Work Text:
The morning had been hell. Mysaria was avoiding all the emotions she shouldn’t be feeling by working out at her least favorite gym.
She’d gone to the planet fitness instead of her uptown spa/work out facility to be able to tell herself that should he come looking, he wouldn’t find her.
Realistically Mysaria knew he wasn’t going to come looking though, and now she found herself on a shitty treadmill without the benefits of her post work out facial to look forward to.
Another reason to avoid her favorite escape, she couldn’t let anyone see her in the state she was in. Tear streaked, angry, completely out of character for the “cold queen” she had been dubbed since college.
Now she was 35, and she looked damn good for her age too. So why did she come home to find her paramour of 10 years fucking a child.
Okay so his niece wasn’t a child, she was 21, but that was hardly relevant to her heart and mind.
The sound of Nicki Minaj was blasting through her earphones, secretly pop/rap music was her favorite thing to jive to during her workouts. Daemon had often poked fun at her “poor taste,” preferring to listen to Artic Monkeys, Geowulf, or the Doors. Some bullshit that made him feel better then everyone else.
One thing about me, I'm the baddest alive
He know the prettiest bitch didn't come until I arrive
I don't let bitches get to me, I fuck they man if they try
I got a princess face, a killer body, samurai mind
Usually the words would inspire her to push further, but today it was little help. Prettiest? Hardly. Even Mysaria had to admit the little she demon, called Rhaenyra, was something to ogle.
Blessed naturally with a perfect figure, and goddess like silver hair. It wasn’t fair, Mysaria had worked for it all and it was just given to Rhaenyra. No dieting, no odd jobs to save up for portfolio photos, nothing.
Mysaria and Daemon, the man who could’ve been her husband, had met post college. He was her age, which didn’t make the ‘cheating’ any easier. They’d agreed to have an open relationship, if only to satisfy themselves when space was between them. The agreement, however, hadn’t been in effect in years.
Mysaria was a model, and a graduate with a communications degree. There was nothing she hadn’t done to get to her current level of success. Unlike her lover, who also had everything handed to him.
Daemon was an actor, and occasionally a musician but he hadn’t performed since he was 30, “It’s just not what I wanted to do.” He would tell interviewers, but the truth was that he loved performing.
The only reason Daemon had stopped was to be closer to his brother after his sister in law died. Something about “repairing the strain on his family” and “they need me.”
So now the Targaryen worked occasionally on indie film projects based around New York and London, always able to justify the London trips when they aligned with his brothers work schedule. Then on the side he would assist Viserys, his older brother, with the company that had been inherited to them by their dead relatives.
Mysaria grunted as she pulled herself back from her thoughts, pale skin was dripping with sweat and she swigged back some water from her yeti.
That had been when it started, Mysaria was sure. Maybe they weren’t fucking, but at 16 Rhaenyra was still something to gawk at. Plus she was OBSESSED with her uncle. Every show that he held in New York, before his ‘retirement,’ the girl was there. Watching him like a hungry dragon.
Catching her in the corner, violet eyes scanning over her uncles body in the most perverse way. The music would be pulsing around Mysarias ears, but somehow she could hear the girl panting with need whenever Daemon would sing an explicit lyric. As if the words, “Fuck me senseless,” were tattooed on the Valyrian girls forehead.
Every. Single. Show. Of course when Daemon was out of town, Mysaria assumed the girl hadn’t attended those shows. The comments section of his YouTube videos even confirmed the weird electricity the duo gave, “This Toledo show was great, but you should see him in New York! It’s like he becomes a god!!”
And it was true. Every time Rhaenyra watched his performance, it was as if the two were surrounded by fire. Energy would roll around Daemons body, and Mysaria would watch as he almost serenaded his niece.
Mysaria had mentioned it only once, not out of jealousy, obviously the girl was a child and his NIECE! “Of course she watches and supports me, Mys. She loves me! That’s what family does. I’m sorry you don’t have anyone there, but don’t get catty over my niece. I’m sure your exaggerating what you’re feeling dear, perhaps you’re just jealous.” Daemons tone was always warning, but of course he never said anything that really cleared up the situation.
Deciding not to give it too much thought, Mysaria pushed it to the back of her mind only to be proven RIGHT!
The weights were heavy on her slender arms, and usually the woman opted not to gain too much muscle, as it wasn’t a feature loved in the industry. Today however, she needed to feel her body burn.
There was a moment, she knew, there had to be. When it all clicked for the two of them. Mysaria was positive she was somewhere on the sidelines when it occurred, considering her luck.
Thinking of her misfortune, Rhaenyras band was now playing on the stereo at the gym. Back into the EarPods Mysaria tuned out the noise of the catchy soundtrack.
“Uncle, I got signed! I didn’t even mention my family or anything! We’re gonna release a single soon!” Of course the platinum headed girl had followed Daemon into the music industry. Always so eager to be exactly like him, at least to an extent.
