord Bryce was murdered last night." It was more a statement than question. "I do not wish this to spread further than it has to, given the unpleasant rumors that have already been spread against me, but when he was slain, Lord Bryce was considering asking for my hand. A good friend of his who I spoke with believed he would decide to ask. I tell you this so you understand that this matter is both personal and important to me. To the point where it is not within me simply to sit back and wait for others to provide answers, if they are even capable of doing so." Throughout, her voice is flat, almost expressionless. Was considering but did not ask.... "You're Laena Pyre, you act.""The most obvious suspect is my brother, Ser Farman. He is far more charming and charismatic than the man Lord Bryce wished to serve as regent for his lackwit son. He could use the death and his charisma to oust Ser Desmond, and become regent himself. But just because he takes advantage of the death does not necessarily mean he is responsible. And when there is a single, very obvious suspect, I find myself unwilling to trust it. But nor can I ignore it. "I wish for you to help me determine the truth of the matter. Meet up with Ser Farman at the feast tonight, and talk with him. Invite him to drinks afterwards. Bond. Get him drunk, to loosen his tongue. Then talk with him about Lord Bryce's death. Offer your condolences, maybe. He shares your politics, so he's likely to open up to you. Find out: is he mourning, or happy? If you can get him to flatly admit his guilt, all the better. Should guilt be uncovered by someone within the same faction, hopefully Lord Bryce's death and the investigation won't become politicised. Too much. He deserves better. "And naturally, should he be innocent, then my brother gets a friendly shoulder to cry on, metaphorically or otherwise, and hopefully ends a trying day in a pleasant drunken haze, and maybe he begins to heal. "Are you willing to do this for me?"
Balon looked up at this sky and scratched his chin in thought. Bittersteel had spoke with Ser Farman previously and now Farman looks to join his team in the melee. That certainly looks like more than a coincidence now that Bryce is dead. Of course Desmond is a worthless half-breed cunt so who cares if Farman tries to press his claim, regardless of how weak it may be. Balon started speaking slowly, "Sooo you think Ser Farman killed Ser Bryce but left the designated heir alone to be... handled," he said in a questioning manner, "at a later time." Balon looked at the proverbial other side of the coin, "I assume if I speak with Ser Farman you'll be having someone speak with Ser Desmond? If there is one thing a person with power hates, it's losing that power." Balon gestured to Laena, "And if Ser Bryce planned to marry you then your children would supplant him as the head of house." A brief image of Bryce and Laena copulating entered his mind causing a slight shudder. "Of course due to the *significant* age gap you'd be regent until your son came of age. Hmmm."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 13, 2018 17:59:51 GMT 1
"You're Laena Pyre, you act." "Exactly." She nods. She tries to smile again, but fails. Balon started speaking slowly, "Sooo you think Ser Farman killed Ser Bryce but left the designated heir alone to be... handled," he said in a questioning manner, "at a later time." Laena raises an objecting finger, albeit not with her usual snappiness. "No! I *suspect* it. There is an important distinction. I do not *believe* it to be true, I merely *acknowledge the possibility*, and want an unbiased evaluation. Balon looked at the proverbial other side of the coin, "I assume if I speak with Ser Farman you'll be having someone speak with Ser Desmond? If there is one thing a person with power hates, it's losing that power." Balon gestured to Laena, "And if Ser Bryce planned to marry you then your children would supplant him as the head of house." A brief image of Bryce and Laena copulating entered his mind causing a slight shudder. "Of course due to the *significant* age gap you'd be regent until your son came of age. Hmmm."She nods. "I spoke with Ser Desmond myself before things progressed far with Lord Bryce, and gave him an idea of how things could pan out. If anything, he was encouraging. He is well aware of his own shortcomings, and I made clear he would still be a man of power and influence should I become regent. "I spoke with him again this morning. Since Ser Farman's claim is technically ever so slightly stronger, Ser Desmond is well aware that Lord Bryce was his only real line of defence. While I won't state definitively he is innocent, it makes little sense for a man as coldly logical as him to try and hold on to the regency via a path that will likely result in him losing everything."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 13, 2018 22:01:41 GMT 1
Balon listened as Laena repeated her prior conversations with Desmond and subsequent opinion. His first instinct was to question her further but her non-verbal signals and posture said she was in no mood for one of their debates. "When you saved me from myself I became indebted to you and I mean to fulfill that obligation. I will seek Ser Farman out but keep in mind I'm not guaranteed and audience with him. Just because we share similar views doesn't mean he'll have the time or inclination to speak with me." If he's guilty I imagine he'll not be inclined to talk with a stranger.
Balon became more serious, "Iksan vaoreznuni syt aōha loss." He looked her up and down, "Tell me true, and I won't judge you either way, but do you grieve for the man or the power and security that you lost." Or does the dragon not like her playthings taken away from her?
