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jacaerys

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text; un: rhaenyra

[perzo]

Jacaerys.

[ it's full name hours, so you know mom is mad. ]

Tell me you have not challenged Aemond.

[vermax]

( gdi, not the full name hours!! )

His words could go ignored, mother. Not when the snake curses Luke and dares let his name from his mouth after all he has done.

( and he has failed his brother in life. he cannot keep failing him, even if he is no longer with them. )

@aemond_

[provoke]

Baela has assured your safety, nephew.

It's a little disappointing, truthfully, but I will honour it.

[vermax]

What have you said to her, uncle?

A surprising turn.

@moondancer

[moondanced]

Are you in your room?

[vermax]

Yes. Just reading for the evening. ( actually reading!!! ) Is all alright?

@stark (audio)

[homebird]

Prince Jacaerys, it is Sansa Stark. Have you returned to us, is it true?

[vermax]

It is true. I stand amongst you and breathe again. ( a pause, ) But at a cost.

I am gladdened you are safe, Lady Sansa.

un: daemon

[bloodstone]

Jacaerys.

[vermax]

Uncle. ( he doesn’t know what to say when he sees the message. he still aches, still feels like he has been put together wrong. ) How do you feel?

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

Jacaerys.

[ is this a good thing or a bad thing, addressing family by their name directly? who knows with this guy. ]

Do you train?

[vermax]

Of course. This place have proven dangerous yet.

Are you inviting me to train with you, Aemond? ( is he being cheeky by mirroring the way the elder has addressed him? perhaps. )

sometime in the afternoon lull when it's too hot to tourney

[provoke]

[ aemond, without warning, is barging into jacaerys's and baela's shared quarters. only when he gets his nephew's attention, he visibly hesitates, and almost walks right back out. ]

Aegon is here.

[ smooth. ]

[vermax]

( for his part, Jace is seated in one of the arm chairs that decorate his half of the suite. he does not jump out of that seat and resists the urge to bark at whoever's entered about knocking, as if scolding a servant. he's never done it before at home, no, but here the lack of propriety is unnerving. his own books and items are scattered through the room, but there are signs of Baela as well — a sweater left draped over the back of a chair, a hair pin left atop the dresser.

he doesn't jump but perks up as Aemond bursts in, brows raising toward his forehead. he pushes the glass of wine he'd poured himself across the table, toward the empty seat, and stands to get another from where he's left it on his desk. )

I have heard. ( he glances over his shoulder at his uncle, motions toward the seat. ) How is he?

( drunk? from their time? burnt and bed-ridden as the rumours say? )

delivery, night of 11,14.

[provoke]

[ slipped under the door is a plain envelope with a simple invitation card, with a likewise direct message. on the back, written in legible print that is not aemond's handwriting, is a message: gifts not required! your presence is gift enough.

ooc | this is just for ic reference purposes! regarding the age: the hotd age timeline is a pain in the ass so he's just celebrating it twice. feel free to handwave or thread out as desired! 🔥 ]

un: daemon

[bloodstone]

You have heard, I assume, the usurper's arrival?

[vermax]

We have unfortunately already crossed paths. His arrival is not a fortunate sign.

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

[ immediately after this early morning showdown. ]

Nephew. ...Cousin.

Are you otherwise unoccupied? I'm like to ask for your presence at the training mats.

[vermax]

At present or at a specific time?

@hightower

[unapparent]

I've a request, Prince Jacaerys, if you would hear it.

[vermax]

( ... warning bells going off!! )

How many I be of help, Queen Alicent?

Un: King

[beneficiary]

Am I to presume that whatever is happening at home remains there?

[vermax]

Our mothers have pledged peace to one another. And we have abided by it.

To much surprise, Aemond most of all.

text — un: aemond_ ( thirst trap mess night )

[provoke]

Who did you mean to send the photos? Don't say it was Baela.

[vermax]

( he told tim to delete that!!!!! ) Then I would be lying.

un: coan_tean

[preborns]

You had made a request of me, before, to compel you. I was not able to in the prisons, with my abilities blocked.

Would you have me do it now?

[vermax]

Would you? If I still wished it?

You can refuse me this. It is your right and what you were forced to do that night is no longer the only terror that haunts my dreams.

delivery. ( seventh of december. )

[provoke]

[ after the pool, after the morning rides on horseback — it's not the fifteenth yet, but aemond has one gift ready for him. this one aemond personally leaves in jace's room, shared as it is with baela.

on a plain card aemond draws a dragon's head and writes An early name day favour in green ink, leaves the note on top of the cake box. ]

🎁 delivery, a few days before christmas

[longlegs]

[ She shows up at Jace's room herself, a small package in a white holographic gift bag. Cellar says he's not allowed to open it before Christmas, then leaves with a hug.

He'll find an ear cuff that doesn't require any piercing inside, white and made of mother of pearl. If he keeps looking, he'll find a symmetrical one that's all black - no texture, completely dark. It doesn't reflect light and doesn't cast shadows, because it's ... made of her shadows! While the white dragon is fragile, the shadow-dragon is virtually indestructible and will exist for as long as Cellar stays in Saltburn, or until she dies.

