IC Hearts Meme!

[rubycitymods]

Credit to Lucy for the HTML!

HEART MEME HOW-TO
❤ Comment with your characters!
❤ Others comment ICly (or OOCly, idc) with the relevant hearts!
❤ Discuss ICly if you want! Or OOCly, again idc.
❤ Also, if you think another heart is needed, make it up! You can get color codes here!
❤ Have fun!

❤ "I would kill for you" <font size="5" color="#FF001A" title="I would kill for you">❤</font>	❤ "I love you or could fall in love with you" <font size="5" color="#FF0080" title="I love you or could fall in love with you">❤</font>	❤ "You're my family" <font size="5" color="#B4045F" title="You're my family">❤</font>
❤ "I would date you" <font size="5" color="#FA58F4" title="I would date you">❤</font>	❤ "I would kiss you" <font size="5" color="#BC00F5" title="I would kiss you">❤</font>	❤ "I would hug you or hold your hand" <font size="5" color="#AC58FA" title="I would hug you or hold your hand">❤</font>
❤ "I respect you" <font size="5" color="#784BFF" title="I respect you">❤</font>	❤ "I would rescue you or fight by your side" <font size="5" color="#0404B4" title="I would rescue you or fight by your side">❤</font>	❤ "You are my friend" <font size="5" color="#00C700" title="You are my friend">❤</font>
❤ "I would spend time, have fun, or be friends with you" <font size="5" color="#2E64FE" title="I would spend time, have fun, or be friends with you">❤</font>	❤ "I would like to get to know you better" <font size="5" color="#58ACFA" title="I would like to get to know you better">❤</font>	❤ "You amuse me" <font size="5" color="#00FFFF" title="You amuse me">❤</font>
❤ "You confuse me or I'm confused about you" <font size="5" color="#088A68" title="You confuse me or I'm confused about you">❤</font>	❤ "You frighten or unsettle me" <font size="5" color="#4C6120" title="You frighten or unsettle me">❤</font>	❤ "You frustrate or annoy me" <font size="5" color="#00FF80" title="You frustrate or annoy me">❤</font>
❤ "I would use/manipulate you" <font size="5" color="#31B404" title="I would use/manipulate you">❤</font>	❤ "I would physically or emotionally hurt you" <font size="5" color="#FFBF00" title="I would physically or emotionally hurt you">❤</font>	❤ "I would kill you" <font size="5" color="#2D0101" title="I would kill you">❤</font>

Comments

[stonebird]

You were a precious child. (Even with his hair in tangles and his clothes grubby.) I would have found a way to visit you daily if you had remained...

(But now she's curious about him.)

I thought your name was Lord Maglor? Why did you prefer Cano?

[bythewaves]

I thank you for saying so - I rather think I was precocious and demanding!

[ He pales a little and drops his eyes but answers readily enough ]

Names for my folk are important things, and may change as we grow. But in the language of my people my mother named me Makalaure, and my father, Canafinwe. As a child, I preferred Cano, for it was easier to say. But Maglor is my name now.

[stonebird]

You demanded nothing that I wasn't willing to give. (Comfort and cake are easy to give.) Is it common for a mother and father to differ on a name? Or are you given two names no matter what?

(She doesn't like him looking so sad. The remnants of the little child she came to care about are present in his expression.)

A long life must give you a plethora of names.

[bythewaves]

Among the Noldor, we give two. [ He answers readily ] One from each parent - the mother-name is usually held prophetic, and is usually the one used amongst family, with the father-name being the public one. I do not think the Sindar or Silvan hold to that tradition. But epesses are common to all of us - those you might choose for yourself, as you grow, or be given by others.

[ A small smile ] One might think so, but in truth I have no more than those, for my deeds are not so great nor my being so notable as to gain more. If tis many names you seek, I would suggest you ask the Lord Aragorn!

[stonebird]

I like that tradition. (Her name only makes her cringe. If she had another...) If you begin to associate one name with...negativity...you can use another.

(She tilts her head curiously.) He has many? But I thought he was a Man and not an Elf?

