“NO? well, it was my bad, then,” and as of now, aemond had to shrug, because.. no, he didn’t particularly care about what was going on in here. in fact, he was messing with her and always had been, because.. yes, he was quite curious about what it was that was going on in here. did he know? no, he didn’t particularly did but considering he was noa’s sworn shield? he also knew that he had to protect her, no matter what it took. “i’m the sworn shield of someone who was previously a prisoner here. it’s none of your business. why has my grandsire brought you here?” he wondered, frowning a little bit, because.. well, he didn’t particularly care but then again, he was also bored. why not indulge himself a little bit?

“PERHAPS OF MY SISTER AND UNCLE’S SIDE, yes,” and yes, that was exactly why aegon had never liked them in the slightest, but.. then again, that was not his problem and never had been. he did not like a single one of them and never had and of course that.. well, he was going to show that. then again, he didn’t want to get into his family’s business and never had, because.. as far as he was concerned? well, none of them were worth it. not even his wife, because.. at the end of the day, he despised her. how the hell could he not? “there is a throne. my father sits on it, while he holds court to the rest of my family you just have never been up there.” and for a moment, he gave a good laugh at that, before shaking his head a little bit. “i’m not even half certain that they are my children, to begin with. never have.”

“NOR HAVE YOU SHOWN ME TO BE WORTHY OF IT,” was that the problem? yes, viserys believed that it was, but.. then again, he didn’t know what else he was supposed to say. he really, really did not, because it seemed as if he had found himself at a loss and when it came to his daughter, that was even worse. when it came to his daughter, rhaenyra had done nothing but gain his wrath in here and if he were to be honest.. well, it would be complicated. “seven hells, rhaenyra - what are you doing, child? you have a husband. a good man. one who seems to have loved your sons as if they were his own, when we all know that they were not. and yet, you want what you cannot have. you and your uncle are much like one another in that aspect, it seems.” and yes, they were both a pain in his ass and always had been. what else could viserys even say at this point? “will you promise me that this madness will come to an end? i cannot stand it when we are at odds, child. i cannot.” it was difficult.

“PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE,” and as of now, harwin couldn’t do anything but look down at the ground, because.. yes, he hated himself for not having done what he was supposed to do. he hated himself for not having done what he had needed to in order to protect the woman that he loved and their children and right now, that wasn’t going to be changing anytime soon, that was for sure. it really, really was not and just how could it? “or not. perhaps your father would have let us wed. perhaps everything would have been fine.” did he believe that? no, not particularly, but.. as far as harwin was concerned? the what-ifs were the worst and always had been, that was for sure. just how could they not be? right now, perhaps if he had fought harder.. perhaps they could have remained a family. “there is no future, princess. that is not my son. it’s laenor’s and if you wish for him to be safe - you need to remember that. there is nothing else. that is our story and always will be. it has to be.”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT, PRINCESS? i must say that despite everything that has been going on - i truly am not in the mood to deal with your.. problems.” and yes, criston already had enough problems going on and no, he would not want to deal with her. how could he? ever since he had been a young man, rhaenyra targaryen had been the bane of his existence and no, it seemed as if it would not change anytime soon. he despised it, he despised her and always would and right now, he would have loved to simply take a dagger to her neck and end her for good. how else could he get past this? “ah, you’re still thinking about that? it will never be your fate, rhaenyra. remember? you are the crown. i don’t see why it is that you are so surprised by the fact you are not allowed to be with your precious SER HARWIN.”

“THE DEMON AND THE DEMON SPAWNS, yes,” and perhaps he should have had more love for his brother’s children, but.. besides rhaenyra, he didn’t particularly care about them. in fact, they had all died fighting against aegon and he did not like aemond in the slightest, but.. well, that was not the problem here. in fact, the problem here was the cunt that was otto hightower and always had been and no, that would not be changing anytime soon. “no, i do not believe that he will. otto is a leech, you see. the more he takes, the more he wants and you know that he would not risk hurting us, as long as it means that he would not keep my brother’s favor. that is what he wants. if my brother were to turn him away? he’d have nothing.” and yes, that was exactly why he knew that otto would not risk that - especially, he would not hurt rhaenyra, because.. viserys loved her, no matter what. as far as daemon was concerned? perhaps he was not included in that, because.. at this point, he was pretty damn sure that he was nothing but a problem for his brother, that was for sure. “that is why they cannot be the people that we love. you have a husband, i have a wife. it’s them that we must stick with.” easier said than done, was it not? right now, daemon was sure of it.

