[ he doesn't mind speeding up, though he thinks he'll feel disappointed to end their training lessons sooner than he thinks she's ready. he runs a thumb over the screen where her photo is brought up, traces the line of the green patchwork wrapped around her shoulders.
it looks good on her. he chose well, and he warms at the thought. ]
The coat looks good on you. I'm glad it suits you.
You did say you like the histories, and we have many texts here that we could learn together.
[ pity that the library closed unceremoniously; he'd wanted to read about the other countries' wars, the deaths that have stacked up in the world wars. how strange for a world so connected to be constantly at war with one another — though aemond supposes that's no different from westeros, in truth. as some of his guards might say: men will feed, fuck, or fight.
I'd love that! I can tell you more of the history of my world too, what I know from the History Men and Women.
[it isn't much, but she knows some things, she knows enough to give a lesson on the Citadel, Gas Town, the Bullet Farm. The Green Place/Place of Many Mothers.
And oh good, he took the bait! Now that she's there, she feels her stomach flipflop and she clears her throat. She's no stranger to sex and sexuality, of course, but innocent flirtation, the quiet building up to something... That's new. It's thrilling, and a little frighting.]
Well. I was hoping you'd help me take things off, once in a while. Unless you're not interested?
[ oh. don't mind him. well, truthfully, who would mind? no one's here to see him, aegon is passed out somewhere, he's all alone in his rooms and his thoughts are—disorganised. disordered so simply by the insinuation of interest.
what do you say in these moments? ]
Would you be comfortable with that? You do not owe me anything, if you feel you must offer. These are gifts to you. If they've pleased you then that is all I intend for them.
[ he's not saying no. he just wants to be clear about what he's given, and that he expects nothing at all in return. ]
[She smiles warmly at the message as it comes in, pleased at his clarification]
Yes, I'm aware. It's not to repay you, I'm going to try and make you something instead. I didn't know gift-giving was such a big thing with this holiday, so that's my repayment, because I want to.
And this is because I want to, too.
I didn't know if I'd feel comfortable with sex again. Back home, it was power and procreation. It was painful and humiliating. But in this place, people seem to enjoy it a lot. They have fun, they seek it out. I've talked to Furiosa about it before, and she said it can be very fun with the right partner.
You've been kind to me, Aemond. You've been patient and understanding of my circumstances. I've never felt unsafe or pressured with you about anything. The archery lessons were--are--real and no pretense and you treat me no differently during them. You're actually teaching me, and well.
I feel safe and comfortable with you. I trust you not to hurt me, and to stop or be slow if I need you to.
it's a scary thing, to be trusted by anyone. aemond knows how difficult it can be to place trust in a stranger, harder still to try when intimacy comes into play. aemond can find himself in someone's bed and not trust a single inch of their body at all, never mind their intentions; he grew up in a pit of vipers and rats, the red keep's courts overfull with ambitious sycophants who would willingly tear each other down for a scrap of royal favour.
and capable has had it worse, having been used for her womb as so many women have suffered. his mother had suffered it, as had his sisters. he doesn't want to add to their hurts, and he doesn't want to add to capable's own hurt. ]
I'd like it for you to be certain. Is that too forward to ask? I do like you, Capable, and I'm like to accept what you mean to give. But I don't want to hurt you either, even if I mean not to.
We could try slowly. With touching, first? Is that all right?
[It's possibly the sweetest thing a man has ever said to her, she almost wants to cry. Splendid would like him, she thinks. The other girls too. She swallows around a lump of emotion]
Yes. That's more than alright. In the end, probably the smarter choice too.
I look forward to it.
[She feels a bit ridiculous, her stomach full of butterflies and all giddy. She rubs a hand over her face and pinches her cheek a little, laughing out loud at herself.]
I feel so silly. But I'm looking forward to trying.
[ he feels a bit silly himself, but it won't do to admit that now; one of them has to seem confident, at the very least self-certain. aemond doesn't mind standing in its place for now. ]
When you're ready, or when you feel comfortable enough to try with me again, I'll receive you happily. We can always shoot arrows in the meantime, even while it's cold out.
Be welcome, Capable. I look forward to your decision, too.
Archery would keep us warm at least. I've never been so cold in my life.
[It's fascinating and amazing but still bewildering. The water just...freezes like that sometimes? And instead of raining hard ice it's delicate snow?? Weird. So weird.]
