[Open] Light Atop the Tower

[chainedqueen]

WHO: Alicent Hightower
WHAT: Catch-all, arrival
WHEN: After arrival
WHERE: Castle Thorn, Horizon
WARNING: Nothing so far, will update

[If you want a specific prompt, you can pp me at ladylils]

Comments

[chainedqueen]

[It's not very off putting to see a measured demeanor. She had the same habit after years of living at court.]

Thank you. It might be a bit excessive, but the others I have seen are very beautiful.

[She has little to occupy herself with. Spending all day on this at least held her attention and quieted her mind.]

It was my home when I was a girl. I have not seen it since then and I- I suppose I wanted to remember how it felt to live here.

[aquilus]

[He's noticed that as well. It does make him wonder whether the others come from such beautiful lands, or if the mind is sentimental and drawn to beauty when called upon to imagine places that can no longer be reached.]

It's no small task, to re-create the feeling of a place as well as its likeness.

How successful have you been so far?

[chainedqueen]

[She's curious what his might look like and if it was a place of significance or only a lark he might have. He seemed serious and contemplative. If she had to hazard a guess, perhaps he might craft somewhere peaceful.]

The feeling is difficult to recreate when I remember so little.

I am as successful as one can be. It is part guesswork, part memory.

[aquilus]

[A casualty of the passage of time. That's one loss that no one can prevent, no matter how fervent their efforts.]

From my perspective, I never would have guessed. It appears to be a clear vision, if unfinished.

[But he knows his opinion isn't the one that matters.]

I wish you luck in completing it to your satisfaction.

[chainedqueen]

You are kind.

[She inclined her head, turning back to look at the Hightower. More often, she fell back on humility, but there was at least reason to be proud of this, something so new to her.]

May I ask what your Horizon is like?

[aquilus]

[It's the first time someone's ever said that about him.]

Similar to this, I suppose, in that I sought to recreate the place I was born. A castle fortress on a mountain, and as much of the mountains surrounding it as possible.

It's not the same without the people I knew, but...it's been something of a balm, to see an imitation of what's familiar.

[chainedqueen]

[Strange, given how his words were truly kind. Was it not proper to call him that as well?]

A castle fortress? [Foolish hope rose for a moment in her heart, a reflex that she couldn't control. It was very unlikely he was from Westeros or Essos and she should know better than to let herself hope rather than accept reality.

But he spoke the words that she was just contemplating.]

That is how I feel as well. I imagine yours would be familiar to me.

[aquilus]

You're welcome to visit it, should you feel like exploring more of the Horizon.

[It's not an invitation he'd extend were it the real Masyaf, but he's had time to get used to the fact that others could walk right up to the fortress, empty as it is of guards to ward against intruders. But then, why not? It holds none of the Assassins' secrets.]

[chainedqueen]

Yours would be the first I have seen that is not mine. I suppose I thought it might be rude to wander.

[Not that she thought he was rude, not at all. She merely was socially anxious.]

Is it far from mine?

[aquilus]

This place is designed for all who can access it to shape it. Wandering is expected. Don't worry. Mine is not far.

[He describes the path to it as best he can, knowing that there's always a chance others may have remade it in his absence.]

You're welcome there, even if I'm not in at the time.

[He's made sure not to re-create anything outsiders really shouldn't see.]