oh sunshine in an empty place ( ota )

[persequor]

Who: arya and you!!
What: arrival + wandering
Where: emerald sanctum + silverglen retreat
When: pre-kidnappings and post

a. emerald sanctum

[ for having been recently abducted to an entirely different world, arya stark is handling it remarkably well. joy had replaced her fear when she found nymeria returned to her. the direwolf is no longer a pup and had bowled her over, licking her neck and face while arya laughed and hugged her.

following the reunion, girl and wolf had taken to exploring. arya had tried climbing a tree, but the canopy was up too high and nymeria worried. after so long separated, she is loath to leave her wolf’s side. but there is plenty to see on the ground too. strange broad-leafed plants their green so dark and rich and beautiful flowers the like of which arya has never seen.

and the dragons!

she drew to a stop when she saw the first one — only for a moment before it vanished again among the green. her mouth dropped open into a perfect little o, her eyes wide and unblinking. dragons! real, living dragons!

even faced with such beasts, her fear feels like a distant thing. there are no guards and she has needle and nymeria and a thousand places to hide. she wanders in a state of half-curiosity, half-awe. giggling, she grabs a branch and swings herself back and forth. ]

b. silverglen retreat

[ she was warned of the dangers outside. still, arya awakes one morning and sets off after she and nymeria have eaten to the town. she has both her swords at her hip, needle gleaming and sharp and syrios’ heavy wooden blade, and a quiver of arrows and a bow at her back. she debated long moments whether to take a crossbow; she finally settled for the promise that she would practice with it when she returned.

on the way she practiced shooting at nearby targets. arya would grin after the arrows hit and run off to recover them. at the town, she and nymeria both got their fair share of looks, but nothing compared to how arya stared at the night elves.

they’re purple. it was all she could think and she made the mistake of voicing her observation. she apologized profusely and tried not to stare at anyone else once she was allowed in but—

they’re purple.

it has to be dye. but arya doesn’t ask. she wanders the streets, trying to keep her eyes on the houses, the shops, the wares. whenever her eyes slide over another elf, she drops them quickly to the floor. nymeria remains at her shoulder, growling at any that strays too close. ]

c. forests around silverglen retreat

[ make your own adventure! or ask me for a starter :') ]

Comments

[persequor]

[ she eyes him critically. ]

You're a swordsman.

[ though stated, it's framed as a question. ]

[wilder]

Uh...yeah?

So?

[persequor]

So could you fight them too before you got here?

[wilder]

If there were any around, maybe.

[Better than he could now, but he won't mention that]

[persequor]

[ arya nods. she turns her head to the fire, chewing her lip. when nymeria comes up behind her, she doesn't start. the wolf's mouth is red, but arya makes no complaint when nymeria pillows her head on the girl's lap. she catches arya's arm between her teeth. despite the ease with which she had torn into the stag, she's almost gentle with arya as she plays. arya plants a kiss to the top of the direwolf's grey head and lets her do as she will. ]

[wilder]

[He watches that scene. It seems familiar, but more watching Cat and other people with pets than himself. Though it does make him think of Curry. He imagines she's still wherever Sheena was. Hopefully, that meant she was okay]

[He's quiet for a few minutes more before he finally pulls the stag meat out of the fire]

Food's ready.

[persequor]

[ she waits to be served, not out of decorum but because appearing too eager was a good way to not be fed or be given only the dregs.

nymeria lets go of arya's arm and turns her head. unlike arya, nymeria seems to know him, or know something of him. she fixes her gold eyes on him; her tail thumps the ground. ]

[wilder]

[Only in Westeroes would they think the person who refused to feed Oliver Twist was in the right]

[But that's good because, the meat is a bit smoking hot. He gives it a moment to cool so it doesn't burn off her tongue, before handing her stick of meat over. He notices Nymeria staring at him, her tail thumping. Of course, he misinterprets it for what dogs usually want]

Hey, you already ate girl. This is for your friend.

[persequor]

She's not asking for food. [ arya takes the stick from him and blows on the meat. though nymeria follows the movement, she doesn't reach for the meat. ] She never asks. She takes.

[ wonder who that sounds like. ]

We're not friends either.

[wilder]

Well that's a sign of good manners.

[He raises an eyebrow]

No? Then what are you? And you never told me your name, you know,

[persequor]

[ she shrugs. ]

You didn't ask.

[wilder]

Alright, then what is it?

[persequor]

I'm not allowed to give my name to strangers.

[ she says it with a smile so he will think her only a bratty child. ]

[wilder]

[He makes a "tch" noise. Brat]

But you'll take food from them? That's a bit

[persequor]

We gave you the meat, [ she points out. ] It was our kill.

*bit backwards, sheesh brain

[wilder]

So? I could've done something to it while cooking.

But if you don't give me your name, I'm gonna have to come up with something to call you.

[persequor]

You can call me "girl" for all I care.

[ she shrugs. he didn't do anything to meat — she's sure he didn't or she would have seen — and she takes a big bite. ]

[wilder]

That so?

Hmm, alright. Little Lady it is, then.

[And he'll go take a bite himself. Of course he didn't do anything to it, but still!]

[persequor]

[ loads the shotgun. ]

I am not little! —And I am not a lady! [ her voice trembles. too late, she remembers she gave that away earlier.

the hope for her mother had been so strong— arya is furious at herself for being so stupid. ]

[wilder]

[Wow. Such rage. So anger]

You sure? I dunno, you look small to me. You're- what? Not even five feet tall?

[He won't touch the lady thing]

[persequor]

Only because I'm nine! I'm still growing!

[wilder]

So? Still means you're little right now.

[persequor]

Shut up!

[wilder]

Haha, now now, Little Lady. No need to get all pissed off.

[persequor]

[ she is going to punch him.

in fact she's swinging for him right now.

tiny fist to his arm, wow, much hurt. ]