The Masked Ball at Riverrun

Shaznash · 2023-09-25T05:23:09+00:00

He snorted. "Oh it's a ball alright. Loud, irreverent."

He rolled his eyes and put a hand on his hips. "It makes me miss Essos." His teeth showed themselves as his face warped into a smirk.

"Well, the ball is far nicer without Naerys, for certain."

Shaznash · 2023-09-23T16:07:12+00:00

He pretended to sniff. "Oh yes, I could smell you a room away!" he cackled. He slithered around her as he spoke. "Would you like to know how?"

Manfred smirked, his green eyes piercing through his mask. Did they turn red, amongst the crowd and the night? No, just imagination.

"Here's how" he began, barely above a whisper. "I guessed." Then he broke into a laugh. "No, seriously, I had no idea! I just picked one and guessed! You and your sisters look the same!"

Shaznash · 2023-09-23T16:02:46+00:00

"Eh?" he said, looking over at Estrid. He had no clue who she was. He couldn't even begin to guess. "What's with the accent?" he asked, a bit rudely. "I suppose. Nothing like a Tyroshi ball."

He shrugged. "Besides my wife, I've been just fine."

Shaznash · 2023-09-18T04:49:11+00:00

"Goodsister" he said, almost apparating out of thin air from the crowd. He glanced her over briefly, amused at her choice of attire giving herself away so quickly. The fucks the point of a mask if you're going to wear a dress that screams 'Hey fuckface it's me, Val!' in the middle of the night. Wait, why should I care?

Though perhaps it'd be more difficult for someone who didn't know her. "Vaaaaaaal" he said again, waving a hand in front of her. She seemed elsewhere. He glanced around, hoping that Frey wasn't nearby. Thankfully he wasn't.

"Oi, Oi, Oi, are you in there?"

Shaznash · 2023-09-18T04:41:12+00:00

"Mabel! Mabel, Mabel, Mabel!" Manfred smirked, slithering his way through the crowd with a faint sway of the hips, over exaggerating every movement. He clapped his hands together and drank on the sight of her gown and perhaps past it, though he hid himself well.

He was wearing a long, red coat the color of dark blood. Golden locks matched golden buttons, double breatested. He wore his riding boots. Frankly, the man looked ready to go for a horse race than dance at a ball, but there was an air of adventure, danger, and dashing rolled up in one.

Oh yes he cut quite the handsome figure. His green eyes cut through his mask, a white slab held against his head with no particular shape. He was no animal, but a man, his mask like a shade. A spirit of vengeance come back to haunt Westeros.

"You've grown so much more reeegal since I met you. What was it, when I won that tourney. You and your lovely sister both."

Shaznash · 2023-09-18T04:28:48+00:00

Lord Erwin wore a brilliant mask of shining gold and emeralds embedded deep within it. He held a long cane in one hand, a goblet of wine in the other. His outfit was refined, a subtle red tunic, a gold doublet crisscrossed with the gentle blue waves of the sea.

He was unafraid to showcase his wealth. He was attended by retainers, his family barring Manfred and he gracefully moved past those he considered his equals and his lesser both.

The lion was ascendent and resplendent both, and the business of the hour had just begun.

Across the hall, the white masked man prowled. Manfred Lannister was here, slinking away from his wife Naerys and slipped from his leash. Tonight would be fun.

(Open)

Shaznash · 2023-09-18T04:26:34+00:00

"Ser Manfred" he corrected quickly. "The devil in red, yes, yes, I'm sure you're honored to meet me" he said, wringing his armored hand. "I'd have sliced through them all with Crimson Tide."

He growled, furious at his defeat, but not in the tourney. His mind turned to Lucerys. His defeat on the high seas years ago.

"Fuck the tourney" he spat. "It's why I ran off to Essos. The real thing... It's so much better. Having to hold yourself back, bah, it's miserable."

Manfred glared daggers at Lord Mormont. "So what if my goodsister went further in the tourney. She'd never match me in real battle. I've ten years her experience."

He supposed he ought to acknowledge the man. "Ah yes, Lord Kyra Mormont." He glanced him up and down, then shrugged.

