video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[sansa's usual raven tapestry background has been replaced by one of her direwolf sigil framed by weirwood leaves and branches. a matching version is emblazoned on the front of her charcoal dress, the branches wrapping around her leaves and over her shoulders, where they are joined by raven feathers interspersed with silver scale mail pieces and sweeping around her neckline, cut just low enough that the dark bloodstone buckle of her needle necklace rests against her skin. lady wears a matching collar at her side sewn with little weirwood leaves and chips of amethyst and pale bloodstone, joined by tiny black feather pieces at the back. her hair is braided back and gathered into her usual half-ponytail; her expression is solemn, a little wistful and sad. for once her white raven omen rests on her shoulder, her hounds in the courtyard sleeping peacefully among the mushrooms.

sufficient time has passed to prove that people are no longer possessed by whatever made them so difficult in july (some of them even came by to apologize for an incident involving vi and a basement). she has already told some of her friends that she means to reveal her name when it's safe enough, and that certainly seems to be the case this first week of august.]

Hallo, most of you know me as Alayne Stone, but I'm afraid that's not my name. I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell, the rightful Lady Protector and Warden of the North in the Seven Kingdoms. My enemies in that realm murdered my Lord Father when he was Hand of the King and seized the Iron Throne. They have taken everything from me–my home, my family, my wolf, my name. They held me hostage while my brother and mother waged war in order to avenge him and rescue me. They will hold me hostage no longer.

I had been hiding as Alayne Stone for over a year before I came here. The Queen Regent thought I helped to kill her son, the cruel and unlawful king who murdered my father in the first place, and she has had a bounty placed on my head. Know then that I am innocent of that crime, and my blood on your hands will drive you to madness even as I crawl out of the sea, and you will not see even one of the golden dragons she promises.

[sansa pauses and glances down at her lap, briefly and sorrowfully, and then back up at the omni camera.]

I never wanted to deceive any of you. [...this is probably not true, depending on who's watching.] I can only beg your forgiveness, and offer in exchange what protection I am able. The words of House Stark are "Winter is Coming;" they serve as a reminder that trouble will find us as certain as autumn turns to winter. I've found that is as true here as anywhere, even if they call it the season of bone. I have done my best to fortify the Sanctuary and my home against all danger, be it corruption or starvation or the cold, and I will always offer guest right to any who seek it at the Rookery. And I will continue to aid the city of Trench to the best of my ability, whether or not any of you choose to forgive my deception. It is my duty as a Stark of Winterfell, and I will uphold it no matter where I happen to be. I would swear it on the Doorway, if it would give any of you any comfort.

[she means it. she smiles, wistful again.]

Thank you for listening to me. I shouldn't expect anybody here to care about the politics of my realm, and I won't burden you with them any longer. If any of you have need of any clothes or what bloodstone I can make, you can find me here at the Rookery, or at the Sanctuary often enough. I am very sorry that I lied to all of you.

Comments

Video; UN Lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

My first master - my adoptive father, really - went by a different name than the one he was born with. For, well, similar reasons. He started using when the Republic became an Empire. Most of my teachers have used aliases because we were considered traitors and hunted. So, I'm not even a little bit mad. Just glad you feel safe enough to talk about it.

Just to be clear - do you prefer to be called Sansa?

Also, I have a commission for you, if you'd like one.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles faintly. she doesn't have much she wants to say about 'masters' who are also adoptive fathers.]

I do. It is the name that was given to me by my Lord Father and Lady Mother, and I have little enough to remember them by.

I should be very glad to make you whatever you need.

[ic commission form here!]

Video; UN: Cuddlebunny

[lightthedarkness]

You clearly didn't do what you did for funsies, you had your reasons and you're telling the truth now that you feel it's safe to do it. Besides, it's your truth to tell.

I mean, we barely know each other but if it helps, I'm not upset about the name thing.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles tightly. she is making a play for sympathy here, and doesn't say that she never actually did anything to anyone.]

Thank you, Lady Usagi. I'm very glad to hear it.

video; un: endless

[manyone]

Kihihihi! Well, do you feel better now that you have that little lie off your chest? Hmm?

[dohaeris]

[sansa raises her eyebrows.]

It certainly sounds as if you feel better since the last time we spoke.

