[In honor of the Earth holiday centering on love, Freya sends out a little gift around this time.
A small box containing a piece of chocolate will appear on your pillow during the day. When consumed, the chocolate’s magic will lift your mood for a short period of time. It’s accompanied by a note.]
Where love might bring about sorrow, it also welcomes joy.
[ By nature, Stannis Baratheon is not a particularly trustworthy man. For all he knows, this sweet might very well be laced with some manner of poison.
And so, Stannis Baratheon does not touch it, instead placing away for safekeeping, should he truly discover its purpose. ]
[ In honour of the god centering on love being a giant frilly prissypants, Loki sends his own little gift just a few hours after hers.
His box of chocolate will look, smell, and taste exactly like Freya's did, appearing right next to where Freya's was or is if you haven't picked it up yet. The only difference between the two is that Loki's won't lift your mood; it'll give you loud and embarrassing flatulence for the next three hours.
It's also accompanied by a note. ]
Where joy might bring about yearning, it also welcomes wonder.
[ The second time he discovers a chocolate, it is greeted with even more suspicion. With this one, he begins scowling at the morsel, jaw firmly clenched and teeth moving side to side.
He places this one in a different place, trusting it no more than the first. It seemed that someone took him for a fool, and he misliked it. ]
voice; private, backdated to just after jaime's network post
[ He supposes that he ought to be angry, truthfully, he just sounds tired. Even during Robert's reign, Jaime had never much enjoyed speaking to Stannis. He's not certain there's a man in the Seven Kingdoms who ever did.
It's foolish to reach out to the man now, to keep the matter fresh and afloat in his mind. It's like only to encourage him. But the middle Baratheon has shown himself nothing if not irritatingly honest in Joffrey's address, and Jaime does not care for the thought of the boy's tantrum upon learning that he'd never followed through. He can already hear the screams: You promised -- !
Oaths between Lannisters, how droll. ]
But speak of the Stranger, and he shall appear; I suppose you've Stark and myself to thank for that.
[ Stannis is hardly a man to forget a voice, particularly one responsible for so much treason. Shortly after the Rebellion, he had told Robert that the realm might be better served if the man lost his head. Robert had laughed at the suggestion, as he had so many others.
Perhaps then, his brother might still yet live, and the realm might remain united. So, forgive him (or don't, really) if his voice sounds full of utter disdain. ]
[ Oh, he remembers every name that spoke against him. Heard it passed in whisper and plain speech alike, read it raw in open stares. Selmy suggested the Wall and called it a mercy, and Stannis -- well.
He never felt much fright at the prospect. By the time Aerys was through, Jaime was certain that he'd spent all the fear a man could hold. ]
My lord. At last I heard you were at seat in the north. I trust the snow keeps itself well.
[ A lift of the diction at that; he's heard of Jon's presence, if little else. ]
My royal nephew is no king here. Harm him, and I'll pay you in kind, but I'd sooner not have your blood. There's no point of it. Gods, when we return you might even keep the fucking north, for all I care.
[ He laughs. It's not pleasant. ]
I am sharper than to hope you and I might come to understanding; but know any conflict you would provoke in this place for your own.
And that all depends on if there is a North left to keep, Ser Kingslayer.
[ Winter was coming for them all, and should none stand against the Others... But, that is not the matter at hand, now is it? ]
Then you would have me put on a mummer's farce for the boy's sake. That, I cannot abide by, but nor will I seek to take up arms against him. There is no Iron Throne here, and I would not seek to dishonour the laws of this land.
Best watch it closely, then; else the ice will run out from beneath your feet.
[ He can dream. Stannis slipping his own godsdamned wall would be a treat. ]
No, my lord, I don't think singing would suit you -- even were you more inclined. Be your charming, natural self, if you will. My terms were made plain. Whatever else the boy might be, he is my sister's son, and I would not see him dead twice. You can abide by this?
[ One might hear a small scuffle outside your door, dear Stannis, and you might hear a short laugh before there is silence. Should he open the door? He will find a small bottle of peach flavoured liqueur, a new alcohol Renly had only recently discovered, with a small bow around it and a little, fake crown fastened to the screw-top of the bottle. Attached is a label;
'A man should never refuse to taste a peach. He may never get the chance again.' ]
That seven-damned peach had haunted him for nearly two years. Of course, Renly could hardly know the significance of it, but it seemed to Stannis to be nothing short of a declaration of war.
