driftfleet | mingle part deux

[Robb liked it that the captain showed some backbone regarding this. Yet, to put fear inside the hearts of the entire crew on a ship because someone had a mad sister, it should have been handled with more discretion.

There should have been briefings and plans, a strategy. The woman should have been contained even before she could get a chance to advance. When being under siege it is never wise to give the other an idea of how the castle looks. Every castle had its secret hideouts and secret passages.

And in a way ships were like castles. If the lady Azula wanted to force a way in she would find one. So Robb is hurrying around the ship, providing some of his crew members with weapons and giving others instructions.]

I am giving you a small weapon and when you have need of me, reach me through the black box.

[When he reaches Allen, he's at his desk catching up on first mate paperwork (what's it about? Who knows). He'll look up and smile at Robb politely when he speaks]

Thank you, Robb, I'll keep that in mind. [The contacting part] But the weapon isn't necessary for me.

[Robb does not mind the chaos as much. He knows what to do. If safety comes first men should be able to defend themselves.]
Every man needs a weapon, ser. [He places the small gun on the desk.] From what I know these are simple to handle and are able to fire from afar. If the fire bending sorceress might appear you are able to shoot her down before she can cause any damage.

[Oh Robb, no. Going to keep up that polite smile, but it gets a little more forced]

I...appreciate the thought, but I'm not shooting my friend's sister, regardless of her nature. [Guns were a last resort for Allen. He picks up the gun and holds it out for Robb to take with his left hand]

Besides, if Azula were to attack in my presence, I'm more than capable of handling myself.

[There is the slightest change on the other man’s face when he declines his offer.]

I do not ask of you to kill her. Aim for her legs if she comes and causes trouble.

[When Allen hands him the gun Robb shakes his head and places it back on the table.]

It is your choice whether you wish to use it, ser. But do keep one close. I rather not take any risks.

[There's a long pause before Allen speaks very carefully.]

In the leg is the femoral artery. It's located in the thigh and is the main supply of blood to the leg. If you hit that, a person will bleed out within minutes. It takes a miracle for a medic to save a person from that. In other words, if I shot her in the leg, she'd still die. And then if this place is anything like previous places I've been, she'll come back to life later and have even more reason to attack us. Azula is not one that takes defeat lying down.

[He looks up at Robb]

You didn't grow up with guns, I did. I know what a gun can do, and not because some augment told me so. This isn't handing someone a knife to put under their mattress. Guns are much more dangerous, Robb.

[Only a true marksmen could use a gun non-lethally. Allen knew that. Anyone else who thought otherwise were kidding themselves]

So tell me, are you offering training people how to use firearms safely, or are you just handing them out like candy? Because that seems pretty risky to me.

[Robb raises both eyebrows when Allen starts an entire lecture about the inside of a leg. He knows it is bloody and he has seen chopped off legs before. But when staring in the face of death any man should have the right to defend himself. That is why weapons are made.]

Explain to me, ser. This entire ship is in some sort of chaos because of this woman. Our captain has installed doors with codes that might not be able to trap her. Since she is a fire sorcerer and she bends lightning bolts and I do not know what. Her brother has retreated to his chambers and the orders given are vague. If you do not wish to take the gun, very well, then I will not push the matter. But do not expect me to handle things differently when faced with this woman. Do not expect me to abandon my duty just because a leg bleeds either.

[Robb huffs softly, realizing that he is getting agitated. He comes with good intentions but instead someone is schooling him about the inside of a leg.]

And swords cannot be dangerous? Or battle axes? Or war hammers? Or bow and arrow? Spears? Lances? This is not a matter of us growing up and what weapons existed. I would rather hold my sword than these things, believe me.

[Well, that is something Robb hadn’t considered yet. He always figured that people knew of guns here because he knew of them as well. And Westeros definitely did not have guns.]

If they tell me they need to I will. Most of the people here are familiar with guns. Gods, some even grew up with them.

