Renly Baratheon (selfcrownedking) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-19 20:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, gendry waters, myrcella baratheon, renly baratheon |
Who: Renly Baratheon, Gendry Waters and Myrcella Baratheon
When: Backdated: Sunday, August 25th. Afternoon
Where: Renly's Beach House
What: Half Siblings Surprise Meeting
Rating: Family Friendly
Status: Complete
It had been awhile since Renly had actually seen his nephew. Sure, he and Gendry had talked on Valarnet and texted, but Renly couldn’t actually recall the last time they spent some time together, so he had decided that now, when there appeared to be a calm in the OC, was a good time to invite Gendry over for some beers and pizza or something. He figured they could decide on the food when he got there. Of course, upon Gendry’s arrival, Renly had felt the need to show him the tent that now took up a rather large area of the beach behind his house that was his property. It was still a little bizarre that something of that size had shown up, along with everything that had been inside in his dreams, but he wasn’t going to question it.
When they came back inside, Renly got two beers and handed one to his nephew as they made their way into the living room, “So, how’re things with you and Arya?” Renly had seen the youngest Stark girl on the net, but hadn’t spoken to her unlike how he’d spoken to her sister.
The arrival of the tent had surprised Gendry. Even though he’d had something arrive from the other life, the old helmet that Lord Stark had tried to buy off of him, he hadn’t thought that something that size could come out of their dreams. If anyone ever needed proof just how strange and surreal their lives in the OC was, all they would need to do was go to the beach front property owned by his uncle, to see a tent that was made of material that the modern world no longer used. All they would need to do was look at the fabric and see how vibrant the colours still were. All they would need to do was see the helmet, made of a steel not even found in this world.
After marveling at the tent for a while, Gendry was almost relieved to go back inside Renly’s home. It was comforting to know that he wasn’t going mad, or even that he’d gone round the bend a long time ago. Gendry took a seat on Renly’s sofa. In his warehouse flat, he had a sofa he’d dragged out of some dumpster. Who knew who’d owned it before him? Renly’s things were his own, he could even screw on the furniture without wondering who’d been there first. “Good,” he answered after a moment’s thought. “She hasn’t realized yet that I’m pants at being a boyfriend, so I guess that’s good.”
Renly laughed as he took a seat on the couch and took a swig from his beer, “I’m sure you’re not as bad at it as you think otherwise why would she hang around?” Renly had never claimed to be a perfect boyfriend either, considering he hadn’t really had any relationships like the one he had with Loras. At only twenty three, the last thing he’d ever expected was, to not only be in a committed relationship, but to be with his soulmate. “It must have been pretty strange though, with her and her sister switching bodies and all.”
Really, Gendy didn’t know why Arya stuck around. Maybe it was all too safe, a thought that occurred to him from time to time. Safe could be all right sometimes, though. Truth be told, Gendry could live with or without a girlfriend. He preferred to mostly live without one and maybe that was why he and Arya worked well together. She was completely independent of him. Most of the time anyway. He shook his head. “It was probably more weird for her and Sansa,” he said. “I knew it was Arya in there. Did I ever tell you I took Sansa out a couple of times?”
Renly’s brows rose slightly at that and he glanced over at his nephew, “No, I don’t think you did.” If he had, Renly didn’t remember and he thought that he would have remembered something like that. In Renly’s case that would have been like if he’d gone out with Margaery before Loras and the thought was just too weird; which was probably because he was gay and didn’t think of Margaery like that, “Does Arya know that?”
“She does,” Gendry answered. Surprisingly, it hadn’t caused too many problems. Gendry didn’t know much about being a boyfriend. He’d had a couple of girlfriends before Arya, but they usually found him too quiet or strange. Arya seemed to like those things about him.
"And she's okay with that?" Renly didn't really know much about women aside from what he knew about his female friends, but he didn't think that most girls could be too happy if their boyfriend had dated their sister before them. From the sounds of it, Gendry had a pretty good deal.
Myrcella hadn't told her uncle she was coming but she wanted to see the tents that had appeared and talk to him about Jeremy. Her mum didn't feel like the right person to talk to since she had found him in her room and he was the next logical person to confide in.
So as she made her way up the path to knock on his door she had no idea that he would have anybody over.
A good question, Gendry thought, and one that he wasn’t certain how to answer. Luckily, the doorbell rang and Gendry was able to drop it. At least for now. He had a feeling that his uncle would bring it up later.
