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got: jon snow

(closed) winter and the green fairy

Who: Tinker Bell (

trybelieving) & Jon Snow (

song_of_ice)
What: Exploring the entertainment district!
When: ... Recently?
Where: Meeting at House 3.
Warning(s): Brooding meets optimism?

If she's honest, Tinker Bell thought she might have to try harder to get Jon to come around after their first meeting. What had started as him offering to help her prepare her tent had quickly grown more complicated, with him asking her what he needed and Tink responding with an answer that he might not have been prepared to hear from a complete stranger.

In the end, she hoped it did him some good to hear that he could still change things for the better. It wasn't as if Tinker Bell was speaking with blind optimism when she mentioned escaping loneliness and letting others in; she'd done the same after encountering Regina and her friends in Neverland, and she doesn't want to think of who she would have become if she hadn't agreed to join them.

It's not too late for Jon to build a support system in a new , and if he wants her to, Tink would like to be part of it. She'd wanted to go exploring anyway, but the possibility of going with Jon has her excited about what this world has to offer. As much as she misses the friends and fairies still sleeping, she doesn't want them to wake and find that she's lost the light they'd previously helped her to restore.

Not only does she believe in herself, she believes in the people around her. A knock at the door is a reminder of that, and Tinker Bell barely remembers to conceal her wings, only hiding them at the last second to keep from having to explain it. They'll get to that - she doesn't intend to keep what she is from anyone - but she'd rather greet him with a smile than a part of herself that might cause some confusion.

The fairy grins brightly as she opens the door, hesitating for only a second before she greets him with a hug she assumes he won't be expecting. When they'd set up her shelter, touch had seemed too foreign to him for her liking. Tink doesn't mind being the one to reach out; she tends to think he needs that, too.

"It's good to see you again, Jon."

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It was something he needed to hear, but hadn't accepted. He had always done what he believed was right, but had been forced to pay a price. Since that moment when he woke on the Lord Commander's desk, there had been a war that required his focus. The betrayals, the hurt and that darkness were pushed out of his head. He didn't think about what he needed, only what needed to be done for his people.

But that reason was gone now. The army of the dead were gone and that desperate race for survival had disappeared with it, swept up in the storm. He had nothing left to fight for, save for the promise he made, the loved ones in stasis. It was enough to let him channel his focus, falling back into that safe habit that spared him from sorting through his baggage and burdens.

The chaos of landing had been shifted and soothed by Tink's warm nature. She was insistent that he let someone look after him, gentle reminders that shook through his stubborn nature. She had managed to touch him enough that he had shared things that he hadn't admitted fully to himself. It was remarkable enough to draw him back to her, eager to better know the woman that had taken him on as a project.

He couldn't say what possessed him to invite her out, but he was glad she accepted. He even managed a smile when she answered the door, his expression lighter than before. Suddenly she is hugging him, catching him off guard and causing him to flinch against her.

He doesn't know what to say, only staring back at her with a surprised expression before mumbling out "We should...we should go."

As far as Tink could tell, surprising him with a hug was the first time she'd truly caught someone off guard in this new world. People had caught her using her magic after their landing; they'd questioned her ability to make fires, or to fly, or sent a curious glance towards her wings - but none of that was quite the same as a flustered Jon recovering from a simple hug. "I did tell you I'd enjoy your company," she teased gently, reaching for her bag before giving a nod of understanding. If he didn't want to dwell on the thought of someone being happy to see him, she wasn't going to make him any more uncomfortable than she already had.

Still, she can't quite shake the look of amusement as she turns to shut the door, a smirk still lingering as she turns back to allow him to lead the way. All she knew of the entertainment district was what Jon had told her, that there was music playing and presumably a good time to be had. Tinker Bell might have taken him on as a project of sorts, determined to help him reach out in ways he seemed to be afraid to, but she'd already found that their friendship worked both ways. She hadn't done much exploring, or thought anything of the opportunity to enjoy herself here. Jon was the one to change that with his offer, even if he hadn't realized it yet.