“RHAENYRA, PLEASE,” and as of now, alicent had to sigh, because.. no, she had never expected her and rhaenyra to get along nicely. of course she had not, considering that the two of them were far too different and no matter what it was that they had in common in the past? right now, that could never be again. right now, they could never be in the same place again and yes, she knew that. she had made her peace with that a long time ago and.. no, that could not be changed. after all, if she had to choose between her children and rhaenyra? she knew what her choice would be, no matter how hurtful it was. “i never wanted any of this. i never wished for him to come back, but.. since it happened - you and i must do our duty.” and yes, that was sadly what she had always told herself. it just had to be.

“Apologies, your Grace.” Rhaenyra mumbled under her breath. The last thing she needed was this to get back to either of their fathers. If it got to Otto? She knew it would be trouble for her sons, and her sons? She loved them more than anything in this world, and she would be damned if anything took them away from her again. Especially the damn Hightowers. “You may be so willing to do your duty, but I am not.” She would for her fathers sanity, but Rhaenyra would always put up a fight. “Above all, I’m a mother and I will do what’s best for all of my children.” Jace, Luke, Joffrey, HER UNBORN SON? They were the only things that matter. “If that is returning to Ser Laenors side, then that is what I will do to protect my sons. It has nothing to do with duty. I believe even YOUR HEART understands that.” 

She hadn’t been expecting him to talk like this to her. She knew... things had been more than strained since their last conversation outside of her home. And maybe, her mind was still drifting back to that notebook she had tucked away in her backpack, but right now? Morgan’s mind was not on much, it was... RACING as it had always done of all the things she still needed to accomplish. This conversation was not one of them. “Why?” She spoke softly, looking up at him. She knew he had died back home, she had never told her everything, SHE HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING. “Why do people fear death?” Morgan had never considered that... being afraid of death. She tightened her grip on her backpack. “OR are you simply speaking from your own experience?” 

“Well, I suppose that is why you’re the boss.” Faye teased, shaking her head. She had grown used to working with Adrian, she was learning a lot about what she had always wanted to go through. Her father had his own successful business that she had been inheriting when she was old enough and experienced enough... but after everything had happened, well Faye wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. She just knew she wanted to enjoy her life. But... she was doing this for her mother, her mother needed her to get her life together and that was what she would do. “Tell me, how did you become so convincing?” She asked, setting the mans coffee down on his desk before settling on the chair on the other side of the desh. “I suppose you didn’t just wake up one day, and know how to talk yourself out of a paper bag.” 

“They said lots of things.” Morgan mumbled under her breath. She had been pacing in front of Daemon this whole time, because, truth be told she was running out of things to say. They had poured over her notebook multiple times, and it was a struggle to even make sense of what she was saying in all of her pages. Moments had blurred, words had blurred, and nothing mde sense when she was reading it back to Daemon over the last few days. “But yes, shitty was one of the many words they used to describe you. I even heard about the ‘heir for a day’ comment.” Morgan continued, settling into the soft grass to look up at him. She knew it was early, and her father would no doubt be questioning where she was, but... she had to do this. “That’s all I have though, Daemon. We’ve read over all of these things, and have still come up empty handed, with no idea what is happening, or when it is happening.” She sighed. “What di you need me to do?”