He has half a mind to go over to his brother's quarters right at this moment, and demand an explanation, despite him not entirely being positive which House he is located in, being rather content to avoid him for this past week or so.
Still, that is not going to stop him from clutching the bottle in his hand, storming out of his room, and attempting to locate his traitor of a younger brother. ]
[ And, of course, Renly isn't too far away; he knows his brother well enough to expect his attention to follow. The gift had been a joke, true, rather than any kind of symbol of peace, the same offering as it had been on those fields not so long ago (though, he wonders, absently, how long had it been for his brother?)
So, when he hears what sounds like the footfalls of a man prepared to kill all Renly does is lift his head and offer a smile. ]
[ Well, if Renly didn't know Stannis as family he might be afraid. ]
It was a peace offering. Did you not like it? I thought you could use it to relax a little.
[ He turns, smiling even brighter. It is so much fun to irritate and push his brother's nerves, it is true, and Renly enjoys it all the more for getting vengeance for his death. ]
[If Viserys had not fled and given up the knee to the Usurper, he would have been slaughtered, would he not? His mother, pregnant, the same fate? Aerys would have known that would have been done, why show mercy to any family when they would have never done it for his?
All this talk of Joffrey being a bastard, it makes him laugh. He cannot trust the tongues of any here, and he finds the idea that they turned on their own so much they claimed the Usurper's son a bastard just to start another war, that they betrayed their own...isn't that hilarious, and so fitting?
Oh, what he doesn't know. What he won't let himself know. Still, he's trying for something akin to a truce that's not quite a truce with Joffrey, so he takes a second to think it over and contact him truly privately, and good thing, too. He's not so keen on everyone being able to see...well, things not so known. Things he never really got to speak of before, things he danced around with Robb Stark to keep his mouth quiet, or try to.
Perhaps all that nastiness towards the name of Stark will weaken any desire he had to indulge Viserys' request. He's good at ruining things, even better than he is at physically abusing those weaker than him.]
What do you know of difficulty? Your brother sat upon a throne where everything he might ever want would have been freely given to him. A life he did not deserve was his, and all for the price of slaughtering those in his own family, as much as it grieves me to confess. Did he not share this new wealth with you? You dare speak of dining on rats and onions to an exile? There were weeks where I would have chased a rat down myself to feed my young sister, always to feed her before me. This I did, young as I was, while the Baratheons feasted like the kings they were not and at the same time desired us dead. Not just me, but my sister, newly born, and I knew that all along.
Tell me about how difficult your life was now. Tell me about being left in the rain while your sister wore shoes too big for her and could not walk properly, so you carried her. I am not the Beggar King you called me, and those here would call me. I am someone who did everything he could to make sure his only remaining family suffered as little as possible, which you mock me for. Mock me! Then you have the gall to talk to me about a difficult life?
[He is so, so mad, almost as much as he was before. The reply takes time, takes effort—shaking hands, and all of these traitors coming out have made it much worse.]
As for that creature I am stuck with: stop calling him that where he can see it and hear it.
[Which sounds like he's siding with him, so he has to cover that!
With a lie, of course.]
He shrieks every time it is mentioned. My ears did not get enough paint in them to drown it out, and I fear they may begin to bleed soon.
[ Of all the responses that he had expected from the Beggar King... this had not been among them. Once again, he cannot help but think of the thousands of "if's" in the realm. If he had been quick enough to Dragonstone. If Robert had lost to Rhaegar Targaryen. If he had decided that his duty to the realm was greater than his love for his brother.
But none of it mattered now. What was done could not be undone.
And it worried him of just how much the man echoed his own words. ]
Aye, my brother sat upon that throne, and drank and whored to his heart's content, burying it deep into debt to the Lannisters and the Iron Bank of Braavos. If you think that Robert Baratheon ever thanked his brothers once for their service, you are a grave fool. I held our family's keep in his name. I conquered Dragonstone in his name. I aided Jon Arryn in running the country in his name. And not once was I repaid with kindness, or what was rightfully owed to me. Be that as it may, I did my duty to my brother. Would you have not done the same for Rhaegar Targaryen.
Do not speak to me of your trials, Viserys Targaryen. Not when you have shown yourself to be every bit the petty fool as my so-called "nephew".
