saltburnmods - inbox

[behavioural]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
ps

text ❖ audio ❖ video

Comments

[behavioural]

no

[...]

if i was aware of your relationship with her, then i wouldn't have revived her
i'm quite familiar with how repulsive family can be, aemond

[provoke]

[ his reply takes a long few minutes. ]

Do they still live, your family?

[behavioural]

yes, for the most part

[provoke]

Save for my mother here, and my sister and niece who remain alive back home, I have no love for anyone else in my family.

[ grandsire has all of house hightower to stand behind him, as does daeron. and aegon – he loves his brother as much as he hates him, and aegon will have to learn to survive on his own eventually.

but his mother is precious to him, his one true weakness, and helaena and jaehaera should never have had to play a part in the games they play. ]

Beyond them, I am on my own. I have always been.

What of my mother? My request for her safety?

[behavioural]

( pierce has only ever had his grandmother to be dependent upon, but it is a complex relationship in and of itself. she is the only one he can truly rely on within his family and he would do anything for her, but she is simultaneously the leash around his neck, binding him to his fate.

so, he can understand aemond's position and he can empathize with it. but this is not the time to share any of it — not to him. instead, he tells him this instead: )

your mother is safe
i placed a protective ward on her ages ago
if anyone tries to harm, the magic will strike out against them

[provoke]

[ the only people in their lives who have ever cared are the same ones who would put their lives in danger. their weaknesses, their soft spots, their limitations.

would that aemond had known, perhaps he would be— no, that's not true. he would still be too hard and brittle on the inside. ]

Thank you. If she's ever harmed, I'll know who to look for.

Do you sleep alone?

[behavioural]

i do
who else would i be sharing a bed with?

[provoke]

[ ???? ]

I am not asking after your affairs. Are you keeping safe? You must have allies here, or friends.

[behavioural]

( he has neither friends nor allies here, but— )

i'll be safe
it would take a fucking lot for someone to lay their hands on me

i'll also be expecting them ( given that the werewolves know of his role now. )

[provoke]

Strength alone is not protection. I do not doubt your skill, but it would be prudent to at least deter any attacks, or avoid them entirely at that. This game ends only when there is a clear winner, doesn't it?

Likely we'll have a few more rounds. Your abilities will be sought after by many.

[ he knows what his mother will ask, once their association becomes known. and he can't keep this secret from her; better that she knows who to turn a blind eye to, should aemond himself on the sharp end of a blade. ]

Would you mind company now?

[behavioural]

i'm aware
either they will want me dead or have me voted out

neither of which i'm particularly keen on

( getting jailed more so than death itself because there's no fucking way he wants to be stuck in a room with that bitch lucifer. )

sure
where would you like to meet?

[provoke]

I've been allowed to return to my room.

[ does that sound petulant? it does. he doesn't care. ]

We can plot Jamison's death, if you like. Or someone else's.

[behavioural]

i'll deal with jamison after the game ends
but if there is someone you want dead now, i'll hear you out

( with that said, he will be teleporting just outside of aemond's room. 👉 a single knock. )

[provoke]

[ he doesn't bother replying, because the knock arrives before the message, so when aemond opens the door— ]

Anyone? Any person that I'll name, you'll hear it?

[behavioural]

Anyone.

( but he will still have to be sold on it. )

So, ( he is going to let himself in now. ) who are you thinking?

[provoke]

Would you judge me for naming my own sister? [ it's almost a joke; he's almost smiling. ] No, not her in truth. Outside of people I want dead for personal reasons, we're still gathering evidence. Twice my kin has been targeted now — whatever the intention is, I suspect the attackers will make themselves known to me, and soon.

I wouldn't embarrass myself and my family by accusing someone so frivolously.

[ then, quieter: ]

I mislike that you're alone.

[behavioural]

There would be an ironic sort of humor behind me killing the one I had just brought back to life. ( as in to say, he isn't opposed to the idea, joke or otherwise. he was, after all, under the influence of the game — a fact he does not appreciate. ) Baela was a sensible choice, after the traction she had gained last round. She caught one of the werewolves, so she was a strategic choice to take out of the running.

( at leisure, pierce is taking in the layout of aemond's room, but he turns slightly towards him as he hears his next words. )

Yea? ( his lips curves up into a slightly boyish, teasing smile. ) You're worried about me?

[provoke]

I thought you might appreciate the humour in it, yes.

[ he shouldn't feel so light about this. death is no laughing matter, usually. but it is funny, for his sister to die and be brought back, then killed just for being brought back. aemond deserves a little jesting at someone else's expense, here and again.

he's trying not to meet pierce's smile with one of his own, now, but he's failing. ]

You're interesting. If you die, then more of the idiots prevail.

[behavioural]

A shared sentiment, it seems.

( aemond isn't the first to say that to him since his role was revealed. )

But I can ensure my own safety. ( it wouldn't be the first time his life has been endangered by forces beyond his control. he grew up with that risk, death a covetous and sadistic temptress who yearns for him to be at her side. )

And if I can't, ( he walks over to the edge of the bed, falling back onto it comfortably before tucking his arm behind his head. ) then it will be no one's failings but my own. ( and set's. but he won't be voicing that tidbit out loud. if he has learned anything from the past round, an emotionally charged targaryen will forsake any alliance for the sake of their own survival. he doesn't fault them for it because he would do the same. it doesn't inspire much trust though, does it? )

Whether I'm alone or not won't change the outcome.

[provoke]

Better with a second than alone, then. You should have someone to fight with you.

[ aemond knows what it's like to be the only one truly fighting for something. fighting and alone, persisting on his own; it's a wretched feeling, it hardens the soul and the heart, and he thinks that perhaps if he had at least one person in his life who truly had his back he would not be so angry.

or maybe that's wishful thinking. vhagar is his only friend at home for a reason; he's too much anger in a body to be anything other than a sharp edge. touch him, and you'll bleed — that has always been how people see him, and aemond has worked hard to make it true.

after a few seconds' deliberation he moves to join pierce on the bed, lies back down next to him but with hands folded over his stomach. his one good eye is on pierce's right side this way, but aemond isn't looking at him yet. ]

Are you not afraid to die?