[001 🐚 Action]

[goodandtrue]

Who: Jeyne and YOU
Broadcast: N/A
Action: SS Golden; SS Blue Fish
When: Oct 23

It hadn't been a great surprise when Jeyne had appeared suddenly on the Golden. For all of her intentions of begging to be at her husband's side, she inwardly knew that she would be placed elsewhere. For the few days she had spent on the Marsiva, as well as the brief conversations she had on her strange device, she had slowly become aware of how these Atroma intended to play. Nothing was about her comfort, it was about this show that they had brought her here for.

For her sanity, and for Robb's sake, she would need to make the best of this situation and allow herself to be moved around as a pawn once more.

She had at least been given a room of her own. For the first few days, she had wandered the ship, acquainting herself with her surroundings, but only when she wasn't with her husband. Traveling between the Golden and the Blue Fish was becoming a routine for her. While she wanted to remain with Robb, she had duties to attend to and couldn't neglect her own crew.

So mornings and evenings, she would travel between the ships, slowly become familiar with the faces she passed (even if she didn't know all of their names.)

Stepping through the sealed doors, Jeyne rested for a moment, catching her breath and regaining her composure. No matter how often she passed people or walked the distance between her ship and the Blue Fish, she still managed to become disoriented and drained.

Hearing another's approach, she forced herself back into composure, bringing a smile once more to her features. "Good day," she said, turning to greet the person that had interrupted her solitude. "Am I in your way?"

Comments

[goodandtrue]

She looks like Lady Catelyn. The thought struck her painfully as she looked up at Sansa Stark. Jeyne had heard that Robb's sister was aboard his ship, sometimes checking on him as he slept. The thought had been comforting, but she hadn't realized that when she had the opportunity to meet the young woman, she would feel terrified.

It was different than meeting Lady Catelyn. While the matriarch had disapproved of her marriage, she had been kind and gentle. Sansa had been kept in King's Landing as a hostage, her fate uncertain now because Robb had lost parts of his army, and not long after, his life.

Shame and guilt had always been present, but never as strongly as when face faced her good sister.

Despite being Robb's wife and queen, Jeyne dipped into a low curtsy, acknowledging Sansa's higher position in both birth and standing. "Whatever my pains, they are inconsequential, Lady Stark. You are kind to be concerned for me."

[steeledskin]

Her eyes were not merely chilly -- they were shrewd, too. And Sansa took care to carefully observe every gesture and motion. "I would return your courtesy," she spoke of the curtsy, "but I fear I would lose my tea in the process." Her knuckles whitened around the tray's edge.

Sansa had never quite relaxed her manners since arriving in the fleet. They had, however, thawed considerably. What seems like a frigid reception now was downright warm when compared to her behaviour nearly a year ago -- and yet, Lady Jeyne wasn't to know that.

Her throat tightened as she asked, "are you here to visit my brother?"

[goodandtrue]

"You needn't give me any courtesy." She honestly didn't expect any. Sansa's response was what she assumed all of the Stark children would offer her. They had reason to be angry at her, for all that had happened to their family, most especially to Robb.

The chilly reception sent a shiver up her spine, forcing her to brace herself for anything more than a harsh tone.

Jeyne nodded, risking a glance at Sansa's face. "I stay with him as much as I am able." She chewed her lip thoughtfully before adding, "I was told that you are often with him as well."

[steeledskin]

My brother loves you, she nearly said. The words turn to ash on her tongue. It's a conversation she has held with Robb, but was otherwise disinclined to share with anyone else. Even Jeyne Westerling.

She glanced over her shoulder -- imagining how much more comfortable this meeting would be behind the door of her makeshift 'office', as they called it. But she wasn't yet prepared to extend the invitation.

"I consider myself most fortunate to spend any time with him, my lady," she spoke some truth. This was the sort of truth that came easiest to her tongue. Sansa loved her family freely and easily. "I am making up for a great deal of lost time."

[goodandtrue]

The comment is like a dagger in her gut. She bears no ill will towards Sansa and doesn't begrudge her of her anger. It was well placed and deserved in Jeyne's eyes. While she slept in Robb's arms, Sansa was in King's Landing, likely suffering under the Lannister rule.

Perhaps most offensive was her family's station as bannermen to the Lannisters. She was hardly an appropriate wife for a man waging a war against the crown.

