[ the problem is that aemond does care. there are people in this keep that he's become dangerously fond of, the way a covetous madman becomes fond of the object of his desire.
aemond's fondness isn't so based or carnal, but it is sharp all the same. gideon drake, with his pale hair and his dream walking, had been a kind friend to aemond. far kinder than he expected anyone to be, more loyal than he thought anyone would be so early into an acquaintance.
he asked gideon for a promise, and gideon gave his life to meet it. how can aemond not want to honour him? to give back as much as he's been given without it being compelled from him?
every scrap of affection he's had in life, he's fought to claim tooth and nail, fang and claw, bruise over bloody bruise. and gideon - and pierce, and homelander - had given it to aemond as simply as they breathe.
he's careful in setting gideon's quickly cooling body into the tub, arranging his limbs so that blood will not pool at the joints and cause the flesh to split. he's seen it in bodies that have been left in awkward piles, the way parts would slough off and rotten blood would pour out at the bends. he doesn't want that to happen here. not when people can return from the stranger's embrace. ]
Will you take long?
[ he cannot help the faint shaking in his voice, the quietest hint of panic. how he sounds so much like a child when he speaks with doubt at what he should do. ]
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aemond's fondness isn't so based or carnal, but it is sharp all the same. gideon drake, with his pale hair and his dream walking, had been a kind friend to aemond. far kinder than he expected anyone to be, more loyal than he thought anyone would be so early into an acquaintance.
he asked gideon for a promise, and gideon gave his life to meet it. how can aemond not want to honour him? to give back as much as he's been given without it being compelled from him?
every scrap of affection he's had in life, he's fought to claim tooth and nail, fang and claw, bruise over bloody bruise. and gideon - and pierce, and homelander - had given it to aemond as simply as they breathe.
he's careful in setting gideon's quickly cooling body into the tub, arranging his limbs so that blood will not pool at the joints and cause the flesh to split. he's seen it in bodies that have been left in awkward piles, the way parts would slough off and rotten blood would pour out at the bends. he doesn't want that to happen here. not when people can return from the stranger's embrace. ]
Will you take long?
[ he cannot help the faint shaking in his voice, the quietest hint of panic. how he sounds so much like a child when he speaks with doubt at what he should do. ]