At the sound if the door, Renly frowned slightly and placed his beer on the coffee table before getting to his feet. Aside from Gendry, he wasn't expecting anyone else and Loras had a key, so he would just let himself in. "Be right back." He didn't have to go far to reach the door and when he pulled it open he couldn't help but stare at his niece. He'd been wanting to introduce Myrcella and Gendry for awhile, but Gendry hadn't decided if he wanted to meet her and now here they both were, at his house, "Myrcella. Hi. I didn't know you were in the area." Had she texted him while they were outside and he hadn't seen it yet?
“Hi” Myrcella smiled, “I’m sorry I didn’t think to call or anything. I just hoped you’d be at home I guess” she shrugged, “I wanted to see the tents and I...kind of need to talk to you”
From where he sat, Gendry could only hear voices. He was curious who the other voice belonged to, but he couldn’t see and, for a few moments, he drummed his fingers against the arm of the couch before he finally pushed himself to his feet to see who his uncle was talking to. It was probably none of his business, possibly just a neighbour who stopped by to borrow some sugar. But when he saw who Renly was speaking to, he realized that wasn’t it, not at all, and all he could do was stand there, his hands in his pockets, sure that he’d been pulled into another dimension again.
Renly couldn't help but stare at Myrcella for another moment or two. He couldn't exactly tell her to leave nor could he lie and say him and Loras were busy, because she was his niece and even if Loras wasn't there, it'd be wrong to tell her that. Then there was the fact that she looked upset and needed to talk to him and about a million things went through his mind then about what she could need to talk to him about; all of them bad.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Renly knew it was Gendry and turned to glance at him, over his shoulder. Gendry who resembled Robert just as much as Renly did. They weren't identical by any means, but there were similarities to Robert in both if them. Would Myrcella notice the way he had when he'd first seen Gendry?
After another moment or two, Renly realized that he still hasn't said anything in response to what Myrcella had said, "Right. Is everything alright?" He asked, looking back at her, but not yet inviting her in. Honestly, he wasn't being a very good uncle at the moment:
When her uncle didn’t reply immediately and then turned to look at someone who was just out of her view Myrcella realised she must have interrupted something. She should have called or text or something. She’d just been so lost about who to talk to, “Oh, I’m sorry Uncle Renly, you’ve already got company. I can come back or something when you aren’t busy” she said apologetically.
Uncle Renly.
She wasn’t just a visitor, she was Renly’s niece. Gendry’s cousin. Gendry looked between the two. Of course he had cousins, he knew it, he just didn’t expect one to show up at Renly’s door, looking distraught and pretty all at the same time. Gendry looked at Renly. He was his uncle, too, but…
Gendry’s stomach lurched a little. He had to wonder if she wasn’t his cousin but his..Gendry shook his head, then put a hand to Renly’s shoulder. The hand was surprisingly steady. “I’ll go put on some tea,” he said, then nodded at the girl standing in the doorway before he went to the kitchen to busy himself.
Considering how strange Renly was acting, he could only imagine what Myrcella was thinking and the last thing he needed was her thinking he was cheating on Loras or something. After all, most people didn’t act like they’d just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar simply because they had company. He glanced at Gendry as his nephew appeared then moved aside once he’d gone off to the kitchen, “No, Myrcella it’s okay. Come in.” This was going to be interesting.
Myrcella didn’t want to think ill of her Uncle and she was sure there must be an explanation but it did cross her mind that he was acting rather suspiciously. But he loved Loras, he wouldn’t do anything to risk that surely? Of course not, she should be ashamed for thinking such a thing. When Renly’s friend nodded at her she automatically smiled in return, he looked remarkably like her Uncle.
“Are you sure?” she asked, stepping into the house when he motioned her to. “I am sorry, I should have let you know I was coming over. I will from now on, I promise”
While he set the tea on the boil, Gendry stood and waited, grasping the edge of the countertop. He shouldn’t be surprised. Not anymore. What was there to resent? That he never knew his family? When you didn’t know your family, it didn’t do any good to be angry if you met them. Gendry told himself to knock it off and to quit feeling sorry for himself. He’d lost nothing. He’d missed out on nothing. When the kettle whistled, Gendry poured the hot water into mugs, over tea bags.
“Of course. It’s fine.” Renly closed the door once Myrcella was inside and gestured into the living room where his and Gendry’s open beer bottles sat on the coffee table, “I’m sorry if I seemed a little frazzled, but you’re always welcome here, Myrcella. Have a seat and I’ll be right back,” He wanted to make sure that Gendry was on the same page and okay with Myrcella being there.