[It shows that he is rather prickly about this conversation. If it is Allen’s wish not to take the gun Robb will not force him to take it, but the young man is in no place to lecture a king and commander of twenty thousand men about the danger of weapons. That is folly and Robb does not accept any folly.]

[He listens to Robb. And if his expression says anything, he's had enough of this talk from Robb. He's gotten warnings from Toph, and he's seen Ino conflict with him. He's even had his own misgivings due to the boy's "royal" status. But he had been willing to give him a chance due to being Bran's sibling]

[But clearly, if one thing was clear, this kid needed to be reminded of where he was. So, he moves to stand, so he can look Robb straight in the eye.]

You are no king here, Robb Stark. Nor are you the only warrior. Sokka, Toph, Katara, Zuko, Riona and myself are all capable fighters. Get your head out of Westeros and actually learn about your surroundings if you want to be any use to your siblings.

[The fact he described Azula as a sorcerer and "this woman" shows this boy is painfully ignorant honestly]

And if you want a clear order, here's one for you: You are not allowed to hand out firearms to crew without explicit clearance from the captain and myself, your first mate. Anyone who wishes to have a gun must be able to demonstrate proper firearm safety.

If I catch you disobeying, you will be confined to your quarters. Do you understand?

[If Robb were in a better mood he would acknowledge his errors and probably dwell on them for a long time to go.]

I will take my siblings away from here and bring them home. This is not their home and neither is it mine. [To be absolutely fair, he wants to bury his fist into Allen's face and he wants to yell at him like a petulant child. Thank the gods Robb manages to force himself to hold back.]

This is not going to be done your way. If this ship has enough capable fighters then you might not be in need of someone in charge of security, is it not?

[Robb does not understand this place and frankly, he does not want to either. There is a war waiting for him and that is far more important than being here around these people.]

I will ask captain Sokka for my resignation and remain with my siblings. [After those words he simply turns around, seething with anger.] Their safety is what matters most to me. [It is wrong to think in such a way. He knows the words conflict with his beliefs the moment they come from his mouth. But anger has never really done him good. And that guilt doesn't do him any good either.

He owed these people just as much as he owed Bran and Sansa. They have kept them safe all that time and Robb finds himself stopping halfway, already reaching out for the button used to open the door.]

I... [He looks over his shoulder, frowning deeply.] ...I take those words back. My anger spoke for me.

[There's a lot of words that Allen could say to that fit of temper. A lot of comebacks, a lot of snips and picks. Allen would be a liar if he say some didn't cross his mind to yell at Robb's back.]

[But the moment he stops at the door, and looks back- Allen halts those thoughts. He sees that frown, he knows that look well. The look that one makes when they realized they blurted out things they didn't mean or want to say. God knows Allen's been in Robb's shoes a fair amount of times.]

[And if Allen was anything, he was a man who was capable of swallowing his own pride, of allowing an argument to slide- when it was important. Oh sure, he could argue until he's blue in the face about Toph's nicknames and stupid little things like that. But...for important things? Allen knew to listen to the words unspoken. And the words that Robb didn't speak was that he was very much an afraid kid. A kid that was trying too hard to be a man, who wanted so badly to protect his siblings while living up to a royal name while being completely out of his element. That'd be hard one for anyone]

[And so...he takes a deep breath, and this time, speaks in a more reasonable tone]

...It's alright. We're all stressed out right now. [himself included. Azula reminded him of days he much rather forget.] I'm sorry for pushing as well.

Let's just...set this aside for now, and come back to it when we're not both worked up, okay? [Aka, take a breather] We'll figure something, okay? With the locks up now, we got time to come up with a good solution.

Edited 2016-02-08 14:44 (UTC)

[All Robb wants is to go home. To take Bran and Sansa and return to where he came from. There was still so much he had to do. He could not stay here forever. This is no forever. This could very well be one of those fever dreams he got after he took an arrow to the arm.

And of course he could have pummeled the other in the face a couple of times. But that would be foolish and utterly childish but gods he was angry. Robb can be terribly angry sometimes.]