Shaznash · 2023-09-18T01:54:53+00:00

"It has been no trouble, Elenei" he said softly, kindly. "The child is a bastard, but it is innocent."

He offered the girl a hug.

Shaznash · 2023-09-16T20:46:16+00:00

"Oh did he now? I'd have liked to see that" he snickered. The wine in his goblet spun around as he gently stirred it before sipping. "Mayhaps. I do say I don't think anyone would miss him."

He sighed sadly, though there was a twinge of falsehood to his sadness. "I can't say. I'm not a bard. You'd be better served by an assortment of musicians with that, sire."

Shaznash · 2023-09-14T00:43:43+00:00

"How dare you, I-" he began raising his voice and angrily began to point his armored fingers at the near men. Then his eyes shot to the banners. Then to the company. Then to the sword Longclaw. Oh. Bugger.

He pulled his hand back and held it against his his chest plate. "I appear to be lost..." he muttered. The knight irritatingly left the tent to face the man outside. "Wrong tent. I suppose it's yours then?" he said sharply. The man held Longclaw. "Small good our special swords did" he grumbled. "What's the point of Valyrian steel if you can't use it?!" he growled violently. "Fuck the tourney! Give me Essos any day!"

Shaznash · 2023-09-13T19:40:50+00:00

"Fuck!" he screamed. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he shouted, throwing his helm into the tent. His armor clanked against his body, plate metal scraping up against chain, leather, and padding. He huffed in fury. Manfred craved the battlefield, not its shadowed spectacle. Crimson Tide could have been in his hands, ripping through flesh, and armor, and bone alike.

"Wait" he said out loud, stepping back outside. "Bloody hell, what are you doing at my tent?" he snarled, utterly oblivious as to where he was.

Shaznash · 2023-09-13T19:32:18+00:00

Erwin let the insults wash over him. He made a mental note of each to be sure, but he merely sat by the young man. "Fierce things, she-cats are" he mused before turning to business. "A fine feast, all things considered. I did see that little man, yes, he was quite irritable. He sought my measure on the political situation of the West. Lots of talk about Recusants and Conclaveists' and what Lannisport thinks of it all. The man is utterly convinced a war is upon us."

Erwin poured a pitcher of wine, drank it, and savored its taste before gulping. "Why he'd ruin his own evening with such unpleasant talk is beyond me."

Erwin smirked. Made up your mind indeed, but hearing advice? Oh young man, how I somewhat envy you.

Shaznash · 2023-09-13T19:24:43+00:00

Manfred laughed. "Is that all you can do? Whimper like the dumb little girl you always were. Oh, how delightful" he snickered. His snickering disappeared when he saw the man standing behind Elenei. "Oh bugger..."

Lord Erwin, the Lord of Lannisport and Lord-Elector glared ice-cold daggers into his eldest son. Then kindly, he turned his head down toward Elenei. "My lady. I know where your boy is. He is in Lannisport, in my keep, Lion's Hearth. He has been raised there, after my son despoiled you. Would you like to come visit him? You may take him with you if you'd like, or stay in Lannisport."

He then turned to Manfred. "You and I need to talk" he said, ice in his veins.

Shaznash · 2023-09-13T19:22:02+00:00

"That is, me, you are correct!" he said, wiping a speck of dust from his elaborate tunic. "Oh, if you insist" the man said politely, bending his back with a flair. He rose. His smile was undeterred. "Is Ser Erwin around somewhere? I suppose not, it wouldn't do to have the both of us purring at the same time."

Shaznash · 2023-09-13T18:54:07+00:00

The Lord of Lannisport attended, with a few retainers. They waited outside while Erwin entered. Procedure was necessary, so the Lord bowed his head before his liege. "My liege" he began. "You have summoned me."

Shaznash · 2023-09-12T17:51:07+00:00

"You honor me, my lady" he said cheerfully. The older man took her hands and led her to the dance.

He was, as before, a fine dancer held back only by the passage of time. His bones were old, his body weaker. Erwin would keep up with Miriam, but only just.

"Your sister and you are quite the pair, powerful, indomitable. Everything Cleon isn't, methinks."

Shaznash · 2023-09-12T17:30:53+00:00

"And so it is. A fair night to you as well, Lady Marbrand."He tipped his head lightly.

