Tim Laughlin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
holyposition) wrote2024-06-13 06:55 pm
holyposition) wrote2024-06-13 06:55 pm
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t.laughlin
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WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
t.laughlin
text ❖ audio ❖ video
I don't know if I'd call it trouble...wait, would you?
[ A strong word, perhaps, but it's true enough that he keeps letting the lines get blurred. This place seems built not to let any friendships get too close without turning them into something else. ]
There's no cure for jealousy. Trust me, I've tried.
[ A strong word, perhaps, but it's true enough that he keeps letting the lines get blurred. This place seems built not to let any friendships get too close without turning them into something else. ]
There's no cure for jealousy. Trust me, I've tried.
Then I continue as I have.
[ enlightening. aemond lets go of tim's neck, pats his back with more force than he typically might, and — sighs. it's the most aggrieved sigh he's ever deigned himself to make.
he makes it easy to forget that, at the heart of things, he still remains a boy of eight and ten. ]
I mislike it. I deeply mislike it, feeling this. Easily it could be used against me.
[ enlightening. aemond lets go of tim's neck, pats his back with more force than he typically might, and — sighs. it's the most aggrieved sigh he's ever deigned himself to make.
he makes it easy to forget that, at the heart of things, he still remains a boy of eight and ten. ]
I mislike it. I deeply mislike it, feeling this. Easily it could be used against me.
Still.
I like to believe myself an optimist, so I will endeavor keep your thoughts in mind. Back home, head would roll for less.
I have few allies and friends here yet. I suppose I am lucky in this sense. And few bonds can be broken with a man who spent most of the month amongst the dead. ( there's some dark humour for you, tim. )
I like to believe myself an optimist, so I will endeavor keep your thoughts in mind. Back home, head would roll for less.
I have few allies and friends here yet. I suppose I am lucky in this sense. And few bonds can be broken with a man who spent most of the month amongst the dead. ( there's some dark humour for you, tim. )
[ Two things are immediately evident. One, that Aemond cares about Pierce more than he'd like to admit, and two, that he'll claw Tim like a feral cat if he decides to point that out. Carefully, ]
It feels terrible. I get it. Hawk has some relationship with that guy, Embry, who gets his kicks from disrespecting me whenever he can. It makes me feel like an idiot.
[ Sighing back, softly, as he stumbles forward and hurries to stand up straight again. He hadn't had any intention of thinking about this today - didn't think there would be occasion to, since Hawk hasn't been able to keep it in his pants long enough to stray since he's been back. ]
Why would he use it against you?
It feels terrible. I get it. Hawk has some relationship with that guy, Embry, who gets his kicks from disrespecting me whenever he can. It makes me feel like an idiot.
[ Sighing back, softly, as he stumbles forward and hurries to stand up straight again. He hadn't had any intention of thinking about this today - didn't think there would be occasion to, since Hawk hasn't been able to keep it in his pants long enough to stray since he's been back. ]
Why would he use it against you?
[ there has been so much going on that it's been hard to keep tabs on everyone. but when he looks up and sees tim - he feels a pull of guilt and worry. he should have checked on him sooner, but he's been so busy in the aftermath of the stupid game trying to hold so many people together, losing koby, and -
here is tim, missing part of him (hawk) and looking strung out in a way he hasn't seen him before. so he rises from where he's sat on his bed and moves to him immediately, says nothing before he wraps his arms around him and pulls him into his chest. ]
Still needs some time.
[ quentin doesn't know how much time. doesn't know when he'll see him again, if he'll see him again. he still believes some of what happened is his fault, anyway. ]
You're freezing. [ he holds him a little tighter, scrubbing his broad palms up and down his back. ]
here is tim, missing part of him (hawk) and looking strung out in a way he hasn't seen him before. so he rises from where he's sat on his bed and moves to him immediately, says nothing before he wraps his arms around him and pulls him into his chest. ]
Still needs some time.
[ quentin doesn't know how much time. doesn't know when he'll see him again, if he'll see him again. he still believes some of what happened is his fault, anyway. ]
You're freezing. [ he holds him a little tighter, scrubbing his broad palms up and down his back. ]
So I've gathered. Prince Aemond doesn't sugarcoat anything.
You can count me among them, so long as your truce holds.
You can count me among them, so long as your truce holds.
I admit I did too, at first.
Sure, I don't mind.
Sure, I don't mind.
It started out of circumstance. There was a party around the time that she arrived that was attacked by a raging wolfman - a literal one, some horrible beast. In the chaos, it clawed at her, and I could see that it meant to kill her, so I acted, warding it away, patched her wound, and got her somewhere safe. After, we found that we got along well, had more in common than you might expect. She's been a good friend to me, and so has the prince, in his own way.
No. Only the first time it's forced us to turn against each other.
