[un: whitewolf] video (backdated to before current event)

[northerndragon]

[Jon looks rough, and he sounds it, too. Under his beard, his face is mottled, and he rubs at the affected area occasionally as he talks. His voice is a low rasp.]

I am seeking my sister. You might know her as Alayne Stone. Girl with long dark hair, but might be that you can see the red in it.

She has been missing for several days. I fear that she is lost in the forest, or that someone has taken her, or —

I don’t know what to think. She is simply gone.

One other thing. It’s not so important as finding Sa— as finding Alayne.

Will you tell me what you’ve done for your curses? I’m having a bloody hard time even thinking of how to set things right with mine. [He rubs at his beard yet again.] Harder still when my mind is on my sister.

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[song_of_fire]

And if she disappeared when you were asleep, guarding her room?

[He would not let culpability for Sansa go. She wished though that he would not put the onus on himself. He was right, his sister was a woman grown, but beyond that, it seemed that however they were randomly sent away, she was another of recent losses.]

It is better you didn't. [She gave him a sad smile, hoping this might bring a measure of a smirk to his face.] If I scold you for wanting to find my dragon, how would Sansa have responded?

Jon contemplates the subject of CRAUs and decides he doesn’t like them

[northerndragon]

At least I would have felt like I did as much as I could have.

If she is lucky, nothing more has happened to her than that she’s gone home. But all of us used to be back in the places we came from before we found ourselves here. What if she wound up somewhere else?

[A slow, vague shake of his head. Once he begins to think on it, the possibilities seem endless, though also endlessly ridiculous and vanishingly unlikely.]

There’s nothing I can do for her. Vengeance, if I find that she’s been hurt, but that is all. I can’t reach into another world and pull her out.

[song_of_fire]

You can have faith. Sometimes it is all you can have, but remaining strong gives others strength.

[She considered the possibility that Sansa went somewhere else, but it seemed a concept far beyond her. She didn't want to imagine the same happening to her or to Jon. If they were pulled away, she hoped they would only return home.]

That is what I would want you to do if I left as well. Have faith that I am home and happy, as Sansa must be.

[northerndragon]

[A helpless, sad look.]

That’s all?

[He says it as if it’s an insurmountable task. He does not think that he could leave it at that — not anymore. Though he does know what she said about strength to be true.]

[song_of_fire]

It is possible to do and I think you will find the means to do it.

It may not be today or tomorrow, but we will go home and you know that you will see her again. The journey is hard, but you know she is alive and you will be reunited.

[northerndragon]

I know she was. I don’t know that she still will be. I don’t know that she isn’t suffering now.

[He capitulates, though, letting out a heavy breath.]

— I was thinking of you, not her, just now. That you said it was what you wanted. I worry for her safety. You, I would miss.

[song_of_fire]

[That takes her back a little, though perhaps she should have guessed that. She had mentioned herself in that context, but all of this between them is still so new...she didn't picture what her absence might do or make him feel.]

Didn't you say you were traveling to meet the Dragon Queen? In either world, it seems you will find me.

[And that is truly romantic to her. Maybe a story or a song.]

Even with my forward attentions, you would miss me?

[northerndragon]

[His reproachful look is not without humor.]

Especially those.

Even with my sister here, when she was here, I feel so bloody alone. Except for you.

[song_of_fire]

[It is a sad existence and one she knows very well. There were times enough that she had felt alone, not simply here but in Westeros as well

She pursed her lips, hiding her smile. She felt impish, even as he said such sweet words to her. But then he often provoked a playful feeling in her.]

Because I so aggressively steal your attention for myself?

[northerndragon]

Like a little thief.

[His expression doesn’t really change, except that it becomes more wry.]

Because — I don’t know why. I would tell you if I could.

[song_of_fire]

And how are thieves punished in the North?

[There was a more gentle look on her face, considering this.]

I suppose it is the same reason I seek you out so often.

[northerndragon]

[Her fingers are small and delicate in his, which are rough.]

Can’t send ladies to the Night’s Watch.

I think you have had punishment enough. But I don’t know where we go from here, that isn’t more punishment.

[song_of_fire]

In this moment?

[Her vest was starting to stick to her back, wet from the blood.

It was hard to completely forget the curse.]

Or in the future?

[northerndragon]

At any time. Don’t you think I —

[He begins to blush again.]

I wouldn’t just be standing here.

[song_of_fire]

Perhaps not, though I wish I could know what might have happened without this village and its curses.

[It seemed to be the reason that they were both holding back. He knew well what was happening to her, perhaps not in the moment, but from before.

She shifted, glancing over her shoulder.]

I may suggest something shocking, if you will allow me?

[northerndragon]

Shocking.

[He sounds dubious: not about whatever the idea is, but about the potential to shock him. There is so little to scandalize him anymore.]

[song_of_fire]

[She doubted he would be troubled, but still it seemed strange to ask or suggest intimacy to Jon.

Leathers and a painted vest were already scandalous by some morals, perhaps even for the North, but a bare back and bare breasts might be far too much

She let go of his hands and peeled off her vest, quite literally. She winced at the pain as the leather tried to stick to her back because of the blood.]

Help me clean my back?

Maybe slightly smutty but not really

[northerndragon]

[This is not how he would have wished to see her bare breasts, and he tries not to stare, though in recent days, he has ached to see them. He has dreamed of it. He looks, and then looks away, with effort, and then swallows and says,]

Turn around. What have you been cleaning it with — just this water? Never any wine, or honey?

[song_of_fire]

[There is a heat to her cheeks and a heat between her legs, but those sensations are pushed down by a surge of sickness. She doesn't answer him for a moment, turning her back towards him.

It allowed her a moment to regain her strength and let him see all that needed to be washed off.]

I use the lake. Normally I swim but my back feels too sore.

[northerndragon]

[Her back looks terrible: all cracked and bleeding skin. He’s seen little like it. It must cause her great pain.]

Do you have a cloth? Something you meant to dry yourself with?

[song_of_fire]

[There was a cloth near the edge of the lake, resting on a large stone that had managed to stay dry. She didn't bother to cover herself, not terribly concerned that she was bare. Given what she and Jon spoke of, he was the only man she'd let look on her here.

There was something more important as it was. She handed him the cloth, drawing him closer to the water's edge.]

I will look today to end this curse.

[northerndragon]

[He’s too unsettled by the condition of her skin to think much on the larger implications of this.

He dips the cloth into the water, lifts it out, wrings the water from it. Then he looks at her back, dips it again, and squeezes out less of the water. Wiping her back seems as though it will only pain her further. He wrings the cloth out near her shoulders instead, so it spills down her back.]

What will you do?

[song_of_fire]

[She winced at the water trickling down her back, clenching her pants tight fistedly. He was gentle at least and it was better that it was him helping her. He could see whether it needed medicine to fight infection or not, something she deeply feared.

There was at least time to have considered this curse, finally making her decision.]

I have items belonging to the wives. I will burn them over his tomb.

[northerndragon]

[He responds after a moment’s consideration.]

It’s worth a try. You can’t go on with these wounds.

[A miracle she hasn’t been laid up with fever, though he supposes that must be some of the magic of the curse.

Once her back is relatively clean of blood, he dabs at it very gently with the cloth.]

[song_of_fire]

No. I risk infection already. I want as well-

[She fought the curse, finding the strength to speak her mind at this.]

I want as well to share what we may both want and not hold back on what I feel.