Chapter Text
“Oh just give it a go, Rhae. You might have fun” Laena lets out a laugh as she reaches for her drink and knocks it back, eyes looking over her cousin.
“You say that every single time” Rhaenyra huffs as she leans back in the booth they sit in at their usual bar. “You either set me up with someone looking for the love of their life - which, I certainly am not going to be. Or someone only interested in a good night”
“I fail to see the problem” Laena replies nonchalantly as she waves one of the servers over for another drink. “You get laid. They get to go on a date with a very eligible bachelor” she shrugs.
Rhaenyra’s eyes roll as she finishes her own drink just in time for it to be replenished. “At this point I suspect that you’re just using me as a way to give your friends some confidence”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
“Well it’s hardly fair on me”
“Oh hush. It’s good practice for if you ever decide to take dating seriously”
Rhaenyra lifts the fresh drink to her lips, takes a long swig, grateful for the burn of the whisky down her throat.
“So what’s this one’s deal?”
A cat-like grin spreads across Laena’s face as she realises her cousin is agreeing to the blind date. “She’s lovely. We went to Uni together but she’s recently moved to the city” she explains. “Just got out of quite a long relationship”
Rhaenyra sighs. “So you want to give her a bit of confidence getting back into dating by setting her up with your cousin who you know will make sure she has a nice time but won’t actually be interested in dating her?” she rolls her eyes. “What a surprise”
“No” Laena waggles her finger like some kind of child. “She’s very nice and I wouldn’t be against having her as my cousin-in-law one day”
“Cousin-in-law is not a thing”
“It kind of is”
“Laena”
“She’s really pretty”
“I don’t care”
“I’ll send you her number. When are you free to meet her?”
“Laena”
“Does Friday work?”
Rhaenyra glances at her phone as it lights up on the table with an incoming notification.
Annoying cousin
Shared a contact card: Alicent
—-
Rhaenyra couldn’t help but wonder if the staff at this restaurant recognised her at that point. And did they pity her for how apparent it was that the dates she had here never went anywhere, since she was always back a few weeks later.
If Laena was going to continue to insist on this then perhaps she ought to ask her cousin to start organising them at a different restaurant for once. To at least save Rhaenyra’s pride.
“Can I get you a drink whilst you’re waiting for the rest of your party?”
Rhaenyra forces a polite smile to the server, a woman likely not much older than herself. “That’s alright, I’ll wait for her to arrive”
If she did arrive.
Rhaenyra hadn’t heard anything from this Alicent woman she was meant to be meeting. Not that that was a complete surprise, not all of the women Laena set her up with got in touch beforehand. But usually they beat her to the restaurant.
Shrugging off her overcoat she takes a seat at the table and runs a hand through the shag of silver hair upon her head. She really ought to get a haircut soon.
She’s taking out her phone to add it to her to-do list when a notification flitters across the screen.
Maybe: Alicent
Hi, it’s Alicent, Laena’s friend.
I’m so sorry, I got on the wrong tube line like an idiot.
I’ll be there as soon as I can.
I understand if you don’t want to wait.
The corners of Rhaenyra’s eyes crinkle as she smiles at the message. How her first interaction with this woman is one so earnest. It’s kinda sweet. That or Rhaenyra is just tired.
She hesitates for a moment before typing out a reply.
No problem at all, trains can be confusing when you’re new to the city.
What’s your favourite wine? I’ll make sure to have a glass ready for your arrival.
The reply comes soon after.
Maybe: Alicent
Thank you!
Honestly I’m not fussy. House white is fine.
Or red. If you prefer red.
Rhaenyra didn’t really like wine. But she knew that you didn’t bring a girl to a restaurant like this and buy her the house wine. Even if you had no intention of seeing said girl again and were just doing your cousin a favour.
And so she signals for a server and asks them to recommend a white wine and five minutes later sends a photo of the wine waiting in a bucket beside their table with the caption.
Wine’s ready when you are.
Don’t rush, I’ll see you when you get here.
Sitting back Rhaenyra unfastens the top button of her shirt and opens her emails on her phone, easily passing the time by dealing with some work issues whilst she waits.
—
It has to be about thirty minutes later when Rhaenyra gets that intuitive feeling that someone is watching her and lifts her head to see one of the wait staff.
“Your date, Ms Targaryen”
Rhaenyra’s eyes pan left and land on probably one of the most beautiful women she’s ever come across. She swallows thickly and drops her phone to the table, quickly getting to her feet.
“Alicent?” she tries to smile, but there’s probably a little bit of wonder in her expression as she takes in the long auburn curls, the cute button nose and the gentle dimples from the smile that the woman offers. “Hi…” Rhaenyra breathes out as she lets herself get lost in deep brown eyes, pulls herself together and steps closer to press a chaste kiss to her cheek before stepping back once more. “Lovely to meet you”
Alicent smiles nervously, her eyes darting over Rhaenyra in front of her, then around the incredibly fancy restaurant and then back at Rhaenyra. “Targaryen?” she asks, a blush rising on her face at realising her first words to her date.
