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[heartsbane]

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call

[freeing]

[ Maybe she had a bit too much to drink. She's escorted back to her apartment, alone with her thoughts. She does not dare proceed to Jorah's apartment just next door. This kind of confrontation is not what she wants. Instead, she makes use of the device gifted to them.

Calling an hour or so after they had retired to bed. Once he answers: ]

Are you cross with me?

[heartsbane]

[ she must forgive him for the delay in responding. he's still far from comfortable or familiar with the technology of the device given to all of the mirrorbound. when the call comes from, there's at least several seconds of Jorah trying to figure out how to accept it. hopefully it doesn't go to voicemail or something. ]

Khaleesi, why are you choosing to reach me he—

[ he knows they live adjacent to one another. there must be a reason she chooses to avoid face-to-face contact. her question is finally absorbed and she can hear him smack his lips for a moment as he pauses to consider his words. ]

Never. I apologize if I have given you the impression that I was.

[ if she wanted him to explain himself at the tavern, she will have to approach it differently than by trying to put him on blast. >:[ ]

[freeing]

It is late. I wish not to seek company.

[ Was it a lie? She feels exhausted, wore out from the different directions her heart had been tugged at. There's hesitance there, an odd disconnect from not seeing his face to partner with her words. ]

You were not the one who offered council for me to go. I wish not to offend or discredit you. [ He always heeds caution, insists she does too. ] I... acted impulsively.

[heartsbane]

I understand. The wonders of technology, then.

[ his response isn't sarcastic, but it's easy to take it as such if she didn't know any better. Dany should know better, however, so he is walking into this spontaneous conversation with apprehension and caution. they've done enough arguing in the dream version of Dorchacht. the last thing he wants is to continue right before they inevitably go their separate ways once more.

that in itself earns a bitter taste in his mouth. perhaps he is cross with her. it's hard for him to tell. ]

I have learned long ago that there is no such possibility of sating your emotions. I will not scold you for something I know I cannot change your mind on.

[ she did act impulsively, and she heard him speak enough at the tavern. all of his concerns about walking in with the spotlight on her group, the fact that neither Coven is exactly on their list of trusted people yet... it spells trouble. ]

You must forgive me. I am afraid I put myself into a situation where I will not be there to protect you on the boats.

[freeing]

[ She does. Daenerys may feel the need to always prove herself to those not inclined to follow her for namesake or her dragons, but... never with Jorah.

Her claws (haha, not literal yet) are withdrawn and instead she comes off reasonable. Level-headed. ]

There is nothing to forgive. I make it hard for you to live up to your vow to serve me, I know. For that, I... send my apologies. [ It wasn't right to go about this alone. She recalls of how he told her to bide her time in the dream, but this? It could be a reality. ] It would not be the first time our paths have diverged, ser. There will be others with me and your skills will be invaluable to me with your infiltration.

[heartsbane]

You do ensure I will never grow complacent in my duties to you, yes.

[ code for chill the eff out, lady!! it's surprising he doesn't have more salt and pepper sprinkled throughout that beard of his from how much she stresses him. none of what she has said earlier comes off as foreign to him. she has always been headstrong. passionate. emotional. Jorah has worked hard to help her control those feelings in favor of being a proper, legitimate Queen once she assumed the throne, but...

... some habits die hard. ]

Yes, but I left you in good company any time I have left. I know you have befriended others... perhaps they have even earned your trust, but—

[ Jorah interrupts himself with a sigh. he has to learn to stop being so skeptical of any and everyone. most mirrorbound are like-minded if only because they were all brought to Aefenglom against their choosing. he shouldn't have cause to believe they have ulterior motives. ]

—I wish I knew it possible to convince you to remain safe in this city. Those who sit at the throne are not to be in the front lines, nor do they often play the role of emissary.

[freeing]

It seems our time apart has earned you a sense of humor. I'm impressed.

[ Coy, teasing – Daenerys is taken aback by the lightheartedness when she came to him so blunt. It helps ease things, makes her admitting she was wrong to play hero so quickly.

She sees red – Astapor burning, chains and shackles hitting the ground... and the smell of flesh crisped to the bone still fresh in her nose. Daenerys tries her best not to associate it with this upcoming voyage... yet...