"It's a miracle to have him here, asleep or not." Jeyne said honestly, reverence in her tone. "He spoke often of you and with a great deal of affection, both he and your mother."

[steeledskin]

A miracle, indeed. Sansa's mouth stayed tight. Line-like. She wondered whether Lady Jeyne yet realized how quickly a miracle can snap straight into tragedy the moment someone was torn from the Fleet. No -- she would not be the one to crush that reverence. It seemed too cruel.

"He will wake soon enough," Sansa tried to match her hopefulness. It worked by halves. "And he will be so happy to see you. When he speaks of you, my lady, he sings your praises."

[goodandtrue]

It's meant kindly, but it doesn't fail to stir her guilt once more. No one seemed to be aware of the part her mother played in Robb's death, though she couldn't imagine why they would. It wasn't public knowledge, only shared once with the Kingslayer.

The Others take them both...and all Lannisters for that matter.

She smiled in gratitude at Sansa, hoping that some sort of bridge could be made between them. What she had heard of Sansa had been lovely and warm, the sort of sister that she had always hoped to have. Close to her in age and temperament.

"He's the best of men." Her affection for him plain in her tone. "I love him with all that I am and have only ever wanted to be a good wife to him." Despite all that happened, she would still try. "Have you been in this place long, my lady? Have they treated you well here?"

[steeledskin]

She stood there, uncertain of what to tackle first. Best not to discuss the definition of a good wife at all, given Sansa's particular failings. For a moment, she ground her teeth together.

"Long enough. And yet also not nearly long enough. Nearly a year, Lady Jeyne. For the most part, I have been treated very well indeed. These people are uncommonly kind, as you'll be quick to learn."

[goodandtrue]

"Yes, I have seen that as well. There were many who were extremely reassuring and kind when I first arrived." Most of them residing on this ship. She didn't doubt that Sansa was surrounded by friends, as well as her family.

"Not nearly long enough? Does that mean that you hope to stay in this place?" She hadn't considered whether or not that was an option open to them. Some had said that others were taken away, but she somehow doubted they had as much choice as they did in coming here.

[steeledskin]

"Wouldn't you, my lady?" Hope to stay.

Sansa's question was precise. She wondered (naturally) at her good-sister's place in the 'timeline', so to speak. What did she remember? What did she not yet know? Or, if she was as far behind as Robb had been, had her husband shared with her the developments learned from his siblings?

[goodandtrue]

She didn't know how to respond to that. It had never occurred to her that she could stay, but Sansa raised a fair point.

Robb was here, alive in this world. What did she have to go back to in Westeros? Two years of isolation, surrounded by family that betrayed her husband and her, then an eventual marriage to a Lannister. She would be forced to wed someone from the family that had killed the man she loved.

How could she return to that or a life without Robb?

"I don't want to be without Robb," she admitted softly. "I can't go back to that. How does he feel about staying here? Does he want to?"

[steeledskin]

"He has given me his word that he will do all in his power to keep me here," Sansa answered. Careful, and not in the least bit elucidating. It could not be helped. This conversation was not at all appropriate for the Blue Fish's hallway.

Exhaling, she glanced once more over her shoulder. "Would you join me in my...office? If you would like to talk."

[goodandtrue]

She was right. They were entering into a conversation that was deeply personal and private. Jeyne nodded, pushing herself away from the door.

"Of course."

[steeledskin]

"It isn't far. Two doors down -- only."

Sansa didn't like turning her back on someone who was little more than a stranger. But it wasn't as though she could walk backwards, balancing her tea-tray as she was. So Sansa strode quickly -- nudging the office door open (it boasted her name on a plaque) and stepping aside so Jeyne could join you.

"I could get another cup for tea, as well, if you'd like."

[goodandtrue]

She followed Sansa at a respectful distance, not wishing to chase on her heels. Part of her wished that she had offered to carry the tray, allowing Sansa to walk unencumbered, but the thought never occurred to her until they were at her door, one boasting a plaque similar to the one for Jeyne's room.

She stepped inside, wringing her hands nervously as she looked about curiously.

"No, thank you. It is kind of you to offer." She wasn't certain that her stomach would tolerate anything at the moment. "You are a personal as well?"

[steeledskin]

Sansa nodded.

"Ever since I arrived. I confess," she puffed her cheeks with a sigh, "I don't know what to do with the duties."

