The Rains Weep O'er His Halls

[thekittenqueen]

WHO: Margaery Tyrell
WHERE: Bungalow 4, Police Station
WHEN: Dec
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: Nothing really, just spoilers for the Purple Wedding

---

Bungalow #4

The recent influx of arrivals and the events they experienced slipped past Margaery's notice. As winter settled more heavily in the village, her mind drifted away from socializing, preferring to bunker down in her home. The cold brought nothing pleasant for her and the memories of past winters were still too painful for her. But she couldn't afford to hide away forever, she had to see to her animals and there was always food to prepare at the inn, even if she kept to herself.

Of course it meant clearing the snow on her own. Without Robb or the other Starks, she had to suck up her distaste for the cold and sort the matter herself. She had faced torture, attempts to sway her mind and a Mad Queen's grasp for the throne, yet somehow snow was the more daunting.

So she makes a fine sight on her front porch, trying to shovel a path for herself while wearing her long skirts, bundled in a fur cloak. Her hair was falling from a loose braid, tied hastily together to try and clear her vision. Her two dogs watched from the doorway, having better sense than she did then to go out.

There had been laughter from the Starks, teasing her that the southroner would not be able to manage winter at all. It was only by sheer determination and stubbornness that she didn't go back inside, wanting to prove them wrong and show she could care for herself.

At least she chose the bungalow with the shortest front path...


Reminder of the Past (Sneak Preview)

[ooc: Foreward Dated to the 20th]

The scene seemed like something from another life, another Margaery. While she could still remember the heat of the day, the pungent smell of flowers in the garden and her grandmother's perfume, it still seemed so foreign to see it playing out on her device. She watched, exhausted and drained from the games of the Observers. She might have been transfixed once, but now there was only a numb sensation whenever she thought of her past. The games, the crown, the power, it was all pointless in the end and that drive had been missing for some time.

But it was that love that hurt the most. It was like a scratch on an already infected wound. Her grandmother had loved her to a level that she put her life at risk to try to free her from two different prisons, one being Joffrey and the other the Sparrows. It had been such a natural part of her life that she hardly ever thought about it, but now that it was absent from her life, it left her feeling more frozen and cold than her surroundings.

She didn't mean to begin crying, but that emptiness had been building in her for some time, ignored and buried in the back of her mind. She needed to mourn and refused to fully do so, naturally it would come up at an inconvenient moment. In irritation at her weakness, she forced her face towards the fields behind the police station, watching as her animals grazed in the snow. It would freeze her tears, but it would put a stop to it all.

Comments

[digging]

They haven't really talked much since the incident with the wendigo, and that's probably Karen's fault. She could offer excuses, and maybe some of them would even be legitimate, but the truth is she's just been wrapped up in other things.

She's glad to spy the back of Margaery's head today, though, and crunches through the snow with a smile, hands sunk deep in her coat pockets. "Hey," she calls, and then falters at the state of her sort-of-friend and monster fighter.

"Oh god, I'm sorry—" Her mouth works a wordless moment until she blinks herself out of it. "Are you okay?"

[thekittenqueen]

So much had happened between the wendingo and now. More friends disappeared from the village, and in a need to sort through the emotions she normally kept under control, she isolated herself from the rest. It wasn't Karen's fault and she wouldn't blame the woman for letting so much time pass between them.

Margaery cleared her throat, wiping at her cheeks hastily, ashamed that someone would have seen her weakness. When others had been in the village, she had grown comfortable experiencing her emotions, finally letting herself live without a constant need for deception and masks. But now that she was alone, she was reverting back to old habits.

"I'm fine." She said, clearing her throat. "The Observers played a scene from my life on this." She lifted her wrist for Karen to see.

[digging]

Observers. Overlords. The People in Charge. They have to call them something, but not for the first time Karen wonders which moniker is really the most appropriate fit.

A month ago, she might have asked Margaery how it was possible for a part of her life to be played like a film on their devices, but she knows better now. She's had months of new memories downloaded into her brain overnight.

She wonders, too, whether Margaery realizes she called it a scene. Like her life was played out for someone else's entertainment, like their lives right now might be.

"What is it?" she asks instead, leaning in to get a better look. Maybe 'scene' hadn't been a slip of the tongue so much as just fact: This looks like a production, not real life.

