Howlan had hoped for a quiet evening after traveling this afternoon, but things rarely went that way in King's Landing. Especially when drinking in Flea Bottom. No, it seemed there were other plans for the evening, no matter how much he tried to avoid them. Still, she had held her own better than most men, and he was still impressed, but it seemed the others were not. If he could ensure the big guy didn't want to fight him, then all matters would quickly be handled.
Howl relaxed his shoulders before padding the man on the shoulder. "Yes, should I not make it as a hedge night. I'm looking into being a court jester." He chuckled before looking at the woman. Hopeful that she wouldn't say or do anything to rile the man back up. His other hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, just in case. It was better to be prepared than lose a limb or life. Thankfully, the man had been drinking and didn't put up too much of a fight and found that Howl was funny. That was better than he could have asked for.
"I'm sure you did. That's why you were so pale, almost like the Stranger was near." Howl rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Most would say thank you, but I'm guessing that is the best you will tell me this evening..." He shrugged before crossing his arms over his chest and watching her closely. Chuckling, he shook his head before finding another table for them. "Are you alright? You gave them one hell of a fight..." He mumbled before leaning back in his seat for a moment. It impressed him, and he was sure not to anger her. Chuckling at her question, Howl shook his head at her. "Only if you promise not to cheat..."
The hand around her throat was unpleasantly clamping down on her airway and Lyssa could tell that the gentleman in question had enjoyed one too many ales as well, because his eyes were surprisingly glassy for someone with such a strong grip. He was also a mountain of a man and she quickly understood that even if her life depended on it, she would not be able to fight him off sufficiently. That's what she got for wanting a quiet night out away from the Keep with its treacherous inhabitants. She had learned how to hold her own in a situation like this and brought (dis-) honor to the name of Strong, but this man was a safe ticket to a rendez-vous with the Stranger.
She was about to politely point out that she was unable to breathe, when another man stepped into view and distracted the ruffian. His grip slackened and Lyssa was briefly motivated to kick him where the sun didn't shine, but decided that she would graciously put that thought aside and instead just free herself from his hand. As she did so, the giant peered down at the man who had stepped in and glared, before chuckling and slamming his massive hand down on the other man's shoulder in good humor. "You's funny", he remarked, before toddling off into the general direction of the counter to get another ale. Seemed like he was just attracted by the commotion and wanted to play for a moment as well.
Coughing slightly, Lyssa brushed a stand of dark curls from her flushed face and glanced at the stranger. "I had everything under control", she pointed out with a certain air of annoyance in her voice, just to make sure that she had not needed saving. Technically she had, but he did not have to know that. Brushing off her dress, she could tell by the way breathing hurt that she was going to have a bruise on her neck that she would have to explain at court, or hide sufficiently. At least Aegon had not showed up here tonight to ruin the setting even more, so she was at least lucky in that respect. "Do you want to play cards?" A jest merely, because she had lost her enthusiasm for it.
❛ Oh, forgive me. I… It was… There’s so much wine. ❜
Howlan gave a little smile. "No one should cry over spilled wine." He gave a little nod. It wasn't the first stain on his tunic and wouldn't be the last. "Do you need help with these, or should I take a pitcher for myself?" He asked to avoid turning down a pitcher of wine or helping someone.
Tourneys were one of his favorite things, and getting to enter one in King's Landing was even better. Hopeful that he might find a place amongst the knight's here if he performed well enough. Even if rumors were whispered amongst the men about the divide of House Targaryen. That wasn't his business at the moment, but it left him curious.
All he had wanted was a night to relax, sleep under a roof, and possibly a bath if his coin would allow. The wine wasn't awful, and the customers weren't too rowdy; it was seemingly perfect. Howl could finally rest and not have to worry about breaking up some dispute, even if he usually allowed the parties to sort matters out themselves. No, it was shaping up to be a quiet night. That was until he began to hear some drunkard going on about a cheater in a card game. Closing his eyes, he pushed himself to ignore it. He would only get involved once it was essential. Until then, he would let it be.
"Shit.." the curse left his lips the moment he heard the tables starting to be turned off, and he very slowly turned around to see the sight. Slightly shocked to see the woman holding her own against the other for the moment. The moment her punch landed, there was no doubt that the other had a broken nose, and he couldn't help but mentally applaud her. She held her own far better than most men. Impressed. Either way, he kept his distance for just a moment longer. Howlan didn't want to be on the receiving end of her anger if he could help it or the drunk group of men.
That was until he watched someone else get involved, who seemingly wasn't helping her. This couldn't go unnoticed, and with one last gulp of his wine, he made his way over to the two. "Why don't we leave the lady alone?" He hummed before grabbing the man's shoulder and squeezing it tightly. "I'm sure she's done fighting for the evening and playing cards..." He looked between the man and the young lady. Hoping this wasn't going to end in another fight.
The evening was, to sum it up shortly, a series of unfortunate events. Lyssa had gone into the city to enjoy herself, as one did, and had ended up in a tavern to play cards. It was something she regularly did, even though she tried to avoid the establishments the scoundrel of a usurper frequented, because she did not want to be associated with the lot, despite still living at the Keep.
It all began entirely harmless. Cards were distributed, stakes were made, wine was consumed. The usual, really. The only thing her opponents seemed not to have bargained for, was a woman who actually knew how to play better than them and won round after round. At first they took it with grace, making jokes and laughing about the pretty little thing that had beginners luck. Then they grew annoyed, until ultimately she was accused of cheating. By someone who gestured so wildly at her, that the hidden cards in his sleeve flew out and scattered around them. Lyssa, who had not drunken enough wine to be anywhere near intoxication, politely pointed out his scam, but only roused the bad nature of the man.