There was so little she could offer these people, aside from her unending gratitude that they should take in her siblings, and herself, and allow them to live on their ship. On occasion, she did a bit of needlepoint for them -- but it hardly sufficed.

There were a trio of chairs in the office. One behind the desk, and two before it. But Sansa, achingly aware of the optics should she sit behind the desk, took one of the pair. She offered the opposite chair to Lady Jeyne.

[goodandtrue]

She smiled, understanding the sentiment all too well. "There is only one maester aboard my ship. It at least allows me to act as a nurse when needed." Which didn't seem to be very often. "Beyond that, I am at a loss as well."

Accepting the seat that Sansa offered, Jeyne folded her hands in her lap, trying to conceal her fidgeting and nerves. She had always imagined how it would be to meet her good-sister, but never expected how nervous she would feel.

"The room seems very comfortable." She offered shyly. "You are rather close to Robb's, I think?"

[steeledskin]

"We have a doctor," she uses the word carefully. It was new to her -- having learned it at the same time she met the doctor in question. "Her name is Beverly. And she's lovely. Really, truly lovely."

Sansa genuinely cared for the doctor, and yet her voice was retrained to that superficial, overly-polite tone. It made it sound like a lie, no matter how much she meant the compliment.

[goodandtrue]

Doctor. The word would take some getting used to, along with another list of phrases. She was fairly certain that she had heard it before, but it hadn't stuck yet.

Sansa's tone worried her, leaving her wondering what sort of mood her good-sister was in. Was she imposing on Sansa's patience?

"Do you think it is possible to stay in this place?"

[steeledskin]

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "Except that there are people here who have been part of the fleet for a very long time, and maybe they are lucky for it. Or maybe they feel unlucky, and they would rather be home."

For her part, she would cherish the time she had. Lock every lovely memory away in the hopes that she might savour it forever.

"Our captain on the Blue Fish has promised me my family could join his world, mayhaps, should a way be found. It seems it may be a happier place than Westeros."

[goodandtrue]

"There must be a way then, something that steer fate towards such kindness." She sighed, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion. "Or perhaps it is because whatever audience we have finds them compelling? That might be the key?"

It was something to consider more seriously when she could think more clearly.

"Sokka?" She asked, carefully pronouncing his name. It still felt strange against her tongue. "I hope there is a way to allow it. Perhaps there is even a chance to spare Robb from what happened."

[steeledskin]

-- There it was. The Red Wedding. Sansa felt a muscle twitch in her jaw, and she knew her hands would tremble. So she knotted her fingers stiffly together and abandoned all thought of pouring herself a cup of tea. It would be rude, regardless, to drink while her 'guest' had nothing. Although it pained her greatly that Jeyne had not at least played along with her offer of the guest right, she supposed it wasn't as if Robb's lady wife could trust the promise of hospitality any longer.

"I hope there is," she answered in a small and strained voice. "There is little else I want beyond my family's safety."

[goodandtrue]

She had been too trusting for most of her life. Had she been wiser, she would have seen her family's involvement and gotten a better sense for what sort of man Walder Frey was. He and her mother both, they were alike in motivation and method.

While she hadn't meant to offend Sansa, it wasn't mistrust that caused her to deny the guest right. Were she to eat or drink anything, Jeyne had little doubt that she would be ill. Fear, nerves and anger had twisted her stomach until she felt as though she would be sick. It didn't seem appropriate to subject her good-sister to her discomfort.

"Forgive me for raising such a painful topic," she murmured.

[steeledskin]

Sansa could be a delicate creature. But she could display steel, as well, and it took a hefty amount of self-control not to tell Lady Jeyne how she did not want to discuss that night. She could barely broach the subject with her kin, let along a good-sister she barely knew how to trust. After all, this wasn't the first good-sister she'd gained and the first had taught her a deep and painful lesson in wariness.

"Mayhaps you might tell me about your ship, instead," Sansa offered an easy escape from this subject-matter. Delicately, she nudged the conversation away from their shared grief.

[goodandtrue]

She smiled gratefully at Sansa for carefully shifting the conversation to something more safe and less painful. It hadn't been her intention to raise the conversation at all. Though the memory was never far from her mind.

"They have placed me on the Golden," she said, glancing down at her hands. "The crew is very kind. Though, I don't think it is nearly as large as this one seems."