(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]

That you haven't just walked away or thrown something at me makes you a great listener, Alayne.

[steeledskin]

Why would I throw--?

[ she breaks off, mid-sentence. the idea is too ludicrous. sansa shakes her head. ] You're interesting. It makes it easy to listen.

[teenyoda]

[He's looking down as they walk and smiling. Interesting? Him? Hah, that was a first. But it was a nice first and he looked over and gave her another almost shy grin.]

Thanks. Just let me know if I'm going on too much about something. I have a tendency to ramble.

[Especially without his meds.]

[steeledskin]

I like it.

[ when he's talking, she doesn't have to. she can stand back and let the words fill all the empty spaces, distracting her from her own hollowness. ] It isn't a terrible tendency. Too many can barely hold half a conversation, let alone carry the brunt of it.

[ flattery comes easy to her. even easier when it's true. ]

[teenyoda]

Then you're in a minority of people I know. Most of them can't wait for me to shut up.

[He led her inside the castle, heading towards where he thought her rooms were.]

You can always tell me when I'm talking too much. Just... give me a jab and tell me to shut up.

[steeledskin]

A...jab?

[ surely, he cannot be suggesting what she thinks he's suggesting! she frowns, and watches as they pass towards the keep. ]

[teenyoda]

Yeah. You know, like a poke. Prod. Jab. Shove. Punch. Nudge. Whatever works.

[steeledskin]

-- I would never...!

[ indeed, as they walk together it seems he's just offered up the opportunity to do something she finds utterly unbelievable. impossible. she could not punch-shove-prod-jab him. not at all. ]

[teenyoda]

No? You should. Just once. Just to see what it feels like.

[He's half teasing her now, knowing she's too much a delicate flower to just haul off and punch him, but hey, maybe he could get a poke out of her.]

[steeledskin]

It would absolutely not be appropriate.

[teenyoda]

Maybe not where you come from, but in case you haven't noticed, we're not exactly where you come from, Alayne. Go on. Give my shoulder a bit of a poke. I promise I won't bite.

[steeledskin]

No. [ another shake of her head.

except. except he wants her to prod-poke-jab him, does he not? and so she must navigate this tricky crossroads: the understanding that to fulfil his wishes she has to do something that might ordinarily be seen as wrong. ] A-are you certain?

[teenyoda]

[He gave her a look with raised brows.]

Do I look like I'm going to explode from a poke to the shoulder?

[steeledskin]

-- It might be a trick. [ she protests, speaking barely above a whisper. ] Or a trial.

[teenyoda]

A trick of what? What do you think's going to happen. You poke me and I pop?

[steeledskin]

[ pop was not quite the onomatopoeia she has in mind. ]

You may be extending the invitation only to see if I dare accept it. And if I do, I can only imagine falling in some estimation-- [ her arm tightens. just by a degree. ] I promise you, I'm well-behaved.

[teenyoda]

Alayne, come on. I'm not going to freak out on you for poking me in the arm. I have friends that do more than poke me and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just a poke. Really...

[steeledskin]

[ and so -- wordless! -- she lifts her arm (the free one; not the one tucked lightly 'round his) and reaches over until she can press three fingertips against his shoulder. it's barely a jab. hardly a poke. more like a slight, hesitant pressure.

and all the while she watches a space just beyond his ear. not daring to look him in the eye. ]

[teenyoda]

[If she'd just done it with no muss or fuss, he'd intended to play at being mortally wounded. But he had a feeling that pretending to actually be hurt would send her screaming, so he just gave her a smile instead, then looked down at his shoulder.]

See? Still here. No worse for wear.

[steeledskin]

You did not turn into a lion afterwards. [ she answers in an awed whisper. ] Even so, I think I will not discourage your conversation in such a fashion.

[teenyoda]

Just keep it in mind. Like I said, I can ramble, so... Sometimes I need a kick or something to get me to shut up.

[Hey, at least he was aware of his flaws.]

[steeledskin]

[ the more he talks, the less she has to. ]

But I'll do as you say: keep it in mind.

[teenyoda]

Good girl.

[They were down the women's quarters now and he guessed her room was coming up soon.]

So, just remember you can call me if you need to. Or just want to. The lockets are convenient for that.

[steeledskin]

[ sansa breaks away from his arm. each movement comes with an economy of effort -- a slow planned progression through each step and turn. and when she faces him again, she dips into a short curtsey. ]

Thank you, Stiles. It was very good to meet you -- at last, after speaking so much.

[teenyoda]

[He feels he should bow, but he also feels like he'd mess it up, so he just sort of... salutes her. Which is probably just as dumb.]

Likewise. And take care of yourself, okay? Get some rest.