like so much kindling [ video ♐ 002 ]

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte activates the video feed. When the camera focuses she's seated cross-legged on Jon Snow's bed, looking into it intently, features stern—and with her other hand tapping the flat blade of a carved bone dagger against her sheepskin-covered thigh.

Her voice is steady and light, but with just a hint of iron underneath it. ]


...I'll speak now t' the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, 'f he's willing.






[ ...No encryption of any sort, b/c wildling. Takes place after a particular conversation with Alayne Stone.

...Jon Snow, you got some 'splainin to do, boy. ]

Comments

[wolfinthesnow]

I didn't want to hurt you.

[He watches, but doesn't move]

[kindlings]

But y'didn't want t' be one of us, neither.

[ Her eyes are hard, and she takes another step closer. ]

[wolfinthesnow]

I did, for a time.

[kindlings]

 

An' what changed your mind?

[wolfinthesnow]

[He can't do this. But he has to, he just watches her]

It's complicated.

[kindlings]

[ She shakes her head, slowly side-to-side, and her fingers tighten around the bone dirk. ]

That's no answer, Jon Snow.

[ They're standing directly before one another now, and she can see the conflict in his eyes. ]

You had your chance t' be free. An' you gave it up. For what? For your duty, to some shit old men who'd tell you what to' do?

[wolfinthesnow]

I'm the Lord Commander. It doesn't work that way anymore.

[Even Stannis couldn't tell him what to do.]

[kindlings]

So you're still not free.

Was it worth it?

[wolfinthesnow]

I don't know.

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte is quiet for a moment, as she stares into his eyes. ]

I told th' Lord o' Bones I'd cut your balls off myself, if y'flew from us.

[wolfinthesnow]

Will you?

[Because that's all that matters, here.]

[kindlings]

...Thought 'bout it.

[ And after another tense moment her head dips; she opens her hand, letting the dagger fall uselessly to the floor. ]

But 's much as I'm good as my word...I s'pose I'm more weak than I'm strong.

[wolfinthesnow]

[He takes a breath, that he has been holding, and bends down to pick it up.]

[kindlings]

 

[ Eyeing him carefully. ]

I can't kill you, Jon Snow. [ Even when all of my upbringing tells me I should. ]

I should be 'shamed of it, but 'm not.

[wolfinthesnow]

[And that's it.

He kisses her on the mouth, like it's easy, like he hasn't been wanting to do this for weeks, since she first showed up and they took that ridiculous bath]

[kindlings]

[ She's shocked into speechlessness, for once, and returns the kiss eagerly.

But she breaks the kiss just briefly, lips still open and wanting, to breathe: ]

Jon. [ Not even Jon Snow, right now. ] What're you doing.

[wolfinthesnow]

[He just looks at her, and he's not blushing, he's not turning away]

I wanted to remember.

[kindlings]

[ She throws her arms around his neck, then, pressing her mouth against his once more and throwing herself wholeheartedly into the kiss.

Ygritte is nothing if not an opportunist. ]

[wolfinthesnow]

[He takes a moment to breathe her in, quiet.]

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte nuzzles her face into his neck, nosing into a spot against his skin uncovered by his dark curls, and she kisses it with both her lips and a hint of teeth.

She presses herself closer into him, melding her body into his. ]

[wolfinthesnow]

[He sets the dagger down on one of the surfaces, and with his hands pulls her flush to him, slotting their hips together.]

You're all right?

[With this, with the fact that I turned, crap. Jon's head is filled with words, and a lot of those words say to stop.]

[kindlings]

[ Her thoughts are jumbled as well, her mind still reeling from everything he's revealed. But the feel of him against her is intoxicating, something she'd coveted long before she ended up in this place.

She answers honestly, nose to nose with him, flushed and panting: ]

...I don't know.

[ Her eyes are bright as she holds onto him tightly. ]