All in all, she still wasn't sure what to make of his situation. His knowledge of magic seemed darker than anything a fairy would attempt, and the idea of it restoring life helped her to understand the sort of world he'd come from. No rules or boundaries to magic, when the first thing she'd ever learned was its consequences. "Are you the shy sort? You might regret going to the entertainment district with me. I'm more likely to sing along than to hide in a crowd." But in some ways, she suspected he wouldn't mind. Even in the heavy turn their first conversation had taken, she'd caught a glimmer or something she wanted to help draw out of him. "I'll try not to embarrass you too much."

She had said it before, but he hadn't lingered over the veracity of her statement. He didn't doubt that he was pleasant-ish company, but her insistence and certainty caught him off guard. He smiled awkwardly, still recovering from the hug as he stepped back. "You did. I didn't know it was that enjoyable." He chuckled softly, as though amused by his attempt at a joke.

While he had invited her out, he hadn't thought about what to do or say. He lead her along towards the entertainment district, already able to hear the music in the distance. It wasn't like anything he had heard before, though Winterfell wasn't a place of regular festivities as King's Landing must have been once. He glanced at Tinker Bell, searching for her response.

Night was setting in and dancers and performers were already gathering in the streets. Everything was bright and lively, a vivaciousness that matched Tink's personality. He was able to smile again, this time more genuine than before. "I don't think anyone will mind if you sing." There were so many others who moved about freely, dancing or singing. Tink would be in good company. "I won't mind, as long as you don't ask me to dance."

There were times when Tinker Bell felt torn as to what to think about this new world. She wasn't entirely sure of her place in it; a lone fairy without anyone around her who understood the magic and experiences that had guided her in the past. The people she cared most about weren't ready to wake, and while she hoped that they would, she wondered if it would be in her lifetime. Thankfully, there was another side to all of this, a knowledge that so many strangers had rallied together to support each other as they faced a new beginning. Jon was one of the first people who had offered her assistance after landing, and something about what he'd shared had resonated with her.

For her part, Tinker Bell didn't worry about what to do or say. She laughed at his joke because it amused her, and didn't worry about the possibility of them running out of conversation. Being in good company was always better than being alone, even if that company grew quiet. Besides, that gave her little time to take in their surroundings; an area she could hear even before she could get a view of it, filled with people excitedly twirling about and laughing their way through the crowds. Tink herself couldn't help but brighten as they got closer, catching her first glimpse of talented performers singing and dancing and others joining in. It was lovely reminder of the life that existed in this world, if they were willing to embrace it.

"Would you sing, too?" His encouragement only made the possibility more tempting, until he continued on with a suggestion that earned a giggle from her. "You don't dance? How is that possible? Everyone should dance." And dancing, under the right circumstances, could be such a freeing thing. It was hard to believe he was so determined to miss out on it.

There was something about her that was different than most of the rest he had met in this world so far. Beyond her kind nature and good heart, there was a quality about her that reminded him of the more mystical things he had seen in Westeros. She didn't have the same presence as the Red Woman or her raw sensuality, born out of the gifts the Lord of Light supposedly gave her, but there was something about Tinker Bell that reminded him of Melisandre. He couldn't place it, but it was enough to pique his interest each time they crossed paths.

But when she laughed at his joke and smiled, he found himself forgetting about that unspoken question. She was good company, making up for his shortcomings at conversation or smiles. He paused on occasion, watching the dancers and taking in the music filling the square.

Her question nearly made him choke in surprise. "Sing? No. I'm not a singer." Pyp had been a singer once with a voice better than Jon's, even if Jon had never tried. "I never had a reason to." The celebrations at Winterfell never included him. He was always watching from the back of the room as others dance and feasted. "You dance?"

