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Post by Father on Jan 11, 2019 19:00:51 GMT 1
"I will not ask it of you" Ulbert states flatly. "Lord Jon will likely do nothing unless Highgarden commands it, and even then he is like to drag his feet for so long that he will miss the whole war, and Lord Leo will be slow to react I expect, peace between our houses would be nice, but it is better achieved by placing our hopes on young Joffrey than working the factions tugging at his father."
"And I do not like him, brash, headstrong, bludgeoning every problem as if it can be solved with that sword of his, so blinded by his own convictions of being right that he will bludgeon away at everything in his path, for how could any resistance possibly not be wrong to stand in his path?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 11, 2019 19:36:43 GMT 1
Laena shrugs, seemingly unconcerned, although inside she admits, she's a little disappointed Balon couldn't pull it off. "Very well. I suppose he has until I find someone interesting and interested to change your mind. But I won't be delaying my search for his sake."
[Barring any final words from Ulbert, I think that's likely /scene]
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Post by Father on Jan 12, 2019 21:37:46 GMT 1
"And what is an interesting man like? I struggle to see the similarities between Ser Vernan, Lord Bryce and Ser Balon"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 13, 2019 1:26:44 GMT 1
Laena considers a moment before answering. The *complete* lack of interest in her this entire tourney (except for Ser Balon) has been rather dispiriting. While Lord Ulbert is hardly the most well-connected of lords, at this point, she would not ignore any possibility, no matter how remote, so she attempts to give as accurate an answer as she is able. "It's hard to explain. ... Consider a mummer's play. The script is good, the mummers know their craft, it's a good play. But you've seen the same play by the same actors a dozen times before. You *know* the script. You can mouth along silently with every line.
"There are no surprises.
"Now, take Ser Sebaston Rowan, as an example. He's a good and noble man. Whether he accomplishes his goal of marrying Lysette Starling or not, I'm sure he'll make *some* woman happy one day. But ... he *is* a knight." She frowns. "I'm not being clear. Many men are knights. But they are a *person*, and they place limits on their behaviour through being knighted. With Ser Sebaston, he *is* a knight. That's it. He does knighty things, acts in a knighty manner. Peel away the armour of a knight, and there is *nothing* underneath. He is basically identical to so many other men. Place a hundred of those men in a situation, and they will all behave the same. Honourably, certainly, but predictably. Were you to marry one, you could chart out your life from the day you wed to the day you die, and you'd be likely almost entirely correct. Details may change, but the story is the same.
"There are no surprises.
"I. Can't. Live. Like. That. It's ... suffocating. Like, literally hard to breathe. Trapped inside your little glass box with no air holes, gasping on stale air that has been breathed by so many ladies before me, and so many afterwards.
"I'm not some rebel out to smash the entire system, or fight for a woman's right to fight like the Dornish do, or anything like that. I just want a man, a life, where I sometimes can't predict what he'll do next. What will happen next. Sometimes they'll be good. Sometimes they'll be bad. That's life.
"I would sooner live one truly unique day as the wife of a common knight than live a hundred years as a queen in a story already written and read a hundred by a hundred times.
"An 'interesting' man is one who can, in one way or another, change the story of my life. *That*'s the similarity between the men who interest me. They may do so in different ways, but they all effect change in some form."
She sighs, and smooths back her hair in frustration. "I'm probably misleading you more than actually accurately answering your question, but that's the best I can do."
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Post by Father on Jan 13, 2019 16:32:35 GMT 1
"If you make your happiness dependent upon the acts of others, you will never be happy" Ulbert offers. "Must you have a husband to be happy? Must he fit every standard of your dreams?" He shrugs. "I mostly only know boring people, these are the ones I like, the more colorful personalities I leave for the maester, he is all too happy to mingle around at all these feasts that I find so tedious and tasteless."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 13, 2019 20:29:26 GMT 1
Laena considers. "People keep asking me that. 'Do I need a husband to be happy?'. ... Honestly, I don't know. I may be a Great Bastard, but I am also a Lady - getting married and having children is what we *do*. I suppose, what I need is *purpose*." She looks up at her cousin and Lord. "I don't suppose you have need of an agent willing and able to play political games on your behalf, in Highgarden or King's Landing? I have my royal stipend, meaning I could find a place of my own, rather than depending on the generosity of Lord Leo or the King. Maybe, if no good options for a husband present themselves, that could be my purpose."
She scratches the back of her head irritatedly. "Though I probably should speak to Ronnel before I decide on that." She didn't like to do that - they were both users and manipulators. She both didn't want to fall into his web, and didn't want their webs to interfere, either of which could happen. Still, it was probably a better option than going back to Lord Marq.
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Post by Father on Jan 14, 2019 16:55:03 GMT 1
"I don't really care to play that game, certainly not with plots and schemes and hidden objectives, I let Ronnel do enough of it to ensure we won't get caught up unawares in whatever these liars might see fit to throw at us." Ulbert ponders for a moment. "But obviously, the less men of the Reach that rises in rebellion, the better for us."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 14, 2019 20:49:57 GMT 1
Laena sees where she thinks he's going with his train of thought. "So ... perhaps a diplomat of some kind, travelling the Reach, particularly houses yet to pick a side? Someone important enough to be listened to, but not really important enough that their absence would be missed?" It was a short-term solution, but power was based on relationships, so perhaps something more long-term could be made from it.
Perhaps not her preferred plan, but at the moment, any plan was better than no plan.
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Post by Father on Jan 15, 2019 17:01:13 GMT 1
"You should not sell yourself so cheaply, you are a Great Bastard, the protection and stipend afforded you by the crown allows you do as you please. And there is not exactly much call for a courtier at Starkwood to begin with"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 15, 2019 23:40:35 GMT 1
"Ah." So that's it. 'Do as you want, but do it elsewhere.'
"No-one will ever want you." Her mother's words, ever close to her heart, coming back to her once again. "You are a *creature*, born of lies, lust, and treachery. A mockery of human form. You will never belong, you don't deserve a home. You will never be happy, you will never *deserve* happiness. You deserve to suffer. People may tolerate you for a short time, because of your surface beauty, but once you've been around long enough for them to see beneath the skin to the lies, rot, and *filth* underneath, they will shun you. They will always shun you. You deserve no less."
"I agree I have no place at Starkwood." No pain. This was, as her mother drilled into her through a thousand repetitions, inevitable. "I have freedom few men do, let alone women. I should use it to its fullest. I will consider my options."
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Post by Father on Jan 16, 2019 16:11:55 GMT 1
"There is always a place for you at Starkwood, but our halls are not exactly cavernous and vast, and I have heard that confined spaces is known to stunt the growth of dragons." Ulbert seems to have some idea of what she is thinking. "If you speak with maester Ronnel, it pays to be mindful that he is always happy to share direction, guidance and advise, but he is like to get cranky should you imply that you will be taking on duties he considers to be his domains. He likes to be in control over all of House Starkwood's schemes, and arguably, House Starkwood's concerns and ambitions are no larger than that one man can juggle them all. I ask for his counsel and act upon that which I find suits my wants and needs."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 16, 2019 19:28:10 GMT 1
She nods her understanding. Meddling once she's gone will not be appreciated, whatever her intentions. Alright. Alone, then.
Her face firms, and she gives Lord Ulbert a deep, respectful curtsey. "Thank you for being there for me when I needed it." Implying clearly that she no longer does.
And with that simple line, while her physical departure may yet take some time, and she had yet to decide on a destination, Laena Pyre left House Starkwood, gave up her dream of remarriage, and began her search for a new dream in earnest.
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