Tiny Stannis/Davos ficlet

[linndechir]

Just a little something I wrote for a prompt on tumblr: Stannis, Davos, Painted Table. It's too tiny to be called a fic, it's really just a spur of the moment thing I wrote in a couple of minutes. Reposted just in case anyone has an urgent need for Stannis angst in their life ... I know I always do.

Stannis’ fingers brushed over the map, from the Trident down toKing’s Landing and on to Storm’s End. They lingered there, and Davos thought there was something strangely longing in the gesture. Stannis rarely even visited his home since Robert had given it to Renly, rewarding that carefree little boy with what Stannis had earned.

“It should have gone to me,” Stannis said, jaw clenched. “Robert has the Kingdoms, and he has no sons yet. Storm’s End should have been mine by rights. He overlooked me as if I was some bastard, not worthy of holding our family’s castle.”

A year had passed since the end of the war, but the humiliation still stung, whether Stannis was in King’s Landing or on Dragonstone. Robert had pretended to feel generous when he gave Dragonstone to Stannis, “the last Targaryen stronghold”, but they both knew it was nothing but a rock in the sea, nothing compared to the rich Stormlands.

Davos stepped closer to the Painted Table, his maimed fingers came to rest on Cape Wrath, the lands Stannis had granted him, closer to his home than his own seat was now.

“Your brother wronged you,” he agreed quietly. He had learnt quickly enough that Stannis did not care for polite objections that it was not
Davos’ place to judge the king. “Especially after you held Storm’s End for so long.”

Stannis’ hand moved again, this time outlining the coast along Shipbreaker Bay and around Cape Wrath, his touch almost tender, and his
fingers brushed Davos’ maimed ones for a split second. He tensed and pulled away, eyes not meeting Davos’.

“That siege brought you greater rewards than me, smuggler.” Without a further word of dismissal, Stannis turned and left the chamber. Davos had not thought it possible for such a young man to sound so bitter and weary.

Comments

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

There is always a need for angst, especially Stannis angst. Love the bit where he brushes Davos' fingers. Stannis, flirting?

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not entirely sure if he did it on purpose or not. He's only 20 here, still young and not quite as fucked up as later, so maybe there's still a daring part in him that considers doing something as frivolous as, gasp, brushing Davos' fingers. Or maybe it was an accident. But I prefer to think that it's young Stannis' very awkward way of trying to flirt a bit. (Though I always thought the running away afterwards was more something ten-year-olds did.)

Glad you liked it. :)

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

Stannis had such a delayed adolescence, with regard to relationships/emotions, so maybe he just can't handle the implications! Why does every Stannis/Davos fic just make me want to hug this guy? He'd probably run me through or turn me over to Melisandre. I cling to stuff like this, though. Don't mind me.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Stannis' teenage years probably consisted of girls asking him if he thinks Robert would like them.
I get the same reaction to ALL Stannis fics, and even to Stannis in canon. I think there's even a tumblr called "stannisneedsahug". It really doesn't help that he wouldn't let anyone hug him. *sigh* I'll go and write more Stannis angst now. It's therapeutic, it's like reminding yourself that your life really isn't bad. ;)

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

That's so depressing! But at least that tumblr has the right idea.

I find that, with 99% of the characters in this fandom, writing any fics or even reading the books is therapeutic. They're all such dysfunctional, miserable people.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

It's like the literary equivalent to Tim Minchin's "Some People Have it Worse Than Me." ^^ Roose seems to be fairly content with his life, though.

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

At least he has a fairly healthy sex life, at least in fanon.

How terrible is it that reading all of this Greyjoy drama in AFFC yesterday made me feel better about my life in general?

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

True, and he just doesn't seem like the kind of guy to angst about ... well, anything.

I know what you mean. It probably means we have not enough empathy. ;)

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

He angsts over Mary Sues. I need to write that crackfic when I've finished my exchange fics. Who wouldn't angst over Mary Sues, though?

This fandom is just a bad influence all around. It means that I'm reading too much Euron Greyjoy.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd call that angst, he just considers how to get rid of her quickly. ;) Gna, exchange fic. I've written only half of mine so far.

It just makes me grumpy and I eat lemons, I'm not sure if that's any better.

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

I wrote some of mine yesterday but then I got distracted and worked on a longfic. It's a good prompt, it is just hard to get going.

That's such a Stannis way of dealing with it. I approve. I just go to the park and read about Thomas Cromwell.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

My prompt required me to be sympathetic with Selyse, but I finally wrote that weird part. Now I can write the Stannis angst, and that's a lot easier to do.

I think a certain amount of resigned grumpiness is very helpful in life. Stannis just forgets that's what's even more important is not taking yourself seriously while you're at it. ;)
That sounds like a good way of spending the day. Well, not here because it's raining every day and nobody wants to go to the park.

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Selyse. That sounds like a complete challenge. I just wrote the porn section in mine and now I have to figure out how to get there with two characters who never meet in canon and who live nowhere near each other.

Grumpiness = pragmatism! I expect things to be a mess, and when they're not, it's a nice surprise.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

It's young Selyse, so it's a lot easier. I couldn't feel sorry for book!Selyse, never.
Step one: Porn. Step two: how to make porn happen. ^^

Exactly, I always tell people pessimism is the key to happiness. ;) I was very amused in my first translation class yesterday. Teacher: "This sentence is somewhat tricky. I can see Ms. (Linn's super exciting last name) is frowning already." Me: "Not really, that's my regular facial expression." I felt like an emo kid, but it's true.

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

I always write the porn scene first. Now you know my secret. embossedsilver and I have a theory that our ASOIAF fic is really just a way to blow off work/school stresses. What that says about my job, I don't want to contemplate.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

I promise not to use your secret against you.Yet. :P I usually write fic in my head all day long when I'm annoyed by people or by whatever it is I have to do. I'm just too lazy to write it down in the evening.

[sternflammenden.livejournal.com]

I do that too, sometimes, especially when I'm doing something repetitive, like data entry. It's too fun not to.

[milliondreams.livejournal.com]

Why don't you like Selyse? She never really made an impression on me either way...

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

She comes across as a fairly unpleasant person, to me. Add to that I really dislike religious fanatics, and that she has basically no redeeming qualities that could make me like her despite her unpleasant personality. *shrug*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww! Bitter and UST Stannis. This is so lovely.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) Bitter Stannis breaks my heart, but in a good way. And their UST is always nice.

[effet-catharsis.livejournal.com]

I'm supposed to do something important, but I decided to procrastinate and stalk your fics instead.

This is GREAT. I've been OMGing since I've begun having a look at your journal.

"“Your brother wronged you,” he agreed quietly. He had learnt quickly enough that Stannis did not care for polite objections that it was not Davos’ place to judge the king." Purrrfect. The two of them get along because of that, the blunt but spotless honesty at all times. Davos is not saying this stuff to lick Stannis' arse, that's what makes it even better. He's just stating the truth.

And the touch. Homoerotic tension between two men like that is much much fun.

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :D I love these two together, their UST and obvious devotion is just killing me. I'm glad you enjoy reading about them. ^^

[inigosolo.livejournal.com]

I choose to believe that Stannis brushed those beloved maimed fingers on purpose, and that it was indeed his way of flirting. Even that he flirts at all before immediately running away fills me with joy.

You continue to rock my world. : )

[linndechir.livejournal.com]

Stannis really fails at flirting, but he tries. ;)

Thank you so much. :D