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[Continued from here]
[He hadn't thought about it before, but Sansa had to miss having someone around similar to her mother. For so long, she had suffered and struggled on her own, used as a tool for the men around her. Even with Arya, she didn't have someone that understood her and shared her interests. Claire was perhaps the first person since Margaery Tyrell that she could feel was like family.]
Aye, I imagine so. You can talk to Sansa about the things that are lost on me. [He really doesn't notice the details in her dresses or a new hairstyle.] Now that Robb is gone, I think she worries about what will happen if father or I disappear.
[He hadn't thought about it before, but Sansa had to miss having someone around similar to her mother. For so long, she had suffered and struggled on her own, used as a tool for the men around her. Even with Arya, she didn't have someone that understood her and shared her interests. Claire was perhaps the first person since Margaery Tyrell that she could feel was like family.]
Aye, I imagine so. You can talk to Sansa about the things that are lost on me. [He really doesn't notice the details in her dresses or a new hairstyle.] Now that Robb is gone, I think she worries about what will happen if father or I disappear.
Edited 2017-12-31 11:32 (UTC)
[Continued from here]
[That was easier said than done for him.
If his guard was lowered enough, he might have made a joke about his death, but that was a step too far. He'll smile and laugh, that's as extreme as it can get.]
Then what should we fight to? First one to be disarmed?
[That was easier said than done for him.
If his guard was lowered enough, he might have made a joke about his death, but that was a step too far. He'll smile and laugh, that's as extreme as it can get.]
Then what should we fight to? First one to be disarmed?
[Continued from here]
I thought that you world would be different than this.
[He had met a number of people that described a similar world. From the small mentions Emma had made of hers, it sounded like theirs. He couldn't imagine balls were a large part of it, but she seemed more at ease here than he was. Even if they weren't as common for her as they were for him, she still was managing better than him.]
The dancing was never my favorite part. [He had always been too stiff for that, too aware of others that stared at him because of his birth. He had never been comfortable dancing and it seemed only like an invitation for further ridicule. That had been when he was young, now...he just never saw an occasion for it.] Well, maybe we should put everything aside and dance together?
Fashionable sister. She enjoys all of this more than I do.
I thought that you world would be different than this.
[He had met a number of people that described a similar world. From the small mentions Emma had made of hers, it sounded like theirs. He couldn't imagine balls were a large part of it, but she seemed more at ease here than he was. Even if they weren't as common for her as they were for him, she still was managing better than him.]
The dancing was never my favorite part. [He had always been too stiff for that, too aware of others that stared at him because of his birth. He had never been comfortable dancing and it seemed only like an invitation for further ridicule. That had been when he was young, now...he just never saw an occasion for it.] Well, maybe we should put everything aside and dance together?
Fashionable sister. She enjoys all of this more than I do.
[There's a small nod of understanding from Claire. Of course. She wishes she could say they won't go back to stasis, but she can't with any certainty. She never thought Jamie would go, nor herself. But she can promise something.]
Sansa won't be alone.
Sansa won't be alone.
That might depend on which of my worlds you're talking about.
[ Storybrooke? The Enchanted Forest? They've lot all of them now, but she's seen the Enchanted Forest when they had cause to celebrate, before the curse turned it into a ghost town. Granted, it celebrated her father's engagement to a woman he didn't love, but it was still a formal event, a lot like this one.]
At least someone enjoys it. I think I'd enjoy it more if we weren't standing in the temporary peace of two warring parties.
[ there's the sense that most of the people here are simply tolerating each other, rather than wanting to engage in a genuine celebration. its played for laughs this time, they pick a side and play it all off as a game, but there's a real tension underneath it and its one Emma has a hard time ignoring.
then again, its easier to see if when she's hiding in the corner. maybe dancing isn't the worst idea; if nothing else, it gets her to crack a smile.]
I think I could manage to put everything aside long enough for a dance.
[ Storybrooke? The Enchanted Forest? They've lot all of them now, but she's seen the Enchanted Forest when they had cause to celebrate, before the curse turned it into a ghost town. Granted, it celebrated her father's engagement to a woman he didn't love, but it was still a formal event, a lot like this one.]
At least someone enjoys it. I think I'd enjoy it more if we weren't standing in the temporary peace of two warring parties.
[ there's the sense that most of the people here are simply tolerating each other, rather than wanting to engage in a genuine celebration. its played for laughs this time, they pick a side and play it all off as a game, but there's a real tension underneath it and its one Emma has a hard time ignoring.
then again, its easier to see if when she's hiding in the corner. maybe dancing isn't the worst idea; if nothing else, it gets her to crack a smile.]