[bythewaves]

Mm, or if it no longer fits. [ He nods - he no longer uses Makalaure, for the youth of long ago died on the sands of Alqualonde, with his wife's blood on his hands, and Canafinwe died when Fingon brought Maedhros back alive ]

He does - and he is! But his exploits are many and great. I believe, as of last count he had ... ten?

[stonebird]

I don't feel like Sansa anymore. (That is admitted so quietly that her lips barely move. It feels like a betrayal.)

Ten? What will he do with so many names?

[bythewaves]

Ah child. [ He says sympathetically ] It is hard, when childhood dies. What name would you chose instead?

[ A wry shrug ] I do not know - perhaps he will pick a favourite!

[stonebird]

Is that what this is? (Does everyone's childhood end so abruptly?) I was Alayne Stone in the Eyrie. My hair was a burnt brown and I was...older. I didn't dance anymore and I was a bastard child of a noble.

(It's not what he means.) They called me "little bird" and "little dove" in King's Landing.

(Only the first brought her some measure of comfort.)

None of them fit. (She looks up at him cautiously.) It would be difficult to trust someone with so many names.

[bythewaves]

In part? [ He shrugs ] The end of innocence always feels like a death of sorts. I do not know your tale, however.

Alayne Stone. [ He murmurs softly, the syllables rippling in a whisper of song ]

A strong name. [ He tips his head and looks at her thoughtfully ] Perhaps not a dove, but a bird you might be yet. Even if your wings are clipped, you might yet learn flight again... and then... well. A kestrel, maybe, who dares the highest reaches of air to dance the dance of life.

[ Maglor shrugs again ] That, you will have to judge for yourself.

[stonebird]

I stopped believing in the stories of my childhood when my father was killed before me. (The end of her innocence was literally tainted with blood.)

Birds have freedom, but they are easily hunted too. (If only she could be a wolf like her sister and brothers. Even her mother seemed more a wolf.)

It's difficult to trust anyone.

[bythewaves]

I am sorry, Sansa. [ His eyes are gentle ] That pain is always a hard one to bear. [ He knows, he held his father as he died ]

So are all things, in life. But the kestrel outflies most of them - its courage is its strength. And trust is difficult to relearn, but if you are to fly again, little hawk, you must learn to trust your wings.

[stonebird]

Is it one you are familiar with? (She swallows with difficulty, barely breathing.) Then I must find my courage?

(Her brow furrows and she lifts her chin.) I can learn from what I have endured. I won't let it make me bitter.

[bythewaves]

It is. [ He says softly ] What greater sorrow is it, than to be a child watching their father die?

Yes - but you need not do so alone. [ He smiles at her ] And that will and strength will carry you well.

[stonebird]

(She nearly asks how - since Elves are supposedly immortal unless...

But that unless makes her pause. It's undoubtedly a painful memory for him.)

I can think of none.

(There's a warmth to his smile that she has come to associate with the Elves. It's like a little flame in the midst of a winter storm.)

Lord... Glorfindel is going to teach me how to wield a sword. I don't know if it will suit me.

[bythewaves]

[ He sees the hesitation and offers ]

If you want to know, the tale is an old one, the hurt a scab now. I do not mind telling it, if you wish it.

[ A pleased nod ]

Perhaps it will, and perhaps it will not. But there are few finer warriors than Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower, and he will teach you well.

[stonebird]

No. (She shakes her head, biting her lip.) You haven't asked me to...

So I won't ask you.

(The Golden Flower reminds her of the Tyrells. Broken promises.)

I hope he gets the chance.

[bythewaves]

[ He tips his head in acknowledgement ]

As you please. But if you wish to hear it, the offer stays open.

[ He smiles wryly ]

If he is as good teaching as he is a warrior, I think even a lesson or two will not go amiss. And if swords do not suit, he will doubtless be able to find something that will.

[stonebird]

(Something occurs to her then...)

Does it help you to tell it? I...had no one to talk to before. (No one trusted, that is.) I've told people in the city more than I've told anyone in Westeros. It has been a relief.

(She frowns, thinking about the name of the sword Glorfindel had said she could use.)

Orcrist is the name of the blade he said I could borrow?

