What We Are

Lillian Gray
Lil'Meister the Admin

King in the North

Good god, let me give you my life.

Posts: 1,597

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 17:58:06 GMT -6

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Post by Lillian Gray on Jul 1, 2014 17:58:06 GMT -6

"Well?" William's eyebrow was arched in question, his hand motioned to the line before them. Disgusted. It was the only thing Alexander felt then. They were all dressed in common garbs during a time of celebration. It had been called the Slave's March for so long, even the Prince forgot what it truly stood for.

"Well what?" He spat back at his older brother. This only seemed to excite him.

"You said it didn't matter right?" William dropped his arm and took two slow steps towards his younger brother. His boots clacked against the stone cold ground, barren as the walls. It was rare that the King left his castle, even more so that he was in the part of town which housed the slaves.

"That isn't quite right." Alexander snapped. Few things made him angry, but this? This made him furious. The King had lined up an assortment of women from different districts and garbed them in nothing more than graying rags.

"What's it matter anyways?" William snapped right back at him. "Pick a slave? Are you mad? They're so dull, so stupid. They're all the same anyways. A noblewoman? At least she might have brains enough to figure out what goes through that thick head of yours."

Alexander returned his glare to the line up, trying to soften his face so he didn't appear so menacing. After all, he had to pick at least one of them before they left, King's order. The poor girls, he thought. They shouldn't have to submit to this.

"They all have lives, personalities...families." He added the last thought after spotting a pregnant woman in the mix. She smiled gratefully at him quickly before her eyes shifted down towards the floor again.

"So what?"

"They're not just objects, William!"

"Just pick one, or I'll have all their heads! My god Alexander. This shouldn't take so long. My clothes will start to smell like these swine."

William cursed, one of them would have to come home with him. He wasn't opposed to the idea at all, but time would've made the event easier. Time to get to know a girl, to fall in love. Any race, religion, or caste, he didn't care. She simply had to love him back, and everything would be right in the world.

Last Edit: Oct 15, 2014 19:26:51 GMT -6 by Lillian Gray

Sansa Stark
Boss Ass Bitch

Queen in the North

She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell.

Posts: 775

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 19:11:43 GMT -6

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Post by Sansa Stark on Jul 1, 2014 19:11:43 GMT -6

"Come now, little brother. You said you would refuse to marry the woman I chose for you, and since Mother and Father are gone from this world it is my sacred duty as the eldest sibling and King of Farlienn that our royal prince meets his match." The tone was dangerously mocking, and he spread his hands as a gesture of false innocence. "Here. Let me show you."

The first girl was shy, no more than thirteen it seemed, with a plump heart-shaped face and short bristly brown hair. "What's your name, dear?"

"A...Amanda, Y-Your Majesty."

"Amanda what?"

"Morgan, Your Grace."

"And what is your district?"

She paused. "...pleasure. Your Grace."

"Hm." William shrugged and looked over to his brother. "Well, at least you know she'll make you happy in the sheets."

The queen gave a chuckle from where she sat in the shade, and her husband continued.

Next in line was an older woman in her forties. After her, a maid in her late teens, and then a woman of twenty-five, and so on and so forth. Each of them had different stories to tell. Rachel Lowtower. Lauren Pike. Danielle Abberton. Entertainment. Field. Pleasure. On it went, until the King reached the end of the line without so much as a peep of complaint from any bystander or potential bride involved. He knew his brother wouldn't pick one of these dirty, lowborn women, some of them bastards--it was mainly a test of his power, to show Alexander that the king could round up filthy women from their families and show them before royalty like cows ripe for sale.

"One more," William taunted. "I hope you've decided by the end of this, or else I'll have to give the Musgood family your acceptance of the match to their daughter. What's your name, girl?" He turned to look at the short thing before him--she was so dirty he could hardly see the color of her skin or hair, let alone what gender she truly was, considering her rags hung from her body loosely. "Good god, you're tiny. I asked for your name. I expect a reply."

The girl remained silent, staring forward as if she hadn't heard him.

William gave a great laugh. "Ah, a defiant one! Didn't think we had any of those left." He crouched down to her level and met her eyes, a soft blue, and brushed his pointer finger gently along her cheek. "You're eyes," he told her. "Beautiful. I can rip them out, you know. I can do anything to those who defy me."

The girl thought a moment, thought about the pain it would bring her family to see her blind, and almost immediately her voice came from her throat. "...Jocelyn."