Let's enjoy it while it lasts. Maybe by the time the warmth comes back I'll be hitting closer to the center of the target more consistently.
[She's at least hitting the target way more often than not now. But still, she looks forward to the time spent and on catching up afterwards]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ he doesn't mind speeding up, though he thinks he'll feel disappointed to end their training lessons sooner than he thinks she's ready. he runs a thumb over the screen where her photo is brought up, traces the line of the green patchwork wrapped around her shoulders.
it looks good on her. he chose well, and he warms at the thought. ]
The coat looks good on you. I'm glad it suits you.
no subject
But then, if it happens, then I'll simply have to find something else for you to teach me!
[She thinks it'll be a long ways off, though.]
You did a really good job. I'll wear it almost all winter. [the almost is important there]
no subject
[ pity that the library closed unceremoniously; he'd wanted to read about the other countries' wars, the deaths that have stacked up in the world wars. how strange for a world so connected to be constantly at war with one another — though aemond supposes that's no different from westeros, in truth. as some of his guards might say: men will feed, fuck, or fight.
that said— ]
Why only almost?
no subject
[it isn't much, but she knows some things, she knows enough to give a lesson on the Citadel, Gas Town, the Bullet Farm. The Green Place/Place of Many Mothers.
And oh good, he took the bait! Now that she's there, she feels her stomach flipflop and she clears her throat. She's no stranger to sex and sexuality, of course, but innocent flirtation, the quiet building up to something... That's new. It's thrilling, and a little frighting.]
Well. I was hoping you'd help me take things off, once in a while. Unless you're not interested?
no subject
what do you say in these moments? ]
Would you be comfortable with that? You do not owe me anything, if you feel you must offer. These are gifts to you. If they've pleased you then that is all I intend for them.
[ he's not saying no. he just wants to be clear about what he's given, and that he expects nothing at all in return. ]
no subject
Yes, I'm aware. It's not to repay you, I'm going to try and make you something instead. I didn't know gift-giving was such a big thing with this holiday, so that's my repayment, because I want to.
And this is because I want to, too.
I didn't know if I'd feel comfortable with sex again. Back home, it was power and procreation. It was painful and humiliating. But in this place, people seem to enjoy it a lot. They have fun, they seek it out. I've talked to Furiosa about it before, and she said it can be very fun with the right partner.
You've been kind to me, Aemond. You've been patient and understanding of my circumstances. I've never felt unsafe or pressured with you about anything. The archery lessons were--are--real and no pretense and you treat me no differently during them. You're actually teaching me, and well.
I feel safe and comfortable with you. I trust you not to hurt me, and to stop or be slow if I need you to.
I like you. I'd like to try with you.
no subject
it's a scary thing, to be trusted by anyone. aemond knows how difficult it can be to place trust in a stranger, harder still to try when intimacy comes into play. aemond can find himself in someone's bed and not trust a single inch of their body at all, never mind their intentions; he grew up in a pit of vipers and rats, the red keep's courts overfull with ambitious sycophants who would willingly tear each other down for a scrap of royal favour.
and capable has had it worse, having been used for her womb as so many women have suffered. his mother had suffered it, as had his sisters. he doesn't want to add to their hurts, and he doesn't want to add to capable's own hurt. ]
I'd like it for you to be certain. Is that too forward to ask? I do like you, Capable, and I'm like to accept what you mean to give. But I don't want to hurt you either, even if I mean not to.
We could try slowly. With touching, first? Is that all right?
no subject
Yes. That's more than alright. In the end, probably the smarter choice too.
I look forward to it.
[She feels a bit ridiculous, her stomach full of butterflies and all giddy. She rubs a hand over her face and pinches her cheek a little, laughing out loud at herself.]
I feel so silly. But I'm looking forward to trying.
do u wanna action?
When you're ready, or when you feel comfortable enough to try with me again, I'll receive you happily. We can always shoot arrows in the meantime, even while it's cold out.
Be welcome, Capable. I look forward to your decision, too.
only ALWAYS
[It's fascinating and amazing but still bewildering. The water just...freezes like that sometimes? And instead of raining hard ice it's delicate snow?? Weird. So weird.]
Let's enjoy it while it lasts. Maybe by the time the warmth comes back I'll be hitting closer to the center of the target more consistently.
[She's at least hitting the target way more often than not now. But still, she looks forward to the time spent and on catching up afterwards]