002 ❅ Action/Video

[needlebearer]

[Having been here a couple of weeks now, Arya looks very different from the first time she addressed the network. She's cleaned up considerably from when she arrived, covered in the mud and blood of Harrenhal, an urchin shivering in a forgotten gray alleyway. She has gained a few bruises since then, particularly on her arms and legs, most of them brown and fading now, but there's one purpling welt on her forearm that she can't help poking at. She doesn't seem too bothered by the bruises, though. While she's arranged her hair in a slightly more feminine way, she's still wearing boys clothes; looser, more comfortable, easier to fight and tumble around in.]


Action

[Those of you passing through the Thor district may chance upon Arya sometime in the morning, looking a little dissatisfied and disappointed in herself. Maya's set her a task, but she's finding it a very difficult one to complete.]

No good. Maybe I just haven't found the right place yet, but...


Video

[It's late afternoon when she addresses the network. Her face still looks troubled.]

What sort of place do you go to, when you need to be alone and think?

[A pause. She's not sure whether to say the next part or not. The truth is, there's a lot that's happened to her over the last few months, ever since they left Winterfell, really. And she's just had to keep going through it all. To have to stop and examine herself now, to meditate and find the inner Arya, would mean facing it all, rather than just adding names to a list of people she'll one day give their retribution. It would mean grieving for Ned, something she's not had the space to do yet. And the idea is scaring her. Maybe not being able to find a place to follow Maya's instruction to her successfully is just a front for that.

She takes a deep breath, but the words won't come. She's just eleven years old, after all, how does she even try and process all of this?]

Robb, can you come and see me, please? I...

[She feels herself blinking back tears and, embarrassed, quickly shuts off the feed.]

Comments

Audio

[samantha_grey]

Here? I suggest a roof, as long as you don't need to climb to get to it. Maybe one of the buildings has stairs to the roof, away from the others. That usually works, but promise to stay away from the ledge.

...

Are you alright?

[She needed to stop worrying about kids. She had other things to concern herself with, and this was a really bad idea.]

Audio

[needlebearer]

A roof might be a good idea. It'd be quiet, and I could see a lot of the city. But... [she lowers her eyes, doesn't finish the sentence.]

There's a lot that's happened, and now's the first time I've really had a chance to take it in properly. But you don't need to worry about me, Samantha. I'll be all right.

Audio

[samantha_grey]

I'm... feeling myself. Do you want someone to talk to who isn't your brother, or do you need the time to yourself? I know for a fact that trying to go it completely alone's not easy. It can be done, but you...

You really don't want to end up like me, Arya, and you're getting started earlier than I did.

[She'd been seventeen or eighteen when she'd started running. There was no way Arya was that old.]

video;

[digophelia]

The park seems to work quite nicely if you want to be alone.

[Alice won't be turning away from her; she's rather fond of children.]

video;

[needlebearer]

I haven't been to the park yet, that might be a good idea. ...Are there lots of trees there?

video;

[digophelia]

There are plenty, yes.

[ video ]

[pratentious]

In Camelot, I would go to the highest battlements of the castle to watch the lower town. It would always be teeming with life, even in the darkest hours of the night.

[ A beat, and he continues a bit softer. One day, Arya, you will not make Arthur worry for you so. ]

Here, though, I've taken to the lake in Baldr. A - friend, showed it to me. It's quite peaceful out there.

[ video ]

[needlebearer]

[She smiles sadly.] My younger brother used to do the same at our castle, until... [She stops herself.]

Thanks, the lake sounds nice.

[ VIDEO ]

[robb]

Arya, is anything wrong?

[ He does not watch the network often, for it is something foreign to him. But - Arya, Arya needs his help. The tears send off a signal, like a pyre in the night sky. OVER PROTECTIVE OLDER BROTHER ROBB GO. ]

[ VIDEO ]

[needlebearer]

[Such relief to see him, to hear his voice. But she still feels awful, has such terrible images resurfacing in her head.

She doesn't want to talk about this. But at the same time, she knows that she will feel better if she does, even if it is unpleasant.]

Robb ... I was there, when they... that day at King's Landing.

[robb]

[ he wasn't there, but it doesn't mean he didn't grieve. that was a life lost to both of them. it doesn't even take guesswork to know what day she's talking about. Ned Stark the traitor. His words are cool and clipped. ]

- Arya.

[ sentenced to die, and not by Joffrey's own hand. he's heard news of this - Illyn Pain, the executioner who did not question. He wonders if Stannis Baratheon is in fact right. ]

He was not a liar. An innocent man died on King's Landing that day.

action.

[bloodyperky]

[ it just happens that kanone is on one of his usual sweeps, taking the highroad as he clambers from rooftop to rooftop stealthily. it's when he notices a vaguely familiar individual down below that his eyes narrow, before he stops entirely to watch over the situation.

... hm.

getting down from the building is easy. popping out of a conveniently-placed alleyway is no harder. at ground level, he raises his hand as he approaches. ] A bit early in the morning for a scavenger hunt, isn't it?

action.

[needlebearer]

Arya jumps with surprise as Kanone appears in front of her.

A scavenger hunt?

No, I was looking for something. A place.

Action

[white_raven]

What place are you looking for?

Action

[needlebearer]

Somewhere to go and think. Meditate, my teacher said.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

Either the park, or the library. For either of them evening is the best time- because there are less people around...

[Audio]

[needlebearer]

[She'd quite forgotten about the library.] Right, I should definitely go to the library soon! Although, I might end up getting distracted easily there.

A few people have mentioned the park, too.

[action]

[blossomgale]

[ Hi there. We share a bathroom in the Thor House, by the way! Sophie might have seen Arya around before, but never had a chance to really speak with her...

She's passing by and stops in her tracks when she sees the disappointed look on Arya's face. ]

...oh, good morning. Are you okay?

[action]

[needlebearer]

[She recognizes Sophie, and is aware that they share a bathroom, she's been hoping to become friends with her but just hasn't had the opportunity yet!

She smiles awkwardly, aware of how strange she must look right now.]

Morning. I'm all right, I'm just having a bit of trouble finding a place.

[Video]

[learninghumanity]

...the rooftops. No one bothers me up there and I can watch everyone else.

[Video]

[needlebearer]

A few people have suggested the roofs, but ... I'm not sure.

[tradingsecrets]

The small park lake is a good place to do that. It's not a secret place, but it's big enough that people probably wouldn't bother you.

[needlebearer]

The lake sounds like a nice place, I'll definitely go and have a look at it.

[hatecomplex]

The roof, mostly. Its quiet up there and I can think without everyone screeching at me. Its what I'd always do at home.

Either that or training, that helps.

[needlebearer]

A couple of people have suggested the roofs, but... after Bran...

It's for my training that I have to do this.