[thekittenqueen]

What was her life but one great production? She assumed a role and played a part no different than the mummers that sometimes entertained the court. The moment with her grandmother had been more honest and real, but the undercurrent of pretense and manipulation remained strong. She held out her wrist, showing Karen the confession her grandmother made of killing her monster of a second husband. There was nothing there that she was ashamed of.

Observers or whatever else, they were as much puppet masters as she had been once. They created this world and pulled them into it, trapping them in their web. They made the creatures, the plants and whatever else in the other world. She might not know the purpose, but she could see the strings being pulled.

"It didn't happen to you?"

That wasn't a surprise. They always seemed to strike where it would be the most painful. She could at least feel grateful that this was the moment they had chosen to show here. There were far more painful ones in her past.

[digging]

"No," Karen replies with a slight shake of her head, brow pinched tight as she glances from the device back up to Margaery. Why she might personally be spared was anyone's guess — Maybe the timing was wrong, or she just wasn't a candidate for an extreme reaction anymore. Or maybe a couple of hours from now she'll get a video of her own.

The contents of the video don't bother her; she's done her fair share of killing people, on purpose and not. If she had to guess, she'd say she was far from alone in that, here, even if it isn't something she chooses to talk about.

"And it's just that one moment?"

[winswars]

Connor would absolutely never understand why they had chosen what appeared to be the very last house in the entire village. Certainly, it came with an amount of privacy that may not be available should they have picked something closer, and it made heading out to hunt rather convenient. But trekking into the village proper seemed to take forever, over the bridge and through the woods to the inn they went.

It's the sound of the shovel that truly catches his attention, hitting and scrapping along the path, causing him to glance over just in time to see her struggling with another heavy pile of fluffy white snow. She was, indeed, a rather amusing sight. But she was a woman who seemed as though she could use a hand, and he was nothing if not helpful.

"I am sorry to interrupt, but I thought perhaps you could use a hand."

[thekittenqueen]

She looked up at the young man. His face was familiar, having been in the village long enough that she could recognize him, even if she didn't know his name. So many others were occupied with the snow in front of their homes, too distracted to notice her struggling. She had simply assumed she was on her own (and frankly, she needed to learn to do this.) But his timing was impeccable, coming at the moment that she was beginning to curse her stubbornness and weakness.

"Do I look terribly ridiculous like this?" She asked, managing to smile, even as her arms and hands screamed at her. The cold was at least not seeping through her cloak, even though she felt the wet snow gathered along the hem of her skirts. "I have been told that I do not manage the snow very well."

He was kind at least and not laughing at her expense.

[winswars]

"Not at all." While he was rather used to deal with the cold and snow, he realized that not everyone dealt with it in such a manner.

"It is alright. I have found that there are many who do not." On the Homestead they would at least attempt to keep the main paths cleared of snow, but everywhere else it was simply left to be trampled down or stomped through.

Still, he moves through the snow rather easily, his experience with it and his height giving him a distinct advantage. When he reaches her he offers out his hand before speaking. "May I?"

[thekittenqueen]

The warmth of the Reach and King's Landing were more familiar to her, but she had lived in this world long enough that it shouldn't be such a shock when it snowed. Yet still, she felt at a loss when she woke up to the world in winter. He was at least trying to be kind while she struggled.

"I had help with this before." But that was a bit ridiculous to mourn now. This was her reality and she needed to try and manage on her own. "I meant to do this alone, to at least learn." But learning did not mean accomplishing right away. Even as much as her pride wanted her to push forward, she held out the shovel for him.

"If you let me, I will repay your kindness. I don't have very much to offer. I have milk, blankets and butter, if you would like that? Or I could mend your clothes, if you have any that need repair?"

Reminder of the Past

[theimmortalweapon]

"Margaery?"

He hadn't meant to watch, he'd been tending to the animals when he'd first wandered into the station, but Margaery was there and before he could say anything the video began to play. Danny didn't really understand the context but he understood enough.

He followed her out where the animals were grazing and after a pause he had finally spoken up. There was nothing that he could say to ease or erase her pain but he wanted to let her know that she wasn't alone.

His boots crunch in the snow as he came up behind her and pulled her into a light hug. She'd easily be able to pull away but if she wanted the support, she'd have it.

[thekittenqueen]

She was surprised by the gesture, caught in his arms and surrounded by his warmth. It seemed so long since anyone had given her some sort of sign of affection. That emptiness that she had nursed in her breast was replaced by an overwhelming pressure and pain, making her feel weak in her legs.

