deercountry | and I miss you

[for a moment mob wonders if maybe it wasn't a good gift, or he said something off. it's happened before, the latter at least, but she speaks and he starts to understand there's probably a lot going on in her head right now. besides the confusion, besides the trench itself.

confirmed when the raven comes down and speaks. ah, she thought her sister could be hurt. his expression is bland, placid, it always is, but his eyes soften the vaguest amount.]

It's okay, if you want to cry. I have a little brother, I know um- [a beat, a glance to the side,] -worrying about them can be a lot, when things get hard.

[when ritsu was kidnapped he nearly handled that very, very poorly indeed. and hers? whatever happened seems even more complicated than that.]

You're welcome. You when you're older, you taught me a lot about batcats. You grow up well. [he's not actually sure how old sansa is normally? he always assumed a teenager maybe around robby's age, so maybe not really 'grown up' but still.] Oh, master helps me with my powers. I'm psychic.

[now sansa smiles, genuinely (if mistily). she holds the cat plush to her chest. ]

I have little brothers. My little sister was always chasing cats for her waterdancing lessons––it's a kind of swordfighting. I'm better with hounds, but cats are very sweet if you show them your hand first. We've all been separated for a while now.

[even the cats...she glances down at the plush and then back at mob, smiling.]

Is a psychic a kind of mage? We don't have very many in the Seven Kingdoms. All the magic here sounds very interesting.

Edited 2023-02-04 20:53 (UTC)

Even in your own world? [that's especially rough, being stuck here was one thing but being apart from them before?] I have a little brother, Ritsu. He's really smart and good with people, solving problems. This is the first time we've been apart this long.

[a glance down, then back up.] I'd like to hear more about them, if you wanted. Your siblings. [talking about ritsu was bittersweet, but it felt important. it was kind of nice to just talk about siblings in general, if he's being honest, with someone who probably understood better than he did.]

Ah, I guess so. It's tied to our emotions. [a beat and he glances around. perhaps there's a vase of flowers nearby, which he lifts a finger to. said hand has a blue-purple glow before the vase lifts, the flowers floating out of the vase, the water as well. the flowers and water begin orbiting around gently, the water in little beads and bigger clumps. he puts a little bit of power into making the flowers a bit healthier too, just because it seemed the right thing to do since he was moving them around. they'll probably last a few weeks longer than they usually would now.

and he glances to her.] Like this. I'm warmblood so I don't have blood magic like some people wake up with.

[sansa nods just once.]

My sister and I went to King's Landing with our father so he could serve as Hand of the King. Then the old king died and the new king had our father arrested and killed, so our older brother and mother had to go to war. Arya escaped, but they took me prisoner. Our little brothers stayed back at Winterfell to look after the North with our parents' advisors.

[she draws a breath, clutching the cat plush.]

Our little brothers are Bran and Rickon––Bran was always climbing, but then he fell. He was asleep for a long time, and the old king made us leave before he woke up. But my father said he did, and there's nothing at all wrong with his mind, but he can't walk or climb anymore. He must be eleven by now. And Rickon––he was very little and wild. He always wanted to play...his wolf is called Shaggydog, and Bran called his Summer. Rickon will be seven soon...

[another breath.]

Arya is two years younger than me. She was always running around and getting into trouble. She didn't like to sit and sew, and she was always tearing her dresses. She made friends with everyone. Her wolf is called Nymeria, after the queen who brought the Rhoynar to Dorne a long time ago. Dorne is part of the Seven Kingdoms, where we live. It's far to the south, though, and our home is in the North.

And Robb is our oldest brother. He was supposed to be Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, but our men made him King in the North, because they didn't want to bend the knee to the king who killed our father. He's very bold and he always fights in the vanguard. He was friends with everyone, too. He always played games with us and made us laugh. His wolf is called Grey Wind; he was the biggest when they were little.

[sansa hasn't seen any of the wolves since...]

We also have a half-brother named Jon Snow. He's almost the same age as Robb, and they were always together. He's quiet, and he likes swordfighting better than anything, but sometimes he would give me a flower or cakes from the kitchen. His wolf is all white and called Ghost, he never made a sound, even as a puppy. Jon is in the Night's Watch, now, so he lives at the Wall. It's meant to protect our lands from dangers to the North, like magic creatures, and when kings-beyond-the-wall try to attack us.

[she smiles gently at mob.]

I should very much like to hear about your brother, too, and your magic lessons.

[sansa will remember this when she's back to normal and try to steer him towards sasuke for extra lessons...]

