westerosorting | Win or Die - better to die on your feet than live on your knees

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Win or Die - better to die on your feet than live on your knees

Name: Thess will do for the moment, thanks. (Half my meatspace friends call me that now.)
How did you find out about the community? If it's through an LJ user, please tell us who it is:

guad, who I know from

hogwarts_elite (fellow Hufflepuff). They had car pictures featuring various House crests and we got to talking.
Age: 31
Location: London, UK
Occupation: Temporary secretary, aspiring writer.

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!
I am always at my most comfortable in major metropolitan areas near oceans or, at the very least, large rivers. Maybe it's something about trade ports, I don't know. But my preferred home would be in a big cosmopolitan city for good access to museums, galleries, theatres, restaurants, bars and shopping, so there's always plenty to do. New York would serve, as would San Francisco, Brighton or London - these cities meet all my criteria and have friends of mine living in them. Already knowing someone in the area is a great recommendation to move there.

My ideal home is an apartment, preferrably one of those converted warehouse places that has one main level and a smaller loft upstairs. The lower level is devoted to the living and entertaining areas, and mostly open plan. The living room and dining room exist as one big space, separated by the back of a cushy three-seater sofa, and the kitchen is mostly walled off from these areas, but with a glass wall and an opening where a door might be, so anyone cooking can see and hear what the guests in the other room are doing. There's a good-sized TV, a very good stereo (wireless networked to the mp3 collection on the home PC, saving CD clutter) and shelves for books and nick-nacks. The colour scheme is mahogany, sky blue and orange for warmth and contrast. There's a guest bathroom, done in cream and light brown, with all the amenities, and the sofa folds out for houseguests.

The loft takes up half the flat space and overlooks the sitting room area of the downstairs, so curtains are kept drawn whenever company is expected. Up here there's a bedroom and a study, and a small but well-appointed bathroom. The bedroom's small but cosy - big fluffy pillows, good duvet, roomy wardrobe and chests of drawers, bookshelf at the foot of the bed - and honestly nothing to write home about. The study is something else again. Bookshelves cover every inch of wall that's not given to windows or doorway, and the desk sits in front of the window so I can look out onto the water when stuck for an idea.

2. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.
1) Failure. Seriously, terrified of failure. I hate the disappointment, the disapproval, the blame and the pity that comes with failure, not to mention the losing out on what I wanted to do or have.
2) Silence. It sounds weird, but silence has a sound of its own, and it's reminiscent of the fact that there's no one with you - no one living, anyway. It's superstitious and really unformed, but I need to have noise going when I'm on my own - music, the TV in the next room, anything that makes a bit of noise. It's not the being alone I mind - it's the extra-strength quiet that gets to me.
3) Organised religion. As a child, I got sent to a sleepaway camp affiliated with the Sunday school my dad had saddled me with on the weekends I spent with him (divorce - Dad wasn't even religious, he just wanted more alone-time with his lover. Eh). The place was horrific. I could about tolerate the enforced prayer first thing on waking, before each meal as an adjunct to saying grace and last thing at night. I could tolerate the thrice-daily sermons. I could even tolerate a counsellor telling me I was going to hell because I didn't try to stop my parents' divorce. What I could not tolerate was having various people in my cabin told they were going to hell because they didn't speak English, nor could I tolerate the 'exorcism' they performed one night, which involved tying up some poor kid who'd have been fine if his sugar intake had been monitored better (he was a bit hyperactive) and sitting him in front of a bonfire and chanting prayers over him while wearing white sheets. Next day, I snuck off to use the phone, rang Dad and told him about it. He thought I was exaggerating (reading it now, I guess I can't blame him) and ignored my pleas to take me home. I was stuck there another three days and was nearly climbing the walls at the end of it. Since then, I haven't really been able to look at organised religion of any stripe the same way. I know it's not all bad, I know that bunch are just isolated loonies and a really vocal minority, but it's basically a phobia now and I'm happy in my casual paganism anyway.

