Alright, alright, yes, plenty of that too. I am a very good bad influence.
[It does make her chuckle, as well as being true.]
She's right, he was those things as well. Especially with the children. Few men would have been so... engaged. And yes, he had plenty of stories where I seem absolutely ridiculous, and he would have very happily told you all of them. Probably more than once.
[ Even though that may not bring her as much comfort as she'd have liked, it gives her some. Rhaenyra carries some of Laena with her that Baela won't ever get her hands on. ]
I wonder if she'd have enjoyed your gossiping, too—or was my uncle the only unserious one?
I can see Rhaenys insist that she have an opinion on something. I like how encouraging she is. She always wants to hear what I have to say, even if I don't agree with her.
Was my father like that? He varied. When I was younger, he always wanted to hear my opinions, but... as I grew older, we talked less and less. ['As I grew older.' It's true enough to not feel guilty for giving that explanation instead of a more accurate one.]
As for having an opinion of his own on something and voicing it, that he largely tried to avoid.
[ It's contemplative. What Baela remembers is a degenerating dragon, but what everyone has said about Viserys… Wasn't he kind, and a figure of peace? Did that peace eat him up from the inside?
After a moment - ]
It's like they're afraid. Sometimes I think Father is afraid that I'll say something he hasn't thought of. Maybe Grandsire was the same. They want to appear like they know all, because they believe they should, but they forget that sometimes another has a different perspective. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that.
[ She preens and stops herself from asking Really?. Of course, she's correct! Baela can be correct sometimes! ]
Have you seen how Father smiles when you praise him for his planning? He likes taking care of you. I think it makes him feel good about himself. He'd never say it. He's an idiot.
[ She flushes. Her father is an idiot, but Baela has only ever confessed such a thing to Rhaena and Jace. ]
Don't worry. I married him, I know he's an idiot. He's a man. They never like admitting things like that. They always seem to think it counts less, after they've talked about it.
[ Baela presses her hand to her mouth to stop herself from laughing too loudly. ]
I hope Jace is… different. He can be quite smart at times.
[ How can she say to his mother that she hopes Jace is every bit an idiot as a husband should be, but not be so terribly exasperating she wants to murder him? ]
He can, but he does also have the Targaryen pride. That keeps a marriage interesting even when you are both being quite smart, and can even make us women forget our intelligence.
You two will be fine, of course. Mostly you will be glad for any sparks, in whatever form they come, it bonds you.
[ She blushes, glancing away at Rhaenyra's approval. Did she ever doubt Rhaenyra not liking her betrothal to her son? No. Rhaenyra has been nothing but kind, inviting Baela to the table, and even insisting Jace listen to her rather than backing her son.
But it's nice. ]
I don't think Jace could ever be boring, even if he tried.
[ Her blush only deepens. Baela has a big, fat crush on Jacaerys. ]
But please don't tell him that. His head would grow so big that he'd be impossible to deal with.
No. Daemon Targaryen, bore someone? Would he ever sit still long enough?
[How mischievous - and embarrassing - can she be? Well, if she wants Baela to be able to speak freely about her son when they're married, perhaps it will help.
Or perhaps it will do the opposite. Who can say?]
Well, there are ways to make him sit still, but those certainly are not boring.
[ She closes her eyes and laughs, waving her hand before her. Although the Targaryens pride themselves on keeping their blood strong, sometimes Baela doesn't need to hear the intimacies of her close kin.
But it's good, isn't it? That Daemon has Rhaenyra, and that Rhaenyra is happy with Daemon. ]
I'll let you keep your secrets, if you'll allow me to keep some of mine.
[If she were having this conversation with Jace, she probably would have made at least one more embarrassing comment, but in this case she relents, amused enough.]
[ Although Rhaenyra is a very trustworthy person, Baela sizes her up with a smile, and stands a little taller as she does so. She thrusts out her hand. ]
We should shake on it. No deal worth its salt goes unshaken.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[It does make her chuckle, as well as being true.]
She's right, he was those things as well. Especially with the children. Few men would have been so... engaged.
And yes, he had plenty of stories where I seem absolutely ridiculous, and he would have very happily told you all of them. Probably more than once.
