cream & gold

jeyne westerling gilded seashell events

[gildedseashell]

mira forrester

It seemed they had more conversations in passing during the morning and evenings and other conversations were reserved for texting. Mira had no problems with either, knowing their busy schedules and the one thing she wanted to come home to was relaxing with Rollam and Jeyne and having a good dinner. She rarely had any things of note to talk about other than a student in her classroom doing something outrageous. It was only recently that she had something to share that was driving her mad keeping it all to herself. 

Mira nodded hastily with a beaming smile on her face, glad that Jeyne was giving the reaction that Mira had hoped for. “That exact one. My brother I’m sure will not be too keen to know this. The school went to the stadiums for one of those charity games and he literally jumped the fence to say hello. I don’t know what I did specifically to get his attention. Perhaps it was because I was standing under a twig which he thought was a mistletoe.” Mira took a sip from her drink and indulged herself for only a moment before her eyes widened at the mention of a guy. Any teasing remarks were postponed when she mentioned Rollam. “Rollam and conferences? Jeyne, are you seeing one of the other teachers? You must tell me who it is. I promise I won’t tell anyone-my lips are practically sealed.”

It was rare for Mira to have a story this crazy and Jeyne listened with rapt attention as the other woman spoke. Her brow lifted at the man’s tenacity and a laugh escaped Jeyne’s lips. “Wait,” she said, her gaze narrowing. “You’re telling me he hit on you because of a twig?” She shook her head. “I’m sure your looks had nothing to do with it. Don’t sell yourself short, Mira.” Jeyne took another long sip from her drink. “So you’re going to see him again?” She certainly hoped so – Jeyne wanted her friend to be happy and it sounded as if she would have some great stories to tell.

Jeyne’s eyes lit up at Mira’s questions and she laughed. “Practically?” she inquired playfully, taking another sip of her drink before she answered the questions honestly, her lips quirking at the corners. “Do you remember how I told you about the guy I met a few weeks ago? At the holiday party I went to?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she soldiered on, eager to tell Mira what she’d discovered. “Well apparently my friend’s girlfriend, Asha, is the sister of the guy I went home with. His name’s Maron Greyjoy and I guess he’s Rollam’s science teacher.” Her lips quirked once more and she leaned back in her chair. “He’s amazing,” she murmured.

[gildedseashell]

maron greyjoy

“Don’t forget Lhazar - his wife’s from there and he loves to catch people out on it.” Maron called after her, fully aware that the rumour was not true despite games of recall being his colleagues favorite. What followed was the most droll half an hour of his life. He tried to be professional, god he really did, but between constant glances at the clock and total zoning out while Megga Tyrell’s father tried to tell him that his daughter deserved a better grade on a paper she had so clearly not studied for just because he wanted her to get into some prestigious course at the University of White Harbour. It took all of Maron’s willpower not to tell him to fuck off and take the bad grade up with his daughter. He did not have so much of it, however, not to cut in when the clock started to show it was coming up on thirty minutes and assure the man that he was not the kind of man who could be swayed with harsh words when he had harsher words of his own. 

Time was wasting, and Maron had more important places to be. His goodbye to Megga’s father was stilted and quick, as he hastily shoved his papers into the drawers of his desk to be dealt with tomorrowr. “Likewise. Good things come to those who wait though, no?” He joked,  as he grabbed his keys and jacket to head out the door. The classroom was bathed in darkness with a flick of the switch, and the door was locked, and finally, after weeks (and then half an hour), he got what he he’d wanted - a damn date with Jeyne Westerling (formerly known only as hot-Jeyne-from-Asha’s-party). “There’s a Pentoshi restaurant a few blocks away, if you’re into that?” He said, holding open the door for her as they left the school building and entered the now almost-empty carpark. “We could take my car and then double back later, or we could walk - it’s not too far if you’re okay in those shoes.” 

