( open ) am i in my home or am i dying in the exact place i never thought i'd be?

[valardohaeris]

Who: arya stark and open open open!
What: around and about, exploring and being nosy and annoying
When: Days 411-413
Where: Everywhere! specific locations include
Rating: PG-13 for language maybe? that's all i can think of

[ GEFION PARK ; 411 ]

[ She's spent most of her time keeping an eye out for familiar faces - and been sorely disappointed - which is the main reason why Arya appears to be sulking so much when she wanders into the park for a bit of a break.

...Or, well - sulking more than usual at least. She walks along with her hands in her pockets and shoes scuffing along the floor, head only jerking up whenever movement catches her eye. Best not sneak up on her. She's got Needle strapped to her side, with no intention of letting the sword out of her sight, and she's more jumpy than usual these days. ]

[ THE ARENA ; 412 ]

[ Come on, as if I need to explain this one. She's training. By herself, with a wooden mock up sword at times or just throwing her fists at others, she works herself to the point of exhaustion - and then, she starts growing curious about this power of hers. Catch her fighting away, or perhaps being pestered by questions about the powers in her particular House - Arya's being Body control, one that really doesn't belong in the hands of a ten year old, to be honest. ]

[ A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK ; 413 ]

[ Stumbling upon this place is a direct result of sticking her nose in other people's business - in this case, by following someone who Arya decides looks a little on the shady side. She sticks around in the shop after the decidedly not shady stranger leaves, poking around at the odds and ends in the store and inspecting them closely.

She hasn't got any money that she can spend, of course, but that doesn't stop her from hanging around far beyond her welcome anyway. ]

[ CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ]

[ want to run into arya somewhere else? got something that doesn't fit here? throw it at me anyway. ]

Comments

[emergingspirit]

[The stranger in question was, in fact, a local looking to buy some tea. They're shortly followed by Connor, who drops in briefly to retrieve a package before he's gone again on a few deliveries. He wouldn't pay much attention to Arya except that she's still there every time he drops in and the only people who spend that much time at the shop are Assassins, which Arya is not.

Still, he's gentle enough about confronting her regarding her overstaying her welcome.]

If you are lost, there are maps available.

[valardohaeris]

[ Uh, rude.

She isn't very good with dealing with people. At least, not when it comes to dealing with people using anything other than rude retorts or aggressive responses. She learned pleasantries as befitting of a highborn lady such as herself, but it's pretty clear that Arya left behind those sensibilities quite a while back. It's not who she is. So she's caught for a minute, looking at Connor with an almost confused expression as she tries to work out how to talk her way out of being kicked out of a shop.

Finally she shrugs, shaking her head. ]

I'm not lost. [ She pauses for a moment, then shoves her hands into her pockets. She hasn't got any money yet, but she might have something in there worth trading. ] I just want some water.

[emergingspirit]

[Only wants water? Unlikely, but he'll play along for now, even if it seems pretty obvious to him that she's just loitering with no intent (or means) to purchase anything. He gestures toward a nearby stool.]

Sit there. I will get you something to drink.

[Which he does, in short order! A glass full of water with a splash of rose water and lemon added. Desmond introduced him to it a bit ago, and he's grown fond of the combination. Plus, it's cheap, so nobody will care if he gives a few glasses of it away.]

You are less wary now than you were in the park. [Yeah, Arya, he saw you. From his perch in the trees where he likes to sit and stare at unsuspecting passersby. Creeper.]

[valardohaeris]

[ She very briefly considers making a dash for it when the man goes to get the water, but eventually decides to take the seat indicated. Arya isn't sure if it's because staying appeals to her more than running again, or if she just wants to find out more about this place, but for whatever reason she's still standing there when he returns with the drink.

She murmurs her thanks as she takes the glass, but when he mentions the park she nearly drops it in her surprise. Arya's head shoots up and her eyes widen considerably before they narrow again. Needle isn't at her hip any more, the sword is sitting in her room, but a hand drops to her side all the same. Jeez Connor, Arya has a thousand too many trust issues for you to just drop creeper information like that. ]

Why were you watching me? [ She tries to sound more brave than she really is, but truth be told she isn't entirely convinced that she's not going to have to start running again. People have been looking for her for a while now. ] Are you with them? Are you with the Lannisters?

[emergingspirit]

[Easy there, Arya! Connor holds up a hand, palm flat toward the floor. Relax.]

It is a habit. I like to sit and observe the world, and I do not know any Lannisters.

[Well, except for Jaime, but that isn't really "knowing" so much as "hey, we killed some giants together, that was pretty cool."]

[valardohaeris]

[ The mistrust is still plain as day, and she fixes her eyes on him a little longer before finally, slowly raising the glass to take a sip. At least in her world the threats and foes were large and loud, armies and gold cloaks that were easy enough to avoid. She isn't sure how she feels about sneaky threats just yet.


...Unless of course, he's willing to teach. ]

Well- good. [ She mutters a little sullenly, shoulders hunching a little as she finally looks away. ] You can't trust any of them, you know. They're all liars.

[emergingspirit]

[Small, sulky child, Connor is hardly a threat to you

A corner of his mouth twitches upward when she calls the Lannisters liars.]

I take it you never lie.

[valardohaeris]

[ He's got her there and she knows it.

For a moment she keeps her eyes averted, sullen as ever, and then she just sips the water again. It's not that she's using tactics to avoid answering, she's just...totally and unsubtly avoiding answering. ]

Only when I have to. They lie whenever they want. [ The distinction is clear enough in her mind, black and white as ever. She's good, they're evil, surely that's all there is to it. ] People die because of their lies.

[emergingspirit]

[There's clearly a history of some kind there. He leaves it (mostly) alone.]

People can die because of the truth, too.

[Boy oh boy, would he know.]

[valardohaeris]

Maybe.

[ Definitely, but she'll be loathe to admit to being wrong so quickly. Instead she just stews on the thought in silence, brow furrowed in a frown that all but creases her own forehead.
Far too serious by far, these Starks are. ]

Do you just...watch people then? Don't they notice?

[emergingspirit]

Only if I want them to.

[That isn't entirely the truth, but he's rarely caught out these days, and even more rarely caught out in Asgard, but it's close enough for his purposes. Connor settles across from Arya and offers her a faint smile.]

You didn't.

[...To be fair, not that hard to hide from a girl more interested in her feet than someone perched in a tree and eating a sandwich but that's not the point here.]

[valardohaeris]

[ She is all set to respond to that with something sharp and stubborn, but it falls flat when she realises that he's right. She didn't notice him, and if some stranger can observe hre comings and goings without being spotted, then what would happen if one of the far too many people who actively want to see her harmed turned up in Asgard?

Nothing good, that's what.

She purses her lips for a moment, draws breath as if about to speak, and then falls silent again. Finally she huffs a little, folds her arms over her chest and draws herself up a little straighter, almost as if trying to make herself appear taller, older. More capable. ]

Can you teach that? How to go unnoticed?

[emergingspirit]

[Connor waits patiently while Arya goes through all the motions of a child working through their thoughts. He knows that face. He made it many times in his childhood. Still makes it now and then.]

Why do you want to learn?