Re: [Day 7: Late Evening] Business Before Pleasure (Semi-clo

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Regardless of their ages, it is my duty to protect my family. My mother may be wise and experienced, but her heart is vulnerable. I do not want to see her hurt. I am not saying I will intervene in my mother's or my cousin's dealings, but I will urge you to make clear your true intentions to them both, so they may make their decisions with open eyes. Much can be hidden behind idle banter. As for your residence, it is a brothel, Ser. You live among prostitutes. One can only infer that you partake of those services too. A man who consorts with whores while seeking a lady's affections is a man of low moral fibre. The Gods despise the inconstant. If your intentions towards my mother and Dyana are as honourable as you claim, your residence should be of much greater concern. You may protest, but as far as polite society is concerned, if something looks ill, it will be treated as such. A man seeming to court the affections of two highborn ladies, while taking whores to bed with him, is not someone that either I or the Gods will look favourably upon."

[Jon Cobb]

"
Regardless of their ages, it is my duty to protect my family. My mother may be wise and experienced, but her heart is vulnerable. I do not want to see her hurt. I am not saying I will intervene in my mother's or my cousin's dealings, but I will urge you to make clear your true intentions to them both, so they may make their decisions with open eyes. Much can be hidden behind idle banter. As for your residence, it is a brothel, Ser. You live among prostitutes. One can only infer that you partake of those services too. A man who consorts with whores while seeking a lady's affections is a man of low moral fibre. The Gods despise the inconstant. If your intentions towards my mother and Dyana are as honourable as you claim, your residence should be of much greater concern. You may protest, but as far as polite society is concerned, if something looks ill, it will be treated as such. A man seeming to court the affections of two highborn ladies, while taking whores to bed with him, is not someone that either I or the Gods will look favourably upon."

"
Your will to protect your family is admirable, Lady Corinne, but in this case you have taken up arms for no good reason. What you ask me to do, I deem that I have already done, and in any case, I mean no harm to you or yours. I wish your mother and your cousin all the happiness in the world, and all I am trying to do is to contribute to that in my own small way."


"
Regarding my stay at the Painted World, you are right on one count - I do indeed enjoy the attentions of the ladies working there. On all the rest, I'm afraid you're sorely mistaken. The Gods, I find, pay little attention to me or my doings, and as for the polite society you place so much faith in, the Painted World has already entertained many members of that august assembly during this tourney, including gentlemen who are courting, betrothed or married. In fact, when I returned to the Painted World earlier today, the girls were all aflutter because young Dunstan Tullison had spent much silver and most of the afternoon there. Does this mean he is no longer acceptable company for your cousin Gwyneth?"


"
And as for things that polite society disapproves of, in my experience it firmly disapproves of young women who take up the sword rather than the sewing needle. Will you therefore confront Dyana and order her to lay down her weapons, so that you can marry her off to a suitable husband for the glory of House Marsten? Polite society also thinks ill of women who believe that they may rule in place of a man - you need look no further than the resistance raised against Princess Rhaenyra to see the truth in that. Will you therefore censure your mother for her temerity in maintaining control of your house, so that you could step forward and rule when you came of age? Or should I presume that you will follow the dictates of polite society and turn over the affairs of your family to Ser Benedict?"


"
Now, with that said, shall we end this tiresome posturing and declare a truce? I am not the enemy, Lady Corinne, no matter what your protective instincts or your misplaced faith in polite society are telling you."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
The men who are betrothed or married should not frequent such a place. Simple as that. Lord Tullison is neither. As for the role of women in society, you hardly have the right to comment on that. The times are, quite rightfully, changing, but men will not be the harbingers. And if you expect House Marsten to help Brom Bartheld, I would suggest you start treating myself and my family with a damned sight more respect and seriousness than you have been."