I think I could manage to put everything aside long enough for a dance.
[He's grateful for that, but there was never any question in his mind. Claire was kind hearted in the same way Sansa was. Sansa had reached out and invited Claire to stay with them, if the worst should happen and Sansa was left alone, Claire would look after her.]
There's someone you should be on guard of. Has Sansa told you about Ramsay Bolton?
There's someone you should be on guard of. Has Sansa told you about Ramsay Bolton?
Edited 2018-01-03 14:30 (UTC)
[Continued from here.]
No, no kiwis or pineapples. I have had oranges and lemons.
[Which was exotic to the North.]
Earth? That's where you are from? [But first:] Is there a drink I can get you instead?
No, no kiwis or pineapples. I have had oranges and lemons.
[Which was exotic to the North.]
Earth? That's where you are from? [But first:] Is there a drink I can get you instead?
You have been to more than one?
[It wasn't the first time he heard that from someone. His thoughts immediately went back to Tinkerbell, who had been taken from her home and stranded in a dark world before finally being freed to another world.]
They were at least able to set their disputes aside in the face of a greater threat. [Something he worked hard to make happen in Westeros, before it all ended. Eventually Wyver and Olympia would go back to fighting each other and they would be forced to pick sides, that was the way it always went.] It's hard to say who is right or wrong in that dispute. They helped us when we needed it. We don't even know why they fight in the first place.
[This wasn't their war.
But at least they could put it aside and dance for the night. A moment of rest.]
You have to forgive me if I step on your foot.
[It wasn't the first time he heard that from someone. His thoughts immediately went back to Tinkerbell, who had been taken from her home and stranded in a dark world before finally being freed to another world.]
They were at least able to set their disputes aside in the face of a greater threat. [Something he worked hard to make happen in Westeros, before it all ended. Eventually Wyver and Olympia would go back to fighting each other and they would be forced to pick sides, that was the way it always went.] It's hard to say who is right or wrong in that dispute. They helped us when we needed it. We don't even know why they fight in the first place.
[This wasn't their war.
But at least they could put it aside and dance for the night. A moment of rest.]
You have to forgive me if I step on your foot.
He's here?
[Claire looks surprised.]
When Sansa was ill she was in a panic over... her husband, she said. I haven't asked her about it since. I thought he was in stasis.
[Claire looks surprised.]
When Sansa was ill she was in a panic over... her husband, she said. I haven't asked her about it since. I thought he was in stasis.
[ Better to not talk about their deaths at all, really. Loras would certainly lose his good mood quick enough, even despite all the influence in the air. ]
Those terms seem agreeable.
[ Though it would be an interesting fight. They've trained very differently, and they've experienced fighting very differently. ]
Those terms seem agreeable.
[ Though it would be an interesting fight. They've trained very differently, and they've experienced fighting very differently. ]
I've been to more than I intended to go to.
[ especially if she factors in that less-than-graceful swandive into the Enchanted Forest, right back to her parents' first meeting. it doesn't matter the world, it seems like there's always another war. she can't help thinking it was a little clearer in her world, where there were actual storybook villains to fight. here, Jon has a point. these are groups of people with a conflict that's continued for longer than they might be able to understand.
unfortunately, no amount of talking about Wyver and Olympia is going to solve anyone's problems. sometimes it feels like those two groups want the fight, and if that's the case, they're going to get stuck in the middle of it no matter what they do.]
You're a warrior, I get the feeling my feet are pretty safe with you.
[ if he can dodge the enemy, he can dodge her toes.]
[ especially if she factors in that less-than-graceful swandive into the Enchanted Forest, right back to her parents' first meeting. it doesn't matter the world, it seems like there's always another war. she can't help thinking it was a little clearer in her world, where there were actual storybook villains to fight. here, Jon has a point. these are groups of people with a conflict that's continued for longer than they might be able to understand.
unfortunately, no amount of talking about Wyver and Olympia is going to solve anyone's problems. sometimes it feels like those two groups want the fight, and if that's the case, they're going to get stuck in the middle of it no matter what they do.]
You're a warrior, I get the feeling my feet are pretty safe with you.
[ if he can dodge the enemy, he can dodge her toes.]
He is. She was there when he came out of stasis.
[His hands grip together, remembering how Ramsay had grabbed her arm and left a mark on her. Gods, he should have found a way to kill him before he could have emerged from the pod.]