Every once in a while, there was something of this world that reminded her of the Enchanted Forest. For the moment, it was singing and dancing; people filled with joy for each other's performances and daring to try to top each other. It was the sort of celebration she might expect to watch from a distance, sometimes on a flower, or hiding up above in a tree. Fairies had their own parties, too, but it wasn't quite the same as watching humans rise above their own struggles to steal a few hours of peace.

"Don't be silly. If you can talk, you can sing. If you can move, you can dance." Which meant that Tinker Bell refused to believe that Jon was incapable of singing or dancing, even if he hadn't experienced the escape from his troubles that music could provide. Maybe it would do him some good to relax a little - at least as much as he was capable, which at present, was hard to say. She didn't want to push him straight off a cliff when she'd seen him struggle after sharing his feelings with her before.

"I sing, and I dance." And to prove it, she was quite happy to demonstrate with a graceful twirl towards the crowd. She'd been honest with him the first time, Tinker Bell wasn't shy when it came to celebrating. There was usually so little reason to do it, but tonight, she could celebrate him reaching out, when she knew this took him a bit out of his comfort zone. "You know, you do have a reason to dance here."

He hadn't seen unreserved joy and celebration in sometime. Perhaps even before King Robert came to Winterfell. Though the memories were tainted and marred by Jon's continual grim nature and his brooding from the back of the room. It was strange to suddenly be in a world where war didn't influence every waking thought. Music and laughter replaced cries and violence. How long before it became normal to him?

"I have never danced before. I don't know how." Or really want to. He would be awkward. He didn't need to try to know it. "I would rather watch someone who knows how." He had his chance as she spun around, twirling into the crowd. He smiled, chuckling under his breath as the crowd seemed to part for her.

He followed her, placing a hand on her arm to help keep her steady. "I have reason? What reason is that?" He raised his brow, curious and intrigued. She always had a way of catching him off guard.

Could watching someone else dance fill anyone with the same joy as participating? Tinker Bell didn't think so. He might have worried about how he would appear in a world of things he was unfamiliar with, but she preferred to focus on the quiet victory of getting him to smile, and laugh, and to help her find her balance in the whirl of performers. "Because you chose to come here, with me, instead of being as grumpy as you think you are." Just like she hoped that someday he might tell her what it was that had him so set on being alone.

If he wanted her to dance, she would. Somehow it made her feel a little lighter to know he enjoyed it; a dangerous thing for a fairy, who might've outed herself by floating off. Thankfully, he seems to ground her, too. There's no need to fly off when she enjoys her company here and now. "If you keep this up, I think you might just find whatever it is that you're looking for." Even Tink knows she gets carried away, but it's not a prophecy or a blind assumption; it's hope, plain and simple.

"And if you were looking for a fairy to teach you to dance, then look at that, you've already found her." If he was looking for someone to guide him there, she'd happily show him a thing or two. He was very clearly a warrior, which meant he understood the intricacies of movement better than most. Instead of protecting his life, maybe he'd feel compelled to enjoy it for a change. "Say no and I'll move on. But say yes - " She was beaming already. "And you can learn something new." Perhaps there were things she could learn from him as well, but this was a good place to start.

"'Grumpy?'" He laughed loudly, turning a few heads to look back them, even though she had attention simply by grace alone. "You think I am grumpy?" He had heard 'broody', but never 'grumpy'. If it was her attempt to get him to loosen up and smile, the attempt worked. His face was lighter and there was an actual grin on his face as he tried to rein in his laughter.

"You seem to have a better idea in what I am looking for." Which left him feeling vulnerable, something he didn't prefer in battle or alone. She seemed able to read him, better than he could read himself. He didn't know what he should make of it or should simply accept it for what it was. She had said she'd make a project of him.

He knows he will regret this and the idea is already turning his face red, but he reached out to take her hand. Not only did she make him laugh, but now she had convinced him to at least try to dance.

