» 3rd lemoncake

[steeledskin]

Who: Sansa Stark and YOU.
Broadcast: Fleetwide video.
Action: Come find her on the Blue Fish!
When: Today!

[ the first time nyssa al ghul misses their weekly appointment, sansa chalks it up to circumstance. something came up; she must be a busy woman, and cannot be in all places at all times. but then a second week goes by with no notice, and when sansa attempts to reach her on nyssa's frequency, all she gets is static. then, dead air.

it takes her a few days to talk herself into addressing the fleet at large, but reasons that should anything have happened to her friend -- well, someone ought to know. so a solemn-faced young woman with copper roots showing flickers onto the communications devices. ]

Nyssa al Ghul hasn't answered any messages -- not for some time, I don't think. [ she swallows. her mouth feels dry. like she can guess the reason already, but refuses to believe it. her words are suffused with worry and sadness. ] I-is she well? Has something happened to her? It might be the crew of the Red Fish have some knowledge of where she is. Please, has anyone spoken to her of late? Seen her?

[ today, she wears the gold bracelets and the intricate hair-pins nyssa once gifted to her. sansa tries to persuade herself she's not wearing them in memory of a lost friend. ]

Comments

[steeledskin]

-- Is cinnamon a rare spice in [ she tries to recall the kingdom riona had named, once upon a time ] Thedas?

[ cinnamon isn't common in westeros, either. but she's always had the benefit of being well-positioned to partake in it. daughter of a great house, and hostage of the crown. ]

[bryces_pup]

It is in the part of Thedas I live in. It's too hard to grow in Ferelden; we have to have it imported from Orlais. And given our rivalry with the Orlesians, many merchants at home don't stock it on principle. It's rather ridiculous, honestly.

[She shrugs. Such is Ferelden.]

I take it it's a bit easier to obtain it where you're from?

[steeledskin]

It's sourced across the Narrow Sea, I think. [ she chews her bottom lip. these aren't matters she knows well, but she knows them a little. ] And King's Landing never had trouble obtaining it while I lived there.

[bryces_pup]

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume King's Landing is the capital of the kingdom you live in? Were you born there, or did you move there at a later time?

[steeledskin]

[ she fidgets. these are easy questions with easy answers, but she thinks before every one. she needs to decide how her replies might prompt other questions, and which of those branching conversations does she most want to avoid? ]

Later. [ she confirms. ] I was born in the North, where the Starks held sway as Wardens and Lord Protectors.

[ and kings, once upon a time. ]

[bryces_pup]

[That's a conundrum Riona knows all too well. She doesn't seem to mind as Sansa considers her answers, though it admittedly does make her curious as to what she may be hiding.

The use of past tense isn't lost on her, either, but that is something she will tread carefully around. This conversation isn't meant to pry open old wounds.]

So your family is nobility that govern a territory for your sovereign? Just so I understand correctly. It sounds very similar to how it is in Ferelden.

[steeledskin]

[ a slow nod. ]

The Iron Throne governs Seven Kingdoms. Or it did, before the war. The North encompasses the northern most part of Westeros before the Wall. It is large -- and it is cold. Where I grew up, it snows even in Summer.

[bryces_pup]

[Snow in the summer? How could a writer a climate be so cruel?]

Maker, and I thought Ferelden was cold. Snow in the summer... I can't even imagine. Your winters must be awful.

But I digress. Your kingdom has seen civil war, as well?

[steeledskin]

Often enough. [ she nods. there are the wars happening now, of course. but then there were wars in her childhood, too. the greyjoy rebellion that brought theon to her family's castle. and before her birth, there'd been robert's rebellion. ] This last one is called the War of Five Kings.

[ but baelish referred to three queens instead. ]

[bryces_pup]

That's unfortunate. Everyone pays dearly during such upheavals. [Usually the lower classes, but the nobility didn't always come out unscathed, either. Especially depending on what the conflict entailed.] "War of Five Kings"? That-

[She's cut off as the hot water signals that it's finished. Whatever question she had will wait a moment as she pours both of them cups of tea. She's careful to not slosh it or spill it; admittedly, it's been some time since she had to pour it for herself or another. She places a single tea bag in each, letting them steep. The lemon and honey is gathered before she gently lifts up the two cups and walks slowly over to Sansa.]

