middaeg | [closed]

[ The boat rocks uneasy, moving in a different way than the churning in her stomach. She had felt odd since they left, felt as if she was losing more of herself scale by scale. Bonded and secured, she fears they will not feel what she does – mainly due to being unable to find an answer for why now of all times.

Each hour that passes allows her to withdraw a bit more. There were people that recognized her for speaking up in the dignitary meeting, for being honest and gentle-hearted. She cares not to talk about that, she simply wants to see what awaits for them once their ship docks. Finally able to take her leave, she absconds away to the stern-side of the ship.

Dany watches the ripples of white leave the surface of the ship as it sales, lost in her own memories of crossing the Narrow Sea. Of course, she did not deal with itchy scales tucked away under cotton and silk, but she dealt with the same uncertainty.

It was almost funny to her how she ends up here, lost in thought and feeling like a little girl playing war games. ]

Edited 2019-09-09 01:01 (UTC)

[ It's not that long ago, in the scheme of things, that Percy was last on a ship like this. He'd even enjoyed it, at the time, even of the outcome of that trip had left something to be desired. But that's the one benefit to having the worst possible ending to something, it would be extremely difficult for their current adventure to go quite as badly.

Which has not stopped him from pacing the deck restlessly at every available opportunity. Luckily, Percy has an easy excuse for it, in the shape of the massive rifle he carries. He's an obvious choice to keep a lookout for the occasional sea monster, and he does spend the majority of his time keeping an eye out on the water.

But it's not enough to completely distract him. And when he glances over to find someone else staring off into the waves, he can feel a small smile pull at one corner of his mouth. ]

Feeling alright?

[ He calls over from where he's leaned against the side of the ship, rifle propped up next to him. ]

[ Sea monsters were as much legend as dragons were. She has right to be wary of them, when she hears how the captain had warned the passengers of any possible issues. Of course, such a thing was not as feverish as a giant kraken or a city-burning dragon.

She's to herself, watching the waves bellow outwards behind them — until Percy speaks up. Her gaze falls to him, a somewhat familiar face that earns a quick nod. ]

It's almost hypnotizing. I've never been aboard a ship that traveled this fast. Even the fastest in Essos didn't slice through the water like this. [ She's exaggerating, surely, but it still feels different. This world always will. ] Are you prepared for the next part of this journey — for when we dock?

Not particularly, no.

[ It's an easy admittance, accompanied by a slight shrug as Percy follows her line of sight out to the water. None of them had particularly enjoyed the Black City the first time around, he's sure. Call him a cynic, but he's not expecting much change in the waking world. ]

I don't like how quickly they invited us and I don't like how secretive everyone is being. Not enough information to go on.

[ Percy's never been a particular fan of winging it, despite how often it seems to happen to him these days. Even then, it tends to happen in the company of people who's actions he can usually predict to some degree or other. This is...much more uncertain. ]

[ Daenerys has no reason to inspire confidence here. They don't know her accomplishments, names, titles – they have not seen the thousands of people that follow her. But, she feels so bitter that her view was dismissed quickly. That the obvious: this city was keeping slaves – it was not enough to inspire radical actions. Not the way she would suggest. ]

We are risking quite a lot while Aefenglom trembles at the thought of confrontation.

[ Her fingers tap to the wood railing, teeth gnashing together a bit. ]

Now we find ourselves in a predicament for trusting information whispered to us through the shadows. I do not like it much myself.

[ Her words grow softer. ]

I wonder how long we'll be there – and what this Morgana woman demands...

I couldn't begin to guess. But. [ He pauses momentarily, searching for the right words. When Percy starts again, his voice is just a bit gentler. ] I can't blame anyone for wanting to avoid an all-out war. That won't do anything in the long run but create a very large mess.

[ He may not be a fan of Dorchacht on any level, but storming in to demand they change everything at swordpoint seems like a terrible idea. Even if any of them were strong enough to manage it. ]

I suppose we'll just have to see what happens. And make our own opinions on the matter clear. Politely.