That's kind of you to say. But it was only the right thing to do.
We bonded over our faith, at first. Mine is different from the one practiced in Westeros, but there's enough in common that we can pray together and enjoy learning about the other. She has a good heart too, even though her circumstances have tried to harden it.
That's kind of you to say. But it was only the right thing to do.
We bonded over our faith, at first. Mine is different from the one practiced in Westeros, but there's enough in common that we can pray together and enjoy learning about the other. She has a good heart too, even though her circumstances have tried to harden it.
Pierce would not; of this I am certain. But my family—
[ he is not calling into question his family's honour. he cannot find it in himself to even speak it; even daemon, for all his faults, has some honour to him. he would not use others without good reason.
but that's the matter of it, isn't it? with good reason. for the sake of the realm is always good reason. ]
Everything that we have, we have shared amongst us all our lives. Our name. Our dragons. The throne and the crown, and its impossible weight. And so my allies are my family's allies. Pierce is my friend. That makes him a friend to my house.
Hawk disrespects you for his own selfishness. How do you answer if you are disrespected for the betterment of others?
[ he is not calling into question his family's honour. he cannot find it in himself to even speak it; even daemon, for all his faults, has some honour to him. he would not use others without good reason.
but that's the matter of it, isn't it? with good reason. for the sake of the realm is always good reason. ]
Everything that we have, we have shared amongst us all our lives. Our name. Our dragons. The throne and the crown, and its impossible weight. And so my allies are my family's allies. Pierce is my friend. That makes him a friend to my house.
Hawk disrespects you for his own selfishness. How do you answer if you are disrespected for the betterment of others?
Do not belittle yourself. Plenty of men would rather do the easy thing, than the right one.
( the talk of faith does not surprise him, for Alicent was always devout in his memories of her. it is the mention of a good heart that strikes at him, like a viper aiming for open flesh. he starts a response many times and stops himself, erasing what he wrote.
it is hard to think of her as good-hearted, when the first lessons Alicent gave to him were of fear and shame, when the first dreams he could remember were nightmares of watching his brothers torn from his mother's arms and their lives made forfeit. but this man is loyal to Alicent already and Jace is not asking to start a fight, nor change the tides of their alliance with accusations and sharp words. there is little point in it, when they stand on the same side of the line. ) They say only the septons and septas are more devout than the Dowager Queen herself.
I am glad that this place allows for softness. My mother and Alicent were allowed little of it back home, the Red Keep had little room for it in particular so I imagine that my cousins saw it sparsely as well.
( the talk of faith does not surprise him, for Alicent was always devout in his memories of her. it is the mention of a good heart that strikes at him, like a viper aiming for open flesh. he starts a response many times and stops himself, erasing what he wrote.
it is hard to think of her as good-hearted, when the first lessons Alicent gave to him were of fear and shame, when the first dreams he could remember were nightmares of watching his brothers torn from his mother's arms and their lives made forfeit. but this man is loyal to Alicent already and Jace is not asking to start a fight, nor change the tides of their alliance with accusations and sharp words. there is little point in it, when they stand on the same side of the line. ) They say only the septons and septas are more devout than the Dowager Queen herself.
I am glad that this place allows for softness. My mother and Alicent were allowed little of it back home, the Red Keep had little room for it in particular so I imagine that my cousins saw it sparsely as well.
[ So he's been told by plenty of people, since the night he met Alicent, but to remain humble is a virtue. Tim is no knight proper, even if he's been training with the sword with Aemond - he was in the right place at the right time, and he remains optimistic that most would do what he did, if it had been them instead. But he's glad that it was him. He doesn't speak of Alicent's heart to emphasize his allegiance, but because he believes it to be true. ]
There aren't many here who place much value in faith. It makes the people who do stand out more.
Was it different for you?
There aren't many here who place much value in faith. It makes the people who do stand out more.
Was it different for you?
Edited 2024-11-10 07:18 (UTC)
In faith? Or faith that resembles that which you know?
Only once my mother took us to Dragonstone. After her sworn protector was dismissed from service by the Queen's request, ( after his true father was killed, ) she convinced my father it was a safer place for our family. My brothers and I grew up with more freedoms there, with peace instead of looming shadows.
Only once my mother took us to Dragonstone. After her sworn protector was dismissed from service by the Queen's request, ( after his true father was killed, ) she convinced my father it was a safer place for our family. My brothers and I grew up with more freedoms there, with peace instead of looming shadows.
Both, I'd say. Apparently it's not so popular, in modern times.
That's good. I was starting to think it was harsh all over, where you're from.
That's good. I was starting to think it was harsh all over, where you're from.
Something has replaced it then. The Faith of the Seven has spread through Westeros and replaced the Old Gods for many, though not for all. Eventually, something else will come and perhaps it will seem like they are faithless as your modern world is.