3. Imagine you’re given the classic opportunity: a genie granting you three wishes. What would you wish for? Wishing for more wishes is not permitted!
"I wish for you to take this wish and my following two in the spirit in which I meant them so as to be to my benefit, and not in some twisted way that could technically be seen as granting my wish but is really just designed to screw me over."
"I wish to become independently wealthy in a manner that does not in any way involve any illegal activity that could be traced back to me or anyone's death or loss of already owned personal property ... so, the complete winning numbers for [date's] lottery and ensuring that no one else picks that precise combination for that date so that I am assured the entire jackpot, please."
"I wish that my novels, when written and submitted, are read and given due consideration by all publishers they may encounter - I do not ask that they be unconditionally accepted, just that they not be dropped into the nearest bin before they're even read by someone who matters."

4. In your life so far, what accomplishment are you the most proud of? You can list more than one if you have trouble deciding. ;)
Having completed the 50k word goal for National Novel Writing Month 2008. I'm more proud of that year than the other years I've succeeded because it's the first year that I didn't absolutely loathe any of the 50k words I wrote. Every year up until 2008, I've hated my projects - a little less each year, but still hated them and thought they were of no use to anyone. 2008's attempt showed me how much I've improved with all the practice I've been getting, and actually gives me hope that one day ... well, okay, I'll never write something that's up to my own standards but I hold myself to impossibly high standards. Anyway, the hope it gives me is that one day I'll write something that I think is worth showing to a wider audience, and I think I'm nearly there.

5. Which of the following is most important to you: Love, Money, Knowledge, Family, Friendship, Adventure, or Pleasure? Which is the least important to you?
Knowledge is the most important thing to me. Knowledge is power in just about all walks of life, whether it's getting the upper hand in business or just staving off boredom, so I value it highly (though Friendship and Adventure come very close behind in the ranking. Money's probably what I consider to be 'least important', though only by default - so long as I have enough to live on, more or less, I'm good. Besides, almost any of the other things can get you the things money can - family, friends and loved ones won't let you starve and knowledge and adventure can be lucrative), but money can't buy you family, true friends, true knowledge or true love. Apparently you can rent good facsimiles of that last, though I think that comes under pleasure.

6. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values?
I spent an awful lot of time going through quotes pages and trying to think of what best described me and my values. And then I got stuck in the quandary of, "Is this the side of me I want strangers to see?" and "Is this accurate, or just what I want to believe?" or, "Is this too accurate?" So eventually, because I got so stuck between honesty, modesty and shyness, I stuck with the one that fit the absolute best:
"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." - Janis Joplin

7. How do you manage your money? On that note, how important is money/financial security to you?
It's hard to manage money when you haven't actually got any. When I do, though, I set aside everything that I need to for bills and commute expenses, then do the grocery shopping. After that, whatever's left over gets saved up for something I really want, and even then I end up experiencing fits of spending guilt over it. Still, money's not overly important to me as a concept - it's important to ensure that there'll always be enough to live on, but it's not worth anything if you won't spend it. I don't have enough ready cash to 'speculate to accumulate', though I might if I did, but I don't believe in sitting on money like a dragon on its hoard. When the necessities are done and there's enough set aside for emergencies, money should be used to enjoy one's self.

8. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?
I love reading. Experiencing a whole other world from the point of view of another person (or that of several characters) is probably one of my favourite ways to kill time. That said, the only thing I like better than to read stories is to write them myself, because then I get to think like a whole host of other people and tell myself a story. (Sometimes I even show other people!) I suppose that's why I like roleplaying games so much as well - I only do online RP and LARP these days owing to problems getting a tabletop group together, but I love playing a character and helping tell a story, watching it unfold and knowing I helped. ...Though in all honesty, I prefer being on the Storyteller side of the table, partially because the far-too-many ideas in my head need to be let out and we don't practice trepanning for that kind of thing anymore. (Plus I'm a bit of a control freak at times, though ironically I don't chain players to a set plot wagon; it's just that if I'm going to be surprised by a character action, I want to have a disposable non-player character take the fall than a player character I actually have time to get attached to.)

