"oh," A Disapproving Frown Found It's Way Onto Dacey's Face. "that Was Rude. For What It's Worth, I Don't

westerlands attire

dacey dresses with the exact opposite intention of standing out or making a statement. her clothing is chosen to help her blend in, not make a scene, and not be noticed. just nice enough that people aren't going to say she looks bad, but not remarkable enough to comment on.

she favours darker colours, but never black. greys, deep blues, burgundy and forest greens are common colours in her attire.

it wasn't that dacey wasn't enjoying herself. in fact, aleksander's feast was a welcome reprieve from everything, but as the night went on, she found herself growing more and more overwhelmed as the attendants grew more and more inebriated. making her excuses, she slipped from the hall, alone, seeking a short break from the festivities.

her moment of solitude didn't last long. the gracious host's voice reached her, and dacey turned her head to face him, smile on her lips.

"not yet, i'm afraid. i just wanted a little air." eyes raked over aleksander, noting his unsteadiness. she was glad that he seemed to be enjoying himself - it was, after all, his night. "would you like to join me?"

who: @daceystvrk where: a hallway outside the great hall

Perhaps Aleksander had indulged a little too much. The Lady Greenleaf had given him a magnificent gift with that bottle they'd shared, but it had made him a little unsteady on his feet as well. Aleks found himself craving a bit of fresh air, but he got no farther than the hallway right outside the noisy Great Hall. Candles lined the walls in their flickering orange glow, casting long shadows.

Aleks braced his palm against the cool stone. A smile split his lips as he caught sight of Princess Dacey. "Tired of the party already, your Highness?"

closed starter for @feraylocke

dacey's return from the crownlands had been a slow, tedious progress, leading to her delayed arrival back in the north long after the rest of the stark's retinue had arrived home. she'd never travelled much before, and opted for a steady journey that could allow her to take breaks, should her health require it. that would prove to be a wise decision, for the princess had remained strong throughout the coronation and still fit and well now she had returned to her home.

but the feeling in winterfell was strange. the loss of the queen, coupled with the tension between the eldest stark siblings and all things relating to alysanne casting an odd sensation over familiar halls. dacey would do her best to see where she could help, how she could best support her elder brother, but not yet. first she had to clear her mind.

and so, it was to feray locke she had come. feray had long been a friend, the recipient of many letters from dacey over the years. the idea of seeing her in the flesh again was a welcome one.

"i apologise for the short notice, feray," an apologetic smile graced dacey's face as she greeted her. "i hope my visit isn't an inconvenience to you." she would be mortified if her visit had put feray out in any way, but such things couldn't be helped.

"how are you? did you enjoy the coronation?"

lucius didn't dismiss dacey's words, nor did he tease or offer false comfort. he spoke as plainly as he always did, but with a sort of softness to his tone. dacey knew her cousin was not a man who needlessly reached for gentle words, but when he gave them, it felt earned. "i'm glad it makes sense to one of us," she gave a wry sort of laugh, shaking her head slightly as she spoke. "i'm not sure it even does to me at times. i'm not sure feelings every really do." at least, not when they were her own. she never quite seemed able to justify or rationalise that part of herself.

as lucius had given her space to speak, she fell silent, listening to him in that quiet, attentive way she did. even when speaking of spaces that held so much uncertainty, lucius still sounded so very certain, as though he had found the things in his life that made him who he was, and clung to them even tighter. in a way, dacey envied that. there was a sort of liberation that came from not caring that she wasn't sure she'd ever achieve herself. "i suppose if that's where they choose to stop looking, it gives you a little more room to move," she spoke thoughtfully, her eyes finding the glassy surface of the river in the dark. "it's a luxury in itself." one it did not sound like lucius' siblings enjoy. dacey's brow knotted, concern blossoming on her features. she could relate to his words, in the way that they echoed the worries she held for her own brothers and sisters. "it's never easy, is it?" she wondered aloud. wherever they found themselves in life, they all had their burdens to bear.

her hands were folded before her, fingers tightly interlaced, thumbs rubbing absent-mindedly against each other. "i'm sorry," the flush on her face darkened. she never knew when she hadn't said enough, and when she had said too much, and this time, it seemed to be the latter. "i do appreciate you listening, for what it is worth." the corners of her mouth lifted, her smile self-deprecating in its nature, but when her gaze met his, it was a little steadier. "i think i like this better, too."

Lucius did not answer right away. His gaze followed hers, settling on the flowing river at their side, watching how the current curled around stones and broken branches. He understood the metaphor, even if he had never felt what she described. That kind of unease, the sense of being misplaced in a space meant for others, was foreign to him. He had always known his place, it had been irrevocably set from his birth. But he did not doubt the truth she confessed. He saw the way her voice softened, the way the flush climbed up her cheeks when she admitted what she no doubt considered a vulnerability. “It makes sense, Dacey,” he said, low and certain, with the rare gentleness he reserved for his kin. “And it sounds very tiring”.

His eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful. “It’s different for me,” Lucius went on, not as a correction but as an offering. “I don’t feel out of place in a crowd. I just don’t care for the game of it. All the nodding and smiling. The words that mean nothing, or mean everything, and you’re meant to guess which,” he said, glancing toward his cousin. For someone as straightforward as him, those labyrinths were unnerving. “I know what people see when they look at me. A soldier, a brute, something simple. And that’s fine. I let them see that”. His tone held no bitterness. “But I’ve seen what it’s like for Ben. For Agnes. The way people, even inside our own halls, watch them. Waiting for them to fail. To lose”. He paused, then glanced at her. It was not the experience he lived in his own flesh, but he'd seen closely what it was to be measured by standards one never chose.

They walked on a few more steps before he added, “I appreciate your sincerity, but frankly, you don’t need to explain yourself to me. It's fine to want some quiet, to want to step away”. His mouth curved slightly at the corner, not quite a smile, but close. “I like this better, too. Talking with one person who actually means what they say. It’s rare”. He cast a sideways look at her, something wry and almost conspiratorial in his expression. Lucius didn’t say things he didn’t mean, and it was clear in his tone that what he’d said was no small compliment.

Stephanie Garber, Once Upon a Broken Heart

"i had to try," she protested, though in jest. she shook her head. "i would not have taken your coin from you, though, mask or no." there was not an inch of dacey that was competitive in that manner, and aleks knew her well enough to know as much about her. A glance at his face told her that her assessment was correct, and her choice of game was up his alley. "Of course you're strong," a half-grin appeared on her face, and she folded her arms across her chest as she stood to watch. "I might have a turn next, so try your best. Wouldn't want me showing you up." The idea was laughable. If there was one thing Dacey was not capable of, it was feats of physical strength.

His eyes narrowed behind the mask, and a chortle passed over his lips. "I know what you're doin' there, princess." Aleksander patted her hand as Dacey's arm looped through his. "I doubt you are in need of my coin, though." They strolled through the festival games, looking at them with unbridled curiosity. His lips parted, formed a silent o as she pointed to a game that tested strength. A lopsided grin built on his lips. "I'm flattered you think of me as strong, Dacey. Perhaps it's time to prove you right." He disentangled their arms and walked towards the built game, positioning himself so he could wrap his fingers around the crank.

the birthchart of dacey stark

sun sign : cancer

cancers are astrologically wired to channel their intense emotions to caring for others and expressing a unique understanding of the human condition and heart. compassionate, often sweet, always deeply feeling, you can rely on the cancers in your life to offer a shoulder to cry on. typical sun in cancer traits include being nurturing, sensitive, compassionate, self-protective, security-seeking, and loving. since the emotional, maternal moon influences cancer's personality so intensely, the water sign tends to prioritize — and occasionally twist themselves into knots — to make most people in their life feel even slightly more comfortable and secure. they'll pour their heart into caring for plants and pets just as much as they do loved ones. while they're loyal to the core and will always show up for their friends, family comes first. cancer's intense connection to their emotions doesn't come without its negative side, which is a tendency to be moody and snappy when rubbed the wrong way in a particularly sensitive, agitated state. whether they're worked up or drowning in their feelings, they'll be quick to retreat into their shell.

moon sign : aquarius

there may be something about an aquarius moon that somehow “separates” them from everybody else. a fixed sign, which gives qualities of focus, perseverance and endurance, when an aquarius moon individual has a clear idea, they are unlikely to easily change it. their position as someone already ‘on the outside’ gives them the ability to interpret the world around them from an often unique point of view. the placement of the moon in aquarius gives them incredible compassion. they are the person who will "take a bullet" for the one they love, and will be the first person to stand up for the rights of another. they can be very caring when they want to be, though it may not read that way to others at first, because you are also a quiet person who keeps their emotions to themselves. an aquarius moon knows what they want and believes in personal freedom and choices. they will uphold what you believe in, no matter how far-fetched others may find their decisions. in some ways, they prefer solitude as it makes them feel safe, and independence is their calling card. those around them will notice that they only march to your own drum, and they accept this about them. an aquarius moon is a deep thinker — so much so, that they tend to get lost in thought. people think of them as a worrywart, spending way too much time overthinking things until they make very little sense.

rising sign : pisces

pisces is a mutable water sign, and those with this rising sign appear deeply emotional and sensitive. the symbol for pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions, representing the duality and connection between the imaginary world and physical reality. they are masters of making the imaginary seem possible, but they also can succumb to melancholy and suffering. it’s in their nature to go with the flow, like swimming through the waves of the ocean. this can sometimes lead them to be overly trusting, and they might struggle with setting boundaries. pisces risings possess a natural ability to connect with the energies of others, giving them an emotional intelligence in new social situations. while they have a gentle demeanor, they can also be elusive, often escaping into their rich inner universe to find comfort. pisces ascendants might find solace in the arts or healing modalities—whether it’s through music, painting, or writing—as a means to channel their vivid inner world. they can gravitate toward spirituality, but they also should be aware of becoming lost in their own illusions. the rising sign strongly influences physical appearance. the pisces rising often has a dreamy and mysterious look about them, with features that appear delicate and otherworldly. their eyes, in particular, are known to appear captivating, soulful, and dreamy—often reflecting a depth of emotion. like their symbol, the fishes, a pisces is not in a rush. they uncover the mysteries and depth of emotion with ease. not one for conflict, they can bring serenity and soothe those around them. they are also highly in touch with their intuition, whether they are aware of it or not. they are dreamers, artists, and healers, who are here to create beauty, inspire others, and bring a sense of enchantment to the lives they touch.