[ Of all the things for the man not to believe, this is the most infuriating. Joffrey did not have an ounce of Baratheon blood in him. ]
I will not stop speaking of it, for doing so would serve only to speak falsehoods upon falsehoods. And whatever else you may think of me, I have always been an honest man.
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A small box containing a piece of chocolate will appear on your pillow during the day. When consumed, the chocolate’s magic will lift your mood for a short period of time. It’s accompanied by a note.]
Where love might bring about sorrow, it also welcomes joy.
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And so, Stannis Baratheon does not touch it, instead placing away for safekeeping, should he truly discover its purpose. ]
backdated to Day 400
His box of chocolate will look, smell, and taste exactly like Freya's did, appearing right next to where Freya's was or is if you haven't picked it up yet. The only difference between the two is that Loki's won't lift your mood; it'll give you loud and embarrassing flatulence for the next three hours.
It's also accompanied by a note. ]
Where joy might bring about yearning, it also welcomes wonder.
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He places this one in a different place, trusting it no more than the first. It seemed that someone took him for a fool, and he misliked it. ]
voice; private, backdated to just after jaime's network post
It's foolish to reach out to the man now, to keep the matter fresh and afloat in his mind. It's like only to encourage him. But the middle Baratheon has shown himself nothing if not irritatingly honest in Joffrey's address, and Jaime does not care for the thought of the boy's tantrum upon learning that he'd never followed through. He can already hear the screams: You promised -- !
Oaths between Lannisters, how droll. ]
But speak of the Stranger, and he shall appear; I suppose you've Stark and myself to thank for that.
voice; private
Perhaps then, his brother might still yet live, and the realm might remain united. So, forgive him (or don't, really) if his voice sounds full of utter disdain. ]
Ser Jaime Lannister.
[ there is a marked disdain in his voice. ]
voice; private
He never felt much fright at the prospect. By the time Aerys was through, Jaime was certain that he'd spent all the fear a man could hold. ]
My lord. At last I heard you were at seat in the north. I trust the snow keeps itself well.
[ A lift of the diction at that; he's heard of Jon's presence, if little else. ]
voice; private
[ a pause as he clenches his jaw. ]
Spare me your half pleasantries and speak plainly.
[ Truth be told, he would rather speak to the man no longer than necessary. ]
Your baseborn son threw out your name, as if he meant to intimidate me. Are you to follow through with his "orders", ser?
voice; private
[ He laughs. It's not pleasant. ]
I am sharper than to hope you and I might come to understanding; but know any conflict you would provoke in this place for your own.
voice; private
And that all depends on if there is a North left to keep, Ser Kingslayer.
[ Winter was coming for them all, and should none stand against the Others... But, that is not the matter at hand, now is it? ]
Then you would have me put on a mummer's farce for the boy's sake. That, I cannot abide by, but nor will I seek to take up arms against him. There is no Iron Throne here, and I would not seek to dishonour the laws of this land.
[ If, in fact, it had any. ]
voice; private
[ He can dream. Stannis slipping his own godsdamned wall would be a treat. ]
No, my lord, I don't think singing would suit you -- even were you more inclined. Be your charming, natural self, if you will. My terms were made plain. Whatever else the boy might be, he is my sister's son, and I would not see him dead twice. You can abide by this?
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'A man should never refuse to taste a peach. He may never get the chance again.' ]
KEYWORDS LITTLE BROTHER
That seven-damned peach had haunted him for nearly two years. Of course, Renly could hardly know the significance of it, but it seemed to Stannis to be nothing short of a declaration of war.
He has half a mind to go over to his brother's quarters right at this moment, and demand an explanation, despite him not entirely being positive which House he is located in, being rather content to avoid him for this past week or so.
Still, that is not going to stop him from clutching the bottle in his hand, storming out of his room, and attempting to locate his traitor of a younger brother. ]
LOL TOO LATE XOXO
So, when he hears what sounds like the footfalls of a man prepared to kill all Renly does is lift his head and offer a smile. ]
Good day to you, brother.
YOU ARE THE WORST LITTLE BROTHER EVER OK
I suppose this is your idea of a jest. Or do you have some deeper meaning behind this ludicrous gift?
[ It was almost as if they were back in King's Landing, on the Small Council again. As though these past three years had not truly happened.
But Stannis knew far better than that. ]
idk i think there have been worse
It was a peace offering. Did you not like it? I thought you could use it to relax a little.