And so one thing led to another. His hands were suddenly on her, and a second later, her knuckles connected with his nose. Judging by the crunching sound and the blood that spilled down his already filthy tunic, Lyssa had landed a good one, but it did not deter the mean drunk from launching himself at her. Tables were turned, manly feelings were hurt by a girl that knew where to hurt them best and what could she say? It was the most fun she had had in a while. There was no denying that she was Ser Breakbone's sister in that moment and Lyssa revelled in it. Granted, the gang of angry buffoons were an easy target, because they were drunk out of their wits, but even so. It all turned sour when an outsider got involved, grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to a wall - not in a borderline appealing way, or to keep her from throwing more hands, but it actually choked her and the problem was, his arm was long and she could not reach to punch him.
from the show! part one/episode one!
some lines have been a little altered to make them fit in a broader sense!
❛ There are stories out there that need to be told. ❜
❛ Honesty is not a tactic. ❜
❛ I wasn’t sure you remembered me. ❜
❛ I have to be very careful whom I let in. ❜
❛ Yeah, well, things didn’t end well the last time. So forgive me if I’m a little nervous. ❜
❛ I was, admittedly, a rougher thing then. ❜
❛ I apologize. I apologize. I apologize. I was only tryna show you my love. ❜
❛ Hell, I mighta even said yes if you would’ve just asked. ❜
❛ Oh, forgive me. I… It was… There’s so much wine. ❜
❛ I’m havin’ a fuckin’ night, okay?! ❜
❛ A month from my wedding day, and what do I dream about? ❜
❛ Point of fact, I love them more than anyone on earth. ❜
❛ You know, you can always come here if you’re in need. ❜
❛ I don’t know much about what you’re saying. But it sure sounds nice.❜
❛ How’d you manage to get yourself through the front door? ❜
❛ I owe you everything. Please, join us. ❜
❛ My body was seized with weakness. Their gaze tied a string around my lungs, and I found myself immobilized. ❜
❛ I had planned to make a new life for myself in (place). That was to be my destiny. And now I know I was right. ❜
❛ You’re their destiny, (name). ❜
❛ Emasculation and admiration in equal measure. I wanted to murder the man, and I wanted to be the man. ❜
❛ I had come there for (name), but I left thinking of only them. ❜
❛ These men look down on you. ❜
❛ Ten percent. Fifteen percent. Do you not know your value? ❜
❛ Do you suffer these indignities for some larger purpose? ❜
❛ I believe there is great opportunity in this city, but to seize it, I’ll need protection from the wolves. ❜
❛ It was a cold winter that year, and (name) was my coal fire. ❜
❛ And I found myself for the very first time, to anyone other than (name), confiding my struggles in another. ❜
❛ I was being hunted. And I was completely unaware it was happening. ❜
❛ And what exactly is the nature of your relationship? ❜
❛ It’s the humidity. It does that sometimes. ❜
❛ You sayin’ I have shame? ❜
❛ You don’t need to defend yourself from me, (name). ❜
❛ Do you remember the best you ever had? ❜
❛ I had never allowed myself to feel emotionally close to anyone. ❜
❛ I shut that night out of my mind and turned my attentions back to life as it was before. ❜
❛ Quit talkin’. I have to concentrate. ❜
❛ You’ve been avoiding me. ❜
❛ And rather than fix it like I should I run like a coward. ❜
❛ Do you think God heard you, (name)? ❜
❛ I’m not the devil, you were wrong about that. But I can give you death. ❜
❛ It has shackled you in permanent exile. ❜
❛ Every room you enter, every hat you are forced to wear, all these roles you conform to and none of them your true nature. ❜
❛ What rage you must feel as you choke on your sorrow. ❜
❛ The first time I laid eyes on you, your beautiful face, I saw that sorrow. ❜
❛ The first time I laid eyes on you, your beautiful face, I saw that sorrow. I did not know how it got there or why it was so voluminous. I can take away that sorrow, (name). ❜
❛ I can give you that death you begged your feeble, blind, degenerate, nonexistent god for. ❜
❛ I can give you that death you begged your feeble, blind, degenerate, nonexistent god for. But I can do it… joyfully. ❜
❛ I can swap this life of shame, swap it out for a dark gift and a power you can’t begin to imagine. ❜
❛ You just have to ask me for it. ❜
❛ You just have to nod your beautiful head.. and say yes. ❜
❛ I love you, (name). You are loved. ❜
❛ I send my love to you, and you send it back round to me. And this circle, this home we’ve barely begin to have a glimpse of… know it frightens me as much as it does you. ❜
❛ It is difficult to explain how their words disarmed me, how efficiently succinct and impenetrable his argument was. ❜
❛ All my conceptions, even my guilt and my wish to die seemed utterly unimportant, and I completely forgot myself and the barbaric scene that surrounded me. ❜
❛ For the first time in my life I was seen. ❜
❛ Be all the beautiful things you are, and be them without apology. ❜
❛ The blood, it came as a dull roar at first. And then a pounding, like the pounding of a drum, growing louder and louder. ❜
❛ I opened my eyes, and it was then that I realized the drum was my heart, and the other drum had been theirs. ❜
❛ I saw them sitting a length away from me. Radiant. And we sat there for some time. In throes of increasing wonder. ❜
Howlan throws a bucket over himself or bathes in some nearby body of water and would lose his mind having a proper bath. He would be sniffing all the perfumes and oils because this is too fancy.