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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 8, 2019 0:26:12 GMT 1
Visiting the Levalles was a natural early stop for Laena on her travels, despite her lingering misgivings towards their lord. She had had mutually beneficial dealings with them before, she believed they recognised and valued her talents, ... and they had her newest brother. If you didn't count Brynden Meadows, and it seemed society didn't.
Getting an invitation to the Tear was indeed easy. Which made Laena's shoulders itch. For all that it made sense and was expected, it had been drilled into her from a young age that when life didn't shit on you, that meant it was saving up for later.
Still, that was later. For right now, she was standing atop a tower in the Tear, looking out over the Mander estuary.
It was beautiful.
Far more so than the endless damp trees of the Starkwood lands.
Her eyes lowered to the docks, where workers scuttled about like ants. She muses how, from up here, how little it would mean to her should one of those ants just ... stop. And so, given the Seven's vastly more elevated vantage point, how much less would it mean to Them should an ant stop. Or two. Or two hundred. More. There were always more. How could They care about each one?
If They did, she would never have been born.
And from this perspective, she felt she could just about understand why.
Lost in her thoughts, she doesn't notice an approaching figure.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 8, 2019 21:01:25 GMT 1
"Beautiful, is it not? I come up here often to meditate." Malyk stood beside her gazing out over the fertile lands and shimmering water. "It is said to be called the Tear because when the Maiden first gazed upon the place she shed one glimmering jeweled tear." He smiled ruefully. "Perhaps that's the reason we have so many thieves, rogues and mercenaries; all looking for that fabled jewel, or at least one of their own." He sighed for a moment. "I have often wondered why the Seven made beauty so easy to see from a distance, when it is often takes so much more effort to see close up."
He smiled at Lady Leana, much more at ease on his own land than in Highgarden. "I hope that you have been made comfortable. If there is anything you require, you just need to ask and we will do what we can to accommodate you."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 9, 2019 0:25:13 GMT 1
"Beautiful, is it not? I come up here often to meditate." Malyk stood beside her gazing out over the fertile lands and shimmering water. "It is said to be called the Tear because when the Maiden first gazed upon the place she shed one glimmering jeweled tear." He smiled ruefully. "Perhaps that's the reason we have so many thieves, rogues and mercenaries; all looking for that fabled jewel, or at least one of their own." Not being as on-guard as she was at the Black Tourney, her surprise manifests as merely a brief stiffening rather than the starting she did when the late Ser Donnel surprised her. She doesn't turn immediately, but drinks in the view for a few moments more, nodding. "It truly is beautiful. And peaceful. We- The Starkwoods don't have anything like this view." He sighed for a moment. "I have often wondered why the Seven made beauty so easy to see from a distance, when it is often takes so much more effort to see close up." She finally turns to her brother. "So, Brother," she's slightly hesitant with the word, like she's uncertain as to its reception, "would you have it that we see the true ugliness of things even from a distance, or would you prefer us to see a beautiful lie even close up?" She seems genuinely curious. He smiled at Lady Leana, much more at ease on his own land than in Highgarden. "I hope that you have been made comfortable. If there is anything you require, you just need to ask and we will do what we can to accommodate you." "My chambers are very comfortable, thank you. The only luxury I have even heard of that is not provided is a pull-sash by the bed to summon a wench. Given how that story ended, perhaps it's for the best." Perhaps not the best taste to joke about a murder that violated guest-right, even if it was over thirty years ago. "Or maybe you normally have one, and simply remove it for your female guests?" She snorts, and shakes her head. "But no, seriously, your hospitality is impeccable. Thank you." Her eyes go up and down his body, assessing. "You seem ... happier. Is that from being back home, away from that tourney; or from finally having answers as to your past?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 9, 2019 4:03:38 GMT 1
It is Malyk's turn to stiffen slightly, then gives Leana a wry smile. "We are siblings now, aren't we, although I suppose we always were." He chuckles softly. "Amazing how the path of one's life can twist and turn in a moment. I suppose I could have kept my blood secret, but there were so many lies being spoken about my Lord, and I only know how to fight lies with truth." He shrugged. "For one to go from no family to many in a eyeblink... you are the first to use that word 'brother'. I'm not even sure what that means yet."
He grinned broadly. "As to the pull-sash, such things are not needed here. Certainly I can provide a handsome young man, or wench, to warm your bed, should you wish. We do not judge such things here, but it would be someone with the willingness, temperment and skill to add pleasure to your stay. However my staff are not 'on demand' and several guests who have tried to force their attentions on the unwilling have realized quickly of their error. Luckily we have never entertained a King so that has never been truly put to the test. Most men lack the discerning taste for it to matter and most women lack the need to bed the unwilling."