Rhaenyra laughs awkwardly. “Guilty as charged” she replies. Her family were well known across the world, and there was a reason she tried not to tell people she was one of them at a first meeting. “But I promise I don’t bite” she adds with a practiced flash of teeth and smile before lowering her voice. “Unless you want me to” she winks.
She sees the effect of her words on the young woman, the way her eyes dart to meet Rhaenyra’s before quickly away as she clears her throat.
“Sorry. A joke” Rhaenyra offers quickly and then moves to pull out the seat.
“Thank you” Alicent’s smile is soft as she steps towards the chair.
“Here” Rhaenyra says as she helps Alicent out of her jacket with practiced hands.
“Oh. Thank you…”
“Of course”
And sure, Rhaenyra wasn’t actually interested in dating anyone but she could still be a gentleman.
Alicent sits and Rhaenyra moves back to her own seat, unbuttoning the jacket as she does. Her eyes return to the woman sitting opposite her, watching as Alicent smooths her hands down the green dress she wears. She’s nervous Rhaenyra realises.
It’s strangely endearing.
“I’m really sorry I was so late” she offers when she eventually looks up, her hands hidden beneath the table.
“It’s not a problem at all”
“It’s not exactly the best first impression…”
Rhaenyra shrugs. “Laena mentioned you’re new to the city”
“Yeah it’s -” she pauses as she does mental arithmatic. “Month three” she laughs softly.
It’s a beautiful sound.
“I’ve lived here my entire life and I still have to triple check my phone before getting on a train” Rhaenyra admits as she reaches over to pick up the bottle of wine. “Is this one okay?” she asks. “I don’t pretend to know a lot about wine but the waitress recommended it” she explains.
She sees the way that Alicent looks at the bottle and knows already that her date thinks it’s too expensive.
“Probably just recommended me their most expensive, didn’t they?” she quickly adds to ease any tension.
“Yeah. Yeah I think they did” Alicent agrees.
“Ah well. Guess we best enjoy every sip of it” she grins, uncorks the bottle with a wink and pours a glass for the other woman before one for herself.
Rhaenyra picks up her own glass, studies it for a moment before taking a sip. The way her face screws up on taste of it says everything about how she feels about wine.
“You don’t like it?” Alicent asks, voice soft as she gets done taking a sip from her own glass.
“That obvious?” Rhaenyra laughs and puts the glass down. “Really not a wine drinker” she admits.
“Oh”
Alicent bites her bottom lip as her eyes look over the half empty bottle of expensive wine.
“Hey but I tried it” Rhaenyra quickly adds, not wanting her to feel bad about the wine. “And now I can confirm that wine is not for me”
“Yeah” Alicent smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes and for a moment she raises her hand to her mouth, bites at her thumb before quickly dropping her hands back to her lap.
Rhaenyra takes in the movement but says nothing, instead offers a smile as her eyes study the woman opposite her.
“So you went to Uni with Laena?”
“I did” Alicent seems to brighten up at that, a comfortable subject perhaps.
“And was she the model student she tells everyone she was?”
A smile tugs at Alicent’s lips. “When she wanted to be”
“Mm, sounds like Laena” Rhaenyra agrees.
“Are you ready to order?”
Rhaenyra looks up at the voice as their waitress returns. She exchanges a look with Alicent before forcing another smile onto her face. “Apologies, we haven’t even looked at the menus yet” she explains.
“Oh. No problem at all, I’ll give you a few more minutes Ms Targaryen”
“Thank you” Rhaenyra replies before returning her gaze to Alicent who is hurriedly opening the menu as if she’s been scolded by a teacher. “I hate when they call me that” she tells her date.
“Oh” is Alicent’s only response.
“Just a name isn’t it” she shrugs as she opens her own menu, mirroring Alicent but not really taking anything in. “So you and Laena stayed in touch since graduation then?” she asks when the other woman doesn’t say anything, just continues to stare down at her menu.
Alicent nods gently.
“I know your pain” Rhaenyra jokes but it doesn’t quite land. Alicent glances at her but her eyes quickly dart back to the menu. Rhaenyra bites her bottom lip and stays quiet for a moment before awkwardly trying to explain her joke. “Being stuck with her, I mean. I’ve kinda had it since birth so…”
When she doesn’t get a response she runs a hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face.
“So what do you do now?” she tries. “Do you work in Law?”
