#anoddbunch

She looked at the young boy. He was so young, but she saw the way he thought about everything. Very different from his friends, far more introverted, he thought before he spoke. It was something many could learn a great deal from. "Why not?" She questioned as she eyed him carefully, making sure he wasn't going to attack her; if he did, she would be ready to protect herself. But for now, she wasn't going to be the one to start a fight. Not tonight, at least.

        he sounds so burdened. that's the first thing she noticed and wonders when that happened. why it happened. usually it's her that's in over her head and seeking reassurance. it feels different this time and she's concerned.        "where did you go?" she wanted to ask why he left but he might not answer her if she did. the fact he came back at all should be enough..right?

Wasn't that what they were already? Mother and son, Queen and heir, just different names for a team. Yet Jace seemed to have another idea for them to be considered a team it seemed. Rhaenyra lifted a brow in question to humor her son. "Are we not already a team? Or are you thinking a different kind of team?" She motioned to the chair across from her so that he might sit with her and indulge in the tray of snacks she had in front of her.

    throat clears. doesn't look at her directly because he can't. she wants more from him and he knows it but he doesn't know how to give her that. which hurts. he wanted to give her everything. he's always wanted to give her everything. but how can he when he has nothing to offer? just words. and those weren't enough.       "i don't expect it to mean much but.." a pause. tries not to fumble because he needs to say this. she needs to hear it. to know without a doubt that it was the truth. "you're the best part of coming back."

       his eyes have been fixed on her all night, ignoring everyone else around them. watches her talk and dance, toss her hair over her shoulder or flirt. she knows he's looking, the teasing glint in her eyes tells him as much and he smiles back. sips at the beer held loosely between his fingertips as she mosies on over. smile turns into a full-on grin then. "always, sweetheart." to say she's a sight for sore eyes would be too much of a cliché, no matter how true it is.

        this is a terrible idea. not his worst by far but it isn't ranking very high on his best either. if he even had any on that list. she doubted it, given how long they've known each other. she wasn't even sure why she'd agreed to indulge him. it wasn't to make him less annoying since the alcohol was meant to do that part. mostly she went with the path of least resistance when it came to him.         she eyes him, a part of her already regretting it. "i'll say this now: the game had better not be truth or dare."

he poured out a drink for the kid, too. eyeing him a moment before he pushes it towards him. he offers something of a smile then, unsure. "does she mean it?" he tries his best not to sound nervous but ever since captain kennit had taken the liveship he's felt unnerved by everything he's seen. he had heard of all sorts of magic but he had done his best since he started sailing to not get any kind of tangled up in it. "that she'd kill us all?"

              "maybe. or maybe it's just nice to see you without the bruises and blood stains that typically follows."