(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

[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?

[steeledskin]

Most have a certain to which castle they fly. The distances can be quite great -- but the messages are tied to their legs and most do arrive.

[gordianknots]

I was actually going to follow up with how many messages get lost, on average, but no need for it now. Are their use limited to simply the (I'm guessing here about the government type) kingdom where you live, or are they also employed for international communication?

[steeledskin]

I don't know what they do across the Narrow Sea -- but all the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros use them, certainly.

[gordianknots]

Oh, well, I guess I got the number of kingdoms incorrect, then.

I would have never expected the use of ravens - I know carrier pigeons were used time and again, but I can't really see nobility springing for something so ordinary.

And er. Is magic common at all for you back home? I know you mentioned alchemy was a disfavoured art, but is that true for everything?

[steeledskin]

Common? No.

[ it exists. maybe. sansa can't be certain -- she once believed in it, but that belief was less fervent these days. but on the other hand, she'd seen the targaryen girl's dragons at that first feast. ] There are stories about it. And men who profess to know it. I've never seen any true magic.

[gordianknots]

Well, we have that in common at least, between our respective homes.

[Which wasn't untrue technically. There's a gap between True Magic and the magecraft that Waver performs.]

[steeledskin]

Here, it seems a fact of life. Fairies. Giant worms.

[gordianknots]

All of which are probably just the beginning.

Although truth be told, I'm just struggling with this court aspect.

[steeledskin]

Struggling? Why?

[ being allotted a faction instead of having a choice? she knows it well enough. it doesn't horrify her as much as it perhaps should. ]

[gordianknots]

I'm used to having a lot more room of my own, with a lot more people I knew, and definitely haven't been this up-close and dealing with royalty before.

I guess as a lady of your time, you probably have a heads up on me.

[steeledskin]

Not so. My father keeps a small household. And I'm -- well, I'm no true heir of his. I certainly know little of royalty.

[ it's easier to lie in text, she's learning. ]

[gordianknots]

I doubt "small" means "living alone", but I can follow your point well enough.

[steeledskin]

Are you saying you live alone, my lord?

[gordianknots]

Back home, yes. Hence why everything here has been a period of adjustment.

[steeledskin]

Is it lonely?

[gordianknots]

For me, not very. But I have a lot of social interaction when I'm teaching, so coming home to have a few hours to myself is relaxing for me.

[steeledskin]

If you're a lord, don't you have knights? Guards? Surely you're not completely alone.

[gordianknots]

We need a lot less of those back home. Although it does make cooking an adventure, without anyone around who's skilled to do it. I managed to get soup on the ceiling once, from sheer lack of skill.

[steeledskin]

[ had the locket been recording anything else, it would have caught her laughter. ]

Impressive, I'm sure. At least I can only assume, having never cooked myself.