Who: Renly Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell When: Backdated Wednesday, May 1st. Late Morning Where: Coffee Shop What: Renly meets his boyfriend's sister again. This time neither of them are sick Rating: Family Friendly. One brief mention of blood. Status: Complete
Renly’s latest dreams had shaken him quite a bit, but he’d been doing his best to not show it around Loras. Not since that night a few weeks earlier when he’d dreamt about Robert being injured by the boar. He knew that Loras hated the dreams and wanted to stop Renly from having the rest of his, so he did his best to act as if he were fine. To act as if he hadn’t had that particular dream at least twice more since. Of course it wasn’t as bad as the first time, because he knew what was coming, but seeing the boar tear into his brother’s side and all that blood was never easy.
Luckily, he hadn’t had any dreams the night before and had woken up early as he did whenever Loras didn’t stay over and went for a run on the beach. After showering and getting dressed, he headed out to try and find something to do for a couple of hours so that he wouldn’t simply be sitting around his house. Eventually he found himself at a nearby coffee shop and decided to grab something to drink. After ordering and getting his tea, he turned and was about to leave when someone, sitting across the shop caught his eye.
He’d only seen Margaery Tyrell in person when they’d both been sick and while he’d talked to Loras’ sister quite a few times since, he almost felt bad that he hadn’t really made more of an attempt. He knew that she and Loras were close; considering they lived together when Loras wasn’t at Renly’s, so he decided that it would be rude to not say hello when they were both there. Maneuvering through the other tables and chairs, Renly made his way over to her, “Hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I wanted to come over and say hello.”
Margaery had been woken when Jon left for work so rather than returning to sleep she had decided to study but thought a change of scenery to do so would be a good idea. She’d picked a coffee shop which she liked and knew they wouldn’t mind her sitting at a table to work and started to look over her notes for the law module she was currently writing an assignment for.
When Renly spoke she looked up, giving him a bright smile when she realised who it was, “Renly, please come sit, join me” she invited, “You are a welcome distraction from all this” she gestured to the papers spread over the table which she swiftly gathered up to make room on the table for his drink.
Smiling, Renly took a seat across from Margaery and took a sip of his drink, “How’re you this morning?” He asked, glancing down at the various books that littered the table, “What is it that you’re studying?” He would have picked up one of the books to see for himself, but that seemed a little rude and he didn’t want to intrude too much.
“I’m fine, yourself?” Margaery replied picking up her own drink, “My degree is in Law and Languages, I am currently looking into business and finance law for a paper which is due next week. Very boring to most I am sure” she grinned. She wouldn’t have minded if he wanted to have a look.
“I’ll admit, law and politics are probably the two subjects I’ve never had any particular interest in.” In that respect he was quite similar to his dream persona. While it was clear that he hadn’t always agreed with the things Robert or the other council members suggested, it had been because of Loras’s suggestion that he would make a good King that he even took any real interest; otherwise, Renly had simply done what he had to do and spent as much time with Loras as was permitted to them so as not to raise any further suspicion then there already was.
In the waking world however, he didn’t think that even Loras could suggest he would do well to oppose his brothers when it came to the family business, especially not when they were doing a spectacular job of running it into the ground, last he’d heard. “But I have the utmost respect for those that do choose to study it. It can’t be easy.”
It was ironic to her that Renly had no interest in politics or law, she knew in the dreams Renly would not have ever thought to challenge Stannis for the Iron Throne had it not been for Loras’ encouragement. And truly with herself by his side she believed he would have made a good King. Sadly it had not worked out that way.
Here however they could become friends, without the games that needed to be played in the seven kingdoms. And without the added complication of a convenient marriage which Renly had yet to remember.
“It can be difficult but I find it to be enjoyable” she told him, “And yourself Renly? What are your career plans?”
Normally Renly had no problems telling people that he didn’t work, but this was Loras’ sister and he didn’t want her to think that he was a bum or using Loras. Loras was somewhat famous after all. “To be honest, I don’t actually have any. I have a trust fund, which I’m currently living off of, but I’m trying to decide what I should do.” He was a little embarrassed to admit that to Margaery and he hoped that she wouldn’t judge him on it. “My friend did suggest that Loras and I model though.”