9. Name (and elaborate on) your top three BEST and top three WORST qualities (personality-related, not physical).
BEST
Imaginative
I think my imagination is my best quality on a number of levels. On the one hand, it lets me world-build and characterise well when writing or RPing, and provide ideas for outings and projects so that I'm never really bored. It also means I can look at most situations from various different angles. I can imagine what the other person must be feeling so I'm not at a loss if I need to comfort or confront someone, or dream up ways of dealing with a situation and their likely end results.
Quick-Witted
I'm a quick thinker and, while I probably come across as really glib sometimes, being able to come up with a funny quip, a silly name for something or a pointed argument on the fly has proven useful more often than it's got me into trouble. *thinks back on school bullies* ...But only just.
Strength of Will
Long story, summed up to the fact that I have been through a great deal - clinical depression, failing physical health, a whole mess of other stuff that I won't go into with people I don't know - and I'm still here. I haven't let the world break me yet, and I have no intention of doing so.

[Edited for missing chunk - eek!]
WORST
Bossy
I like getting my own way far too much. It makes me belligerent at times, though I try to keep it under some semblance of control and listen to what other people have to say. Still, I admit that I'll argue my point to the utmost and still be rather grumpy if the course of action taken is one I disagree with.

Self-Absorbed
That's the best way I can think to put this one. Generally I'll get so involved in some project or other that the rest of the world gets more or less ignored. I'll prattle endlessly about Interest du Jour and likely block out that the people around me couldn't possibly care less.

Unforgiving
I'll try not to show it whenever possible, but if someone does insult me (and it's far too easy to do sometimes), there will be a grudge borne. I'll be polite when necessary, and to keep the overall peace, and I may never even mention it again but friend or no, I'll hold it against you if you've said something thoughtless if I feel you should have known better.

A Song of Ice and Fire Related

1.Who are your favorite three characters in the series?
Tyrion Lannister is my all-time favourite; I like watching him try to come out on top of every situation the entire mad plot throws at him. Varys comes a close second, with his birds and his interactions and plots and survival instincts. Third is Asha Greyjoy - I think the phrase is 'she's my kind of woman' - smart and ambitious and strong.

2.Who are your least favorite three characters in the series?
Stannis Baratheon just irritates me - he makes claims to strength and then ends up more or less the thrall of Melisandre. Theon Greyjoy is a pseudo-ambitious climber with delusions of grandeur and an inferiority complex, and I despise him. And then there's Petyr Baelish - he really needs to just back away from the Tullys and the Starks and get over himself rather than more or less brainwashing a traumatised teenager.

3.#1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far?
Theon's ride with Asha, before he knew she was his sister. Mostly I like that bit best of all because it was such a great way to introduce the characters and the new part of the world without succumbing to 'talking heads' syndrome because of the interaction involved. Plus I only vaguely suspected something like it might be coming - it always makes me happy when I get surprised that way.

4. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end?
I don't have a preference, honestly. I prefer the twists and turns along the way to endgame, I suppose. I know it has to end, and will be interested to see how it does, but I'd rather go along for the ride and revise how I think it really will end according to what's there in the books rather than do the wishful thinking bit, as I'm bound to be disappointed given that I don't live in Martin's head.

(Edited for missed section, with apologies.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

On question 9 (best and worst qualities), looks like you only listed best instead of three of each. You may want to edit this soon since that question usually affects people's decisions a lot. :)

*blink* I thought I'd done that. Crud. Sorry! Editing immediately.

You remind me a lot of Tyrion (lol good thing you like him), Lannister for you (no, I doubt your three flaws will change my mind on that).

Edited 2009-01-26 19:02 (UTC)

Holding off on my vote until I get your worst qualities -- this affects my descision pretty majorly :)

Yeah, agreed. Though I can't wait to vote you when that is changed.

It's been edited - thought I'd included it and have no idea what happened. Apologies!

This one was posted last week and then hastily taken down, wasn't it?

As I recall, I said Lannister then, for many reasons, not least the fact that you only listed best qualities and not worst...

(also the quote, the love of sneaky characters, the disdain for the weakness of others that I get from your dislike of Stannis and Theon, and the quick wits that often backfire on you).

