![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Just like that? [There's a note of indignation on Tim's behalf, of course, sparked on by the pure fury beneath it. There'd always been that preemptive forgiveness, for Hawk -- for reasons Koby understood deeply. There are people he'll make allowances for, forever.
But there's a ferocity here, something righteous and searing, something new. Setting the wine on the little table -- amidst papers and books and other typical Koby-related mess -- on a sigh:] Sit down, I'll get them. You're about to explode and you're going to drop something or step on Lincoln.
[Because what nasty gossip session is complete without a semi-carnivorous duck underfoot?]
But there's a ferocity here, something righteous and searing, something new. Setting the wine on the little table -- amidst papers and books and other typical Koby-related mess -- on a sigh:] Sit down, I'll get them. You're about to explode and you're going to drop something or step on Lincoln.
[Because what nasty gossip session is complete without a semi-carnivorous duck underfoot?]
][Things have been -- strange, since the New Years party. Koby's been trying to focus on getting back to some sense of normalcy, but he's too frequently checking in on the crew to miss that Nami's felt a little...off. Part of it he'd attributed to the house, to his tenuous grasp on his new abilities, to him overreacting.
But this...doesn't feel like an overreaction. This is bizarre. Still, Usopp's just left, Luffy's left, and maybe this is just...how she's coping. So he treads carefully, for the moment.]
You're getting married? That's
New.
But this...doesn't feel like an overreaction. This is bizarre. Still, Usopp's just left, Luffy's left, and maybe this is just...how she's coping. So he treads carefully, for the moment.]
You're getting married? That's
New.
No, I don't think he was. He was pretty clear.
Hey you don't know how to become a princess, do you?
Of course I want it. Who doesn't want it?
Settling down and having a nice big family is all I think about. It's all I want. I can't wait to be married so I can get to work.
Hey you don't know how to become a princess, do you?
Of course I want it. Who doesn't want it?
Settling down and having a nice big family is all I think about. It's all I want. I can't wait to be married so I can get to work.
Just like that. I don't know, maybe I was distracting him from his baby-killer creep uncle too much.
[ Which should have been a big enough red flag, but relieved of his promises as he is, Tim's finding it difficult to feel bad about flapping his lips. But Koby's demands, he yields to, giving up on his search and flopping down into an armchair. ]
I'm not gonna step on Lincoln.
[ No rebuttal to the explosion allegations. ]
[ Which should have been a big enough red flag, but relieved of his promises as he is, Tim's finding it difficult to feel bad about flapping his lips. But Koby's demands, he yields to, giving up on his search and flopping down into an armchair. ]
I'm not gonna step on Lincoln.
[ No rebuttal to the explosion allegations. ]
[That gets a startled sort of huff of a laugh, and two raised eyebrows as Koby pulls a couple of glasses out of a cupboard.] Daemon, I'm assuming. I'd thought they had an...interesting relationship.
[The wine is opened, poured, handed over, as Lincoln gives a broody "wak" from under the bed and Koby settles into another chair, holding his own glass.]
So just like that. Nothing prompted it, he just woke up in the morning and decided "nevermind"? [There's a sip, both eyebrows still up.] That's -- well. That's the sort of behavior I'd expect from royalty, I guess.
[The wine is opened, poured, handed over, as Lincoln gives a broody "wak" from under the bed and Koby settles into another chair, holding his own glass.]
So just like that. Nothing prompted it, he just woke up in the morning and decided "nevermind"? [There's a sip, both eyebrows still up.] That's -- well. That's the sort of behavior I'd expect from royalty, I guess.
Yeah. Interesting. He should be less worried what Aegon thinks of him being with me, and more worried about what he thinks of him being with the psycho who killed his son.
[ Tim takes the glass and drinks deep from it. It doesn't calm him down any, he just stands up again, starts pacing back and forth and venting, bright yellow darkening into ugly, angry rust. ]
Selfish, spoiled, and stupid. He says everything is about his family, but it's all about him. And I had the audacity to challenge it. Can't let the peasants go around having thoughts of their own, I guess.
[ Tim takes the glass and drinks deep from it. It doesn't calm him down any, he just stands up again, starts pacing back and forth and venting, bright yellow darkening into ugly, angry rust. ]
Selfish, spoiled, and stupid. He says everything is about his family, but it's all about him. And I had the audacity to challenge it. Can't let the peasants go around having thoughts of their own, I guess.
[Koby listens, quietly, one leg crossed over the other – unlike the last time, where he’d needed to talk and distract and soothe, the only way out of the pain is through. Letting it bleed clean, letting Tim vent until the furious rusty haze of his aura abates, lifts, until he’s worked himself breathless and finished his first glass of wine.
Then, nudging at the furious patchwork of yellow and rust with the calming, comforting warmth of his own aura, Koby stands, interrupts a rambling sentence with his hands on Tim’s shoulders. He looks up, big earnest blue eyes, knowing and grieving and upset on his friend’s behalf.]
He hurt you. I can feel that. I can feel you’re angry, but – you’re hurt too. You’re allowed to be. You opened yourself up and got hurt because of it, and that’s not fair. [Squeezing Tim’s shoulder’s once.] And if anyone says “I told you so”, I’ll give them a piece of my mind. Okay?
