ONE CLICK AWAY
Night Three - The Artsy Artisan (1)
It had been almost six weeks after they had gone to Chez Shae together and Brienne was definitely ready to lose her bet. Despite both Margaery and Sansa telling her that Jamie's sudden flight from the nightclub could not have anything to do with her at all, Brienne could not be convinced otherwise and had refused to go out with the two friends again. They had spent some of their breaks together in King's Landing's city center, had gotten coffee to go at the park adjacent to Brienne's workplace or had an extended lunch break at the small family-owned bakery at the corner of First Ave and Park Ave.
"I really cannot convince you to go to that art gallery opening with me tonight, can I?" Margaery asked quietly over lunch. The autumn sun shone in their faces as they were sitting in a window booth of their favorite lunch spot, The Green Leaf.
Brienne crossed her arms in front of her, raised an eyebrow and looked at her friend dismissively.
"I went out to lunch with you today, despite Baelish being an absolute dick today, Margy, I just wanna survive the rest of the day without him yelling at me again. The prospect of a room of people pretending to be intellectual and artsy after dealing with a moping and aggressive Baelish all week ... honestly, Margaery, that's a hard pass from me," Brienne explained and her friend sighed.
"I understand, Brienne," Margaery said and placed her warm hand on Brienne's forearm, "I just thought a change of scenery could be beneficial, especially after having to deal with this asshole of a boss for the entire last week. Plus, I think you'd really like Davos Seaworth's work, he's kind of up your alley..."
Brienne bit her lower lip. Davos Seaworth was one of her favorite contemporary artists and Margaery damn well knew this.
"We can just check out the exhibits, not talk to anyone and once we've seen it all, we can get out of there again," Margaery begged, her eyes pleading.
"As if you'd manage to not talk to anyone, Margy," Brienne laughed, her defense wavering.
"I might want to talk to Daenerys Targaryen if she's there. It's rumored she is Seaworth's muse..." Margaery said.
"See?" Brienne grinned, "someone to talk to. Can you agree that I don't have to talk to anyone and can simply take a look at the art and that's all?"
"So you're coming with me?" Margaery clapped her hands excitedly.
"Under some conditions," Brienne added.
"Those being?"
"Number One: I don't have to change before we go, my work outfit will have to suffice!" Margaery looked at Brienne's dark navy dress, the floral scarf she was wearing draped around her angelic neck and the black ballerina flats.
"Approved. Go on ..."
"Number Two: If I wanna go home, we go. No questions asked."
"Naturally, anything else?"
"Number Three: No introducing me to any of your high-society acquaintances, I am simply not interested..."
"But ..."
"No buts, Margaery, those are my terms. Can you agree with them or not?"
"Fine," Margaery hummed, especially unhappy with condition number three. She had secretly hoped to be able to widen Brienne's social circle at least little bit tonight, despite Brienne's reservations. Margaery did know about two members of the Lannister family that were on the guestlist for tonight, courtesy of Daenerys Targaryen herself. She was sure, however, that telling Brienne would most likely mean her friend would get out of the booth right now and flee the scene. It had been roughly six weeks after their night out at Chez Shae that had turned upside down rather quickly after Brienne and Jamie Lannister had shared that one glance that had Jamie run out of the club within seconds.
Brienne had always had a complicated relationship with men, even before Margaery had gotten to know her better. She still didn't know the specifics of Brienne's high school experiences but the pieces of information Brienne had been willing to share over the years had painted a clear picture. Some of the things her friend had told her had her blood boil and her heart seeking for revenge at the sheer cowardice and cruelty of events.
Margaery knew that high school experiences differed vastly depending on many different factors and being the odd one out like Brienne had been could not possibly have been easy. Still, there was no excuse for coming up with a bet as to who could woo her into sleeping with them first.
