(third lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

[steeledskin]

( VOICE: OPEN TO BOTH COURTS )

Fellow [ ... ] shardholders. Seven blessings upon you all.

[ sansa is back in caer glaem, but there is no visual recording to accompany this address. (perhaps foolishly) she believes she may be somewhat protected from joffrey's attention. she would avoid an address altogether, but she feels there are those in the opposing court who ought to be quietly warned against the evil presence in their midst. trouble is, she doesn't know their names. and so here is a quiet attempt to draw out some of those people she'd spoken with at the very outset of using these lockets. ]

These lands are impressive. I have spent the larger part of two turns of this moon travelling them. Their roads are hard, perhaps, but I find myself oddly...pleased that I made any progress at all. [ there is a quiet (and honest) reverence in her voice. improvement and daring is not a thing she expects of herself, and so the mere understanding that she can now build a fire or ride a horse for days? it kindles something in her heart. a spark of pride. ] Seelie. Unseelie. Both territories boast beautiful landscapes -- I should like to see them painted, perhaps. Are there any artists in either court? Painters? Sculptors? [ ... ] Have we any musicians? These kingdoms must have their own songs. I would fain learn them.

From what played at the first feast, I imagine fairy music must always be a delight.

[ a protracted conversations, perhaps. but she hopes to catch the ear of wary allies and would-be friends. and as for her public behaviour? ah, well. she will be alayne stone a little longer. she is not ready to reclaim herself in one headlong rush. small steps and little leaps must be made. ]

(ooc: this post comes on the evening of june 27th. if your character is in caer glaem and is more apt to find here somewhere around the castle, go ahead and hit me with an action thread instead. i'm good with it. )

Comments

[gordianknots]

Well, compared to yours it's short and it'll probably sound like I'm whinging, but in theory, it'll take two weeks total. The length will be exaggerated by my inexperience.

[steeledskin]

Two weeks can be very long. Do you travel alone? Does this...other person accompany you? Or are you to meet her at your puddle?

[ so inquisitive! she is not half so bold with others. but waver has proven himself amenable to questions. ]

[gordianknots]

[Waver loves questions like ducks love water, truth be told. People who ask questions are generally people willing to learn, and that's a good thing from where he sits.]

I'm heading out alone, as far as I know, and we're meeting towards the west of Caer Scima.

Temporary perma-private

The person in question is on your side of the court, so we're a little worried about meeting too close to the monarch's castle.

/end private

let's perma-private all over this!

[steeledskin]

...Oh. Yes. I can imagine that might cause issues.

Good idea, really

[gordianknots]

A few, yes, although we're hoping to avoid all of them.

[And because it does occur to him, and it is important.]

Someone else here, who independently became aware of the problem of King Joffrey and will be keeping an eye on his movements while I'm running this errand. She doesn't know my source for the concern, only that it exists.

[steeledskin]

[ ...it takes her a few heartbeats to reply. like she may be panicking. or maybe just collecting her thoughts. ]

Is it too much to ask for this person's name, my lord?

[gordianknots]

--I'll check with them first, if that's okay. I do trust them though, and there is a matter we're collaborating on together.

[That was in part brought on by Sansa being stuck behind Unseelie lines, as well as Ganondorf's announcement about what he'd be doing to any unexpected Seelie.]

[steeledskin]

Of course. I see. [ a thin silence. ] I'm sorry -- I should never have put you on the spot about it.

[gordianknots]

Don't worry about it, I sort of set myself up for an awkward question and answer. I just don't know my friend's level of comfort with being known, and I want to respect that as much as I want to respect my agreement with you to keep an eye on people here.

[steeledskin]

I understand. I understand completely. [ even if she feels a little panicked, still. ] Thank you, my lord, for being so forthright with your reasoning.

[gordianknots]

I'm glad that it sits all right with you.

[steeledskin]

We do what we must. [ ... ] All of us.

[gordianknots]

Regardless, when there's the option for transparency, I try and take it.

[steeledskin]

I have heard the opposite advised. But perhaps the world of chemistry is not so...volatile.

[gordianknots]

It's pretty literally explosive, but in teaching, I have to be straight forward with my students with how we're conducting class, what I expect of them, and how I plan to issue grades as well as deal with problems. It'd be foolish not to take that same approach with allies.

[steeledskin]

Do you never fear they might use your honesty against you?

[gordianknots]

It's a risk I try to factor in.

[steeledskin]

[ she wants to know how. how does on factor in such risks?

but: ] You must be clever indeed to manage it.

[gordianknots]

A lot of it is just knowing what information not to give out. And clever is only gained through an almost embarrassing amount of trial and error.

[steeledskin]

But you must have had a competent teacher!

[gordianknots]

[Sorry. That laugh sounds a lot bitter than he meant it to be.]

A terrible one, actually. He was incredibly pig headed, and when I submitted a controversial thesis to him, he decided to publicly humiliate me for having a foolish idea that went against current understanding of the topic at hand. I was about nineteen at the time, and he was an utter ass.

[steeledskin]

[ she hears its brittle tone; she remarks upon it silently, and keeps the thought for later. ]

...Was the idea a good idea, in the end?

[gordianknots]

We'll see. I'm waiting to publish that thesis through proper channels when I get back home. Twenty years of waiting, I suppose, but I'm in a position of greater power, respect, and credibility than I had when I was still a student.

[steeledskin]

How tragic! To see it delayed once more, and for a conflict not your own.

[gordianknots]

I've waited long enough, a little longer won't do too much damage.