Here we are.

[She sets the cups down, placing Sansa's right in front of her. She lays out the lemon next to Sansa's so she can prepare it as she likes. Meanwhile, she scoops a bit of honey into hers.]

[steeledskin]

[ -- she's glad she doesn't have to explain it. instead, their attention switches towards tea. and sansa watches the process with mild interest. using teabags is a strange sort of practice, but she appreciates the innovation. she even prefers them, now. so tidy by comparison.

with gentle fingers, she lifts the a scoop of artificial lemon flavouring. then -- in a fit of informality -- she licks her fingers clean. the sharp tart taste is welcome. ]

Thank you. I...it's good to have company in moments like these.

[bryces_pup]

I am happy to be of some help, even if it isn't much. Though I suppose there's very little anyone can do in these sorts of situations.

[It's grief, the loss of someone dear and will (probably) never get back. She's known it all to well in the past several months. What she wouldn't have given to be able to sit down and drink some tea.]

I only spoke with her once, but she seemed a very capable sort. Were you two close? [She's sure they were, given Sansa's reaction, but it allows an opening if Sansa wishes to talk and get anything off of her chest.]

[steeledskin]

She visited me often. [ sansa drinks. small sips, punctuating her phrases. ] And brought sweets. Gifts.

[ sansa raises her arm, showing a beautiful golden bangle. ] She gave me this. Isn't it lovely?

[bryces_pup]

She sounds like quite the doting friend.

[She blows gently on her tea to cool it off a little. When Sansa shows her the bangle, her eyes widen in admiration as she leans in a bit to get a closer look.] Maker, that is really quite pretty! Very good taste. Was it usually jewelry she brought you?

[steeledskin]

Only the once -- upon a holiday known to her kingdom, but not to mine. [ ... ] She brought me furs, however. For my room.

[bryces_pup]

Furs? [Her tone's wistful and longing. Oh, she does miss furs.] Now that's an exceptional friend there. I envy her ability to acquire such things.

[steeledskin]

I suppose -- [ she hesitates. she isn't certain she's committed to such kindness. and yet: ] If you wanted, you could borrow one.

[bryces_pup]

[The hesitation isn't lost on Riona. And it really was not the conclusion she wanted Sansa to draw. A twang of guilt hits her for letting her nostalgia and homesickness get the better of her, and now she feels like a fool.]

Oh no no no, please. Those are yours. Forgive me, I let myself get a little too nostalgic. Furs are everywhere back home, and I... admit to some homesickness lately. [So much inward cringing right now.] But your offer is still very kind, thank you.

[steeledskin]

When Nyssa brought me these furs, it made me so unbearably happy. [ carefully, like she's testing out the way a good act feels. ] Why shouldn't I share that happiness?

[bryces_pup]

[There's an honest moment of slightly wide-eyed worrying as to how to proceed. On the one hand, she really fears coming across as crass and accepting something so freely, especially something she doesn't need and was never intended to be given away. It doesn't feel right to take what was given as a gift. On the other, to keep refusing would be rude.

A part of her wishes her mother were here so she can turn to her for guidance, like she once did. Eleanor always seemed to know just how to proceed and get out of any social tangle.

Riona takes a sip of her tea to buy her more time to collect her thoughts and compose her expression.]

That would be above and beyond gracious of you. If you wish to share that joy, then I would gratefully accept. I would return yours as soon as I find some of my own. And share when I do, of course. [A pause, and then a sly smile.] One can never have to many furs, after all.

[steeledskin]

[ she isn't blind to riona's worry. but she makes a point not to draw too much attention to whatever inner battle rages within the other woman. it wouldn't be polite. and it wouldn't be fair. instead, she waits. she sips her tea. and she rouses her attention again only when riona chooses to speak. ]

We have an agreement, you and I. [ the smallest smile. ] Thank you.