Margaery was sure that, should she ever meet one of the perpetrators, she would go full revenge on these men for the irreparable damages those cowards had caused. Brienne always flinched when people were talking in whispered voices or a lower register, full-on expecting they were talking about her. She would flinch whenever men looked at her, desperately trying to hide her face or body even though her height made that barely possible. A part of her had wanted to follow Jamie Lannister six weeks ago, wanting to stop him in his tracks, shaking all the answers out of him. Why had he even bothered to look at her, when it caused him obvious disgust at the sight? Why had he even bothered with Sansa and Margaery present? Was there no supermodel or up and coming actress he could have gone home with? What was his deal? Of course, all of this only played out in Brienne's head. After Tyrion had shrugged his shoulders and quickly followed his brother out of Chez Shae's, Margaery had looked at Brienne, wearing an expression of disbelief and pain. She hadn't said anything, though, for which Brienne had been grateful. Fighting back the tears at the weird and deprecative behavior of a complete stranger, Brienne had forced to return her attention to Sansa and Margaery until the beats of the speakers and the warmth of the alcohol lulled her into a state of carefreeness.
The morning after their night at Chez Shae Brienne got up, took a shower and vowed she would rather lose her bet than be humiliated by a complete stranger ever again. Still, here they were and Brienne had just agreed to go to an art gallery opening with her friend. 'At least there will be people that appreciate Seaworth's art, if anything, Should be fine', she thought and finished the rest of her avocado toast.
"Pick you up at 6:30?" Margaery asked as they parted ways and returned to their workplaces.
"And not a minute too late!" Brienne joked and kissed her friend on the cheek.
"Not on my watch," Margaery grinned.
"Do we really need to go to this stupid art show thing?" Jamie groaned around 5:30 pm when Tyrion entered his office.
"Well, I figured it cannot hurt to show that Jamie Lannister cares about local art, can it?" Tyrion replied with a smirk and Jamie realized that this outing was partly a publicity stunt, partly his brother's effort to get him out of the office or the family estate.
"I guess it does," Jamie murmured.
"Besides, Danaerys Targaeryan is going to be there which is going to create a lot of buzz. When people see you there, enjoying the art she inspired, having a good time, talking to people ... I figured that'll help."
"It would, actually," Jamie said, remembering the insane media attention he had received over the very public breakup from his step-sister.
"I know, that's why I am the genius in the family," Tyrion quipped and Jamie could not help but roar with laughter.
"As long as you believe this, dear brother, who am I to take this away from you?" Jamie added, drowning the remnants of his water. He had decided to be good for his secretary. Gilly was sweet and pleasant but she could be stubborn and he thought it best not to have any sort of fall out with her.
"How's the internet dating going?" Tyrion asked all of the sudden with no prelude and Jamie was indeed glad, he had emptied that glass of water mere moments ago, otherwise, he would have drenched his office with a water-spit mixture just now. Tyrion couldn't possibly know that despite his constant denial he actually had created a profile online, could he? Since he hadn't actually re-visited his newly added profile after creating it, this didn't really count anyway, right? Right?
"I'm sorry what now?" Jamie pressed out grumpily and Tyrion chuckled.
"I am just asking since your real-life dating appeared to be off to not such a good start and you've refused to be publically seen with me after that interesting one and a half hours at Chez Shae a couple of weeks ago so you'll just have to deal with me being curious, dear brother..."
"You can be curious all you want, this doesn't mean I will tell you how my real-life dating is going nor my internet dating is going..."
"Ha Haaaa!" Tyrion clapped his hands together triumphantly and Jamie realized his admission of the existence of an actual online dating profile as soon as he had finished his sentence. Well then. He rolled his eyes at his little brother and shut down his computer.
"You think my suit will be ok for tonight?" Jamie asked, desperate to change the subject yet also genuinely interested in knowing whether or not he'd have to up his wardrobe game for the social outing they were getting ready for.
"Should be fine. That particular blue adds to your general handsomeness..." Tyrion quipped.
"Alright, in that case, should we get going?"
"Tell me you have at least a vague idea about Seaworth's art ..."
"Not a single clue..."
"Splendid!"
"I know, right?"
"What did I do to deserve you?"
