Addicts
Mysaria was generous enough to let her pick 2 records and Rhaenyra was grateful for that because it seemed like Mysaria was determinate to infiltrate Rhaenyra's music taste the moment she picked a Goo Goo Dolls record.
Mysaria looked at her like she had committed a mild murder, "mehh" she said, "you're playing it safe."
"Or I just really like this album" Rhaenyra said while she watched Mysaria scroll through the vinyls.
Mysaria picked 4 different ones and attempted to hide them so Rhaenyra wouldn't know what to expect but she managed to eye a familiar Frank Ocean record.
She did not account for the fact that they would be stuck in a booth that barely fitted them along with two counters, one had the record player and the other empty. they had to take off their coats to move comfortably which was also an experience on it's own for Rhaenyra.
It's all black. The turtleneck tucked in the tight jeans with it's sleeves rolled. All black. The jeans cut just above her ankles, the heels were simple but elegant, shiny black.
It's all so simple and so so casual still Rhaenyra's eyes were glued on her. Every inch of Mysaria's body is perfect. It's perfect.
Slender but God's hand was shaking when the lines were made, the curve all a perfect result of the shaking hand
Her waist would fit like a glove in Rhaenyra's hands. She was sure of it.
So she fought.
Rhaenyra was in a very unfair match with the urge to reach out and rest her hands on the perfectly crafted waist. And she was also mad at the fact that Mysaria choose this moment to be unaware of the attention.
"This!" She said holding up the first record, Rhaenyra didn't recognize it.
"American Football. I listened to them when i first got here. vintage with a sense of modernity. Sort of like you."
So playful. Rhaenyra just put her headphones on and waited for Mysaria to do the same.
And it played.
Nostalgia.
The purpose of the night coming alive for Rhaenyra, the tune and the lyrics sending her back to the place she longs to escape. The ironic lyrics speaking of forgetting when all she does is remember.
♠︎♤♤♤
"It's always you! Your family! Your job! Your headaches! Your time! You! You! You!"
"So i'm selfish for caring about things now!?" She laughs bitterly. "For wanting us- no- for wanting YOU to live your life"
"You care? About me? You couldn't even stand up to your own family, Rhaenyra, you're a fucking coward."
"Alicent..." Rhaenyra warns, her eyes filling up with tears. Her voice coated in anger. "Don't."
"Or what?" Alicent challenges, crossing her arms about her body, her face sharing the same look of anger. "You won't do anything."
Rhaenyra clutches her fists, unmoving. Looking away.
"God! I wish you would! I wish you would do it for once in your fucking miserable life! Get angry! Fucking scream at me Rhaenyra. Do It!!"
"I'm not going to do this with you. Not tonight." Rhaenyra says in a calm tone that's laced with something louder. Something madder.
Alicent laughs and it's cold and bitter and rough and hurt and fucking furious. "But I want to! I want to get under that perfect untouchable golden skin of yours!" She steps forward. "Let's do it, huh? Come on"
Rhaenyra remains unmoving. But she looks away from Alicent. Hoping she'll get offended and walk away. That she'll see it as a sign of disrespect and walk away. That she'll scoff at her poor manners and walk away.
She walks. But not away. Closer.
And pushes.
It's light but it takes Rhaenyra by surprise and she loses her balance for a few seconds.
"Let's do it!" Another push. "Get some fucking personality and do it!" Another push. And it's gotten more forceful. More desperate. "I want you to! Come on Rhaenyra. FUCKING DO IT!"
And a push followed Another and another until it got rapid and messy and desperate and lost and unethical and Alicent's hands turned to fists knocking on Rhaenyra's chest hoping she would answer.
But all Rhaenyra does is attempt to calm her, her hands come up, not to hit, but to steady Alicent's, grasping at her frantic movements
"Alice- Ali- stop it! Calm down" she soothes but it doesn't work.
"Where's that dragon daddy used to beat out of you, huh?! Where's that-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Rhaenyra finally snaps. Using her full strength and stalling Alicent by the wrists which makes Aliecnt even more furious even though she asked for it.
"Let go of me!" She wrestles back but not for long since Rhaenyra's grip loosens immediately which, again, makes Alicent fume and the moment she gets free. She swings.
