one fish, two fish, red fish, (blue fish)!!

[honorbends]

Who: The passengers of the Blue Fish and visitors!
Action: The Blue Fish!
When: It's a mingle for the month of January, losers!

[ mingle for the month for the blue fish, to meet up with new crew members, hash out stuff. come get free therapy from zuko, who has 100% put up a sign on his door saying 10 credits because allen owes him money. ]

Comments

[dancingmd]

[Beverly nods slowly. It's hard to know exactly what to tell Sansa, without knowing the entire situation.]

It's a lot harder and more dangerous to change the past than it is the future. [She gives the girl a sympathetic smile.] I'm sorry, I'm probably not helping much, am I?

[steeledskin]

-- What if the thing that needed changing was one person's past, and another person's future? [ ... ] Would that make it easier?

[dancingmd]

Ah.

[That's a situation she can definitely understand.]

Let me tell you about a friend of mine, Julian. He's from my world, but three years into my future. I do not know him in that world, I only know him because he was brought to Drift Fleet. He's gone back now, but he was here long enough to let me know that there is a war coming in my world, a war none of us in my present could predict. Julian was taken prisoner in that war, and is... well, he's in a lot of danger. I do not believe I can change the war itself... too many things are already in motion, far beyond my control. But I can perhaps change the war for him, get him out of the enemy camp sooner or prevent him from ever being taken at all.

[A pause.]

My actions will no doubt have unintended consequences. My superiors would say I should not do it. We have rules against this sort of tampering. However, I simply cannot stand by and let my friend go through that, so I am willing to take the risk - but it is not a decision I make lightly, nor should anyone else.

[steeledskin]

[ she feels a tug in her heart -- like a strong rope, tied to her confession, and being pulled out between her ribs. sansa wants to spill all to the kindly-spoken woman, but she can't find the impetus to put the correct words in the correct order.

instead, she offers a meagre: ] Westeros is also at war. But the wrong people are being defeated.

[dancingmd]

[Gently.] And you hope to change that. [And, because it is easy enough to guess:] For your family.

[steeledskin]

It may prove too much for me to change. My brother has a strong will, my lady.

[dancingmd]

Perhaps, then, it is best to give it some time and more thought, at least until you all have had a chance to transition into this new situation.

[She gives Sansa a small smile.]

The "my lady" isn't necessary. Just "Doctor" is fine.

[steeledskin]

Doctor, then. [ the word is foreign in her mouth. ] It's not a title I know well.

[dancingmd]

I understand. It is the same for me and "my lady."

[Frankly, even though she knows Sansa is only using it out of respect, "my lady" makes her very uncomfortable. Not that she'll actually voice that - she is not out to insult her new crewmate.]

How are you settling in, by the way?

[steeledskin]

[ she conjures a small smile. it's only polite. ]

The whole ship has been far more welcoming than I could ever hope for. I -- I like it better than the Huntress. [ maybe that's an inappropriate admission, but she can't unsay it now. ]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly chuckles.] Well I don't know much about the Huntress, but I'm glad you are liking it here. You're part of our crew now and we look out for each other.

[steeledskin]

Like a family.

[ she answers -- a measure of confidence sliding into her voice. ]

[dancingmd]

Yes, exactly - and it's why we wanted you here. Bran's our family, and your his, so it only made sense.

[steeledskin]

I confess -- [ she measures her words with care. ] It may take some time to properly return such a depth of feeling.

[dancingmd]

Of course. [She's all gentle understanding.] Take all the time you need... and if you never get there, that's all right too. I simply don't want you to feel like you're a stranger on your own ship.