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Tweak says, "Laugh while you can, monkeyboy"

Sir Rune Halvari (hisactualson) wrote in watchers_rp,
@ 2017-05-24 12:12:00

Entry tags:

#day 006/06 may, gia, rune

Who: Gia and Rune (plus NPC Synnove)
Where: Elkwood Castle
When: Evening

Haldor had been very firm when he had told Rune that he was having dinner with Gia Ridell this evening, and there was nothing else to be said about it. They had been in Kingswood for nearly a week now and Rune had made no indications whatsoever that he intended to be a good son and see to fitting women for himself. He had had fun instead with going into taverns in the city and the tourney, and there had been a rumor flitting that he'd taken his cousin to a tavern of distinct repute. Haldor hadn't been pleased. Sigfinna had been even less so, and Rune actually felt a little bad for disappointing them like this. So he had decided not to argue. Instead of preparing for a meal with his family with a few tankards of ale to help him sleep in a lonely bed - provided one of the serving girls didn't offer to warm it for him - Rune dressed for a meal with a lady. He thought he'd always looked good in the dark blue of Halvari, and he admired himself in his dark blue doublet for a moment before he went to make his way to the room he'd been instructed to use.

He'd really have preferred another feast. But his parents knew him too well. They knew that even sitting him near Gia at a feast wouldn't guarantee anything. He might even do what he had multiple times before and ignore her, knowing it'd be irritating and result in her not wanting to see him again, and better yet, her parents wouldn't like it. Neither would mine. He might need to start behaving better in those regards.

Rune had been hoping that he'd get to the room first so that he could get his bearings, but his eldest sister had beaten him there. "You are my guardian?" he asked, stopping dead in his tracks with the door still held open.

Synnove gave Rune the closest to a smug smile he'd ever seen out of her. "Someone has to be here to make sure that you do not do something stupid." A pause. "Mostly, though, I am here to make sure no one says anything about Lady Gia after the dinner. It would not do to have her honor slighted."

"I would rather have mother," Rune grumbled as he made his way to the table and sat down.

"Mother would rather you have me."

"Which one is Lady Gia again?"

Synnove sighed and pressed a finger between her eyes, muttering something Rune was likely glad he couldn't hear. "She is from Avalon, the younger sister of Lord Ilario Ridell. She has never been wed, and she is quite lovely." Rune felt like there was something more to that statement, as though he'd heard something about a Lady Gia who was unwed, but before he could ask another question the door opened again and he rose automatically.

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hisactualson
2017-05-24 07:36 pm UTC (link)

Rune knew that he had words to say, words he should, but he was momentarily struck dumb at the sight of the woman who walked into the room. He hadn't been expecting an ugly woman, his parents did know him better than that, but he hadn't been expecting someone so... beautiful. Her smile made her entire face light up - as though it needed help - and her long hair was a unique shade of brown that seemed almost red in certain light. Rune's tongue felt overly large in his mouth as she took her seat, and it took him another moment before he fell into his own seat, hearing only the compliment about his doublet and nothing at all of what she'd said to his sister. Things Rune didn't like to hear could usually be ignored without even trying. Especially when he was captivated.

Synnove heard, and likely realized they meant truth to the rumors she did remember, but she only smiled gratefully for the comment. "You look beautiful this evening, Gia." An invitation to a name basis instead of using lady and lord every other word. "That color suits you."

Why hadn't he met this one sooner?

"Lady Gia," Rune said, grateful that his voice sounded completely normal. "My father mentioned that you were lovely, but he failed to do you full justice. I do not think I have ever seen someone who could match you." He should tell her thank you for coming to dinner, but his mind could get tangled around pretty girls, and that was a long-standing fact.

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neverfitin
2017-05-25 01:04 am UTC (link)

Oh Watchers no. Gia knew that look. She'd seen it in the eyes of many before, and she didn't doubt she'd see it again. She didn't like when she saw it in the men she had been told to have dinner with. Men who, she knew without being told, Ilario thought would be a good match in regards to marriage. It made everything so much harder when they latched onto her looks -- for what else did Rune Halvari have to go off in the past few moments if not those? -- and proceeded to paint any of her flaws in the best possible light because they wanted to.

"Ah well, thank you Synnove." First names were all and well between the women, but Gia would continue addressing Rune otherwise unless told, and possibly even if she was told. "I picked it for that very reason."