I think he has been calling himself another name. Not many know what he looks like or who he is. There is only one person from our world I haven't met yet and it's Willem Rivers. I have never heard of him and everything about him doesn't seem right.
[His hands grip together, remembering how Ramsay had grabbed her arm and left a mark on her. Gods, he should have found a way to kill him before he could have emerged from the pod.]
I think he has been calling himself another name. Not many know what he looks like or who he is. There is only one person from our world I haven't met yet and it's Willem Rivers. I have never heard of him and everything about him doesn't seem right.
[He unsheathed Longclaw, giving it a small twirl for show.]
Let's see how good you are, Knight of Flowers.
[He tried to think how long ago it was that he spared for the fun of it, something beyond just training. It had to be in Castle Black, but even that was soured by Alliser Thorne's presence.]
Still got the nerve?
Let's see how good you are, Knight of Flowers.
[He tried to think how long ago it was that he spared for the fun of it, something beyond just training. It had to be in Castle Black, but even that was soured by Alliser Thorne's presence.]
Still got the nerve?
There were more when I was a boy, but when I left Winterfell, I haven't been to any since coming here.
[It's strange he feels almost nostalgic for them when he never enjoyed them to begin with. Maybe it was for the time that his brothers were still alive and no one had been made to suffer. They were all in Winterfell and safe. Robb would be making the girls swoon and sigh, Sansa would be dancing with any young man that asked her, Arya would be making trouble, and Bran would be able to walk again.
But that was a time and world he couldn't return to. Conflict was something they couldn't avoid when they were young and it was even more difficult to do now when they were brought here to fight a war. Whatever trouble they would have with the Storm, it was being pushed aside by the conflict between Wyver and Olympia.]
You are putting a great deal of faith in me.
[He placed a hand on her waist as he drew her closer for the dance.]
[It's strange he feels almost nostalgic for them when he never enjoyed them to begin with. Maybe it was for the time that his brothers were still alive and no one had been made to suffer. They were all in Winterfell and safe. Robb would be making the girls swoon and sigh, Sansa would be dancing with any young man that asked her, Arya would be making trouble, and Bran would be able to walk again.
But that was a time and world he couldn't return to. Conflict was something they couldn't avoid when they were young and it was even more difficult to do now when they were brought here to fight a war. Whatever trouble they would have with the Storm, it was being pushed aside by the conflict between Wyver and Olympia.]
You are putting a great deal of faith in me.
[He placed a hand on her waist as he drew her closer for the dance.]
Everything all right?
[He set the offending glass to the side, not wanting to have anymore of it. It was fine at first, but the aftertaste.]
Have you been to something like this before?
[He set the offending glass to the side, not wanting to have anymore of it. It was fine at first, but the aftertaste.]
Have you been to something like this before?
[Claire goes white. Willem?]
I know him. I met him when there was that beach party--
[She'd helped him put sun screen on. She can feel her stomach clench.]
He said he was a farmer.
I know him. I met him when there was that beach party--
[She'd helped him put sun screen on. She can feel her stomach clench.]
He said he was a farmer.
[ It's certainly a more impressive sword, as far as looks go, but to Loras it's simply a different kind. His own has gotten him through many things, and it suits him well - it's the man behind the weapon, after all, and not the weapon itself that matters. ]
I've faced The Mountain himself in tournaments, I've got the nerve for anything.
I've faced The Mountain himself in tournaments, I've got the nerve for anything.
Aye, that is the story he was telling. He said he was a bastard and his mother was a servant to Walder Frey. She apparently educated him.
[Jon nearly snorts in derision.]
Walder Frey was not a man to let his servants be educated. He didn't care for any of that.
I never met "Willem" and he never came to pay respects to Sansa, the last of the Tully bloodline, his liege lord. It's because "Willem" doesn't exist. He's a Northerner and a kinslayer.
[And so much worse.]
[Jon nearly snorts in derision.]
Walder Frey was not a man to let his servants be educated. He didn't care for any of that.
I never met "Willem" and he never came to pay respects to Sansa, the last of the Tully bloodline, his liege lord. It's because "Willem" doesn't exist. He's a Northerner and a kinslayer.
[And so much worse.]
[The Mountain. He had heard stories about him, but it wasn't until he saw what became of him that he realized how horrifying that man must have been once. Now, he was unspeakable...or was. He still needed to remind himself that Westeros was gone.
Jon tapped his sword against Loras, before diving forward with an arcing slash.]
Jon tapped his sword against Loras, before diving forward with an arcing slash.]