Arms wrap around him, leaning into him so that she could stay on her feet. She bit her lower lip, fighting back tears that still threatened to emerge, needing peace from these feelings but unable to ignore them for much longer.

"It's fine." She whispered, her voice weak from emotion.

[theimmortalweapon]

"Then I'm going to hug you until it's great." His reply was a low rasp from the center of his chest.

Like with most things, Danny didn't understand but he didn't really need to understand to act. She was sad and he wanted her to know that she wasn't alone. It wasn't an easy thing to convey, he could be there and she might never realize it. With this hug, he could show her.

"You don't have to talk but I'm here." He leaned back and flashed her a smile while gently pushing some of her hair out of her face. "For as long as I can be."

Danny wasn't going to completely let her go but he had a great shoulder for crying on.

[thekittenqueen]

There were times when she looked at him and could see Loras. The resemblance was strong, especially in moments like this where he offered comfort or support. Sometimes it slipped her mind, but it was hard to ignore now, making the memories all the more painful. While she knew she wasn't exactly alone, it was a difficult feeling to shake.

"No one is here very long." She doesn't want to be self pitying or to make light of what he was offering her. Now it seemed though that all that she grew close to would be pulled from the world, slowly isolating her in a prison she could never conceive of.

She sighed, trying to raise the mask again.

"Thank you. I know that you are here for me and I am grateful. I couldn't have made it this long without your help."

#4

[cleptes]

A scraping sound from outside roused Bela from her sleep, immediately putting her on edge - what was going on? She gets out of bed and quickly dresses, pulling an extra layer over herself before heading towards the front door. Bela opens it slowly, afraid of what was out there.

She notices a familiar figure bundled up and working hard with a shovel to clear the snow off the path.

"Margaery? Is that you?"

Bela had to make sure.

[thekittenqueen]

She paused in her work to look up at Bela, her hood falling over her face, briefly obscuring her view. The wind bit at her fingers, even with gloves. Snow was gathered at the hem of her skirt, wetting the fabric and causing it to stick to her legs.

She was miserable and frustrated, but she was at least nearly halfway through, as much as she could tell. It wouldn't be as good a job as Robb had done, but they could at least walk from their home to the inn without problem.

"Who else would it be?"

[thekittenqueen]

She paused in her work to look up at Bela, her hood falling over her face, briefly obscuring her view. The wind bit at her fingers, even with gloves. Snow was gathered at the hem of her skirt, wetting the fabric and causing it to stick to her legs.

She was miserable and frustrated, but she was at least nearly halfway through, as much as she could tell. It wouldn't be as good a job as Robb had done, but they could at least walk from their home to the inn without problem.

"Who else would it be?"

Bungalow #4 - Post Dec 15th

[plate_builder]

Arriving at the home of a woman you had not been formally introduced to was by every consideration an improper way for a man to comport himself. However at the suggestion of Mr. Ibn-La'Ahad, he had found his way here. A bit of asking around had informed him that a Ms Sayyida Margaery (he had not known that Margaery was her first name of course) lived at this location. And, of course, that the woman needed assistance in the creation of a barn.

If nothing else, it was a purpose, and with little more to do at the moment than make use of the wealth of paper he had come into, Reeve found himself approaching the place with some of his paper, wrapped up between pieces of cardboard he had cut from the box to keep it safe if snow or rain were to start.

And seeing a young woman there, working with a shovel, Reeve found himself stepping a bit closer.

"Excuse me, Miss. Could I perhaps assist you with that?"

[thekittenqueen]

Her focus had been on removing a lump of snow and ice, hearing only her pulse against her ears. He was just out of her peripheral, a dark shadow set against a backdrop of white. When he approached, she looked up in surprise, not certain at first that she had heard him rightly. Gently, she lifted her hands to her lips, blowing at her gloves, trying to warm her fingers.

"Am I doing poorly?" She asked, giving an exhausted laugh, glancing around at her progress. She hadn't made much of a dent. No matter how hard she worked, it seemed that there was nothing but a sea of slush, the snow reaching her knees. However much she tried to push herself, she was still inexperienced and unprepared for this work.

He was a new face, but there were so many in the village that it was difficult for her to remember if she had seen him before now.

"Have you ever done this before?"

