» 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]

[ OH. realization dawns on her with a sudden, jarring expression. ]

She's your sweetheart. [ sansa's face droops. how tragic. ] I'm so sorry.

[alwayscomeback]

[Yes, that's a good word. He'll stick to that one.]

Yeah, I miss her a lot. [He smiles a little.] The statue in the cargo bay is of her. I made it.

...Uh. She's prettier in real life.

[steeledskin]

[ -- that's supposed to be a young woman? sansa catches herself before she pulls a face. honestly, she'd thought it might have been a poorly conceived knight. or an animal. but for sokka's sake (he's been so kind to me) she forces a weak smile. ]

Nonsense. It's a -- a very beautiful statue. [ she's comfortable with lying. ] And so must she be. You must feel so fortunate, even if she isn't here with you.

[alwayscomeback]

[She's so very good to him. ]

Thanks! And I really am fortunate. She's amazing.

[Then his smile widens. He can use this! Something to give Sansa some...hope, perhaps? Or at least put the thought in her head that women can be so much more than pretty little things to stand in the corner, worth nothing more. ]

She's a fighter, you know? Back home, there's a group called the Kyoshi Warriors. They're an elite fighting team, using stealth and agility to defeat opponents much bigger and stronger than themselves. They're incredible, respected for their skills through the whole of the Four Nations.

And they're all women. Every single one of them.

[steeledskin]

[ -- what in the seven is he aiming to accomplish? sansa watches him carefully. just for a moment. and wonders what's brought on this sudden onslaught of information. until his last line...

they're all women.

almost willfully, she takes his message in the opposite direction: ] Like Nyssa, then. She is a warrior.

[alwayscomeback]

[Sansa. No. ]

Nope. Any woman who wants to join can become a Kyoshi warrior. They fight with fans, and will train anyone willing to fight. Doesn't matter where they come from, or what they think they're capable of.

[He wishes Suki was here, she'd know how to make Sansa feel worthy so much more than him. She'd just...know. ]

[steeledskin]

[ oh! he thought...

sansa is quick to shake her head. she might confine herself to a narrow box, but she knows some of what she can accomplish. she sits up straighter. stiffer. ]

I know that which I am capable of achieving, Sokka. [ soft, but edged. ] And it has nothing to do with combat.

[alwayscomeback]

[He exhales, raising his hands in surrender.]

Okay, okay. I just meant...well, I dunno. People are capable of a lot. It might not be combat, but...well, you'd be surprised.

[steeledskin]

[ another shake of her head. she knows what she can do -- and she knows what danger it brings. ]

Some of us have talents for things we do not enjoy. What must we do then?

[alwayscomeback]

...Don't do them? I mean. If you don't enjoy it, then don't let anyone make you do it. It wouldn't be fair.

[steeledskin]

-- As you say, Sokka. It wouldn't be fair.

[ simple repetition. echoing. but there's a layer beneath her words, as though she's building up a narrative for herself. now that she has him on record stating such an opinion, mayhaps she can use it in future to her advantage. what will she do when asked for her opinion?

i do not enjoy giving it, captain; it wouldn't be fair. ]

[alwayscomeback]

[That is so cheating missy moo. SO CHEATING. ]

What do you enjoy doing? I mean, is there something you miss back home? I'm sure we could work something out to give you a taste of something you enjoy back there.

[He will not be beaten. Neeeverr. ]

[steeledskin]

[ all is fair in the game of thrones, captain dearest. ]

I miss playing the harp. [ ... ] And I miss having the proper supplies for needlework. But they seem like trifles when compared to the plights of others.

[alwayscomeback]

[NOPE.]

I dunno, if they make you happy, then they're important. I can sure try to make up some needlework supplies for you. I probably wouldn't be that great with making a harp, though. Music isn't my strong point.

[steeledskin]

No? [ she hesitates. ] Then mayhaps, someday, if I did find a harp then I might have something to contribute to the crew.

[ music, for those who might not ordinarily play it themselves. ]

[alwayscomeback]

[The look he gives her is a sad one.]

You already contribute to the crew, Sansa.

[steeledskin]

-- As you say, Sokka.

[ soft agreement. because to argue is impolite, and to be petulant is even more so. ] But I should like to do more.

[alwayscomeback]

[He offers her the smallest smile. He knows she's just entertaining him. ]

Well...music would be nice.

[steeledskin]

...Do any of our crew-mates have a fine singing voice? [ she herself sings, but she'd much rather play the harp. be the background. ]

[alwayscomeback]

[He taps his chin in thought. ]

Y'know, I'm not sure. You can always ask around.

[steeledskin]

[ sansa nods. this much, at least, she can stomach. ] Mayhaps I will. At our next supper altogether. We have a cook again, and she's lovely. You must be very pleased.

[alwayscomeback]

I sure am! I think I would have gone crazy if I had to eat any more protein cubes.

[steeledskin]

They were awful. [ she can agree on this much, at least. medieval though she may be, sansa is accustomed to a high quality of feast. ]

[alwayscomeback]

[He gives an easy laugh for that, for some common ground. ]

They were. I haven't tasted much worse than that.

[steeledskin]

[ almost idle (and girlish) in her consideration: ] I hope she knows how to make lemon-cakes. I haven't dared ask. Not yet.