He smiled softly and gazed out over the landscape. "I am happy here. The Tear is full of liars, rogues and thieves, but they are all honest to who they are at their core. They have no need to pretend to be anything other than they are. To answer your question, I think there is beauty in everyone if you look for it. I don't mean physical beauty. That is the easiest to see. I think you are beautiful, not because of your obvious qualities, but because of your strength, your tenacity, your zest for life, your fierce protection of your children. You were born a dragon and you embraced it. I have never seen a real dragon, but I think I would find one beautiful."
He grinned a bit self-consciously. "I think truth is beauty." He laughed. "Most people think me mad when I say such silly things. In part I am happy to be back in the Tear, like returning to an old comfortable chair after a long journey. In part, I am happy to be away from Highgarden, where their rose gardens, white walls and grand fairways varnish over deceit and treachery. Here, if there is an injustice, I can do something about it. There I am just another servant, or a best a bastard noble, and a madman besides, who must look upon tragedy helplessly as it unfolds before me. Here there is ugliness, but if you scratch the surface you can find beauty beneath. There there is much beauty, so long as you do not dare look too closely, and most actively avoid seeing the ugliness beneath."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 9, 2019 16:02:57 GMT 1
It is Malyk's turn to stiffen slightly, then gives Leana a wry smile. "We are siblings now, aren't we, although I suppose we always were." He chuckles softly. "Amazing how the path of one's life can twist and turn in a moment. I suppose I could have kept my blood secret, but there were so many lies being spoken about my Lord, and I only know how to fight lies with truth." He shrugged. "For one to go from no family to many in a eyeblink... you are the first to use that word 'brother'. I'm not even sure what that means yet." Laena frowns contemplatively. "How do you see your Lord Alliser, then?" A query, rather than an accusation. "'Brother' ... 'Sister' ... what it means is open to interpretation. It means, however little power you actually have, your words have enough weight to crush countless lives if wielded carelessly. It means you will be approached by those seeking to use you. Or abuse you. It means you have just enough time to get to know and grow attached to a new family before half of them attempt to kill the other half. It means being part of a curse the Seven inflicted on the Kingdom, to punish the people for not rising up against the sinful and corrupt rule of our father. It means forever guarding your reputation against the accusations that dog those natural born. It means forever guarding your heart against the corruptive blood of our father. It means any, all, or none of the above. "One thing it definitely does mean is that far more doors will open for you now than when you were merely a seneschal." He grinned broadly. "As to the pull-sash, such things are not needed here. Certainly I can provide a handsome young man, or wench, to warm your bed, should you wish. We do not judge such things here, but it would be someone with the willingness, temperament and skill to add pleasure to your stay. However my staff are not 'on demand' and several guests who have tried to force their attentions on the unwilling have realized quickly of their error. Luckily we have never entertained a King so that has never been truly put to the test. Most men lack the discerning taste for it to matter and most women lack the need to bed the unwilling." She assesses him for a few moments, judging his words. "You care about your people." She observes. "Not just like a good craftsman cares for his tools, either. It sounds ... personal." He smiled softly and gazed out over the landscape. "I am happy here. The Tear is full of liars, rogues and thieves, but they are all honest to who they are at their core. They have no need to pretend to be anything other than they are. To answer your question, I think there is beauty in everyone if you look for it. I don't mean physical beauty. That is the easiest to see. I think you are beautiful, not because of your obvious qualities, but because of your strength, your tenacity, your zest for life, your fierce protection of your children. You were born a dragon and you embraced it. I have never seen a real dragon, but I think I would find one beautiful." Her face clearly softens when he describes her as 'beautiful', then turns melancholy when he mentions seeing a real dragon, but she doesn't comment on them. "You think you could see beauty in our Father? Or Lord Eldon?" she asks, instead. He grinned a bit self-consciously. "I think truth is beauty." He laughed. "Most people think me mad when I say such silly things. In part I am happy to be back in the Tear, like returning to an old comfortable chair after a long journey. In part, I am happy to be away from Highgarden, where their rose gardens, white walls and grand fairways varnish over deceit and treachery. Here, if there is an injustice, I can do something about it. There I am just another servant, or a best a bastard noble, and a madman besides, who must look upon tragedy helplessly as it unfolds before me. Here there is ugliness, but if you scratch the surface you can find beauty beneath. There there is much beauty, so long as you do not dare look too closely, and most actively avoid seeing the ugliness beneath." "How do you recognise truth? So often you scrape beneath the surface of a lie, only to find another lie beneath it. Lies all the way down. Because so many people cling to lies as truth, define their lives by them. But to them, they believe them so utterly, they are as truth. And when enough people believe a lie devoutly enough, the lie starts behaving as a truth, and both words lose all meaning."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 9, 2019 20:16:21 GMT 1
"Do you love anyone, Leana, besides your children. I know you love them fiercely." It was not a question to be answered, merely thought about. "I have spent more than a week in your world, so I understand your questions and why you ask them. It's true I may have more power to hurt people, but I have power to hurt people now. It is simply a matter of scale. As to enemies, this is House Levalle. If my enemies increase from numerous to slightly more numerous, I doubt I will notice the difference. I know it hard for you to understand, but I have absolutely no interest in money, power, authority or privilege for my own sake. I am not a threat to anyone unless they choose to make me one.