Her voice grows soft, almost like when she pleaded with him to take her to the House of the Undying. ]

I must see this city for myself... I must know if this world is plagued by a wheel that grinds the unfortunate into the ground. [ There's a true admittance here: ] I do not have a throne to sit on. Not here. Maybe not even back home. The future is nothing to bet upon when magic weaves itself around us.

[heartsbane]

I have always had a sense of humor, khaleesi. It is just usually in the form of sarcasm, and I try to restrain myself of that in front of my queen.

[ because a queen shouldn't be talked to with sarcasm in mind. who's to say what that means if he allows himself the opportunity to speak in such a way. maybe he's growing comfortable with their more sociable dynamic since arriving at Aefenglom. maybe he's actually somewhat passive aggressive without realizing it. maybe it's a combination of both. either way, it's there and he doesn't apologize for it. ]

And if this other city is exactly what you fear? If you have no throne to sit on, surely you understand the difficulties of raising an army to force change at your own will.

[ she'd not only be going against Dorchacht, but she would no doubt be butting heads against the apparently passive Aefenglom. without understanding its history, the city they lived in appeared to be very cautious about causing unwanted problems and attention on itself. perhaps they should have realized the consequences of bringing someone like Daenerys into their world. ]

I ask that you keep control over your emotions while you are there, Daenerys. I will not be there to help you during these meetings. Please do not put yourself in harm's way.

[freeing]

[ It's almost bitter how quickly she wants to insist she is no Queen here. That one did not hold over well last time, she would not return to that conversation. ]

We must be partners, ser. You serve me well, provide good council and I wish to return the favor. [ His words were difficult to hear. As if she was being talked to like a child. She hates it, makes her wish to end this 'call' and just go to sleep. Yet... a Queen, she listens to her people. ] I... will do my best, then. My wants and wishes may not align to what is best for us all.

[ A pause, returning to his earlier question. She thinks, trying to sum the words up for him to understand. ]

If it is as I fear, my heart will bleed for them. [ However, she does insist more from him. ] I wish to know about their city, I trust you to find me the answers I need.

[heartsbane]

[ though he is quick to mention the lack of a throne, she will always be a queen to him. it is but a simple fact for Jorah. bias aside, she was destined to break the wheel and he was one of the first to believe in such a thing. he helped her climb her way from the bottom of the desert to the Great Pyramid of Meereen and eventually the mountains of Dragonstone. he didn't quite get her to King's Landing as he had hoped, but it's proof that she can do it all over again if she so chose.

the problem is that it's just the two of them this time, and he's far too cautious about putting her in harm's way. she teased the fate of death one too many times back then; he will not allow such a thing repeat itself here. not when he's come so far to be with her again. he will do whatever he must to ensure she remains safe, even if it's at the cost of providing others their freedom. ]

Your wants and wishes are important to me. You know this. But I cannot side with any decisions that provide you with unnecessary risks. Perhaps that is why you moved forward without my direction. —Or perhaps you dabbled in those impulsive habits of yours.

[ and he applauds her for that if that is the case. present the conversation to him prior and he would have done any and everything in her power to steer her towards remaining in Aefenglom. bringing it up in the public, spurring them forward and creating conversations... there's no way he can stop her now. it may not have been her intention, but surely it was smart. ]

Of course. Assuming this teleportation device keeps my limbs intact, I will not return to you until I have more information.

modranicht gift!

[fulgency]

[For most of the gifts Ozymandias has distributed, they have not come with much by way of written notes. But for Jorah, Ozymandias includes a brief, written explanation in the box wrapped in blue and gold alongside the gift. The gift itself is a small pendant depicting a seated man, a spear in his hand and four long feathers atop his head. With it comes a leather cord that Jorah can cut to a length for a necklace or bracelet -- whichever he deems more practical and appropriate.]

[This is the god Anhur, sometimes referred to as Onuris by people of the modern age in my world. He is the god of my nation's army and an exemplary royal guard to his father and god of the sun, Ra. May he grant you protection in battle and may you long serve Her Majesty as Anhur serves his father.]

[Ozymandias signs the note with the hieroglyphs of his throne name.]

[It's obvious that the pendant itself bears no enchantment from the magic of this world, but to Ozymandias, the image of a god is enough to imbue anything with magic and divine protection.]

Modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[The package left on his doorstep contains a plate of homemade cookies from Marie and a fresh lily flower.

“Happy Holidays! We are not friends yet but I hope we can become friends in the coming year.” is what the attached note says]

call

[freeing]

[ It had been a half the day since Jorah had left the farmlands for hunting. A few hours for Daenerys to overthink and allow things to spiral into something more — she missed him, longed for the wrinkles on his face and the gruffness in his voice. It was not worry, it was... well, close to the full moon, she imagined is why she felt this way.

haha... unless? ]

Ser? When can I expect you to return?

[ To me. ]

[heartsbane]

[ the feeling was not one-sided. big surprise. anytime Jorah leaves their new home for periods of time, he fears he leaves his Queen lonely. it's selfish to think his attention was worth that much, but there was plenty still plaguing her mind with concern. of that he has no doubt. his own insecurity made him fearful that he left her unprotected. even if she might now know how to wield a weapon in her hands, she has much to learn. Daenerys is almost always on his mind, but it was especially present when he was on his own in nature.

so it is certainly something to have her call him when he was just thinking of her. it makes things all the more startling, so she would have to allow a few moments for him to answer. she might be fearful of him not picking up before she finally hears his voice. ]

Good evening to you as well, khaleesi. [ a tease. she didn't even say hello. how rude. either way, Jorah does his best to pretend all is normal and fine. as always, really. ] The sun has a few more hours left for me. I'll be out here until it is gone, I would say.

—Unless you need me? Is everything okay, your grace?

un: gioia. text.

[trouvaille]

Do you have bear armor for when you're a bear?

[heartsbane]

[ wow. hm. Jorah's been in Aefenglom long enough to understand the purpose of texting. the benefits, even! —but it's questions like this that make him want to go back to Essos, where things were delightfully outdated and messages took weeks to get to their respective target. ]

Good evening to you too.
Thank you for such a specific question. At this hour, non-the-less.

I do not. Bears weigh over a hundred stone.
They seem to get by just fine.

[trouvaille]

In normal bear circumstances, which I would argue we are not in. There's a forge where they make very good custom work, Putinka has his own fancy armor thing now. I'm just saying it wouldn't be a terrible idea to consider.

( this is not in the top ten weirdest things she's messaged someone or the worst time she's done it, but that doesn't feel helpful to point out. )

[heartsbane]

I know what you speak of.
I have had custom work done for myself.
As in, human me.

[ still an odd way to describe himself even after all of this time. it is what it is, though. ]

I must assume he looks like quite the gallant pup.
He's a large fellow, but the steel required for a bear is a tad expensive, no?

[trouvaille]

I work in finance for the aristo district so I could probably afford it, but I did get it in hardened leather. I don't want something that's going to be uncomfortable for him to wear, you know? He's never worn anything more elaborate than a harness before this.

[heartsbane]

Of course. That makes sense.
I meant it would be expensive to buy the materials to fit the size of a bear, though.
Even leather would add up quickly.

It is odd, I will say.
I have worn some type of armor most my adult life. Even as a child, really.
To think I am just... bare when I am a beast is interesting.

[trouvaille]

Oh, yeah. That's a good point if you are considering it, but you did sound pretty confident about bears being fine.

( and gwen is always ready to talk about her dog at a moment's notice, it's a problem. )

I guess bears are at their most dangerous naked. Which is relatable.

[heartsbane]

[ annnnd a follow-up message right after. ]

I would like to see Putinka with his "fancy armor".
Whenever you have him in it again, anyway.

[trouvaille]

( the picture she took is probably one she's stored, because she has it promptly and it's from beside the river—percy made the sort of elaborate strip that straps around his torso and over the top of his head, protective, and gwen has slung suitably-sized saddlebags over his back. he's sat beside the river's edge in the picture, her shoes tied to his saddle-bags. )

[heartsbane]

[ awwww, look at the puppy. he so cu-yoot. ]

He wears the armor proudly.
What a fine canine soldier he would make back home.

I hope this means you also protect yourself.
My memory of our time first together is unclear, but clothing on you was not part of it.

[trouvaille]

Guard dogs have to guard, but you never know here from what. I don't want him defenseless, you know? But he's a tough boy, his sire's breed was cultivated to defend people from. Well, from bears.

I'm fine.