sweeter than honey

IC blog for Polly West, one of LilyB's gabillion GW2 characters

[pollywestgw2]

Free

Dear Mr. Barlow ( @rhynna ),

Well, this is an odd letter to write.  I assume you’ve been working on my divorce from the missing Peter Bruni, but in meantime, well -- he showed up.  And tried to do some pretty awful things, and in the end, ended up dead from it.  I made sure a copy of the paperwork went to Garenhoff so no one starts that nonsense up again.  I’ll of course reimburse you for any time spent pursuing the divorce.  

Speaking of legal formalities -- I’d like to pursue a formal name change, in both Kryta and Lion’s Arch.  Sod that Helena Bruni, she’s never had anything but bad luck.  How about you help me make Polly West a permanent sort of thing?

All the best, Polly

[mavrosaerosrae]

What significant event in your life changed your path for the better?

It hadn’t seemed all that significant at the time but the heavily scarred man knew it in hindsight. “Polly.” He said her name in unison with his usual grunt. It was matter-of-fact in the usual low monotone of his voice. That was it- He offered no elaboration.

[[ @pollywestgw2 for the mention. ]]

[mypieceofculture]

Witch Aesthetics // Jazz Age Witch

Requested

Chaos Witch | Seaside Witch | Divination Witch | Storm Witch | Scent Witch | 

Circus Witch | Blood Witch | Writer Witch | Spirit Witch | Rainbow Witch

[araxus-eldridge]

@many-voices

[pollywestgw2]

A Man Sees a Poster

He isn’t an impressive man.  He’s Krytan, or at least that’s what the heavily tanned skin and shock of black hair seems to indicate.  He walks with a slight limp, but uses no cane.  Twin swords sit easily in harnesses against his back.  For his height, he’s well muscled.  A laborer, perhaps.  Someone who needs muscle in his work.

The poster hangs crookedly on the outer wall of a Lion’s Arch warehouse. Mold speckles the poster’s formerly bright colors where the damp has soaked through and dried and soaked again.  One splotch of mold covers the shoulder and neck of the singer the poster advertises, but the man knows the woman’s face.  The glossy black of her hair, the slight up-turn of her smile, the curves beneath her clothes.

On their wedding day, she smiled like sunshine even through joyful tears.  She smiled too on the day she tried to murder him.  His feet slid in the wet grass at the waterfall’s edge, his arms pinwheeled, and she smiled, showing teeth, as he fell back into the torrent and pain.

Polly West.  He’d stayed away.  It wasn’t time, not yet.  He wasn’t yet thirty; he had years to bring his plans to fruition.  But here she was, his little songbird.  Polly.  Like a bird, like a chittering parrot.  It fit.  He thought it’d take far longer to find her, but he’s a music-lover.  It’s what they’d talked about when they were young and besotted and she’d conjured up all her wild ideas.  He looks at posters.  He sees her now.

It wouldn’t hurt to hear some music.  He always loved a good song.

[nitratediva]

Kay Francis in Michael Curtiz’s Mandalay (1934).

[classichollywoodcentral]

Eleanor Powell

[mavrosaerosrae]

📝 Polly!

Their first impression: “She spoke to Hound. No one has ever spoke directly to Hound before.”

Their current impression: “She still speaks to Hound as if she could speak back. Polly is the only person that matters in my life. I have and will continue to do anything for her. Anything.”

What they like the most about your muse: “She is everything that I cannot be. She is expressive, vocal, lively and adored by many. She is the most honest and loyal person- woman, I have met. For her age, that says a lot. For her gender that says more.”

What they dislike the most about your muse: “Her marriage, even though it has been years since she was with him. However, that shall be dissolved in time. Other than that, there is nothing about her that I dislike.”

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival etc.): “There is no word that could accurately describe what Polly is to me. I do not have friends for I take that role seriously. Not many have the capacity for loyalty and honesty for such a title. She, however, does. We are lovers, companions… I offered to commit my life to her very recently. We are since affianced.”

A general opinion of their relationship: “It goes beyond describing and no one could understand it but us. In truth, that is all that matters.”

If applicable, something they wish to reveal: “The truth of my past; my disfigurement. I tell no one but if I were to speak of it, it would be to her.”

[pollywestgw2]

📝 ( Mavros, of course. And Reese if you want a bit of a challenge.)

