(D3 EE) Soon the sun sets

[Leovall Marten]

"Quite the audience." He admits, self-consciously running a hand through his hair and then fiddling with his fringe. The focus on himself from the pretty maiden, with company there no less, was something he'd never trained for.

Looking down he nods again. "You were, um, watching closely then."

[Alicent Feyther]

"Of course," she replied with a smile. The shyness was a bit cute. "It's only polite to pay close attention to the competitors at an event, isn't it?"

Dyanna was keeping an eye on them, but had stepped back to let them talk.

[Leovall Marten]

"Erm, yes. Naturally." Her explanation is readily accepted with Leovall looking up and feeling less self-conscious. However, he still didn't know what to say in that moment.

[Alicent Feyther]

"What brings you out to the gardens this evening, Ser?" She asked, willing to lead the conversation.

[Leovall Marten]

Something else he was glad for. "They're good surroundings for contemplation. Besides, I keep meeting beautiful women here." He flashes Alicent a grin before smiling toward her sister-in-law. "And their equally enchanting family." Leovall adds light heartedly.

[Alicent Feyther]

Dyanna smiled and shook her head. "You flatter."

"There are an unusual amount of beautiful women at this tournament. It's going to get a reputation at this rate," she commented with a soft laugh. "Contemplating anything in particular?"

[Leovall Marten]

"Yes, now, after you saying that. Namely why the tournaments in the Vale are so over-represented with men compared to those of the Reach. Hahaha." Grinning and looking far more upbeat he shakes his hand before him to dismiss the silly question. "In truth I was considering the next step for most of us at our age, but I should simply focus on the tournament and come what may."

[Alicent Feyther]

"Well, beautiful flowers tend to grow in the Reach," she noted with a small grin. "I think we've seen evidence of that. Though those from outside brought their own - a mountain wildflower that grows through adversity and is all the more beautiful for it, a lovely and sunny-colored perennial..." She gestures toward Dyanna. "... And unfortunately, one of those weird, runty flowers that grow by sea cliffs."

"It's an important consideration... Something I'm sure is on the minds of everyone our age, especially at events like this..."

[Leovall Marten]

"There are many fine blooms, but without a mirror they can hardly judge themselves." Leovall replies, catching onto her metaphor after the gesture and then making sense of what Alicent was saying. He seemed pleased he had done!

"And on the minds of our seniors, with few of them missing the opportunity to remind us of the fact. I'm truthfully relieved to be here with my cousins and not my parents. I adore them, yes, but they can be very insistent. It must be the nature of parents, isn't that so?"

[Alicent Feyther]

She chuckled. "Isn't that the truth..." She sighed and shook her head. "Our lives are rarely our own. They belong to our parents and our lords later unless there is some deeply pressing need to take the reins for ourselves. At least it's nice to have some choice in regard to who we spend our futures with."