Then, nudging at the furious patchwork of yellow and rust with the calming, comforting warmth of his own aura, Koby stands, interrupts a rambling sentence with his hands on Tim’s shoulders. He looks up, big earnest blue eyes, knowing and grieving and upset on his friend’s behalf.]
He hurt you. I can feel that. I can feel you’re angry, but – you’re hurt too. You’re allowed to be. You opened yourself up and got hurt because of it, and that’s not fair. [Squeezing Tim’s shoulder’s once.] And if anyone says “I told you so”, I’ll give them a piece of my mind. Okay?
[ And vent he does, about anything and everything, in the petty, furious way that freshly hurt people do, turning every small inconvenience or imperfection into a major grievance. Aemond not liking his chest hair was a red flag and he should have stopped the whole thing then, the only reason he’s not monogamous right now is to use this place to figure out who he is and what he wants and who he is is an idiot, apparently – so on, and so forth, past his first glass and deep into his second by the time he stops to take a breath and feels Koby before he feels him, pressing in on him with the love and comfort they’ve long shared.
Tim takes a deep, slow breath, teeth clenched. He doesn’t want to cry, that boy doesn't deserve his tears, but Koby’s right. He is hurt, just like everyone said he would be, after he assured everyone that everything would be just fine. He was hurt, disregarded, taken for granted. It tears at wounds he thought were healing, pops the stitches so his guts can spill all over Koby’s floor once again.
He downs the rest of the glass and sets it down on the table, shaking his head. ]
I’d deserve it.
[ Even if it’s cruel. Maybe he needs that bruise to press on, in case he ever tries something so stupid again. ]
I’m scared I messed up everything.
[ With Alicent. With Aemond maybe, showing too much softness, forcing him to recoil. He could have spent those awful days of grieving with Hawk, or with Koby, who would welcome his presence and take comfort from it. Would have, could have, should have. ]
Tim takes a deep, slow breath, teeth clenched. He doesn’t want to cry, that boy doesn't deserve his tears, but Koby’s right. He is hurt, just like everyone said he would be, after he assured everyone that everything would be just fine. He was hurt, disregarded, taken for granted. It tears at wounds he thought were healing, pops the stitches so his guts can spill all over Koby’s floor once again.
He downs the rest of the glass and sets it down on the table, shaking his head. ]
I’d deserve it.
[ Even if it’s cruel. Maybe he needs that bruise to press on, in case he ever tries something so stupid again. ]
I’m scared I messed up everything.
[ With Alicent. With Aemond maybe, showing too much softness, forcing him to recoil. He could have spent those awful days of grieving with Hawk, or with Koby, who would welcome his presence and take comfort from it. Would have, could have, should have. ]
[Koby makes a quiet, noncommittal sound, setting his own (empty) glass on the table before crossing to the bed, climbing onto it and tucking his legs up under himself, the way they have a thousand times before, gossiping about Hawk or the crew or politics that he doesn’t fully understand. It’s a different room, now, but it feels the same – albeit with a constant, steady, warm pulse of empathy and grief and affection, poured like it’s limitless between the pink of his presence and the buttery yellow of Tim’s.]
Maybe you would. But… [He trails off, eyes dropping, reaching out to toy with the lace trim on one of the many pillows.] But I think believing the best of people is a good thing, not a weakness. It’s not something you should cut out, Tim, like a disease or something. It’s one of the best things about you.
[Still looking downward, mouth twisting in something bittersweet, wry:] If we all start holding each other at arm’s length, this place is going to be even more miserable than it already is. I’d rather let people get close and get hurt by it than keep my heart on ice forever.
[A pause. Then Koby pats the bed, gently, smiling sadly over at Tim.] Come and sit for a little. I won’t tell anyone if you want to cry about it for a while. I might even join you. I’m good at crying.
Maybe you would. But… [He trails off, eyes dropping, reaching out to toy with the lace trim on one of the many pillows.] But I think believing the best of people is a good thing, not a weakness. It’s not something you should cut out, Tim, like a disease or something. It’s one of the best things about you.
[Still looking downward, mouth twisting in something bittersweet, wry:] If we all start holding each other at arm’s length, this place is going to be even more miserable than it already is. I’d rather let people get close and get hurt by it than keep my heart on ice forever.
[A pause. Then Koby pats the bed, gently, smiling sadly over at Tim.] Come and sit for a little. I won’t tell anyone if you want to cry about it for a while. I might even join you. I’m good at crying.
Not well enough to ask them to adopt you. There are some queens, too? That might count?
Why does being a princess matter?
Are those the rules? I thought if you were a girl you were a bridesmaid no matter what, I didn't realize people had custody?
You didn't answer my question.
[A nudge, then, belated, Koby's presence against the shape of Nami's mind, her energy, feeling for something -- wrong, amiss, strange. It's not reliable, not always, but he knows how she should feel, so used to the soft sunset-glow of her aura always right there, right alongside the rest of the crew.
All that's left, at least.]
Why does being a princess matter?
Are those the rules? I thought if you were a girl you were a bridesmaid no matter what, I didn't realize people had custody?
You didn't answer my question.
[A nudge, then, belated, Koby's presence against the shape of Nami's mind, her energy, feeling for something -- wrong, amiss, strange. It's not reliable, not always, but he knows how she should feel, so used to the soft sunset-glow of her aura always right there, right alongside the rest of the crew.
All that's left, at least.]
Page 55 of 81