And We Danced (Masquerade Overflow!)

[thespaceopera]

The Captcha is upon us, but the party isn't over! Feel free to continue your threads here, start new ones, and continue the dance party!

- Original Mingle
- OOC Post

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[steeledskin]

Cursed? [ she chokes out, buying herself time with an echoed word. and then she shakes her head. ] No, my lady -- no, Margaery. [ a soft self-correction. ]

You are far from cursed. I would swear to it.

[ only well-protected. well-loved by her grandmother, who was well-maneuvered by littlefinger. ]

[partialities]

[ she had lost much, margaery did, being here on her own but there are some things she can hold onto and keep, it would seem. Unmasked, it is easy to press her lips to sansa's cheek, frown turning into a smile ]

And you doubt me when I say you are by far my sweetest, most treasured friend.

[steeledskin]

[ and yet she feels the weight of being the catspaw whose motions now lead margaery to question whether she's cursed. it makes her heart ache to put any such doubt in the other lady's heart. her eyes flutter, her heart thuds, and she squeezes her fingers around margaery's wrist. ]

How good it would have been -- [ she betrays a rare moment of honest sorrow ] -- to have been sisters.

[partialities]

[ in a moment of rebellion and pride, she says ]

Why can't we be? Here we can surely be whatever we want, who would dare to tell us otherwise?

[ it may be an odd realm, too far from anything familiar but its distance may yet be a form of blessing ]

Let us be as we wish. It would surely not harm anyone, not here. We could whisper secrets in the dark and exchange tokens.

[steeledskin]

[ -- the other side of the sword what wields her brothers' protection is the edge that must always keep her behaviour in check. perhaps robb hasn't criticized her for her actions, but she is always waiting with held breath for the moment she fails to meet his expectations. add to this the rumbling fear in her gut that one day her lord husband will not be so loose with their vows, and will recall her to his side...?

oh, sansa fears being what she wants to be. but for margaery's darling sake, she will not protest. ]

Whatever we like. Whatever you like. You have no kingdom to mind, here. Nor seven besides.

[partialities]

Not even half a kingdom.

[ and that is unfortunate in some manner but she had learned to accept it. to complain about it would be silly. her goal should be to win this little game and return to where she belongs and have seven kingdoms and until then.

until then, it is this game that should concern her. the one they're being filmed for. ]

and all the time in the world to spend with who I wish to.

[ namely her preset company ]

[steeledskin]

Oh, I wish you could join us on the Blue Fish, [ she gushes with sudden heart. vibrant, wanting, and warm. however, it isn't made to last. like any flash in the pan, her exuberance soon dies out. ]

But I don't know what Robb would say. You must have spoken with him. Do you like him? Isn't he gallant?

[ gainfully, she tries to hide her doubt. sansa wonders whether robb even approves that she should consort so freely with margaery tyrell, wife of his enemies. ]

[partialities]

We danced together at the masquerade. He was very charming.

[ honest to a fault in his questions, in the way he responded to her answers. a northerner through and through and while margaery doubts she shall ever be his favorable company, they are not at all on bad terms.

it's a start, after all. margaery's work was mostly in planting the seed of thought that she was just a pawn of her father and a tragic one in that.

the truth, as many others, shall remain between her and sansa. there simply are things only women would understand. ]

You mustn't let my absence worry you. I adore the Windrose, the name suits me perfectly, do you not think? and whenever you wish to see me, I shall come to you as quick as that.

[steeledskin]

[ she exhales -- calms herself -- and conjures a pleasant smile in place of her concern. margaery speaks only the truth; there is no reason to consolidate her defenses with any more stones. she has the whole of the blue fish to rely upon, why should she demand more?

(but there is a hungry, worried survivor clamoring in her gut -- clawing for safety.)

sansa tries to be as brave as margaery and lifts her friend's knuckles to her lips. a kiss for a kiss, although she feels terribly silly for her nervousness. ]

And one day I shall visit you in return. I promise. [ not even her brothers received so much of a vow when they were on different ships. she always made them come to her. ]

[partialities]

You would like the Windrose. The ship is lovely and the crew is very friendly.

[ and then her smile turns coy, a shade of mischief sneaking into the corners as she leans to whisper ]

And it would do you well to have me on another ship, I can tell you all of the gossip and there is much to be had from my ship.

[steeledskin]

Are they very lively, then, on the Windrose? [ a pause. perhaps there is something inherently scandalous to margaery's ship. ]

[partialities]

Well some of them are. I hear words that one of my dearest friends is visiting one of the ladies and spends his nights with her.

[ she giggles, that's lively enough isn't it? ]

and he looked so terribly shy at first. I suppose the shy ones are the boldest when they meet the right woman.

[steeledskin]

-- But are they wedded?

[ she knows better to think, naively, that all such visits are conducted solely between married men and women. the vale in particular has opened up her eyes -- as has myranda's pillow-chatter whenever she's feeling talkative. and she's always feeling talkative. ]

[partialities]

Not at all.

[ she smiles, the smile secretive and amused ]

But I doubt two people could be wed here, in their defense. Our customs are entirely different, are they not? can you imagine a wedding, here? it should be the oddest wedding in the world.

[steeledskin]

Two people can be wed anywhere, Margaery. I believe that, now that Robb has told me of his union to his Lady Wife. [ a union she nevertheless resents, despite his joy when he discusses it. ]

Mayhaps your crewmate and her visitor don't realize it -- someone ought to tell them they could be married.

[partialities]

He is married? Is his lady wife here? I have not seen a woman on his arm tonight.

[ and she is usually quite proficient at paying attention to such details. she would have noticed if he was accompanied by someone, surely. ]

When were they wed?