Aye, we will speak of this later. [Robb nods in a curt way, agreeing with Allen’s words. He stands still now but slowly presses the button to open the door.] We are both not reasonable at this point and I will accept your apologies for now. [He rolls his shoulders.]

Aye. [He looks fully at Allen and nods for a second time. After that he leaves Allen’s chambers and he can feel a nasty headache coming up as he walks through the hallway.]

[Allen gives him a nod in return and lets Robb leave, moving to shut his door as Robb walks down the hallway. After he's gone, he moves back down to his chair, plopping down into it and rubbing his forehead as he lets out a big sigh.]

[That...that did not go well. Ugh.]

It's called a communicator.

[Jeez Robb you're going to embarrass him.]

And I don't think I'm allowed to use these anymore.

[Robb snorts softly.]

Aye... [He nods before tucking the thing away in the pocket of his pants.]

I do want you to be able to defend yourself, Bran. [The tone of his voice is serious again.] Who has said to you that you are not allowed to use any weapons?

My old captain, on the First Breath, made me fire the guns during a battle. Allen didn't like that, and he brought me over here.

[He sounds a little ashamed. It was his fault, after all. He was pretending to have enjoyed it, in the hopes of fitting in with his more knowledgable crewmates.]

[Robb's eyes narrow briefly.]

Allen is not the one who makes decisions like that. [A huff.] You are my heir, if you wish to carry a weapon you can do so. And I want you to.

If I wish to carry a gun, I shall, but it will not be for a lack of respect to Allen's wishes. Our blood has no worth here, and he is my friend and ally before he is my superior.

[Bran is trying very hard to keep his voice low and level, but the tension in his jaw and hardness to his eyes give Robb a glimpse of what strength his brother was forced to find in the time since they parted. He does not wish to be defiant to Robb, the King in the North, but that is a different world to them now. They cannot keep playing lords and kings here.]

You have been treating my friends and my crew - who chose to give you shelter out of kindness - with disrespect. They have shown nothing but generosity to our family, yet you speak of them as though I should not return their graces.

[You have been a king at war, he doesn't say. You have not learned to rule. You have not learned how to treat people with warmth and duty.]

This crew has been like a family, and they have not left me.

[Robb does not want to explain himself to his brother. Gods, he cannot even explain himself to himself. He listens to Bran's words with an almost neutral expression on his face.

The last words hurt, though. If they were a fist he'd have a swollen face at this point. It does not help he does not understand the technology here, or that he expects that people to understand it better than he does. It is better to hold on to all that his lord father has taught him.

And he did leave Bran. And he never came for him either. Like he left Sansa as well. These people here had done more for his brother than he could ever do.]

Very well. You have the truth of that. [His voice sounds distant to his own ears while he tucks the weapon away.] I could not come for you. I wanted to but I could not. I do not hold it against you for thinking ill of me because of that. [Robb has never been good at putting feelings into words.]

I will try to keep your friends as safe as I can, Bran. I promise. [But in the meanwhile he wants to take his brother and sister and go home. To be a better king, mayhaps. And a good brother.] I know I am the one to blame, I will try to undo it. In some way. I do not know yet.

[He sighs deeply and rolls his shoulders a little, trying to get the tension out of his body.]

I will try.

[You don't need to keep them safe, Bran wants to say. They are here to protect you. But hearing Robb's admission of blame is enough, and he tries not to feel bad about speaking so disrespectfully to his elder brother. It was for the sake of his crew, who had been a second family to him all these months.]

They want to be your friends. You only need to speak to them as equals, and listen to what they have to say.

[Bran’s words still ring in his head and guilt still leaves a heavy weight in his stomach. True words can be painful. He did leave them. He left them all. How could he ever make that right?

While listening to Bran’s words Robb chews his lower lip.][All Robb has been thinking of is going home and taking his siblings with him.] I know of that. I shall try to be less...like that. [Then he smiles an apologetic smile and sighs deeply.] But I do want to go home, Bran. How safe it may be here, there is a war I have to fight.

mingle part deux

action | followed after Sokka's announcement

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