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[ Sounded. Baela's still not used to speaking about some of her family in the past tense.
She scratches her cheek and decides looking away from Rhaenyra isn't best. ]
Do you miss him?
[ A silly question to ask, but Baela feels it's better phrased as one than a statement. ]
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[A touch of sadness enters the smile. If only Westeros had divorce, to go with their lavender marriages.]
I do, yes.
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Does it help to talk about him?
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It does. It has been a while since I got the chance to.
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Baela fiddles with her fingers and stops herself. ]
Did you know my mother well?
book canon, I wish they'd stuck to you here
Not nearly as well as I should have, but some. If we had ever been in the same place for long, I think we would have been very close friends.
it's fine, we're going to in 890534 other threads!
I wonder if she'd have enjoyed your gossiping, too—or was my uncle the only unserious one?
you're right!
[This is a compliment, truly.
Granted it may not have ben a compliment if said by other people, but from Rhaenyra, it is high praise.]
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I can see Rhaenys insist that she have an opinion on something. I like how encouraging she is. She always wants to hear what I have to say, even if I don't agree with her.
[ #1 Rhaenys fan. ]
Was your father like that?
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Was my father like that? He varied. When I was younger, he always wanted to hear my opinions, but... as I grew older, we talked less and less. ['As I grew older.' It's true enough to not feel guilty for giving that explanation instead of a more accurate one.]
As for having an opinion of his own on something and voicing it, that he largely tried to avoid.
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[ It's contemplative. What Baela remembers is a degenerating dragon, but what everyone has said about Viserys… Wasn't he kind, and a figure of peace? Did that peace eat him up from the inside?
After a moment - ]
It's like they're afraid. Sometimes I think Father is afraid that I'll say something he hasn't thought of. Maybe Grandsire was the same. They want to appear like they know all, because they believe they should, but they forget that sometimes another has a different perspective. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that.
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Do you know, I think you may be exactly correct. I had never thought about it like that.
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Have you seen how Father smiles when you praise him for his planning? He likes taking care of you. I think it makes him feel good about himself. He'd never say it. He's an idiot.
[ She flushes. Her father is an idiot, but Baela has only ever confessed such a thing to Rhaena and Jace. ]
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Don't worry. I married him, I know he's an idiot. He's a man. They never like admitting things like that. They always seem to think it counts less, after they've talked about it.
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I hope Jace is… different. He can be quite smart at times.
[ How can she say to his mother that she hopes Jace is every bit an idiot as a husband should be, but not be so terribly exasperating she wants to murder him? ]
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You two will be fine, of course. Mostly you will be glad for any sparks, in whatever form they come, it bonds you.
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But it's nice. ]
I don't think Jace could ever be boring, even if he tried.
[ Her blush only deepens. Baela has a big, fat crush on Jacaerys. ]
But please don't tell him that. His head would grow so big that he'd be impossible to deal with.
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[She's trying not to look amused by that blushing, and thus make it worse, but frankly she is failing.]
Boredom can be quite deadly for us.
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Does he ever bore you? My father.
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No. Daemon Targaryen, bore someone? Would he ever sit still long enough?
[How mischievous - and embarrassing - can she be? Well, if she wants Baela to be able to speak freely about her son when they're married, perhaps it will help.
Or perhaps it will do the opposite. Who can say?]
Well, there are ways to make him sit still, but those certainly are not boring.
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[ She closes her eyes and laughs, waving her hand before her. Although the Targaryens pride themselves on keeping their blood strong, sometimes Baela doesn't need to hear the intimacies of her close kin.
But it's good, isn't it? That Daemon has Rhaenyra, and that Rhaenyra is happy with Daemon. ]
I'll let you keep your secrets, if you'll allow me to keep some of mine.
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[If she were having this conversation with Jace, she probably would have made at least one more embarrassing comment, but in this case she relents, amused enough.]
You have a deal.
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We should shake on it. No deal worth its salt goes unshaken.
[ She made that up, btw. ]
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[With questionable success, Rhaenyra tamps down her smile and completes the handshake with as much solemnity as she can muster.]