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jacaerys

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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.

[provoke]

[ tim didn't share the photo, for what it's worth. ]

You've already lied. What name do you have her listed in your device?

[vermax]

On what basis do you make such a claim, uncle?

[provoke]

Simple accounting of letters. B is too far from T, unless you mean to have listed all of us by our house, but not the others — in which case, I'm feeling left out.

[vermax]

Oh? Did you want one?

It is not a matter of spelling but likely the recency of a previous conversation. I did not check as closely as I should have before casting my phone aside.

And she is not under B, besides.

[provoke]

Under Jorrale, then? No, don't tell me. I don't truly wish to know.

Who else have you sent them to?

[vermax]

( he sees you didn’t answer that, uncle-cousin! ) You have a keen ability to guess these things.

Only one person that I would presently wished to have send them to.

I have no interest in Tim. ( to clarify. )

[provoke]

I have to guess at people's meaning more often than not. It's become habit to try.

And I know. He's too soft-mouthed for you. I'm not concerned about that either. But his lover?

Was it Hawk?

[ he has a sense about these things, sometimes. whether they're accurate ot not is another matter. ]

[vermax]

( okay, well. he’s been read. he starts typing and stops several times. ) I have made enough of a fool of myself before Hawk. Nor do we text one another.

Your guess is of the wrong sex.

[provoke]

Ah.

[ what that ah is for will remain a mystery, maybe. ]

And Baela is aware? I recognise we do not often hold to fidelity within our family and without, but are you two not sharing a bed?

[vermax]

She is aware and there is an arrangement between us. I would not dishonor her and I doubt Daemon would give me peace if I did, if she left anything of me for him to deal with.

[provoke]

How generous of her to allow you such a freedom.

[ the less he says about daemon, the better. ]

Who else are you seeing? Just so I know not to interfere, even by accident.

[vermax]

A freedom we have granted one another. Within reason. ( good bc that's all he's saying about Daemon, who he's still giving the cold shoulder to currently. )

The one I would have sent a photo to willingly is named Cellar. We are not seeing each other, as such. ( so much as she's pretty and sweet, despite how they met. it is probably telling that all the pretty girls he's found himself flirting with could probably kill him in a moment.

if it is a matter of staking their own claims though--- ) Do you know Edwin?

[provoke]

[ edwin? ]

Payne? With his corporeal nature? You are interested in him, or you've been with him?

[ my, jacaerys. he hadn't considered this of you. ]

This place is not interested in fidelity, from what I've seen. You prefer him or her?

[vermax]

When my affliction upon my resurrection was worse, I could not steal his breath. His condition proved a boon then.

Must I have a preference? I like people and my eyes stray equally. I have always known this of myself.

[provoke]

And Rhaenyra does not judge you for it.

[ he supposes she wouldn't, considering, and dragonstone is not king's landing. tongues wag less there, he assumes; he's never stayed in their ancestral home for too long. ]

My interests have leaned more to men lately, as it happens. Edwin is a friend to Pierce. He gave his bedroom table to your man.

[vermax]

I do not believe so. The tight grip of the Faith does not reach Dragonstone. ( and the old gods of valyria are less worried about shame. plus, his mother has little ground to stand on if his own intuition is correct. )

I am aware of their friendship. Pierce and Tim then? Others? So I may know to not overstep.

[provoke]

[ their mothers and their secrets — not that aemond has room to talk. ]

Lauralae. She is dear to me, and if you should harm her I will not stand in her way. Ser Armand, among the vampires, though ours is not so much a physical arrangement as... sharing a common interest. Avoid him for my sake all the same, if you won't mind. Taggie O'Hara, recently arrived; I find her refreshing to speak with.

[ he leaves off daemon's name, and alia's, each for reasons he thinks jace would understand if he knew. written down, though - aemond is struck with a peculiar feeling. ]

I did not expect to have these many names to give you.

[vermax]

I do not know any of them. You have no reason to worry, cousin.

( there are more on his own list, but he does not mention them all the same. Alia is a complicated matter, a night shared with Alina does not give him a claim. )

Does it worry you?

[provoke]

Mother bid me not sire bastards, but I would think that goes for the both of us regardless.

[ it is odd, to have a conversation so frank and seeming banal as a discussion of lovers with jace. unthinkable, just weeks ago — but now? ]

She's not happy with the choices I've made. Not the men, I think she pretends not to know — but my choosing Tim, as if I chose him specially to hurt her.

I could never consider anything like this for myself back home. We are both of us betrothed, and honour demands we uphold such promises.

[vermax]

Of course. I am not surprised that is the lesson imparted, given your mother's thoughts on bastards. ( he's known it as long as he could remember; before he knew what it truly meant, the condemnation that it was. )

To aim to please our parents in all matters is a folly. Your heart has made a choice, has it not? You are a man grown and it is your right. I cannot claim to know much of Queen Alicent's mind or heart, but her love for you runs fierce and will triumph over any unhappiness over your choices.

Honour and duty demand many things of us. May I ask a question of you? An honest one.

[provoke]

[ was it not true? aemond doesn't reply with it, knowing how sore the matter is for jace, just as the matter of his eye and lucerys's death would be for himself and the both of them. but he knows what jace means; alicent holds to the teachings of the faith as a man might hold a weapon, or a shield. he can neither fault alicent for her beliefs, or jace for his upset. ]

She means well, and always for the realm. Her loyalty to the crown as she understands it cannot be questioned.

You may ask, but you'll allow me the grace to refuse an answer. I've not lied to you. I won't start now.

[vermax]

( he has his own opinions on Alicent's loyalty, on her devotion to the realm. but to argue with Aemond on it will lead them nowhere but back from the delicate peace they've established and promised to keep. )

Of course. You need not answer. I will not lie and say it is not a complicated question:

Are you happier here?

[provoke]

[ he's been thinking about it. he's been wondering if this might be better, to let their bitter rivalry die here and have them return home knowing the peace they're giving up. but any happiness here won't bring back the dead. it won't resolve any of the issues left lingering, won't heal the wounds that still hurt and burn and ache in their hearts. ]

Home is where I can fly freely with Vhagar, and Vhagar is where my happiness lies.

Any joy I feel here will never be complete without her.