Comment fic meme #2

[gotexchange_mod]

After the first round of got_exchange we had a surprisingly successful comment fic meme going for a while (here's a list of all the fics that were written last time), so I thought it might be fun to do this again. (Like last time, it's posted on the mod account journal because I don't want to enable anonymous comments on the exchange community.)

I changed the

Comments

Petyr/Lysa, King's Landing (ASoS spoilers)

[juno_chan]

Something about their relationship in King's Landing, how Petyr manipulates her.

FILL: Her eyes closed, Part I

[sternflammenden]

It isn’t difficult to find moments in which he can come to her. Although Lysa knows that she should refuse his offers and advances (after all, she should think of their son at least, hard-won to say the least), it’s Petyr. Her Petyr, but not quite. After all, she’s married, Lady Arryn now, and although she isn’t so much a part of court life as her Lord is, tongues are hungry for gossip, minds starved for scandal.

It’s not what it looks like, she tells herself. Just an old friend, risen high. We only speak of the past, and not the present, or what could be.That is a lie, of course

FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

*

He hands her a small bottle after one of their clandestine meetings, and at first, thinking that it is perfume, uncaps it to daub a bit behind an ear, in her bosom, to show her appreciation. But Petyr stays her hands.

“Take care, my love,” he says, and for once, the lilting note in his voice is gone. “I would not have you come to such an end.”

And then he explains, in a whisper, nipping at her neck between her exclamations of shock, and then, as things progress, pleasure. It is a way for them to be together and isn’t that what she wants. It is the only way, of course. And no one will ever believe it possible.

She tucks the bottle in the corner of a drawer stuffed with fripperies, handkerchiefs and half-spent pomades, tarnished rings in need of a cleaning, a place where no one will bother to look. It will keep there until the time is ripe.

And then she yields, her eyes tightly closed.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[lydzi]

This is amazing! Great psychology and I love your take on Lysa. She lost before even the battle began.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Thank you!

I love writing Lysa so much. I totally sympathize with her.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[juno_chan]

I just need to bask in how PERFECT this is for awhile.

Thank you so much for filling this, it is wonderful. I loved the choice to have it from Lysa's point of view, we can see that something is off-balance about their whole relationship but we see it through her eyes that are so desperate to believe.

Some of my favorite parts: 'tongues are hungry for gossip, minds starved for scandal.' describes the court perfectly, and yet also hints at Lysa's paranoia, her fear that everyone is looking and watching.

'“I’ve never forgotten,” Lysa says softly, and hates herself. ' Oh, Lysa! That, paired with 'He makes her feel young again. That is something.' just sums up her tragedy so well, knowing what lies ahead for her - her best days are behind her and she is always grasping for them. (Also love her not caring for Petyr's beard, another reminder of time passing and things changing.)

'“Take care, my love,” he says, and for once, the lilting note in his voice is gone. “I would not have you come to such an end.” Ahhhh I love the

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Wow, thank you. This was totally my pleasure to write; I adore Lysa and love writing things from her POV, especially the whole Petyr-Cat affair. She simultaneously enrages me and breaks my heart.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[lainemontgomery]

Ohhh my goodness, poor Lysa!

There's something so profoundly sad about her; the yearning and unrequited love...she's so THWARTED, and you capture that perfectly here.

Petyr is spot-on, too- the master manipulator, always. Using her love and desire for him to get her to poison Jon Arryn...ughhhh. But also, YES, because that's exactly what he would do.

Simply stunning.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Thank you - as I said in a comment above, Lysa's character both infuriates and breaks my heart. She's so lost and tragic and blind to what Petyr does.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[fallingtowers]

Your characterization of Lysa, as always, is flawless! :)

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Thank you so much!
I really enjoy writing her, even if it's sad.

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[embossedsilver]

Oh, this is so wonderfully heartbreaking. I love your Lysa, as always.

I love all the little details in this: her relationship with Jon, or how she hated Petyr's beard (which she makes him shave off, of course).

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Thank you. I think she's my favorite character to write at this point. I don't even know how that happened. :)

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[rachel2205]

This is great and so sad!

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[sternflammenden]

Thank you! I know, Lysa's life is just one giant tragedy. :(

Re: FILL: Her eyes closed, Part II

[fields195]

This was a great examination of Lysa in King's Landing. I feel so much sympathy for her, and I like how you allowed her to have some self-awareness and shame about her relationship with Petyr. Lysa feeling "plain and dull" compared to others is practically the theme of her life, and it worked well to apply that to the remade, stylish Petyr. The line, "I would not have you come to such an end," is perfect and horrifying when you think of Lysa's actual demise. Lysa's perspective was great in this story and so poignant since we know that Petyr was deliberately manipulating her for his own ends. Wonderful job!