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.

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[shashka]

If you say so.

[ it is, after all, far easier to live a lie, than to accept a painful truth. ]

So why didn't he change his mind when you came back?

[ but, logic always prevails. ]

[reek]

I was given the opportunity to prove myself worthy of the title, and so I took it.

[ He knows he failed. He can't even bring himself to look upon Balon's stony face in those pods. He'll feel judged, even from behind his closed eyelids. ]

We'll never know his decision now, if he ever made one. The Storm hit before he could.

[ It's an easier excuse than delving into what may or may not be the truth of what happened. All parties claim he had been taken to the Dreadfort, but the reason as to why is always different. ]

[shashka]

Lucky you.

[ sure, he doesn't actually know this kid all that well, but given the little he knew about his sister, things probably weren't looking good. ]

Maybe if you're really lucky, he'll also wake up, and you can ask him.

[reek]

[ Asha would have been the better choice. Theon is too stubborn to admit to it, but he knows it's true, and he knows which decision Balon would have made. ]

The Iron Islands are gone. There's nothing left to be heir of.

[ As if that's what matters. He just doesn't want to face his father. ]

[shashka]

But your parents aren't.

[ the best thing is that you can always be a disappointment to your parents, whether you're inheriting anything or not. ]

[reek]

[ He'll always be a disappointment to Balon. He never knows how his mother might feel about him, but it's Balon's favor he needed to win over.

You don't need to call him out, man. ]

For the time being, they are.

[shashka]

They're asleep. But one day, they'll wake up here, won't they? And then what will you do?

[ is he gaining some strange sadistic pleasure in this? probably. ]

[reek]

[ He really doesn't like being forced to confront these things. ]

Why do you care?

[shashka]

What can I say? I'm just a caring guy.

[ but hey, he has found out so much about Theon, now hasn't he? ]

[reek]

[ Meanwhile, Theon knows nothing about Ocelot. This isn't fair at all. ]

That has nothing to do with whether my father chose me as his heir or not.

[shashka]

[ step up your espionage game, kid. ]

Well, if your parents wake up, then you'll have the answer, now won't you?

[ "better to live a convenient lie than a painful truth"? that definitely applies here. ]

[reek]

I'm convinced my lady mother is unaware of the situation.

[ She was ill when he arrived home. Ill and gone. Gods, it's been years since he last saw her. If she were to wake first, he won't have his answer.

But he might be a bit happier for it. ]

[shashka]

So your father intentionally kept her out of the loop?

[ consider him intrigued. at least Theon isn't a disappointment to both of his parents, then. there's something to take heart in. ]

[reek]

She had taken ill when I returned home and returned to her own home on Harlaw. My father remained on Pyke.

[ He vaguely wonders if they missed one another at all during that time, but it's only a ridiculous passing thought. ]

[shashka]

That's too bad. Do you think your mother would have similar thoughts on you as your father?

[ or are you spared the disappointment of both parents by some miracle, Theon? ]

[reek]

[ He likes to think he would be spared his mother's disappointment by the sheer luck of her being so absent, but who knows what ravens have been shared between her and Balon? ]

It matters little. It isn't her choice to make.

[shashka]

You mean your father doesn't hold your mother in high enough regard to consider her opinion?

[reek]

I mean that is how things are done on the Iron Islands.

[shashka]

Is it? Your sister told me that your countrymen valued strength, regardless of who it came from. Are you calling her a liar?

[reek]

Asha has lied on more than one occasion.

[ He can think of one right off the top of his head that he doesn't plan on mentioning. ]

Either way, my mother is not the head of house.

[shashka]

Of course.

[ he's learned so much from Theon. ]

You really don't care what she thinks?

[reek]

I never said that.

[shashka]

Didn't you say what she thought didn't matter?

[reek]

Aye, I did, but I never once said that I did not care what she thought.

[ It's very different, you see. ]

[shashka]

So, if your mother thinks you're adequate, is that enough for you?

[ do you need your mom to love you, Theon? ]