ataraxion | 004

Tranquility.

[ It's with a warm sort of politesse that Petyr addresses the network this time around, a crimson sash draped over one of his shoulders and a new set of robes upon his frame. Visible next to him, at the fringe of the image, is a girl with chestnut brown hair and her hands folded in her lap, who should prove familiar to at least some upon the ship. ]

I inquired some months ago as to the existence of a physical library, and was informed that the ship lacked such a facility. As such, I have taken it upon myself to begin one for the sake of those who would prefer the feel of a solid page than the, ah. Furnishings that the ship provides. My collection is meager, but it is more than what was available upon my arrival. Should you care to take advantage of it, I can be found upon the fifth level, next to the quarters that Alayne Stone — [ at the mention, the girl sitting next to him smiles prettily and offers up a wave ] — keeps as a seamstress. She has offered her help in my endeavor, to care for the books in my absence.

That said, should you be willing to part with them, we would greatly appreciate any spare books that you might have. This service is without charge, and meant simply for the comfort of those upon the ship.

I have taken the liberty of attaching the list of the books collected so far, and hope that some of you, at least, will find some use in it.

[ And, with a duck of his head, the feed cuts out. ]

ATTACHMENT.

ooc: feel free to talk to petyr or alayne or both!

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But— [ Alayne shakes her head. ] —but I feel awful and I fear you love me less. And I do not know how to make such things stop, less I apologize. Again and again, if I must.

I do not love you less for the things you said when you were still a child.

I love you more for the woman you will grow to be.

[There's quiet]

I met a lady aboard, she reminds me so strongly of you, that I only wish to be her friend.

[Is that not sign enough? Jon doesn't know how else to say it. That there was brightness even when she was cruel to him.]

I am not as quick or as conversant in courtesies, Sansa.

[ It makes her heart sing, such forgiveness. When you were still a child, Jon says — did that mean he forgave Sansa for leading their father south, to delivering him into the Lannisters' den because she was foolish and cared only to be queen? Does he find the woman she is growing to be — Alayne &mash; has true worth?

She smiles, though her eyes grow wet. Jon still loves me, she thinks happily and almost cries out in relief. ] I do not need you to be courteous, Jon. I need only that you be my brother.

[He had never blamed her to begin with.]

I can be that.

[ It's a truth that Alayne has difficulty seeing, perspective too skewed by the ugliness she has been party to. She wipes at her eyes, the gesture childish and young, not near as practiced as she would have liked. ]

I do not wish to fight ever, ever again.

I will not promise you we will not fight, but I will promise that I will always forgive if you have hurt me, and apologize if I have hurt you.

[ Alayne knows it is a promise he cannot make, for it is a promise she cannot in good conscience give over as well, but still his words encourage her, her smile warbly and wet. ]

If I have hurt you, I am truly sorry. My only hope is that I may be better than I have been in the past. Just— everything here is so very different. The things I learned when I was alone — they are not bad, for they kept me alive. But not all are necessary here, though I fear—

I fear what will become of me if I grow soft, and— and you are all taken from me again.

What was once hard can be hard again.

But— [ Alayne lowers her head and looks a bit droopy, though it's more plaintive than truly sad. ] —it was so very difficult to learn the first time.

That is because it is not what you were meant to be.

And what was I meant to be Jon? What am I to be now?

Sansa Stark of Winterfell.

Without a Stark it is naught but stones.

[ They made me a Lannister. Petyr made me a Stone. ]

There will be a Stark in Winterfell again. [ Though whether it is her, she cannot say. ]

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