[D1, EE]Old Acquintances[Open]

[Theomore Tullison]

Gwyneth Marsten is quick to accept that hospitality, but the words she'd carefully planned to say dry up in her throat when she drinks that wine. Was it too much? She wasn't the heir of Marsten after all. A lady, but not THE Lady. She manages not to completely wither away under Lady Alysane's gaze, but all she can manage to respond is a meager, "
Thank you, Lady, for your welcome."

"
My lady Gwyneth!"
Theomore's eye has a certain talent for catching a young lady most appealing to it, especially a young lady with no other rival to her attention for the moment. His bow is as respectful as always, though his gaze into her eyes is a deal more daring than what would fit a septa's definition of propriety. "
I trust that all have been well since Mountain's Reach became a little more dim after your departure?"

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Still a little flustered from her less-than-graceful acknowledgement of the sacrament of guest and host, Gwyneth's cheeks retained a bit of the embarrassed flush that had blossomed on them before Ser Theomore called out to her. Not her best moment, but she broke into a sunlit smile, excused herself, and made her way over to him, grateful for any chance to escape the spot on the floor she'd so recently wished to be swallowed up by.

...became a little more dim after my departure? She chuckled to herself inwardly. He's no poet, but it's a sweet sentiment.

"
Ser Theomore Tullison,"
she greeted warmly. "
I feel at once as if no time has passed since I left...and yet too much time by far for my liking. Things in the Vale are well enough, so far as I've had occasion to hear. I find that things change slowly in the Vale. Strong like the mountain, but seemingly as eternal as well."


She offered him her hand. He was a rogue, and an incorrigible flirt, but that could be fun too if only in passing. "
And what of Joston's Rock? How fare things there, aside from needing a few more candles lit in the halls, by the sound of it?"

[Baelon Drakeson]

As Daveth departs, Baelon looks about the room for other likely candidates for conversation, he sees Gwyneth and Theomore together.
That's not the right Tullison for you... that one will get you nothing but trouble.
He sweeps around the back of the hall to where he can see Gwyneth's face.

Catching her eyes, his facial expression both concerned and questioning. The two of them have known each other long enough that he is fairly sure she will understand what he's asking:
Do you need assistance?

[Theomore Tullison]

OOC: Baelon, I don't think you can post in this thread considering you've already posted in another in this slot.

"
I think the lady would find it much as she left it. Stone endures like she herself observes"
Theomore answers with a smile, and a well hidden self-satisfaction on using the Tullison words. "
It must require a certain sense of stubbornness to live in places so high where the nature of change governs that one ought to be falling down."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn flashed Baelon a mirthful smile and a just a tiny shake of her head, which doubled as her reaction to Ser Theomore's rumination.

"
It would explain a great deal,"
she said wryly. "
Of both our strengths, and our...challenges. But enough of the Houses, what of you? Have you yet found that one special lady you'd consider settling on? Or does the quest continue?"
Her tone was light and teasing;
making a joke out of what might be a serious question.

[Baelon Drakeson]

Baelon nods, and fades back into the crowd.

OOC: Sorry, just adding some background flavor;
I wasn't really getting involved. Probably should have refrained.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
She has proven to be most elusive, my lady"
Theomore smiles at his choice of words, the pause before my lady was just long enough that it was rather ambiguous if it merely was the polite form of address all noble boys were thought, if it referred to the special one, or if it was both, and he considered Gwyn to be her. His eyes does betray a certain fancy of the idea, but he has no illusions about fooling her with such simple tricks. "
But the notion of finding himself a new aunt has yet to cross my nephew's mind, so hope remains on my side."

[Colin Corbray]

"
And who don't I find here?"
Ser Colin strides forth in glory with a smile. "
I haven't seen you for many hours Ser Baelon, how is the evening faring for you?"

[Theomore Tullison]

OOC: viewtopic.php?f=65&
t=219&
start=20 this thread might be the one you're looking for?

[Colin Corbray]

OOC: Thanks.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
She has proven to be most elusive, my lady"
Theomore smiles at his choice of words, the pause before my lady was just long enough that it was rather ambiguous if it merely was the polite form of address all noble boys were thought, if it referred to the special one, or if it was both, and he considered Gwyn to be her. His eyes does betray a certain fancy of the idea, but he has no illusions about fooling her with such simple tricks. "
But the notion of finding himself a new aunt has yet to cross my nephew's mind, so hope remains on my side."

Gwyneth nodded sympathetically. It was hard enough getting Dunstan's attention for herself...how much worse must it be to try to bend his ear about someone ELSE'S marriage?

"
Hope can be a forlorn thing,"
she said. "
If you wait for Lord Dunstan to consider the idea of your marriage on his own, you could find yourself a lonely bachelor for life."
The hint of an impish smile at the corners of her lips suggested she thought he might not entirely mind such an arrangement.

"
Or has he changed his inclinations since I saw him last?"
This surely was the 'meat' of what she wanted from this conversation. News of Lord Tullison.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Ah, it seems I ought to be careful with Tully wine, on account of it's effect upon one's eloquence"
Theomore smiles, blissfully unaware of the smug satisfaction he could enjoy if he could have read Gwyn's mind, he merely consider it a fine way of not outright telling Gwyn that she is wrong on that account. "
I believe my lord nephew would happily give me leave to treat with the father of this most delightful maid should I confess that she had captured my heart. My niece on the other hand would want to be assured that such an alliance would be of benefit to the house."
And likely insist on making sure that Theomore had found someone able to keep him reigned in. Come to think of it, Yve would probably be the bigger threat as far as Theomore and marriage went, Dunstan put too much stock in songs of true love. Luckily, between Dunstan's courting of ladies and the suitors flocking around her, Theomore was quite safe from such machinations.

