at magicdraft; post may contain spoilers for ASoIaF

[kindlymeant]

It is not that I am ungrateful for your attention, my lady, though I cannot share in your renewed enthusiasm. I would have you remember, please, that even away from my lord father - especially then, perhaps - I must be careful to conduct myself as is befitting. I will not give him reason for disappointment, least not when I walk alongside such noble names.

As for - circumstances as they are, it is far better this way. That door may be closed now, as it should be, and so it shall remain.

Comments

omggg I CAN ONLY NAP FOR A LITTLE BIT

[kindlymeant]

[Slightly emboldened by her success, she takes another step, so she doesn't have to reach quite so far, running her fingers over his beak and then (surprisingly) soft blue feathers.]

[groosed]

[The loftwing trills a little, feathers puffing outward with pride.]

I think he likes you.

[kindlymeant]

He is a - very noble steed, my lord. [And not too frightening once you're up close, but still.]

[groosed]

So, up?

[He's not forgotten!]

[kindlymeant]

[Oh.]

To where? [so unsure sbshddh]

[groosed]

How about - around the garden? You can see the trees from way up there.

[kindlymeant]

[her uncertainty does not ebb as she looks around, but deciding that staying here is safe enough, she gives a decisive nod.]

If you're certain, my lord.

[groosed]

[His hands move, then stop.]

Do you need a leg-up?

[kindlymeant]

[her feet move to step forward, and then stop.

This, if a little informal, is not too much of an affront. (She blushes, all the same.)]

If you would be so kind.

[groosed]

[He sets his hands at her waist, doing his best to be gentle despite the difference in their sizes. In one smooth motion, he lifts her and sets her atop the bird's back.]

[kindlymeant]

[He lifts me near as easily as the Hound did. The thought rises unburden and she crush the memories down, shifting for a more secure seat. Birds are rather different from horses, she quickly realises.]

[groosed]

[He runs a hand up the bird's scruff, giving her a moment to get acclimated.]

He's comfy, right?

[kindlymeant]

He's - [She attempts not to hold on for dear life, because the bird is stationary and by all accounts quite placid for now.] - He is quite different from what I'm used to, my lord.

[groosed]

[And then, with a bit of a grunt, Groose heaves himself bodily upward to land on the bird, in front of Alayne.

Maybe he flexes a little while he's doing it.]

[kindlymeant]

[Shifting to give him room, she hesitates, hands clasped in her lap before she decides she'll need to hold onto something. Reaching, she clutches the edges of the bird's saddle, almost forgetting her unease in lieu of peering curiously at the man's pointed ears.]

This isn't the longest thread we've ever had yet.

[groosed]

[He grabs at the bird's reins, giving them a testing pull, and then turns his head a little toward her.]

You ready?

There's still time.

[kindlymeant]

[She tells herself she is, chin dipping in a nod.]

Yes, my lord. [And then she's looking down at the bird again because really is this going to be able to fly.]

... 250+, we'd have to aim for. Are we ready for that?

[groosed]

[AND I CAN FLYYYYY LIKE AN EAGLE

But no really, flying now.]

...is that seriously how long that thread was

[kindlymeant]

[And for all her steeling herself, Alayne all but yelps when the bird takes off. It quickly becomes clear that gripping the saddle simply isn't practical, so she's wrapping her arms around him instead, keeping her eyes skyward to avoid looking down (a lesson learned at the Eyrie) and trying to remember how to breathe.]

We could not be stopped. Or - rather - I guess it was them.

[groosed]

[Groose's breath hitches a little in surprise, a flush climbing up his neck. For all his bravado, he's never had a girl wrap her arms around him before and takes a moment to -- appreciate.

She smells nice.

So he blurts out - ] You smell really nice.

[Wait, what?]

Uh! I mean! Wait! [Confused by his shout, the loftwing stumbles a little in the sky before regaining its footing and dropping into a smooth glide.

In a normal tone, Groose chuckles self-consciously.] -- Sorry.

I blame them.

[kindlymeant]

[She barely hears him. She's too focused on keeping her breath steady, on the beat of the bird's wings and the rush of the air - she's so focused on not being terrified that she has to strain to hear.

But she does, of course, and such a compliment said so suddenly would be enough to make her recoil were she not in such a precarious position. Much as the words unsettle her, though, he does not say them as Marillion might have, hands trailing over, and that is a comfort.

She's spared having to answer, however, by the sudden swoop, and though it isn't too great a disruption, it's enough to make her cling tighter, breath caught in her throat. (Alayne stammers a 'thank you', then, perhaps about the compliment but probably about keeping the bird steady.)

She's secure against his back, though, and now the pace is even - smoother than riding a horse, perhaps. She's flying on some strange beast with a stranger - perhaps the wind whipping in her hair has given her a rush of adrenaline, but she decides to chance opening her eyes.

They're not particularly high up (she's seen more daunting views from the windows of the Eyrie) but the scenery sweeps past with a smooth speed that takes a few moments to grow accustomed to. When she does, however, she finds herself admiring it - the floods of colour, the loftwing's bright feathers, the open sky. It is beautiful, and exhilerating - but she's still not entirely content with the whole situation.]

Forget them. We have Sansa and Groose now!

[groosed]

[As much as Groose has been taught humility and how to make a really tasty spicy gumbo by Granny, sometimes old habits creep back in. He can't quite shake his old need for showboating and digs his heels into the bird's side a little, causing the slightest increase in the speed of the glide. Wings flapping with a little more purpose now, he brings them up a little bit further.]

You -- heh, doing alright back there?

Can't I have them too.

[kindlymeant]

[She nods against his back, the newfound speed alarming, but something she can get used to. Alayne Stone is braver than a young highborn lady, after all. After nodding, however, she realises it isn't the most effective way to answer.]

I'm - [but her voice sounds small to her own ears, so she makes effort to speak up] - Yes, my lord. I'm - I'm quite fine.

You're - a very skilled rider.

... If I say no, which will you choose?

[groosed]

You bet I am! I trained on Skyloft.

[He pumps a fist into the air, and maybe his pompadour stretches a little straighter with pride.]

I mean, uh.

Thanks.

...why do you ask me these things. I GUESS IT WOULD BE...

[kindlymeant]

[She finds herself smiling.]

I am sure it is reason enough to be proud.