Merry Xmas to my favorite prince!
I have no idea if you wear these, but I think they'd look really good on you. Sorry I don't know what Vermax looks like... I hope this is close enough.
xoxo 🕷️
PS: don't wear both at the same time, it'll look cooler if you only have one. ;) ]

delivery; christmas eve 12/24

[preborns]

[Alia’s gift is wrapped somewhat clumsily in brown paper, likely taken from the kitchens, and taped excessively to ensure it’s secure. Inside, resting in sparkly, star-studded tissue paper:

A simple Polaroid camera, with a photo album to place the pictures he takes. There's even {mildly nsfw) photo already in it.

A smooth-polished rock from the lake (yes, everyone gets a rock) with the gift-receiver’s initials carefully carved into it (with what? Don’t worry about it.)

A business card for Sol & Scroll, because if you aren’t patronizing it, you should be.

There’s also a note, scribbled on notebook paper stolen from Alina (sorry, babe):]

Prince of Pouts -

To commemorate your travels far from your dragon home. I've added one to get you started.

- Alia

🎅 delivery.

[peasant]

( somewhere on the eve of jace's birthday, alina has his gifts delivered by one of the bustling housekeepers. wrapped neatly, like someone had taken the time to perfect the job, jace can tear into them to find:

🐉 a dragon egg locket that splits apart to house a dragon pendant.

🐉 a replica she tried to crochet of vermax, from jace's brief description of him.

🐉 an attempt at a birthday cake, overloaded with cherries and with wobbly frosting, making it clear it was done by an eager amateur (alina herself).

🐉 and, to complete it, an expensive bottle of champagne.

laid out is an envelope, containing alina's careful, dainty scrawl. it simply reads, )

Jace,

A little bird told me your of your upcoming name day. (I caught wind of it on the network, by chance). I know I'm probably not a welcome reminder of all that you've suffered in these past weeks — but I remember what you've told me of your Vermax, and how you were raised. For those of us so far from home, I hope it brings you some comfort. As impossible as it may seem, with all we've endured. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to prevent it.

☀️ Alina

birthmas gift.

[bloodstone]

[ The gift is left on Jace's bed, because of course Daemon doesn't care about wandering in and out of his nephew-son's rooms.

🐉 there's a dagger, with a serrated edge, matching the blade that daemon himself owns; it was forged from some of the scraps of his blade that remained when he duelled before his death.
🐉 a pair of leather gloves, with a dragon embossed where the belt to tighten them is.
🐉 some random assortments of chocolates, sweets and other things, for a taste of something sweet.

There's no note, other than a piece of parchment that simply says 'D' upon it. ]

text; un: persephone; dated 12/21ish (cw: body horror)

[semicharmed]

Your highness, I don't want to alarm you, but as someone who also died here ... I figure you should see this.

[ At first glace, the image looks almost like it might be some weird sculpture of Matt's face and upper back. First, and most obviously, a pair of white wings bisects him, the skin around them pink and irritated--as if the feathers pushed themselves out in a violent burst, rather than growing at nature's more sensible pace. Matt's half-turned towards the camera, revealing smaller wing structures protruding from his temples and rippling down his forearm. Only one of his eyes is visible, white and glowing as a luminous marble. ]

Sorry about the delay on your present.

Christmas Eve

[homebird]

[ the servants bring a box to jacaerys's door late on christmas eve. inside is a green and orange dragon plush, along with a cloak fashioned in the northern style, much like the one sansa once made for her brother, though this one is made with the false fur she was able to find here. the leather straps that hold it closed across the chest have been embroidered, bearing interlocking targaryen dragons on one side, and repeating stark direwolves on the other. alongside the items is a short note signed with the direwolf seal of House Stark: ]

Prince Jace,

I hope that this gift finds you well.

I am sorry that I could not have finished it with a true wolf pelt from the North, for such would befit the style, and it would keep you warmer. But this should still hold back the chill of winter. You are a man of the South, but the North welcomed you in the time of my forefathers, and if you could visit us now, we would also do so in mine.

The little dragon is meant to resemble your Vermax - I hope that I have the colours correct.

May the new year find you safe.

Your friend,

Sansa Stark, Queen of the North.

un: nazyalensky

[groza]

You are Jacaerys, correct?

[vermax]

( the urge to correct and add his title is one he has to bite back. ) Yes. Who is this?

@t.laughlin

[holyposition]

You're not avoiding me, are you? I know what happened with Hawk, I'm not upset.

[vermax]

I find myself avoiding most these days, with Baela gone.

I should have spoken with you regardless.

text

[longlegs]

Hey Jace ♥
Are you doing okay?

[vermax]

I've left my rooms twice today and I have been reading, not pouting. ( yes and no? )

text; (backdated to post-Christmas)

[butwearenotmen]

I am sorry for the news of Lady Baela. If you should like some company, I was going to take a walk in the fresh snow around the grounds.

[Such a thing still feels foreign to her, not having gone to the North or above the Wall, yet.]