everything around the spacious bedroom shimmered under the kiss of candlelight, a gilded bird winked its ruby eyes at harwin from one corner of the room, its sharp beak caught mid-peck against an emerald grape, no doubt a gift from pentos; from the other end, the vermillion canopy fluttered against the chill breeze that slipped in from the balcony, an uninvited guest carrying on its wings the scent of lavender, but harwin was engrossed by the lacquered board that separated him from princess rhaenyra. miniature dragons, elephants, horses and figures crowded the checkered terrain, each strategically placed and coordinated to ensure victory. he can still remember his father’s words, lodged in the underside of his memories like a pebble stuck in a shoe: strategy games were whetstones that sharpen the mind, but harwin had always preferred the real clash of swords in place of these fabricated skirmishes, and larys was much better suited at the game than harwin ever will be. he could not deny the wishes of @denouemente , though, so he played, unpolished and brute in his strategy, yet favoured by the fortune of the bold. elephant to king : a daring move. “ a game of cyvasse is never over until the last move is made, princess, ” amusement clawed and picked at the rough edges of his voice, softening what would’ve been a verbal bite into a joke. rhaenyra is quiet in her tactics, a predator stalking her prey, or teasing, she was no stranger to that. a flourish of dainty fingers had the candles flicker and dance as one of harwin’s elephants fell prey to rhaenyra’s dragon, snatched from the board prematurely, leaving harwin’s king defenseless. “ i'm afraid i’m too stubborn to be a proper strategist, ” the battle between sterness and levity was brief on his lips, frown surrendering to a chuckle.
" you're just like me, you can't change who you are. "
and perhaps that was the reason why they suited each other so well, each steadfast in their beliefs, unafraid to pursue their desires, indulge them, against all odds and expectations, against the straightjacket of decorum that bound nobles to duty and positions alike. “ forgive me, princess, but pray – what stakes did we agree upon? ”
❝ it’s wanting that gets so many folks in trouble. ❞
❝ it ain’t no secret i didn’t get these scars falling over in church. ❞
❝ if you win power, remember why you wanted it. ❞
❝ you do a man wrong, he’ll shoot you for it. you do a man right…well, he still may shoot you for it. ❞
❝ trust me. there’s things you’re better off not knowing. ❞
❝ you remind me a lot of myself. how i used to be. stubborn and angry. ❞
❝ i hope you will give me some warning if you get the sudden urge to kill me. ❞
❝ my side wasn’t chosen. my side was given. ❞
❝ a little sore, but apart from a couple extra scars, it will be as nothing happened. ❞
❝ i don’t think you’re a bad person. a little stupid perhaps, but not rotten. ❞
❝ i certainly don’t mind you asking, if you don’t mind me not telling. ❞
❝ you are being deliberately obscure as a substitute for having a personality. ❞
❝ so do tell me, have you needlessly risked your life since we last spoke? ❞
❝ i came into this world fighting. and i’ll go out of it fighting. ❞
❝ i hear you speak and suddenly i'm reminded of how the people i respected most in my life had a problem with authority. ❞
❝ you're looking much better. considering you were almost buzzard food a couple days ago. ❞
❝ power is like a drink. the more you have, the more you want. ❞
❝ people don’t forget. nothing gets forgiven. ❞
❝ sometimes in the service of what is right, you got to do terrible things. ❞
❝ you have quite a story. i really am a little jealous. ❞
❝ old friends make the worst enemies. ❞
❝ i had everything, and gave it up in the pursuit of nothing. ❞
❝ hah. you were always bad at lying. ❞
❝ i’m not going to stand by and watch good people suffer. ❞