[plate_builder]

Had he ever done this before? Well... no. In a way he supposed he was poorly suited to this himself. But not offering assistance would have been worse in his own way of reckoning it. But lying would have no point either. So he offered a brief shake of his head.

"Not really. When I was child there was plenty of snow but we didn't bother shoveling it much. When I grew older it was less... needful. But I was not raised to not offer to assist someone who might need it."

Still, she had not invited him to help, or approach, so Reeve stood there, still waiting for some response, some indication of whether he should leave or not.

[thekittenqueen]

"It is courtesy." She demurred, offering him an amused smirk. There was little doubt in her mind that if she saw someone struggling with something, she would offer to help as well, whether or not she knew what she was doing. He at least had it in mind to be supportive in a village where that was essential.

"I never lived with snow before I came here." She said, finally manage to break the solid mound of snow, frozen the night before. "There were others from my world more used to this and I was a bit spoiled by their presence." Hence why she was forcing herself to finish.

With a small sigh of reluctance, she offered out the shovel, curious if he could manage any better than she had.

[thekittenqueen]

Her focus had been on removing a lump of snow and ice, hearing only her pulse against her ears. He was just out of her peripheral, a dark shadow set against a backdrop of white. When he approached, she looked up in surprise, not certain at first that she had heard him rightly. Gently, she lifted her hands to her lips, blowing at her gloves, trying to warm her fingers.

"Am I doing poorly?" She asked, giving an exhausted laugh, glancing around at her progress. She hadn't made much of a dent. No matter how hard she worked, it seemed that there was nothing but a sea of slush, the snow reaching her knees. However much she tried to push herself, she was still inexperienced and unprepared for this work.

He was a new face, but there were so many in the village that it was difficult for her to remember if she had seen him before now.

"Have you ever done this before?"

Reminder of the Past

[eaglesonofnone]

"Sayyida?"

He had made it a habit to check on the animals ever since he'd learned of how many there were. The quarters weren't quite enough - he'd been aware of that since first sight - but they fared as well as they could. He wanted to see them with more fields and a proper barn, a proper fence. Perhaps even separate fences for each species, but that would have to come in the future.

Altaïr wore the robes he'd found in his new home, heavier and warmer, with a hood reminiscent of the one he'd worn on the night of the harvest festival, a scarf wrapped around his neck. He had been bent over, checking a hoof to make certain what he'd seen was a stumble on a hidden rock instead of the beginnings of lameness. As he stood, he'd seen her, seen the expression on her face: one he'd worn before. And he'd approached seemingly unseen. His worry had him reaching out to her shoulder. "Sayyida... What troubles you?"

[thekittenqueen]

She shook her head, struggling to reclaim her mask and composure, not wishing to make much of this. There was humiliation and slander in her past before, but somehow being shown a moment of tenderness from her past was all the more difficult. Being hardened had always been easy for her, even after learning another way to be here. It was what she preferred to revert to rather than display her vulnerability.

He had a sense of confidence with her animals, moving about them as though he had helped raise them. With a gentle urging, he had managed to lift Garth's hoof without the bull's stubbornness or difficulty. It was too nice a scene to disrupt for her own weaknesses.

"It's nothing." She said, taking a shaky breath as she held out her hand for one of the passing sheep. "Distant thoughts that have no place here."

[eaglesonofnone]

He knew that sort of 'it's nothing.' It was the sort he wielded when he wished time and quiet to work past whatever it was he felt. And as such, he nodded his understanding. But what Altaïr did do was reach up to take his robe from his shoulders and drape it around hers instead. The chill was manageable to him, nothing he couldn't handle though the robe made it easier. To give her an extra layer of warmth as her emotions attempted to settle was only right.

"The weather will get no warmer for the rest of the day, Sayyida. Would you like to come to my home? I've made a soup that counters the chill quite well," he offered. A subject that wasn't, he hoped, related to the one so heavy on her mind.

[thekittenqueen]

It was a sweet gesture that caught her off guard. While she wasn't used to or fond of this weather, she had not expected him able to manage it so well. Whenever they spoke, she was reminded of Dorne, a place far warmer and more dry than the Reach. That he would remove his cloak and suffer the winds was a shock. "Won't you be cold?"

She looked back across the fields. Danny would be arriving soon to herd them back to the police station. There was little reason for her to linger outside, so long as she kept an eye from the window...and honestly, she desperately needed some warmth. "I won't be disturbing your roommates?"