video | un: flowerknight

[triplerose]

[ It's late, and, save for the one source of light, it's quite clearly dark out. For a moment, there's not even any sound on the video apart from what trickles in from the late Wyver crowd on the street. Loras opens his mouth several times before he finally decides on which words to say. ]

My sister's decided to leave. That is, returning to stasis. I'll never fault her for any choice she makes. She's always thought things through completely before acting. I'm not entirely certain how I'll manage without her, really, and it's already very strange.

I suppose, mostly, I wanted to let everyone know. I know that she has many friends and I've no idea if she's spoken of this to many, if anyone at all. In case you began to wonder what's become of her. I've got faith that she'll return again when the time is right.

[ There's another lull of silence before the video ends. ]

Comments

[triplerose]

He had a hand in killing my king, believe me that I understand he doesn't inspire kindness.

[ Maybe this Stannis claims to have had nothing to do with it, but a Stannis is a Stannis, and Loras will never quite forgive him. ]

It's for the best that we call them off until Wyver and Olympia have come to some truce. I don't want trouble for either of us, and some are taking things too far already.

[reek]

[ For once, he keep his mouth shut about Renly being a false king. It shows on his face that he would very much like to make a retort, but suddenly everything else is off the table because Loras has said something very interesting. ]

Stannis Baratheon is a kinslayer?

[ And there’s the bark of laughter. Thank you, Loras. You just made his day. And Stannis thinks he can judge Theon for being a turncloak. ]

The very same Stannis Baratheon who proclaims himself King and speaks as though he’s half mad?

[triplerose]

[ Loras isn't aware he's said anything particular. He forgets, he supposes, that some people simply don't know, but the laughter makes him narrow his eyes. It's hard to read Theon, though. Margaery would be better at it, it's a skill Loras has never been too good at. ]

Not directly. But at Renly's death, on the eve before we ride into battle against Stannis, a shadow with the face of Stannis stole into Renly's tent to murder him. I've not doubt it was his fire priestess' doing, and whether or not it was at his bidding, the fact remains.e

The Stannis Baratheon we know here claims to be innocent of the fact.

[reek]

[ Being difficult to read is exactly what Theon aims for, but he’s begun to stumble as of late. At least someone still falls for his act in some form or another and doesn’t just see him as a lonely and angry young man who’s filled to the brim with vitriol. ]

But he’s still a kinslayer by the definition of the word, isn’t he? As I said, Stannis Baratheon is half mad. He claims there to be two Westeroses, likely in an attempt to rid himself of his own crimes.

[ He smirks, looking entirely too pleased with this news. Stannis can call him a turncloak all he likes; Theon owns up to it. He knows what he is and he knows what he’s done, but this places them on even footing. ]

I am sorry about your sister, Ser Loras.

[ It seemingly comes out of nowhere, but Loras has just been a help to him, so…he can play nice. ]

[triplerose]

I don't believe your sympathy is genuine, but thank you.

[ Because, honest or not, at least Theon said it, and the sentiment deserves a response. Loras does hesitate for a moment. ]

Do you not believe there are two? He recalls things differently. He claims I have two brothers, though I've only ever had a sister, but he seems adamant on the fact.

[reek]

Of course you wouldn’t.

[ He smirks, and in truth, Loras is mostly correct. He knows nothing about Loras or his sister. He was genuinely sympathetic when Robb and Arya returned to stasis. He knew them. He was close to Robb and he was there when Arya was born. He can’t find it in him to fake compassion. There is a tiny piece of his sympathy that is legitimate, and it comes from one lonely, abandoned brother to another. That’s all. ]

I do not believe there are two. I believe there are a number of liars from Westeros, Lord Stannis among them.

[ He cannot recall how many sons Lord Mace has, and that’s lucky for him. It would drive him mad if he could actually recall Garlan and Willas. ]

[triplerose]

He is too honourable a man to lie. A coward, perhaps, but not a liar.

[ Loras still thinks there is some truth to the theory, but it does seem hard to prove, unless they gather everyone from Westeros and compare their memories about events.

That simply seems exhausting. ]

[reek]

A coward and a madman, then. Whatever he may be, there is only one Westeros.

[ He seems very set on this answer, but it’s clear by now that theon is a maddeningly stubborn man. He can’t be easily swayed to believe anything that he isn’t already set on believing.

Luckily, Jon Snow is the main source of all his ire and not poor Stannis. ]

[triplerose]

We seem to always decide to agree to disagree.

[reek]

A funny jape, really, as I do not recall agreeing to that.

[triplerose]

And yet somehow that is always the result.

[reek]

Not if I don't agree to it.

[ Theon, please. ]

[triplerose]

Have you ever thought how nice things might be if you didn't purposely make them so difficult?

[reek]

[ Loras, you are speaking to the expert of making things purposefully difficult. ]

Where would the fun be in that?

[triplerose]

I think it might surprise you.

[reek]

It's fortunate that I don't make things purposely difficult for myself, then.