[ Just a hint of irony on that last word, and Percy's mouth curves up at one side with it. ]

[ She rocks a bit anxiously on her heels, stewing in her thoughts until she finds comfort in the sloshing of the waves nearby. ]

I do not as well – these matters are delicate, I know. Foreigners showing up in their city, demanding a dissolving of their way of life. It is never received well. [ Her voice speaks from experience. ] However, change was not made by simply asking nicely...

[ That, as well, is with experience. Dany shoots him an interesting gaze. ]

... Do you trust Aefenglom?

[ Percy tips his head to the side slightly, considering. It's been his self-assigned role to be the one with the terrible ideas for a good long while, and there doesn't seem to be any reason to stop now. Someone has to bring up the worst possible outcome, and Percy is very good at seeing the worst.

And yet. It's not quite so simple a question as it seems. ]

They've been good to us when they've had no reason to be. [ He speaks slowly, when he finally answers. Thoughtfully. A group of strangers dumped unexpectedly into their laps, and Aefenglom has dealt with it as well as could possibly be expected.

And yet. ]

But if it comes down to it, I can't imagine we're going to be their first priority.

[ It's conflicting, sure. Aefenglom has no reason to give her a place to lay her head or even assist her in finding a bond if the time came for it – but they do not return her home. They send the mirrorbound to a city to take responsibility for something they knew nothing of.

She stays silent, shifting around a bit. It's an awkward time, long until the sound of her nails scratching at the back of her neck breaks it. Poor girl, those scales are itchy. ]

I wish there was a way to find sanctuary independently... to find what really matters – returning home.

Is that what really matters?

[ Percy's voice is somewhere between thoughtful and vaguely amused. It would be, of course, and probably should be, except that there's a large part of him that's fairly sure he has nothing to go back to. It wouldn't be the first time he's suspected he's been living out a very long, strange dying dream, but this one has the added part of remembering the shot that killed him. Probably killed him.

But that helps no one but Percy, so he lifts his shoulders slightly. ]

You may be right, of course. But considering all the things we don't know about this place, it seems safer to stay with people who have some answers, for the time being.

[ Would he understand her if she indulged? If she opened wounds of betrayal when she was ushered into Qarth. Treated like a guest in a strange land. Taken advantage of and nearly lost her dragons? Daenerys lost close friends and swore to never make the same mistake again trusting those who open their doors for her. ]

I do not know what matters. I thought I knew once, but... hm. Dreams complicate things, don't they?

[ He was right – even if she distrusts Aefenglom, they have more answers than she did. She plays along, mostly disgruntled at this point. She continues on, wincing a bit as she finally pulls her fingers back off the nape of her neck – eyes a bit wide as she looks down before stuffing her hand into the pocket of her jacket. ]

I can not say I am too fond of the ship the longer I pace the deck, however. It's far less charming than my usual way of traveling.

[ A shift of topics, one that makes her heart long for her dragon children. ]

[ It startles something like a laugh out of him, more just a hard exhalation, but Percy can't help but look amused. ]

Particularly dreams here.

[ He's been through a few of them now, and they never stop being unsettling. Percy's not all that fond of dreams to begin with, and Aefenglom's offerings are not helping.

But if she wants to shift the conversation, he's hardly going to argue. He does give her a slightly curious look, though. ]

Not my favorite, no, but I suppose the point is to give us time to get to know one another, since we're all meant to be working together. What would you prefer?

It may have simply been more of a means to an end. To show we were willing to make the trek instead of asking for their leaders to come to Aefenglom.

[ Or, flat out a power move. However, she smiles briefly at the thought of how else they could travel. Things were simpler before the mirrors, before the scales hidden under her clothes — to lament going back to that would be foolish. A waste. ]

Through the sky. Freely. [ Sadly: ] With my children.

[ Not like that isn't vague or anything. ]

[ At that, Percy's eyebrows lift just a little. ]

Airships?