“Huh?” Alicent glances up, eyes a little wide. “Sorry?” she asks but doesn’t wait for Rhaenyra to answer. “Work? Yes uh - well I’m trying to get into Law yes…” she explains, reaching out to wrap her fingers around the wine glass.
Rhaenyra’s brow furrows as she notices the blood on her fingers. “Are you alright, you’re bleeding…” she says concerned, taking a napkin to offer to the other woman.
Panic lights up Alicent’s face and she quickly drops her hands to her lap once more.
“There’s no need to apologise” Rhaenyra replies with a frown, wondering what’s gotten this woman so skittish. “Here” she offers the napkin and Alicent reluctantly takes it.
She remains silent, watching as Alicent wraps the tissue around her finger as if trying to create a tourniquet. It’s not hard to notice the way that those beautiful brown eyes dart around the room, taking in the other diners, everything but Rhaenyra.
“Are you okay?” The Targaryen finally asks. “Do you want to be here? It’s really okay if -”
“No” Alicent replies quickly. “Sorry, no, I’m just -” she pauses and swallows thickly. “Just nervous is all” she offers in the end.
“Okay” Rhaenyra’s voice is soft, her eyes studying the other woman carefully. She certainly didn’t want her to be here against her will.
“Are you ready to order?”
Rhaenyra sucks in a breath at the waitresses awful timing. “No not yet” she replies as she looks up at the woman. “Apologies, we’re just enjoying our wine at the moment” she lies, trying to get the woman to take the hint and leave them alone.
When she looks back at Alicent though she notices the woman hurriedly flipping through the menu.
She looks out of place here. Perhaps not to the untrained eye. She looks stunning, flowing curls, gorgeous smile and the well-fitting dress. But behind the smile, in her eyes, it’s clear how uncomfortable she is. And Rhaenyra doesn’t think it’s her, or at least hopes it’s not her, but more the fancy, over the top setting that Laena had chosen for them.
“Right, come on” Rhaenyra announces in that quintessentially British way, hands slapping against her own thighs as she gets to her feet.
Alicent’s lips part in surprise but no words come out, though confusion overtakes her features.
“Let’s get out of here” Rhaenyra says as casually as one could mid-dinner.
“We didn’t even order…” Alicent points out, lifting the menu ever so slightly and giving it a little wave as if to draw Rhaenyra’s attention to it.
“That’s okay” Rhaenyra shrugs casually, takes some cash out of her wallet and places it down on the table. “They won’t care”
Alicent’s brow furrows as she watches the other woman, making no movement to stand. Confused.
A gentle smile overtakes Rhaenyra’s face as she looks down at her date. She doesn’t really want to say it out loud, to let Alicent know just how uncomfortable she’s seemed all night, and so she phrases it a little differently.
“This place is very much Laena’s taste. Not mine” she explains, fastening the buttons of her jacket. “Yours neither, I’d wager”
Something crosses Alicent’s face but she doesn’t speak. Doesn’t move.
“There’s a nice pub just down the road” Rhaenyra explains, gesturing towards the exit. “Good beer, proper food and the best part - no one glares at you if you scrape your chair too loudly or don’t like the super pricey wine”
She sticks an arm out, offering a hand to Alicent who studies her silently for a moment.
A moment that stretches so long that Rhaenyra begins to worry she’s made the complete wrong move here.
And then Alicent takes her hand, skin soft against the roughness of Rhaenyra’s own hand, a little warm in that way hands get when you’re nervous. Rhaenyra smiles anyway, helps her to her feet and releases her hand only to help her back into her jacket.
The “thank you” is soft, barely audible, yet it still manages to do things to Rhaenyra’s heart. Things that she very much decides to ignore.
“No worries” she smiles, holding Alicent’s gaze for just a moment before tucking their chairs back in and leading Alicent confidently out of the fancy, pretentious restaurant, making a mental note to tell Laena to never book her a table there again.
Outside the air feels much lighter.
“Sorry” she laughs nervously as she turns to the other woman.
At this proximity she can’t help but notice the soft dusting of freckles across Alicent’s nose, almost losing her train of thought.
“For what?” Alicent plays with the hem of her coat sleeve.
“For being weird and marching you out of a restaurant before you’d even ordered” Rhaenyra laughs once more. “I just figured we’d both be more comfortable somewhere more relaxed?”
Alicent studies her for a moment, really studies her, before she nods and offers the most beautiful little smile. “I prefer a pint” she finds herself admitting. “Didn’t think I could get away with ordering one in that place” she gestures back towards the restaurant.
Rhaenyra’s laugh is loud this time, a lot less nervous and much more genuine.
“God no, those staff are way above pulling a pint” she grins. “They might pull a muscle or break a nail” she winks, notices the way Alicent’s eyes widen ever so slightly. “Come on, let’s go get you that pint!” She announces and turns on her heel to lead the way down the street.
Alicent follows.