You live in a world where kindness, compassion and altruism are weakness, at best to be used as a tool, at worst a weapon. I live a in a world where kindness, compassion and altruism are necessary for survival. One cannot survive without community, and one cannot have community without them. I love almost everyone to a greater or lesser degree. I think we are two sides of the same coin; both perfectly suited to our environment.
I love Alliser, not as a Father perhaps, but as a mentor. I know his flaws, but part of love is accepting the flaws of others and loving them in spite of them. My job may be Seneschal, but my calling has been to help others be better today than they were yesterday, and better still tomorrow than they were today. I think there was a spark of beauty in Aegon in his youth, before his soul was buried under insecurities he could not show, power he had no skill to use, and expectations he had no capacity to meet. I see young mercenaries and knights every day who spend their days fighting, their evenings drinking, and their nights bedding. They lead perfectly happy lives largely not hurting anyone. Aegon was as much made as born. I admit if there is any beauty in Eldon it is hard to see, but his cleverness must be admired to have survived so long. There are clever men like him in my world as well, but they tend to end up with their throat slit face down in the river long before they reach the age Lord Eldon has. Then there are sharks like Lord Durwell who swim the waters of both worlds and most don't realize they are prey until they are eaten.
It is because of this love for people that I care for my staff. It is why I try to treat even my enemies fairly. It is why I try to understand all sides of a disagreement. It may surprise you to learn I have worked in every task of this castle, from negotiating guild disputes to scrubbing privies. No job is menial if it is necessary, and anyone who does a necessary job should be respected and rewarded. It is only nobles that seem to think the many thousands of important jobs that must happen, and happen well every day, do so as if by magic. They only notice when a job is done poorly and punish those responsible. I notice when a job is done well or poorly, reward when it is done well, help them to do better, or assign them to a task more suited their talents. I only punish willful negligence or intolerable treachery. In essence, I never ask anyone to do anything I would not be willing to do myself.
Of course, unlike the love of the Seven or the love you have for your children, my love is not unconditional and to a degree must be earned. In a conversation I had with Ser Mikel, I said I would save Lord Eldon from a burning building if need be, but I would probably save him last and not at the cost of my own life. I judge people by the quality of their character, not their wealth or social status. I know there are those that believe their lies. Abelar is a prime example. He believes his lies so fervently he convinced others almost effortlessly, but they are lies all the same and the truth is the truth and hundreds died because they believed those lies. A thousand men believing a lie does not make it any less a lie, and only one man knowing the truth does not make it any less the truth. If those words lose meaning than our lives lose any meaning as do their companion words: honor, duty, justice, sacrifice."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 10, 2019 17:28:33 GMT 1
Laena contemplates his words for a few moments before answering. She certainly doesn't deny his observations. "The word 'evil' is oft used to describe someone whose sense of ethics and morals is antithetical to our own. ...Do you consider me a bad person, brother?" Her tone is curious, rather than offended.
She does her best to hide her confusion as he talks of personally doing things like scrubbing privies. It doesn't make a lot of sense to her - you can judge someone's competence by their results, without having to demean yourself - but it clearly means a lot to him, and given his rumoured competence, it clearly works for him. So, just accepts his words without feeling the temptation to follow suit - she does enough demeaning crap keeping her tiny pseudo-House functioning, no need to add to her burdens.