Leaving his niece in the living room, he went into the kitchen where his nephew was making the tea, “If you haven’t guessed, that’s Myrcella. Robert’s daughter.” He kept his voice low so that Myrcella wouldn’t hear him, “Are you okay with her being here?”
“Okay” Myrcella nodded, “Thank you Uncle Renly” she smiled as she sat, noticing the beer bottles, completely unaware of the conversation going on in the kitchen or of the tension she had brought to the house by turning up unannounced.
Gendry froze for a moment. What was he supposed to say? That he wasn’t okay with a sister he’d never met before being in his Uncle’s own home? He said nothing and nodded toward Renly as he brought tea out to the sitting room, his stomach pulling into knots. He didn’t know what he was supposed to feel. Some sort of connection? Anger? Frustration? Love? Sadness? He wondered if they wanted privacy since Myrcella was here to speak to Renly about something, but he didn’t ask.
As Gendry passed him, Renly sighed and ran a hand through his hair before following his nephew out into the living room. He wasn’t going to ask him to leave unless what Myrcella wanted to talk to him about was personal. At the same time, he had absolutely no idea how he was supposed to introduce Gendry; not knowing that Myrcella knew Gendry’s girlfriend and as a result would probably recognize his name if he did introduce them.
Coming back out to the living room, Renly sat in the chair opposite the couch seeing as how Myrcella had taken up the spot he’d been in before, “So, what’s the matter? Are you alright? Is everyone else alright?”
Myrcella nodded, feeling slightly strange sitting with her Uncle and somebody who she didn't know. He looked nice enough but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was a little off, though exactly what she didn't know.
"Oh, umm no. I mean yes everybody is fine. It's nothing" she told him, not wanting to discuss Jeremy in front of a stranger. "I just had another dream and it reminded me to come see your tents" she said, which was true but not primarily what she had come here for.
Sure she had. Gendry, even though they’d just met, was a pretty good judge of when someone was trying to hide something. “You know what?” he said, frustrated and unsure of what to do. “I’ll just go and come back later.” He wanted to get out of there anyway, and he wanted to go now.
Shit! That was what Renly had been afraid of and the last thing he wanted was for Gendry to get frustrated and withdraw from him later on, "Gendry, wait." Renly knew there was something troubling his niece, but he also had to work damage control on his nephew. He was both of their uncle and he could handle this. At least he hoped he could.
This was all Myrcella’s fault and she knew it. She stood ready to tell the boy that he didn’t have to leave when her uncle spoke, “Gendry?” she said looking at the boy again, “Arya’s Gendry?” she asked before continuing, “Look please don’t leave. You’re right I came here to speak to my Uncle about something but it can wait. He doesn’t want you to go and I’d feel terrible if you left now because of me”
Gendry stopped, looking between the two, bemused. To him, Myrcella was a stranger, but he knew that they were blood and she was standing right in front of him, knowing him as Arya’s Gendry and not as what he now knew her as. His stomach twisted in anger, but he didn’t know who to direct it toward. His uncle? Surely Renly had his reasons for not telling Myrcella, but he couldn’t help but feel a pang of it. “Just Gendry,” he told her.
Renly hadn't realized that Myrcella knew Gendry's girlfriend, but then again he knew that the Baratheons knew the Starks, so he wasn't sure why he hasn't realized it before. Either way, this was not the way he'd wanted to introduce Gendry and Myrcella and he knew that if he didn't do something soon then this was just going to get worse. Looking between his niece and nephew, who were both on their feet now, Renly made a decision and hoped Gendry wouldn't hate him for it, "Myrcella, Gendry is your brother." He knew he could trust Myrcella not to tell Cersei or Jaime or anyone else and he really did think that this would be best for Gendry in the long run.
Just as Myrcella was wondering if she should leave since Gendry seemed to be angry and she could only assume it was with her her Uncle spoke. Turning to him ready to tell him off for being ridiculous she saw his face and the words dried up. But he couldn’t be, could he? It certainly explained why he was here, and it actually made more sense than her Uncle cheating on Loras. Looking over at Gendry she noticed that he didn’t seem surprised and she sat down heavily. “Bloody hell” she said quietly, her mind not really being able to form much beyond that. It was safe to say she was shocked.