"Jocelyn what?"

"McDowell. Mining District."

"A miner, hm? And tell me. What would a little girl like you be doing in the mines? Surprised you're still alive, to be honest. Not many women make it long down there." William stood in front of her, towering with threats and authority that could kill her in less than an instant. "Look at me."

"No."

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:44:42 GMT -6 by Sansa Stark

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Lillian Gray
Lil'Meister the Admin

King in the North

Good god, let me give you my life.

Posts: 1,597

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 19:32:50 GMT -6

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Post by Lillian Gray on Jul 1, 2014 19:32:50 GMT -6

Alexander grew more tense as his brother went down the line, as if these women were nothing more than items on display. He could touch them, break them, and torture them however he liked, but they'd be nothing more than objects, broken ones at that, in his eyes.

William raised a hand to strike the girl, and the Prince sprung forward, wrestling his brother away from the line of girls.

"Don't you touch her." Alexander stood protectively in front of the petite girl. He could hardly tell what color her skin was supposed to be underneath the black layer of soot which coated her frame.

"Why not?" William smirked, dusting off his clothes with his hands. "I'm King, she's not. If I want to gouge out her eyes I will. Yours as well, little brother, if you don't learn your place."

"Brother, please, show a little-"

"Move. I don't like the way she's looking at me." The King scowled at the miner girl, Jocelyn.

"Her." Alexander replied quickly. He turned around and placed a gentle hand on her blackened face, doing his best to wipe away the dust with his hands. "Jocelyn. I will take her as my bride."

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:44:57 GMT -6 by Lillian Gray

Sansa Stark
Boss Ass Bitch

Queen in the North

She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell.

Posts: 775

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 20:33:28 GMT -6

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Post by Sansa Stark on Jul 1, 2014 20:33:28 GMT -6

"What?!" the King and the Miner said at once, the latter squirming away from the prince's hands. "No, I--"

The King bellowed with angry laughter, though the queen remained silent. "No, you can't. You can't marry her, this was all a joke meant to spite you. Take these women away, I'll have none of this foolish nonsense--"

"Sire," came an elderly voice from the crowd, which was quickly beginning to panic. "Sire, if I may intervene, the Holy Documents of Our God do state that once a man has chosen his bride, that the fate of love binds them together in official engagement--"

"Enough!" The King raised his hand and slapped the old man across the face, watching him tumble weakly to the ground. "Fine, Alexander, have your slave bride. But it won't last long. I can promise you, you will have a noble match one way or the other. I'll spare her this once only because the old man is right, I can't intervene with the will of God and Goddess. But that will not save her a second time. I promise."

Jocelyn, who found herself in an extremely upsetting situation, held herself close and tried to wish herself away from all of them.

I don't want to be a prince's bride.

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:47:14 GMT -6 by Sansa Stark

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Lillian Gray
Lil'Meister the Admin

King in the North

Good god, let me give you my life.

Posts: 1,597

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 20:46:48 GMT -6

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Post by Lillian Gray on Jul 1, 2014 20:46:48 GMT -6

William stormed off, his train following close behind. Servants, his wife, the old man, all of them were loyal to that bastard when it should've been him. Alexander was to be sworn in, instead the title had been given to his older brother as law decreed.

So, there was nothing he could do.

Alexander turned to face Jocelyn, his face full of sorrow. He'd only been trying to protect her, and now she'd been forced to marry him. William would have taken her eyes! What else was the man to do?

"I did not want him to take your eyes. You're right to be defiant." The Prince said quietly to her and her alone. "I..." What, I'm sorry?. "We should leave now, there'll be time to say your goodbyes later."

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:45:16 GMT -6 by Lillian Gray

Sansa Stark
Boss Ass Bitch

Queen in the North

She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell.

Posts: 775

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 21:00:50 GMT -6

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Post by Sansa Stark on Jul 1, 2014 21:00:50 GMT -6

Was he genuine? Was he a fool? Perhaps he was both, or neither. It was difficult to tell. He was the brother of the man who had taken the tongue of hers, and threatened to blind her for the rest of her life. God and Goddess knew what would happen to her in the hands of a prince, the center of multiple vicious rumors. No mine or pickaxe or rock or precious gem could prepare her for what was to come.

