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text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

[ something... happier? ]

Mother. I must tell you something, and you must swear to me you will not tell anyone until I have proven it true.

[unapparent]

[ nervous laughter. ]

I swear it, Aemond. I will hear you.

[provoke]

There is a dragon here. Black as night, darker than even Balerion of old, scales like dragonglass in true. I saw her, Mother. I held her with mine hands own.

I will find her again.

[unapparent]

[ what ]

A dragon you recognise?

[provoke]

[ can you hear how giddy he is, even through the text? he's struggling to contain himself even now. ]

Not any from the Dragonpit, or the wild ones. Not a hatchling, either; she is full-grown, and larger than Sunfyre. Near a size like Syrax or Meleys.

I will have her, Mother. I may yet ride, even here.

[unapparent]

[ it sounds like madness, but aemond has always had a sharp eye. ]

Where did you see her?

baby icon for the vibes

[provoke]

Over the hunting lodge. Well-camouflaged. She flew silent as a ghost across the night sky, I tracked her progress for as long as I could before she landed in the woods at the far edge of the keep.

I know what I saw. I know what I laid my hands upon. There is a dragon here, unsaddled and unclaimed.

Why else would dragonriders be brought here? We are not the only ones.

uwu

[unapparent]

You must tell no other of this, then. Neither friend nor ally.

[ if it is true — it changes everything. ]

[provoke]

I won't. This must stay between us, as likely if anyone else knows they are hoping to do the same as I. I have to beat them to it. I must claim her first.

[ he leaves it unsaid: i may need cover again. if they have a dragon—— just like at home, even if they do not have the numbers here, if they have a dragon then they could claim greater power.

she is not vhagar, but aemond could love her just as deeply. ]

I could take you on dragonback, if I succeed.

[unapparent]

[ they have not traded one game for another here, but rather doubled the stakes of the one already in play. ]

Indeed.

[ it frightens her, the thought of another dragon. and still they cannot hesitate. ]

You think her more suitable than Vhagar to such things?

[ it’s not a no. ]

[provoke]

She's large enough for two to ride. If her temper is suited to it, she might take to saddle a rider and a passenger.

Do not fear, Mother. I will not lose my remaining eye.

[ some reassurance. if it helps. ]

[unapparent]

[ helpless to do otherwise, she thinks of rhaenyra and how she once made the same offer. ]

You best not, dear Aemond.

[ a beat. ]

I would thank you for your conduct at the vote this day. It was most becoming of a Prince.

[ Defending Alicent without interrupting her or trying to remove her from the danger, showing respect to the Lady Alia, and deference to their allies. It has not gone unnoticed. ]

[provoke]

[ his mother offers endearment and praise, and aemond's first instinct is to bare his teeth and pull away. he yearns for this in every waking moment, but when it is offered freely, he wishes only to set it on fire.

fundamentally, he understands that this is not how one should receive such affections. but he doesn't know how else to do it, least of all when it comes from her. it feels too much like admitting weakness, or being laid bare and exposed. ]

We could not be seen mindless in our pursuit of justice. It would only hurt us.

[ it's the closest to thank you that he can get. ]

Where stands our allies with the suspects named?

[unapparent]

It is not the vampires’ way to get involved in human affairs.

[ Aemond will have noticed neither Armand nor Louis voted seriously, despite the accusations levied against their kind. Only Lestat. ]

We have their protection, however.
I asked Lestat to hear Baela’s case, and he was satisfied with it. As for Louis, I remain unconvinced by the accusation levied against him, though Alina spoke well.

Homelander and I are in accord.

Alina is agreed not to target you and I, just as I will defend her and Paul. I believe them both incapable of being wolves.

[ for their roles and performance this day. ]

Tim and Koby will continue to liaise with us, though I do not trust their Q. And if Ash knew of Embry’s accused killer, so did Hawk — yet they did nothing for days. It uneases me.