First Winter ❄ Duty [Video]

[starkbastard]

[He's been in Asgard for a few days, learning as much as he can about this world, its many Gods and the way things work around. But there is something that he is still wondering about. And he supposes the best way to have answers to his questions is to ask them out, even if he clumsy with the bracelet nor trust it at all.]

Many of my questions have been answered since my arrival, and for that I am grateful. I however find myself wondering about many things still. Before I was brought here, I was with others and I can not help but to ask of them. Would they not know of my absence? Would they not try to find me? How am I to explain my leaving to them in a way that will be believed?

[That's a rather important question for Jon, seeing as his absence can only be seen as defection from the Night's Watch. 'And on the night of my choosing too,' he thinks, hating that he can not explain himself to his men.]

I know it is an honor to be chosen by the Gods of this place, but I still have a duty to the Night's Watch in my world and I can not help but to worry about the men I left behind.

Comments

[video]

[affranchise]

[Aveline looks a little startled when the video cuts on, but regains her composure soon enough. She sits up a little straighter, apparently situated on her bed.]

Time stops in our world. Or so I am told.

[video]

[starkbastard]

[Jon looks surprised at her answer.]

How can time stop while it still passes by here? And how would others know it does not pass?

[Though, if this is true, it's a real relief for Jon.]

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[this_chair]

Aaaaah, I don't know if I could answer those questions. Aren't they kind of specific and rely on people being able to know things they really wouldn't know?

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[starkbastard]

These are questions about how this world may work or not. And even if in the end, no one has an answer for me, it would not be a waste of time to ask. What if someone knows something?

[ video | private ]

[likethelight]

[ It's private mostly because... ah. It's -- a good question. One that bothers Allen, too.

(Worrying about duty and promises.)

One he'd rather not let his friends know bothers him still. ]

It's different, somehow, how being here works with being home. [ He speaks softly but clearly. Sober but gentle. ] I don't really know how, or if there even really is a good explanation.

But since I found myself here I've run into people from my home that remember things I don't. Things I'm apparently supposed to do. Because time's kept going, but they say that I've been there the whole time. Even if I've been here.

[ ah ] ...For the most part.

So I don't really know what to tell you, other than somehow events keep happening with us back home even while we're here, too. Like we never left.

[ video | private ]

[starkbastard]

[This makes Jon frown lightly. How can he be home and here at the same time? But then again, he remembers Ygritte at Castle Black while she remembers only as far as them scaling the Wall.

When Jon answers, his voice is calm as well, despite the turmoil the idea of him not knowing what's happening to him while he's in Asgard.]

There is one here, from my world, that doesn't not remember the same as I do as well. She remembers only events that have passed weeks ago for me, as if they have passed a few hours still for her. It is...quite confusing. [And certainly not easy to handle.]

How can one be at both places at the same time? How can I not know of what's happening to me here, or in my world, if I am there still?

[Gods, this is hard to wrap his mind around this.]

For the most part? Are you saying that you left this place on your own volition?

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[veneficus]

There are not many who would name it an honor.

[ certainly not herself. Not Morgana who names them abductors and deceivers and thieves. It's even odder seeing a newcomer speak so, which makes this even more curious. ]

You might have already been told that the magic of this realms sees that when you are kindly returned by those who rule this realm [ 'kindly' said with a bit of an annoyance. ] you would find that time has stopped and your absence has gone unnoticed.

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[starkbastard]

How are being chosen by Gods to fight for them not being an honor?

[Don't be mistaken, Morgana. Just because Jon finds it an honor doesn't mean he's content in being here. Like everyone else, he would rather be back at the Wall with his men.]

So they do return us to our world? [That's a small comfort. He's caught on the annoyance in her tone, but is too proper to mention it]

So you are saying that none would know of my absence. [He sighs lightly, as if a weight has been lifted up his shoulders. Well, some weight anyway.] That is a relief to know.

[asgardsstrength]

Don't listen to that party pooper Morgana.

[ Thor isn't even addressing the video feed properly; he's picking something out of his teeth from lunch with his pinky nail. ]

But they're right. Time stops at home. Think of it as a little vacation.

[veneficus]

Only you would call this charade a vacation.

[ HOW DARE YOU DISREGARD HER. ]

[outoften]

[ He's just not okay with this, gods. Not okay at all. ]

You can't actually mean that. You can't just stop time.

