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[lambencies]

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Alicent Hightower

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[rehandle]

[ It's the only thing she could ask that he can't promise. The only people he wants to be around are those of them who already understand, and even then it feels too soon. ]

I do, but I won't be going there.

[lambencies]

Stephen.

This town cannot handle another monster so soon. Not another monster like him.

[rehandle]

I know.

It'll be alright. I don't think that was a regular transformation. I'll make sure to reach out to someone if I sense a risk.

[lambencies]

At least give me their name.

[ so she knows who to call if the worst comes to the worst. ]

[rehandle]

I don't have a list, Alicent, I -

[ Almost everyone he cares for he's fucked over. Who is he supposed to call without inflicting his pain on the very people whose pain he's inflicted? ]

Wanda's the only person here who can contain me as I am. If it's too late for one of us to help [ One of us, she'll know who he means but he's going to have to get himself out of that habit - ] she's the final resort.

[lambencies]

[ Wanda? of course. ]

I would prefer if it didn't come down to the final resort.

And so would you.

[rehandle]

[ God. Fuck.

Fine. ]

Kovacs.

[ If the worst comes to the worst. ]

[lambencies]

[ so he's on Strange's list. surprising, but it does make sense. Alicent's relieved. ]

He will do what must be done.

[rehandle]

[ Too raw to watch his tone - ]

Fucking me's never sounded like quite so grim a fate. [ But there's no point in snapping at her. It not her he's angry with. ] I'm going to go now. I'll let you know when I know where I'll be. If you don't hear from me, I'll see you next month.

[ That's cruel, but he's feeling too much at once to regulate now. And it's not completely outside of the realm of possibility that he's going to die within the hour, so. ]

[lambencies]

[ it's fine, she speaks cruel fluently. ]

I thought you were too intelligent to fall victim to self-pity, Stephen.

If I don't hear from you, I will see to it personally that the Duchess never releases you from her castle.

[rehandle]

I do not have a say in whether or not John Gaius sees fit to end my life, Alicent. I don't have any designs on losing it, but I will not leave him there, and some things are outside of my control.

[lambencies]

You can defend yourself, can you not?

[rehandle]

Yes. But I was able to kill him because he gave up. I imagine if he wants me dead he could do it.

[lambencies]

[ oh gods. ]

Please be careful.

[rehandle]

I'll do what I can.

You'll hear from me.

[ One way or another. Sooner or later. He'll only leave her in the dark if he has no other choice. ]

[lambencies]

[ she hates this a lot. ]

[rehandle]

[ It's maybe an hour, an hour and a half later: ]

I'm fine. [ In one extremely limited sense of the word: alive, at least. ] Thank you for your concern. I'm sorry for being an asshole about it.

[lambencies]

[ she's so relieved she has to sit down. ]

It's no matter.

Tell me what happened.

[rehandle]

I let him loose, he healed our wounds, I left him.

[ There is so much unsaid in that brief description that it's almost laughable. But it'll do. He's too raw from it to be more honest, and she only need to know he's well. ]

[lambencies]

[ she didn't expect much, so this is enough. if John healed him, it couldn't have been a complete disaster. ]

He knew you were not to blame.

[rehandle]

Yes.

[ That wasn't really what had spared him. But what John did or did not know or feel in those moments isn't his to share. ]

You can stop worrying now. [ About Stephen, at least. ] You'll reach out if you need me?

[lambencies]

[ unfortunately the worrying never stops. ]

I will. Thank you, Stephen.