asgardeventide | o2 ♔ video

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( as strange as it might sound to modern sensibilities, alayne has never had to work for anything in her life. it's the benefits that go along with being part of a noble house of westeros - she never knew how to want for things. she had every physical need laid out for her. but everything is different here. the name of stark holds no weight in this land, even if she no longer bears it for herself. and the last thing she wants is to burden robb with having to look after her financially, as well. robb, her brother. a title that she speaks to no one except herself, whispered quietly in the back of her mind. he is her brother, he is sansa's brother, but she cannot go back. she can only pretend to make concessions for his sake.

alayne is a bastard now, after all. not a noble girl. perhaps it is fitting that she seek work in this way. bastard girls and those of the lower classes worked all the time, and not always at unscrupulous occupations. she wants the money to purchase pretty things. she wants the freedom that comes from independence, in a sense. she wants to craft new alliances, should she ever need them in her time here. above all else, alayne looks to appear guileless.

there is a piece of cloth laid over her lap when the feed switches on, the stitchery delicate and exquisite. the needle and thread laid on top make it obvious that it's something she's been working on. )

To the citizens of Asgard,

My name is Alayne Stone. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

( and she nods her head in greeting instead of a curtsy because of her sitting position, and smiles. )

I am looking to inquire about seeking work. I am told it is customary here, and I wish not to put undue burden on the others that have supported me thus far. Although I am humble in my birth, I have some skill in needleworking and the mending of cloth. I can embroider a symbol or pattern in silk or yarn, if an image or description is given to me. Of dressmaking I have some knowledge in the westerosi style, though I fear that modern garments still escape my understanding.

( the camera tips down to get a better view of what she's embroidering - a pretty pattern of birds and flowers. this, she has done for no profit, only for want of something to do. )

I thank you for listening, Asgard.

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If you're set on needlework or anything to do with cloth, you ought to look around Freyr and Freya's districts. A friend of mine was working in a shop around there, started designing her own things, and did really well for herself.

[There's an oddly shuttered look in his eyes as he says all this.]

If you're looking at other kinds of work as well, the hospital in Sigyn could always use people. We had an influx of patients after the battle.

It is kind of you to suggest, but I fear that I have no skill as a healer.

( she's seen the injured after a war, before. she's seen men die in front of her eyes. and alayne doesn't know what she would do under those situations - whether her courage would leave her at the first sight, or not. sansa hadn't flinched, that time at her father's tourney. she'd like to think of herself as braver than that stupid little girl, now. )

Freya and Freyr districts it is, then.

[He smiles, not unkindly.]

Does the healer's work bother you?

No. It is a noble work, and necessary. I only lack knowledge, and training.

( truthfully, the thought had never even crossed her mind. maesters were the principal healers in westeros, with the exception of a few midwives, and the former were all men. )

Are you a healer, yourself?

Yes. One of the powers of Sigyn house is healing. I was given it, so I should use it to help others when I can.

[A bit of a wistful smile here, as he continues.]

I was a physician's apprentice before I came to Asgard, too. I guess you could say it's just something I've been doing for a while.

The gods have gifted you well.

( he looks like he'd be a good healer. he speaks and smiles like someone that sansa might have once characterized as gentle. alayne doesn't make those judgements so easily yet, but it seemed like the right to say. )

I have heard others talk about these god-gifts, but I haven't yet discovered my own.

No? [That wakes Merlin from his sudden bout of homesickness, making him perk up like a cat who's just caught sight of a bit of string or fluff to pounce upon.]

How about I help you figure yours out? I help with the Teacher's Council--it's this group my friends and I started to help Travelers learn about their powers here.

( it feels strange, to think about accepting help from a stranger in an equally strange land, but the gods have given her a power - a gift. it would be foolish to ignore it, especially when such things probably came with a catch. perhaps these lessons would come at a cost, as well. )

If you would teach me, I would be grateful for it.

Lady Alayne, I hope you are well.

[ she smiles, just a tad. ]

I have learned needlework myself but I may require help with a certain plan of mine. I am certain you shall find something stable but in addition - I would wish for your assistance, if you will it. And pay you as you will request.

I am well, thank you. And I am glad to see you safe despite the fighting.

( she is sister to a king, alayne thinks. she knows this for certain, now. the kingdom of camelot, ruled now by arthur pendragon. with courtesies that rank similar to those of westeros, at least on the surface. alayne gleans these little details, not because she thinks they have strategic purpose at the present, but because they might in the future.

knowledge is power. but in this case, blood is also power. )

I would request no payment from you, Lady Morgana. If you would ask my assistance, then I hope you would consider this a token of my friendship.

( morgana is a true noble lady with no political relation to alayne, and it has been so long since she has had a female friend outside of margaery tyrell, who had plans for her. even if alayne still finds it hard to give her trust out so willingly, she would seek it nonetheless. )

[ Bastard sister to a king, Morgana would say, even though it would likely to displease Arthur to hear her call herself such. He calls her sister as if they share a mother and a father, as if was not a dark secret for most of her life. She admires that in him but is unable to see herself as such. ]

My Lady offers me a great honor. I shall accept and I would offer a token in return, if it shall please you.

[ With Nakama leaving, Mary asleep and Gwen gone, she lacks female friends herself. She and Lady Stone can understand each other, she thinks. ]

Nothing would please me more, truly.

( and when she smiles, it's genuine - or very near to being so. it's a bright thing, and for a moment, there's something of sansa that seems like it might break through this carefully crafted mask of alayne.

but that doesn't happen these days. she's too good at this to let it. )

May I inquire about the plan that you speak of?

Well that would depend.