[ooc: Corrine's disposition towards Jon changes from Indifferent to Dislike]

[Jon Cobb]

Jon sighs inwardly at Corinne's unrelenting hostility. Isobel, Isobel, how did a woman as intelligent and clear-sighted as you ever manage to raise such a colossal hypocrite as your heir? She has ears to hear with, but all she uses them for is to listen to the sound of her own voice. You were more right than I gave you credit for, she really is a wilful and obstinate little girl. It's a good thing I don't need to like her to try and get her to help Brom.

"
My lady, you have my word that I shall treat both yourself and House Marsten with all the respect you deserve, and I hope that you will see fit to overlook the messenger and consider my proposal on its own merits,"
Jon answers diplomatically, his tone and expression neutral.

"
The times are changing? Men will not be the harbingers?"
Foolish girl, do you really not see that the only way any woman will ever rule in Westeros is if she has dragons at her beck and call, or if men let her? And do you think the Greens are going to suddenly roll over and give up? There will be war before this matter is settled, and once the Targaryens bring out the dragons to play, it won't even be a war any more. It'll just be a slaughter - killing and burning until the land is too ruined to continue. Where will your brave new world be then, Lady Corinne?

OOC: Jon's disposition towards Corinne remains Indifferent.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Winking and joking won't get what you want with me. I hope you have learned that. I'm not some little strumpet who thinks bludgeoning people to death makes you a hero.

Stop it, Corrine. You're just working yourself up. You've let this get away from you. Calm and collected. You forgot that. Oh well, better late than never.

With a deep breath, her voice softens, returning to a professional, mild tone.

"
I am glad to hear it. I look forward to seeing these matters resolved. I will give Brom's case proper consideration, and consult with my council. You shall have an answer tomorrow. I just have one further question: what did Brom do to get himself banished? If I am to support the man, I would know his crime."

[Jon Cobb]

"
I look forward to hearing from you, my lady. As for Brom's crime, as far as I am aware, there was none that I would recognize as such. What I have heard from those who were there when he left, is that Brom had fallen in love with Yve Tullison, and when his attempts at courtship from afar did not meet with any success, he decided to go to Mountain's Reach in person. Why he also decided to abdicate his position as lord of House Bartheld is unclear to me, but Brom was ever one to follow his own judgement in all things. As long as I have known him, that judgement most often served him well, but on occasion it also led to disaster. As I understand it, when the king heard of Brom's decision, he felt slighted that Brom would turn his back on the position His Grace had rewarded him with, and that is why my friend now finds himself in disgrace."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I see,"
Corrine nods thoughtfully. "
It does seem strange to abandon his position, especially as it is usually a boost to one's marriage prospects, but I certainly cannot fault someone for following their heart."


Ah, but Corrine, what if Jon is doing the same? You were so quick to assume foul play. And you have ever prided yourself on your compassion and fairness.

But I've already gone too far.

It shows humility to admit a mistake. Do not damn yourself with pride. Anyone who matters will understand.

But there is still something about him that feels wrong. And his ability to be loyal is yet questionable.

But is that any of your business? Besides, you can advise caution without aggression. Speak softly, Corrine, but carry a big stick. In boasting your strength, you show your weakness.

Corrine sighs heavily, glancing around briefly, then looks Jon in the eye with a conciliatory expression;


"
Ser Jon, I owe you an apology. I have been very rude to you, unwarranted. I have a deep and fierce need to protect my loved ones, but I am wrong to attack you without due cause. I may not approve of your lifestyle, but that is none of my business. I hope you will forgive my former sharpness. Just... please, please, don't ever hurt my mother or Dyana. They have been through enough pain already."

[Jon Cobb]

Corrine sighs heavily, glancing around briefly, then looks Jon in the eye with a conciliatory expression;


"
Ser Jon, I owe you an apology. I have been very rude to you, unwarranted. I have a deep and fierce need to protect my loved ones, but I am wrong to attack you without due cause. I may not approve of your lifestyle, but that is none of my business. I hope you will forgive my former sharpness. Just... please, please, don't ever hurt my mother or Dyana. They have been through enough pain already."