Margaery, of course, had no intentions of judging Renly. She was a good judge of character and knew Renly was a good person who loved her brother deeply and as far as she was concerned that was the most important thing.
“Make sure if you do something it will be something you enjoy. There is nothing worse than getting stuck in a job you do not like, especially if you can afford not to” she advised, “I think your friend may be correct” she considered him with a smile, “Both yourself and Loras are incredibly attractive men I think such a venture would be easily accomplished”
Renly nodded and took a sip of his drink, "Problem is, I'm not entirely sure what I enjoy." Besides Loras of course, but he wasn't going to say that in front of his boyfriend's sister. "I mean, of course I know what I enjoy, but the question is, would I actually enjoy doing any of those things as a job?" That was what he was still trying to figure out, "And I'm sure you're biased when it comes to Loras."
“Ah then it is indeed a dilemma, but at least you do not have to be in a hurry to decide. You never know something may come along without you having to look for it” Margaery said, before smiling easily, “Of course, I am entirely biased when it comes to my brother, however in this case that does not make what I say any less true” she admitted simply.
“That’s what I’m hoping. I never went to University, so I know my options are limited and out here Baratheon isn’t exactly a name that many would be familiar with, not that I would ever use my name to get ahead.” No, that was something Robert and Stannis would do. “Modeling would be fairly easy to get into, I think, because my friend Portia is in the fashion industry already.”
"You would be surprised I think, there are many jobs with little further education required. Though I suppose it does depend on the area you are interested in" she allowed. "Oh if you already have a friend in the business that will be a great help. I am sure she would not have suggested it if she did not truly believe it was possible"
Renly nodded and took another sip of his drink, “I figure, I have plenty of time though. I’m only twenty two. I don’t need to rush.” He was actually almost twenty three, but that didn't really make much of a difference in the long run. He just knew that he wanted to do something more than sitting at home, living off his trust fund. “How did you know that you wanted to go into law?” He asked, always curious how someone decided what they wanted to do with their lives.
"That is true" she nodded in agreement, "There is no need to hurry, if you do you may end up choosing something that is not actually for you"
She smiled, "I don't like to see injustice. People taking advantage of those who do not have the means to fight back. Those in positions of power who abuse it and think they are untouchable" It had always been the way. Margaery was ambitious but fair. She chose her battles carefully, always against those who were on the same playing field as herself. She was not a bully and disliked those who were.
Renly smiled as he listened to Margaery. He wondered if she were similar in the dreams as she was in the waking world and wondered if he’d actually get to meet her. In the dreams Robert had just died and while he knew that, that must have led his becoming King somehow, he didn’t know what else was to come before his death. “That’s impressive. The sorry sods you’ll wind up going up against won’t know what hit them.”
Margaery had more ambition in her dreams, she was determined to be queen, but she understood the politics of the people. Something that was needed to rule. Here she was more content to help people as much as she could, while living and enjoying her life. "Thank you. I can only hope" she smiled.
“Well, I should let you get back to you work. It looks like you’ve got far too much to be talking to me all afternoon.” Renly grinned as he got to his feet, drink in hand, “You should come over for dinner soon though. A night when Loras is there of course.” Not that Renly needed his boyfriend around to hang out with Margaery, but he thought she might seem a little more comfortable with her brother around instead of just her brother’s boyfriend. That sort of thing could seem a little sketchy when brought up around certain people. Not that Renly had any interest in Margaery other than friendship of course.
"Your company has been very welcome Renly" she assured him, though she was grateful as she did have a lot of work to do on her essay. "Oh I would love that, thank you. I imagine there will be plenty of nights to choose from" she teased as her brother spent many evenings at his boyfriend's. Margaery was entirely comfortable around Renly on her own, though she had a feeling he may not feel the same when he had the dream about their marriage.