Barely has he finished there, than he confuses her again. "Why would you save Lord Eldon at all? I can well understand not setting the fire in the first place - that makes sense. If you were ambitious, I could understand saving him. But you just admitted you're not. I agree with you his cunning is to be respected, but he will use that power and cunning to inflict pain and misery on others, particularly on his own smallfolk, who I would have thought you, of all people, would have sympathy for. You can't save both, so why him?
"Are you sure our lives *do* have meaning? And those words?" From her tone, she's not arguing they don't, merely pressing him on his claim. "Even after the events of the Black Tourney?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 11, 2019 3:43:54 GMT 1
"The word 'evil' is oft used to describe the unknown, the misunderstood, or the foreign. No, I do not think you are a bad person, but neither do I think you a good person. Ruthless, certainly. Callous, perhaps. Selfish, without doubt, but none of those qualities are inherently evil. You have been trained to survive in the environment you have been raised. I do not believe you are are thoughtless, sadistic or cruel. You deal with problems quickly, efficiently and with finality. You live in a world where winning is the best option; sometimes the only option.
I chose kindness. I am in no competition with anyone. I was happy as a boy working in the kitchens in this castle. I worked hard and enjoyed my work. I had friends. As I prospered I helped those friends prosper. As they prospered so did others. As they prospered so did many others. Kindness is infectious. If I am kind to one person, they are often a little kinder to others. As each helps the other, everyone become a little kinder, and everyone a little more prosperous. When tragedy happens, no one person must shoulder the burden, but many share it together making that burden much lighter and kindness gives everyone the strength to bear it that they would not have alone. Today I am happier because everyone around me is happier than they might have been. They enjoy their lives and I take joy in that they have happy lives. They enjoy their work and take pride in it, as do I. I am there when they marry their sweethearts. I am welcome in their homes and laugh with their children. I may have a bigger room now, and my Lord indulges me in for my one vice of nice clothes, but otherwise I have no more coin in my pocket now than I did as a boy. What I do have is a wealth of good people who I depend on every day and who know I will stand by them when they are in need. No amount of coin can buy that, and I would not trade it for any price."
He looked at her softly. "I do not think you have that... sister. In order for you to have that you have to allow yourself to be vulnerable, and I do not think that is something you would be willing, able, or even allowed to do. Is it not exhausting to depend on no-one but yourself; to shoulder every burden alone or depend on favors carefully collected and catalogued? What do you do when you face a problem and your pockets are empty of favors? Go into debt with men like Lord Durwell and hope the price is not outrageous later?" He sighed. "I do not know how many people owe me favors. My help has no price-tag and I could not be bothered to keep track if it did. I only know that when someone needs my help I should help them. When I need help, I have never lacked for willing hands."
He shrugged. "I do not judge you. I do not expect you to try to be more like me. I doubt most of your fellow nobles would even allow it. Perhaps you might allow yourself the occasional kindness when it would cost you nothing and there is nothing to be gained. A whim perhaps, or an indulgence. I think you would be surprised how much it lightens the heart. What might be trivial to you or I can make a vast difference in the life of another. I would be very sad if you ended up like Lady Rhonda who might have saved Lady Lyanna from much misery with only a few words and a little kindness. All her vast wealth and power will mean little when the Stranger finally comes for her."
Resting his chin of his crossed arms as he leaned on the battlement and gazed out over the Tear. "How do I explain about Lord Eldon?" He mused. "A building is burning. I race in to save whoever may be inside. I find a man there, stricken by the flames. Do I save him? Of course I do. That is why I entered. It doesn't matter who the person is, my purpose is to save lives. But what if the man is Lord Eldon? Do I still save him?" He leaned his gaze to Leana. "I must. You see, if I would save him not knowing who he is, then it is doubly important I save him knowing who he is. To not save him would mean I would be judging him, and it is not my place to judge him. More importantly, to not save him would make me no better than he. I would save the unknown man for his sake. I would save Lord Eldon for mine. To willingly allow him to die when I could have saved him would be a stain on my soul, not his."
He gazed back out to sea. "You probably think I am idealistic, naive, mad or perhaps all three." He chuckled. "You would not be the first and likely won't be the last. The truth is, even I am not entirely sure at times. I mostly just do what I think is best in any given moment and let everything else sort itself out." He grinned. "I may make a very good Seneschal, but I'm pretty sure I would be a terrible noble."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 11, 2019 15:09:03 GMT 1
"Of course it's exhausting to live the way I do - particularly since I'm dependant on men for so many things. But that just means I have to be tougher. The world is how it is. You may have found some peace in this nice little bubble of yours, but most of us simply have the two options of clawing our way up to catch a breath, or drowning in the shit.
