Red Woman, Green Boy

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Since Nathan was not concealing his identity, he was easy to spot. The Red Priestess made a point of greeting him early on. taking an opportunity when he was not occupied by some eager thing in his lap or whispering in his ear, she approached and gave an elaborate bow, an arm extended theatrically.

"Gracious host! What a wonderful party! Will you share a drink with me?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan glanced up and smiled. "I am glad you are enjoying yourself." He did not recognize the woman, but he certainly recognized the extreme cost of her tailoring. "Of course I will share a drink with you." He rises. "How could I turn down such a gracious request from such a bewitching Priestess of R'hllor?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"The way you look tonight, my dear, you could turn down anyone you cared to and still be knee deep in admirers," she chuckled amiably, touching her cup to his in toast.

"I have never been to one of these before. It's quite the experience! Thank you for the invitation. Might I ask why you chose against a mask?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan chuckled. "My reputation is hardly at risk, my Lady. Oh certainly I will be talked about, but that is not necessarily a bad thing."

A young man, barely a man truth be told, came up to the pair. It was obvious he was loathe to intrude. "Nathan?" He wore a simple cat costume. Obviously not a noble, and there were many who weren't, so few would have remarked on his presence. Probably someone's squire.

"Yes?" smiled Nathan.

The young man whispered in his ear, then both looked to a large brutish man wearing a bear costume. Nathan's eyes narrowed and the sapphire blue gaze bore into the man. Corrine had seen such a look before. Even the bravest of men would not want to be looked at that way. When he raised his hand and snapped his fingers every black armored guard in eye-shot snapped to attention. The bear man growled something and stocked off into the crowd.

"Alright?"

The cat-boy nodded. "Thank you."

Nathan smiled. "Why don't you take a drink to the young lady wearing the mermaid costume over there. I think she looks thirsty."

Cat-boy grinned and scampered off to the wine fountain.

"Sorry for the interruption, my Lady." Nathan continued. The interruption had only been a few moments, but perhaps it had demonstrated another reason why Nathaniel had chosen to attend unmasked.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Well, don't they say that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about?" Corrine replied, grinning. She was enjoying this game of having Nathan meet her anew, without their usual imbalance of status, and imbalance of wisdom in the other direction.

Corrine watched the display in quiet awe. A place full of disguised nobles, and Nathan wielded more power than any of them with just a look and a gesture.

"Masterfully done. I'm impressed. Is that a troublemaker I should watch out for?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"Certainly you are in no danger from the likes of him. A Bracken hedge Knight, and one that clings to the title by his fingernails. If he causes any more trouble I will have him thrown in the lake and he can swim home."

Nathan took a sip of his drink and smiled. "Safety is the primary concern at events like this. Each one of these men in black are reliable and skilled Gold Cloaks. They are earning a years pay for working this one night. That kind of money buys undivided attention. The various innocuous servers passing around food and drink are actually skilled as well. Then there are the ones you do not see. For every guest at this party there is a person in my employ tasked with their safety."

Nathan smiled, took the lady's hand and kissed it. "At least for tonight, this is probably the safest place to be in all of Westeros."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

A blush came, unbidden, to her cheeks, a common occurrence this evening. Something about having her hand kissed filled her with girlish glee.

"I am glad to know that. With so many flowing casks and wandering hands, it is good to have protection. I didn't realise House Bartheld was so wealthy to be able to give so many Gold Cloaks a year's pay for a night's work. Or is it just you that is richer than sin?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"At least when it comes to money, the Seven have been very kind to me." Nathan replied modestly. "No, House Bartheld is not connected to this night in any way. Lord Davain has worked diligently in his efforts to rehabilitate the House image. I am afraid I have not been very helpful to him, at least in that regard. I am sure that many will connect this night to House Bartheld due to my presence, despite being in King's Landing. Throwing off the shackles of Brom Bartheld is proving more difficult than he first imagined."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine sipped her wine, trying to pace herself after the initial giddy rush. She eyed Nathan with curiosity.

"Rehabilitated, or merely dulled? Which do you see it as?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan shrugged.  "Most who drank Brom's wine and ate at his table brought him nothing in return.  The few that did like Lord Bracken were as much hindrance as help.

Lord Davain goes to the other extreme.  He understands the importance of social connections but lacks the skill and views most gatherings as waste of time or money.  The hospitality he gives is often fraught with his own social awkwardness.  He wants to be respected and his gatherings reflect social niceties, but the House does not wear it well, like an ill-fitting doublet.

Look around.  This is a gathering of extreme excess.  People need excess occasionally to burn off their worry and fear, and there is more than enough of that to go around.  However, none of this came free.  The cost for entry was not small, although it could have been double and the room would still be full.  

I understand what Brom did not.  No-one truly values anything until you put a price on it.  Brom is the merchant who gave away all his wares for free.  Lord Davain is the opposite, putting such an excessively high price on his wares that no-one is willing to buy, or closing the door to his shop completely."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"Does that make you a mediator between the two states? I take it that funding it yourself lends a certain freedom from your Lord's influence."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"As you say, I am richer than sin." Nathan smiled. "Lords carry the power of authority, but money is it's own brand of power, and often more enduring as some fallen Lords like Brom were quick to learn.

