westerosorting | Win or die.

Name: Lola
How did you find out about the community? If it's through an LJ user, please tell us who it is (individual user if possible, not just a community name!): Just people on my f'list discussing whether to join, I think?
Age: 28
Location: London, UK
Occupation: Transport official

All About You

1. Describe your ideal house/home. Please go into as much detail as possible, and be sure to include your ideal geographical location in the description!.

It's got to be in a city. A major city at that - bustling, cosmopolitan, loud and full of life. (New York, Paris, London). A penthouse apartment full of light - huge glass walls, high ceilings, stripped wooden floors, the kind of place that echoes when you yell :)

One room converted into a library - with a big leather sofa in the middle to curl up on with a book. Blankets and pillows galore. The wood should be dark, but the room brightly lit and warm.

The kitchen should be a major feature - kitted out with all those cool 'hidden' appliances and sliding cupboards. Lots of surfaces to prepare big dinners and bake. Cool, clean metallic finishes as far as possible, with a black marble floor. A big island unit in the middle for less formal meals, where people can sit to eat, drink and chat even while things are still cooking.

The living room needs a piano. And an abundance of big sofas and armchairs. Comfort without clutter, and a huge TV mounted on the wall. This should be the one room that really needs the all-glass wall - preferably giving a panoramic view out over the city.

As for the bedroom, well, a little decadence never hurt. The bed needs to be huge, and sturdy, and posts are always handy ;) Thick, dark curtains to keep the light out - this is the one place that doesn't need much natural light. Clothes kept in an adjoining dressing room, the room itself should be all about rest. Dark colours for the linens - cotton for the summer and flannel and wool for the winter.

Bathroom needs a standalone bath, and one of those waterfall showers. All white is soothing I think, with silver for the taps and stuff. There should be little shelves and alcoves to store books and have somewhere to play music from, too. And plenty of candles for bathtime.

2. Imagine you’re given the classic opportunity: a genie granting you three wishes. What would you wish for? Please be as elaborate as you can. Wishing for more wishes is not permitted!

#Lifelong financial security - I don't need to be crazy rich, but I would like to never worry about another bill, or saving for a house deposit, or affording something essential.

#An end to animal cruelty - humans need to take themselves in hand, but hurting animals upsets me more than just about anything. If I could eradicate this, I'd be so content.

#A green card/visa/some way of living permanently in the US - because I just really, really want to.

3. In your life so far, what accomplishment are you the most proud of? Why? You can list more than one if you have trouble deciding. ;)

Moving to London when I was 18 and never having to slink back. I had no support, no encouragement, just a dream and a snap decision to get on a train. I made great friends who I still love, and I have a life here that's close to what I've always wanted. And I did it, it wasn't given to me.

4. Which of the following is most important to you: Love, Money, Knowledge, Family, Friendship, Adventure, or Pleasure? Which is the least important to you? Please explain why for each choice.

Most important? Love. For my soon-to-be-wife, for my best friends, for the sensation of loving someone or something so much that you think you might burst just from feeling it. There really isn't anything else that comes close, although I was tempted by Money for a minute there.

Least important? Family. At least, as I currently understand it. What you're born into and who you happen to be related to doesn't count for much unless you all make it count. I'd rather good friends than 'family' any day, and one has definitely replaced the other for me.

5. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values? Explain.

"I chose and my world was shaken, so what?
The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not."

Stephen Sondheim - "Move On"

It's my philosophy, or as close as I have to one. It's not about what you decide to do in the end, because you won't know until you see it through how it happens (and you can always change it, or make another decision later) but you have to decide in the first place. Indecision ruins everything, makes you miss out on things that could be great, and makes you less strong. Just choose, pick one--and deal with the rest later. But move, dammit.

6. How do you manage your money? On that note, how important is money/financial security to you? Go into as much detail as you can.

I manage my money with a budgeting program, online banking and slightly obsessive attention to detail. I can't relax unless there's enough money in the bank for all the things that I need. I love buying things I want, and being able to give other people the things they want.

The rare times when my financial security has been threatened? I've been up all night, it completely messes me up.

7. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?

Theatre - watching it, talking about it, thinking about writing it. I love it and its immediacy and the moments of community and the brilliance of truly good stage actors.

Football (soccer) - I have my team and I live and die with their successes or failures every week. My fellow fans are my people, you know? No matter where we come from or what we have, we all have those eleven guys in common for 90 minutes and it's awesome (except when we lose. But then we drink lots and it doesn't suck anymore).

8. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.

Fire - it was really a phobia for most of my life. Early childhood trauma made me super-scared and though I've worked through it now I still get panicky, e.g. when I hear there are rioters in London setting fire to buildings. It's too hot, and too powerful and too fast.

Failure - I get physically ill at just the thought of screwing something up badly.

Drowning - I don't trust deep water, especially the sea. So easy to be dragged under, and to drown so very quickly. *shudder*

9. Name (and elaborate on) your top three BEST and top three WORST qualities (personality-related, not physical). Please answer as fully as you can, as this is an important question.

Best:
1. Pragmatic: I can take a step back. I can make the difficult choice. I can take the less appealing path to get to where we need to get to. I can get emotion out of it when I have to
2. Funny: I love making people laugh. I can't help but crack jokes, be sarcastic, try to lighten the mood. It makes me feel better to do it.
3. Loyal: when you're my people? You're my people. Doesn't change, unless you screw me over. I will literally have your back in a fist fight, and shout down anyone smack talking you until they're crying for their mama. Nobody messes with my people, simple as.

Worst
1. Selfish - it takes me a while to see beyond my own POV a lot of the time. I tend to think of what I want and need first every time, and sometimes need prodding.
2. Quick to anger - sometimes in a good cause, but I can go off like a rocket when things piss me off
3. Lazy - sometimes I'd rather just sleep than actually deal with stuff, good or bad.

A Song of Ice and Fire Related

1.Who are your favorite three characters in the series? Why?

1. Catelyn Stark - she's the quietly classy HBIC. She compromises like only women are ever asked to and stays strong in the face of really all the badness. She's a mother without being smothering, and she's just so kickass I can barely stand it.
2. Jaime Lannister - because he is so much more than the Kingslayer. His journey is probably my favourite, and dealing with his feelings for Cersei and about his own choices just fascinates me from start to finish. I think he's becoming a good man.
3. Cersei Lannister - oh, flawed and beautiful. She could be so great, and she should be and yet... I'm not sure she won't screw herself over and over again. Oh, Cersei

2.Who are your least favorite three characters in the series? Why?
Stannis, Melisandre and Lysa - the first two because I find it hard to care about their arc, they're largely unsympathetic. And Lysa is just hysterical and manipulative and stupid. She's ruined Robin with her overprotectiveness, and well, I kind of cheered when she took a tumble.

3.#1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far? Why?
Sansa escaping King's Landing. I was so worried for her with the whole Joff thing, and wanted her to get out of the sad situation with Tyrion (for both of their sakes). I've grown to like her so much more since the first book--and this was vindication for how much I've become invested in her story.

4. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end, and why?
With Sansa on the Iron Throne? heh, or at least reunited with her living siblings. I want some kind of Stark happiness after all this, because they've been breaking my heart book by book.