"Your little utopia sounds very nice, it just has one little problem." She fixes her brother with a steely glare. "You live in my world, now! You may not want to, but it was inevitable once you revealed your birthright. And in my -our- world, you just *cannot* say things like 'My help has no price-tag' to people like me. Do you have any idea how exploitable that sentiment is?! Sylvina has better survival instincts than that, and she's four!"
His explanation regarding Lord Eldon confuses her even more. "You're saying you refuse to judge *anyone*?! No matter how heinous their crimes? You know full well what he will continue to do should he live, and you feel no burden on your soul from enabling him to continue to do that? While the Final Judgement will always be the Father's, I believe the reason it is His, and not simply a checklist in an unchanging book is so you may argue your case and be Judged on the merits thereof. 'Justice' is about far more than just blindly obeying rules like 'Save people from burning buildings, if able'. We were gifted Reason so we could make such judgements for ourselves. The actions we do may be what we have most control over, but what matters far more are the *results* of said actions. An immoral act which successfully leads to a moral outcome is far better for the world than a moral act which leads to an immoral outcome."
She follows his gaze out to sea. "It's beautiful, but there are sharks out there who will swallow you whole, and I worry you won't even see them coming." She says softly.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 12, 2019 0:01:51 GMT 1
"I said that it was not *my* place to judge him, Laena, not that he should not be judged. Whose duty is it to judge him? His fellow Lords, but do they? No. They turn a blind eye, and some, like my Lord, curry his favor." He shrugs. "In the end he will be judged by the Father and may there be mercy on his soul, although I very much doubt it."
He pointed out to the bay. "The Tear was a pirate haven for centuries, perhaps dating back even to the Andals. There are five major groups... the pirates that bring their booty into the city, the thieves, the merchants, the mercenaries that come looking for work, and finally the smallfolk that go about their work every day. When the Levalles gained these lands they were riddled with strife and chaos was the norm.
It's taken me years to forge these cutthroats into some semblance of a community. Now they all work together efficiently, with few murders and practically no rapes." He turn back to her. "You see, when I was asked to solve the problem of law and order in the Tear, I realized I could have one or the other, but not both. Instead of judging them, I worked to make them better and integrated. Now the pirates bring in their booty without fear of seizure, paying fair taxes on their cargo. The thieves appraise the goods and run the black market. The merchants buy the goods and make substantial profit selling them throughout Westeros. The mercenaries largely keep the peace with perhaps a little more latitude than normal guards would have. Finally the smallfolk go about their lives largely undisturbed enjoying the benefit of the enormous amount of coin that flows through the city every day."
He smiled and waved his hands out over the view. "I called you ruthless, callous and selfish, but I do not judge you for it, anymore than I judge them. Perhaps all nobles are. You stand in a city filled with some of the most ruthless, callous and selfish men... and women in Westeros, but they work together because I have shown them it is in their self-interest to do so. If your world 'is as it is', Laena, it is because the nobles, including my own Lord, allow it to be. Here, Eldon would be quietly removed because he would be a threat to the other's interests and prosperity. I don't need to judge them, for they have been given numerous reasons to police each other. It's not my place to judge Eldon, it's not my fault if those whose place it is ignore their duty and self-interest. I assure you that when it is my place to judge someone for their actions, I do not shirk that duty because it is difficult or uncomfortable."
He shrugged again. "That the world 'is as it is' today has no bearing on what it will be tomorrow. If the Tear is a 'Utopia' which I can assure you it is not, it is because of a great many people doing a great deal of hard work and compromise. From what I have seen, few nobles know anything about hard work, and compromise is nothing more than a stalling tactic or a stepping stone for a greater prize. I know the sharks are there, but why let it spoil such a marvelous swim on such a bright sunny day?" He laughed. "The Father will call me to his side when he feels I am no longer needed here and not a moment before."
He levered up to sit on the crenelation and smiled at Leana. "As to me personally, you are my sister now, and I will try and help you if I can. My help will never have a price tag. I have no idea whether you will exploit that or not. That is up to you. I will just have to trust that you won't. I have no control over who you are or what you do. I only have control over who I am and what I do. I would rather die happy as I am then live miserable as you do."
