( OPEN ) i don't know whether to pity you...

[unprays]

Who: sansa stark (unprays) and YOU! also various others, probably.
What: sansa deals with the yet another untimely death of her husband, is a good wolf owner and takes one step further towards a career in gunslinging. or something.
When: early february
Where: olympia, edrathe ruins, wyver & stasis
Warning(s): your standard game of thrones warnings apply...

i. edrathe ruins — the obligatory direwolf prompt

[ it is lucky for her that Lady is small enough for most people to consider her a larger, domestic dog whenever she is out and about in Wyver — yet a wolf is always a wolf, and so she heads for the ruins where Lady can run around freely, hunt for whatever wildlife she comes across.

( a. ) it's something she never had a chance to do, back home, watching Lady run around and hunt; perhaps then she'd have been horrified by the small game caught and slaughtered in front of her, but now it seems as natural as anything... as long as Lady doesn't try to bring her the food she's caught.

but should anyone happen to try and approach them when Lady has her catch of the day in front of her, they'll be met with growling and a howl — loud enough for Sansa to hear and look up to see what is going on. ]

Lady, stop that! [ she's fairly sure whoever's coming closer is not a threat...

( b. ) but a wolf requires rest, too. they sit together, Sansa on what was once a pillar, now broken and covered in moss, and Lady next to her, curled around her feet. occasionally, she leans down, runs her hand over Lady's head, whispering, ] ... good girl.

ii. wyver — a girl with a gun

[ if someone, anyone had told Sansa she would ever own what she considers a modern version of a bow and would willingly train herself to use it, she'd likely have laughed at them, told them they have mistaken her for her sister. courtesy had ever been her armor, the training she received from Littlefinger her weapon: she had never owned a real one, not in Westeros.

here, though, women were armed as often as men, and no one seemed to find it at all strange. different customs, she supposed, and ones she would have to adjust to — not least because she never again wanted to feel as helpless as she had, back home.

( a. ) she chooses Wyver, for she spends less time there, some ways off from the city, a clearing in the jungle where she can carve an x on a tree and walk to the other side, holding the gun as Ocelot had taught her to, taking aim. the sound of the gunshot is followed by the flap of wings, birds scared off from their places on the treetops.

she walks closer to her target, an unhappy frown on her lips when she sees the bullet hit nowhere near the mark. ]

Not good enough, [ she whispers, turning around, ready to try again.

( b. ) it's not a surprise that the frequent sounds of gunshots echoing in the jungle would draw attention, and yet she is so focused that when she hears the rustle of leaves and bushes, she turns around, already on edge, and calls out, ]

Who's there? [ after the recent events, it's probably not that strange for her to be on high alert, still. ]

iii. stasis unit — a widow's farewell

[ of course she goes to see him. after the body has been hidden, after all the blood has been washed off of her dress and Lady's fur, when enough time has passed — she leaves the surface and goes to the station. her mind won't rest easy until she's sure.

and so one may catch her there, standing in front of the pod of a man with dark hair and a smile on his lips, a smile that makes her feel as uneasy as ever. it isn't the smile of someone who's lost. and yet... the undeniable truth is here for all to see: he is back in his pod, sleeping... for now. hopefully for ever. ]

Sleep well, Lord Bolton. [ when she speaks, it is with the finality of a promise: should he wake, she will be here. waiting. and this time, she'd make sure he never makes it away from the station. ]

iv. wildcard — you know the drill

[ individual starters in comments for murder things; if you want something else that isn't included in the open prompts, feel free to write me something or hit me up on plurk @ celen and i'll write us something! ]

Comments

[unprays]

You!

[ it's not exactly who Sansa would have expected to see, out here — but then, perhaps she isn't the most expected sight here, either. at least it seems like You is focused on Lady, so much that she doesn't see Sansa there... at least until she starts to stand up, smiling. ]

Don't be afraid, Lady won't hurt you.

[ayes]

[It's only now that You glances up and sees the young woman sitting there. Her eyes widen.] --oh! Sansa! [Now that she's looking at it... the (dog? wolf? dogwolf?) is kind of curled protectively around where Sansa's sitting. Instantly, her perception of it changes from "wild animal" to "protective pupper."] Is... is she yours? I didn't know you had a... pet! [Yes. Not committal about the type. She's still not sure. Shiitake's a large dog, but this is larger still.]