Their first single wasn’t a pop number, as Mysaria had expected. Instead, it was called “Standing in the back of your Show.” Like an IDIOT, Mysaria let Daemon listen to it on repeat for an entire week. As if he was dissecting the lyrics until he could construe the words to be about him. “I’m giving her feedback. She wants me to help her Mys, don’t be so uptight. Plus it’s good, unlike that pop garbage you listen to.”
I know it's wrong to try and lead you astray
I told you I don't dream about you anymore but I do
The lyrics would be hummed around their house for weeks after it came out, and then Daemon had tried to seduce her with the song playing in the background. Like an idiot, Mysaria had let it happen. It was possibly the best sex of their entire relationship, but that didn’t stop the ick that danced across her heart when she tuned into the noise after the fact.
I ain't ever gonna get you alone
Standing at the back at your show
Surely they were about him, and not that overly religious boy Rhaenyra had been dating at the time of its release, “Criston,” the kid whose name Daemon refused to learn.
“So how long have you guys been dating?” Mysaria had asked politely at one of the families dinners, where they had all, of course, been seated next to each other.
Daemon was playing with his cutlery mechanically, his lilac eyes never leaving Rhaenyra.
The eighteen year old girl was hiding her feelings well, timidly sipping from the wine she had talked her father into giving her. “We aren’t dating.” She answered in a cool tone, the brunette man seemed uncomfortable with her words, “We’ve been seeing each other for six months. Rhaenyra doesn’t like labels, so we are taking it slow.” His smile was stiff, and Rhaenyra smirked at the sound of her uncle placing his fork on the table. “ It’s incredibly mature of you to be realistic about your relationships little dragon.”
Mysaria tried not to roll her eyes, they always slipped into Valyrian and excluded the rest of the group. Mys had learned as much as possible to keep up with Daemons occasional drunken words, but she was far from fluent.
There was no need to translate though, the two were openly arguing about something. Shooting Valyrian back and forth at each other with scowls and scoffs, finally Rhaenyra snorted into the wine and Daemon looked livid. “ I hardly think you have any room to tell me how to live my life, uncle.” It was the first time Mysaria had heard any back talk from the girl, and Daemon looked to be just as shocked as herself.
The night ended without anymore words exchanged between the two of them, Mysaria had almost thought they wouldn’t make up. The next week though, Rhaenyras band dropped another hit and her uncle called to congratulate her. The next song was played doubly as long.
The feeling of someone tapping her shoulder wretched Mysarias eyes open, back to the purple and yellow scenery that was ‘Planet Fitness.’
“Sorry.” The bald man said, “You’re Lady Misery? Can I take a selfie with you?” Trying not to sound as annoyed as she was, “Of course! Let’s do a couple!” The two posed themselves around the fitness equipment and then Mysaria said half heartedly, “Make sure to tag me!”
Now she was in the gym showers, rinsing the disgust of the day off of her.
Mysaria had gotten home from her shoot earlier than usual, and even picked up take out on the way home.
When she got there she heard shouting, of course she assumed Daemon was discussing business over the phone with Otto Hightower. The two were constantly arguing, even though Daemon had, essentially, stepped away from the company to allow his niece to take more responsibility in the family affair.
“You were a child! I spared you!” The words of her lover grabbed Mysarias ear, moving to the stairs slowly, she heard a woman’s voice next. Rhaenyras, she knew without a doubt.
“I was a child! You abandoned me!” The resentment was heavy and Mysaria was confused about their discussion. “Look what my life is becoming! Droll tragedy!” Hardly the truth, Mysaria saw the girl plastered on every fucking website known to mankind, unable to hide from the girls existence from her news feed. Constantly full of giggles and smiles, refusing to reveal her “inspiration” for her songs.
Daemons voice countered back, “And what of mine? You think it’s any better?” That stung, Mysaria had thought they were happy.
“I hardly know anything about it. We barely speak anymore.” Another lie, Rhaenyra and Daemon were constantly texting or calling each other. Sure they didn’t meet often, with Rhaenyras work schedule and her classes.
The next noise caused a shiver to run through her veins. The shattering of glass, her favorite vase probably, and then the slamming of something against the wall. It only took a few more seconds before Rhaenyras moans were filling their two floor apartment.
Mysaria had almost ran in, almost screamed. Every fiber of her existence wanted to, but why? It wouldn’t change what was about to happen.
Instead she reached into the freezer and pulled out a bottle of vodka, then beelined to the gym. Making sure to slam the door hard behind her.
Not a single text had hit her phone, not even a call. Quickly she arranged for her second apartment to be filled with all her break up needs, and then that night she found herself alone under the Egyptian cotton sheets. No Daemon, no news.
Whatever, Mysaria thought, and the numbness of the vodka allowed her to slip into sleep.