Cosplaying Knight in New York City Accidentally Invited a Targaryen to the Night’s Watch: ‘The North Always Remembers.’

It’s not everyday that people are approached by a knight to take arms and embark on a fantastical journey. Gideon (@sidequestz), a content creator who cosplays as a knight in the streets of New York City, invited a passerby in a hurry to “join the knight’s watch.” He had no clue that the man was a Targaryen prince from the hit HBO series House of the Dragon.

“You look like you held a blade before,” Gideon said. It’s often his opening line whenever he meets an interesting stranger walking by.

“Nah,” the man in shades said. But Gideon was undeterred.

“Cold winds rise in the North. A threat grows beyond the wall,” he said. It may seem like a strange spiel, but Gideon’s character clearly takes inspiration from Game of Thrones.

“Join the Night’s Watch and fight for the realms of men,” he told the man in shades. Unfortunately, the man was in a hurry and refused Gideon.

“Sorry, man, not today,” he said. When Gideon asked, the man in shades claimed to be busy with his DJ gig. In fact, he was already on the way to the event before Gideon stopped him.

“I actually don’t have any plans tonight,” Gideon said, breaking character.

“That’s great for you, I suppose,” the DJ dryly responded. Gideon even hinted that he’d want to be invited to a party and then asked the man in shades if there was a vacant spot on his guest list. However, the man said that the party was already booked.

Inviting a Targaryen to a quest

“You look familiar, by the way. Do I know you?” Gideon finally asked before letting the man go. The man said no and that he was in a rush to get to his event. Taking the rejection, Gideon let the man go.

“I must have dreamt it,” Gideon said. The man was about to walk off, and then he turned his head to the knight.

“Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did.” It was none other than Harry Collett, the actor who played Prince Jacaerys Velaryon in House of the Dragon.

“It is you,” Gideon said, pointing at Collett, grinning as if he’d always known. It seems that his initial suspicion was right—this man has definitely held a blade before.

“I am Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Blood of the Dragon, and rightful heir to the Iron Throne,” Collett said, immediately getting into character. Gideon dropped to one knee, acknowledging that the man before him is his liege.

“My prince, my allegiance is yours,” Gideon swore.

“I trust that the North still remembers its oaths?” Collett said.

“The North always remembers,” Gideon said, rising after a moment. “All men must serve,” he added.”

“All men must die,” Collett replied, shaking his new knight’s hand. Finally, he gave the knight an invite to his event.

Riding a dragon to a DJ party

“Come now, Vermax awaits,” he said, and Gideon followed. Were they actually going to ride a dragon in the streets of New York City? Would it break local ordinance to have a fire-breathing dragon take a prince and a knight all the way to a local DJ gig?

None of it mattered, and in the end, Collett and his knight made it all the way to the party unimpeded. What made the interaction seem so surreal was that it was happening in such an urban setting.

Nevertheless, the random collaboration trended on social media. Many were surprised when Collett took off his shades—they had no clue it was the prince himself until that moment. Meanwhile, some poked fun at Collett for being a DJ, dubbing him “DJacerys.” Although Gideon is known for handing out sidequests, it looks like he’s been taken to a prince’s unexpected sidequest instead.

Gideon has seen his fair share of quests before, but this is his first with an heir to the Iron Throne.

(featured images: sidequestz)

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