[ she grins, evidently joking. ]

Can you keep a secret? It is a present

With my life, I assure you.

( and the saddest part of it is that it's true. they are different secrets, with different consequences, but alayne has learned either way. )

Edited 2012-12-03 23:36 (UTC)

There is a child in the city from my realm. He has been been treated in an ill manner in Camelot and I love him very dearly. He does not have many clothes and I wish him to have a new cloak with a symbol of his people.

If you were to describe such an image, or draw it upon parchment, I would embroider it on a cloak of your choosing.

It is a very kind thing that you seek to do. A grand gift.

My friend who left recently worked in a tailor's shop in Freyr district. The staff were kind and became like family to her. I'm -- pretty sure they'll be missing her too. If you inquired about work with them, you wouldn't just be supporting yourself, you'd be helping them out too.

Only thing is they do use machines. I know that my friend learnt a lot by working with them, so I'm sure they'd be willing to teach. I guess it depends on whether you feel confident enough to try learning?

Edited 2012-11-27 22:24 (UTC)

A machine for the purposes of sewing? I'm not sure...how does one use such a thing?

( there are many modern things that alayne finds difficult to conceptualize. a machine for sewing? sewing is something done with one's hands. perhaps a loom for other purposes, or a few other tools. she thinks of machines as one thinks of war machines - trebuchets and the like. she's not sure where this fits in. )

It's a little hard to explain, but it's easy to demonstrate. They teach children not much older than me how to use them in my world, so it can't be that hard, right?

Surely it won't be.

( and she smiles now, briefly, because he's so young. and even despite everything, alayne had looked after robert arryn with the same sort of gentleness that only children seemed to warrant. )

I thank you for these answers.

I hope they're helpful!

My name's Conan, by the way.

Others have also advised me towards the Freyr district. It seems a wise consensus.

( a pause; she accepts his introduction with a slight nod. )

Well met, Conan.

It's nice to meet you too, Alayne-san!

Do you have kin here in the city? It would be a pity for someone so young to be alone.

I have a lot of friends, but no family.

Well. Not blood family.

Oh wow, that work is really something.

[His eyes soften as he smiles slightly.]

Hey, you did that work, right? Would you be willing to make something for me? I'd pay of course.

Yes. It is only a simple thing, but I thank you for your kind words.

( alayne smiles and dips her head slightly at such a compliment. the result is something modest and bashful - she's been trained how to react, of course. how to act under any social circumstance. compliments were to be graciously accepted and returned, if possible. )

I would be glad to.

[Oh. She's shy, and so there we go. She reminds him of being as innocent as Katniss as he grinned to her.]

Good, I'm sure that your talent matches your beauty.

[He loves to flirt with everyone he meets after all.]

( -- oh.

sansa would have blushed. she would have blushed and gone speechless and looked at the ground. she would have never have known what to say. the temptation to react in just that way is still present, but alayne is bolder than that, more clever. she laughs instead. )

Is it a custom in your land, to flatter seamstresses?

Whether you are a seamstress or not doesn't matter. You're beautiful, and that doesn't change.

Also, I like giving praise where it's due thank you.

[He's playful and teasing her obviously.]

Well then, I suppose I have no choice but to accept such high praise.

( it's flattering in a way that feels liberating instead of uncomfortable. because in a patriarchal society, alayne was no stranger to such remarks. but they were often part of a political power play, or had implications that she would rather forget. )

Your words are kind.

I'm Finnick Odair by the way, it's nice to meet you. How long have you been here?

[He stretches and then leans forward as he studies her.]

Of course since you did just introduce yourself, I'd say not long, right?

Less than one moon ago, yes.

( a long time ago, alayne might have thought of him as handsome or charming, albeit bold. now she observes his observation of her calmly, because composure is part of her armor, and there is no benefit to letting it go just yet. )

And yourself?

[He is known as the golden boy for a reason.]

A while. Longer than six months though.

[ Mithian finds the embroidery absolutely lovely and for a moment she hesitates. She is not a prideful woman, although she is confident in almost all she does, sewing is nothing something she has much practice with.]

I wonder if you would be willing to teach me how to do such a beautiful thing. [ She means the needlepoint. ] It's such a beautiful pattern. I would compensate you for your time. I know only a little and would like to learn more.

My skill is humble, but it would be my pleasure to teach you.

( alayne appraises this woman over the feed - there are certain things she can learn, just from watching, even if some of the customs of the travellers here are foreign to her. she knows that this woman is quite possibly noble lady from the way she speaks - the cadences remind her of westeros. a commoner or smallfolk woman would use rougher cadences. so-called "modern" dwellers would sound different. it's important to know everyone's class and standing, where she comes from. )

My skill is lacking, I would learn even from humble skills, although I would not call your skills humble. [ And maybe even the company of someone like her. She sees things too, she can tell that this girl is not of the more modern worlds others seem to be, she could even be from Nemeth or Camelot from the way she speaks.]

I can begin whenever it is the most convenient for you.

That is kind of you to say, truly.

( she has met people of power since arriving in asgard. she has met kings and princes, great lords and others alike. it feels almost strange, to cling to a station in a place like this, but alayne doesn't let herself forget. she keeps a mental inventory - people she has met, and what she knows of them. what power they used to wield and still do, even now. )

I suppose...that does depend. Shall I procure thread and cloth before we begin, my lady?

[ She struggles with coming to this place, where titles such as 'princess' mean little. There's no castle for her to stay safe in, the battle is at her doorstep now, instead of her being able to choose her battles.]

I'd be happy to give you the money for the supplies as I am not sure which fabric is the best to start with. [ What little needle work she did everything was supplied.] And please, you may just call me Mithian if you'd prefer it.

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