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 14, 2018 0:12:23 GMT 1
"When you saved me from myself I became indebted to you and I mean to fulfill that obligation. I will seek Ser Farman out but keep in mind I'm not guaranteed and audience with him. Just because we share similar views doesn't mean he'll have the time or inclination to speak with me." She nods. "Understood, thank you. I can ask no more." Balon became more serious, "Iksan vaoreznuni syt aōha loss." He looked her up and down, "Tell me true, and I won't judge you either way, but do you grieve for the man or the power and security that you lost.""Thank you." Laena considers carefully before responding. "I mourn the man. He was truly admirable. Charming, intelligent, insightful, and interesting. But I do also mourn the life he offered me, both before and after his natural passing." She ruminates a few moments more. "But I think it fair to say that I mourn the former more. Were my attention more on the latter, I believe I would already be making eyes at Ser Farman, to see if I could make use of his seeming focus on pleasure over power to carve out a similar life for myself. Instead, my eye is on him to wonder if he is the one who took Lord Bryce from me."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 14, 2018 21:18:18 GMT 1
Balon didn't like seeing Laena like this. He felt what. Pity? Uncomfortable? Caring for her? Or was it something as base as finding no enjoyment in seeing a pretty face frown. Whatever it was he tried to cheer her up a little, even if it was in vain, "Charming, intelligent, insightful, and interesting. Hmmm, I didn't know he was a Blackbriar by blood."
Balon nodded in understanding to Laena's answer, "Love, power, and security. A rare thing to find that combination." He chuckled at the mention of Farman, "Oh I doubt very much you'd go after a man who has the potential to be a less powerful version of your father." he added sarcastically, "I wouldn't allow you to do something so foolish." Balon hadn't given up on trying to cheer her up, "Don't get me wrong I wouldn't stop you from doing foolish things, they can be quite enjoyable, just not that."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 14, 2018 23:13:30 GMT 1
"Charming, intelligent, insightful, and interesting. Hmmm, I didn't know he was a Blackbriar by blood." Laena snorts out a breath through her nose, though without smiling, though even that is enough for a slightly puzzled look to cross her face. Balon nodded in understanding to Laena's answer, "Love, power, and security. A rare thing to find that combination." "Love?" Her puzzled look deepens, then turns into a frown. "Maybe." she answers herself quietly. "It likely would have become such, at least." He chuckled at the mention of Farman, "Oh I doubt very much you'd go after a man who has the potential to be a less powerful version of your father." he added sarcastically, "I wouldn't allow you to do something so foolish." Balon hadn't given up on trying to cheer her up, "Don't get me wrong I wouldn't stop you from doing foolish things, they can be quite enjoyable, just not that."Laena tries once more to smile, and at least achieves a brief twitching at the corners of her mouth. "You're right. I hate my father too much to ever marry his proxy." After a moment, her face falls to being even more miserable than it was to start. "Of course, I hate and fear my mother as well, and swore I'd never be like her." Her eyes lose their focus somewhat, staring into the middle distance. "He should be your exemplar, you know." She begins in a complete non-sequiteur. "Proof by his behaviour, of the strength of the blood of the Reach, driving its enemy away from his heart and brain, as far away as they can go." Her breathing is rather unsteady. "Instead, you'll kill him. And once you start, you won't stop. Killing my hopes as you go, for who would tie themselves to a gutted house? By the time stability returns, if it ever does, it will too late for me. Too many younger. Too many widows. Too much blood." Eyes still unfocused, her breaths more like little gasps now. "You will never be more than you are so long as you let others control you through your passions." It's not even clear if she's even talking to him at this point, her voice more passionate and emotive than previous.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 15, 2018 7:07:33 GMT 1