This is my world. The guests here are only visiting and paying deeply for the privilege. For all I know, you could be Princess Rhaenyra herself, but what does that matter? For you to exert your authority, you would have to remove your mask... and pay the consequences of that.

Look around you, my Lady. Who is Black and who is Green? Do you not know? Neither do they. Neither do I. Certainly politics is happening, but it is subtle, careful, measured. Do you dare to denounce Prince Aegon if you may be speaking to the very man himself?

No, here status is based purely on how masterful your costume and how desirable your body. Events like this are true equalizers if only for a short time. Here, a young cat-boy may court a mermaid regardless of their disparity in social position, if only for one brief magical night. I think that is a wonderful thing and it only cost a few thousand gold. A bargain if you ask me.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"I am inclined to agree. It is intriguing to observe, as well as participate, for the reasons you highlighted. I'm finding it rather liberating. I am trying to stay away from overly political discussion myself, but anything else goes. There is likely more honesty happening here tonight than anywhere else in the realm."

She drank deeply from her wine cup.

"I take it Ser Jon is present? How is he?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan looks about the room, craning his neck over the crowd. "He is fine. He is over there dressed as the Giscari Legionaire, not that I am unmasking him, really. The Bold Ser Jon Roxton could care less who knows he is here. He is with the 'Maiden', the 'Myr Witch' and the 'wolf-boy'. Wolf-boy seems especially enthusiastic, probably trying to make a good impression."

Nathan motioned for a server and exchanged his glass. "Find out who the wolf-boy with Jon is." Nathan said to the girl. "Talent like that should be rewarded."

His attention returns to the Red Priestess. Rather than being jealous, as many would, Nathan grins broadly, genuinely happy his lover is having such a good time. "I do love that man. He is so enthusiastic about life. He was so excited in the weeks coming up to this he could barely contain himself. He's like a boy let loose in a sweet shop and told he can have as much of whatever he wants." Nathan laughs cheerily. "Though, I expect he will have a 'tummy-ache' tomorrow."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She laughs with him.

"Such enthusiasm for life is admirable, especially in such times. I am glad you are both happy. And I commend your impeccable taste in men. Though I am in no way unhappy with my lot in that regard, I confess to a modicum of envy."

[Nathaniel Mason]

A flicker passes across Nathan's eyes.  Who is this Red Priestess?  She speaks so genially and with such casual warmth.  Nathan had few female friends.  The vast majority worked for him and, mask or not, he would know any of them in a heartbeat.  That left those who were clients, and the handfull who were not.  Well, there is an easy test.  The wine may have dulled his senses, but not his keen mind and sharp memory.

"Well, high priestess, perhaps you should indulge that envy, if only for tonight.  That is why we are all here, is it not?  To indulge in our fantasies for one brief moment.  Shall I scatter the doves surrounding my lover?  He will not mind if I bring him a red falcon to replace them."

Many of Nathan's clients openly salivated over the Bold Ser Jon Roxton.... and were deeply frustrated when the enormous amounts of gold they offered was refused.  None of them would be able to resist such a tantalizing opportunity.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"That is generous of you to offer, and very tempting. Though I would rather you did not chase away his admirers. I think a chase is less fun without competition. If it will be, it will be. If not, then there is hardly a shortage of exciting men & women present. Do you have your eye on anyone in particular? Or are you seeking a different kind of prize tonight?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"I will have to bow to your wisdom, priestess." Nathan grinned. "I have usually found myself to be the chased, rather than the chaser, although never the chaste." He glanced about the room. "I do have one or two prospects of interest, although, perhaps not ones you might expect. I liken people to art. Certainly looks are a factor, but for me the emotions the person evokes are equally important, if not more."

He turns back and smiles. "If you glance over my shoulder, you will see a young man, perhaps two or three years younger than me. He stares at me with equal measure of hunger and frustration. On the one hand, he deeply desires me, but he is also painfully shy and perhaps believes that I am beyond his reach. When I glance in his direction, something... anything at hand becomes infinitely more interesting than I. He is likely a virgin, or at least a virgin with men. He wants to push his boundaries, but lacks the bravery to do so on his own.

I find that all very sweet. There are certainly others here that are more physically attractive, but few that evoke that kind of innocence and simple charm." He gives the boy a sidelong glance. "I think I should probably talk to him soon. If I wait much longer he will drink too much and be snapped up by one of the many viscous predators roaming the Carnival. If any predator is going have him tonight, it probably should be one who appreciates his sweetness, rather than one who would strip him of it."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"I shall not keep you from him then. Have a wonderful evening."

She bowed deeply to him.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan returns the Red Priestess' bow elegantly. "And you, Priestess. Good luck with your chase."

Turning, he glides over to the young man, who's demeanor as he approaches seems a mix somewhere between stunned dismay and heart attack.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She smiles approvingly at the scene, and moves on.

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