Persuasive Assets

Writers: Heather, Avery
Date Posted: 24th November 2015

Characters: Zelah, Runnfreya
Description: Two ladies talk about marriages and men
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 3, day 3 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Torianna, Raghad, Bryvin

Zelah

When the door to the solar opened a dark haired woman in a stunning blue dress entered. The silver necklace and bracelets she wore jingled as she moved across the room to take a seat near Xeladrie. Runnfreya had been more than pleased to be invited to stay at Sunstone during
the end of Xeladrie's pregnancy to help out as best she could. Her eldest child was only a few Turns younger than Xeladrie, so Runnfreya found herself feeling a little motherly over Bryvin's young Lady Holder.

"How are you feeling today, dear?" she asked as she gestured to the attending drudge for something to drink.

"I would stand up to greet you but I'm just not feeling well today," the Lady Holder admitted. She was lying on a couch today, pillows propping her back up. "I'm so glad you agreed to stay. How is the travel between Citrus Bay and here?"

The drudge responded by bringing over a tray of juice, wine, and water. Once Runnfreya had been served, she'd refill Xeladrie as well.

"Of course you are not feeling well," Runnfreya cooed with empathy. "You are almost there though."

"That's fortunate," Xeladrie said with relief as she took a glass of juice. She didn't want to complain too much lest she be thought of as weak, but she also wanted to bitch and moan and have people fuss over her.

"As for the travel between Citrus Bay and Sunstone, it's quite lovely really." It also helped that Runnfreya enjoyed traveling and sight-seeing immensely. "Once you've recovered from the delivery you should come and visit us some time."

"I would love that. It would be nice to get to know the minor holds in the territory. I'm sure yours is the loveliest, of course."

Runnfreya felt great pride for Citrus Bay for she had worked hard by her husband's side to help Raghad make it a prosperous, pleasant place of business. "Thank you, milady, of course I am a bit biased in the matter." She sipped from the fruit juice, which was nice and refreshing in the heat of the day.

"Will any of your family travel to Sunstone for the birth of your child?" Runnfreya asked conversationally.

"I haven't asked, to be honest. There's no one I'm - close enough to," she said after a moment.

That was a pity, Runnfreya thought, but she had been in a similar situation herself when she had her children. "I didn't have any family come to mine either. Well, I mean, being a bastard child it's not as if my unknown fancy father was going to show up," she smirked a little.

"That might have been a nice way to meet him, though," Xeladrie said with a laugh.

"Wouldn't it? All these Turns and I've probably met him and don't even know it." It used to bother Runnfreya, but she had long since come to terms with her lack of parentage.

"That has to be an unusual feeling."

Runnfreya lifted her shoulders, "I like to think that it makes life a little more interesting." The lady from Citrus Bay was always spinning the disappointments in her life to make them work in her favor.

"That's a good way of looking at it. With my dad, sometimes I wish I could say I wasn't related," the lady said with a small smile.

"That bad huh?" Runnfreya asked curiously.

"He sees women as pawns to be traded for more wealth and alliances. I have no loyalty or affection for him."

Runnfreya's lips twisted, "He doesn't sound different from most men then."

"They can be cold. And the life of a Blood woman is to be happy in these games. I haven't forgotten my promise for Torianna, by the way. I don't wish the same for her," Xeladrie said fervently.

"Thank you, milady. Raghad and I want the best we can provide for her, and we want her to be happy in the process. I would love very much for her to find someone like Raghad who will take care of her."

"My goal is to find that for as many of the more noble women here as I can," Xeladrie told the other woman. "Sunstone may not be a liberal Hold, but I won't let it be one of cruel marriages if I can do anything."

"I hope that is something you can change then, milady, Sunstone does not have a good history in that area. No one would say that women have been 'forced' into marriages, but you know as well as I that pressure and
choices are placed on a woman until she must marry."

"Turquoise Bay causes pressure as well. If I can give a few girls a bit of a chance to make better choices, I'd like to. Perhaps it's idealistic."

Runnfreya lifted her glass to her lips, considering her Lady's words. "It's an admirable thing for you to do. What will Lord Bryvin think of it?"

"I rather hope my Lord would allow me to handle the marriages of the ladies, and handle the men's marriages himself. If he doesn't, I'll have to..." She wasn't sure what she could do, actually. "Be persuasive, I suppose."

"Ah, it is lucky that women have been given the correct... assets, to be very persuasive to our husbands." Runnfreya's smile curved across her face.

"It is handy. I'll need to learn to sweeten my husband's disposition."

"It's not hard to learn how. Men need about three things: food, sleep, and a roll in the sheets. Provide them those three things, and especially spice up the last one, and they'll grant your requests generally speaking." Runnfreya winked.

Xeladrie looked around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "And how might I spice it up, as you say? After I'm attractive to him again, of course."

Runnfreya didn't have the decency to check and see if they were being overheard, she would have had the conversation with anyone in the room. "Well, for one you could always wear something lacy and silky that leaves little to the imagination. Men love taking things off. Don't waste time being embarrassed about what you're wearing, he'll have it off of you in less time than it took for you to put it on." She grinned a little, clearly thinking back to past experiences. "And then there's different locations. All of your... 'persuading' doesn't have to take place in the bedroom."

"So go shopping for items and surprise him in unexpected places." Xeladrie nodded at the advice. Though she was suddenly distracted by imagining touching someone who wasn't Bryvin in a secluded place, not the bedroom...

"If I may suggest, supply closets are, ah, more versatile than you might imagine." Runnfreya lifted her nearly empty glass of fruit juice and drained its contents. Glancing up at the drudge, she held up the empty glass to signify a refill.

"I thank you for the advice. You're a very creative woman."

Runnfreya arched an eyebrow, "I am only too happy to help milady."

Last updated on the November 30th 2015

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