HIGHTOWER.

i wanted to make some more options, especially for muses who are quieter or nonverbal (whether permanent or selectively mute) . i added some basic sign language prompts as well. 

[ contact ] one muse touches the other’s arm in a sympathetic gesture.  

[ attention ]  one muse puts their index finger underneath the other’s chin to hold their attention.

[ direct ]  one muse holds the other’s jaws in their hand for their attention or to redirect their gaze. 

[ tender ]  one muse brushes their fingers over the other’s jaw.  

[ bristle ]  one muse plays with the others facial hair. 

[ guard ]  one muse puts their arm around the other’s shoulder to make them feel protected. 

[ claim ] one muse puts their arm around the other’s waist in a possessive manner. 

[ comfort ] one muse pulls the other to their chest to hug them after a dangerous moment. 

[ seeking ] one muse embraces the other after feeling scared/upset. 

[ check ] one muse takes the other’s hand to silently ask if they’re okay.

[ hold ] one muse cradles the other’s face between their hands ground them. 

[ rest ] one muse comes and sits in the others lap. 

[ intrude ] one muse walks in on the other while they’re treating their own wound. 

[ tiles ] one muse finds the other sitting on the floor and joins them. 

[ boop ] one muse playfully taps the tip of the other’s nose. 

[ heal ] one muse kisses the other’s forehead after treating their injury. 

[ two ] one muse holds the other’s shoulders with their hands to make them calm down. 

[ clear ] for one muse to clean blood off the other. 

[ prevent ] for one muse to wrap their arms around the other from behind to stop them from running towards danger. 

[ away ] for one muse to pick up the other and take them to bed. 

[ rescue ] for one muse to carry the other to safety because they’re injured. 

[ heart ] one muse places their palm against the other’s chest in a soothing manner to indicate they aren’t alone. 

[ insist ] one muse keeps a firm hold on the other and gives an expression to indicate they want them to open up/tell the truth. 

[ pulse ]  one muse rubs a finger over the other’s wrist. 

[ direct ] one muse grips just above the elbow to guide the other while they walk. 

[ wrinkle ]  one muse curls their fingers into the other’s shirt to make them stay put. 

[ subdue ]  one muse places their hand on the other’s forearm to try and calm them so they don’t lash out at a third party. 

[ parallel ] for both muses to lay on the floor beside each other but going opposite direction with their heads side by side. 

[ reveal ] for one muse to take a hold of the other’s chin/jaw to stop them from hiding their tears. 

[ inspect ] for one muse to take hold of the other’s face while inspecting a bruise or cut. 

[ caress ] one muse kisses the other’s cheek as a gesture of gratitude. 

[ keeper ] one muse watches over the other while they sleep with their head on their shoulder or in their lap. 

[ coax ] one muse strokes the other’s hair until they fall asleep. 

[ bear ] one muse lifts the other off their feet a little while they hug.

[ leap ] one muse jumps into the other’s arms,  legs wrapped around their waist. 

[ mirror ] one muse has the other hold a hand to their chest so they can mirror breathing to calm them down. 

SIGN LANGUAGE

sign: are you okay? 

sign: i’m fine. 

sign: i can’t speak right now. 

sign: i need help. 

sign: leave me alone. 

sign: please stay. 

sign: what happened to you? 

sign: let me help. 

sign: don’t go. 

sign: i love you. 

sign: i hate you. 

sign: who did this to you? 

sign: why won’t you talk to me? 

sign: i don’t know what to say. 

sign: you’re upset. talk to me. 

sign: i won’t leave you. 

sign: i missed you. 

sign: i need you. 

sign: wait. 

sign: what can i do? 

sign: do you want me to stay? 

sign: you can talk to me. 

sign: you can trust me. 

sign: you’re not alone. 

sign: i feel so alone. 

sign: you’re beautiful. 

sign: i feel safer with you here. 

sign: i want to make you feel safe. 

sign: where are you going? 

sign: i have to do this on my own. 

sign: i don’t know how to ask for help. 

sign: i don’t want to lose you. 

sign: i’m afraid you’ll get hurt. 

sign: you don’t have to worry about me. 

      𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐌 since his first breath, and would remain atop his breaking shoulders until his last. it should not have been this way, for his king father had never wished it, despite his grandfather's tryings. as a babe and child, his father had ignored him ― left him to his mother, who yelled and scolded his every act. he had never been raised an heir, never felt prepared nor worthy of such a role and duty. he had succumbed, accepting he would only ever come second-best to his elder half-sister, but that all quickly changed at their father's death and his maternal usurpation. it was from the ushered whisperings of his mother and grandfather that he ever thought his life alone would be contestant to rhaenyra's claim; it was their voice who had seated him atop the iron throne.

      at his grandfather's command, aegon wordlessly refused, glancing to the seat for a moment before returning gaze to the man: he did not take orders from otto hightower, not tonight. instead, he stood as tall as a king should, and with as much prowess as one is needed. his heart was thumping, though for once his thoughts were not racing ― all on his mind was that of abdication.

      ❛ neither hunger nor thirst have found me yet, though you need not hide your surprise for i know what you think of me. ❜

      he knew his family spoke in his shadows and behind his back, whispering of his drinking and whoring. all those at court did it, even aegon himself had participated in the gossiping of others. aegon acted as though he cared not, though all he could do was care ― care for them, his family, and that was why he was here. the crown had hurt his family, severed part of him and his wife and daughter with a jagged blade that neither maester nor vice could cure.

      ❛ i am here tonight to... to abduct. or, abdi… abdi-whatever the fuck it is! i'm doing it. i quit. ❜

funny, he thinks and has another sip, the wine tasting like sweet poison upon his lips. he has had too much, but he will not stop. perhaps aegon had gotten it from him -- no, he had given it to alicent, who then had given it to aegon. a lineage of grief, it seems.

"abdicate," he says as aegon tries to find the word, and he wonders why the lessons had never quite stuck with the boy. perhaps something else wrong with his seed, or perhaps viserys'. "you... wish to abdicate." he says slowly, as the word permeates his drunken mind, sinking into the despair that clouds them. "... an emotional decision, no?" yet otto can see that aegon has never been so clear. he meets his grandson's visage again, lips pursed together thoughtfully.

"... ask me again in the morning." is all he says after a moment. "... tonight is for our grief." is it the most sensible he's perhaps ever been? "you should not make decisions whilst in the middle of something so..." he struggles for the word now. another sip, quiet crackling of the fire filling the room. perhaps otto is as tired as aegon. does he have the right to be? "... heavy."

the comment he'd made earlier, i know what you think of me, settles in the back of his skull. what does he truly think of aegon? a foolish boy, an impulsive king, and yet -- who made him that way? is aegon to blame for their failure of the boy? the master weaver finds that his strings have been cut. "my ambitions led us here, boy." he says, after a long moment of silence. "i think a lot of you... the potential you could have had, if you had been..." he gestures out, hand motioning as he again struggles for a word. "... nurtured." he manages, finally. his lips twist together in thought.

Alicent's gaze narrowed. He had been her only parent since she was five years old--and though she had been passive, quiet, OBEDIENT...she knew when her father was dismantling her. Though she had no ideas of the mayhem his mind was in, she could still sense something was off. He did not get to leave so easily.

Adjusting her grip on her daughter, she took a careful step forward. "One meal won't kill you, dad. Come on. We'll go to mummy's favorite spot down the road. Remember? Dorian and Triston used to put their chopsticks in their nose. Mummy had to hide her smile--you used to tell them to stop, but I always used to think you were trying to HIDE your own amusement." Alyrie smiled again, holding out her chubby hand to the man.

if otto is on his best behavior.

he turns to her slowly, empty eyes gazing upon her from behind the sunglasses. thin lips purse together, and he considers quietly. "yes, i... remember. how disrespectful they were." he says, and he immediately regrets it; this is the behavior that cost him his family. his father had a stern had, as did his brother. otto carried on that tradition, and it ended him. he quickly adds, "but... they were having so much fun, it was hard not to enjoy their tomfoolery." otto remembers that time, and he glances down.

he would give anything to atone, but... sometimes, atonement is not enough. there is still money in his name, even if he is all but ruined. none would miss him when he goes, no. and the money can be used by his sons, his daughter, for their families. it will be his last gift to them: his end.

"... we should let little alyrie have the first fortune cookie. my granddaughter deserves the world." he offers quietly, a silent agreement. "as does my daughter." he adds, soft. his voice has changed, no longer having that... edge it used to have. "i will join you, but... i wish for you to know it is no bother. i ... do not want to ... i ..." he stumbles over his words here, exhaling a shaky breath. "it is i who is the bother, my darling. and i am aware of it. hence my... initial hesitation. but if... if it is what you desire... i think it would... be nice."

Aemond is your brother. We are family. You may cuff him about as you wish at home, but in the world, we must defend our own.

TV APPRECIATION WEEK

The king is my grandson and my grandson is a fool!