Well, right now, yes, but... [Quiet for a moment, watching her fingers close over his, noting the bandages on nearly every single one. Koby's own nails are bitten and ripped raw, a reflection of how many names, how many people he fears for, how many directions his (too soft, too tender) heart is wrenched. But Alicent's are worse.] You have your family, your friends, you haven't even been given time to grieve Embry, and you're...still here. [Providing the sort of comfort an orphaned, love-starved boy craves down to his marrow.
For a moment Koby let's himself imagine Alvida and Alicent, imagines how the former would quail before the gravitas and weight of the latter's presence. Alvida kept her power through fear, violence, threats. She manipulated and terrorized the crew and saved her cruelest words for a frightened, trapped boy who'd fallen into her web by mistake.
Alicent would've eaten her alive. That thought is some comfort, amidst the misery of this week.
If you were my boy prompts a throbbing stab of longing so raw that Koby knows its written all over his teary face, stark in his bright eyes. He swallows hard, hoarse, keeps his callused palm open for the steadying press of Alicent's bandaged thumb.] I would've liked that. [The education, yes, of course, unimaginable for someone in his situation. But belonging to someone, belonging to her-- that's what he really means.]
You are too. Kind, I mean. You've been it to me, and I -- [A slow, steadying inhale, well-aware he's trembling all over, exhausted and aching and sick with fear.] I didn't ask you here to talk about my past. I asked you because -- because you've been so kind, because I trust you and because.
Quentin’s named Baela. As his vote. [The trembling intensifies, and Koby wants to just burst into tears again, lose himself to fear, but he forces himself to meet Alicent's reddened eyes.] He did it to comfort a friend, not to harm, and I -- I know your family won't see it that way, I know I wouldn't, if it were one of my crew, but.
[Shaking, cold fingers curl around Alicent's hand, pleading, desperate with love, with fear.] I can't lose him. I can't. I'll lose my mind, I won't be able to survive this place. I'm not -- asking you to intercede or -- or defend him, I just. I need to know how I can. What your family will respect. What I can do to keep him safe.
[The tears are back, choking his throat, hot over his reddened cheeks, bright in his stricken, pleading eyes.] Please. I love him s-so much, Alicent, I'll -- do anything I have to. Anything.
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For a moment Koby let's himself imagine Alvida and Alicent, imagines how the former would quail before the gravitas and weight of the latter's presence. Alvida kept her power through fear, violence, threats. She manipulated and terrorized the crew and saved her cruelest words for a frightened, trapped boy who'd fallen into her web by mistake.
Alicent would've eaten her alive. That thought is some comfort, amidst the misery of this week.
If you were my boy prompts a throbbing stab of longing so raw that Koby knows its written all over his teary face, stark in his bright eyes. He swallows hard, hoarse, keeps his callused palm open for the steadying press of Alicent's bandaged thumb.] I would've liked that. [The education, yes, of course, unimaginable for someone in his situation. But belonging to someone, belonging to her-- that's what he really means.]
You are too. Kind, I mean. You've been it to me, and I -- [A slow, steadying inhale, well-aware he's trembling all over, exhausted and aching and sick with fear.] I didn't ask you here to talk about my past. I asked you because -- because you've been so kind, because I trust you and because.
Quentin’s named Baela. As his vote. [The trembling intensifies, and Koby wants to just burst into tears again, lose himself to fear, but he forces himself to meet Alicent's reddened eyes.] He did it to comfort a friend, not to harm, and I -- I know your family won't see it that way, I know I wouldn't, if it were one of my crew, but.
[Shaking, cold fingers curl around Alicent's hand, pleading, desperate with love, with fear.] I can't lose him. I can't. I'll lose my mind, I won't be able to survive this place. I'm not -- asking you to intercede or -- or defend him, I just. I need to know how I can. What your family will respect. What I can do to keep him safe.
[The tears are back, choking his throat, hot over his reddened cheeks, bright in his stricken, pleading eyes.] Please. I love him s-so much, Alicent, I'll -- do anything I have to. Anything.
Please.