[bythewaves]

[ He pauses, turns the idea over ]

A little, I think. It helps me... remember. And it is difficult, to keep things to oneself.

Orcrist! [ He whistles lowly ] He values you very highly, to lend you the blade of his king!

[stonebird]

Then...please tell me. Such a memory shouldn't be forgotten. (Even if it is painful. She recalls how brave her father had been. Just like he had lived his life.)

His King? (She blushes and then pales.) He said it was light and easy to wield. I will treat it with care.

[bythewaves]

[ He pauses and then quietly, sadly, ]

We...had only but newly arrived in Middle-earth. We were heartsick and weary, and grieving the loss of our grandfather, and then also our youngest brother. Father... was fey, and wild and terrible. Grief for his father, guilt for the death of his son, rage for the theft of his greatest treasures... the Enemy sent orcs against us. He thought to catch us by surprise.

He was the one surprised.

We turned against them, an enemy we had no guilt or hesitation in fighting, and slew them, and ahead of us always went father, fey and bright and aweful to look upon, the flame of his spirit burning hot. Morgoth taunted us, always just out of reach, and father... drove against him so viciously that the enemy parted before him, and we were separated. Surprised, and, perhaps, frightened, Morgoth retreated, sending his most terrible servants, the Balrogs, demons of flame and terror against him. They caught him, and even the Spirit of Fire could not stand against them, and they struck him down again and again. We got there just in time to drive them off, but... the wounds were mortal.

Father... laughed. Crazed and dying, he bade us swear to him that we would avenge his death and fulfil our Oath. We swore. And then he looked towards the doors and walls of our Enemy's stronghold and cursed him. And in the instant of his death, so hot was his spirit that his body crumbled to ash in our hands...

[ He shakes his head ] No burial for Feanor, no hero's death. Only fire, which was, I suppose, fitting.

[ He smiles quietly at her, old and tired ] It is a good blade, and it was forged by some of the greatest of the Noldor smiths. It will serve you well.

[stonebird]

(She listens, silent and unwavering. He deserves her full attention - the story will give him relief and pain in equal measure. She only moves when he smiles, her hand reaching out to rest on his arm. He has grown too much. She can't hold him like she did little Cano.)

He was suffering. Death may have been a mercy for him if his mind and body had driven him mad. (The stories of King Aerys come to mind and she tilts her head.) There was a King who ruled the Seven Kingdoms before King Robert. He was mad, they say. I heard stories of him burning people alive for no other reason except his desire to see it done.

He was also known for cutting out people's tongues. (With hot pinchers no less.) I think death was the only relief for him. The fire already burned in his heart and head.

(Her hand rises and she cradles one of his cheeks.)

But such a sight was not for his children to see. You shouldn't have seen it either.

[bythewaves]

He burned. [ Maglor says softly ] As we his sons all will, it seems. Although my fate I would rather lie with water.

[ You were always drawn to the sea murmur Caranthir in his ears ]

He sounds a terrible Man. [ Maglor breathes softly ] Father was mad, and terrible, but he was cruel only to his younger half-brother, and then only, I think, because they were too alike for liking - it was love, or hate, for those two, and my father could not bring himself to love the firstborn of the nis who took my grandmother's place.

[ He startles at the hand, and his eyes are gentle as he smiles at her ]

Still so gentle, little hawk. I think you will fly very high indeed.

[stonebird]

Because of your actions? (Or do you share his madness? It would be rude to ask, but it's the sort of thing that the Targaryens are said to possess as a family trait. Perhaps it comes from too much inbreeding or, in his case, violent outside factors.) Drowning is painful too.

(Winterfell is far from the sea, but there are bodies of water near the castle and sometimes children stray...

Then there is King's Landing where so many men drowned in the Blackwater.)

I think he was sick. (Aerys always struck her as ill. Not quite like Joffrey who clearly saw what he did and still did it.) Blaming a child for such a thing isn't fair. He let his jealousy blind him, perhaps?

I... (Jon Snow.) My mother never treated my bastard half-brother well. I followed her lead. I wish I had been kinder.

(You only get one family. She blushes and her gaze drops.)

It's not hard for me to see something of Cano in you, Lord Maglor.