That could have waited and Gendry looked at Renly sharply for a moment, then sighed and sat down beside Myrcella, uncertain of what to do. She didn’t look much like him, but he could venture to guess that they were only half siblings. Just sitting there was too awkward, so Gendry took her hand into his own, holding it loosely. He wished that he trusted Renly more, to guide them, but Renly was young yet still and Gendry expected too much at times. “You okay?” he asked dumbly, just to break the silence.
For a second, Renly had thought that Gendry was going to storm out, but was relieved when he sat down beside Myrcella and took her hand. Seeing them there together, Renly had to admit, there really wasn’t any resemblance. Myrcella was all gold like the Lannisters and Gendry was dark like the Baratheons. Of course, Renly had never really understood how genetics worked, but had always been somewhat surprised that the Lannister genes had apparently won out over the Baratheon ones with Robert and Cersei’s children. “It’s true.” He was speaking to his niece, but his eyes flicked between the both of them, trying to read them both.
Myrcella nodded slowly, “I’m okay, I think” she said giving Gendry a little smile, “Just a bit surprised. Who is your mum?” she asked him, it wasn’t her mum that much she knew. Her mum wouldn’t have ever given him up and he didn’t look like her and her brothers. Even Myrcella could see that. He did look like her dad though now she was looking at him.
Gendry shook his head. “We don’t have the same mum, I can assure you,” he answered. They didn’t look alike and if they were half siblings, it was definitely on Robert’s side. He didn’t like to talk about his mother, he remembered almost nothing about her and it was a bit of a sore spot for him. “You know Arya, huh?” he asked, awkward. It was one thing they’d have in common, was Arya.
"Gendry and I are only about a year apart and your father was fifteen when I was born, so our best guess is that he was sixteen when he met Gendry's mother," Renly explained, figuring that now was as good a time as any to really explain things to Myrcella, "I ran into Gendry a few months ago and couldn't get over the resemblance to your father. So, we had a test done." He smirked at the both of them, "Gendry thought I was a little mad at first." He didn't blame his nephew one bit for that. It wasn't everyday someone told you that they thought you might be related to them just because of a resemblance and a dream. Although he didn't mention the dreams, not wanting to talk about Gendry's if he didn't want to talk about them.
"Arya is one of my closest friends" Myrcella told Gendry before listening to her Uncle and nodding, "I think you're a little crazy" she told him though she was smiling, "I guess mum doesn't know huh? Does dad?" she asked.
“I still think you’re mad,” Gendry remarked, half teasing his uncle. Madness must have run in the family, though, seeing as how Gendry had given him the chance to begin with. If it hadn’t been for those damnable dreams, Gendry might not have.
He shook his head to Myrcella’s question. Suddenly, he wasn’t sure why they hadn’t told Robert, only that Gendry was sure that the man cared much to know. It might have been Gendry himself who was just too dubious to meet him, if he was being perfectly honest.
“You’re both awfully mean to me, you know that?” Renly smirked at the both of them, It wasn’t that Renly didn’t want to tell Robert that he had another son, but Robert was very hard to pin down. Trying to get in touch with his brother was more difficult than finding proof of the Loch Ness Monster. He really wished that Robert would decide to come out to California after his wife. Telling him would be much easier if he were in the same country at least. “We’d prefer it if your mother didn’t find out.” Sure, Gendry had been conceived well before Robert and Cersei had been married, but Renly was pretty sure that she wouldn’t be too happy to find out that Robert had another son. A son who was older than Joffrey.
“You love us” Myrcella told him with a bit of a cheeky grin. She knew all about how hard it was to pin her father down, since they’d moved out here she’d spoken to him once but most contact had been via email. She didn’t mind too much as she knew he was busy and she had her Uncle’s and new friends here but it would have been nice to know he was missing them all. “I won’t tell her, I promise” she replied.
Gendry’s next question was likely predictable and it took a moment for him to work up the guts to ask. It shouldn’t even take courage, but at the same time, Gendry thought it also took a great deal of it. “How is he?” he asked. “Robert, I mean.” He couldn’t help his curiosity about the man his mother had liked enough to get in bed with twenty-one years ago.
Renly knew he’d be able to trust Myrcella and smiled at her, happy that this meeting, while impromptu, was going better than it had started. When Gendry spoke, he glanced between the two, wondering when the last time Myrcella had actually spoken to her father was.
