» 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]

-- Nyssa was the first person I met once I'd arrived. [ in a sense. that meeting had happened in an esoteric fashion, within the mind as the atroma tried to sort out the psychological landscapes of its captives. but that mind-space had enchanted her. she'd fallen, immediately. ]

So I suppose the answer must be yes. We were.

[percolates]

Then I am especially sorry. I'm sure if your friend had a choice, she would not have left in this manner. [Without a goodbye, at least.]

[steeledskin]

[ silence holds sway. she swallows hard -- and tries to force some measure of control over her expression. at long last, she falls back upon her courtesies to save her: ]

Gods above. I've forgotten myself. My name is Sansa, my lady. Well met.

[percolates]

[She smiles, amused.] I think that's on the both of us. But it's a pleasure, Sansa, even though the circumstances are unhappy ones. Call me Ciri.

[steeledskin]

Lady Ciri, then. [ she cannot be certain of anyone's nobility -- but perhaps pretending they are worthy of the title makes so much conversation easier for her. ]

[percolates]

Lady isn't necessary. [She may be the princess of Cintra and the heiress to the Nilfgaardian Empire, amongst other titles, but she makes no move to claim them.] For if you call me that, then I will call you Lady Sansa. I think our situations mean such formalities can be set aside.

[steeledskin]

I don't mind them. [ she says -- almost desperate to keep them. ] The formalities.

[percolates]

Very well. Lady Sansa and Lady Ciri we shall be.

[It doesn't bother her one way or another, but if it makes the young lady comfortable, she's happy to keep them.]

Someone was very determined you learned your manners, were they?

[steeledskin]

-- Her name was Septa Mordane. [ strained. ] And she was a wonderful teacher.

[percolates]

It sounds as if she is no longer with you. [Not from growing up beyond a need of a tutor of any sort, or being in an entirely different world.] I'm sure she would be pleased. You're a polite young lady.

[steeledskin]

[ sansa chews the inside of her cheek and remembers the grotesque vision of her septa's head impaled upon a pike, next to her lord father's. septa mordane deserved better than that. she'd been a lady of the faith -- stern, but forgiving. she'd imparted much in the way of ladylike wisdom to sansa. ]

Thank you. [ remember your courtesies. ] She -- died. Some time ago. May the Gods care for her now.

[percolates]

I'm sorry to hear that. May she rest in peace. [Ciri can only hope she means died as in passed. The ache of the loss of her own teacher is still strong, though Vesemir never taught her formalities and curtsies.]

But forgive me, I did not mean to bring up unpleasant memories at such an unpleasant time.

[steeledskin]

-- You're not to blame. You did not know.

[percolates]

No, but an apology is deserved all the same. [She's picked up manners here and there.] And perhaps in this way, you and I could become friends.

[A friend lost, a friend gained. It doesn't really even out, but it's better than a day that ends empty handed.]

[steeledskin]

[ is it rude to say not yet. or not ever? not that she disdains the offer. sansa merely distrusts open friendship from anyone who is not already beholden to her family in some fashion. why should this woman care?

but she keeps her composure. ] Mayhaps. Stranger things have likely happened.

[ stranger than sansa stark making a friend. ]

[percolates]

[Ciri wouldn't have survived this long without friendship--even if friendship with her has cost people their lives. It's difficult to not reach out.]

I should certainly hope so!

[steeledskin]

-- Thank you, Lady Ciri. You have been a comfort.

[percolates]

That need not thanks. If there's anything you need, Lady Sansa, let me know.