After a moment, her face falls to being even more miserable than it was to start. "Of course, I hate and fear my mother as well, and swore I'd never be like her." It saddened Balon to hear Laena hated her mother. If there was one person Laena should've been able to turn to in times of need and distress it was her. "My lady, I don't pretend to know your mother but you are not her. Of that I'm certain."Her eyes lose their focus somewhat, staring into the middle distance. "He should be your exemplar, you know." She begins in a complete non-sequiteur. "Proof by his behaviour, of the strength of the blood of the Reach, driving its enemy away from his heart and brain, as far away as they can go." Her breathing is rather unsteady. "Instead, you'll kill him. And once you start, you won't stop. Killing my hopes as you go, for who would tie themselves to a gutted house? By the time stability returns, if it ever does, it will too late for me. Too many younger. Too many widows. Too much blood." Eyes still unfocused, her breaths more like little gasps now. "You will never be more than you are so long as you let others control you through your passions." It's not even clear if she's even talking to him at this point, her voice more passionate and emotive than previous. As Laena began to ramble Balon went from confused to concerned. He tried making eye contact but her focus was elsewhere. "My lady? ...my *lady*." There was no response as she continued. Is she talking about me? The comment about a gutted house suggested she was. Her breathing worried him to the point that proper etiquette be damned. He brought his hands to her upper arms and gently squeezed, "Laena are you alright? What are you talking about? Please, calm yourself, listen to my voice." He talked in a soothing voice and waited for some recognition, "Who is killing your hopes? Who is controlling..." he trailed off not knowing what she was getting at.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 15, 2018 16:43:48 GMT 1
"My lady, I don't pretend to know your mother but you are not her. Of that I'm certain." "Not yet, at least." she murmurs in response. As Laena began to ramble Balon went from confused to concerned. He tried making eye contact but her focus was elsewhere. "My lady? ...my *lady*." There was no response as she continued. Is she talking about me? The comment about a gutted house suggested she was. Her breathing worried him to the point that proper etiquette be damned. He brought his hands to her upper arms and gently squeezed, "Laena are you alright? What are you talking about? Please, calm yourself, listen to my voice." He talked in a soothing voice and waited for some recognition, "Who is killing your hopes? Who is controlling..." he trailed off not knowing what she was getting at. Laena twitches in response to his voice and the pressure on her arms, and slowly manages to control her breathing, and focus her eyes again. When she's in control again, she flushes, and takes a small step out of Balon's grip. "Well, fuck." She murmurs, before realising she said that out loud, and flushes again. "My apologies, Ser." She gives him a small nod of appreciation. Already her voice, while far from happy, is at least more expressive than it was previously. "I had hoped I was done with .. episodes like that, some time ago. It seems the stress and emotional turmoil of today has proven too much, combined with thinking about someone who should not be thought of. I hope that while I was lost in horrors past and projected future, I at least did not say anything too embarrassing?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 15, 2018 18:18:01 GMT 1
Balon went from concern to a smirk to a laugh when Laena swore. "That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble, my lady."
He didn't know whether to be relieved she'd had episodes like this before or more worried. "Embarrassing? No. Revealing? Yes." Balon paused as he tried to think of his response. When he spoke his tone was surprisingly kind, "Are you worried you're not going to be able to remarry? Do you think having children and being over the age of twenty is some sort of death sentence?" Balon looked her up and down and was borderline incredulous, "I mean look at you. What isn't to like? Do you think people care who your parents were or do they care about the person in front of me?" Once again it'd seemed the two had gotten far off track from the beginning of their conversation.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 15, 2018 21:42:07 GMT 1
"Neither." She replies, bluntly, she then frowns, and revises her answer. "Well, they may care a bit about my father, I suppose. But you *do* understand what women are, right? We're *currency*! Unless I want to follow the example of 'Lady' Arya Flowers, sacrifice every scrap of pride, and slut it up with some weak-minded lord I can manipulate into putting personal desires above his house's interests," her withering tone makes it quite clear what she feels about that option, "I am nothing more than currency to buy an alliance between houses with. And I don't want some malleable fool for my husband, I want a great man I can support to make even greater!
"What *matters* is the strength of the alliance I bring. If House Starkwood is seen as being strong, reliable allies, then I have options. If the house is seen as weak or unstable, then I could be as beautiful as Lady Shiera Seastar, and while there'd be a queue from here to the Stormlands of men wanting a tumble, the only men who'd want to marry me would be someone like Lord Eldon Merryweather, and frankly, I'd *sooner* die than take that option.
