(speak plainly, Jace thinks and does not voice. he would have, in another life. or even a turn of the moon ago. he instead reaches for the bottle again, offers to refill Aemond's glass in a deference to age and not rank.
what is said of Aegon is all he knows. his elder uncle is a creature of pride and vanity. what Jacaerys remembers of the young man underneath the mask could no longer exist at all. and neither is he here, seated before him.
of all people, it is Aemond. )
{ You do not wish for Aegon to meet them? If it is only duty that binds you to them, then it would be a simple matter. }( but there is a small, knowing smile on his lips as he lifts his cup. ){ Their loyalty falls beyond that, then, for you to worry of personal desire. There is room for both in a place like this. }
{Room for both does not mean it is right or just to engage it.}
[ this is the correct answer. the prudent and wise answer that otto hightower would expect, because everything needs be cautioned. his grandsire is a man who would not want to upset the order of things, and it can be a fault of his, but there is wisdom in it all the same — to change things so greatly is sow chaos, and there is more than enough of that to go around.
but is there room for personal wants in such a system? surely there must be; rhaenyra found her way, even if it flies in the face of common decency. and his own mother found hers, too, in this strange place.
what is he trying to ask jace, in this very moment? ]
{The crown is its own master, as are our personal wants, and no one man can serve the two faithfully and be successful.
I don't want Aegon to poison this well, Jace. I don't even want my mother to perceive their existence beyond what I tell her. Tell me that this makes sense.}
( there is a battle happening before him, within the confines of Aemond's mind and Jace cannot fight it for him. he understands the struggle well, of personal desire and duty.
it has been easier for him as his mother's son, of that he is aware.
he listens to the words and wonders if he is the right man to provide council. for all that Jace has had, he has shared with his brothers and good-sisters. yet that had all come willingly, for the relationships there are not only forged in blood but friendship that runs deep. or ran.
the reminder of Luke makes him square his shoulders, to drink the rest of the wine down. the urge to throw Aemond from his rooms rises and is quelled by memory that their house needs to maintain its alliances. that aside, they've muddled plenty. )
{ You want something for yourself in this place. Is that it? You are allowed to keep it. Here, there is no reason for your mother or for Aegon to know all. }
such magnanimity. such directness, perhaps honesty too. this might have been a bad idea, aemond realises, sitting back and straightening his posture. hands on the table, clear for all to see, palms flat on the cool, polished surface.
measured breathing, as he puts himself back together, moment by moment. ]
{You'll understand if I have reservations for simply taking that which I desire. It rarely turns out well for everyone when I do.
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no subject
Date: 2024-11-10 07:46 am (UTC)what is said of Aegon is all he knows. his elder uncle is a creature of pride and vanity. what Jacaerys remembers of the young man underneath the mask could no longer exist at all. and neither is he here, seated before him.
of all people, it is Aemond. )
{ You do not wish for Aegon to meet them? If it is only duty that binds you to them, then it would be a simple matter. } ( but there is a small, knowing smile on his lips as he lifts his cup. ) { Their loyalty falls beyond that, then, for you to worry of personal desire. There is room for both in a place like this. }
no subject
Date: 2024-11-11 12:03 am (UTC)[ this is the correct answer. the prudent and wise answer that otto hightower would expect, because everything needs be cautioned. his grandsire is a man who would not want to upset the order of things, and it can be a fault of his, but there is wisdom in it all the same — to change things so greatly is sow chaos, and there is more than enough of that to go around.
but is there room for personal wants in such a system? surely there must be; rhaenyra found her way, even if it flies in the face of common decency. and his own mother found hers, too, in this strange place.
what is he trying to ask jace, in this very moment? ]
{ The crown is its own master, as are our personal wants, and no one man can serve the two faithfully and be successful.
I don't want Aegon to poison this well, Jace. I don't even want my mother to perceive their existence beyond what I tell her. Tell me that this makes sense. }
[ he has no fucking idea what he's doing here. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-15 05:00 am (UTC)it has been easier for him as his mother's son, of that he is aware.
he listens to the words and wonders if he is the right man to provide council. for all that Jace has had, he has shared with his brothers and good-sisters. yet that had all come willingly, for the relationships there are not only forged in blood but friendship that runs deep. or ran.
the reminder of Luke makes him square his shoulders, to drink the rest of the wine down. the urge to throw Aemond from his rooms rises and is quelled by memory that their house needs to maintain its alliances. that aside, they've muddled plenty. )
{ You want something for yourself in this place. Is that it? You are allowed to keep it. Here, there is no reason for your mother or for Aegon to know all. }
no subject
Date: 2024-11-15 12:04 pm (UTC)such magnanimity. such directness, perhaps honesty too. this might have been a bad idea, aemond realises, sitting back and straightening his posture. hands on the table, clear for all to see, palms flat on the cool, polished surface.
measured breathing, as he puts himself back together, moment by moment. ]
{ You'll understand if I have reservations for simply taking that which I desire. It rarely turns out well for everyone when I do.
Perhaps in this, too, I have overreached. }