♖ 003.

[summerschild]

Who: Bran Stark and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: The Dusty Moon
When: 9/23

[Just a short broadcast, as this tiny wolf child makes some Serious Contemplations...]

What do you... What makes a person good, do you think? Is it something they can control?

[He can be found out by the stables, getting as close to the horses as he can in his chair, without rolling over their feet. He wishes so hard that he could just climb up and ride one - almost as much as he wishes he could shift into his wolf's skin, and run with the strange fox-dogs out in the desert sand. Today is not a very happy day.]

Comments

[Video]

[misterprongs]

[James has a lot of Opinions (TM) regarding this subject, BUT]

What do you think?

[Kids always have better answers anyway.]

[summerschild]

... I don't know.

[He looks down at his feet.]

I thought that just your intentions mattered, but what if you still do a bad thing, even if you meant it to be good?

[misterprongs]

[James considers that (very seriously) for a moment.]

I'm of the opinion that everyone acts like an idiot at least once in their lifetime, yeah? You can go in with every good intention in the world and still make a mistake -- doesn't make you bad, really. Might mean you need to offer an apology though.

[A few years ago, James probably would've given a different answer, but he's grown at least two inches of maturity.]

[summerschild]

What if you can't apologize to to the person you hurt?

[He's not going to tell James what he did, so welcome to vagueness.]

audio;

[unbearablynaive]

That's a rather philosophical question, as it requires a definition of "good". [That;s tricky in the best of cases.] But for my opinion, I would say it is important to consider both your actions and their consequences, as these most certainly are under your control. If you define good as someone who is not only liked and respected but trustworthy, it is vital to consider the role of empathy in your interactions. Considering the other point of view and understanding it, even if you disagree, helps to develop this skill.

[misterprongs]

Write them a letter, then, so when you can apologize to the person, you've got everything you wanted to say today saved up for later.

[James is a little curious, but he has the tact to know it's none of his business. So he pauses for a moment before continuing, changing the subject slightly.]

I'm James, by the way. You?

[video]

[curiositykilledthecats]

[Oh, what a question, especially from one so young. Miah has to take a moment to mull over how to answer.]

Good is in one's efforts.

action;

[bolder]

[Toph doesn't give a crap about the horses, but she does give a crap about Bran. She hears the broadcast, she goes out of her way to track him down. Of course, she'll never admit to that.]

Hey, Bran!

[summerschild]

[Bran looks behind him, and gives a little nod of acknowledgement. He isn't the plaintive, self-righteous child from the Marsiva right now; he looks much more like the little lord who lost his castle.]

Toph.

[summerschild]

Even if you do something bad?

[He's so unsure, and his voice sounds far too serious for his age.]

[bolder]

[Oh, so he got boring. Lame. Toph walks up to him, minding the stupid riding beasts.]

What're you doing?

[summerschild]

So if you hurt someone who is hurting you, you have to understand why they are doing it before you hurt them?

[He might not have gotten all of that very well on the first try. He is upset right now, in his defense.]

[summerschild]

I'm just thinking.

[Boring is good. Boring is safe.]

[bolder]

[Augh no. Uuuuugh. She sucks it up.]

Why?

[summerschild]

I can't give them a letter. They're...

[He shakes his head.]

I'm Bran.

[summerschild]

Why does it matter to you?

[bolder]

[Wow. Wooooow. She's trying to be nice. Don't make this harder.]

I guess it doesn't. [Toph turns to leave.]

[summerschild]

[Bran lets her leave for a second, and then-]

Have you ever killed anyone?

[bolder]

[Well, that stops her. Toph turns around to face him, a little more curious.]

Not that I know of... Why?

[summerschild]

[She's the last person he'll tell this to. Just Allen, and Ino, and Toph. His family here.]

I didn't look them in the eye. I didn't know their names. Father always said I should make sure to do those things.

[bolder]

[Oh... Well, that sucks. Toph sighs and shifts her foot on the dusty earth. The ground beneath Bran's chair shifts a little, moving him away from the animals and towards her.]

What happened?

[summerschild]

I shot people, during the attack. And Allen got mad at me, because I told him I enjoyed it, and I didn't think about their families.

[It all comes out in a low, pained whimper.]

But I didn't enjoy killing. I just wanted to feel like I was strong, because I can never defend anybody. I can never defend my family. So I killed people, just like I have at home, and I don't think I like myself very much anymore.

[curiositykilledthecats]

[And that's a look she knows well, the sound of his voice reminding her all too much of her own, when she was that age. A child should not have to sound that way, and yet...]

Even if you have done something bad, as long as you make efforts to make amends, and to not repeat it, it is well. As long as you keep consideration of others, and try to be good, then you will surely be so.

[bolder]

[Note to self: Seal Allen in his room on the ship. For a week.

She scowls, both at his statement and tone of voice. Toph keeps walking, heading god knows where. Bran's metal chair trails along beside her.]

Stuff like that's a rush. You're really in the moment with power and exhilaration. It takes a lot of practice not to let it overwhelm you. [It might be weird for Toph to have a straight talk with him. but she can tell he needs one.] Your family might not want you to have to protect them. And I know they wouldn't want you not liking yourself. [A brief pause.] I know I don't.

[summerschild]

[Bran gives a look of protest at Toph moving his chair, but it's half-hearted. His reaction to her words, however, is anything but. His ears flush, and he starts to twist his hands back up.]

I'm a useless cripple and my whole family left me.

[It's said as a challenge, a sort of "How could you like me?" Like he's fighting with the acceptance he's receiving.]