He sighed. "Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps you are happy, but I don't think I have ever seen you smile and mean it." He smiled mischeviously. "Is there something you would like to do while you are here away from the prying eyes of the court? Is there something you have always wanted to do but never felt you could? Climb a tree? Swim in the ocean? Steal apples from the market? Learn the right place to stab a man to death with a butterknife? Something Laena has always wanted to do but Lady Laena can't? Let me give you something you could not or would not take for yourself. I would like to see you smile and mean it."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 12, 2019 14:34:30 GMT 1
"The closest Lord Eldon has come to trial while I had a voice was the trial against Septon Abelar, and his actions were far too dangerous and destructive for me to support them, even if it would formalise the idea that Lord Eldon needs to be punished. So, despite being a noble, I make no apology for my own inaction." Her tone is confident, rather than defensive. Someone else's fault, not hers.
She listens with more than a little awe to his tale of how he shaped the Tear's people into a community. "That's an incredible achievement. Getting pirates to pay taxes alone would be an impossible task for most people." She frowns in consideration. "Will it last after your death, do you think?"
"Not all nobles are ruthless, callous and selfish." She counters. "Among ladies, particularly. Many, perhaps even most, are exactly as their families shaped them to be. Kind, loving, and family-oriented. Lady Erena Blackbriar lives up to her reputation, for example, as far as I saw in the brief time we met. I was just shaped differently. And if you want an example of hard work among the nobility, Lord Armond Caswell is a prime example. Lord Gorman Peake, too. And, of course, Lord Ulbert Starkwood. And that's just off-hand. There certainly are prominent examples of lazy nobles, but that's because they are spending their time gathering attention, while other nobles are busy actually getting stuff *done*."
She clenches her teeth, and looks out to sea when he expresses the wish that she not exploit him out of pure *goodwill*, not meeting his eyes. In truth, she's been fighting her instincts to do so since the first time he said that. She's not sure to be more embarrassed over the possibility that she *will* mercilessly exploit her own brother, or over the fact that she *is* trying not to, purely out of goodwill.
"I *have* smiled. Just ... not often. And no, not in front of you. My children make me smile sometimes. I received a very thoughtful and generous gift from a man courting me, and smiled then. I smiled at the wit and charm of a different man courting me. A few other times. Few times, but precious.
"Were you anyone else, and I mean *anyone* else, I would suspect you of trying to trick me into revealing ways to manipulate me. If I can think of something, do I have your word, on our shared blood, that it will remain between us, and you will not reveal this to your Lord, or anyone else?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 12, 2019 23:24:53 GMT 1
Before Malyk could answer, a breathtakingly beautiful boy of about fourteen approached, tentatively; a grizzled angry pirate captain beside him. Sitting on the stone crenelation, Malyk smiled welcomingly. "Yes William?"
"I am sorry to interrupt..."
"I want my cargo back!" roared the pirate.
"You seem to have mistaken the Tear for Essos, Adrueon. People are not cargo here in Westeros, and you are fully aware of the rules here." Malyk replied pleasantly.
"They are not slaves, they are thralls!"
"The Iron Islands may have rather novel interpretations of slavery, but you are not there, you are here." He smiled. "You can have the rest of your cargo back at double the normal tax rate. The people are currently in the care of Raven Company Commander Ceryllia. If you think you can get them back from her, you are certainly welcome to try. If you don't like the rules here, Adrueon, once your ship is repaired there is no need for you to return, although I believe we are the only port between Oldtown and Lannisport that wouldn't scorpion your ship on sight." He leaned back on his hands, kicking the stone idly.
The pirate snarled, but he knew he was beaten the moment his ship had been damaged and he'd had to limp into port. He could not get his 'thralls' back and he did not dare give up the advantage of a friendly port. Cursing, he stomped away back down the stairs.
"I am sorry, milord."
"Nothing to be sorry about, William." He replied airily. "By the way. Guard Mabis fell from my balcony this afternoon into the coy pond, breaking an arm and a leg. After he is recovered he is being transferred to the northern tower for light duty."
The boy looked at Malyk and nodded in understanding. "You should not have troubled yourself, milord. I could have handled him."
"I am very aware of that, William, but you are in House Levalle now and there is no reason why you should. I have very few rules. I expect the ones I do have to be followed."
As the boy bowed and followed the pirate, Malyk smiled at Laena. "Do you like my new assistant? I found him in Highgarden. He's turning out to be extremely competent. He's very beautiful. Beauty is wonderful, but it can be such a burden, especially for boys. Mabis fell because he threw a punch at me, so I broke the arm the punch was connected to and tossed him off my balcony. Shame. I like Mabis. Hopefully a week in bed, a couple months in the northern tower and a slight limp will remind him not to try and put his hands on people uninvited." The Seneschal chuckled. It seemed even the nicest of people could be ruthless when necessary.