I am proud to be a Stark of Winterfell. I am glad to fly our banners again. I regret it very much that I was ever forced to pretend otherwise.

voice; un: gamemaster

[chessboardturn]

Look, I can't say I understand what's going on with your home situation, but it sounds really complicated. And sometimes you need to get away from that. If you had to save yourself, I don't think there's any shame in hiding for a bit.

Whatever you might or might not have done... that's your burden. While we're here, we should probably focus on making life for one another easier.

[ It sounds like something out of an anime, but he's not about to doubt it. His own life got really weird recently. ]

[dohaeris]

[gamemaster...that's interesting.]

I have always done what I could to help the people here, and I have no intention of ever doing otherwise. If there's anything at all I can do to make your life easier, I should very much like to know what it is, as it may be that I am able to do it.

voice | un: sds

[fogsong]

You don’t need to beg for forgiveness from anyone for the lie and if anyone expects you to, they don’t deserve it.

But, if it’s worth anything, I’m proud of you. [ Sharon remembers Sansa’s ramblings under the influence of the flowers and the fear she’d shown at the idea of coming clean when it felt like her enemies could be anywhere. But now she could be who she’s always been; who she deserved to be for months now. ]

1/2

[dohaeris]

Thank you, Sharon.

2/2, private

[dohaeris]

I know I don't, but neither of us need any more enemies.

Video | un: mister_hatter

[payingfordeliverance]

[Well. Those are certainly a great many capitalized words Break is hearing here, which no doubt explains why he's seen this girl with her thumbs in so many pies in passing.]

If you had already been in hiding for so long when you arrived in this place, to continue the ruse as you learned of this and that was only sensible, don't you think? Then, Lady Sansa, it pleases me to hear that in spite of the nonsense we endure here, you have found enough safety in Trench to begin to take back what is yours.

[He's genuine in that. Break certainly doesn't want the name he was born with restored to him in the slightest; as far as he's concerned, he is Xerxes Break now regardless of whether that name still keeps him from getting killed or not, and that is that. But, he has a few secrets of his own weighing on him at the moment that he should really reveal soon too, and seeing someone else come forward so grandly is a little inspirational.]

[dohaeris]

[sansa's smile is genuine.]

Thank you, Lord Break. That's kind of you to say. I trust Lord Baltus feels the same?

text; greenwitch

[psychopepsquad]

Do you feel safer here?

I'm glad you can just be yourself now. You shouldn't feel guilty.

[dohaeris]

Thank you, I do. I feel safe so long as Lady's with me.

video, un: AskMalice

[slayerskiss]

No idea why you're apologizing.

[Faith's had a rough month, and oddly enough, she's been thinking about her conversations with Allen and Sansa when they announced their little venture.

But she just sort of blinks at Sansa's confessions, completely and utterly baffled by the way she speaks of these like they're matters of grave importance that will get her killed. But it's so... benign? Accused of killing a piece of shit that she didn't actually kill. She can't imagine what that's like, or what kind of person would try to pin such a crime on someone. Actually, she can.

She wonders if this is how she sounds when she talks about being the Slayer.]

You can go by whatever name you want here. Not like it's anyone else's fuckin' business.

But, for the record, I don't think you're in much danger from those enemies of yours unless you run into them on the beach and they're just complete dumbasses.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles crookedly.]

I've learned to be very cautious, especially when it comes to how stupid people can be.

[they are complete dumbasses, faith. complete and absolute dumbasses.]

video | un: jessie☆sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ The person who answers is a normal looking girl in her late teens, wavy hair gathered back in a ponytail. ]

Hey, I haven't met you, but I think there's a lot of reasons why somebody would want to create a new identity, you know? Or even just put on a different face for different people. What you're talking about... that would be a hard time for anybody.

[ Families that hate each other, murder and backstabbing, wayward children cast adrift to suffer a cruel fate, all alone... it's all too similar to the story of her family. ]

I don't think you have anything to be ashamed of. You should be proud instead!

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles gently, a little bemused but nonetheless pleased that someone would choose to introduce themselves on this video. it's a very sweet sentiment, anyway.]

Thank you. I'm not ashamed, but I don't like that I had to lie everybody. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was doing it to be cruel.

text; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

I don't think you have anything to apologize for, ma'am. From what you just said, it sounds like you had every reason to want to keep hiding while you were here. I don't blame you for keeping up a false name here.

Frankly, I don't think anyone else should, either, but that's just me.

But if you need any help with your Sanctuary, I'm happy to lend a hand.