"Busy" Myrcella told him with a small smile, "But he sends emails when he can. He seems okay, he says he misses us but he can't leave the business right now" To Myrcella it sounded like an excuse, she knew her mum wouldn't let anything stop her coming after them but this was her dad so she had to try and believe him.
It sounded like an excuse to Gendry, too. He rubbed his hands together, then stood up, pushing himself to his feet with a sigh. “I think I need some air,” he said. Really, he just needed some time to process everything. Again.
Renly wanted to reach out and reassure Gendry somehow, but he wasn’t entirely sure how. Instead he nodded, “Alright. We’ll be in here when you’re ready to come back in.” He hoped that this wouldn’t have any adverse effects on Gendry, because he honestly thought that knowing Myrcella would be good for him.
“I hope he’s okay” she said softly as she watched Gendry leave, “I am sorry I interrupted you both” she’d definitely be calling ahead next time, though part of her was glad that she hadn’t since she now had a brother she hadn’t known about before.
If he came back in, that was. Gendry just wanted to leave, but that wouldn’t solve anything. All it would do was get him out of there, which was what he wanted. He might try to get to know Myrcella later, just like he’d done with Renly, but just then it was enough to make him at least leave the house to take a walk along the water and have a cigarette. Or Two. Maybe three.
“I’ll check on him in a few minutes if he doesn’t come back in by then,” Renly really hoped that Gendry wouldn’t just leave. Of course he’d understand if he did, but he still hoped that he wouldn’t. “How’re you doing? I know this has got to be a real shock.”
Myrcella nodded, “I’m okay, I think” she said with a small smile, “I mean it all feels a little bit surreal right now. Does Arya know?” she asked as she suddenly thought about her friend.
Renly shook his head, “I don’t know. Gendry has never said whether or not he’s told her.” He knew that Arya’s father was Robert’s best friend, so telling Arya that Robert Baratheon was his real father could have made things a little complicated. Then again, Gendry had said that he’d met Arya’s parents and if Ned Stark was as observant as Renly had been upon meeting Gendry then he might have noticed the resemblance between Gendry and Robert.
“I’d say she’d have told me but she probably wouldn’t have” Myrcella said, “It’s a pretty big thing to tell someone” she smiled softly.
Gendry smoked quickly, quicker than he thought. Before he knew it, he was down to the butt of his fag. He tossed it into the street and stepped on it with his boot before he went back up the drive to Renly’s house and walked in again to see his uncle and his apparent sister sitting together. There was no resemblance there, no matter how hard Gendry tried to see it. Even with a mother’s strong genes, he thought there should be something at least, but maybe that was just how it happened. “Sorry,” he mumbled, then sat again, near Myrcella as if that was where he belonged the entire time.
Renly nodded, “She probably feels like it’s not her’s to tell.” He could completely understand how something like this would be difficult to deal with. After all, Renly had been wanting to tell Myrcella for some time, but hadn’t want to until Gendry was ready to meet her. Speaking of Gendry, Renly looked up at his nephew as he came back into the house, “It’s quite alright.” He’d have to make it a point to make sure Gendry was really okay later on.
Myrcella nodded at Renly then smiled as Gendry re-entered the room and sat down. “Are you okay?” she asked him softly, “I’m sorry if what I said upset you”
Shaking his head, Gendry stared down at his own clasped hands where they were between his knees. “It isn’t your fault,” he said. He wasn’t sure who to fault for any of this. He looked back up at Renly, apologetic. “I think I’m going to go anyway,” he said. He just needed some time.
Renly nodded. He wanted to ask Gendry if he was sure, but he could tell that his nephew needed some time to process all of this. It was a lot to take in so suddenly. Knowing you had half siblings was much different than spontaneously meeting one of them. "Call or text me later?" He wanted Gendry to know that no matter what, he was there for him. Renly got to his feet, preparing to walk Gendry out, just as he did anyone else who came over.
Myrcella stood too and hugged Gendry quickly, “I’m sorry I interrupted you but I am glad I met you” she told him quietly with a soft smile before she let her Uncle walk him out, she didn’t want to intrude on them more than she already had.
The hug was awkwardly returned. All the sorries were just as bad. It was no one person’s fault, but it was really time to go as Gendry began to feel smothered and guilty. He nodded to Renly, then ducked out. Not too quickly, but quickly enough before he was on his motorcycle and heading back to work. It was better than going back to his place, where he had too much space to think on everything. The extra work would pull his mind from it, as it often did with everything else. Call it hiding if you would, but Gendry wouldn’t care who thought so.