"If you would have my word, then I give it freely. I hold most of the secrets of House Levalle. Nearly all my staff have pasts that occasionally rise up to haunt them. I have no desire to 'trick' you or change you in any way. I accept you for who you are, Laena, and I understand the value in you being who you are. I would only help you to be happier, if being happier is what you wish. So many people try to change other people into being something they are not; a rather stupid and pointless idea. Most people just become more of what they are. You remind me of some of the pirate captains that come here. I like some of them very much. Actually, I think in another life you would make a very good pirate captain."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 13, 2019 2:19:48 GMT 1
Laena watches the interaction with fascination, albeit discreetly - enough to not hide that she was paying attention, not so much that it seemed like she was rudely prying into an internal matter.
"Competent assistants are a true treasure." Laena responds, quietly taking note that Malyk overcame a trained guard with seeming little difficulty. From a different man, she'd consider that a veiled threat. From a different man, she'd assume the entire incident was staged for her. Dealing with Malyk messed with her instincts horribly.
When he said he held the secrets of House Levalle, a plan emerged, fully formed, in her mind: profess a weakness to good wine, request his company, let them both get drunk, then start asking him ques- No! Stop it!
She could take the comment about her making a good pirate captain a number of different ways, but quickly settles on taking it as a compliment. She entertains a brief fantasy of her making a go of it this life before dismissing the idea almost entirely.
She considers arguing against the idea that you cannot change others - her hopes of Balon are pinned on that idea being wrong, and she's wasted a lot of time with Ser Mikel if he won't change at all, either - but decides against it. Time will prove the truth, and she's not ready to give up on either.
So, her mind turns to what could make her happy. Sex? Sure, though she doesn't need his help for that, and it's more a momentary escape than true 'happiness'. Same with good food and wine. She doesn't so much pursue 'happiness' as 'coping mechanisms'. When was the last time she was actually *happy*? She thinks back, and the first time that came to mind was after Lord Karl's remembrance, waking up in bed with Balon, warm, sated, and loved. But he's far from here.
Her thoughts move to her children, but they're distant as well, and for a moment, she suffers an intense burst of homesickness and loneliness. Enough to make her rethink her entire plan, at least for a moment. Then she reminds herself that back home - back with the Starkwoods - she amends, the problems are even greater, if different.
So, back to the problem at hand: any time Laena wishes to do something Lady Laena cannot, she just disguises herself and does it anyway. She never had any time for rules not of her own devising.
But slowly, something comes into her mind.
"I ... have something. An idea. You've said all these things about me: that I'm fierce and independent, I could make a good pirate captain - bold and fearless. My idea is none of these things ... it's stupid. Petty. Vain. And quite possibly impossible, even with your help.
"I'm pretty attractive. I attract admiring glances wherever I go. Then men's eyes move on to the Seastars of this world. Pleasant, but not memorable. Woman may feel threatened by my wrath, but none are threatened by my beauty."
She hesitates, swallows, licks her lips. "I don't know if such a thing is possible. Certainly it's not affordable to keep up given the financial restraints I operate under at the moment. But ... the right makeup, applied the right way, the right clothes .. I know they can make a big difference. I know it will be only temporary. I know it won't really be *me*. But if you could find a way ... I'd like to be truly beautiful. Just once. I want men to stop in their tracks at the sight of me. To forget to breathe for a few moments. I want other women to be jealous of *me* for a change.
"I want to be remembered." She finishes quietly.
She snorts, and shakes her head. "So much for the fierce woman who wasn't like those useless, vain ladies whose only value is their beauty, endlessly preening and trying to outdo each other. Turns out I'm not so different." She sounds rather ashamed of the fact.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Mar 13, 2019 6:41:30 GMT 1
Malyk's smile lit up his face. "My Lady, you speak to my heart. I have but one major vice, and it is my vanity. Come with me." He strode off to the stairs, assuming she would follow. "The problem isn't that you aren't beautiful, Laena. The problem is that you dress for purpose and not for the truth of your beauty. You will never be beautiful like the peacock or the gazelle. You are beautiful like the falcon or the shadowcat. You dress the way a proper Lady of the court should, but it is a costume for others to see. It hides your truth, rather than enhancing it."