^ the usual

This one was posted last week and then hastily taken down, wasn't it?
Due to our stance on not releasing more than seven applications per any week, not because of the applicant. It was released with two others on accident and then removed because of that.

Ahh! Guess I was just in the right place at the right time...

Lannister

Wow, the religious camp sounds pretty horrific... no wonder it's affected you for life.

Your fears (except for the organized religion one) feel quite Lannister, as do your best traits, I think, but your wishes are a bit too carefully scrupulous for that -- they're selfish, but make the point of not harming anyone and not really giving you too much of an unfair advantage, which I think is something other than Lannister. Your ideal house question had made me think right away of Tyrell, and I think that's what your wishes feel like, to. When you talk about your writing, too, improving over time as part of your greatest accomplishment, I get a sort of Tyrell "Growing Strong" vibe. Your spending habits feel rather Tyrell-ish, too. Your ranking of knowledge/adventure, etc. is actually more Martell than anything else, and your quote feels Stark-ish (as well as the way in which you chose it), but I don't get a vibe in favor of those two anywhere else.

So... this was a somewhat difficult call, but I think I have to go with Tyrell in the end, because I feel like more things point in that direction than elsewhere.

Your worst traits -- if you edit to add those in -- may swing me back towards the Lannister consensus, but that's my vote for now.

I doubt the addition of your worst qualities would sway me from my present vote, which is Tyrell. You're imaginative and witty (Lannisters are witty, but not particularly imaginative), and your affinity for RP and LARP things is something that I think only a Tyrell would really appreciate, being so able to play whatever role is necessary. You admire clever, ambitious characters, and you distrust the genie to the point that you spend one whole wish on making sure that the other two aren't used to screw you over! Come on, that's completely Tyrell. :D

You live in London! I love London! :D

Okay, enough of that. Tyrell will do. I don't know that worst traits would sway that -- depending on what they were, maybe, so I'll check back -- but I like. :)

Tyrell. :D

No worries about the application trouble. It happens to the best of us (read: me. All the time. I'm surprised I'm still allowed on the internet.)

Anyway, although I'd obviously love to see you in my house I see slightly more Lannister in you with your unforgiving nature, smart money management, wit, fear of failure and love for Tyrion.

I see a lot of Lannister in you: good with money, unforgiving, strength of will, self-absorbed...even that apartment in the city (though you're not looking down on the little people *g*). Admittedly, only Jaime has the good sense to value Tyrion, but still, I'll go with my initial impression.

Lannister. I know the idea of a Hufflepuff-Lannister may seem a little crazy, but that's easily the biggest vibe I'm getting here. I got this impression with your first wish, but much of the rest of the application, particularly all of your best and worst qualities, fits very well.

That's my favorite moment, too, btw. :D

Must agree with the Lannister votes, because I think that that just manages to edge the Tyrell in you.

Wow, okay... Hmmm. I really was going to go with Tyrell, but something stopped me with your favorite characters, so I'm going to go Lannister.

cyshobbitlass said everything I was thinking when I read your entry so I'm not going to double post.

I think you are most definitely a Lannister.

Fear (and hate) of pity, blame, disappointment and failure; will to succeed (because you're good at what you're doing and not because you're lucky or whatever). The importance you give to knowledge and your being witty is very Tyrion-like, and your quote is very very Lannister.

So, yeah, Lannister.

Woot! :D Finally I get to vote

Ok, going against the majority and saying Martell of the Sarella knowledge seeking sort. Specially the part where you don't want to compromise yourself to a fix quote, unforgivingness, quick witted and fear of failure (like Arianne maybe?)

And you quote Che Guevara (at least I think that's the one, right?) in your subject line. The Dornish people strike me a lot of the 'never living on their knees' sort. That almost got you a Targ vote too ;)

Edited 2009-01-27 10:13 (UTC)

Anyone who goes by the character Thessalian needs to be in Lannister. ;) ~~Well, that or Greyjoy, given her tendencies, but nevermind.~~ Not that I'm averse to hogging all the Londoners or Brits to our house either, but anyway. I think a Lannister is a bit more likely to end up in trouble due to their tongue (in some ways) than a Tyrell, so can see where the other side comes from, but since I believe in indulging in luxuries when possible, and Lannisters can be a tad uncompromising when it comes to self, it's justifying it enough.