As Gia settled her skirts, she kept her attention off of Rune until he spoke directly to her. Watchers truly help me, I do not know what to do with this one. A smile came to her lips by nothing other than habit as she lifted the glass the servant was filling, grateful for the tang of wine on her tongue. Perhaps enough of that would help her ruin every last one of Ilario's baseless hopes. Gia had been trying to do that for years. She looked forward to the day when she would succeed. If Rune provided her that, she may even allow him to kiss her cheek. "You flatter me, my lord," she murmured in that polite voice she'd practiced during her time at court. "I am certainly no more lovely than your sister, Synnove, she had beautiful eyes."

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hisactualson
2017-05-25 08:55 pm UTC (link)

Rune never pretended he wasn't a man who could be caught by looks alone. Just a look at his past lovers would tell that. He picked them for appearance, for what else mattered? A mind? A mind may matter when he took a wife, and then only if she had a mind for strategy or some other thing that would help him with the ruling of Valhalla when the time came. A woman who thought like his mother might be the best hope he had, or a kind woman, but Rune had never spent enough time with women who were not family to know whether they were intelligent or kind. He tended to either grow bored of them or else they realized there was no marriage proposal in him and took themselves off elsewhere. He was still surprised that the mother of his bastards hadn't found herself a man who'd take real care of her instead of just the children. Did he want to be in love? Yes, in a vague sort of way, but only with someone who was beautiful enough to catch his attention in the first five minutes.

Gia had done that.

"Is it flattery if it is the truth? Surely the Creator would have us praise the beauty of those she has blessed, most especially during this festival." Rune heard the remarks about how lovely his sister was but, while they made her blush, he simply allowed them to roll off of his shoulders. Of course his sister was beautiful, she was a Halvari was she not? They and their cousins were blessed in this regard.

"Thank you again, Gia, you are very kind." Synnove wasn't sure her cheeks had been this red in some time, and she also wondered if this may be a ploy of some kind to put her off her guard ... or if the rumors about Gia were really just true.

Rune still had the same smile on his face as he leaned forward a little. "So your family is from Avalon? I confess that I have never had occasion to go there, but I have heard it is the gem of the Realm. More blessed than any, surely, to have your family there."

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neverfitin
2017-05-26 12:41 am UTC (link)

I will ... no, I have nothing to offer. How did people pray when there was nothing to promise? Gia didn't think she had a thing of value for the Watchers, and she definitely didn't intend on telling them that she was going to behave. Why would she do that? She had so much more fun being who she was and how she was without a thought for what other people thought. So she wouldn't be telling the Watchers that she would act differently if only they would keep Rune from continuing on like this.

"Surely the Creator would think it vain for anyone to say such things, or accept such being said on their behalf," Gia returned simply, smiling sweetly as she took another sip of wine. "Therefore I simply cannot accept such a compliment, my lord." What could distract him? Clearly her complimenting Synnove wasn't doing it, which was a shame, and talking about Avalon likely would not either. But it was a start. "I feel as though you are telling me a lie," Gia chided, a fact slotting into place. "For your cousins live there, do they not? My Lord of Avalon married your mother's sister. Can I truly believe that you have never come to visit them in their home?"

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hisactualson
2017-05-26 06:41 am UTC (link)

That was a beautiful smile. Rune found himself drawn into it and he nearly didn't hear what she said. But when he did? He just laughed like it was a particularly good joke, because he thought she was joking. Surely she knew how beautiful she was, and that it was only just a saying. So she was being witty. Synnove could have told him that her house words spoke of wit, had he asked, yet he had not asked and he did not know. Avalon families were not his strong suit despite having family there. As Gia was kind enough to point out.

"Lie to you? Lady Gia, no, I would never do such a thing." Rune had the most earnest expression he'd ever worn on his face as he leaned forward, reaching out to squeeze her hand reassuringly, ignoring the clicking noise Synnove had made at him. "My cousins do live in Avalon! They have always been the ones to come and visit us in Wintermoon. My sisters may have gone to see them in Avalon City, but I have not. Most of my life has been spent in Valhalla learning what I need to know to rule when my turn comes. I should like to visit Avalon sometime."

Synnove shook her head ever so slightly. "For all that he is, he is not a liar. He has never come to Avalon." Rune gave a satisfied smile at that.

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