“Still just as charming as you’ve always been.” Baela mumbled under her breath as she joined him at this side that night after dinner. The dinners with the Hightowers had truthfully been awkward. She knew she hadn’t fit in and she was about the only one who did NOT. Everyone else had sat on the green side. She was surrounded by them and was expected to act as if she was happy being stuck here, it was the furthest from the truth. “I thought I had played the role of a good green wife quite wonderfully don’t you think?” She asked, as they began to walk towards both of their rooms for the night. “Now, do tell me. Should I be expecting you?” She paused turning to look at him. “Or will Lady Helaena be holding your attention as she did throughout dinner?”

“I don’t remember the last time we did that.” Faye said softly, looking down at her lap. To be fair... it must have been before things went to utter hell. Back before her mother had lost her memories, and before the farm had been a thing, and before she had run off to try and make sense of the life that had been thrusted into her hands with no one left to help her. “Is tha Thai place still open? The place that both made us sick the next day?” The girl continued turning herself on the couch so she could look fully at her mother. It had ALWAYS been like looking in a mirror, without fail. But, with their same appearances? Had also came the same stubborness and the same desire to be right till the end of the days, and why they had fought so much the last few weeks about Faye working, and getting back to normalcy. But that had never been how Faye wanted her relationship to be with her mother. “And then, maybe we can bring some extra blankets out here? Watch some Halloween movies?” 

There had been many people who Rhaenyra had been dreading seeing. This was one of them. OTTO HIGHTOWER, even just the thought of his name had her skin crawling. He had been the worst part of growing up, because being her fathers hand? He had corrupted how her father had viewed her... and if Rhaenyra had an idea? He was still doing that. “Who must live?” Rhaenyra questioned her arms wrapped tightly against her chest. “My father?” She continued, and she knew he would never admit his evil plans to her, but she would sure as hell try to figure them out herself. She would not just bend the knee and be expected to go about her life. “I’m sure you would want just the opposite, more reason for Aegon to step into the role as king. Despite, my father still insisting it was NEVER what he wanted.” 

“It is not the pain people fear with death.” Morgan hummed sadly. She knew she had no idea what death truthfully was, she also knew that there were plenty of people who understand what death was and how it was handled, and how it FELT. “I think you know more than anyone.” She looked down at her cup of coffee that she had been using to warm her cold hands. she had enjoyed this part of living with her father again,t he fact that she had the freedom to sit outside, she hadn’t had any outside space in her apartment. Now she did. “It’s the... abandonment that people fear. The thought of leaving the people they care about on their own, leaving children, and partners, and friends without them.” Morgan looked down. “I suppose that is why people fear death, but some people welcome it like an old friend.” 

“That is...” Baela looked towards one of the waterbottles crinkling her nose. THIS was where she had chosen to visit on the few times she was allowed out of the house that had become her NEW HOME? Well, she certainly wasn’t here for the cleanliness. “You know, I’m not judging here. But...” She picked up one, shuttered and then sat it back down. “Maybe you, and the Lady Rhea should hire a maid or two. I find it hard to believe this is how you want to live.” Yet still, Baela found herself setting onto one of the seats in the room they had been in looking up at her father. “Am I going to see your new lady wife during my visit today? Or are you too worried I’ll embarass you?” Baela continued trying her best to force out a small laugh as if she was trying to go back to the way they were, before she had been married off to someone who she had neer had any sort of... DESIRE to care for her. “Why do you need ashtrays either way?” She questioned. 

“There’s no living like this, Alyn...” Baela choked out as she admittely shook her head. She wasn’t sure where Aemond had been yet tonight, she knew they had simply been doing their job, THEIR DUTY. The duty that the king had insisted they preform, but living here amonst the Hightowers had made Baela so on edge that when the servant quarter door had opened and someone had told her someone was here but they had to be quick. Well, Baela hadn’t even comprehended that it had been the one man who had made her happier than anything, the man that had taught her she could live and survive after she had lost her first bethrothed. “This is nothing here, I’m with a man who has done nothing but make my life a living hell since I met him, who spends more time pretending I don’t exist, except at night when he comes to...” She shook her head, letting out a choked sob before she looked up at Alyn. “I have to fight here because that’s the only way I get back to my babies... TO YOU.”