That little bastard. [Not in the birthright sense, just in the personality sense. And he is little. Claire has to look aside, calm herself, and not vomit right now. Not in front of Jon, anyway.]
He must have been having a jolly good time parading about like that.
He must have been having a jolly good time parading about like that.
You're from a place called Winterfell? That sounds... chilly.
[ if the name has anything to do with the weather, she can see why he didn't end up in Wyver. it's probably a little too warm and a little too wild for Jon. for Emma, Olympia was where she had joined the Royal Guard, and where a few of her acquaintances had settled. she trusted their opinion enough to settle in, and so far the fit's a little better than Wyver.]
I don't know. Maybe I do have some faith in you.
[ if she has faith in anything here, it's in the refugees. they're the ones going through the same things she is, trying to navigate a new world and starting their lives over. it doesn't hurt that Jon's reached out to her every time they've run into each other; first with a drink, then with some training.
they're probably better with a sword in hand than they are on the dance floor, but it's been a while since she's had someone in her life who she could call a friend. she'd almost forgotten how much better that made things like this.]
Try not to let me down.
[ if the name has anything to do with the weather, she can see why he didn't end up in Wyver. it's probably a little too warm and a little too wild for Jon. for Emma, Olympia was where she had joined the Royal Guard, and where a few of her acquaintances had settled. she trusted their opinion enough to settle in, and so far the fit's a little better than Wyver.]
I don't know. Maybe I do have some faith in you.
[ if she has faith in anything here, it's in the refugees. they're the ones going through the same things she is, trying to navigate a new world and starting their lives over. it doesn't hurt that Jon's reached out to her every time they've run into each other; first with a drink, then with some training.
they're probably better with a sword in hand than they are on the dance floor, but it's been a while since she's had someone in her life who she could call a friend. she'd almost forgotten how much better that made things like this.]
Try not to let me down.
I suppose it was. The North is often covered with snow.
[Winter is coming. Olympia was similar to home, even if it wasn't always cold and full of ice and snow. Even a small resemblance was better than nothing and he had made a life there for himself. The choice wasn't difficult to make.]
I'll try not to disappoint you.
[It's said with amusement, for once devoid of guilt. It was easy to fall into a comfortable mood with Emma. She was warm and reminded him of himself. If there was someone he could let his guard down around, it would be her.
He stumbles a few times over his feet, but eventually he falls into a simple rhythm, keeping in time with the music. Thankfully, he never steps on her feet. Her faith is well placed.]
What is your world called?
[Winter is coming. Olympia was similar to home, even if it wasn't always cold and full of ice and snow. Even a small resemblance was better than nothing and he had made a life there for himself. The choice wasn't difficult to make.]
I'll try not to disappoint you.
[It's said with amusement, for once devoid of guilt. It was easy to fall into a comfortable mood with Emma. She was warm and reminded him of himself. If there was someone he could let his guard down around, it would be her.
He stumbles a few times over his feet, but eventually he falls into a simple rhythm, keeping in time with the music. Thankfully, he never steps on her feet. Her faith is well placed.]
What is your world called?
Probably. He enjoys playing these sorts of games.
He didn't hurt you, at least.
He didn't hurt you, at least.
I can see how you ended up in Olympia. Maine was like that in the winter.
[ as much as she prefers warmth, the cold is familiar. she prefers her jackets and sweaters and boots, though she was recently given a red cloak that she's surprisingly fond of, too. it'll come in handy in Olympia, since she can't see herself joining up with Wyver when she's starting to carve out the barest semblance of a life here.]
I'm from a town called Storybrooke, Maine - which is on Earth. But I was born in the Enchanted Forest, which is a whole other thing, so I won't bore you with the details.
[ she found her home in Storybrooke by traveling back to the Enchanted Forest, but does any of that matter when both are gone? it's a little easier to focus on her footwork, following Jon's lead so that he doesn't take a heel to the foot, either.]
Storybrooke was home.
[ as much as she prefers warmth, the cold is familiar. she prefers her jackets and sweaters and boots, though she was recently given a red cloak that she's surprisingly fond of, too. it'll come in handy in Olympia, since she can't see herself joining up with Wyver when she's starting to carve out the barest semblance of a life here.]
I'm from a town called Storybrooke, Maine - which is on Earth. But I was born in the Enchanted Forest, which is a whole other thing, so I won't bore you with the details.
[ she found her home in Storybrooke by traveling back to the Enchanted Forest, but does any of that matter when both are gone? it's a little easier to focus on her footwork, following Jon's lead so that he doesn't take a heel to the foot, either.]
Storybrooke was home.
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