003; video

[reek]

Who: Theon Greyjoy
Broadcast: Fleetwide, video
Action: S.S. Paisley
When: Thursday morning

[ A dark haired boy, no older than nine or ten, sits somewhere on the bridge of the Paisley. He's managed to figure out the device relatively quickly, and he sits staring at it apprehensively, head cupped in his hand.

Although he does his best to keep an even and stony expression, he can't hide the fact that he looks absolutely miserable, as if everything he ever knew and loved has just been taken from him. Which, in fact, it has. This boy wears a black cloak, emblazoned with golden krakens. If that isn't enough of a clue that this is a young Theon Greyjoy, nothing is. Clearly, someone's augment has malfunctioned.

In an uncertain voice, he finally asks: ]

Is this Winterfell?

[ On top of being unhappy, he seems incredibly suspicious of his surroundings. Everything is so strange and unlike anything he's ever seen, but all he's ever known is the Iron Islands. For all he knows, Winterfell is this strange place where they use these strange devices rather than ravens to deliver messages. On the other hand, Lord Stark frightens him, and Theon wouldn't put it past him to leave him somewhere strange and even farther away from home than he anticipated. ]

I don't remember arriving. [ His eyebrows knit together, his face scrunching up in frustration, but he tries very hard to put some semblance of forcefulness into his nervous voice. ] Where is Lord Stark?

Comments

[audio]

[nedstarksbastard]

[Of all people this had to happen to, it had to be Theon Greyjoy. Jon lets out a long, tired breath, rubs at his temple.

He can't dwell on Winterfell. Or on his lord father. He can't, it hurts to even think about them, the dull sort of hurt that's now been thrown into stark relief, upon sight of the boy he's not seen in a long, long while.]

Lord Stark isn't here. And this isn't Winterfell either. [Gods, how young they'd all been.] What do you last remember?

video 5ever

[reek]

[ Okay, so maybe young Theon hasn't figured out the device that well. Either he doesn't know how to switch to audio, or he's too stubborn or frightened to do so. ]

I was to be taken there. [ He shrugs, focusing his attention on the hem of his cloak. It's pretty awkward speaking to a disembodied voice, all while trying not to totally break down. Can you really blame him, though? He's lost so much in such a short amount of time. ] They killed my Rodrik and Maron, but they couldn't kill me. I'm father's heir, so they're taking me away.

[video]

[summerschild]

[Bran watches with wide eyes, parsing the situation slowly. The krakens are immediately familiar - a younger brother of Theon's, perhaps? He frowns slightly.]

Are you of House Greyjoy?

[video]

[reek]

[ Joke's on you, Bran. Theon is the baby of the family and all his brothers are dead...Thanks to your dad and his best friend. ]

Yes.

[ He eyes Bran suspiciously, eyes narrowed slightly. As if the krakens didn't make his House completely obvious. ]

Who are you?

[summerschild]

Bran.

[He holds his tongue on anything further.]

You're on a ship, in the stars. It's very far from Winterfell, I'm afraid.

[reek]

[ Well gee, that's just fabulous. Theon gives him a pretty scathing look, as if everything he's just said is extremely offensive. ]

This is not a ship.

[ There he is. That's our Theon. ]

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[steeledskin]

[ -- how curious. sansa's chin dips, and she more carefully watches the device's screen. her hands knit tightly together in her lap, and she leans forward.

...theon? the child must be theon. she'd only ever guess so because she's witnessed others become suddenly younger. unless this is some new kraken come to play. ]

Apologies, [ her tone is measured. sweeter, somehow, than it ever is when she speaks with adults. caring for sweetrobin has given her some patience in this quarter, whether she likes it or not. ] But Winterfell is far away. [ she puffs her cheeks. ] But I am Sansa Stark, and I could tell you about it if you wish.

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[reek]

[ When she introduces herself, Theon immediately grows wary of her sweet and patient tone. Stark, just like the man who took him from his home and aided in taking his father's crown. Sansa lacks Eddard's stern face, but this does little to easy his worries. He knows what the wolves will do to him if they find his father's behavior unacceptable; Balon was certain to remind him before he left. ]

Alright.

[ His response is uncertain, though, and he sounds a little doubtful. He wonders if Sansa might be Lady Stark, but he can't bring himself to ask. ]

Father says it's far from the sea. That you can't even see no matter how high you climb.

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[steeledskin]

He speaks the truth. [ then, after a moment's hesitation: ] Not that I've ever climbed very high.

[ that was bran's domain. or, perhaps, the domain of any young robust boy eager to mark his mettle. climbing evergreens and watchtowers and challenging all the other young robust boys to climb higher. she can't rightly say, having never played a part in those games. ]

There's a pond, in the Godswood. It's no ocean, I admit, but a person could swim there if he wanted to.

