[ video ]

[nukeoleptic]

[ When the video opens up, Jade just pushes a cute if crudely made doll toward the camera. It has a shock of messy black hair and folded bits of white that seem to represent ears. She's grinning from ear to ear (just like the doll is!) as she pulls it back. ]

Did anyone else get a doll at their door? I got this and, um, some flowers and some cards that were really, really cute.

[ It was, apparently, enough to lighten her mood pretty considerably. ]

Anyway! I need to stop hoarding so many guns, because I had a million and then Roxy left me a million, and two million guns is just way too many for one girl to have. If you need a weapon and can promise me that you won't shoot yourself in the face, please let me know!

Alternatively: if you need help figuring out how to not shoot yourself in the face, I am also the girl to see about that.

[PRIVATE to Sophie:]

So, um, hehe. About Osiris.

Comments

[summerschild]

I'm Bran.

[You've unfortunately lit the childish curiosity fuse.]

Would it set the horse on fire?

[nukeoleptic]

No! Um, it shouldn't set the horse on fire. But it'd just be a lot harder to aim, and guns are really dangerous, so you never want to shoot unless you're sure you're gonna hit what you're aiming for.

[summerschild]

Okay. I promise, then.

[And that's genuine. These things sound scary.]

... I just want to be able to defend myself. But I can't use a sword, like my brothers, or fight like some of the other people here.

[nukeoleptic]

[ The smile she fixes him with is sunny. ]

Then these will help you fight, if you can be smart about it. I'll help as much as I can, cross my heart. I'm not a bad teacher, either.

[summerschild]

Are you a warrior?

[He doesn't know many girls who know much about weapons, except maybe Arya and Meera. Jade intriguies him.]

[nukeoleptic]

Ummm. I wouldn't really call myself a warrior, no. But I've done a little fighting, yeah. Sometimes you have to, right?

[summerschild]

Sometimes, yes.

[Not that he's done much. At all. Excluding heavily padded kiddie sword practice.]

My brother's- [past tense, remember past tense]] ... my brother was fighting in a war. I didn't want him to be a warrior, but he had to.

[nukeoleptic]

[ Oh, she caught that shift to past tense, and she winces a little. ]

You don't have to be a warrior here if you don't wanna. You know that, right?

[summerschild]

I know. That's why I'm helping with supplies.

[Also, his brother would object if he tried to do anything more dangerous than that.]

I wanted to be a knight, once, but now I don't want any part in it.

[nukeoleptic]

[ She isn't sure if it's okay to ask, but he'd been the one to bring it up, so-- cautiously: ]

Because of your brother?

[summerschild]

No. Robb wasn't a knight. But I thought being one would be grand, and exciting.

[nukeoleptic]

[ wait hold on a second ]

Robb is your brother? The Robb that's here?

[summerschild]

Yes. Robb Stark. He's my oldest brother.

[nukeoleptic]

[ Most of Jade's memories of actually interacting with Robb come from the time they'd both been corrupted. She winces briefly, but covers it up. ]

He seems really nice.

[summerschild]

He is.

[A brief, solemn pause.]

I'm glad to be able to see him here.

[nukeoleptic]

My brother used to be here, too.

[summerschild]

He was? Did the gods make him leave?

[nukeoleptic]

Yeah. Not too long ago. It's okay, he's got lots of stuff he has to go do at home.

[summerschild]

I hope you can see him soon.

[Or... not, if she's from a really shitty place she doesn't want to go back to.]

Do you have other siblings?

[nukeoleptic]

[ She shakes her head from side to side. ]

Nuh uh, just him. But I just spent like three whole years with pretty much him and barely anyone else, so we've got a lot of bonding time under our belt. I'll be okay without him for a little while.

[summerschild]

[He gives a solemn, understanding nod.]

I've got three brothers and two sisters, but I haven't seen any of them in a long time - except for Rickon. He's four. And Robb, of course, but... not until I came here.

[nukeoleptic]

Well... you should tell me all about them when I'm giving you lessons. Remembering is important. It's the most important.

[summerschild]

When can you start teaching me?

[nukeoleptic]

As soon as you want. Tomorrow, even.

laaaaaaate sry -_-

[summerschild]

Really?

[He smiles at her, a fairly rare sight.]

I would like that very much.