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[ from here ]
[ Has Rafe been having this entire conversation from the rooftop of the church? Of course he has. He's out to learn every inch of what little he's claimed for himself, to know it like the back of his hand and damn the dark. It'll take time and patience but they have the former in abundance in this town, and he'd been forced to learn the latter early on looking for Avery.
But there are other things in Beacon he apparently won't have to wait too long for at all.
The bell is an easy landmark to jog to, the stairs down the tower easy as well— Especially lower down, where the candles flicker up from the main nave. All in all it's not even ten minutes after that last reply before Rafe is at Melisandre's door. Rapping his knuckles against the wood, he waits for her to open it. There's no locks and it's likely open but. You know. He can occasionally be a gentleman. ]
So. [ He lets the single syllable hang in the air a moment, eyebrow arching as he leans against the jamb with his arms crossed. ] I've been given to understand you're interested in empiric proof.
[ Has Rafe been having this entire conversation from the rooftop of the church? Of course he has. He's out to learn every inch of what little he's claimed for himself, to know it like the back of his hand and damn the dark. It'll take time and patience but they have the former in abundance in this town, and he'd been forced to learn the latter early on looking for Avery.
But there are other things in Beacon he apparently won't have to wait too long for at all.
The bell is an easy landmark to jog to, the stairs down the tower easy as well— Especially lower down, where the candles flicker up from the main nave. All in all it's not even ten minutes after that last reply before Rafe is at Melisandre's door. Rapping his knuckles against the wood, he waits for her to open it. There's no locks and it's likely open but. You know. He can occasionally be a gentleman. ]
So. [ He lets the single syllable hang in the air a moment, eyebrow arching as he leans against the jamb with his arms crossed. ] I've been given to understand you're interested in empiric proof.
Edited (what the fuck, coding) 2019-07-06 23:49 (UTC)
⟪ Less than a quarter of an hour for her to consider her actions, but she has made a habit of thinking on her feet in Westeros – after the slow tune of Asshai, where nothing ever seemed to change, leaving Essos had had forced some readjustments on her in the area. So, then, what does she think of? The King, who would be grinding his teeth in anger at this, even though she is well dead by now, even though she has told him all he needs, in theory, to win his war, even though she has hinted that she won't live beyond it to begin with. Even though he is married himself.
R'hllor would approve, though, and this is the guidance she seeks. No better prayer than one of the body, no better place than a holy place such as this one. And she is human enough to think Rafe handsome, even as she half in jest and half in sincerity doubts his... ah... skillset. A knock on her door, and she recalls usually being the one to answer to summons. Can't say she dislikes the shift, and at any rate, she does not keep him waiting.
Her room, simply, is red. She'd taken a blanket and pillows and a futon for the corner as a makeshift bed, cushions by a footstool for an improvisation upon a table and seating, curtains to make the walls less... prison-like. Up at him she tilts her head where he stands, and her voice is as warm as she is as she speaks. ⟫
It seemed unjust to doubt you without a chance at redemption. ⟪ She draws him into the room, her lantern flickers by the bed, and the ruby at her throat pulses red as it's wont to do when she's wanting for something. ⟫ It is custom to assure another of no fatal intentions, among those practicing sorcery. You did not seem intimidated before, but... ⟪ she trails off. It's politeness she is going for, even as she already guides his hand to the silken belt that holds her robe in place around her waist. ⟫
R'hllor would approve, though, and this is the guidance she seeks. No better prayer than one of the body, no better place than a holy place such as this one. And she is human enough to think Rafe handsome, even as she half in jest and half in sincerity doubts his... ah... skillset. A knock on her door, and she recalls usually being the one to answer to summons. Can't say she dislikes the shift, and at any rate, she does not keep him waiting.
Her room, simply, is red. She'd taken a blanket and pillows and a futon for the corner as a makeshift bed, cushions by a footstool for an improvisation upon a table and seating, curtains to make the walls less... prison-like. Up at him she tilts her head where he stands, and her voice is as warm as she is as she speaks. ⟫
It seemed unjust to doubt you without a chance at redemption. ⟪ She draws him into the room, her lantern flickers by the bed, and the ruby at her throat pulses red as it's wont to do when she's wanting for something. ⟫ It is custom to assure another of no fatal intentions, among those practicing sorcery. You did not seem intimidated before, but... ⟪ she trails off. It's politeness she is going for, even as she already guides his hand to the silken belt that holds her robe in place around her waist. ⟫
You're terribly generous.
[ Said with a smile more befitting a shark, sharp teeth and hungry. Rafe fully admits he was a bit bullheaded running into things, too caught up in the simple challenge to recognize one of the oldest plays in the book for what it was — not at first, anyway. Now that he's here and all cards are on the table, he can see the game behind it (mostly behind it) and appreciate it and Melisandre for what it is.
