video; un: ironborn

[reek]

I’ll not congratulate anyone for the beginnings of this cure.

[ Oh, look, it's that guy who pisses everyone off. The corner of his mouth quirks into a cruel smirk, but his teeth are clenched too tightly and his eyes burn too fiercely for any proper smile. It’s a struggle for him to remain as guarded as he would prefer, and there are cracks in his armor: he’s clearly angry and upset. ]

My sister was among the ill. Was. I have been informed that she has since returned to the pods—still uncured.

[ He tries to keep his tone even and cold, void of emotion, but his voice breaks ever so slightly. He and Asha weren’t close, not like he’s known siblings should be, but it’s a deep cut to be abandoned again, and it hurts to know that one of the few people he felt he could trust in this place is gone. Clearing his throat, he continues.]

Which leads me to the question at hand. What reason do I, or the worried, or any of the ailing, have to trust the maesters here? Healers--whatever name you may know them by. Months, this has gone on, to the point where someone is gone and remains unhealed.

[ He knows better than to critique those who have done nothing but help, but his anger is directionless otherwise, so he chuckles cruelly, and that cheshire smirk widens. ]

They’ve been all but useless.

Comments

[reek]

[ Theon doesn’t make the best decisions when it comes to trusting people. He tries to be cautious and smart about things, but his desperation and impulsive manner tend to take over. It also doesn’t help that in his paranoid state, he’s susceptible to believe all manner of things, particularly what Ocelot the sort of things suggesting.

It makes sense, after all. ]

None of us is wealthy. Not here.

[shashka]

That's true.

[ though given the circumstances, he doubts a refugee would've had enough time to scrape together any intricate plot to initiate it. but finding a cure and withholding it...

..it's possible. and he's seen it before. either way... ]

Of course, the problem is, there's not much you can do about it, unless you find proof. It's all speculation.

[ why's he egging him on? just for fun?

wejustdontknow ]

[reek]

[ That does nothing to ease his frustrations, which is obviously the point. It’s easier to get a rise out of him than it is to calm him. ]

Would it still be speculation if someone were to die of this illness? It seems to me, that's what they want.

[shashka]

Well, you'll only ever really be sure if you find the source. You might also have a good idea if they sell the cure, rather than just giving it away for free.

[ he's really not expecting the latter. but you know, stranger things have happened. ]

[reek]

Is a rebellion what they wish to see? It's what will happen if they sell the cure.

[shashka]

See, now you're thinking. Maybe someone just wanted to cause chaos for Olympia and Wyver. You never know.

[reek]

That does not seem unlikely.

[ Man, Ocelot, stop playing to his paranoia. ]

You may well have uncovered the truth.

[shashka]

[ look kid, a little bit of paranoia never hurt anyone. especially when you're talking to one of the founders of a legit New World Order organization. ]

Maybe. Maybe not. I'd say it all depends on just how much you trust your fellow man.

So it's up to you, Asha's brother.

[ ...he knows he has a name. but he wants to see just how he reacts. ]

[reek]

I have a name.

[ Like that. Exactly. ]

[shashka]

[ of course.

utterly predictable. ]

Well, I can't exactly call you by it if you don't tell me what it is, now can I?

[reek]

[ He is incredibly predictable, it's true. ]

Theon Greyjoy. My name is Theon Greyjoy.

[shashka]

[ now, if he were feeling particularly sadistic, he might just insist on calling the kid "Asha's brother". but thankfully for Theon, he's not feeling that terrible.

besides, it would probably be more of a headache than entertaining. ]

See, Theon? That wasn't so hard, now was it?

By the way, you can call me "Ocelot".

[ because unlike Theon, Adam keeps his name close to his heart. ]

[reek]

I do not recall asking.

[ Listen...he's just in a shit mood. And being called "Asha's brother" didn't help much. ]

[shashka]

Maybe, but I thought I'd just be helpful. After all, any friend of Asha's, is a friend of mine.

[ now he might just be trying to see if he can get a rise out of the kid.

personally, he doesn't see the big deal about being overshadowed by a sibling. but that might be because he's never had one. ]

[reek]

Asha and I are not friends, just as you and I are not friends.

[ This is why you're not good at making friends, Theon. You push them away at the mere suggestion. ]

[shashka]

We aren't? Well, that's just too bad. You know, I can be a very good friend, if you let me.

[ sure, he might betray you, but that won't be for a while. he's not even sure which game he's going to be playing here, when the one person he was actually trying to look after is "safely" asleep. ]

[reek]

I've heard that before.

[ And ironically he's chosen to trust that very same person all over again to some extent. That our Theon, making all the same mistakes all over again. ]

It's easy to say pretty words, isn't it? It's harder to mean them.

wow thanks gmail for eating this

[shashka]

Have you now?

[ well consider him interested. ]

And once trust is lost, it's nearly impossible to recover, now isn't it? I certainly wouldn't go throwing away a good reputation for nothing.

[ and while he is an accomplished liar, that is true. if you want to betray someone, you need to have something to gain from it. senseless actions never get you anywhere good. ]

[reek]

Aye, it is.

[ He lost Robb's trust, and at a loss of how to regain it, stubbornly situated himself to where the Starks simply couldn't avoid him instead.

Maybe it wasn't smart, maybe it was just an act of frustration, or maybe he hoped that he could find a way to be forgiven in due time. He never quite figured it out. ]

Just because you were friends with my sister doesn't mean I want to befriend you as well.

[shashka]

[ Theon's probably lucky that he can't hear the laughter on the other end of the line. because there is certainly laughter.

(though, on some level. he could relate to the stubbornness. he was the same when he was the kid's age, after all) ]

I guess that she was the better liked of the two of you, wasn't she?

[ and don't worry, Theon. Ocelot knows what it's like to be a disappointment to your parents. ]

[reek]

How am I to know?

[ Which reads an awful lot like "yes, she was, and I'm too stubborn to admit to it even though I'm well aware of the fact". ]

[shashka]

Well, if you were siblings, I'm guessing you spent some time with her, didn't you?

But, she didn't have your charming personality.

[ is he trying to be rude on purpose? don't ever accuse him of something so insidious. ]

[reek]

Some time, but not as much as you might think. We were raised on separate shores.

I say I'm the more charming of the two of us.

[ Is he joking? Maybe. Hard to tell. He can put on a charming front when he really gives it a go, but he hasn't exactly been trying. ]

[shashka]

Is that so? You didn't grow up with your parents?

[ he can relate. ]

Judging by the replies you've gotten, I'd believe it.

[ now Ocelot? he's definitely lying. ]

[reek]

She did. I grew up elsewhere.

[ Sucks, doesn't it? ]

Half of them likely never met Asha to agree or disagree.