text | un: stormsend

[bruxisms]

GREETINGS. I AM STANNIS BARATHEON, ONCE RIGHTFUL KING OF WESTEROS, AND LORD OF DRAGONSTONE AND STORM'S END, THOUGH OLD TITLES MATTER LITTLE HERE.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR ALL "REFUGEES".

[ is he using capslock because he believes that is the proper way to type? because he accidentally got his phone stuck on it? because he just wants to? the true reason will likely be lost to time, and none will ever know. ]

HAVE ANY OF YOU EXPERIENCED AN ODD OCCURRENCE WHERE YOU MEET SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE ACQUAINTED WITH, AND THEY RECALL EVENTS FAR DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU? NOT MERELY A LAPSE IN THEIR MEMORY, BUT ENTIRELY DIFFERENT EVENTS, SUCH AS A MAN STILL BEING ALIVE WHEN YOU KNOW HIM TO BE DEAD, OR HEARING THAT YOU MARCHED YOUR WIFE AND CHILD INTO BATTLE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT WOULD BE UTTER FOLLY AND RECALL LEAVING THEM SAFELY UNDER GUARD?

[ he still cannot believe that anyone would do that, least of all a man who seems to share his name, personality, and so many of his memories, yet is very much not him. ]

I WOULD KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR THINGS WITH THOSE THEY KNOW. AS THOUGH THERE WERE TWO VERSIONS OF YOUR WORLD. ONE THAT SOME OF YOU RECALL, AND ONE THAT OTHERS DO.

AND EVEN IF YOU DO NOT, I WOULD ALSO HEAR OF WHAT YOU KNOW OF DRAGONS FROM YOUR OWN WORLD. AS A MEMBER OF THE SIMWE INSTITUTE, ONE OF MY TASKS IS TO STUDYING THEM, AND I WOULD HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

YOU HAVE MY THANKS, AND DO NOT WASTE MY TIME.

Comments

[vorrutyer]

They're no more put-on now than they were before. Power is simply a matter of belief, no?

[bruxisms]

IF YOU HAVE NO PEOPLE TO GOVERN, OR LAND TO RULE, TITLES MERELY EXIST TO MAKE YOURSELF APPEAR IMPORTANT, DO THEY NOT?

[vorrutyer]

Who's to say I don't have people to govern? They're just a bit colder than usual.

[bruxisms]

YOU HAVE NO LAND, AND YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF THESE NATIONS. DO YOU MEAN TO OVERTHROW THE RIGHTFUL KING AND QUEEN?

[vorrutyer]

I have my home. Say, perhaps I'll get it declared an embassy. Enact Barrayaran law upon it. Fancy watching a few beheadings?

[bruxisms]

THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU A KING. THAT MAKES YOU A POOR HOST.

[ but Byerly is succeeding in wasting Stannis's time. oops. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ #winning ]

Emperor, dear fellow, Emperor. And I'd do more Imperial things than just that! I promise I would, I wouldn't want to disappoint you. For example, I'd order people about and make them get things for me. I'd drink a lot and eat a lot...I'd spend time with loose women...

[bruxisms]

[ Stannis's life is suffering. ]

A MAN WHO IS ONLY EMPEROR OF HIS HOME IS ONLY A POOR HOST. YOU WOULD NOT FIND ANY WILLING TO VISIT YOU, AND WITHOUT ANY MEN TO ORDER AROUND, YOU WOULD BE A VERY LONELY EMPEROR INDEED.

[vorrutyer]

You shouldn't underestimate my charm, good fellow. No one can resist spending time with me. Why, I think that if we were in the same room, I'd have you laughing within five minutes.

[bruxisms]

PERHAPS, IF YOU MANAGED TO DRIVE ME MAD WITH YOUR INANE RAMBLINGS.

[ why must he be subjected to this sort of man no matter where he goes. ]

[vorrutyer]

That would still count! It'd still be laughter.

[bruxisms]

IS YOUR IDIOCY A TALENT OF YOUR HOUSE, OR ARE YOU A UNIQUE CASE?

[vorrutyer]

Quite unique to me. House Vorrutyer is most well-known for its facility with things like flaying knives and hot pokers and cudgels. I'm a bit of a black sheep due to my complete inability to take up the family business.

[bruxisms]

[ well, congratulations, Byerly. that's the most suspicious thing he has heard in some time (though he is always suspicious. ]

SO YOU FREELY ADMIT TO YOUR FAMILY'S BACKGROUND?

I HAVE KNOWN A NUMBER OF MEN WHO HIDE BEHIND JAPES. ALL OF THEM WERE DANGEROUS MEN.

[ except maybe Renly. ]

[vorrutyer]

I'm flattered, good sir. But I must ask, didn't you ever have a court jester? Was the jester dangerous?

[bruxisms]

IT DEPENDS ON THE FOOL. SOME TWO CENTURIES AGO, A FOOL THAT MOST DISMISSED AS A LACKWIT HELPED PEN AN ACCOUNT THAT WAS SO DANGEROUS, IT WAS LATER BURNED.

AND YOU DO NOT SEEM TO BE LACKWIT.

[ unlike Patchface who was completely safe and harmless. ]

[vorrutyer]

Good King Stannis! Was that a kind word you just said about me??

[ fucking patchface. ]

[bruxisms]

IT WAS A STATEMENT OF FACT.

[vorrutyer]

Well, I'm not much of a writer. And, heavens, I don't pay attention to politics.
It's so damnably dull, don't you think?

[bruxisms]

NOT DULL, BUT OFTEN FILLED WITH MEN LIKE YOU, WHO CLAIM TO CARE FOR NOTHING, WHILE PLOTTING ALL THE WHILE.

[ though truthfully he has no reason to be suspicious of this man, other than reminding him of something of a cross between Renly and Littlefinger.

but, Stannis was naturally suspicious of almost everyone, particularly those who wore smiles on their faces. ]

[vorrutyer]

Plotting! Am I plotting?

[bruxisms]

YOU SEEM LIKE THE SORT WHO EASILY COULD. OR YOU'RE THE SORT WHO WOULD BE SWAYED ALL TOO EASILY BY ANOTHER TO TAKE A THRONE THAT IS NOT YOURS.

[ is he projecting Renly onto a near-stranger? perhaps. ]

[vorrutyer]

Oh, the latter seems decently like me. I'm quite swayed by all the pomp and frills. Have you seen the sorts of things that kings and emperors get to dress in? Let someone else be the power behind my throne; let me look handsome.

[bruxisms]

FOR YOUR FAMILY'S SAKE, I HOPE YOU DID NOT HAVE AN ELDER BROTHER.

[ if this fool could be any more like Renly, he knew not how. ]

[vorrutyer]

And why is that? Wouldn't you have preferred it if there were some responsible elder Vorrutyer to cut me out of my non-inheritance?