A project was the challenge he had offered on their first night here, but Tinker Bell found that the word wasn't as accurate as she might have liked. The term "project" implied that he was work, when she was likely having more fun than he was. And if the smiles he offered were rare ones, and the laughter didn't come as easily as it would have with someone else, then Tink couldn't help but enjoy being able to bring out that side of him. Truthfully, she liked the sound of his laugh even more than she liked knowing she'd earned one, yet she knew better than to call attention to it.

"Do you think that only works one way, Jon? Who would I dance with if you weren't here?" He'd known to invite her here tonight, when this world was surprisingly difficult for her to adjust to. The fairy missed more people than she could count, and she knew from how protective he was that Jon had family here. He wasn't alone in the same way that Tinker Bell was, but he offered her his company anyway. No reason to believe in her or her magic, yet she could see that fragile trust starting to blossom in the way he took her hand and agreed to share a dance. Learn a dance.

She smiled, guiding him into the crowd with the knowledge that no one who was already busy dancing would stop to watch them. If he felt a little self conscious, it didn't matter. Tinker Bell would be the only one paying attention, and she wasn't about to make things difficult for him. "Just look at me, and do what I do. When I step forward, step back. When I step back, come closer." A request made easier when she lifted their hands to gently press her palm against his, almost surprised at the warmth of someone who'd previously insisted on being comfortable with the cold. "Don't be nervous, it's just me." Her first steps were cautious ones, but as soon as he started to follow, she let him set their pace. With any luck, he'd soon realize that dancing didn't have as many rules to it as he seemed to think it did.

He felt lighter and more relaxed, as if the world hadn't ended and he hadn't awoken in a different realm. For a moment, he could forget where he was and what was happening. He was with a woman that knew how to coax smiles and laughter from him, something that was rare in his life. He didn't fight her efforts, feeling his exhaustion seep away.

"I suspect you would have a number of offers." She was beautiful enough that there had been some turned heads at her dancing. The presence of others made him hesitant to try, but she had worn down his flimsy protests. "Worn down" perhaps wasn't even the word. She had helped him set aside his brooding for some enjoyment.

As she guided him, the knowledge that others around disappeared from him mind. Awkwardly, he placed his hands where she guided, glancing down at his feet as well. Even with her instructions, he nearly stumbled over his feet. He cursed beneath his breath, shooting her an apologetic look. He was as graceful as a baby calf testing its new legs, but continued to move as she directed. After a few minutes, he was moving more naturally and able to look up from his feet to her. "Did I step on your foot?"

He thought she'd have a few offers, did he? Tinker Bell could barely withhold a laugh at the suggestion, a quick, dismissive "don't be silly" mumbled in quiet awareness of the comment. Perhaps someone would have agreed to dance with her, though her experience in dancing with humans was limited to the last year spent in the Enchanted Forest. She'd mostly watched before that, too small to be seen as she marveled at how people would pair up, hands and feet somehow finding the movements needed to work together, rather than stumbling apart.

She assumed they'd manage the same, enough to believe it for both of them if she had to.

"No, you didn't." Thankfully Tinker Bell was faster than that, able to pull back as he'd moved closer. She gave him a few seconds to relax before she moved in to close some of the distance between them, as if he wouldn't have to work so hard to keep up with her if she was right there. "I was more afraid you'd say no than I am that you'll step on me, but you're picking it up quickly, aren't you?"

Somehow dancing with him was different than it was back home. Fairies in the forest moved in any way they wanted to, but humans in celebration often settled into something more formal and predictable. Jon's effort in learning reminded her that he was allowing himself to be vulnerable enough to step outside of the lines, and that was quite a meaningful suggestion to a fairy who tended to dance right over them if the situation called for it. "Isn't this better than watching?"

He wouldn't press the thought, but knew that she had a fair amount of attention. With her eyes and accent, it was hard not to be intrigued by her. It wouldn't shock him if someone asked to step in, cutting off his paltry efforts to dance with her. There were likely better skilled partners in the crowd.

The sudden reminder that others were watching them caused him to trip over his feet, nearly colliding into her.

