video, un: daria | gilligan's island crew;

[conqueress]

[ The feed opens to show a young woman with salt-stained hair, tied into a braid. She looks slightly battered, in the same way that they were all tossed about by the storm's winds, but not undaunted. Her eyes are a strange shade of violet, gazing keenly into the feed. ]

For those I have yet to meet, my name is Daenerys. [ Her tone is not unkind, but it is authoritative. For now, she gives no titles, or even her surname. It scarce seems to matter at the moment. ] I carry no weaponry here, though I was brought to this island with my dragon. To anyone who might seek protection, I offer our defense.

[ She turns the ring so that it catches Drogon, once the size of a cat. To anyone who's seen him before, they might be shocked--he'd now rival a medium-sized dog. He's presently gorging on the charred remains of an especially ugly fish, with what looks like more than two eyestalks. Out of mercy for her audience, Dany swiftly turns the crystal back to her own face. ]

For now, Drogon and I are ensconced in the innermost part of the city, at the tip of the sea serpent's tail. Seek us there, if that is your desire. There are quarters here to shelter you, and many houses lining the streets, besides.

[ She pauses, scarce concealing a grimace as Drogon gulps down his gruesome supper. ]

To those who have no need of protection, or else no want of mine, I would ask for information. [ She sits up taller. ] Who has scouted? I cannot speak to how many threats we might have here, only that I have seen red beasts in plate armor, and little else. [ She'd seen them from a distance only; they hadn't troubled her. ] As to our resources, I have found nothing to eat here, save for the fish. [ Her tone goes slightly flat. ] Of that, it seems we have enough to feed ourselves for some days, though I cannot speak to how many were carried here.

[ There's a brief commotion, and the feed is bumped slightly. Scarlet horns tease the bottom of the image as Drogon, sated, moves to join her. The queen extends a pale hand, unseen, to pet his spinal ridges. ]

If there is someone with magic remaining who can help to preserve the meat, we shall have great need of your services. Somewhere might be designated to house it in the city, some identifiable place, that it may be easily found before it spoils. I would gladly offer my own quarters to host some portion, if Drogon would not claim the feast for himself.

[ He has always grown quickly, but now he grows so fast that she fears he would decimate any food left to their care. ]

Yet I will admit it is water that troubles me more. Of seawater, we have much and more, but nothing to drink. [ A small furrow appears in her brow. ] Has anyone found an alternative? Sunken wine, perhaps? Ale? That shall be of paramount importance.

[ Her mouth is already dry, and so she conserves the rest of her words. For now, khaleesi has said her piece. ]

[ OOC: This is mostly her attempt to gather information and learn ideas! Threadjacking is totally fine. ]

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video | un: beloved

[dailydouble]

[ Ahad looks worn down, nearly gaunt. There's less of a presence to him than before. He still remains calm, however, more accepting of this than he perhaps should be. ]

The meat can be salted, if enough of it can be found or produced. I can be of no help otherwise.

[conqueress]

[ She accepts nothing, because she has nothing to lose. Or so she thinks. Part of her fears she will lose Drogon, if their bond is truly magic. ]

Sea salt, then. [ She knows now that he mislikes pity, so she offers him none. ] I shall try to keep the salt when I have finished boiling the water.

[ That is, there won't be very much to spare, but perhaps for casual use, it might help. ]

Have you need of food? Some water, perhaps? [ Shelter? She isn't certain he's ever needed those things. ]

[dailydouble]

[ He's silent, for a few beats. Ahad would keep this quiet, but certain questions deserve some sort of response. ]

As the inevitable draws closer, my need for sustenance and shelter will increase.

[conqueress]

[ The inevitable. Death? No, do not speak of that, she wants to tell him. ]

My home is open to you, should you desire the shelter. [ A pause. ] My stolen home. Drogon keeps the room warm.

[ She considers her next words carefully. ]

Is it only your own magic that would help you? Could you draw upon proximity to someone else with power?

[dailydouble]

Ah. The offer is appreciated.

[ Even if he's unlikely to accept it on his own. Ahad would rather sleep in a cold, empty room than owe anyone anything. His weakened state doesn't change his stubbornness at all. ]

No, if I draw any power it is from serving my nature.

[ He knows what the next question will likely be, but won't address it unless asked about his nature directly. ]

[conqueress]

[ Right on cue. As yet, she's neglected to ask that one. ]

And what nature is that?

[ Something not easily done, it would seem. ]

[dailydouble]

Love.

[ There's little point in obfuscating, at this stage. ]

[conqueress]

[ Does he mock me? She's silent, seeing no trace of humor in his face. It is Ahad, and only Ahad here, who has made her feel uncertain of herself.

He gets frankness, then, from a queen who has lived in a city where brothels sprung up like mushrooms after her conquest: ]

Is there no other companionship you could seek?

[ She has known different kinds of love. But if it is mere lying with someone he wants, she suspects he'd find no shortage of willing partners. ]

[dailydouble]

[ He sighs, mostly avoiding the impulse to roll his eyes. It was never that simple. ]

My relationship with companionship is complicated.

[ Dany knows that he was a slave. Ahad assumes that the rest is easy enough to infer. ]

Seeking any willing sexual partner could be more harmful than helpful.

[conqueress]

[ It is good that dragons do not weep. Her eyes remain dry, though her heart is sad.

