closerift | (no subject)

[ Cecily does think that she's brave; she hasn't forgotten when they first met, when Arya saved Cecily from the yeti in the snow. If not for the younger girl, the Inquisitor would likely have died. ]

It's got something to do with Delight, or Hope, or... both. [ She doesn't really think that they'll explode, but if they're being drawn toward the fireflies, there has to be some reason for it. ] I'm glad you're safe, anyhow.

[ She stops in the middle of the common room and then turns, shrugging. ]

This is... it, mostly. There's a kitchen and a washroom, and the bedrooms... no one else is home at the moment, so I'm afraid I can't offer Dorian's biting wit to keep you laughing.

[ Cecily pauses. ]

Would you like anything to eat or drink?

[ Arya smiles anyway, even without Dorian's biting wit. This place feels normal in a way that the rest of the cave doesn't. More normal than even the House of Black and White, or the Kingsroad. She doesn't know how to tell Cecily that being in a home is enough. That Cecily could do nothing and Arya would still feel comfortable. But that's an awkward thing to say, so Arya just makes a point of relaxing as much as she can. ]

That's all right. I usually don't laugh at biting wit unless it's my own. [ That's nowhere near true, but hey. Jokes. ]

Some bread, if you have it?

[ It takes Arya a moment to ask. She doesn't want to impose. But she also wants to make sure she has guest right in this place, even though it's unlikely Cecily would harm her. ]

Well, you haven't met Dorian. [ She pauses, then asks: ] Have you?

[ It's difficult to remember who knows who, sometimes. ]

Of course we have bread. [ The Inquisitor chuckles, going to get some from the pantry. Once she does, she lays it out on a plate and picks at it herself, pinching off a corner and popping it into her mouth. ]

I didn't know you had a biting wit. [ Cecily teases, grinning. ] I don't think I've ever heard you make a joke, you know.

[ Arya shakes her head no. ] Is Dorian your... [ friend? ] ally?

Thank you. [ Arya dips her head and takes a bite of the bread as soon as Cecily brings it out. There. Now she has guest right. She relaxes a little. ]

I make plenty of japes! [ Arya says, indignantly. ] When I travelled with the brotherhood without banners, I made plenty of japes about the size of their cocks.

Ally and friend. [ She confirms. ] He's a talented mage, too.

[ Do they have mages where Arya came from? It's been hit-or-miss with the other residents of Hadriel and their worlds. ]

Oh, "japes about the size of their cocks," is it? [ Cecily laughs, surprised and honest, grinning at the girl. ] Maker, you sound like I did. Like I do, I think. [ Let's be real, she still tells dick jokes regularly. ] So, you traveled with a brotherhood and poked fun at their pricks? I hope they didn't try and get revenge by joking back at you. I imagine you'd show them up easily.

[ And stab them, maybe, if they got too... the way that men can be. She wrinkles her nose, briefly. ]

My mother said a lady doesn't speak that way. [ Cecily continues, expression almost humorously serious. ] And I think that's why I say it all so much.

Some of them tried.

[ Arya smiles mischievously. ]

Problem is, I don't have a pecker they can make fun of. That's why I always told the best japes.

[ Arya makes a face. ] Arya Stark's lady mother would say that too.

[ Arya isn't sure if she can call Catelyn her own. Not yet. ]

Oh, they have enough ammunition to fire back at women. [ Unfortunately. ] But I don't doubt you were better than them at it.

[ She does pause at "Arya Stark," the way the girl refers to... herself, Cecily assumes... in the third person, but she doesn't comment. It may just be a quirk. ]

I think it helps. That the jokes help. [ In her case, as she goes on to explain: ] As a leader, it... can seem like you're on another level from the people that you work with. At least, to some of them, or so I'm told. Acting a little ridiculous every now and then helps remind them that you're all the same, you know?

[ It's the lesson that Bull and Varric wanted to teach her. ]

You're a leader?

[ Arya's guard drops, giving way to genuine curiosity. She never would have assumed that Cecily was anything like a commander -- that's far too uncommon in Westeros, after all. Arya's eyes grow wide. Cecily is clearly cooler than she previously thought. ]

Are you like Nymeria of a thousand ships, with her armies of warrior-women?

"The Inquisitor." [ She repeats, with an almost hesitant smile, as if she's nervous about even discussing her role. ] Just the figurehead of the Inquisition, not much more.

[ Others might say differently, but she's stubborn and will argue eternally that she is the least of any of them. ]

"Nymeria of a thousand ships?" I like the sound of that. [ Now she smiles more brightly, both amused and curious. ] Will you tell me the story? I don't really have ships, and our armies are men and women both, but your Nymeria sounds like a very interesting character.