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[moondanced]

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un: daemon

[bloodstone]

[ He’s not gonna use that dumb app - ]

Baela. You’re well?

[moondanced]

( the app is dumb and she hates this )

Quite. Thank you for inquiring.

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

Cousin. Baela.

Have you broken fast?

[moondanced]

( .... okay first thing in the morning that's great. )

Not yet. I was just about to come down and do so, however.

@hightower

[unapparent]

I do not have words for the tragedy that has befallen your family.

[ our family, she almost says, but she does not think any of the blacks will approve of her claim to rhaenyra. ]

I am so sorry, Lady Baela.

[moondanced]

( she stares at her phone awhile. she respects Alicent more than most. but she's a mother all the same. )

Was it Aemond?

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

[ Matt has no idea what to do right now. But he does remember that two of the recent victims share someone in common. Someone who, despite her poise in written communication, can't possibly have the tools to deal with loss like this. (Who can?) ]

Hey. I am so sorry.

And I hate giving condolences because frankly I think words are always inadequate in the face of something like this. So I made you something, if you want it.

[ A photo follows: a silk pocket square, tied into a neat little bundle. ]

There's a spell on it. Magic. To ease grief and give you a stronger emotional foundation.

[moondanced]

( she's tired. exhausted. and the only real time she got even a wink of shuteye, she had the vision that sent her back down the road.

so finally she checks the message from Matt.

and relief immediately takes over. )

I am far too exhausted to even think to refute the offer.

Please. If you would be so kind, I would gladly accept.

text — un: missmystic

[highlyemotional]

I'm sorry about Jace.

I baked you a casserole and left it by your door. It's a thing people do where I'm from. It's mac and cheese.

[ wow this is so stupid but it's already done so. well, one can only hope she dies next and doesn't have to live with her own second guessing herself!

in any case there is a glass dish of baked mac and cheese in a picnic basket outside baela's door, complete with plates and cutlery if she doesn't want to leave the room, and a carafe of sweet tea because you can tage a girl from the south and put her in england but she isn't going to drink tea. ]

[moondanced]

I am sorry Caroline. I did receive your food, but I did not have chance to answer your message until now.

The food and drink are some of the best food I've had since coming here. ( you know that feeling when you're exhausted beyond compare, you haven't eaten, you're grief-stricken, and finally hunger comes clawing through you and you've no energy to feed it.

and then there's food. and it's good food as it is, but it's amazing food when you're in this condition. the best food in the world. and comfort food that she's never even known existed until this moment. )

You are too kind.

Are you keeping yourself well?

— text | un: FREAK

[guitarpicks]

let me know if you need anything, ok?

someone to talk to
a distraction
anything

[moondanced]

Your kindness is so much already, Eddie.

A distraction might be nice.

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

Stay with Mother. Take your father with you if you must.

[moondanced]

I do feel a very broad target on my back. It may be best I keep away from your mother for her own safety.

text; — @aemond_

[provoke]

How good is your sword hand?

[ just right to it, this guy. ]

[moondanced]

( ..... sus. )

I do better with a crossbow, but I am still fair enough.

Should I be concerned?

voice; un: persephone; sometime before round 2 ):

[semicharmed]

[ Matt should have seen this coming.

Back home, he did all his good by cover of darkness. Smuggling protective sigils onto walls, burying goodwill in the earth. If the cops had caught him, it'd have been a felony, easy. Here everybody's fine with witches, but they view his investigative attempts as worthless anyway--maybe because they devalue magic, or maybe because Matt is simply the wrong messenger.

So fine. He'll do what he always does: help in secret. ]

Baela?

It's Matt Jamison. Do you have a minute?

text; after returning to life

[bloodstone]

Daughter. You breathe?

@t.laughlin

[holyposition]

Hello, Lady Baela.

I'm glad that you're back. And very sorry that I wasn't able to protect you. If there's anything I can do for you now, I will. Recover well, okay?

[vermax]

Would you like to join me at the stables tomorrow morning? ( how to ask ones betrothed on a date… ) I was hoping we could break our fasts together and perhaps go for a ride.

( horses are not dragons but they just make do. )

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

Cousin. Are you otherwise indisposed?

If not, meet me at my room. I require your help. Our peace holds, if you're worried; the matter concerns Jace.

— delivery eve of dec. 25th

[vermax]

( he could deliver it in person, he knows, but there is novelty in leaving gifts in Baela's quarters for her to find. it is the spirit of the holiday, the surprise that comes with a gift thought out and given. at home, his courting gifts had been books, a cross-bow made of the sturdiest of woods, a set of earrings of pearls and rubies to represent the heritage of their great houses.

here he thinks long on what to give his love. there are multiple boxes left on her bed and their contents are as follows:

— a necklace made of silver, adorned with gems along the skull of one dragon that match moondancer's scales and vermax's on the other.
— a jacket with modern flare, the roses adorned with small pearls.
— a bottle of perfume that matches the sweetened, spiced notes that she preferred at home.
— a cross-bow that matches the style of her favored one at home, the arrows crafted by jace's hand instead of ordered from the hunting lodge.

he leaves a card with his gifts: to the most beautiful girl i know, the woman who holds my heart, my betrothed. this holiday is not our own but allow me the pleasure of your honest thoughts on my gifts, i hope i have pleased you as i wish to for the remainder of our lives. - jacaerys )

🎁 — 24/12.

[unapparent]

[ On Christmas Eve, the manor staff kindly deliver the gifts Alicent prepared for family and friends.

For Baela, in a red velvet box: A sterling silver cloak clasp, in the shape of the Targaryen dragon rampant. She’ll find a letter on thick, parchment paper attached (and sealed with emerald wax).]

Lady Baela,
I am not certain any of our house would have survived the games without your efforts. For that, you have my respect, gratitude, and affection, though I know we cannot be close for reasons including and beyond ourselves.

I consider it a privilege to have known you better in this strange place. You are fire and blood, like your mother and grandmother — and, indeed, Rhaenyra — before you.

Thank you for allowing me to observe your blaze.
Queen Alicent

delivery, morning of the 25th.

[provoke]

[ aemond has not signed a single gift he's given this entire time; why should he? if the recipient cannot guess, then he will not be repeating the gesture.

that said, he puts a lot of thought into what his gift to his cousin would be. what he comes upon is delivered to her personally by a servant; a small velvet box in black and red, about the size of a handspan. within is a dragon pendant, shaped to look like moondancer. there are two chains under the top level of the box, one long enough for a necklace and one thicker and shorter for a bracelet.

she may not be his favourite relative, but she is family all the same. ]

Christmas Eve

[homebird]

[ the servants bring a box to baela's door. inside is a little dragon plush, and a red and black blanket, lined with fleece. alongside the items is a short note signed with the direwolf seal of House Stark: ]

Lady Baela,

Please find enclosed a token for the holiday season.

The little dragon is supposed to take after your Moondancer. I hope she does not look too far wrong.

The other is for winter warmth.

With my fondest regards,

Sansa Stark, Queen of the North.