driftfleet | The Way to a Blue Fish's Heart...

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The Way to a Blue Fish's Heart...

Who: Blue Fish crew and visitors
Broadcast: Maybe some accidental, but not overall
Action: The Blue Fish kitchen
When: All Day, Feb. 7

[It had been a rough month for a lot of the Blue Fish crew. From blenders to family members and lost friends and blocked credits, they'd been soldiering on through a lot. And while Jilly was new enough to have skirted by most of the drama, she was keenly aware of the underlying stress of her crewmates. She wants to help.

Sometimes, though, words aren't enough...and so she sets about taking advantage of her augment to the best of her ability. For the past month she's been collecting recipes from the datary and experimenting with the supplies provided by the Atroma. And, in the days leading up to the 7th, she quietly recruits Beverly for a pair of extra hands with some Station grocery shopping and behind-the-scenes planning.

It's not announced, but on such a small ship it's hard to miss that something is going on that day. Forgoing her usual trip to the Station for job hunting and people watching, Jilly gets up extra early and sets the kitchen in motion. Recipes are taped up on the cabinets, ingredients are gathered, and so begins a marathon of food.]

[Between the combined forces of Jilly and Beverly, the two "cooks" for the Blue Fish will be setting out food all day as a bit of a much needed holiday for their crew (and any visitors who stop by). Volunteer as a taste-tester, grab food on the run, help clean dishes between baking bouts, or simply sit and relax with your crew mates. Food therapy is a go.]

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[When she laughs Robb snorts loudly.]

Gods be good, my lady, you make it sound as if it is a simple thing! Just lop off some heads and receive praise. Mayhaps they will make songs about me taking heads instead of winning land. [He remembers beheading lord Karstark. That has been an awful mess.]

I am a man wed. I do not need women to swoon over me. [Jeyne will do nicely, actually.] So my breeches would not matter much. I am of the North, believe me, we do not care for the latest...fashion.

My uncle Edmure’s. He is going to wed the lady Roslin of house Frey. [The woman he used to be betrothed to.] I believe they get along quite well. [That is something he did not expect but his uncle had been laughing with her. And eventually she had stopped crying for a bit.]

[Oh, she knows it's not, but she knows too many who think that way. And she really doesn't want to talk too seriously about the subject. She's heard enough of it and frankly, today is too light-hearted a day for that sort of conversation.]

Well, to be fair, it's easier to win said land when you lop off the right heads. And of course the strategizing and whatnot that's tedious but extremely important.

[But enough about that.]

Oh? You're married? [Now that gets a real smile out of her, not a teasing one.] That's lovely! Oh, but you must tell me about her. What's her name? What's she like?

[...okay despite liking swords more than dresses, Riona's enough of a noblewoman to want to know these details. SPILL, ROBB.]

Well, you first need to get your hands on the owners of those heads. [Robb shrugs.] But again, it is not wise to take the heads of your prisoners. Some are worth quite some coin. [And even though gold is not something Robb cares for, war does cost some.]

[Robb nods at her question while he slowly polishes a plate.]

Her name is Jeyne. [She is far, far away and he misses her greatly.] Jeyne Westerling. It is quite the story. I married her for honor. [And broke a very important vow.] But I lost my heart to her anyway. Love can do that. At times. [Robb becomes a little melancholic.] She is very kind and dutiful. Also quite beautiful. I consider myself a lucky man.

[Riona listens attentively as Robb tells her about his wife. She washes some cutlery before handing them over to him.]

She sounds like quite the woman. And a lovely one at that. You are quite lucky indeed. But do tell me the story of your marrying her. I'm curious now.

I miss her. [He speaks the words softly.] But I have my family here... It will make it less difficult.

[He puts the dried plate on top of the other. Would it matter if he told?]

I have been betrothed to another. And I married Jeyne. [It was the reason why he stood in front of lord Frey making apologies for something he did not feel sorry for.]

Perhaps she will show up here. Atroma hardly seems biased about who they bring here.

[As he dries, she grabs more plates and bowls and places them in the sink to soak.]

You broke an engagement? [She's not sure if he's got spine or if he's half out of his mind. That is not something you ever do lightly.] Your parents and your betrothed's family must have been furious.

I hope not. [Still, it would be quite amazing to see her again and to wake up next to her.] This would not be a place for her. [Robb shakes his head firmly.]

Aye, I did. [He should feel regret but he knows he married for honor...and now that marriage has become one of love. He considers himself a lucky man. Despite the problem it caused. Despite all the groveling he has to do in front of lord Frey.]

They were. But at times...it is good to be able to make a choice for yourself instead of...the entire realm. And I have been able to make amends. My uncle has been willing to take the lady Roslin for a bride. Lord Frey accepted that. My uncle is the heir to Riverrun and most of the Riverlands. It is a good deal for the Freys. [Not as good as a marriage to a king, though.] It is the best I can give them. And Roslin is a fair maid, it seemed my uncle liked her.

[You won't get a say if it happens. She's been there. But she will not press the matter. It may not ever happen, anyway, so there's little point.