I cannot save him, she tells herself, and yet there is a part of her that still wishes to try. ]

And what of friendship? Kindness?

[dailydouble]

[ He looks away, for a moment. When his eyes meet her's again, he's completely collected and seemingly unmovable. ]

That also falls under my nature, to a certain degree.

[conqueress]

[ She has made him uncomfortable. So be it. ]

Then come. I ask for nothing in return. [ She is not kind, she thinks. But she isn't beyond showing kindness, not when so very little was ever shown to her. ] I have fire, and a drying home. There is no need to waste away so willingly.

[ If he refuses her again, he will make her sad, but she will relent. She'll have little other choice. ]

[dailydouble]

It is not done willingly. I cannot-

[ He stops, and for a few moments it's uncertain if he will go on. ]

The metaphor is imperfect, but think of this as feeding crumbs to a starving man. It may stave off the end, but not by much.

[ What this isn't is a rejection of her offer. Not yet. ]

[conqueress]

[ She mislikes his metaphor, and it shows in the way her mouth tightens. Before she was a queen, she was a beggar. ]

When I was a little girl, hungry and afraid, I prayed for kindness in the morning, and again at evenfall. You are offered it freely, and all you can do is tell me it is useless. Do you know what I would have given up for that?

[ Perhaps he doesn't care. He has lived long enough and suffered long enough that it would not surprise her if he cared little for the desperate child she had been. ]

If you would help yourself, accept the crumbs. We may find a way to summon Nalanni. The magic may return, and with it, your gifts. It may be your magic was drained by some other force, one that can be defeated more easily than a goddess. [ Her eyes are sharp in a blazing face, a striking opposite to his resignation. ] Refuse offers of aid, and your odds of seeing those possibilities shall grow--longer. That is the only certainty.

[dailydouble]

[ It's on the tip of his tongue to say something devastating, something that will forever damage this fragile thing they've built. But he's harmed himself enough already during this conversation. If he looked badly off before, now he looks positively ill. ]

False hope is more damaging than none at all. This is why I hesitate. You offer me sanctuary, but when I do not accept it immediately and in the way you wish me to, you strike out.

Now, tell me if I do not have reason to be wary?

[conqueress]

[ You are only hurting me, his face seems to say, and flinching openly, she at last looks away for a moment. She sees death and sickness, a blanket filled with flies. What have I done?

She has received people who asked her why she would not come to save them. That had been difficult. This is worse, because Ahad does not question her inaction--he questions her. Must I be Viserys, lashing out when I am pained?

The thought chills her, but she makes herself look at him. ]

It is with myself that I am angry. [ Perhaps I have forgotten how to be kind. That makes her sad. ] My people came sick and pleading to my gates for succor, and I could not save them. Perhaps--my sorrow has poisoned me. I am desperate, casting my will into a wall, where I must be gentle and ask how to open a door.

[ Tell me if I do not have reason to be wary, he says, and she doesn't know. She feels trapped. ]

I cannot make you well again, Ahad. I cannot move Nalanni to return. I have no magic, no means of bringing back your life. If I did, I swear to you that I would have done it before now. [ She is tired of supping on death. ] I can only try to make you feel a little less ill, and slow your decline ... but I wish to help you. [ Her pride has fled her. ] I do, and I do not know how to do it in a manner you will not turn away.

[dailydouble]

[ When he speaks, it's almost gentle. ]

It is not always about you. I say this...no. It is a cruelty, to a certain degree. [ It could be worse, but a small cruelty is better than a larger one discovered later. ]

You will never save everyone. To be able to dismiss your sorrow and feelings of guilt at that would make you monstrous, but allowing it to consume you will make you vulnerable.

[ He sighs, looking once again tired and vaguely troubled. ] I would not ask you to swear anything to me or make promises that are beyond you. It is enough that you open your quarters to me.

[conqueress]

[ I am vulnerable, she thinks, and I am a monster, as well. I am, I am. You do not understand. There's a wave of regret across her face, some helplessness in her gaze that is shaken loose by the strange compassion in his tone, and then she is curiously composed again, as though she's retreated behind a mask.

She will never be Rhaegar, and she has not yet become Viserys. That is all that she knows. ]

And open to you they shall remain. [ Stolen though they are. She sighs and sits back, needing the release. A silent prayer is sent to uncaring gods for wine. ] That is my pledge.

[dailydouble]

If you insist. [ It's a weak attempt at breaking the tension with a bit of teasing, but it's easier to retreat behind that then continue to be so open. ]

I may be accompanied by a minor annoyance, at times. If you do not mind opening your temporary home to another.

[conqueress]

[ He teases, and for the first time, she hears levity pass his lips. A tired jape, but a jape all the same.

Perhaps he won't always make her sad. The corners of her mouth quirk. ]

Only minor? [ A touch of play. ] For whom shall I set out my golden plates?

[dailydouble]

Loki.

[ He sighs, as if resigned. ] I would suggest not informing him that I rate him as a minor annoyance. He may become a larger one, with proper motivation.

[conqueress]

[ Ah. Suddenly heartened, she giggles at the sigh. ]

Your fate remains unchanged, I fear. I had asked him here before.

[dailydouble]

[ He blinks, slightly surprised at her giggles. Everything has been so serious for so long that he almost did not expect a sound such as that would ever escape her lips. ]

Ah, then you are well-prepared for what is to come.