(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

[teenyoda]

It's censoring. She's censoring herself, John. I've been, ah, bleeping. Certain things. Like, say I wanted to tell you to bleep off, that's... where she's been getting it from.

[There's a sort of sheepish look over at Sansa before he looks back at the locket.]

We'll see how accidental it is when I set your pants on fire, bub.

[chromosomes]

[ Yeah, John literally has his forehead in one hand right now. ]

I'm going to go ahead and pretend the conversation up until right now didn't happen.

[ Ahem. Sitting up, looking professional. ]

I'm John -- Staff Sergeant John Grimm, of the United States Marine Corps.

[steeledskin]

[ and she in turn becomes stiff and unyielding. poised. remarkable, really, that she'd allowed herself to relax by such minute degrees in stiles's company. ]

Alayne Stone -- [ she has no other titles to offer him. not under this name. ] Of the Vale. Your name sounds so crowded! [ ... ] Tell me, Stiles. Is Ser John an important man that he has such a busy name?

[ she is coy; this is a game. ]

[teenyoda]

[So rude, John.]

Well, it's sort of like, ah, rank and where he's from. Like yours, only we just like to throw more words in it.

Staff Sergeant is his rank, John Grimm's his name, and the United States is where we're from. The Marine Corps is the branch of the military he's from, so... it's all pretty relevant information, but it only really makes sense if you know what any of that means. Otherwise, he may as well be Lieutenant Floofybottom of the Great Sea of Scowlyfaces.

[So there, John.]

[chromosomes]

Nice to meet you.

[ He notes the return of the tension, almost regrets his actions; but he has to earn any relaxation, can't just piggyback off Stiles.

Besides, he really was getting a headache. ]

I'm no commissioned officer, either. Though I've got to say, I prefer 'John' to 'Floofybottom'.

[ Thanks Stiles. ]

[steeledskin]

Stiles has a habit of taking titled men and wreaking havoc upon those titles. Knights or soldiers; it does not matter. None are spared his merciless wit.

[ her rejoinder is softly said but it hold a little flicker of humour. as dry as her comment sounds, she would never have said it if she did not mean it with some ember of affection. ] He should be more gallant with you, John. He ought to be.

[teenyoda]

I dunno, Grumps. Floofybottom might suit you. Or maybe Snookums is better.

[Yes, Stiles. Tease the guy who can break you in half over the lockets. Good job. Well done.

He does look over at Sansa, giving her a sideways grin at that and laughing.]

Yeah, well, I ought to do a lot of things that I just can't seem to manage. Some might say it's a failing. My dad doesn't seem to mind it.

[Especially when it was directed at one Agent McCall. Take that, Agent FBsuck my--]

[chromosomes]

He means well, at least.

[ As though Stiles isn't sitting right there... ]

If it were really an issue, I'd make sure he knew about it.

[steeledskin]

[ she gives stiles another look. is this -- perhaps -- another one of those guy things? she frowns. ]

Only he doesn't sound as if he means well. [ ... ] You don't, Stiles! I don't know how anyone could ever be certain--

[teenyoda]

[Stiles barely covers a snorting laugh, shaking his head at Sansa.]

Cultural differences, Alayne. Remember that guy stuff I told you about with Gendry? Well, it's like that, only worse. John here's from around the same time and that's just what we're like. It's kind of like the more you like someone, the worse names you come up with for them. He'll know I really love him when I start putting bleeps in there, right John?

[chromosomes]

Part of it's tone of voice, [ John offers; Stiles certainly doesn't sound threatening when he says that sort of thing, anyway. ] And body language.

[ Snorting a little, he shakes his head. ]

As much as I hate to admit it, he's at least partially right. Doesn't stop us from swearing out the people we don't like, but like I said -- the tone of voice and your body language is important. When Stiles does it to me, it's like a puppy playfully growling instead of actually being upset.

[steeledskin]

[ a puppy. playfully growling. her eyes crinkle at how endearing that thought is. ]

As long as no one ends up offended! [ she decides. ] It seems as if it might be a tricky boundary to walk.

[teenyoda]

... Did you really just refer to me as a puppy? Really?

[Oh ho... John. It was on. This puppy was going to take a nip somewhere very sensitive.]

[chromosomes]

It's a metaphor.

[ Try it, Stiles. ]

It can be. Easier if people tell you when you've crossed the line, but of course not everyone does.

[steeledskin]

[ but by the time they tell you if a line is crossed, she thinks, their hand is likely already cracking across your jaw. or a hand they command is. ]

Such games are not for me, I don't think. I'll let you two play; I think I prefer to observe this tourney.

[teenyoda]

[Stiles scoffed.]

It's not a... battle or anything. It's just guys being guys. We're completely horrible to each other. But it's mostly just a facade. Mostly. I mean, I can call him a jerk, you jerk, and he knows I don't meant it. Except I do. Totally. Jerk. But there's a way to say it to like, oh, someone I really, really don't like. But I'd probably use another word. Jerk just doesn't have the sting a good insult needs.

[chromosomes]

If you don't want to take part, then that's fine. Just forgive us if we slip up.

[ Snort. Stiles. ]

Yeah, if we're ever really mad at each other or don't like someone, you'll be able to tell.

[steeledskin]

[ what freedom they must enjoy! the freedom to jape and call names and play their games and be able to tell when lines are crossed. sansa tries not to feel envious. ]

But otherwise assure me -- the two of you are good friends?

[teenyoda]

Um... I don't know if I'd go that far? But we're friendly. We haven't really known each other long enough to be bffs or anything. I know John's a good guy -- aside from being a jerk.

[His lips twisted into a smile at that and he hoped Sansa got the joke.]

[chromosomes]

Yeah, and Stiles is decent.

[ He'd add onto the joke, but he wants to make sure Alayne actually gets the one Stiles threw out there. ]

We've known each other since we both arrived here, though. Met at the feast.

[steeledskin]

And so I suppose it is an alliance that is as long as any new alliances are possible in these lands.

[teenyoda]

[She had a point.]

Fair enough. We're all on the same side, is what I'm saying. And out of all the people here on our side, John seems like the kind I'd say you could ask about things, if you wanted. That's the whole point of this. A little introduction, a little poking at the bear while he's miles and miles away and can't do anything to me...

[Smirk.]

[chromosomes]

I've got three dozen soldiers in Caer Glaem, Stiles.

[ Juuust throwing that out there. But he's grinning. ]

And yeah, sure, ask away.

[ Unless it's about his personal life, really. ]

[steeledskin]

Stiles told me you might be able to explain your military's structure to me. But honest, ser, I would hate to bother you with naive questions.

[teenyoda]

Go on, bother him, Alayne. He'd love to be bothered. I bet it'll make him feel all puffy and important.

[Jab, jab, John.]