Edited 2023-02-06 21:49 (UTC)

[ah, kings- her world is already like a storybook in that way. an unpleasant one, since immediately people start dying in this story, like her father dying.] I'm sorry about your dad. [he knows it doesn't mean much but it's sincere. what a horrible thing to go through. which seems like things got more complicated after that.

he lets the flowers circle for a little before he lets the vase settle, the water and flowers gently placed back in as he absorbs all that.] You have such a big family. [it's hard to imagine so many siblings, he imagines it must be exciting to live in a house like that. or a castle? a fort? something big probably, since kings and kingdoms are involved.]

Do you have a wolf too? [all of them having a wolf is something. again, storybook. ~~with another sad ending in many ways~~] Ritsu sounds a little like your older brothers, maybe like Jon? He's kind of quiet too but everyone likes him. He's on the student council, it's like um... they take care of things at the school for the other students and get voted for.

[a touch of pride there. his clever little brother.] Ah, actually he reminds me a little of you, Lady Sansa. He's clever like you are, I think. [as for lessons.] Well, mostly we exorcise curses and evil spirits. Master says it's hands on experience to get me used to my powers, because I shouldn't waste them when they can help people.

[sansa offers a sad smile in response to mob's condolences, and listens carefully when he talks about his brother. she means to introduce lady, when he manages to call her clever, and she can't help but laugh incredulously.]

I'm not clever. I don't know anything but my courtesies. Arya knew what Joffrey was right away, but I wanted so badly to be his queen––

[she manages to cut herself off, realizing she's been paid a compliment and that is not a polite response. she ducks her head briefly and then looks back ruefully up at mob.]

I'm sorry. That's very kind of you to say. I'm sure your brother is very clever and kind. My wolf is Lady, she's sitting by the tree.

[lady rises and yips a greeting at mob. she lopes towards them, stepping carefully around the small snow winterfell, and presents her nose for petting. she remembers mob!]

[he considers that for a moment seriously, another beat before:] I don't think someone tricking you means you aren't clever. It means they did something wrong and you tried to see the good in them, right?

[also you know, fuck joffrey is the thing.

ah lady though, yes that makes his lips quirk very faintly, offering her pets.] Oh, hello. [it's interesting to imagine a whole family of kids, each with a wolf following after. again, very storybook, sort of like a fairy tale.]

I'm glad she's here with you. [given you know, the confusion of everything here.]

[sansa is stunned by this interpretation of events. she clutches the cat plush to her chest very tightly, staring down at it. all she can think to say is:]

That's very kind. Your brother is lucky to have you.

[she glances back up at mob.]

Please don't tell anyone what I said about Joffrey. It could go very badly for you if someone from the Seven Kingdoms heard you speak poorly of him.

["There's no one here, little bird," says the raven omen on her shoulder. sansa draws a breath.]

Would you like to build snow castles with me?

[it doesn't have to be a castle...]

[ah, compliment. he offers a tiny, pleased smile over his usually bland look. he very much hopes that lucky part is true.]

Okay, I won't say anything. [he's not sure it would matter here but it clearly mattered to her so good enough reason.] I guess politics in kingdoms must be pretty intense.

[understatement of the century.]

Yeah, I would- [and he looks out, stepping into the area to see the winterhold better.] Did you do this? [he sounds a touch awed.]

[sansa laughs a little.]

You don't have kings where you're from?

[the free cities don't all have kings, but they have wars and pirates and things, anyway.]

The old king never cared what anyone said about him, but the one before him was very dangerous. We didn't have much trouble with the Iron Throne for a good long time before him, though, and the Kings in the North were never any trouble to anyone. That was my family, before we joined the Seven Kingdoms.

[and robb now...very quickly she realizes this could be construed as boasting.]

The maesters say all the old houses called themselves kings at some time or another, even if they only had a little land.

[she steps aside, angling her body towards snow winterfell.]

This is our home, Winterfell. You could do yours, or make one up, if you like.

Hm, I think some countries do, but not many. We have a prime minister where I'm from.

[kings were more a thing in stories, really. then again most sleepers feel like they're from pretty amazing and strange worlds one way or another.]

So you're a princess of the North? [very obviously does not understand this stuff but he is trying.] Where I'm from kings and queens are usually in stories, with knights and wars, things like that.

[you know, dragons and fantasy. things that don't exist, though now he's learning a lot of things are a lot more common than he thought.

he looks over the snow winterfell though, awed.] I don't know if I could make something so pretty. [he admits.]

and I miss you

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