(( I love a challenge! ))

Mavros!

Their first impression:  Aww, cute dog.  Man’s not so bad either.

Their current impression:  Love of my life, doll, and I don’t say that casually.  Love of my life.  

What they like the most about your muse: Lots of men talk.  Talk, talk, brag, blather.  They may say sweet things, they may say ‘love,’ but it’s talk.  Jaws flapping, empty noise.  Mavros – he’s not built to ever tell me he loves me.  But he sure as hell acts like it.  You want to know which one’s more important?  Yeah.

What they dislike the most about your muse:  I’m not telling tales on my man.  What kind of good woman does that?  If I had to say anything, I’d say that I wish he could believe me when I said my own loving words. But that’s just what it is, it’s nothing that can be fixed.

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.):  Fiancee, as of this morning.  Just have to get a divorce first.

A general opinion of their relationship:  Oh, you’ve got no idea what it’s like to be him and me.  I’m a lucky lady.  He’s a lucky man.

If applicable, something they wish to reveal:  The idea of marriage still makes me go weak in the knees in a bad way, but my first marriage was such shit.  I trust Mavros every which way, but gods, I hope I do better this time.

Reese!

Their first impression: Not bad on the eyes.  So this is the man who’s sleeping with my man’s ex.

Their current impression: We only met the once, but I felt bad when Mavros told me Becker left him too.  I thought he had a chance at something good.

What they like the most about your muse:  He fixed my guns without either trying to get my skirts up or talking to me like I was an idiot.

What they dislike the most about your muse:  Even I can’t think of something to harp on after one meeting.  

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.):  A really good gun-smith.  Hopefully shacked up now with someone sweet and kind, who wants to stick around.

A general opinion of their relationship: I’d take my weapons back to him anytime.

If applicable, something they wish to reveal:  I wondered how different it was for Becker, being with Reese after Mavros.  And I wondered for just a moment what it would be like to have a man who could talk sweetly to me.  But I wouldn’t trade what I have for the world.

[pollywestgw2]

📝 (Elaine)

Their first impression:  Classy lady.  Red looks good on her.

Their current impression:  You know, she’s a nice one.  Has a sense of humor too, under all those upright manners.  

What they like the most about your muse: She likes animals, or at least she lets them eat up other folks’ carriages.  And she has good taste in vocalists, don’t ever forget that.

What they dislike the most about your muse:  I don’t know her well enough to have any complaints.  Just a nice, pretty noble lady on the lower end of the Roses day-drinking scale.

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.):  I’d say friend. I’d have lunch with her in the Reach. And I’ve seen her drugged and talking about climbing her man like a tree, so I think we’re past ‘acquaintance.’

A general opinion of their relationship:  We should do that lunch.

[pollywestgw2]

Dear Mr. Barlow

I don’t know if you remember me from your efforts freeing me from jail in Garenhoff.  I can never forget what you did for me, how you saved me.  Now I have a much easier request, or I hope it’s easier.  It’s sort of tangled, like everything else about my first marriage has been.

I need to gain a divorce.  

Obviously, Peter Bruni is still considered alive, or still missing.  Has he officially ‘deserted’ me, given our time apart?  I’d like to pursue a legal divorce either way.  

I hate to throw myself at your mercy again, but I finally want to move forward from that terrible period of my life in all ways, and as soon as possible. 

If you remember the circumstances of my first marriage, you’ll know why I need this to be done as discreetly as possible, and with no connection to the name I use now.  My safety is in your hands (and I’m willing to pay handsomely for it).

Thank you, Mr. Barlow.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Helena Bruni

( @rhynna )

[oldschoolbeauties]

Hedy Lamar, 1940′s

[lidiamerula]

A letter arrived for “Helena” at the Vigil Tavern in Lion’s Arch, sealed with a wax seal imprinted with a glittering G upon its face.

“Dearest Polly,

Though we are apart, know that I am always thinking of you and the kindness you have shown me. You will never know just how much it means to me.

I hope one day you will visit though I know that things must remain the way they are for now. 

However, when you do, ask for McGregor- my “Land Lord”. He will direct you to where you need to go.

I miss you terribly. When I am feeling sad I think back to our time at the beach, one of the happiest memories I possess.