[starkbastard]

[There's a clear look of great surprise on Jon's face when Thor appears on his feed. The sight of the man is like a knife to the gut and for a moment, he think he can't find air to breath: he's never been given time to mourn his brother, and until seeing his face Jon has never truly realized how he misses his Robb.]

Robb? [This shouldn't be. This is impossible, the King in the North died at the wedding of his uncle. But then again, Ygritte died in his arms and yet she's walking the ground here, well and alive.

But then Jon notices details that give away the man not being his brother. His casual dismissive way of a lady, his rather improper way to clean his teeth, the lack of Tully red in his hair and most of all, the knowledge of how this world works. Jon shakes his head, unable to hide the look of disappointment in his grey eyes.]

My apologies for asking, but...who are you? ['And why do you wear my brother's face?']

Little vacation? [Sorry Thor, that word is not exactly part of the Westerosi vocabulary.]

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[kindlings]

[ Ygritte is listening carefully to this. Jon Snow, from what she last remembers before she'd been taken to this place, shouldn't be worrying about his Crows' duties back on the Wall. If anything, he should not have mentioned them at all. She'd spoken for him so many times already, from Mance and the other raiders, in his defense—was it all for naught?

So of course, she feels the need to speak up. ]


Your duty's t' the free folk now...or are you forgettin' y'turned your cloak, Jon Snow?

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[starkbastard]

[Jon can't help but to wince at seeing the spearwife's face on his feed. He still has to tell her of what's to come for her, of what has passed for him and why he is now worrying about the Night's Watch again (though he's never stopped worrying about his brothers in arms.]

I have not forgotten, Ygritte. [None will let him forget after all.

His voice is soft, broken almost: he knows he needs to tell her the truth but he dreads her reaction. Dreads that she will push him away, angry and hurt at his actions and for good reasons as well.

He can't look as the screen as he tries to change the subject]

How are you adapting this place, Ygritte? [He's delaying the inevitable and part of him hates himself for it.]

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[burping]

I have heard that we can return home with no memory of this place, as though no time has ever past.

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[starkbastard]

[He nods]

It appears that most have heard of that as well. It is a hard thing to believe that time passes here but does not in our worlds.

[Such a powerful magic the Gods wield if this is truly the case.]

[Video]

[outoften]

People are still going around saying time's stopped?

[ S i g h. ]

That's impossible. But you will be returned to the same instant you last remember, so don't worry about that.

[Video]

[starkbastard]

[Jon is not exactly sure he understands all the ramifications of time being stopped or not. All he knows and cares for is that none will be missing him at home.]

If time does not pass in our world while we are here, how can it not be stopped?

[video]

[tenacityformed]

Funny, what you call honor I think a lot of us here would call bad luck.

[video]

[starkbastard]

I doubt that luck has anything to do with being chosen by Gods.

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[emblazing]

You speak of the Night's Watch?
[ a pause, and a set of possibly familiar purple eyes lands on him ]
Then you come from Westeros.

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[starkbastard]

[Silver hair, lilac eyes, knowledge of his home...Jon blinks lightly and quickly puts one and one together. A Targaryen. She's no older than himself as well and the sight of her instinctively makes Jon think of Maester Aemon at the Wall, and of Samwell, Grenn and Pyp. Gods, he misses his friends more than he cares to admit.

The boy has all the looks of his father, the looks of the Starks, just like his sister Arya, and there is enough familiarity to Robb and Sansa to be called siblings.]

I am, my Lady. I was at Castle Black before the Gods of this place brought me here. Are from the Seven Kingdoms as well? [Though he knows the answer already, he thinks.]

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[upheld]

[ she knows not to say about the issue at hand, but his words raise a new question for her. ] You say you are a man of the Night's Watch?

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[starkbastard]

[Jon nods]

I am. I was at Castle Black before being brought here. [He keeps to himself that he's more than just a 'man of the Night's Watch'. He's still not over the shock of having been elected Lord Commander.]

You know of the Watch? [So she is of Westeros.]

[tradingsecrets]

I wouldn't call it an honor being chosen to be here, but it's definitely something.

[starkbastard]

[There's a hint of an amused smile on Jon's lips. It would seem that he's the only one thinking this an honor after all.]

What would you say it is, then?