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open | i just can't drop this feeling underneath my feet
WHO: Margaery Tyrell & open!
WHAT: Another rifter's arrival, jittery in a library, & getting lost in Hightown.
WHEN: Arrival, quarantine, and the first week after her quarantine is over.
WHERE: The Brecilian Forest, Gallows, Hightown.
NOTES:N/A.
WHAT: Another rifter's arrival, jittery in a library, & getting lost in Hightown.
WHEN: Arrival, quarantine, and the first week after her quarantine is over.
WHERE: The Brecilian Forest, Gallows, Hightown.
NOTES:N/A.
I. ARRIVAL.
The impossible heat of the wildfire isn't what Margaery feels last. No, it's the heavy dread that's worked itself into her veins, overtaking the inches of her hands and feet, emphasizing the rapid beating of her heart that pounds in her eardrums as she sees a glimpse of the future - her grandmother, alone, with nothing but the ashes of their family name trailing her like a cloud. Between that and the fierce, helpless anger that follows, Margaery can barely register anything else but the rumble of their doom, hands tight around Loras' arms before -
Bright green. The color explodes in her vision and it's the last thing her mind processes before she's suddenly falling, a sensation rudely interrupted by the sound of disturbed leaves, snapped branches, and rocks and dirt sent tumbling down uneven slopes. Shock settles into the corners of her senses, somewhat dulling the pain of her scrapes and bruises, although nothing seems to detract from the ache of her hand, the same green glowing up at her like a cursed brand through the paper she clutches. Above her, the sky ...glimmers? Seemingly ripped apart with the same garish hue.
She's always been quick on her feet, but this time, it's the terrifying sound of a inhumane screech that gets her to snap out of her daze, to push the pressing questions out of her mind and stumble to her feet. Distantly, she thinks she can hear the sounds of other voices, probably far closer than she can tell, but terror has her back in its grip and it's all she can do to back away from the fear demons closing in on her -
Seven hells.
II. LIBRARY
She's not exactly alone, but the thought of being limited to where she might go makes Margaery far more restless than she should be. She wakes early every morning, and wonders if it's simply her lifelong habits too stubbornly ingrained in her body, or fear of the unknown lurking in the back of her mind at all times. A probable mix of both, she muses, as she finds her feet taking her to the main library this morning.
The early hour allows her to slink through the aisles without garnering much attention, if at all. It's eerily quiet, almost oppressive in a way that Margaery has grown to appreciate these past few weeks - tangible silences that she can feel bearing down on her existence feel so grounding. Mostly because her own mind is never quiet these days, stretched apart from death and despair and grief, and the deceptively simple pain of homesickness that winds around her heart like a vine. Emptiness follows, too, for a home no longer present.
But she puts too much faith in what she hears, made evident in the next moment as she goes from turning a corner without watching where she's going, and ends up walking right into a solid source of warmth that is most evidently not a shelf. A good thing, perhaps, as the collision still makes her wince where her bruised ribs emanate their disapproval.
"Forgive me," she gasps, instinctively in a whisper. "I'm so terribly sorry. Are you alright?"
III. HIGHTOWN
The sky darkens above her as Margaery fights the urge to bite her lip - determined not to show any signs of uncertainty - and keeps following the path she's on. To others, her footsteps appear to be sure, undoubtedly hurried from the important appointment she must get to.
In reality, she is terribly lost.
Although the thought of stopping and asking a kindly-looking stranger crosses her mind, the last thing she wants to do is alert anyone in this strange place that she's alone, without anyone who'd inquire after her absence too seriously. No, she'll find her way on her own - even if that hope is faltering in her heart as she recognizes the same row of stalls she's passed an eternity ago. She's going in circles.
The crystal weighs around her neck, heavier and heavier as her exhaustion begins to make way for hunger. Her pride, the traitorous thing, is shrinking as she thinks she notices some men eyeing her with interest. She's done her best not to utilize the crystal so far, preferring to keep to herself instead of reaching out as she should.
Margaery takes a deep breath and shuts away her ego into a neat little box.
"I fear I may be lost in Hightown. Would anyone be able to help me?"
IV. WILDCARD
[ please let me know if you'd like a customized starter!chignon or pm works c: ]
no subject
"I'm fine, truly. Just startled, that's all." Her hand immediately falls from where she's instinctively placed it over her injury to reinforce what she's saying. Nothing to see here. "It's not every early morning that I expect to see such a bright presence here in the library."
Her eyes fall to the book in her hands, then, and Margaery offers her another smile before stepping aside to allow her a path to go through if she wishes to. Sometimes, when she has her mind set on a task, the last thing she wants is to be stopped by a stranger and have a conversation. It's only polite to offer a quick out. "Ah, please don't let me keep you from your reading?"
no subject
"I figure if I'm going to be stuck here, learning about it can't be the worst thing, right?" She laughs, though Glimmer does her best to keep it quiet considering they're well, in a library of all places. She steps past Margaery, giving the other the option of continuing on as well.
"Couldn't really stay in bed. And being busy is better than not," she says. Then she gives a slight bow, as if remembering that she has manners and should introduce herself. It feels distressingly normal, even if she still doesn't know quite how to feel about being stuck here.
"I'm Glimmer--er, Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon but it's on the other side of a Rift, so it's not like it matters that much..." She feels like she's been saying that a lot lately.
no subject
"Queen Glimmer," she repeats warmly, curtsying in return. "My name is Margaery, it is an honor to meet you. Will you tell me about Bright Moon, if it's not too much trouble? I can always wait, if you'd prefer to read?"
Her tone indicates that she's not being facetious or polite simply for the sake of it - she knows what it can be like to want isolation after the world has been swept away from under her feet. Seeing as they're both most likely stuck here, they have all the time in the world.
no subject
"Oh, I mean, if you want to hear about it I can talk about home? You don't have to sit and listen to me be homesick, though... Are you sure?"
no subject
"And yes, I'm sure," Her eyes stray to the book Glimmer has in her hands yet again before she gestures towards the entrance. "Although - shall we walk instead of sitting? I find it easier to talk that way myself."
no subject
"Walking would be just fine. I don't like sitting around anymore than you do, I bet. Where to?" She falls into step alongside the other, smiling.