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[holyposition]

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t.laughlin

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[holyposition]

So I've gathered. Prince Aemond doesn't sugarcoat anything.

You can count me among them, so long as your truce holds.

[vermax]

No, he does not blunt the sharpness of his tongue. Some find it unsettling when they do not know what to expect.

I would not be the first to break it, you have my word. May I ask you something? About your allegiances to Alicent?

[holyposition]

I admit I did too, at first.

Sure, I don't mind.

[vermax]

I expect it is a well-used shield. What changed?

What drew you into her service?

[holyposition]

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.

[vermax]

So this last moon was not the first time this place has tried to kill its guests? I should not be so surprised.

You are a brave man, Tim, with a good heart. And what is it that you have in common with the queen?

[holyposition]

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.

[vermax]

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.

[holyposition]

[ 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?

[vermax]

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.

[holyposition]

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.

[vermax]

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.

[holyposition]

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.

[vermax]

To rule well, a Targaryen must not forget who and what they are and how the smallfolk see us.

[holyposition]

You don't think "the smallfolk" is a bit...derogatory?

[vermax]

It is what they are? ( the progressive thought only goes so far. )

[holyposition]

It's not just royalty, who lead full and vibrant lives. It's condescending.