"May I remind you, little brother, that you came after me? I wanted a sister ..."
"Ouch, my feelings are hurt!" Tyrion laughed and the unlikely pair went straight for the elevator to the building's parking garage where Bronn was waiting with the limousine.
Ten minutes into the art gallery opening and Brienne was ready to go home. Margaery had felt right at home as she fit right into the clientele with a seamless homeliness that made Brienne a little jealous. Connecting to people wasn't an easy task for her, generally, and the crowd at this very specific place and time made it even harder. She just didn't know what to say! If only people knew a little bit about Davos Seaworth and his art, it would make things a lot easier. Brienne loathed the highborn attendees that had no idea they were looking at incredible works of art, a one in a million talent that had only been discovered by mere chance. For members of the high society, those events served as welcome public appearances where they could ahhhhh and ohhhh about things without bitter scrutiny.
Brienne hated every single second of it.
"You look as if you want to run out of here," a quiet voice addressed her and Brienne span around. Before her stood the most angelic and extraordinary woman she had ever seen, Danaerys Targaryen her eyes a light violet and her platinum blonde, almost white hair braided eloquently. Her gaze fell warmly on the taller woman as she continued: "Events like these always make me nauseous."
"Really?" Brienne asked, unable to fathom that a public figure such as the youngest Targaeryan would have an issue with public appearances.
"It's true," Danaerys said and the tone of her voice and the quick flash of despair in her eyes made Brienne immediately believe that she was telling the truth, "and I will reveal yet another secret to you ... they tell you to calm down your nerves by imagining everyone around you naked, right?"
Brienne blushed.
"Huh?"
"Well, all I'm saying is, that doesn't work as soon as it is a family member of someone you went to bed with," Danaerys shrugged her shoulders and laughed, a laughter matching her delicate and angelic appearance.
"I bet that would be ... weird," Brienne helped, not sure what else to say.
"It totally is. I've resorted to distracting myself with thinking about the book I am going to read once the event I am attending is over. That mostly helps. If all else fails, I'll just have a drink and politely nod from time to time. I am talking to you a lot more than I usually do at parties like this."
"This is partly in your honor, though," Brienne said, "didn't you inspire the art?"
"Oh, yes, yes I did, very true," Danaerys said, "but those people don't understand any of it. They don't see this as we do, don't they?"
"I guess?" Brienne wasn't sure how to respond to Danearys' kind assertion.
"Ah, some of the special guests have arrived," Danaerys half-turned to face the entrance where a small cluster of people had formed to welcome the newly arrived guests. Brienne turned around to see a golden mane towering above the heads of women, suddenly interested in the tall, handsome man that had entered, not the art they were pretending to swoon about. Now all they did was swooning over a guy.
Brienne's mouth went dry as said men came into view as he made his way through the gallery toward the waiter that carried hors d'oeuvres. Golden tousles hair, a blue tailored suit that brought out the man's tan and hair, broad shoulders, a chiseled chin with a designer stubble.
'Oh, the hell no!' Brienne thought and panic bubbled up inside her. Jamie Lannister had practically fled Chez Shae when he'd seen her. Surely, he wouldn't wanna risk a repeat with all the highborns around but she didn't want to find out what the insulting and degrading, yet more subtle, alternative would be. Danaerys turned back around and took in the expression on Brienne's face.
"Not a fan like all the other ladies, I see?"
"Not at all," Brienne replied, "I have to get out of here. Now."
"Doors to your right lead to the bathroom, take the one that says 'Artisan Only', cross the room, key code for the door is 6220. You'll be in the alleyway next to the gallery, turn right for Lombard Street. Need me to call a cab?"
"No need, on it," Brienne said, retrieved her phone and made a beeline for the exit. She would text Margaery on the way home. There was no way in hell she was going to run into any Lannister tonight. That was it, she was done. 'Losing a bet, but not losing my honor,' Brienne thought. She was pretty sure she would have lost a lot by throwing canapes or a drink into Jamie Lannister's smug face.