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[interior]

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[interior]

Do you know why I work here, Alicent?

[lambencies]

[ ... ]

You protect them.

cw: discussion of sw discrimination & abuse

[interior]

Something they didn't need until Void-Touched started arriving here. Here, they wouldn't be considered lesser for their choice in work. Easier targets. Maybe even deserving poor treatment and abuse.

But that seems to be a running consistent through our worlds. Whore just another word for garbage, something you ignore or avoid on the street, wait for someone else to come along and clean it up. Don't get too close, or the filth might infect you, too.

[lambencies]

There are women... and men who live and work in poor conditions in my world. On the streets of the city where I live.

That is why we have the City Watch, to keep them safe, but sadly their rule only reaches so far.

[interior]

Like I said. Someone else to come along and clean it up.

[lambencies]

The women of our worlds share the same suffering. What is your point?

[interior]

Your world doesn't dictate suffering. The people in it do.

Aegon mistreated someone in this house. You and Aemond both respond by offering me compensation and a promise he'll be punished, not because you care about the suffering caused, but because of reputation or potential future problems. You overlook suffering and you perpetuate it.

I offer education instead, and you balk. Because you don't want to get too close, and have the filth infect you, too.

[lambencies]

No. Of course I care! What would you have me do? Apologize to them personally? Warn the others not to act like he did?

[interior]

I'd have you learn to stop seeing them as garbage.

[lambencies]

I never thought of them as garbage.

[ not intentionally, anyway. ]

They're people who have had misfortune in their lives.

[interior]

And when they're not? When they've made a choice to provide a service, the same way a tailor or a baker or a soldier has?

[lambencies]

[ but why would you... ]

If they have nothing else?

[interior]

Do you think I have nothing else?

[lambencies]

Yes, of course.

Forgive me, I do not understand. Why?

[interior]

Because Aegon and Aemond got it from somewhere.

[lambencies]

They are grown men. They make their own decisions.

You believe that I am the reason for Aegon's behavior?

[interior]

I thought what Aegon wants was never up to him alone.

[lambencies]

That is all the more reason for him to--

[ she's tried. she's tried so hard to tell him to behave like a crown prince should. she's done everything she could, but she can't admit her failure to anyone, not even to herself. ]

He is my son, Kovacs. I know he can do better. It will not happen again.

[ she has to believe that. ]

[interior]

I think he can, too. But there are some lessons a parent can't teach.

[lambencies]

[ and a whore can? ]

And you can?

[interior]

I think there's no harm in me trying.

[lambencies]

No harm? I remember how you threatened him.

[interior]

Then you'll also remember how I didn't need to follow through on it.

[lambencies]

I do.

[interior]

So, no harm.