Corinne's change in tone clearly takes Jon by surprise. His expression is quizzical at first, but then softens into a kindly smile.

"
Apology accepted, Lady Corinne. And I promise I shall do my best to spare us all unnecessary heartache."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She inwardly sighs with relief.

That went better than expected, Corrine. But don't let that happen again.

"
Thank you, Ser. That means a lot to me. Perhaps the stress of recent days has unduly gotten on top of me. It won't happen again.

Move on, don't dwell on it.

"
I should move on after this dance, but when would be a suitable time and place to meet with you tomorrow about your proposal?"

[Jon Cobb]

"
Of course you must, my lady. It was ill-mannered of me to keep you to myself for so long,"
Jon quips, clearly in better spirits. "
I shall be participating in the melee tomorrow, so it would be best if any meeting took place before then. Who knows what condition I'll be in when the fighting is done?"


OOC: LM or EA would work best for me.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Of course. The melee. Come to the Marsten pavilion in the early afternoon then, so you may have your answer. I expect you are looking forward to the melee?"

[Jon Cobb]

"
Looking forward to it? I suppose I am, after a fashion. The starting field looks strong, so it's a good opportunity to impress if I do well. Can't say that I'm looking forward to the cuts and bruises I'll have afterwards, though. I don't heal as fast as I used to,"
Jon answers with a crooked grin.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
After a fashion?"
Corrine repeats, quizzically. "
You don't sound convinced. I thought men got into such fights because they wanted to. For death or glory, and whatnot."

[Jon Cobb]

Jon chuckles at Corinne's description of martial man. "
Oh, there are certainly plenty of men who look forward to events like these. Usually, they're the sort of men who think that war is a glorious adventure, because they've never been in a real one. The idea that they may be seriously injured or killed in a sporting event doesn't seem absurd to them, because in the absence of a real war, it's the closest they're going to get to being in one."


"
I have been to war, and I know that there's nothing glorious about it, but I still need to compete every so often so that people remember who I am. After all, a mercenary with no reputation is wont to find himself the first man over the wall when the time comes to storm a castle, and that's a good way to get yourself killed stone dead."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Ah, so you are trying to maintain a reputation. I see. Well, I wish you good luck, though I'm afraid I cannot wish you too much of it. I'd prefer if my betrothed didn't get smashed to pieces,"
she jested, though there was a hint of seriousness poorly hidden in her eyes.

[Jon Cobb]

Jon chuckles again. "
Isn't that what we're all trying to do? All knights must be seen to be bold and brave, and all maidens must be sweet and demure, or the gossips will seal their fates as surely as any battle axe in the melee. Don't worry, my lady, if I come across your Ben in the melee, I shall tell him that you have ordered him to return to you in one piece. Perhaps then he'll surrender, and spare me the trouble of, as you say, smashing him to pieces."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

That was a bit too far.

"
He knows to be safe, he doesn't need me to tell him,"
Corrine shrugs, though her tone is congenial. "
And who knows, perhaps the smashing will be the other way around,"
she jests. "
Or your paths might not cross at all."

[Jon Cobb]

"
In a melee, anything is possible,"
Jon shrugs. "
Luck as well as skill are needed to go far, and of course there's always the possibility of teaming up against a superior opponent. In that, at least, it's much like a real battle. I'm sure your Ben will be fine, my lady. He did well against Ser Lyonel's band, so I don't doubt he'll go far tomorrow."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Of course. I intend to watch, as long as duty does not require me to be elsewhere."


The song was drawing to a close, so she delicately led the dance to an appropriate close, her movement gentle and fluid. Once finished, she curtsies.

"
Enjoy the rest of your evening, Ser."

[Jon Cobb]

"
And you yours, my lady,"
Jon bows.

/scene?

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[/scene, though Corrine's disposition has gone up to Indifferent]

[Jon Cobb]

OOC: Pleased to hear it. :;
):

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