The stone still glows at her throat, almost with a heartbeat of its own, and once they're inside with the door shut firmly behind them, he leans down under pretense of a better glimpse. Total coincidence, his nose brushing her cheek on the way or his breath against her neck. The aesthete in him itches to take it off and examine it, comparing it to settings and shapes he knows, but... Well. There's more to do at the moment than play jeweler with not a loupe to his name.
Or he thinks so until there's that disclaimer. His hands still at her hips, thumbs catching on the fabric as Rafe straightens up with a smile that can't quite believe what it's heard. ]
Sorry. Rewind there for a minute. [ Don't ask him to explain rewind right now, Melisandre. There's other pressing matters. ] "No fatal intentions"?
[ Yeah, he's going to need some clarification there. ]
[ Said with a smile more befitting a shark, sharp teeth and hungry. Rafe fully admits he was a bit bullheaded running into things, too caught up in the simple challenge to recognize one of the oldest plays in the book for what it was — not at first, anyway. Now that he's here and all cards are on the table, he can see the game behind it (mostly behind it) and appreciate it and Melisandre for what it is.
The stone still glows at her throat, almost with a heartbeat of its own, and once they're inside with the door shut firmly behind them, he leans down under pretense of a better glimpse. Total coincidence, his nose brushing her cheek on the way or his breath against her neck. The aesthete in him itches to take it off and examine it, comparing it to settings and shapes he knows, but... Well. There's more to do at the moment than play jeweler with not a loupe to his name.
Or he thinks so until there's that disclaimer. His hands still at her hips, thumbs catching on the fabric as Rafe straightens up with a smile that can't quite believe what it's heard. ]
Sorry. Rewind there for a minute. [ Don't ask him to explain rewind right now, Melisandre. There's other pressing matters. ] "No fatal intentions"?
[ Yeah, he's going to need some clarification there. ]
Edited 2019-07-11 04:43 (UTC)
⟪ Knife-sharp is his smile, this is a dance, she thinks, he has danced time and time again, the steps familiar but the game still ripe for the catching, and his breath against her neck has her own catching in her throat. Soon enough, he'll know how the flashing of the ruby is the same as the beating of her heart, but sooner still his hands halt on her hips and he makes space enough for a question. ⟫
Sorcery can kill, and there will be power in what we are about to do. ⟪ Her hands at his cheeks, just enough to keep him looking at her. Some, she has found, don't hold her gaze when they can avoid it. One hand falls to his chest, where she can feel his heart beat, alive and burning. ⟫ It can be harnessed, that power. Some fear it.
⟪ The hand once on his chest falls lower, warm and insistent and practiced against his trousers, where his laces should be. It is, all in all, a good thing she has gathered clothing for some others here in Beacon, or confusion would come for her at the worst possible time. ⟫ Do you?
Sorcery can kill, and there will be power in what we are about to do. ⟪ Her hands at his cheeks, just enough to keep him looking at her. Some, she has found, don't hold her gaze when they can avoid it. One hand falls to his chest, where she can feel his heart beat, alive and burning. ⟫ It can be harnessed, that power. Some fear it.
⟪ The hand once on his chest falls lower, warm and insistent and practiced against his trousers, where his laces should be. It is, all in all, a good thing she has gathered clothing for some others here in Beacon, or confusion would come for her at the worst possible time. ⟫ Do you?
[ Some may not be able to, but Rafe's eyes are steady and unflinching as the rock of Gibraltar. First rule of any poker table, of any negotiation, of life itself is you never blink first and Melisandre may well be the only person he's met who can match his stare. Or match him in other things as her fingers slide south in a move straight out of his own playbook.
The magic side of it, that's something new and strange but she explains it frankly. Matter-of-fact. A callback to ancient pagan rituals he's read about as a matter of research, homage to carnal divinities and future fertility paid in the most fitting of ways. Christianity had certainly feared it but Rafe's never been particularly religious anyway. And besides, what's the worst that can happen if the magic does turn fatal? They're all of them dead anyway. May as well make the most of it. ]
Take a wild guess.
[ He says it with a chuckle, dark and low, right before catching her mouth in a kiss meant to banish any further doubts. ]
The magic side of it, that's something new and strange but she explains it frankly. Matter-of-fact. A callback to ancient pagan rituals he's read about as a matter of research, homage to carnal divinities and future fertility paid in the most fitting of ways. Christianity had certainly feared it but Rafe's never been particularly religious anyway. And besides, what's the worst that can happen if the magic does turn fatal? They're all of them dead anyway. May as well make the most of it. ]
Take a wild guess.
[ He says it with a chuckle, dark and low, right before catching her mouth in a kiss meant to banish any further doubts. ]
⟪ The King had first kept her around not for any of her skill, nor for her company, but for the simple fact that plenty of his men – and the men of his enemies – would not dare to speak her name out loud, for fear of her Asshai'i ways and her Shadowbinding. He holds her gaze, holds her by the hips, he laughs in the face of death and kisses her, and it's so different from her usual poisons, this.