❝ some trees flourish, others die. some cattle grow strong, others are taken by wolves. some men are born rich enough and dumb enough to enjoy their lives. ain't nothing fair. you know that. ❞
❝ if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. ❞
❝ now, if you don't mind, i'd hate to spoil such a beautiful afternoon on such beautiful land with any further unpleasantries. ❞
❝ i, too, have a family, friend. and so that we may see our families again i suggest we part ways amicably. ❞
❝ sometimes i tell myself that everything happens for a reason. ❞
❝ i see the good in everybody. it’s a flaw of mine. ❞
❝ well, try not to get yourself killed. ❞
❝ see if you can keep your gun holstered for once. ❞
❝ i don’t pay much attention to rumors. ❞
❝ i swear, if it was down to me, i’d never have gone anywhere. ❞
❝ lock all the doors. whatever happens, don’t come outside. you hear me? whatever happens. ❞
❝ what would you care? i’m just a nuisance to you anyway. ❞
❝ i’ve been hearing some things about you. ❞
❝ i would rather be dead than a cynic like you. ❞
❝ damn, a little gratitude wouldn’t kill you. ❞
❝ trust me, i ain’t no hero. ❞
❝ as it turns out, it's you or me. the way i see it, might as well be you. ❞
❝ you live in a dream world. it ain’t like they tell it in books. ❞
❝ i’m asking you to do what i say, before you get yourself killed. ❞
❝ those who sit on the fence make a choice…in their own way. ❞
❝ i’d do anything for you, you know that. ❞
❝ better watch your mouth, my friend. i've cut out a man's tongue for less. ❞
❝ there's nothing worse than a nobody thinking he's a somebody. ❞
❝ you got it all wrong. i’ve always loved you, even now. ❞
❝ what the hell were you thinking, going off on your own? ❞
❝ first impressions are hard to erase. ❞
❝ it’s a long story. too long to tell without a drink in my hand. ❞
❝ i’m not angry. i’m disappointed. ❞
❝ you know me. i’ll be late to my own funeral. ❞
❝ that tone of voice ain’t so becoming on you. makes you seem all pent up and angry. ❞
❝ you think i don’t know who you are. ❞
❝ why don’t i get a warm and tender embrace? ❞
❝ what do you want me to say? yippee? ❞
❝ there’s always a choice. you’re just too blind to see. ❞
❝ you’re not ready for that yet. one step at a time. ❞
❝ every time you go off, i worry you’re not coming back. ❞
❝ it didn’t have to be this way. ❞
❝ come on now. try to look on the bright side. ❞
❝ after all i taught you…i’m ashamed. ❞
❝ it’s easy to make promises you can never keep. ❞
❝ we all make mistakes. i never claimed to be a saint. ❞
❝ how does it feel to kill hundreds of men in cold blood? ❞
❝ it ain’t the first time i had a gun to my head. ❞
❝ you’re not perfect, and i’m sure not. but you’re better than they are. ❞
❝ you alright? you’re not hurt, are you? ❞
❝ this really couldn’t have gone more horribly wrong. ❞
❝ you’re just like me. you can’t change who you are. ❞
❝ my whole life, all i ever did was fight. ❞
❝ you’re in no position to make demands. ❞
❝ the bright side? there ain’t no bright side. ❞
❝ my heart’s beating like a drum. ❞
❝ are you sure you’re alright? i mean, i know all that business must have been hard on you. ❞
❝ you’ll make me blush with all these kind words. ❞
❝ i never took you for the jealous type. ❞
❝ come now, you’re stupid, but you’re not that stupid. ❞
❝ you’re weak. you always were. you never had the stomach for this. ❞
❝ seems real quiet, don’t you think? ❞
❝ you were always a hard and nasty man. ❞
❝ see, i have nothing but your best intentions at heart. ❞
❝ don’t talk about things you don’t understand. ❞
❝ i guess there’s only one room for one hero in this family. ❞
❝ for a wise man, you are a really stupid man. ❞
❝ what would have happened if i hadn’t come along? ❞
❝ you must have mistaken me for someone else, friend. ❞
❝ you ain’t very talkative, are you? ❞