The sound of the contact echoes through the walls.
The sting rings inside Rhaenyra's head.
The slap was hard. Heated. Almost loving. Almost sweet.
A smile appears on Alicent's face.
And Rhaenyra sees red.
One hand wraps around one perfect neck, fingers flirting with pulse points. Squeezing hard.
And a smile appears on Alicent's face.
"Here you are!" She stares through darkened blues. "Little dragon."
♠︎♤♤♤
A soft nudge makes Rhaenyra's eyes fly open to a concerned Mysaria. "You went off the radar. Are you alright?"
"Yeah..." her voice cracks and betrays her. "Yeah...I just haven't listened to music in a while"
Mysaria chuckles, "Sure, I'll pretend I believe you," She replaced the record with another, showing Rhaenyra the cover, "If you say you don't know this one I'll throw you out of here."
Rhaenyra, even though the trip down the memory lane took half of her will to live, smiled, "relax! Of course I do"
Marvin Gaye, Midnight Love.
Any other night, the change in tempo would drive Rhaenyra crazy but on this particular night and with the presence of a certain brunette, her perfume invading senses Rhaenyra didn't know she had, she was more than grateful.
Watching silently as Mysaria started to sway with the first song, not matching the fast rhythm but still following it on a different pace while lazily reading the back of the cover. One thought on her mind, well, amongst others but this was the loudest.
Where did you come from.
They locked eyes again and this time, it held no weight. The connection the music created making it easy to stare.
To flirt. Consciously and on purpose.
So Mysaria swayed for Rhaenyra and Rhaenyra smiled for Mysaria. The moment lasting a long time at the empty store. The darkness outside becoming of no meaning now with all the lights surrounding them.
But nothing lasts forever. The five minutes flew away in the subtle move of a hip.
Mysaria took her headphones off and the tucked the record back in it's place then turned to Rhaenyra, "Your turn."
"Oh, yeah, can you..." she tried to hand the object to her but Mysaria shock her head, "Uh uh, come put it on yourself."
Rhaenyra didn't mind that, she knew her way around a vinyl player it's not like she was oblivious to it bit it's more about the space. The possibilities.
The intensity of Mysaria's scant. The potential of their bodies touching was beyond high. And the way Mysaria was waiting for her to make a decision knowing her voice had enough challenge in it to make Rhaenyra debate her entire life.
The idea of getting a closer look at the back of Mysaria's head was enough to make Rhaenyra move along, thinking that was the extent of it since they wouldn't be facing one another. And Rhaenyra was slightly taller so if she lifts her chin she can avoid overwhelming contact.
It was set.
She was on the move.
One step in and Mysaria turned. Her whole body. And leaned back against the small counter, straddling it in a way that would make it impossible for Rhaenyra to dodge her.
When Rhaenyra stumbled on her next step Mysaria giggled. That fucking giggle again. Rhaenyra forged confidence, running her hands through her short hair nonchalantly and stepping up.
Two more steps and her feet went through a bubble that involved the both of them and stopped time.
Face to face. Sharing the same breath of cigarettes and salty corn.
Like an addict looking at a newfound drug, Rhaenyra's fingers twitches, threatening to abounded the record at hand and reach to run itself along the line of Mysaria's jawline. Silk textured bliss. The tone of her skin up close would make the sun weep.
Mysaria was the first to move and Rhaenyra is sure it's because she was willing to stand and observe for as long as the Gods would allow her.
"All yours." She whispered and stepped aside. Aside being one step away from the counter.
"Thank you!"
She placed one of the two records aside and stripped the other out pulling a perfect round vinyl out and placing it in under watching eyes. An unwavering gaze at her every hand movement.
"You're staring..." Rhaenyra said without looking up, "it's rude."
"I'm not staring." Said the liar.
A few stumbles later, it was on. And they listened together again. Mysaria lifting a finger up and warning Rhaenyra not to look at her watch when she wanted to check it.
So now they were both lost in time.
They knew the song like the back of their hands, soft lips moving along with every word being sang. The previously encounter looming in the air as they both stole glances at one another.
Mysaria spotting another tattoo, it was on her left forearm. Subtly hiding a scar.
Halfway through Rhaenyra turned it off.