Doubts she has none, so much is in the way she arches up against him ––
though she does need to push him away, if only to get her hands proper beneath his shirt, and drag for him to take it off. ⟫
Can't say I don't appreciate the fashions but –– ⟪ this is, in a way, more difficult than getting rid of some armour. ⟫
Doubts she has none, so much is in the way she arches up against him ––
though she does need to push him away, if only to get her hands proper beneath his shirt, and drag for him to take it off. ⟫
Can't say I don't appreciate the fashions but –– ⟪ this is, in a way, more difficult than getting rid of some armour. ⟫
[ backdated to immediately follow this thread ]
talk to me about magic
specifically who can learn to do it
talk to me about magic
specifically who can learn to do it
Edited 2019-07-18 06:01 (UTC)
is this metaphorical for the effort required or are you saying there's a literal signing over to the devil or whatever the hell it is
The... who?
⟪ well, never mind that, onto his question, before we open the vial of worms that is the devil. ⟫
You will not, in fact, lose your soul, but it can taint it, affected it, and shape it into something you might not wish it to be. It can affect your body, too, if you do too much. Of course, it would be my task to prevent any, ah, permanent damage, should I be the one to teach you.
⟪ well, never mind that, onto his question, before we open the vial of worms that is the devil. ⟫
You will not, in fact, lose your soul, but it can taint it, affected it, and shape it into something you might not wish it to be. It can affect your body, too, if you do too much. Of course, it would be my task to prevent any, ah, permanent damage, should I be the one to teach you.
[ curse his rapier wit that goes unappreciated because of different worlds ]
never mind
what kind of effects are we talking here
not as a lack of faith in your abilities here mind
never mind
what kind of effects are we talking here
not as a lack of faith in your abilities here mind
huh
[ black goat certainly sounds devil adjacent. but a few moments later though: ]
well not like mortality carries that much weight anymore given how we all got here and blood washes
[ black goat certainly sounds devil adjacent. but a few moments later though: ]
well not like mortality carries that much weight anymore given how we all got here and blood washes
Edited (phone tags... ) 2019-07-18 13:47 (UTC)
[ 😎 😎 😎 ]
and there's plenty more on tap
so is this doable? you're up to teach?
and there's plenty more on tap
so is this doable? you're up to teach?
I have learned to take your word for it.
And I'll teach you.
⟪ a little later, as she remembers: ⟫
No one from my world should know of this. Brienne of Tarth, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark are here, and especially the first has... some misgivings on the matter.
And I'll teach you.
⟪ a little later, as she remembers: ⟫
No one from my world should know of this. Brienne of Tarth, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark are here, and especially the first has... some misgivings on the matter.
didn't realize you had that much company
any of these familiar faces apt to make any trouble?
any of these familiar faces apt to make any trouble?
I have avoided Snow so far, but he never sought trouble with me in life. The Stark girl has some queer ideas of what I did, as far as I have gathered, but she seems to wish to wait and see, and I rather think I can... deescalate this.
Brienne... Let's say Brienne has seen some of my magic at work. We have spoken of it, as of yet, she seems to blame the King more than she does me. She won't attempt anything anytime soon, I reckon. At any rate, none of them seem too keen on hanging about the church.
⟪ that's not concern, is it? she doesn't think so. right? melisandre looks at the idea of friendship like someone looks at the concept of spider eggs hatching from an ear. ⟫
Brienne... Let's say Brienne has seen some of my magic at work. We have spoken of it, as of yet, she seems to blame the King more than she does me. She won't attempt anything anytime soon, I reckon. At any rate, none of them seem too keen on hanging about the church.
⟪ that's not concern, is it? she doesn't think so. right? melisandre looks at the idea of friendship like someone looks at the concept of spider eggs hatching from an ear. ⟫
[ He makes note of the names, will keep an eye out for the same in the future. ]
that deescalation goes sour, let me know
i picked the church in part for the privacy and i can't say i'd appreciate any unannounced house crashers
[ Wouldn't do to get caught in any crossfire, or to lose his newly acquired teacher before he's gotten what he wanted out of this, after all. ]
that deescalation goes sour, let me know
i picked the church in part for the privacy and i can't say i'd appreciate any unannounced house crashers
[ Wouldn't do to get caught in any crossfire, or to lose his newly acquired teacher before he's gotten what he wanted out of this, after all. ]
[ Just make sure it stays that way, missy. Don't need no friendship getting everything sticky. Sticky is reserved for Magic Energy Generation things. ]
what, you wouldn't burn them?
what, you wouldn't burn them?
wait which can be magic too - fire or corpse disposal
you'll have to be more specific
you'll have to be more specific
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