"That I would say no? Why be afraid of that?" The comment was a surprise. She had such an ease about her that he didn't think that she was afraid or nervous about anything. That sort of confidence was something that he had found appealing at a young age and only recently found for himself. "Am I? I keep thinking I'm about to step on you." That confidence was missing now.

He didn't know how to answer that. There was a light blush along his cheeks and a shyness to the question, but he remained stoic. Just as focused with dancing as he was with everything else. "I liked watching you dance."

To Tinker Bell, dancing wasn't about skill. People danced because they wanted to enjoy themselves, and she simply wouldn't have had as much fun had she been dancing with someone else. She could be polite and proper when the situation called for it, but never to the point of attending to someone else's whims. No one was owed a dance, not even the persistent fairy who had talked to Jon into it.

Though it might have worked in his favor that she was also good at catching him, helping him steady himself before they could lose too many steps to his efforts. She chuckled at his question, because even as he was only getting to know her, there were moments when he was so familiar that she lost track of what she'd shared and what she hadn't. "I can be persistent at times. As much as I'd like us to have a good time, I don't want to persist so strongly that I push you away instead." Rejecting an invitation to dance wouldn't have bothered Tinker Bell, but pushing him to the point where he'd turn away from her would have. "You won't step on me, and I'd forgive you very quickly on the unlikely chance that you did."

If it was possible, his blush might've been contagious; Tinker Bell's cheeks quickly grew rosy at the confession, a compliment that she might not run away from as easily as the suggestion that others would enjoy dancing with her. "You did? I'll have you know I can twirl with you almost as easily as I can on my own."

He was a man of humility, sometimes to such an extreme that he didn't think that someone would want to dance with him. Regardless of whether he could, he knew there were better and more gregarious partners. He was closed off and reserved, even while dancing. It made sense in his mind that she might enjoy dancing with someone else.

"We are." He was having a good time, at least. It seemed that she was as well. He might know nothing in some people's opinions, but he could recognize some signs and cues. The way she smiled and laughed help to bolster his confidence enough that he could accept that she wanted to spend more time in his company. It was a nice way to become used to the city and to explore it more. Tinker Bell had the optimism and warmth to make it all a bit more bearable.

"Best you not twirl me. I nearly tripped just stepping forward. I'm like to fall if you spin me." He laughed, inwardly cringing at the image, if only for his lack of grace. "I'd like to see you spin again."

They were, were they? That gave Tinker Bell a reason to smile like nothing else, as if she'd accomplished something by getting Jon Snow to dance instead of standing on the sidelines. It seemed that the more he focused on their conversation, the better he was at letting his body move as he was meant to. Less stumbling, more stepping, less uncertainty, and more confidence in how he led her in her own movements. She wasn't about to twirl him, but if he kept her laughing like this, he'd quickly see how she'd gotten her name.

"I won't twirl you, but trust me when I say you wouldn't fall." So help her, if she needed magic to keep him on his feet (or in the air), she'd use it just to guarantee that dancing was nothing less than an enjoyable experience in trying something new. "We'll save the more complicated steps for next time." Because she already hoped, simply for how free he seemed once he was out and about, that this wasn't their only opportunity to keep each other company.

"How about this?" She raised their hands together, guiding his over her head so that he could keep a gentle hold of her fingers while she spun for him, stepping back into movement with Jon after she'd completed her turn.

He could already see the source of her name, hearing that tinkle of bells in her voice. It seemed as if she was glowing. After so many years isolated in the North, it was strange to see a woman who seemed to emit warmth and joy from her heart. It was remarkable and he was pleased to find a reason to smile and to give her reason as well.

"Next time?" That thought hadn't occurred to him. He had given in and granted her that dance now, but he hadn't thought ahead to her wanting another in time. He didn't think that she would want to, once she got a chance to see what he was like as a dancer.

He grinned, watching as she twirled. His arm wrapped around her waist again, falling back into the steps more naturally than he expected. "Aye, like that."

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(closed) winter and the green fairy

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