004 -- voice;

[northerner]

It seems there are many from my world to be welcomed aboard after this past jump. If those of Westeros inclined to make their presence known, I would speak with all of you.

[ there's a pause. a direwolf's low whine can be heard, and robb exhales slowly. ]

And I'm sure it is already known, but the lady who called herself Aberdeen is no longer aboard.

[ and feed is cut. ]

Comments

audio;

[tumbleweeds]

Are we going to have good news from you at any point?

[ GRUMPY GRUMPY GRUMPY ]

[northerner]

That is not for me to say. This ship does not deliver much of it.

[tumbleweeds]

You could make some up. Just... tell me Aberdeen's in somewhere better than this heap. Try and do it convincingly.

[northerner]

She never spoke unpleasantly of her home.

[ SHE ACTUALLY NEVER SPOKE ABOUT HER HOME FULL STOP BUT. ]

[tumbleweeds]

That was not convincing at all, Robb. You're supposed to be a king, didn't they teach you how to lie properly?

[northerner]

My father raised me to be an honest man. A crown hasn't changed that.

[tumbleweeds]

[ She snorts, looks away from the camera. ]

My parents tried that and they died. I didn't.

[northerner]

[ and robb looks away because he doesn't like what happens to his face when people bring up parents and his thoughts stray to eddard stark and the pain of that loss. ]

My father was an honest man. I'll not turn liar and dishonor his memory.

[tumbleweeds]

[ Looking away is still a tell, Robb. And so's word choice. ]

Guess death's already shown you how it goes hand-in-hand with honor. [ She tilts her head. ] You fight fair, Robb? You've got a sword and a direwolf. I know you fight.

[northerner]

It's shown me the treachery of the Lannisters, and the corruption in the South.

[ fair fight, yes, robb did. robb always would, even if his battles were bloody and he emerged spattered in gore. men called him aegon the conqueror reborn for a reason. ]

Aye, I fight fairly. I know no other way.

[tumbleweeds]

That's 'cause snakes like to eat mice.

That's going to get you killed. You don't have to fight unfairly, even though I personally would recommend it. But you gotta know how someone else might.

[northerner]

My father was no mouse.

[ CHECK YO SELF JAYE. ]

It matters not how they fight. I'll gut them all the same, if need be.

[tumbleweeds]

Snakes kill wolves, too.

[ no u ]

Okay, I am not the best person to be asking you about this, but have you seriously never heard the words "strategy" or "tactics" before in your life? 'cause trust me, how someone fights means a lot.

[northerner]

All the more reason to lop off their heads.

[ LMFAO WOW ROBB IS SO INSULTED HE CAN'T EVEN. ]

I know both words well. I wage a war and I mean to win it. I am winning it. I understand the importance of my opponent's manuevers, but that trickery matters little if I know how to counter and how to win, and win honestly.

[tumbleweeds]

Snake heads can still bite for several hours after decapitation, actually.

[ GOOD BECAUSE JAYE THINKS HE'S AN IDIOT EVEN MORE NOW ]

Yeah. You need to know what they're doing in order to counter it, genius. [ The "genius" bit was incredibly sarcastic. ] Or are you going to fight everyone in the opposing army one-on-one? 'cause if that's the case, drop me off where you're going, I want to see that shit.

[northerner]

[ THIS ARGUMENT. ]

And what do you know of wars and battles that qualifies you to lecture me so upon them?

[tumbleweeds]

[ She takes a deep breath, but this time her tone is icy. ]

I took on an entire cult by myself to keep my god in the game. Before that I spent eleven years fighting to stay alive any way I could, and until he disappeared, I fought to keep my brother alive, too.

I know a lot about battles, Robb. I grew up with them. You're an eighteen year old kid who thinks he can win, because you think you're fighting for the right cause. Maybe you are. But the right cause doesn't mean jack shit if you can't defend against people willing to kill you in any way they can to stop it. And sometimes? That means killing them the same way first.

[northerner]

Understand me, I am not child. My father was Lord Eddard Stark, who led King Robert Baratheon's armies during the rebellion. He raised me to follow his example. I'm no green boy, fumbling his way through war. I learned everything my father had to teach me, and I know well enough what it is to meet an army in combat.

I will win this war. And I'll do it without dishonoring myself. Perhaps you care little how low you stoop to win a fight, but I won't bear a stain upon my honor. I'll find a way to win without the cheat.

[tumbleweeds]

You're not your father. Is your honor so important that you'd die for it? That you'd leave people behind who love you for it?

[20mentholkools]

You aren't the best person.

[tumbleweeds]

Thanks, peanut gallery.

I'm still right.

[20mentholkools]

Strange to see you admitting it.

[tumbleweeds]

It's been a long few months.

[20mentholkools]

Learning the hard way.

[That was what the universe did to you, and you either learnt fast or you didn't. He knows it.]

[tumbleweeds]

Only way I know how. But we both know a girl who'd rather Robb didn't.