❝ we cannot be too careful. the world is very dangerous. ❞
❝ no, i’m not okay. do i look like i’m okay? ❞
❝ you are so tense all the time. come, let’s have some fun! ❞
❝ i will stay and fight. i am ready to die if necessary. ❞
❝ i know i can’t change the past but i’m sure gonna do something about the future. ❞
❝ i’ve given you no reason not to trust me. ❞
❝ choose your tone rightly. remember who you’re talking to. ❞
❝ there are guards everywhere. if they see you, they will kill you. ❞
❝ it was nothing. i’m not a kid any more.❞
❝ a lonely, forsaken place. some people say it’s haunted. ❞
❝ i’m not sure your idea of paradise and mine are the same. ❞
❝ maybe if you were more cordial to folks, they’d be better inclined to help you. ❞
❝ i’ve been in far worse situations. ❞
❝ you have the exterior of a violent man, but the soul of an angel. ❞
❝ you’re not gonna pass out on me, are you? ❞
❝ you’re no better. how many men have you killed? ❞
❝ stay alert. something doesn’t feel right. ❞
❝ i'm going to hand you over to them and watch them tear you limb from limb…i'm just kidding. ❞
❝ you love to talk badly of other people because it makes you feel better about yourself. ❞
❝ it’s been a pleasure spending time with you. ❞
❝ that’s a lot of sacrifice. i just hope it’s worth it. ❞
❝ i’m not cut out for this. no, not cut out for this at all. ❞
❝ i don’t need you to show me. ❞
❝ men are born, and then they're formed. at least, that’s how i see it. ❞
❝ a little flattery…now we’re finally getting somewhere. ❞
❝ i thought you were supposed to be fearless. ❞
❝ you are a man who has lost his spirit. ❞
❝ if you were less secretive, people might be more inclined to trust you. ❞
❝ me mean me no harm? this is funny. what harm could you do to me, exactly? ❞
❝ come on, after everything we’ve been through, i think we can trust each other, don’t you? ❞
❝ i can’t rightly believe it. just like in the books. ❞
❝ i didn’t ask for your help back there. i owe you nothing. ❞
❝ be careful. what’s stopping me from killing you? ❞
❝ one day, i promise you, you’re gonna regret this. ❞
❝ you know i’ll do whatever i can, but i have problems of my own. ❞
❝ what would you know about leadership? ❞
❝ you make a choice by not making a choice, you know. ❞
❝ hold your excuses until you figure out which one to use. ❞
❝ i'll give you a bad case of "someone just shot me in the head" if you don't hurry up. ❞
❝ being honest though, this tastes bad enough to kill a man. ❞
❝ do i look like i need saving? ❞
❝ sarcasm should be beneath a man such as you. ❞
❝ are you always this stupid or are you making an extra effort today? ❞
❝ i don’t like to kill a man on his knees, even if he deserves it. ❞
❝ don't forget you need me more than i need you. ❞
❝ i’ll hunt you to hell and back. ❞
❝ you’d best not be lying to me. ❞
❝ let's get going. before the weather gets any worse. that sky don't look good.. ❞
❝ thank you for telling me all that back there. it must have been hard for you. ❞
❝ i know we ain't exactly old pals, but…have i ever done you wrong? ❞
❝ your nobility's almost as affecting as your naivety. ❞
❝ you are a romantic who wants to be a cynic. ❞
❝ i apologize if i seem to be prying. ❞
❝ strange place for a decent person to visit, if you don't mind me saying. ❞
❝ well, you must admit…it's an unusual start to a friendship. ❞
❝ i can’t really say i understand you. ❞
❝ every man has a right to change, a chance of forgiveness. ❞
❝ hello, old friend. it’s been a long time. ❞
❝ i hope you understand now why i've been playing my cards somewhat close to my chest. ❞
❝ nobody made my path but me. ❞
❝ it’ll be a piece of cake. trust me. ❞
❝ oh, don’t be so deliberately enigmatic. ❞
❝ my word, what a difficult life you’ve lived. ❞
❝ you have a strange sense of humor. ❞
❝ stay and fight me, you coward. ❞
❝ i ain't planning on staying very long. ❞
