eachdraidh | (seventh lemon cake) video ✧ (sorta) open to both courts

( SEELIE ONLY )

I -- [ hmm. sansa presses her lips together and wonders (briefly) whether it is a foolish request in the face of war. and yet she pursues it for an honourable cause. she wishes to gather certain tales for certain purposes. ] I want to hear stories. Stories of grand adventures undertaken by brave Seelie heroes. I cannot be the only one who's struck by such curiousity. Please -- share what you've learned.

[ and for every legend well-told and well-lauded she will make a point to include it within a very...pointed celebration in treun. perhaps encouraging even the shardless to think upon the bright bold tales of the seelie court will further endear that court to their hearts. it's a little like letting the right song be played at the right moment, falling upon the right ears. she wants to inspire treun -- or else certain parts of it -- to think more kindly on caer glaem. and she needs fellow shardbearers to help her. ] Tell me of the Seelie court's fabled champions and its well-mourned martyrs. What have you heard recounted by the hearth-side? Whispered on the road? Stories even the natives have told for centuries, mayhaps.

( BOTH COURTS )

[ some hours later in the day an 'accidental' feed broadcasts. it consists of the locket falling open and catching sight of a pile of books. sounds of rustling. a cleared throat. and at long last a mild: ] Seven have mercy. What a troublesome thing you are and how -- [ sansa addresses the locket she had flipped open on purpose, pretending to be clumsy. this is a quiet way in which to invite conversation with those she might not otherwise feel brave enough to seek out -- unseelie friends, soon separated from her by a roiling oncoming war. ] -- How stupid of me.

[ a novice ruse! however, she has such an earnest and gentle face it might just be worth believing by most, if not by all. ]

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[Dave has no stories, not from this world at least, so her first message goes ignored. But later at night, when he and the group of people he's escorting stop to rest, Dave sees her other message and can't help to worry a bit.]

Lady Sansa? Are you alright? [He's so tired (visibly so) that he doesn't think of using just voice or locking the conversation. He just goes with what she used.] Is your trip going ok?

It might yet be called a success. [ a brief pause. ] And I am fine. Unhurt. Thank you, though, for your concern. I trust I find you well in turn?

Oh! That's good to hear. I thought... never mind. You aren't stupid for dropping the locket, you know, that just... happens. [He's great at self-deprecating but he doesn't like seeing it in others.] Weee are fine, yeah. We had a little incident when we reached the river but don't worry, I totally solved it. [He wants to sound determined but the truth is, he's just a ball of exhaustion.]

[ oh how she hates discussing business in the open. and yet she does not lock the conversation -- not yet. she tries to speak gently. sweetly. she bides her time. ]

An -- an incident? Please, tell me what took place.

Ah, ok... Weeeee- found these horses. By the river. [He starts there and doesn't say anything about the argument that happened before that. He doesn't want to be a disappointment, a failure, even if he fixed it. And it's technically not a lie, right? That was not part of the incident.] But they weren't normal horses, they were made of mist -- ceffyls I think they called them? Some kids tried to approach them but ran through them-- [Hand gestures try to represent that.] --and they fell into the river. There was some panic but I took them out with my magic, nobody got hurt.

-- Oh.

[ perhaps she should have been more horrified by the incident. but instead she was relieved. this sounds minor: children at play and taking their lumps for such playfulness. she'd feared, a moment, that he'd been accosted by the enemy. or some wilder and less insubstantial beast had waylaid them. ]

H-how are they, now? The children.

[It's indeed minor, but when it happened the world stopped for Dave. He truly thought they would lose those kids, maybe the horses would attack them? He never can tell with creatures around here.]

They are fine. Scared and not wanting to get into the water again any time soon, but unharmed. We stopped a moment ago to, ah, rest and have some food, that's why I could take a break to chat with you. [He rubs his eyes before going on.] What about you, enjoying the trip, Lady Sansa?

My...trip [ as he calls it ] is going well. As well as one can expect when it's undertaken for the sake of business and of politics. It is a pretty place. I would have liked to visit it more in pleasure.

Perhaps at some later time it will be possible.

Business and politics, that sure sounds fun. [If the sarcastic tone isn't enough, there's a face pulling to go with it.] At least you're safe, right? Maybe you can stay and sightsee to avoid the march.

Avoid it! I would not dare be outside my own walls when it happens. The Cothromach will want me there--

[ or so she hopes. ]

Ah, right, right, I meant--- not eunning into them in your way back. I wouldn't want you to get caught in the mess. [He doesn't wish that on anyone, really, but Sansa is quickly becoming someone he considers a friend so that's extra worry points.] You're right though, your city would want you there. And that-- that's pretty brave of you.

Brave? [ she echoes the word. ] Hardly.

I am only doing my duty -- the one I agreed to take on when my Lord Father left.

[He raises both his eyebrows - she's really hard on herself, isn't she? Not that he can talk, but still.]

Doing one's duty isn't always easy so... yes, Lady Sansa, I do think you're very brave. And I'm sure your father would be proud of you.

One can hope.

[ she does not argue with what he says about her father. it isn't that she believes it -- she doesn't -- but it's childish and crude to argue points such as these. better to agree and let the moment pass. ]

I pray my people see it similarly.

I'm sure they will. I mean, you could choose staying anywhere safe during this mess, but you're going back to them. And that totally means something, even if you just think it's your duty.

Mayhaps. [ her acceptance is polite because she doesn't want to argue. but it's clear that the well-wishes do not truly sink in. ] It is at least very kind of you to say.

[Dave smiles, and a small chuckle even escapes him. As someone who is also really hard on himself, he can understand a little bit. So he keeps it simple this time.] You're welcome, Lady Sansa.

[ oh. she cannot cope with so much genuine feeling. sounding all at once distant, she tries to beg off: ] I...I ought to return to my work. Th-thank you, all the same.

Oh, right, right, I've distracted you enough. You're welcome again, and, ah-- enjoy the next of your trip. [Not wanting to be a bother, her turns the feed off.]

(seventh lemon cake) video ✧ (sorta) open to both courts

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