long had dacey been on friendly terms with anya, but as with most of the people she knew, there was a distance between the two, put there by dacey herself. long had she struggled with concepts like friends, even as she observed others making them so easily. her circle had always been small, and lonely. but the northern court had been shrunken by loss. it had pulled dacey from her self-imposed isolation, but what had it done to anya, when two of those losses had been people dacey knew she had held close? she could do nothing about that, except offer herself as a meagre replacement. trying to step into the shoes of the dead seemed to be all she did, these days.

and she nodded her head, for she understood what anya meant. she felt it, too. the feeling of not belonging was not uncommon for dacey, though lessened much when she was in the north. though the kingdom had been fractured and split, though many of the houses had bled for her family or against them, it was still her home. outside, the title of princess was just that - a title. the mystery of the princess alysanne attested to how little protection it afforded her. and yet, any anxieties must be felt two-fold by anya, and she could understand why that would be so.

"i don't think i will ever get past that feeling," she confessed. "of feeling out of sorts here, i mean. this place is not for me." there was a grandeur to the west directly at odds with dacey's simpler, more unassuming way of being, and she liked it not, as though in trying to be inconspicuous, it only made her stand out like a sore thumb amongst the splendour. a beggar at a ball. nasir manderly's warning echoed in her ears, and her expression grew weary. "is it an awful thing to say that i already want to go home?"

Anya knew deep down that she would never truly be a proper lady, for there was a part of the raven-haired lady that continued to keep a steadfast hold on who she'd been before. It felt a betrayal of sorts to forget her origins, to dismiss what had led her to be where she was at present. Yet, she certainly had been willing to adopt the right mannerisms and speak the proper words when it was needed, for she didn't dismiss her current role title either.

Both Lady Manal Manderly and Queen Rosalyn had been tutors of a sort for Anya in terms of becoming a Northern lady. It had been a horrible turn of fate that both young women perished at such young ages. Women that Anya had even grown to consider her friends. The last remaining person who had offered sporadic assistance on that account was the very person she'd found just now.

“Yes, I've just finished unpacking,” she replied with a quick nod and a brief smile. Was she alright? She'd skipped that question altogether. Anya was not not alright, though, but she did feel a bit of an anxious feeling nestled within her. It was unpleasant knowing she could be read so easily. “I am still getting accustomed, I suppose. Getting past the sense of feeling out of place here,” she added with a light wave of her hand, vaguely gesturing around. “The Western court is different from our own”. All courts were different in their own way, and Anya had been to all regions of Westeros at this point in her life, though not always as a titled woman. But there was a very distinct feeling about the Westerlands and the elevated majesty of it all.

closed starter for @adam-stark location: owen's birthday party

it had been early in the evening when dacey began to feel that familiar press in her chest, the weight of too much noise, too many voices, music and laughter and clinking goblets, too much to look at and listen to all at once. there were times when it was more tolerable than others, but tonight, with winterfell's feast hall dressed for celebration, it felt like it might swallow her whole. but it was owen's nameday, and for that reason alone, she did not slip away, no matter how much she wanted to.

it was obvious to any who knew her well - when her nerves got the best of her, her hands were never at rest. they were clasped neatly in front of her now, but her fingers twisted around each other, never once stilling, as she found herself drawn into conversation with yet another lord from the knot of courtiers she had found herself entangled in. he was telling a story she suspected was supposed to amuse her, and though she was nodding in the right places, smiling when it seemed called for, she hadn't heard half of it. her thoughts were elsewhere, half looking for a suitable gap in the conversation that never seemed to arrive in which she could excuse herself, and half adrift, caught in the well of the crowd and all the more overwhelmed for it.

she did not notice adam approach - not until he was already by her side, apologising to her company and offering his hand in a dance.it was more than obvious why he had done it, and she did not hesitate to let him guide her away. in fact, she almost could have wept with relief when he did. once they were out of earshot of the lord, clear of the worst of the crowd, did she exhale. she was usually no more comfortable on a dancefloor as she was in a crowd. there was no peace or stillness to be found here, but it was enough of a reprieve for now.

"sorry," she said, when she finally spoke, a sheepish look crossing her face, though the corners of her mouth turned up slightly in the shape of a smile. "you didn't have to come to my rescue, but i'm glad that you did." there was no mistaking her gratitude in that moment. "and apologies in advance if i step on your toes."

Nikos Engonopoulos, from Bolívar, a Greek Poem