Not all over. Between it all, there was time for laughter and joy in our home. And while it is a harsh place, yes, but those here sit at the finest of tables at the head of the noblest of houses. For all that we know of our home, we do not know the suffering faced by those without gold in their coffers and pheasant or boar on their tables.
Not all over. Between it all, there was time for laughter and joy in our home. And while it is a harsh place, yes, but those here sit at the finest of tables at the head of the noblest of houses. For all that we know of our home, we do not know the suffering faced by those without gold in their coffers and pheasant or boar on their tables.
...I'm sorry, I don't think I'm following.
[ When has he ever been disrespected for the betterment of others? Even when Hawk left him for what he thought was Tim's own safety, it didn't cure Rosie any faster, nobody was happier, more safe, or more secure. ]
Would someone in your family...do something to him? Or with him?
[ When has he ever been disrespected for the betterment of others? Even when Hawk left him for what he thought was Tim's own safety, it didn't cure Rosie any faster, nobody was happier, more safe, or more secure. ]
Would someone in your family...do something to him? Or with him?
You're wise to have that perspective. I've known politicians who have been at it longer than you've been alive, who've completely forgotten what it's like for regular people.
We share in everything, Tim. Even in things we would rather not share at all.
[ shared misery, shared tragedy, shared insults. when your sister is your wife or your husband your cousin, when uncle weds niece and so on, the lines blur even further. where do you stop? when do you say, enough? ]
If my family calls on my friendship with him for our combined benefit, should I say no? That would be treasonous.
[ shared misery, shared tragedy, shared insults. when your sister is your wife or your husband your cousin, when uncle weds niece and so on, the lines blur even further. where do you stop? when do you say, enough? ]
If my family calls on my friendship with him for our combined benefit, should I say no? That would be treasonous.
Edited 2024-11-10 23:52 (UTC)
That would depend on what they've called him for, wouldn't it? And on whether he agrees?
[ They share in everything back home, but here? He doesn't know Pierce very well, but he's forceful, strong-willed. Doesn't he get a choice? ]
My loyalty is to you and your mother. I never volunteered to be shared. Has he?
[ They share in everything back home, but here? He doesn't know Pierce very well, but he's forceful, strong-willed. Doesn't he get a choice? ]
My loyalty is to you and your mother. I never volunteered to be shared. Has he?
Push comes to shove, do you think you will be given a choice? Beyond saying yes or betraying confidence, how else do you think—
[ this is not westeros. the iron throne does not rule here. he must remember this and always, especially when it's most difficult to do so. they are not the ruling power here. they do not have command of the smallfolk, or the council, or the hundreds of thousands of lords and noble families that keep the kingdoms in order.
so many things he has taken for granted. so many matters he has yet to learn, or even begin to understand. ]
It has never been in question for me, that I will give all I am and all I have to my family. For our name and honour, for our survival if necessary.
Is that not how you live?
[ this is not westeros. the iron throne does not rule here. he must remember this and always, especially when it's most difficult to do so. they are not the ruling power here. they do not have command of the smallfolk, or the council, or the hundreds of thousands of lords and noble families that keep the kingdoms in order.
so many things he has taken for granted. so many matters he has yet to learn, or even begin to understand. ]
It has never been in question for me, that I will give all I am and all I have to my family. For our name and honour, for our survival if necessary.
Is that not how you live?
I know that you're devoted. I just question if your friends can be given. Pierce is his own man. So am I, or...whoever else.
[ Does Aemond have other friends? Probably not. Better, for the sake of argument, fewer variables. Tim turns towards the mirror now that he's laced up, admiring Aemond's work. He almost looks like a proper knight. ]
I love my family. I'd do anything for them. But it's complicated right now. And we're not under attack, besides.
[ Does Aemond have other friends? Probably not. Better, for the sake of argument, fewer variables. Tim turns towards the mirror now that he's laced up, admiring Aemond's work. He almost looks like a proper knight. ]
I love my family. I'd do anything for them. But it's complicated right now. And we're not under attack, besides.
I am a dragon. I am fire and blood. The rest does not matter.
[ but there is something hollow about it, the way aemond says it now. like he's seeing beyond it, and not entirely liking what he sees. how it cannot always be fair to give everything to a cause that will never give anything back. ]
I do not have the same luxury. But maybe — you always say that we do not have to be who we were back home, while we're here. That this is different.
Why is it not different for you as well?
[ but there is something hollow about it, the way aemond says it now. like he's seeing beyond it, and not entirely liking what he sees. how it cannot always be fair to give everything to a cause that will never give anything back. ]
I do not have the same luxury. But maybe — you always say that we do not have to be who we were back home, while we're here. That this is different.
Why is it not different for you as well?
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