She had always liked anticipation, but waiting for her last meeting to be over – and waiting for his to be over – was perhaps one of the most telling points about her own patience. Living with her younger brother had made it obvious she’d need to have some patience, but Jeyne had developed more than she’d originally thought. It had all dissolved like sugar into coffee the moment she’d seen Maron again. Still, it was worth the wait, to see him once more, to see the look in his eye that she hoped was just for her, to know that she would be leaving with him and, hopefully, with actual contact information this time. Her own lips curved into a small smile. “That they do,” she agreed, offering Maron another upturn of her lips as he held the door open for her. “I love Pentoshi food,” she told him with a tilt of her head. And how had she not noticed before how much he dwarfed her?

“I don’t mind walking,” she responded with a smile, idly wondering if he honestly thought he’d be going home alone tonight, because if she had anything to say about it, he most definitely would not. “I’d actually prefer it, with all the beautiful Christmas lights around. Last year there was a walk around historic Oldtown, with all these old houses lit up with lights. It was so incredibly beautiful.” Jeyne had always enjoyed Christmas of all the other holidays, if only because she loved the twinkling lights that glistened and glimmered in the darkness. There was something about it that drew her in, transfixed her in a way little else did. “I actually haven’t been able to get any up at my townhouse, which is unfortunate. But I’m sure I’ll figure something out. At least we have a tree.” Jeyne shrugged her shoulders as they walked, taking a moment to readjust her scarf around her neck and cursing herself for not wearing a heavier coat – though if she’d been walking, she likely would have chosen something different.

[gildedseashell]

maron greyjoy

“I hope I can prove that feeling correct then.” He smiled, a little shy in the face of such a brazen compliment based on what Maron felt was very little fact. The battle was probably now on his turf now, or at least whenever word got back to Asha that he’d seen Jeyne more than once and intended for that to mean many more times than twice. She would likely assume the worst of him, and maybe she’d be right, but Maron was willing to take the chance that maybe this was a little different that his usual. There was something about her that intrigued him, and the fact he knew very little about her in reality only made that a million times more exciting. There was also the blatant fact that that red sweater that she looked so good in would look miles better on his floor, just like the dress she’d worn to the party had all those nights ago. 

“Definitely the latter.” Those things all seemed minutely small next to how much he’d instantly liked Jeyne, and the extent to which he’d thought about her since he’d woken up in bed alone. His standards were, in reality, rather high - he couldn’t remember the last time someone had been worth the time of taking out on a date, or the last time had have any active intention to pursue someone for more than a night. Maron’s eyes lit up with an unconcealed joy that she’d agreed and that the universe had somehow aligned perfectly for all this to work. “Sounds perfect, I know just the place.” He flipped closed the small file he had on Rollam Westerling that he’d been prepared to go into in full depth about in this meeting, and folded his arms so he could lean forward on the desk. That could wait. “I’ll see you in a bit, yeah? Meet back here?” He was going to have such trouble focusing in his next meeting, but he could hardly complain about that. 

The smile that grew on her face was likely just as shy as Maron’s, but Jeyne was rarely one to feel embarrassed by the forthright nature that sometimes reared its ugly head. “I’m not worried,” she responded, well aware that she should be there to discuss Rollam more than to discuss the vague feelings that had lingered from their night together. Had she ever felt a chemistry like this with anyone else before? Jeyne wasn’t certain but she was certain that she wanted to see Maron again – and as more than Rollam’s teacher. Her eyes met his and the blue was as captivating as it had been before; Jeyne ran her hand through her hair, ignoring the vibration of her phone once more.

Her stomach twisted and Jeyne struggled to define the feeling behind it. It wasn’t quite anticipation, but it was rather close; perhaps Jeyne was simply content in the knowledge that this was going to be more than one night. Her lips curved upwards once more and she nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be back. As soon as I meet with the geography instructor. Rumor has it he gives extra credit if the parents can name every city in Essos.” With one more smile, Jeyne turned and headed to the geography classroom, where it turned out that the rumors were, in fact, incredibly unfounded. She nodded at the right times, however, and when the conference was up, she allowed herself one moment to check her phone and respond to a couple of messages before going back to see Maron.