"This may not be the end of the peace, but we can see it from here. Anyone with any sense is scrambling for strong allies, pretty much regardless of who they have to marry to get them. And then *you* threaten to kill Ser Symon, which would leave the house with a young female heir! Like you just don't *care* about how much that damages my options! So *yes*, I am *fu-* *very* worried about remarriage!" The contrast between the distant, passionless woman she was before her 'episode' and the intense, passionate woman she is now is notable.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 15, 2018 22:26:11 GMT 1
"Neither." She replies, bluntly, she then frowns, and revises her answer. "Well, they may care a bit about my father, I suppose. "I don't care who your father is and other good men won't either." But you *do* understand what women are, right? We're *currency*! Unless I want to follow the example of 'Lady' Arya Flowers, sacrifice every scrap of pride, and slut it up with some weak-minded lord I can manipulate into putting personal desires above his house's interests," her withering tone makes it quite clear what she feels about that option, "I am nothing more than currency to buy an alliance between houses with. And I don't want some malleable fool for my husband, I want a great man I can support to make even greater! "What *matters* is the strength of the alliance I bring. If House Starkwood is seen as being strong, reliable allies, then I have options. If the house is seen as weak or unstable, then I could be as beautiful as Lady Shiera Seastar, and while there'd be a queue from here to the Stormlands of men wanting a tumble, the only men who'd want to marry me would be someone like Lord Eldon Merryweather, and frankly, I'd *sooner* die than take that option. An image of Laena "slutting it up" entered his head for a moment but he banished the thought. Balon rejected her assertion even though she was more right than wrong, "No. You are not currency. I don't want to hear that from you again." There was no anger in his voice but determination, "If alliances were as unbreakable as you say there'd never be rebellions, The Dance would never have happened, the Brackens and Blackwoods would've been at peace for generations. I want a great woman, not an ally *just in case*." The truth was Balon was biased. He cared more about the woman than the alliance she'd bring. It's easy to think that way when no lord was looking to marry his daughter to him. "You may hate your father and rightfully so but the blood of the Targaryens gives you certain freedoms. Let me pose this theoretical to you; If I asked for your hand and you accepted who is there to stop us? Lord Ulbert? Lord Jon? You think I give two shits about any alliance? I have open invitations to several principal houses in the Reach. Do you think any of them care who my wife is or what house she came from?" he emphatically ended with, "No.""This may not be the end of the peace, but we can see it from here. Anyone with any sense is scrambling for strong allies, pretty much regardless of who they have to marry to get them. And then *you* threaten to kill Ser Symon, which would leave the house with a young female heir! Like you just don't *care* about how much that damages my options! So *yes*, I am *fu-* *very* worried about remarriage!" The contrast between the distant, passionless woman she was before her 'episode' and the intense, passionate woman she is now is notable. "You're passionate. I appreciate that. Frankly, I like it. But I'll guarantee you've said something in anger you didn't mean. When your cousin calls me queer and says horrible things about my mother your damn right I'm gonna say something horrible right back to her." Balon stopped and took a breath. He found himself becoming just as animated as Laena. "Look, I'm sorry. You and your children's safety matter to me, as silly as that might sound." There was more to add but Balon stopped before he suffered a relapse in 'foot in mouth'.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 16, 2018 1:12:52 GMT 1
"I don't care who your father is and other good men won't either." "Really?" She raises an eyebrow. "So the whole 'Great Bastard' thing means nothing to you?" Her tone is slightly sceptical, but willing to at least hear him out. "No. You are not currency. I don't want to hear that from you again." There was no anger in his voice but determination, "If alliances were as unbreakable as you say there'd never be rebellions, The Dance would never have happened, the Brackens and Blackwoods would've been at peace for generations. I want a great woman, not an ally *just in case*." "Oh, I'd never argue alliances were unbreakable. Quite the opposite. It's for that reason that marriages are required to cement alliances. They at least give the alliance a chance of lasting. If an average lord's word was reliable, we'd be able to marry a lot freer." "You may hate your father and rightfully so but the blood of the Targaryens gives you certain freedoms. Let me pose this theoretical to you; If I asked for your hand and you accepted who is there to stop us? Lord Ulbert? Lord Jon? You think I give two shits about any alliance? I have open invitations to several principal houses in the Reach. Do you think any of them care who my wife is or what house she came from?" he emphatically ended with, "No." "I could run off without Lord Ulbert's approval, certainly. Though I'd probably only manage to get a sworn sword that way - no lord or close kin would be interested without an alliance attached. Which works great, up until the point my husband comes down with a terminal case of heroism, and I'm left widowed a second time in a house with no interest in me, and a home house who've likely cut all ties due to my 'unladylike wilfulness'. Which, of course, may not happen. We could grow old happily and die together. But the freedom you mention comes with risks, and losing everything once already makes me acutely aware of them. "You're passionate. I appreciate that. Frankly, I like it. But I'll guarantee you've said something in anger you didn't mean. When your cousin calls me queer and says horrible things about my mother your damn right I'm gonna say something horrible right back to her." Balon stopped and took a breath. He found himself becoming just as animated as Laena. "Look, I'm sorry. You and your children's safety matter to me, as silly as that might sound." There was more to add but Balon stopped before he suffered a relapse in 'foot in mouth'. Laena gives a deep sigh. "I'm not quite hypocritical enough to condemn a man for saying something he shouldn't in the heat of the moment." She gives him a sharp look. "But I would have appreciated a discreet message once you'd calmed down, letting me know that as much as you may entertain idle fantasies of strangling my cousin Ashara occasionally, I don't need to worry about you carving up my house. Do you have *any* idea of how much stress that one comment has caused me? I've been running around like a maniac, convinced I have to get my next marriage sworn to before the melee happens, and I lose a lot of my attractiveness to anyone of any import."
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