His smile tells her that he dodges the topic of Dunstan's inclinations to marry himself, though whether he is only teasing or also unwilling to divulge, that she cannot say.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
This most delightful maid,"
repeated Gwyn with raised eyebrow. "
So there IS someone in particular. Well, I wouldn't expect a knight of your reputation to kiss and tell, but I am rather curious I admit."


"
On the other hand...I am more than simply curious about which ladies Dunstan happens to be courting,"
she adds, turning a bit to face Theomore directly. "
Or are you just teasing a poor, lovelorn girl?'

[Theomore Tullison]

"
My lady should not tease this poor knight with the thought that she might kiss him if he tells"
Theomore's expression seems to dare her to do just that, though not one expecting anything of the sort. "
But whoever this lady might be, her name and face have yet to be revealed to me."


"
I do not believe it prudent for a knight of honor to discuss matters of the heart concerning his liege, my lady."
That Theomore was a knight of honor was rather dubious considering what Gwyn no doubt had observed at Mountain's Reach, an expert at acting as such he might be.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

"
So now you're suddenly prudent,"
Gwen sighed. "
Of all the times."
She gave him a forlorn look, better suited to a puppy begging for scraps at the table. "
Come now, Ser...just a few words to mend or break my aching heart. It's not so much to ask. Tell me...has he mentioned me at all?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Suddenly prudent, my lady?"
Theomore doesn't seem to take as much offense as the words implies. "
I am quite loyal to my lord nephew, and that is no sudden fancy of mine, I can assure you."


"
I have no wish to break your heart, my lady. But the words you wish to hear are my nephew's to say, I can only offer such balms that are decidedly not within the realm of propriety."


"
Though he has spoken your name, that much I can divulge."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth deflated at that. It wasn't something she was wholly unprepared for...but she'd hoped otherwise. Surely if he had good news, he'd have told her, even if it meant stringing her along a bit more. His holding out made it seem to her as if he was caught between not wanting to just lie about him having said anything, and not wanting to hurt her feelings with what he said.

"
If that's all you can divulge, then that must be that. I apologize for any slight, unintentional as it was, to your character Ser Theomore."
She smiled ruefully. "
It was a better jest in my head than spoken. Maybe I've had a bit more of the wine than I ought to have as well."


Or maybe not enough. It's a fine line with wine. Oh, I must set that to paper.

"
At any rate, I expect I've taken up enough of your time for the evening,"
Gwyn went on, "
And I was going to..."
Abruptly she reconsidered telling him her plans, realizing he might take that as invitation. "
...return to the Marsten tents and perhaps get an early start on tomorrow."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Consider such time willingly given, my lady"
Theomore bows, knowing better than to press on with this one.

[Yoren longshore]

Having readied himself for martial aspects of the tournament Yoren goes to the great hall to see how marital issues may be sold. He does not like this aspects of westerosi lifestyle, that love is a matter of convenience, but as his father is too ill of health to take care of this he sets it upon himself the responsibility as heir to take care of these matters. He sees the gallant looking man talking to the pretty woman and it catches his attention. He approaches, nods in greeting and tells:
"
my name is Yoren and I was wondering if you have written yourself into the joust. You just seem to have the physique, that was all, and I wondered: do you know when who we'll be facing will be announced?"
Yoren extends his hand "
regardless it is nice to meet you."
He then looks to the lady, smiling, "
that goes for you too my lady"
and bows his head.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben has remained quiet most of the evening among the Tullison entourage. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the scope of events. He watches Theomore and Gywneth from a distance and as she ends their conversation, he takes a path to intercept her departure.

As he comes near her from her blindside, considering present company and events, he speaks formally. "
Lady Gwyneth, I do not wish to halt your departure, but if you could spare a moment for an old acquaintance? "

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I believe the pairings will be announced the day before the joust"
Theomore says. "
And of course I have signed up for the joust"
.

[Yoren longshore]

"
Of course, I've heard that lots of skilled kninghts will participate in this event, you are undoubtedly among these."
Yoren gives the compliment without waiting for a reply before he continues:

Yoren then confides:"
I think the only way to get better is to participate, so although I am not very skilled with a lance, I did decide to write myself up."


"
Which house is it you are serving? When i know that I will know who to pray that I won't meet."
Yoren adds with a wry smile.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I serve the house of my birth, Tullison, master Yoren"
Theomore states. "
Though I sign myself up with my name, which would remain Tullison should I serve another than my Lord nephew."


"
As for my skills with lance and horse, I do believe myself quite capable, but there are many of greater ability in attendance her, so I doubt I can dare hope for better than making the final eight."

[Yoren longshore]

"
You hope to make it to final eight, and describe yourself as quite capable?"
Yoren asks incredulously "
Final thirty two as capable in my book, final eight would put you on par with some kingsguards in attendance! "


Yoren shakes his head. "
You make it to final eight I will consider you a great knight, especially seeing some of the other knights attending this joust."


"
I remember you telling of Daemon taking you as his squire, so I took quite some skill as a given, especially given his experience training and leading men on the stepstones, I saw his army there once, and that wasan orderly camp if I've ever seen it."


"
If you would indulge my curiosity, is it true that he planned that briliant campaign without councelors, or is that just exaggerated rumours?

[Theomore Tullison]

"
There is about a dozen here that I know to be better than me, and surely at least half that number that I know not of, not to mention many of my own ability, so the hope of making the final eight is rather slim, I must admit"
Theomore agrees. "
I would indeed acquit myself well to reach the final thirty-two, and anything beyond would be surprising, but with lucky draws and performing at my best, it is not impossible to reach so far, though I have done so only once, yet not in nearly so grand a company as this."

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