She waited until the next parent left and then Jeyne knocked on the door frame, her smile less guarded. “I think that may have been the longest half hour of my life.”

[gildedseashell]

mira forrester

The week had been long and the day had made it longer. The school had gone to the rugby game at the stadium nearby and had experienced much more action with the players than she had expected to. What was she supposed to do in the moment? She didn’t know who Robb Stark was besides a rugby player but hadn’t stopped thinking about him since the afternoon. It didn’t help that the moment was engraved in all her students’ minds. At least it was the weekend now and hoped that it would be over by Monday, but had a feeling it wouldn’t be that optimistic. When she got a text from Jeyne about meeting up for a couple of drinks, her fingers couldn’t type out a quicker reply. A drink sounded exactly what she needed now as well as good company and hoped that Jeyne would be keen in hearing about her day. 

“You won’t believe the day I’ve had,” Mira said with a teasing pout, covering her eyes in humiliation before confessing. “I met Robb Stark at the game today. And might have done more than meet him. Gods, what was I thinking? Please tell me your day was better.”

@gildedseashell

Though they lived together, it was difficult for Jeyne to often have time to connect with Mira these days. She adored the other woman, perhaps more than anyone else, and there was hardly anyone else she’d consider a best friend. So nights like these – a drink out while Rollam stayed with a friend – were nights Jeyne looked forward to and as she slid into a chair and ordered a drink, she threw a smile over at Mira.

“Robb Stark?” she asked, her head tilting to the side as she remembered the field trip Mira had mentioned would be coming up. “Rugby player Robb Stark? How does one do more than meet him in such a public setting?” Her eyebrows waggled and Jeyne shrugged her shoulder. “Spent most of it trying to get this event planned. And…thinking about this guy I met at a party a couple of weeks ago.” Her lips twitched. “Apparently you know him. As does Rollam. And if I hadn’t gone out with him again after the conferences last night, I’d likely be just as embarrassed as you.”

[gildedseashell]

maron greyjoy

Very often, Maron was left in the wake of his drunk escapades to wonder why on earth it had been a good idea to take people home when they were far less attractive sober than they had been with a few beers optimizing his vision. This time, he didn’t have it in himself to regret leaving Asha’s holiday party with this stranger weeks back. There was no question that she was gorgeous, especially when she smiled like that. “In my experience, most kids his age learn that kind of thing from the people they’re around - he’s clearly lucky to have you.“ Maron didn’t know if his generosity would ever have gone that far with either of his younger siblings, but he knew what it felt like to be able to rely on an elder sibling for anything - it was something he was glad Rollam had. “Asha is so beyond stubborn, it would have been a battle of the wills, I’m sure.” Maron laughed, more than slightly flattered at the suggestion that Jeyne would have been willing to crack Asha to get to him. Now, it was his turn to grin, totally without thinking. 

“I’d like that too. Like, a ton.” This was absolutely not how he thought his least favorite night of the school year would go, and the surprise only added to the elation after having her face in the back of his mind for weeks now. “You say those things like they’re supposed to be deterrents, but I assure you, I’d be more than willing to work around worse than those.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair, considering Jeyne for a moment with his head tilted to one side, nothing if not confident. “Got any plans in half an hour from now? I have to see one more parent, but it shouldn’t take long. We could go grab dinner or something, and I could attempt to redeem myself from your levels of unprofessionalism by actually telling you how Rollam’s getting on, now that we’re wasting the time meant for that on ourselves, among other things, of course.” There was a clear common sense of humor between them, and Maron wasn’t too surprised by the fact he was just as comfortable around her now as he had been with the help of a few drinks at the party.