Targaryen for you. I considered Tyrell, but I think Targ is a better fit. Your artsiness and desire to live in a big city are appropriate. So is your ranking of knowledge as #1. Your best & worst traits work too: bossy, self-absorbed, unforgiving, & imaginative? Sounds like the dragons to me.

And yay to another pagan in the community!

Definitely a fellow Lannister! I had the vibe from the start, and your negative traits more than sealed it. I'm trying to go through and list the traits I see that put you here, but I gave up because it's ... almost everything :p and I don't want to just parrot your app back at you. So I'll just say YOU EVEN WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY BY THE SEA! You can visit Lannisport all the time, girl :D

I'm hoping we get you! I'm excited to see another dedicated writer at Casterly Rock.

Thessaly love! I haven't read her spinoff but she's one of my faves in Sandman.

Something about the self-imposed high standards and "I haven't let the world break me yet" says Targaryen to me.

I love your first wish! Clever! :)

Lannister. For that and other reasons. :D

Genies have a habit of screwing one over. We will have no "The Monkey's Paw" incidents here. One wish out of three is a small price to pay for peace of mind while making the other two.

Sounds like Lannister to me. Your fears and your worst qualities really point me in that direction.

Intelligent and well-considered wishes, afraid of failure and uncompromising? Oh dear, I so wish I could put you into my house, because you do possess a lot of the qualities needed for a dragon vote. But unfortunately, your well thought-out answers and qualities point a little more towards Lannister. A very close call for me though.

- Eve.

Your writing and creativity speaks Targ and Tyrell to me. Your quote and best/worst qualities speak Lannister. I even see a little bit of Martell in you, but yeah I think I am going to go with Tyrell here for the overall vibe. Your best/worst could be seen as a Queen of Thorns type to. :)

Edited 2009-01-28 14:21 (UTC)

I say Tyrell. You're imaginative, strong willed and witty, and even your worst traits and ideal home strike me as very Tyrell. There's some lion in you, too, but good luck with trying to chain a lion with roses.

Did I not vote on this one? Weird.

Anyway, I say Targaryen

This one is a toss between Lannister and Targaryen for me, but in the end I'll go with the dragons :)

Your best and worst qualities scream Targaryen to me

Well, it was a tough call between Tyrell and Targaryen (see

skyclearblue and

jesatria's reasonings for excellent analyses). Upon further reflection, I'll sort you into Targaryen - you seem a bit too driven and motivated for the flowers. :)

I figured you were either a Lannister or a Tyrell, but the worst traits you listed finally tipped me over to Lannister.

I'm with

guad, you're a Martell.

I was beginning to feel odd and then I saw all the other Targaryen votes lower down the page. I think it's the best fit for various answers (wanting to be rich through legitimate means is more Dany Targaryen than any Lannister or Tyrell if you equate moneymaking to their gameplaying, for example).

Congratulations! After receiving one vote for Greyjoy, two votes for Martell, six votes for Tyrell, and eight votes for Targaryen, you have officially been sorted into House Lannister with nineteen votes!

(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v708/fierytempest2/westeros/sorting_banners/?action=view&current=house_martell.png)

You may join

thelannisters. If you'd like to display your house banner anywhere, please be sure to upload to your own server first.

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We are pleased to have you here and we look forward to your participation!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Win or Die - better to die on your feet than live on your knees

no subject

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Martell

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Lannister

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Martell

Tyrell

Tully

Stark

Martell

Tyrell

Targaryen

Lannister

Greyjoy

Tully - Gummifish! Bouncin here and there and everywhere!

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Targaryen

Lannister

Martell- Fun in the Sun

Lannister -- We have TWO House seats of power

Tyrell

Stark

Re: Stark

Tully

Targaryen

Tully

Stark

Stark

Tyrell

Tyrell

Tully

Tully

Tully

Stark

SORTED: LANNISTER