[ a paltry offer of a hobby that can't even be pursued. they aren't in winterfell. and theon is (in reality) no child. ]

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[reek]

[ He looks doubtful, though swimming has little to do with his concerns. In all of his ten years, he's never been without the sound of the waves on the rocks, nor the smell of brine, nor the seemingly endless sight of the water stretching out to meet he sky. That's home. It always has been, and he doesn't know what he'll do without it.

He sighs, but doesn't voice his doubts. If he is speaking to lady Stark, it's probably smarter not to anger her. ]

What is a Godswood?

[ The Iron Islands lack trees, and the Faith is not popular among the Ironborn. For Balon and his children, there has only ever been the Drowed God. ]

action

[stefanged]

[There is a small child on the bridge. There is also a surprising lack of that accompanying jingle or chocolate pudding. Stefan blinks back surprise as he stares at the cloak (krakens? Where has he seen those before?) then back at the child.

This is going to be a long, long day.]

Um. Hi. [He waves, approaching carefully.] Did you just get here?

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[reek]

Yes.

[ The young Theon eyes Stefan suspiciously, not waving in return. Instead, he focuses on tracing a finger around one of those golden krakens. So far, he's seen no one he recognizes, not even the stern faces of Lord Eddard's bannermen. It just seemed best to sit here until one of them appeared. ]

But I'm not meant to be here.

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[stefanged]

I don't think any of us are, really.

[His expression softens as he gets down so that he's eye level with the kid.]

My name's Stefan. I'm uh, I'm the captain of this ship. Is there anything I can do?

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[alwayscomeback]

...

Two in one day? Are you kidding me right now?

[Well, this is gonna suck for everyone. Probably especially Theon. ]

Ugh. No. It's not Winterfell.

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[reek]

[ Theon's childhood wasn't an extremely happy one, particularly not this point of it.

He gives Sokka a searching look, but says little. For a child, he's choosing his words exceptionally carefully and questioning very little. He's already run into one wolf, Sansa, and he doesn't wish to anger any of them when his head is literally on the line. ]

I'm far from it. [ And even further from home, he reminds himself. ] I don't...want to get father in trouble.

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[alwayscomeback]

[This is so far removed from the Theon he's used to. All barbs and snark. It's more than a little worrying to see. Sokka makes his own tone gentle in response.]

It's okay, you won't be. It'd be like time stopped, back home. You don't have to worry about anyone.

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[huaaaaagh]

[Kirito's just on his way through the hall, business as usual, when he bumps into Theon. And of course he's not going to recognize the kid version of the guy everyone loves to hate, so he just sort of awkwardly blinks and waves a hand. The Paisley's sure getting a lot of kids lately.]

Er... hi. Welcome aboard?

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[reek]

[ It's easy to not recognize him. He hasn't even obtained his trademark smirk or tough guy act yet. It will take a bit of time in Winterfell before that happens.

If he ever gets there, that is. ]

Hello.

[ He shoots Kirito a glance, but hesitates to say anything more. Balon told him very bluntly what the Starks might do to him, so he doesn't wish to anger or offend them. As far as he knows, everyone here is a Stark. ]

Where am I?

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[huaaaaagh]

[Huh... newcomer? He doesn't see any of the usual confetti fanfare.]

Ever heard of a spaceship? Because you're on one. It's called the Paisley.

[Action]

[complicatedliar]

[Loki isn't a fool; he knows what's happened. But he also is naturally inclined to like children. Their minds are far more flexible than those of adults. And he cannot blame the child for the idiot of a man he is to become.

He doesn't answer on the network, but rather goes to find the child in person. He leans in the doorway.]

You're a long way from Winterfell and shan't be reaching it any time soon.

[Action]

[reek]

[ By this point, what Loki tells him is nothing new. He's heard it already from multiple sources. While he's grateful for the bluntness and honesty of it all, he doesn't know what he's supposed to do now. He gives Loki only a passing glance before dropping his gaze again. ]

Lord Stark will be angry.

[ Eddard Stark's stern face and broasword already frighten him so much. Pair that with the knowledge that you may one day lose your head to that very same man and sword and you have the stuff of nightmares. He really, really does not want to anger Lord Stark. ]

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

No, for he shall never know that you have gone astray.

[greensights]

[ Jojen doesn't try to soothe or calm the other boy, his voice stays unwavering and calm, like still water. ]

This isn't Winterfell, and none of us remember how we got here. The North is far behind us.

[reek]

[ The water isn't calm, though. Not where Theon is from. The Sunset Sea and Ironman's Bay are seldom without their choppy waves.

He observes Jojen with uncertainty, appreciating his honesty but having heard it already, many times from many people. ]


Are you from the North?

[greensights]

[ Jojen nods slowly. The waters he is used to are slow, smelling and teeming with life and scum, muck and mud. ]

Yes, I hail from the Greywater. Are you of the North?