"Hey! That's bad luck why would you do that!" Mysaria protested
"It's not."
"Yes. It is."
Rhaenyra replaced the records, putting the other one in. "You're superstitious?"
"Actually, I'm speaking from experience."
"Oh I'm sure!" And she let it spin. And with it played the last time she heard the song. It was nothing but a muffled distant background noise.
♠︎♠︎♤♤
They ended the fight the only way they knew how.
Their arguments were like a body that grew a new limp every time it's lungs took a breath.
First it was whispered words.
Then it grew.
Louder voices. The words weren't too harsh.
Then it became venomous.
The tones grew sharper, more cutting. More damaging.
Then came the throwing stuff, the aiming never accurate.
Then they found a cure to stop the limps from growing.
The slap awakening hope to an ending to the toxic organ that was attached inside their relationship like a bomb planted under the bed of it's fuse.
So it became a routine.
They would fight till it gets to the point of no return. The words being said were actually consuming them at a perfect slow pace but they didn't care because after they reached the edge Alicent would push Rhaenyra then fall right after her and they would reach the breaking point together.
Because they loved as much as they hated. It was right in every wrong way.
"We can't keep on doing this" She lights her cigarette and lays back, keeping her arm open for Alicent so she can come close and rest her head on her bare chest.
"You mean I can't keep doing this to you."
"Please.." Rhaenyra says, one hand lost inside Alicent's hair. "Let's not argue. I just want a solution."
"There isn't one, Rhaenyra. Either we keep doing this or we don't do it at all" Alicent says and Rhaenyra knows she's right. She takes a long drag out of her cigarette and blows the smoke away.
"I won't settle for his terms" Alicent drew circles on Rhaenyra's stomach. "I won't do that to myself. Not even for you."
"I know."
"I didn't leave one cage to be shoved into another"
"I know."
"But I'm too greedy. I want you and all the extravagant ridiculous things without the one part that makes it all possible."
"You know, he'll die, eventually."
Alicent's circles turn into a light slap on her stomach, "Don't say that!"
"What! You hate him!"
"Yes but not enough to wish death on him, Rhaenyra!"
They chuckle. Alicent reaches for the cigarettes for the cigarette between Rhaenyra's fingers but Rhaenyra moves her hand away making Alicent let a frustrated sigh.
"Here." Rhaenyra offers her hand, the cigarette halfway smoked.
Alicent parts her lips, letting Rhaenyra guide.
As easy as drinking water.
♠︎♠︎♤♤
"That was long!" Mysaria stretched her arms and neck. "I hate The Cure"
"Hey, I thought we agreed no commentary or in your case, obnoxious statements!"
"You just made that up" She put back the record in the cover and extended it to Rhaenyra, but when Rhaenyra reached for it, without moving any closer, Mysaria retracted her hand back. Forcing Rhaenyra to move close.
Only for her to sit the record next to the others on the counter. Mission accomplished.
"Now finally, last but not least." Mysaria said, her eyes gleaming.
It was the Frank Ocean one she recognized.
Maybe it's the lyrics. How fitted some of it were to their situation and the way they ran into each other. Or maybe it's the way he sang it, the adlibs and sweetness of his voice. or maybe she just really likes frank ocean and wanted to share that with the blue eyed woman she met a few hours ago.
Whatever possessed her has also possessed the woman opposite her.
Both of their arms stretched next to one another's, pale tan pale tan. A perfect palette on display as they both sunk into the melody. Sunk into one another.
Rhaenyra drew the first pattern, one finger traced an invisible line that started at her forearm and ended right at the center of Mysaria's palm. Repeating the gesture again and again.
Mysaria settled for the bracelet, playing with it like a kitten plays with a ball of crochet. Her fingers gracing the skin once every few seconds.
It was like drugs. And they were both hooked on it.
The song ended but they stayed like that for a few minutes. Silence filling the small both.
Mysaria couldn't help the surprised look and sound she made when she saw it. "Oh."
Rhaenyra, snapping out of her haze, looked at her own bracelet then remembered. The engravings.
"Don't get ideas" she chuckled softly. Still tracing. Still touching.
Like it's a habit of fourteen years.
"Jace is my son."