"I...as you wish, Your Grace," she told him carefully--this all seemed much too suspicious, too public, too convenient for covering up a murder. Or was she simply getting ahead of herself? There was no way to know what her brothers had done when she hadn't seen most of them in over a year. And now, maybe never again.

"Where are we going?" she asked, trailing along beside him, panicked as the streets began to uproar. "Where are you taking me, Your Highness? Please, my family..."

Have I doomed us all?

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:48:43 GMT -6 by Sansa Stark

FROM PORCELAIN TO IVORY TO STEEL

Lillian Gray
Lil'Meister the Admin

King in the North

Good god, let me give you my life.

Posts: 1,597

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 21:24:31 GMT -6

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Post by Lillian Gray on Jul 1, 2014 21:24:31 GMT -6

"Alexander. My name, we're to be married, please use my name." He requested of her. It would be far too suspicious if she continued to call him 'your grace'.

It became harder and harder to push through the crowd. While some cheered, others booed at the couple. The caste system was bound to make a few enemies for any class. It was the nobles who would oppose the marriage, but even some of the slaves wouldn't like it either. The girl had no choice in the matter, her fate was thrust upon her by their Prince. Brother to the hated King.

"Stay close to me." He told her, and as much as she may have disliked his touch, Alexander pulled her close to keep her away from the claws of the crowd. "Arthur!"

"Aye sir!" The guard called from behind Alexander. The crowd kept them apart, but he charged through without a second thought. He was a noble, the Prince wouldn't dare to touch anyone during the conflict.

"I'll take you to them, I swear." Alexander promised. "Where are they?" A man of his word, the Prince wouldn't let her down, but once the goodbye's were said, Jocelyn would be forced to return with the Prince.

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:45:39 GMT -6 by Lillian Gray

Sansa Stark
Boss Ass Bitch

Queen in the North

She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell.

Posts: 775

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 21:44:33 GMT -6

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Post by Sansa Stark on Jul 1, 2014 21:44:33 GMT -6

"They're all here," she told him carefully, trying to keep up with him despite her disadvantage. "They came the capital for Peace Week, they're in the slums at the bottom of the city." It was always hard to keep track of where each class was supposed to remain, considering royalty and nobles remained high up in towers using airships and small flying automobiles to get from place to place--or so she had heard in the stories--and the lower classes remained at ground level in the dirt. She had hoped that covering herself in soot would keep the prince from choosing someone so dirty. Damn it all...

"Can I see them, my lord? Your grace?" she questioned, her eyes falling on the machine ahead. Was that meant to carry them?

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:49:28 GMT -6 by Sansa Stark

FROM PORCELAIN TO IVORY TO STEEL

Lillian Gray
Lil'Meister the Admin

King in the North

Good god, let me give you my life.

Posts: 1,597

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 22:09:04 GMT -6

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Post by Lillian Gray on Jul 1, 2014 22:09:04 GMT -6

"Of course." Alexander looked straight ahead towards the small airship. It was only meant to carry a few people at a time. With the Prince, his bride to be, and Arthur coming close behind them, they'd have no problem getting to the slums.

They all piled inside. Plump black velvet seats awaited them, and while he would've loved to sit down, his nerves kept him standing. The slums were far from the center of the city, and it would take some time to get there.

Should I even bother to try at a conversation?

"Your majesty..." Arthur came up quietly behind him and the girl. "It might not be wise to take your ship to the slums so publicly..."

"You're right." He agreed. "But I told the lady I'd take her back."

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:46:00 GMT -6 by Lillian Gray

Sansa Stark
Boss Ass Bitch

Queen in the North

She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell.

Posts: 775

What We Are Jul 1, 2014 22:12:52 GMT -6

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Post by Sansa Stark on Jul 1, 2014 22:12:52 GMT -6

"I'm not a lady," she informed him a bit forcefully, "and for the safety of my family I think it would be wiser to send for them, and have them come to the castle. They will be allowed to come to the wedding, right...? Agh. I mean. I'm sorry m'lord, I'm sorry."

Jocelyn's face began to flush. She was much to shy for confrontation, much less with a prince, but the safety of her family had to be put at priority. The King had already blessed the marriage in his own strange, back-handed way, and she'd stood there and allowed it.

Looking back, she wished she had let him take her eyes.

Last Edit: Jul 28, 2014 0:50:13 GMT -6 by Sansa Stark

FROM PORCELAIN TO IVORY TO STEEL