'What a stage the world is...
Such a shame the actors are ugly.'
-Taken from 'The Early Musings of Prince Rhaenar' by Brien Flowers.
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To say Prince Rhaenar prioritized friendship would be inaccurate. Even those within his inner circle felt a phantom barrier, a palpable distance between them.
It wasn't that he lacked concern for companionship; rather, his mind often wandered far beyond the realms of social interaction. If only others could catch a glimpse of the vast landscapes of his imagination, perhaps they could join his side.
Maintaining social connections demanded all of Rhaenar's energy and diplomatic finesse, as befitted his princely station.
Rhaenar was loyal to his dragon, though. That much could not be denied. He was much like his Uncle Daemon in that regard.
However, none of this deterred Laenor Velaryon and his sister, Laena, from considering Rhaenar their friend and close companion.
They found the prince in his solar, engrossed in dense ledgers.
"If it isn't my favorite cousins," Rhaenar greeted them.
Laena, grateful for his seated position, was able to wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Good morrow, my Prince."
Taking a seat, Laenor's curiosity was piqued by the hefty tome before Rhaenar.
"Hey, coz. What are you reading?"
"I'm compiling data from past winters," Rhaenar said. "We are fortunate that many maesters took liberty to keep records and estimations. Suffice it to say, I have no shortage of material."
Growing up with Rhaenar in the Red Keep had wizened the dynamic Velaryon duo to his concept of statistics.
"What kind of data?" Laena inquired, her eyes wide with admiration as she took the seat beside him.
Rhaenar's smile was indulgent, "You truly are your father's daughter. Well, little Laena, to answer your question, I'm interested in various aspects: the duration and severity of winters, their effects on livestock and agriculture, mortality rates...
"I want to understand which regions suffered most and why, as well as how others managed to fare better. I'm intrigued by the impact on trade, the duration of recovery, supply chains, the likelihood of civil unrest… There's more to consider, but that's a good start."
"Hey," Laena's fierce pride retorted, "I'm not so little anymore!"
Rhaenar chuckled, pinching her cheek affectionately. "You'll always be little to me."
Laenor smiled. He found inspiration in witnessing the prince at work. It fueled his own aspirations to become the best future lord of Driftmark.
"Are you concerned about winter?" Laenor asked.
"Not entirely," Rhaenar replied. "But I believe our response to the inevitable famine has room for improvement. The smallfolk deserve our efforts. Starvation is a dreadful fate. I'm hopeful that by compiling a birds eye view of the situation, I can devise a practical solution."
Laena gushed, "You're as incredible and thoughtful as ever, my prince."
Rhaenar chuckled, closing the thick tome. "You don't fool me, little one. I can see by the way your leg jitters that you're itching for a dragon ride."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Can we?"
"Of course," Rhaenar said. He made for the door, extending his hand to her. "Let's go."
Thus, they set off for the Dragonpit. Their plans were intercepted by Princess Rhaenyra, who would be damned if she missed such an outing.
Greysmoke, Syrax, and Sundance soared into pale blue sky.
Laena rode with Rhaenar.
She loved how he let her sit in front, the way he held an arm around her waist, secure and warm. How he gave her the reins and let her control where they flew. How the speed of Sundance made you feel a conqueror of limitations.
She loved glancing to the side and seeing her fellow riders in formation. The joy in the way Laenor hollered and howled with freedom, how Rhaenyra's infectious laugh somehow pierced through the wind.
Up there, Laena was complete and certain of what she was. In her heart, she knew. This is what she was born to be
A dragon rider~
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Later, Rhaenar's attention was drawn to Visenya's Hill on the city's west side.
Perched there, with an excellent view of the city, stood Rhaenar's Globe Theatre. It had been constructed personally by him and members of the Rhaenari legion some years ago.
"What seems to be the issue, Director?" Rhaenar inquired as he entered the empty theater. He met with members of the Mummers Guild backstage.
"Well, my prince, it's regarding the special task you assigned to us," the Director explained. "The wardrobe department is struggling with the materials at hand, if you pardon my mentioning..."
Rhaenar stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see... I believe I have a solution to that. Leave it with me. Anything else?"
"Despite numerous auditions, we still have some roles to fill for the new play," the Director added.
Rhaenar waved a dismissive hand. He disliked his time being wasted by such grunt work.
"You and your standards. Leave that to Central Casting; it's what they're paid for. Meanwhile, ensure that all actors are fresh and prepared for the coming weeks. Nobles from across the realm will want to watch all the classics. You can prioritize the newer plays once they depart."
The director bowed respectfully. "As you wish, my prince."
"Very well," Rhaenar said. "If that's all, I must be going. Keep up the good work, Director. It promises to be an exciting time."
Exiting the theater, Rhaenar was greeted by two squads of Rhaenari waiting for him.
Dirty Douglas approached, "What the pansy buggers want?"
"They're having difficulty with the realism," Rhaenar said, "I'll have to write Eldric about it. He'll have some ideas. In the meantime, I want you to visit the Butcher and tell him to redirect his efforts. Our meat now has certain… requirements."
Douglas' crooked grin wavered, "Ah shit. I think catch your meaning. Always hate having to see that fucker. I'll get it done right away. My prince."
With that, the captain offered his prince the Rhaenari salute, signaling his squad to do the same before they departed.
Rhaenar lifted his gaze to the sky, relishing the sun's warmth on his face.
"It's a beautiful day," Rhaenar murmured to himself. "Since I'm nearby, I might pay a visit to the Sept. The more of my family who show reverence to the Faith, the better we are for it."
He sighed, "Some have better talents for pretending, I suppose."