[unprays]

Yes, she is, [ and the happiness is obvious in her tone, the way her mouth curls into a smile as she glances down at her wolf. her wolf. she'd lived so long without Lady that she'd almost forgotten how much she loved her. ]

She's not a pet, she's a direwolf. [ wolves are not pets. they are their protectors, their friends, companions. the mark of their house. ]

If you've seen Ghost, Jon's wolf, they're siblings.

[ayes]

Got it! She's a wolf, not a pet...! [Yeah.

Definitely way different from Shiitake.] Uh, she's the first wolf I've met since I've been here, so I haven't seen any others.

I did run into a lady with a bear, though.

[unprays]

She's not dangerous, though, [ she's quick to reassure. ] Lady won't hurt you unless you hurt me.

[ and since she's sure You would never do that, it's all good. ]

... a bear? Someone really has a bear as a companion? I know of a house that came from an island called Bear Island, but none of them traveled with bears.

[ayes]

Haha, well, I wouldn't ever do that so-- guess we're good! [Because she likes Sansa.

And because that is an intimidating looking wolf.]

--but yeah, I met her in Wyver! Did you ever meet Miss Vex? She's got a bear! I was scared of him too, but he turned out to be really cute.

[unprays]

Miss Vex? No, that name doesn't sound familiar.

[ she looks somewhat bemused at the thought of an actual bear as a companion... but perhaps it is no stranger than having a wolf. ] I should be interested in meeting her. I wonder how her bear would take to Lady...

[ayes]

[Sadly, Vex'ahlia is no longer awake, which You does not know at this point.] Well, he seemed really well behaved? Like he'd do whatever he told her to, so... I'm sure that they'd get along just fine!

Or at least, they wouldn't fight, which is probably all you can really expect from animals like that, maybe.

--anyway, how have you been! It feels forever since we talked.

[unprays]

[ she laughs a little and nods — it's true, mostly the best thing to expect from animals that were born in the wild was for them not to fight. ]

I've been... alright. There was a small problem with someone else from my home, but it's all been resolved.

[ today on: how to politically correctly say "my ex-husband tried to kill three people until I caught him and killed him". ] I hope you've been well, too.

[ayes]

[Yeah, probably don't tell her that.] Oh... well, I'm glad to hear that it's all okay now!

I've been okay. Pretty busy with the matchmaking thing, you know? But it's gonna turn out great, so-- totally worth it!

[She has dark circles under her eyes, Sansa might notice, which is unusual for a girl with her energy.]

[unprays]

( same disclaimer goes here, sorry for the crazy delay and thanks for understanding ♡ )

[ she's not entirely sure what the "matchmaking thing" is, more concerned with the way You looks, now that she's really paying attention; she doesn't think she's ever seen her this tired. ]

... Are you sure you're not working too hard?

[ayes]

Me? Oh no, no, no, totally fine, just-- [That sure was an inconveniently timed yawn.] Haha, just got a deadline, that's all! It'll be fine after the 14th.

[unprays]

You... it doesn't seem like you're fine. You would ask for help if you needed it, wouldn't you?

[ wouldn't you?? ]

[ayes]

[She waves Sansa off, a breezily waving hand as she covers her yawning mouth with the other.] Yeah, totally! It's nothing-- I've had late nights before, you know? With school and swim team and all that stuff. So... nothing I can't handle! Besides, I want it to be a fun surprise for everyone, you know?

[unprays]

That's very kind of you, to put the enjoyment of everyone else before your own rest.

[ kind, she says, and can't quite decide whether a selflessness of that caliber is admirable or stupid. but this is You, and really, she wouldn't expect her to be any different. ]

I'm sure whatever it is you are planning for everyone, they will enjoy it.

[ayes]

Haha, thanks! I really hope so! [She gives her a tired smile.] It's just for a little bit, right? So after it's done, I'm gonna like sleep for a weekend straight, I promise. [That tired smile turns into a toothy grin.] I've already got a place and everything planned out, so I just gotta finish all of the decorations and the matching!