It was rare for Jeyne to leave a party with a man she had just met; certainly she’d had her share of hookups and breakups, but in recent years she had relied more upon those who were known to her rather than the unfamiliarity of strangers. But there’d been something different about Maron; that night he had seemed to draw her in and even now she was unable to look away. “I’m lucky to have him,” she admitted. “We get along well, even if I have to be parent more than sister some days.” Jeyne felt her phone vibrate in her hand and she ignored it, instead letting out a laugh at the idea of Asha being stubborn as well. “Well, there is that,” she agreed. “But I have the feeling you would have been worth the hassle of going into battle.” Perhaps if she had been the type to wink, one eye would have. Instead, she instead him a guileless smile, cheeks still rosy from their interactions – and from the butterflies that grew in her stomach at the sight of his grin.

Lips twisted into an amused smile. “Worse than those?” she asked, an impish glint entering her eye as she looked over at him. “Do you just have low standards or am I a special case?” Jeyne had liked him at the party and she found she liked him now, even if she now knew his full name and that he spent his days teaching her little brother. The question of going out surprised her, and Jeyne’s eyes widened as she considered his offer. She had more responsible things to be doing that evening – the Redwyne Christmas Gala was being held in under a week – but for some reason, the idea of telling him no was not one she wished to entertain. “Of course,” she drawled, taking her time as the words left her lips. “It shouldn’t be hard to do; my levels of unprofessionalism clearly run deeper than yours.” Her eyebrows arched playfully and Jeyne inclined her head in a nod. “I’d like that,” she said. “Rollam’s spending the night at a friend’s and I don’t have any plans.” Well, unless you counted going over seating arrangements a final time to avoid causing offense. “I have another teacher I need to meet with anyway. I can come back and meet you after?”

[gildedseashell]

maron greyjoy

“I’m glad to hear that actually. He’s bright, like really bright - he should be at a school where that’s nurtured and I believe there’s no better place than here for that.” Rollam was curious and open-minded and his brain seemed to work a mile a minute, so it didn’t surprise him at all that his family had gone to such trouble to get him here. It was not lost on him either, how much commitment that must be taking from Jeyne - to have your younger sibling live with you was no small feat. “In all honesty, Jeyne, I love having him in the class.” Maron raised an eyebrow at her joke, and chuckled. It was precisely why he didn’t insist on the cognomen Dr. with his students, despite having the qualifications for it - there was no desire in him to be viewed as a relic by them, or anybody else for that matter. “An easy mistake. Most of my colleagues in the science department are very much both those things.” 

He suspected she was nervous, but he thought it was endearing more than anything else, especially when the nerves were revealed to be caused by miscommunication rather than any real discomfort at being faced with someone she never wanted to see again. “She probably wouldn’t have told you - my sister hates it when I get involved with her friends.” In the past it had lead to tears, and he had caused a little more heartbreak than intended, but he wasn’t going to tell that to Jeyne. “It’s okay, really.” He couldn’t help but smile. “Things happen - but here we are. A second chance maybe?” Maron shrugged, reciprocating her verbalization that their night together shouldn’t have ended the way it did. “I don’t think there’s anything to pretend - I mean, leaving a hookup to go to a work meeting screams professional, responsible adult.” He teased, voice flat as one eyebrow was raised contrarily. 

Jeyne’s smile grew surer, more confident, but stayed as genuine as before as Maron spoke of her brother. She was proud of Rollam, always had been, and it was little trouble to have him stay with her while he went through school. “I agree,” she said with a slight shrug of her shoulder, having moved back into territory that was safe – and at least appropriate – for their current environment. “This is one of the best schools in the country.” Lips twitched and her cheeks pinked, but this time it was due to the pride she felt. “He is a good kid. We’ve always been the closest, even if he’s so much younger than I am. And if it were my sister, I think I’d come home to parties in the townhouse every evening.” Tilting her head to the side, Jeyne relaxed and leaned up against one of the desks. “Well, I think I’m rather glad you aren’t.”