I wanted to write you to let you know I am alright and in good health.

May our paths meet again soon.

- Gemma”

[ @pollywestgw2 ]

[pollywestgw2]

“I know it’s a lot to ask,” Polly said to the woman opposite her at the tea-house.  “You got me out of -- well, a ‘jam’ is a small word.  But this time at least I’ve got coin to pay for it.”

Karla Braunfels ( @karla-braunfels ) shook her head.  “Keep your coin, Miss West.  The situation as you’ve described is one I’d help with regardless.”  Karla reached out and rearranged the teapot and cups quickly enough that Polly barely wondered why the gesture occurred.  “Consortium identification, Arch citizenry documents, travel permits throughout Southsun.  Will that do for now?”

“More than,” said Polly.  “You are just the handiest lady.”

“I try,” said Karla.  “Good day.”

[lidiamerula]

[ @pollywestgw2 ]

[pollywestgw2]

Music from a Debut

Thanks for having Polly “sing” a couple of songs at @lindelaelemonlarkspur‘s party!

I like to give credit where credit is due every time Polly does an IC performance, so here we go!

“In a World of My Own” and “In the Golden Afternoon” are both from the 1951 Disney musical Alice in Wonderland. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtP60NmDKqc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpBdmXiceM

Neither of those are anywhere near Polly’s IC voice, but for Lemon (who loves the Tyrian book “Alice in Etherland”), Polly thought they were perfect.  Thanks for inviting her!

[luxelen]

A pale pink scroll inside a small jewelry-like box, with an ominous ‘Read Me’ tag and a small darksteel key, arrived at several addresses throughout Kryta and beyond.   Once unraveled, it’d reveal a pastel-colored invitation to the littlest Larkspur’s coming-of-age ball.  Along with the scroll, a playing card –seemingly stolen from a numberless deck– included RSVP instructions and transportation details.

The scroll, however, read as follows:

You are hereby cordially obligated invited to attend the coming-of-age fête honoring Lady Lindelae “Lemon” Larkspur on Phoenix 14, at four bells past midday.  By decree of the Queen of Hearts, and her consort the Mad Hatter, tea shall be drank, treats shall be consumed, a dance and game of croquet shall be played, and riddles shall be brainstormed as a prelude to the Grand Trial that shall proceed the celebration.

Enclosed are instructions for transport to Olivia’s Refuge from Lion’s Arch, along with the secret password:   “ Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

We look forward to seeing you there, or else it’s OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

PS.  Thematic costumes, while highly desirable, are not necessary.  But the Queen of Hearts and Alice herself will wander the crowds in search of the best attires for prizes and goodies in honor of Lemon!  

(( This event is taking place on Saturday, April 14, at 4pm PST / 7pm EST at [Chat] Lower Precipice ghall.  A squad will be available for it under Aramaia.4365.  The theme is, as above, Alice in Wonderland!  We’ve dubbed it Alice in Etherland for Tyria purposes but the fairy tale is the same.  Costumes based on the various characters are highly encouraged!   I’ve put together a mood board here, and here for inspiration.   We hope to see you guys there!! ))

@lindelaelemonlarkspur 

[pollywestgw2]

♥ Do they understand their partners/person they are courting’s feelings without them having to say anything?

Absolutely.  Mavros isn’t much of a talker, and Polly’s learned to interpret a broad range of opinions based on narrowed eyes, furrowed brows, the mood of his dogs, the rigidity of his stance.  It’s been an education for this very talkative woman, to fall so helplessly for someone who isn’t nearly as wordy.

[pollywestgw2]

♥ How did their relationship start?

(( I love this story, actually. ))

On a street corner!  Not like that, shut up.  But Mavros was standing on a corner in Rurikton with his dog Hound at his side, and Polly liked the look of the dog and started talking to her.  The man eventually joined in.  Soon after, Mavros ran into Polly again while she was tipsily walking home from some singing gig.  He accompanied her wobbly, chatty self back to her Commons hovel, and for her, that was it, he was the one she wanted.  He was quiet, did what he said he’d do, didn’t bullshit her, didn’t try to pressure her into bed, and asked her questions about herself. Perfect!

She fell for him like a ton of bricks; it took him longer.  Now there’s no way she could imagine herself with anyone else.

( @mavrosaerosrae )