The Crownlands

IC:

"..."

"I suppose." Victorya replied, after staring at the gesture for a moment. She looped her arm through his, the other hanging loosely at her side. "And we both know that you love to quibble."

IC:

"Dear brother, you have many spectacular qualities, but you are quite fussy about your appearance. In a good way, but it's true."

IC:

"You're a decent brother, you dress well, and you're not an ass."

IC:

Victorya sank into the seat, forcing her face to remain composed, and her tone calm. "I knew that that would get a rise out if you. In actuality, you're a great brother."

IC:

Victorya gave a single tight smile, before her cheer melted away, replaced with the steely calm she wore so often. Every move was calculated, every gesture part of a carefully considered action. Once more, Victorya was hidden away behind the forced politician.

IC:

Victorya looked at him with a skeptically arched eye eyebrow, though she didn't argue the point. In fact, though she didn't say as much, she seemed to appreciate the sentiment, even if she didn't agree with it.

"The problem with having a seat is that it eliminates the excuse for pacing."

IC:

"Tell me, Victorya, and tell me true," Aelix said as he donned his black jerkin, studded with rubies in the shape of a magnificent three-headed dragon, "have you ever just sat and contemplated on how comely I am?"

"No, but you do often enough for the both of us."

"Don't be coy, sweet sister," Aelix sang happily as he finished perfecting his long white hair and spun on his heel with a charming grin. She was perched on the cot, her own features an attractive blend of amused and oversold indifference; the Targaryen commander sat down next to her as though his bones had been replaced with metal and put his arms around her in a way that he knew would either annoy her or cause her to warm up considerably.

"I thought that sisters were supposed to be the clingy ones." The Targaryen replied with a degree of amusement, her head swiveling as far to the right as possible in an attempt to keep her brother in sight. She herself, as usual, had done nothing with her hair nor clothes other than ensure that neither was out of place or dirty.

"You continue to blow that supposition out of the water."

IC:

"All I did was sit in a chair and occasional speak."

IC:

"In that case, I shall be sure to perfect my skills of sitting still and pretending to agree while remaining unnoticeable."

IC:

"I'll make a courtier of you yet!"

"Good gods I hope not."

"Careful, Victorya. One day I may start taking offense."

IC:

"Dear brother," Victorya replied obvious amusement, wrapping an arm around his shoulders in a half hug. "You and I both know that not only will that never happen, you fit no better there than I do. The difference is I simply don't fit, and you're a wolf amongst sheep."

IC:

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"I don't quite understand the question."

"The question is exactly as phrased. We don't belong here. What do you propose we do instead?"

Victorya was quiet for a moment, taken aback by the question. After a minute, she shrugged. "Don't know. Run away, settle in the middle of nowhere and declare ourselves ruler of that land?"

"Wait, nevermind. You'd die for lack of people to compliment you."

"Wouldn't I still have you?" he asked quietly.

IC:

Victorya paused again, blinking at the suddenly serious nature of the question. After a moment, she rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately for you, yes. I'm not nearly so easy to get rid of as that."

IC:

For a long, long moment, all was silent.

When Aelix pulled back, Victorya was silent, completely nonplussed. Her brain failed to fire, her biological functions for a moment seeming to completely stop. An indicator that she was, at the very least, still alive came when she blinked, eyes starting to refocus.

"Um."