[ He turns, smiling even brighter. It is so much fun to irritate and push his brother's nerves, it is true, and Renly enjoys it all the more for getting vengeance for his death. ]
ok maybe euron or ramsay
Afraid of that horrible sound that is Stannis grinding his teeth harder than ever. ]
It says that it is peach flavoured.
[ The same as their parlay. There had not been a day that had gone by where he did not think of that seven-damned peach. ]
are you saying that renly MIGHT be worse than ramsay
if the drink's poisoned then they're on almost the same level
who said anything about poison you're paranoid
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text!
All this talk of Joffrey being a bastard, it makes him laugh. He cannot trust the tongues of any here, and he finds the idea that they turned on their own so much they claimed the Usurper's son a bastard just to start another war, that they betrayed their own...isn't that hilarious, and so fitting?
Oh, what he doesn't know. What he won't let himself know. Still, he's trying for something akin to a truce that's not quite a truce with Joffrey, so he takes a second to think it over and contact him truly privately, and good thing, too. He's not so keen on everyone being able to see...well, things not so known. Things he never really got to speak of before, things he danced around with Robb Stark to keep his mouth quiet, or try to.
Perhaps all that nastiness towards the name of Stark will weaken any desire he had to indulge Viserys' request. He's good at ruining things, even better than he is at physically abusing those weaker than him.]
What do you know of difficulty? Your brother sat upon a throne where everything he might ever want would have been freely given to him. A life he did not deserve was his, and all for the price of slaughtering those in his own family, as much as it grieves me to confess. Did he not share this new wealth with you? You dare speak of dining on rats and onions to an exile? There were weeks where I would have chased a rat down myself to feed my young sister, always to feed her before me. This I did, young as I was, while the Baratheons feasted like the kings they were not and at the same time desired us dead. Not just me, but my sister, newly born, and I knew that all along.
Tell me about how difficult your life was now. Tell me about being left in the rain while your sister wore shoes too big for her and could not walk properly, so you carried her. I am not the Beggar King you called me, and those here would call me. I am someone who did everything he could to make sure his only remaining family suffered as little as possible, which you mock me for. Mock me! Then you have the gall to talk to me about a difficult life?
[He is so, so mad, almost as much as he was before. The reply takes time, takes effort—shaking hands, and all of these traitors coming out have made it much worse.]
As for that creature I am stuck with: stop calling him that where he can see it and hear it.
[Which sounds like he's siding with him, so he has to cover that!
With a lie, of course.]
He shrieks every time it is mentioned. My ears did not get enough paint in them to drown it out, and I fear they may begin to bleed soon.
text!
But none of it mattered now. What was done could not be undone.
And it worried him of just how much the man echoed his own words. ]
Aye, my brother sat upon that throne, and drank and whored to his heart's content, burying it deep into debt to the Lannisters and the Iron Bank of Braavos. If you think that Robert Baratheon ever thanked his brothers once for their service, you are a grave fool. I held our family's keep in his name. I conquered Dragonstone in his name. I aided Jon Arryn in running the country in his name. And not once was I repaid with kindness, or what was rightfully owed to me. Be that as it may, I did my duty to my brother. Would you have not done the same for Rhaegar Targaryen.
Do not speak to me of your trials, Viserys Targaryen. Not when you have shown yourself to be every bit the petty fool as my so-called "nephew".
[ Of all the things for the man not to believe, this is the most infuriating. Joffrey did not have an ounce of Baratheon blood in him. ]
I will not stop speaking of it, for doing so would serve only to speak falsehoods upon falsehoods. And whatever else you may think of me, I have always been an honest man.
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[She grins because she's just a little shit like that.]
I'm Riley and I was told by Renly to let you know that you're an uncle now! You lucky guy.
That's right, Renly and Loras have an adorable daughter so treat me well!
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Then he begins to frown deeply.
And frown.
And frown perhaps just a little bit more. ]
Does my fool of a brother expect me to believe that he somehow got a child off of Ser Loras?
[ A grown child? ]
Of all of Renly's japes, it pains me to lower myself to speak of this.
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True story.
[Serious face.]
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[ a pause, as he moves his teeth from side to side. ]
Yet again, Renly proves himself to be little more than a child.
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[She acts so shocked!]
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[ Your shock is not appreciated. ]
Be that as it may, you would certainly be vexing enough to be my brother's child.
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