She purposefully looks down at her plates, washing them with a firm purpose as she listens to Robb talk about this Lady Roslin. Seems like the poor woman's been passed around like a sack of potatoes between men. Somehow, she doubts the girl had a say in any of it. It's not entirely different in Ferelden. Marriages were often arranged; they were treated like business transactions. It's nothing new to her. Yet, it always seemed like the women's feelings were ever taken into consideration. So long as the men were happy with what they gained.]

And does Lady Roslin like your uncle? [Asked lightly, afforded by how hard Riona grips the dishes.]

[Robb tries to envision her. A skinny girl but quite beautiful. And she has been crying, her eyes puffy and her cheeks reddened.]

She has been crying a lot. [The smile around his lips is a little apologetic.] When she smiled, she smiled at my uncle... [Gods be good, it has been odd when he finally met her and noticed that she had cried.]

I had hoped... [Finally he sighs and leaves the matter be. Robb had hoped a lot of things and he wanted even more things. But in the end it is never about his own wants, hopes and needs.]

[Her mouth forms a grim line as she listens, though it softens as he goes. At least Robb seems to feel some sympathy for her. That's more credit than she can give a lot of men.]

Perhaps there's a chance for happiness, then. I hope so, for her sake. It's a terrifying thought for a lot of women, especially of noble birth, of not knowing who we might wind up with. Too many don't get a say in the matter.

[Robb notices the change on her face. She does not look pleased with what she hears.]

You like it not, I take?

[It is a careful question and he studies her face after he has asked it.]

My lady mother betrothed me to a stranger because we had to cross her lord father’s bridge to get to the other side. It is not that I had a say in it either. It is... [He shrugs a little.] ...It is how things are. There are not many who marry for love.

[He pauses for a moment to put some plates inside a cupboard.]

I think my parents were lucky for liking one another after they were wed. There have been stories of more tragic marriages.

I feel sorry for her. If your uncle does truly like her, and she comes to like him, then that will be enough.

[The story behind his first betrothal earns a raised brow.]

You had to become engaged with his daughter to be allowed cross a bridge? Maker, that's a bit of a steep price.

[She rinses out a large pan before setting it down near him. She works on a few bowls as she frowns thoughtfully.]

Unfortunately you have the right of it. Though just because it is how things are and have always been does not mean it is right.

[Well, Edmure hadn’t liked her at all. He had no desire to marry a Frey and the only reason he did so was to support his nephew’s cause. So he nods at her and smiles.]

Mayhaps there will be some luck for them. [It still was uncomfortable to meet Roslin. She probably would’ve known about what he has done.]

If I weren’t allowed to cross the Trident I would not have been able to stop the siege on Riverrun. The price of war... [He sighs.] I have never liked it. I wanted it to be different but I had no choice at the time. [A bit of an uncomfortable laugh follows.] As a king you do not have many choices to begin with.

Have you ever been betrothed?

That explains your necessity to cross the river, but why did this lord demand such a high price for merely crossing a bridge? [And a price of betrothal, at that. It just strikes Riona as odd, though she suspects she's missing a few key facts here.

The price of war, and the burden of rule. Riona knows these all too well. And perhaps some day, she'll share that with Robb. But not yet. Instead, she focuses on his question. She smiles.]

I have been, and have since been married. Not for terribly long, though.

He might’ve deemed me valuable. [And well, he was. The heir to the North standing in front of the gates, asking for passage. Any lord would’ve aimed for a betrothal.] I never expected that I would marry for love, I merely hoped. At least, not until I met Jeyne.

And you? I take it you did not marry for love either?

Ah, you have a point there. Quite an opportunity for him, I suppose. [Still seems like a lot to cross a damn bridge, but nobles were an opportunistic lot, if nothing else.]

Me? I did, in fact. [There's a small, fond smile as she finishes washing a large pan and hands it to him.] But I am lucky for that, and I know it.

[Robb nods. Lord Frey’s anger is no surprise.]

He could have made his daughter a queen. [In fact, Lord Frey’s anger is nothing more than logic. Even though Robb does not like the man and does not like half of the men he sent, he has to give him that.]

Aye. [Robb smiles broadly.] It is a good thing to wake up next to the one you truly love. [And he loves Jeyne, there is no doubt about that.] I miss her a lot.

I miss him, too. I know your pain. [And then some, considering there's a version of him here in the fleet. One that does not know her in his world. She hopes that will never happen to Robb. Or anyone else, for that matter.] I miss waking up next to him and knowing no matter what the day holds, at the end of it I'll fall asleep beside him.

[Her words make him sadder than he wants to admit.]

Ah...exactly that. She is always very warm underneath the furs. I always manage to warm my feet on her. [And some other parts of his body, still lady Riona does not have to know about that.] And she combs her fingers through my hair in a sort of soft and soothing way.

She calls me Robb as well. [And she still isn’t with child either. Robb sighs softly and focuses on the dishes some more.]

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The Way to a Blue Fish's Heart...

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