Now that she knew he was Asha’s brother, Jeyne could see some similarities in their expressions, in their features, and she could have kicked herself for not realizing it earlier. “She didn’t respond,” Jeyne said with a wry smile and a shake of her head. “But I think she underestimates how tenacious I could have been.” There was a relief in his comment, in the knowledge that perhaps he had wanted to see her again as well. “I’d like that.” Her voice was soft and sincere, and Jeyne arched an eyebrow right back at him. “I did go home and change first. I have to get points for that at least.” Jeyne ran her hand through her hair, pushing a lock behind her ear. “I, um, well, I can’t cook for shit and I work too many hours and my brother has to be my first priority, but…maybe we could try this whole thing again?”

[gildedseashell]

maron greyjoy

The worst part of Maron’s job had to be this. He despised parent-teacher conferences with a burning passion, and they remained one of the few events that made him yearn for the isolated quiet of his old research office at Pyke University where there were no overbearing mothers or overly-gruff fathers to breathe down his neck about their children’s poor performance. He had never claimed to be diplomatic, and it had taken all his resolve to make it this far into the evening without snapping at somebody. It was no better that the next parent on the agenda was Rollam Westerling’s - despite the fact that he was one of Maron’s favourite, and brightest, students, he had been warned that his mother was a total nightmare. 

When the knock had him look up from his notes, he couldn’t help but stare at the woman in the door-frame in complete disbelief. It had been less than a month since they’d met for the first, and what had seemed then like the last time. “I am.” He said, trying to rein in his surprise. “You’re Rollam’s guardian?” There was no way Jeyne was the mother he’d been warned about - she was far too young and he remembered being told another name though it escaped him now. Despite the fact he had no idea how to deal with the woman who had left his apartment in the tiny hours of the morning showing up in this capacity at his place of work, he emitted a low laugh. “Small world, huh?” 

Of all the people she could have run into at the school tonight, the man in front of her was at the bottom of the list. [ Had they talked about anything of importance at all? In retrospect, she thought not. ] A nervous laugh escaped her lips and Jeyne’s cheeks pinked, her mind whirring with annoyance at herself for being unable to stay calm to the sight of him again. “He’s my brother,” she explained as she moved closer into the room, shutting the door behind her softly. “Schools here are better than back home, so he’s been living with me for a few years. Mother usually attends these things, but she’s gone on holiday.” Lips curved upwards and she hoped that he didn’t find her babbling nearly as annoying as she thought it might sound from her own ears. “Rollam loves your class. But I…was kind of expecting someone older and…greyer.” Jeyne winced.

A long exhale followed her horrible attempt at humor and she looked back at him with a more genuine expression than she had worn at work all day. “The smallest,” she agreed, wondering how inappropriate it would be to discuss the intricacies of the night they’d met. “I texted Asha to ask who you were today,” she blurted out. “I meant to leave my number at least, but I had a work meeting and I overslept, which is so rare because I never sleep as well as I did that night and I probably shouldn’t be telling you that and…I am going to shut up and pretend to be the professional, responsible adult my mother thinks I am.”

[gildedseashell]

@ofsevenkingdoms Oldtown

Who scheduled parent-teacher conferences right before Christmas break? Jeyne Westerling tried not to scowl as she walked through the school hallways, her stilettos tapping against the floor. Her younger brother, Rollam, had lived with her for a couple of years so he could attend one of the more prestigious schools in Oldtown and while her mother usually attended conferences, this year her parents were on a cruise of the Summer Isles for the holidays. The red cashmere sweater Jeyne wore set off her hair and the pencil skirt clung to her hips. Tapping at her phone, she actually scowled as she saw that Asha hadn’t responded to her last text asking about a guy she’d met at the other woman’s holiday party a couple weeks before.

The first teacher she was to meet was a Mr. Greyjoy, of whom Rollam had sung praises for the past year. Jeyne knocked on the classroom doorframe and walked in, expecting an older man rather obsessed with cephalopods. What she saw, however, was someone entirely different. “Shit,” she said, before covering her mouth, eyes wide as she looked upon the man she’d woken up next to the night after Asha’s party. “You’re Mr. Greyjoy?”

[a-devious-route]

Synnove Karlsen - (request)

400*640

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