[ It would make sense, certainly. And Percy can see how it might be preferable. Less threat of sea snakes, for one.

If he finds the mention of children at all strange, it doesn't show. Percy's spent enough time around members of longer-lived races not to take appearance for granted when it comes to age. ]

That would be faster, I grant you. Not all that much different, though, in my experience.

Airships?

[ It was easy to surmise his guess was wrong by the inflection in her voice. By how she perks a brow at such a thought. ]

No. Dragons. [ Her words come casually, as if it was a common occurrence. ] No ship alive could match the speed of a dragon.

Dragons.

[ His voice comes out a little flat, like it's not sure which emotion it wants to go for and has chosen none of them. Faster yes, most certainly. But the idea of riding one, even one of the metallics is. Mindboggling to say the least.

For just a moment, Percy imagines attempting to ride Devo'ssa, and even trying to picture it almost makes his eyes cross. ]

That's. Quite the travel option.

The safest and strongest way a Queen can travel.

[ The one she trusts the most. If she could fly Drogon across the Narrow Sea, she would have. However, she would never push her child that far. Realistically, she knows it — perhaps it was just a chance to bring up her children. To recall them fondly and
long for them. ]

Edited 2019-10-02 16:22 (UTC)

Unless the dragon objects, I would assume.

[ Proud creatures that they are, Percy can't imagine that even the kindest of them would tolerate anything it doesn't explicitly chose. A dragon has promised him aid, if he ever manages to get back to Tal'Dorei, but Percy has absolutely no illusions about who is in charge in that particular partnership. Even the mention of royalty merely makes him shake his head. ]

Either you have very different relationships with dragons than any I've ever heard or you're far braver than I could possibly comprehend.

[ A small, smirk. ]

I would not be here to tell my tale if my dragons objected.

[ Her dragons. Those words carried weight. Her fingers drum across the railing, gaze looking up to him directly. ]

I... am their mother. Admittedly, that is a very different relationship, but...

[ There's the briefest pause before Percy's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. ]

I see.

[ It's the kind of too-careful statement that means he has no idea what's going on but is too polite to say so. Dragonborn are one thing, but somehow he suspects that's not what she means. ]

That must be complicated.

A long story for another time.

[ Her history was not built upon shame or hidden under shadows. The herald of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen was etched into Essos now, spreading as hope and light when the lands did not know of such things. ]

Are dragons merely stories in your world, then? You look as if you've seen a ghost with my admittance.

[ It startles a sharp laugh out of him, though it's not a particularly amused sound. ]

I could wish. [ And that comes out almost genuinely bitter, though it's only a second before Percy gets control of himself to push that emotion back down again. ] No. Dragons are very real. And very dangerous.

They are. [ There is no denying that. ] The world fears them, as they should. Yet, they have a place in it – one they carved for themselves.

[ Dany is not ignorant to how people view them. Monsters, bringers of destruction... to her, they will always be her children, but – she tries not to take offense. ]

I admire that.

[ Percy's expression goes almost rictus before he can stop it. ]

Carved their own place. Yes, you could say that.

[ It's not entirely fair, and a part of him knows it. There have been plenty of dragons who rule their little fiefdoms quietly. He's metone, and gotten along well enough.

But the scars the Chroma Conclave have left are still a bit too painful. And there's a very good chance he'll never get the opportunity to go back and fix it. ]

Most know better than to try to do something about it.

[ It's rough to express how much such creatures mean to her. They represent everything she wanted to be. Part of her knows that dragons are never loved as she loves them, they would always rule in fear – their power unlike any other. The other part of her refuses to dwell on it, for a world does not need the love of a dragon to be better. ]

Most do not need to do anything about it, should they not provoke or impede upon them.

[ She was a bit defensive on that one. However, she adjusts her jacket and clears her throat again. ]

How do you know of dragons, then?

percy

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i promise i'll get to the newer tag in shortly!!! sorry for the delay across the board

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