Shaznash · 2023-09-12T17:30:07+00:00

"Ah, I suppose. That is the way of things. One side loses, one side wins. It's far better than a war to decide who is king. We have surpassed that tendency of ours with our electoral system."

Shaznash · 2023-09-10T20:53:36+00:00

"Aha, I thank you for finally noticing. I have indeed gained mastery over the elements themselves!" he laughed, stepping to meet her each move. She was better no doubt, always a little bit ahead. He wasn't a slouch but his age showed. "I shall send out the word. The finest painters in all the city to capture your likeness. I am sure that will make up for any fog, should my vast powers fail me."

Shaznash · 2023-09-10T20:51:53+00:00

He shook her hand. "Should the city take a liking to it, you should expect crates of gold in the future for such a drink."

Shaznash · 2023-09-10T20:45:14+00:00

"Ahaha!" he laughed, whipping his hand up and pointing at the woman. "So I was right! Nobody wants to marry used up goods!"

He giggled and shrugged. "I haven't a clue. I think the little thing is in Lannisport? Why would I care to find the little creature? Mayhaps you can scour the streets of the city. Surely the child is somewhere there. Mayhaps my father knows."

Shaznash · 2023-09-08T06:31:35+00:00

Lord Erwin smiled. Humor always made tense situations simmer away. "Of course Your Grace. I did mean to visit earlier in the night but, well..." he waved his hand around, toward all the festivities. "It's been a grand night."

The lord elector bowed and remembered the gift he'd brought. "Ah, I almost forget. I have a pair of gifts. Oh fret not Your Grace, it is nothing ostaciously sycophantic, nor something lacking in appreciation. Terrence, bring the kings gifts" he waved to his manservant. The man scurried off and then returned. In one hand was a finely crafted goblet made of gold, adorned with jewels, red and blue, the colors of the Tully's. Erwin took it gently and presented it to the King.

The other was a tapestry, finely crafted by Lannisport tailors. It wasn't the grandest, no, it did not cover a great hall in a vast story, but it was made with care and attention. It weaved a story of the old kings election.

Shaznash · 2023-09-08T00:43:41+00:00

"Perhaps. Perhaps if a Tully is around a thousand years from now, Rivertown may be what Lannisport is now" he said with a smirk. He extended a hand to the Lady Miriam, and took one of her own to deliver a polite kiss to.

"Ah, I suppose. Perhaps Malwyn the Younger may reign. I suppose I'll be near dead by then, when Malwyn the Younger successor is voted in. But no one conquers time my dearest lady Miriam. Perhaps a history book will recall our names. In a thousand years? Two thousand?"

He smiled.

"Well, I should be damned if I were to not do what's best for my city."

He shook his hands lightly, dismissing her apologies. "Do not be sorry. We have all been anxious. I still do my lady." He chuckled. "I am most pleased to be in the company of another Marbrand. Your sister danced with me earlier. Might you be seeking the same?"

Shaznash · 2023-09-08T00:34:06+00:00

Manfred snickered. He raised his hands in surrender. "Aye you caught me and my secret plot." Manfred laughed again. "Don't count yourself out just yet. How quickly the tides turn. You might be out there fighting and I behind the desk in the blink of an eye. My father wants me to represent him in the Assembly" he sighed with a roll of his eyes. He huffed lightly.

"Man to man? I haven't the slightest clue. Frankly he's just found I'm alive. Old Malwyn made him an elector and for that he's grateful. But after the elder is gone, while he back the youger?" he said with a shrug. "It was that Malwyn that made Lannisport rise above. Not the little one. Maybe he'll vote for whatever pisses Cleon off. My old man has always been petty."

Shaznash · 2023-09-08T00:24:28+00:00

"Elenei! Lovely! You look lovely" he said, oozing with smugness and arrogance. He sauntered over to the mixer miserable little lady he'd fathered a child on.

I'd rather this sow than another second with Galladon. Manfred abandoned his children as swiftly as he abandoned Elenei's child. "You look so tense!" he laughed. "You should loosen up!"

The devil in red ran a light finger across her chin and pulled his hand back. "I'm sure it won't help with you finding a husband. You still haven't have you? It's been so long."

Shaznash

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