V O I C E ★

[debtor]

[The voice on the other side of the tablet is young and vaguely male, and a little hesitant. Despite being here for months, this is is the first time he's actually tried posting to the network himself, and addressing a sizable, unseen audience, live, is somehow daunting. . . But he knows he needs to find someone, sooner rather than later, so:]

Er. Good afternoon! I'm wondering... if there is anyone here who is skilled with a sword, who would be willing to help train a beginner? I've a few months' practice already. And I don't require formal lessons, but I would appreciate a sparring partner. [ a pause, he clears his throat ]

But, if preferred, I could provide compensation for lessons...

[Though he'd rather not, it seems only prudent to offer. —And oh, right:]

Right, also, my sword is— a bit broad. And tall. And held with one hand? I don't know if that matters!

[He knows for a fact there are talented swordsmen here. One in particular comes to mind immediately, but he's not going to just ask him. And there's one or two others he could possibly wheedle lessons out of, but isn't it best to cast a wide net?

He's about to end the feed there, when he remembers one last thing: ]

And if it's all right, I have a question for those who use one of the Initiative's sentient weapons. ...How long did you train with it before it began to 'evolve'? Were the changes very drastic?

Thank you very much!

Comments

[debtor]

[Nettled by what she's implying, he's about to argue—

but cuts himself off.]

I'm sorry, that they left you.

[wolfchild]

[ pity. that's all anyone ever summons for her. she doesn't need it. ]

Don't be! I'm better off!

[debtor]

[Who's ever better off without friends?

Unless they were shitty friends. He can't say, he has no idea who she's talking about.]

What happened...?

[wolfchild]

Nothing happened! They left! Everyone who ever said they'd stay! They did nothing and then they left!

[ it's been brewing a long time. long months spent swallowing everything, locking it away where she would not have to see it. her lies have meant no matter how surrounded she is by people, she is always, always alone. and it should have been better, it was better, because when people leave, she is the one hurt.

no one feels nothing. she has given everything to the god of many faces; she has nothing else left. but arya stark lingers, continuing to be drawn out at the insistence of others. at the insistence of arya's brother. it feels like sleeping in a dark place and being shoved into the light: it's blinding. it's painful. she wants to recede into the shadows before she burns.

she doesn't sound angry anymore. only empty. ]

Things go better for me when I'm alone. I don't need a family. Family only means you have something to lose.

[debtor]

[This is not okay.]

Cat...

Family isn't about losing.

I know, that when you lose the people you care about, it's painful. It hurts, it feels like you might never recover from it. But you can, and you can keep moving forward. Because they give you the strength to, even if they're gone.

To not have that at all... that's much worse.

[wolfchild]

[ she had once told her father she could be as strong as a direwolf. before a heart tree, with his voice in the branches, she had repeated her promise.

but her pack has long been slain and scattered and she left with only her sword and her names and a dark, aching hole in her chest. ]

My family's dead. I don't care for a new one.

[ she thumbs the off-button a long moment before firmly pressing it. ]