[dohaeris]

Thank you, Shiro. We could always use more hands at the Sanctuary, and we'd be glad to have you. Is there anything in particular you might like to do?

video | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( The young woman has been a mystery to Peter since the first time he met her — back at Paul's party, feeling so strange within himself, hazy and stumbling against the stairs. Something to her has called out to something inside of him, for whatever reason; he can't quite know it, but the lost demon that haunts him is drawn to certain terms that feel familiar to it — kingdoms and royalty. Perhaps the fact she makes clothing: armor in particular, something that Paimon is meant to bestow upon his own armies.

Here, some of the mystery is revealed, and with it.... ache. Peter's frowning (softly at first, then deeper and deeper as she continues); his throat tightens. A father, murdered. Hostages and fleeing. She's come from such a dark place and known such dark things.

And yet, she's... speaking about them. Even if carefully, and even if it's taken her awhile to do so — she's been hiding herself away this whole time. That she's sharing the truth about her identity... it's a concept that's been slowly growing in Peter for awhile, held back by a fear. )

It... sounds like you had really good reasons for wanting to protect your identity. ( He offers a little smile, sad at the edges. He... understands. ) Back when uh, I first showed up in the place before this one? Deerington? I wouldn't tell anyone my real name, either. I was scared to show my face at all, really. I thought...

( He pauses, gives a soft exhale. Even now, years later, it's hard to talk about. )

....There were people after me back home, too. I thought maybe some of them could have followed me.

...But this is brave of you. Sharing it. I don't think anyone should be upset with you for needing to protect yourself.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles crookedly.]

Perhaps our worlds are quite similar after all––or perhaps people are the same everywhere.

[she pauses thoughtfully.]

I knew Luna was in the world before, I didn't realize that you were too. Is that where you met each other?

[it seems obscurely sweet.]

Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

Ah... the burdens of our worlds and lives. Even if not one single, solitary soul follows us to these distant shores? They are there, in our hearts. Shackles that weigh us down.

Has this helped you? I certainly feel no harm from you, but I hope this has helped you. People in this place... they are usually helpful towards those who are in situations like yours.

[dohaeris]

Thank you. I never wanted to be Alayne Stone forever. I'm glad to have my own name again.

I would rather carry the burden of my grief than the shackles that were set upon me.

video; UN: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

That's okay. There's nothing you should apologize for. When I first got here I was nervous about sharing what I was because people back home hunt sea folk. There's nothing wrong with keeping a secret to try and keep yourself safe.

[dohaeris]

[sansa frowns gently.]

People can be very cruel. There's nothing wrong with who you are, either. Thousands of years ago some of the men in my realm pushed the first people, the Children of the Forest, far beyond the Wall that is our border, and our world is poorer for it.

[she offers a small smile.]

I'm glad you're able to be yourself, here.

voice | un: valravn

[warminded]

[Felwinter may not know Sansa particularly well, but there are... a few reasons that he's drawn to this post. Some of them obvious, some of them much less so.]

You owe no one an apology, or even so much as an explanation. You made a sensible decision in the face of adversity, and it has allowed you to survive this long.

[So says the Liar, who has a great deal of experience with hiding one's true identity.]

What made you change your mind?

[dohaeris]

[the real answer is long and convoluted, but being alayne stone had simply become unbearable. she'd had to reinvent herself here, and she discovered the person she most wanted to be was herself.]

I never wanted to be Alayne Stone forever, and I swore an oath to my family that I would honor them.

video; un: quibbler

[creidim]

They do say there's power in names. [ Luna's thoughtful for a long moment, but quietly sad — for Alayne, Sansa. To have a name that holds power, to hide behind another for her own safety. And the girl is younger than Luna, on top of that. ]

There's no need to apologise simply for trying to protect yourself. I could hardly blame anyone for still hiding themselves in a place like this either. Trench, and the dream before it, are difficult and unkind places, at time.

But I'm quite glad you feel like you can be honest with us, that you don't feel like you have to hide anymore. It is very nice to meet Sansa Stark of Winterfell.

[dohaeris]

[sansa's smile is grateful and apologetic.]

I did mean to tell you earlier, truly. It's just that there wasn't any time.

[there had always been other people around, whenever she and luna were together, and she always tried to tell people face to face. she realizes now she could have called her and arranged a meeting perhaps yesterday or the day before, since july had been so busy and difficult, but she'd been preoccupied with making this announcement...]

Thank you, for understanding anyway.