(first lemon cake) voice ✧ seelie & unseelie

[steeledskin]

I offer my gratitude to those fighting the worms. [ here is a voice both measured and composed, albeit young. ] And gratitude is all I can give, barring my prayers. And they are given whole-heartedly for all of us. May the Warrior give you the strength and courage required for your victories. And may the Mother bless us all.

[ sansa stark has long come to doubt the efficacy of the seven new gods. she isn't entirely certain the old gods listen, either -- but their rustling leaves and independent ways give her more peace of late than anything the seven offer: incense and rituals. however! she has resigned herself to being alayne stone to those who are not immediately known to her or trusted by her. and alayne stone worships the new gods, not the old. she is meant to be exactly as petyr baelish described her: a pious bleater, whose ardent faith discourages unwanted questions. so she speaks of blessing of the seven, but holds the old gods in her heart. she only hopes that arya and her allies will forgive her this identity fraud across the lockets.

most of all, sansa doesn't want to disappoint the people to whom she'd promised her help. like in maegor's holdfast during the blackwater, sansa hopes to lift spirits and rouse bravery. perhaps if she voices her thankfulness, others will follow in kind.

before she ends, she has only one question -- the paranoid fugitive in her needs to know: ] These pendants are truly remarkable. Magic, is it? But more efficient by far than any raven. [ ... ] Can they be used to talk only to one person, and privately? If anyone has managed it, I would thank you to tell me how.

Comments

[gordianknots]

Lady Stone, please, don't apologise for asking questions. I don't mind answering, and while I'm rather resentful about the circumstances of being here, learning about other places is fascinating.

A university is a formalized school system back home, designed to teach students about selected topics at an advanced level. They grant degrees, which are proof of education, which are seen as a way to show one's achievement and prove one's skills. Usually students pick one field to study, although the categories are really broad: history, arts, medicine, law, science (which my own field falls under), and business are all just examples.

[steeledskin]

[ it sounds like the citadel. only, perhaps, spread across some grander scope. ]

Who might attend these...universities?

[gordianknots]

Most used to be men or women only, but these days - baring precious few exceptions - they're co-educational. Economically they also used to be very closed off, but if you're willing to pay (and it is expensive, so loans aren't uncommon) you're perfectly permitted to apply to the school. If you're accepted, you're in.

[steeledskin]

Ladies go, my lord?

[gordianknots]

Yes, absolutely.

--I take it that'd be unconventional back home?

[steeledskin]

Very. I was given lessons at home, of course. But I cannot imagine going elsewhere to learn more.

[gordianknots]

Well, I suppose not having the option available would impact that as well.

Although would you consider the option if it was available to you? An d if the subject matte interested you, that's a key factor I've found.

[steeledskin]

Would I? I'm not so certain, my lord. I'm not exceptionally clever.

[gordianknots]

Not all the studies demand clever. The arts are more about perseverance and creativity. I only say this since you brought up poetry earlier.

[steeledskin]

[ she shouldn't ask! alayne stone, she knows, does not like to dance.

but she can't help herself: ] Do they teach dancing?

[gordianknots]

Not my teaching institution specifically, but a number do have dance programmes.

[steeledskin]

How charming. I suppose that would not be too inappropriate.

[gordianknots]

If you don't mind me expression a bit of confusion: why would that be inappropriate in the first place?

[steeledskin]

[ how baffling that she has to explain it to someone. but perhaps it's as different for him as chemistry is to her. ]

All the things a lady must be -- all the things she must do -- cannot happen, certainly, if she leaves to go to any university. [ what good is she if her family name has been stripped from her? after all, that is what happens with the maesters at the citadel. she assumes it must be the same for universities. ]

[gordianknots]

...What do you mean?

I have a feeling there might be a few mis-communications/assumptions being made here, and that's on me for not explaining well.

[steeledskin]

She is made to marry, my lord. And give her husband sons. She cannot do that if she's off studying as the Maesters do.

[gordianknots]

You're allowed to do both in my time, if you want.

[steeledskin]

You must be very proud of -- your time, my lord.

[ diplomatic. to her, it still sounded utterly weird. ]

[gordianknots]

There's still a lot of problems, but you're not wrong.

[Whereas Waver's horrified to go that far back to limits. He knows far too many people, himself included, that would've been limited with such expectations.]

[steeledskin]

Problems? Like what?

[gordianknots]

I'm not sure you want the list, it'll really just sound like me complaining a lot, and that's not pleasant to listen to.

I also admittedly feel bad - I've talked your ear off about home for me, but I haven't asked you anything about yourself.

[steeledskin]

I'm afraid I am about as interesting as I am clever, my lord.

[gordianknots]

I usually find that when people say that, they're quite wrong, but I can respect not wanting to discuss things and your privacy.

[steeledskin]

If you have any questions--

[gordianknots]

You mentioned ravens as a means of carrying messages. How common is that, and well, how long do they usually have to fly to get to where they need to be?