( CLOSED ) and an open cage

[unprays]

Who: sansa stark (unprays) & a buncha people
What: holiday ball & january plot things
When: december & january
Where: olympia, the south outpost, somewhere around wyver
Warning(s): your standard game of thrones warnings apply, just in case

( individual starters in comments!! feel free to either write up a starter for us, leave a blank comment and wait for me to write us something, or poke me @ celen for more specific plottings!

just as a heads-up, i'll be in japan from dec 21 to jan 5, so tags will be very slow going until i'm back! please bear with me in the meantime ♥ )

Comments

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire finds Sansa early into the night, and it's with a smile on her face.]

There you are. I was hoping to find you before too many people set their eyes upon you. [Lovely as she is, Claire doesn't doubt Sansa doesn't draw attention. Might as well have her looking as elegant as possible. She opens the small purse she has with her to pull out a small velvet bag.]

Here. I was going to give this to you later, but I figured we might not have another event like this for some time, depending on the traditions of this place.

[Inside, she'll find a ridiculously blue pendant on a chain. She always did how blue looked on redheads.]

[unprays]

[ a smile blooms on her face immediately as she sees who is approaching her, a smile that mingles with some confusion when Claire hands the bag to her. ]

But why? It's not even my nameday! [ still, there's still some of the girl who used to love pretty dresses and making up her hair with the newest styles that she opens the bag carefully — only, when she picks up the pendant, it's with wide eyes and an exhaled, ] Oh, it's lovely...! Claire, I can't possibly accept this.

[nineteenfortyfive]

In my world, it's tradition to give gifts around this time of year to those dear to us. I thought this would look perfect on you. May I?

[She'll take the necklace and step behind Sansa to clasp it behind her neck. That done, she moves back in front of her, smiling warmly.]

It's very rude to refuse gifts during this time of year, too.

[She's serious, but there's a teasing tone to her voice.]

[unprays]

[ she hums thoughtfully at the mention of tradition — it may not be a tradition she is familiar with, but she can understand wanting to follow the traditions you are used to, keeping a part of your home alive through them.

and so she nods at Claire's question, looking down once the necklace is fastened, her fingertips brushing over the pendant. ]

It's beautiful, [ she breathes out, before looking at Claire solemnly. ] I would never want to be rude, not to you. Thank you. But... I don't have anything to give you in return.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Your friendship and kindness is all I could ever want, Sansa Stark.

[She reaches out to briefly touch her cheek, smiling. She's given her a home, and people to fill the silence left by her family being in stasis.]

[unprays]

You'll always have that, [ she says with a smile that starts small but brightens quickly into something that is rarely seen on her — a true, happy smile.

to stop her eyes from burning at the gentle touch (a mother's touch, she thinks, and feels a pang in her heart), she breathes out and asks, ]

Will you walk with me? I haven't really seen much of this gala yet.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Of course.

[Claire's always glad to get a smile out of Sansa. She moves to her slide, looping their arms together.]

Have you seen the food yet? That's the best part.

[unprays]

[ it's a comfortable way for her to walk — she recalls walking like this with Margaery, and it brings her joy to be able to do the same with Claire. ]

No, [ she shakes her head, her eyes bright. ] Do you think... there might be lemon cakes?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Lemon cakes?

[She laughs, caught off guard by that hopeful little inquiry.]

I'm not sure, but is that something we should keep in the house, then? Away from the men?

[unprays]

[ she doesn't answer, not immediately, but the hopeful glimmer in her eyes speaks enough on that — if there's one food she's missed, it's surely the lemon cakes. ]

You think we could hide them? I don't think Father would eat them, but Jon might.

[nineteenfortyfive]

We can make Jon something else. The lemon cakes will be yours. [It's said in conspiratorial whisper.] If you like them that much, there's no reason why you can't have as many as you can handle.

[Not her usual logic, but Sansa deserves to make herself sick on sweets if she wants. Be a young lady.]

[unprays]

Jon will like most things, [ she says, matter-of-fact, like it's obvious. ] I don't think they ate all that well at the Wall.

[ that makes her frown, and so does what she thinks of next. ] I do like them. They're very sweet... the last time I had them was in the Eyrie. It's been a long time since then. [ Lord Baelish had made sure to bring lemon cakes for her... and her aunt had hated her for it. ]