Leading her to the second floor of the manor, he opened a pair a double doors leading to a dim room with two large copper cauldrons. By the warmth of the floor it was obvious they were in the room over the kitchens. The two enormous tanks also radiated heat. Carrying on to the other side of the room, he throws open the double doors. A bright solar is revealed. The room is enormous and airy. The left wall doesn't even exist; The balcony separated by floor to ceiling movable screens of light tanned leather with colorful painted murals. The other three walls are whitewashed to make the room even brighter, and to contrast the smooth dark timber floors. There is very little furniture. A large dark oak four poster bed is at one end of the room, the sheets and curtain sheers that surround the bed a pristine white. The sea breeze that flows through the room ruffles the bed sheers and brings a soft crisp scent to the room. Two comfortable heavily stuffed chairs sit in one corner with a small table between them. That there was little furniture did not mean the room is empty. The long wall on the right is bolted with racks on which hang literally hundreds of outfits; the floor lines at least a dozen chests. The racks are obviously neatly organized, but that does nothing do diminish the riot of color. Jackets from dark jewel colors to light pinks and yellows. Long coats from elegant black, to crimson, to many in flowery brocade. Linen and silk shirts of virtually every description. While all together it is cacophony of color and style, none appeared to be garish or tasteless. Malyk apparently had more fine clothing that half the nobility of Westeros put together.
"I do not know if anything here is to your taste, my Lady. They are all tailored to me, but we are not too dissimilar a build. The pirates joke I have a somewhat feminine body. We can raid Lady Delana's closet as well. She will not mind. Many of these clothes are from her. She gifted me my own tailor several years ago. She takes great pride in dressing me up, and I take great joy in letting her. Some are gifts from merchants. Some are spoils from pirates who know I like clothes. That far chest is filled with jewelry, although I very rarely wear any. I have no gowns, but I do have some Dornish skirts that the men there wear. They are very comfortable. Tight breeches and knee high boots for women are very much the style right now in the Tear. We can see what colors and patterns sing to you. Even if there is nothing here we can start to get an idea of what you like. I know every seamstress and tailor in town. As far as makeup, I have any number of maids on staff that are experts at such things, and if you prefer something more exotic, I am very good friends with the owner of The Siren's Call who is quite masterful at such things. I am sure she could be enticed to pay us a visit, especially with the right vintage of Amber Gold." This was Malyk. On the one hand a clever and insightful Seneschal who could out-maneuver pirates and organize castles, on the other hand an exuberant ten year old who liked to play dress-up. The man and the child seemed seamlessly integrated. He was enormously kind, but could ruthlessly throw people off balconies. A man of unswerving faith, but often completely dismissed most of what 'the virtuous' would consider sinful. It was likely he wasn't actually mad, but it was easy to understand why most people thought he was. One thing was clear. He had excellent taste in wardrobe. Walking over, he took Laena's hand and led her to a full length mirror. "You *are* beautiful. You are beautiful like a valyrian sword. You are beautiful like a lightning bolt. You are beautiful like a dragon. Do not be jealous of the women who wear all their value on the outside because they are hollow on the inside. Do not try to emulate the sheep, because you are not a sheep and never will be. When I first met you, the things that impressed me more than anything else was your strength, your determination, and your self control." He stepped back and looked at Laena's reflection. "If you are a shark, show your truth. Let all remember you because they tremble at your passing. Let the pretty flowers wilt and whither in your presence. Let all who look upon you love you and despair. Be gracious, and be glorious, and never let them forget you can burn them to ash, as you did to Lady Johanna. Do that in every glance, every turn of the hand, every glide across the floor, and you will be beautiful no matter what you wear."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 13, 2019 15:47:31 GMT 1
Laena follows Malyk readily, not reacting in the least when he mentions her being beautiful like the falcon.
When he shows off his collection, Laena is in awe. "If you were not my brother, I would be so jealous right now." She breathes. From her time in King's Landing when she was a nobody; to her time in Highgarden when she was one lady-in-waiting amongst many, and to stand out meant to be hammered down; to the time she was married, when it was clear there was no point in making any kind of effort; to the time in Starkwood lands when she was so isolated - throughout her life, despite her royal blood, she'd never had anything like a fraction of the clothes here.
She casts an assessing look over Malyk. "Tops may fit fairly well, but I suspect I may burst any breeches you have without tailoring."
As he speaks, describing a terrible, terrifying beauty, she feels excitement well up. He understands! "You are correct in that I dress how a lady of the court should. That is all I have been taught. But the beauty you describe. The beauty that brings terror and wonder and awe. *That* is what I want. That ... how did you say it? That *sings* to me." She slowly steps down the wardrobe, past item after item, before turning back to Malyk. "Though I do not know the way."
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