revivalproject | bright lights, big city

WHO: Sansa Stark + baby James
WHERE: Coruscant - surface levels; a diner + a network post
WHAT: shock, awe, annoyance
WHEN: 24 March
WARNINGS: TBD

Sansa has been to a few planets in her time both in the Fleet and on Agra 10 but this one has to be the busiest one she's ever seen. She feels like she's in the midst of everything and no one can hear her at all over the noise of speeders and the crush of other beings. She holds James close, not wanting his curiosity to have him touching anything he shouldn't, and calls out for someone she might know.

"If the Agra are doing this, you ought to give me a direction. I cannot help you with whatever task you have if I don't know where you are or where I am," Sansa shouts. A few aliens look her way and shrug and the overall feeling she gets is one of indifference. Seems she isn't the only lost person around here.

Thinking inside would be better than outside, she ducks into what turns out to be a restaurant and settles in one of the booths. The menus are in runes she cannot read and she ends up pointing to what she wants; the staff at least speaks common. While she waits on her food, she jiggles James a bit to try and quiet him.

"We're going to find out where this is," she says, sing-songing. "Mother has to help the Agra again, she thinks, and you're a big enough boy to help too."

***

( Somehow, the communicator had ended up in her pocket without her noticing and Sansa thinks she ought to have tried this first. Of course, she has it now so there's no use in beating herself up over it. )

Fleet! It is Sansa Stark and I have no idea where we are right now. I don't know this planet but I hope some of you still know me. I can send coordinates?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's got speed and there is plenty of chance to get where it's needed.]

I've taken cold baths. I've gone without bathing. It's fine. But I'm glad we're your family. DOn't forget Billy though.

[James! Baby boy! Tommy grins and reaches down to pat his hair.]

Well, we'll have to find him something. I know a few places.

I could never forget Billy. You're ridiculous to think I might. And you know a few places? Well, if we can go there at normal speeds, I think I'd like to find one before he starts screaming.

( James loves to make his opinions known at the least opportune times. )

Of course, normal speeds.

[Tommy doesn't think his speeds, which he can modulate for adults, would be safe for a kid.]

Alright then. We'll... We'll need to take a ship.

[A lift to another structure and lower. Sansa probably remembers how much Tommy LIKED confined spaces. Not.]

Thank you. I appreciate the concession for us because I know it's much more preferable for you to travel your normal way.

( Sansa gives him her most winsome smile. )

The gold in my purse turned into the currency here. I could cover your meal too?

[See, she gets it. Nice woman.]

Lady here this time? Just checking.

[Wait, someone's covering a meal? Fuck yes he's down for that.]

I'll have to figure out just what works for him and me.

( Sansa shakes her head. While the Agrii had been kind to her the first time, Lady has not come with her this time. She supposes if it were between Lady and James, she would always choose James. )

No, Lady did not come with me this time. It is only James and I. I think that will make it easier on you to travel with us, yes?

[Yeah, to be honest, he's not remotely upset that she didn't have the pet this time. Lady really had been uncomfortable for him.]

I mean, for all I know, you're not on the Twin Roses this time. People get moved around.

It has always been my ship here but it could change, yes. I was on the Starduck back in the Fleet.

( A ship is a ship, after all, and it isn't like she cannot visit people outside of her own. )

Have you been moved around any?

Nope. I don't know why. I was gone for a few days here, though years back home. But when I came back, it was right back to the Twin Roses.

{Which he'd been okay with. It had his plants. It had Wanda.]

It's been quiet without you.

It's been slow without you.

( Perhaps a terrible joke but Sansa laughs at it all the same. Her life had slowed down considerably, had narrowed to the focus of the throne and to the concerns of her liege lords, but she'd missed the friendship and camaraderie of her family in the Fleet. She'd missed Tommy especially. )

I couldn't even keep James with me back home. I had to hide him with a nanny. I couldn't be his mother except in secret. Perhaps it's terrible but I am glad to be back.

[He's be so happy to know he was missed by someone. Sometimes he just fears he could disappear and only his brother would notice.]

What? Why did you have to do that? He's your son. He's a prince or whatever.

I'm not married back home. I couldn't suddenly show up with a child and claim him as my own - especially considering who my last husband was, the one I had after Tyrion. No one would want his issue to sit on the Throne of Winter.

( Sansa sighs and ruffles James' curls, unable to get enough of him. )

So I hid him to keep him safe. I visited him as much as I could and I prayed he wouldn't look like me but...he does. I'm glad to be here where I can openly be his mother.

Oh dear.

[Tommy has no idea at all what that meant, but he was going to take it in stride and nod along. The world was stupid.]

Could you adopt him? Like, formally, when he gets older?

I was planning to say he was my brother's child. He used to be King in the North. The people would accept it, I think.

( And if not, she'd insist it. A Stark is a Stark and he does have Robb's look. )

He would be a prince. But for now, hidden away. Here, though, he's my own and I prefer that immensely. I missed him so much.

[Well, there are perks, he guesses, to being so powerful that people would question you less.]

Well, we missed you too. And i'm sure he did. But now he's got you, a doting mother.

More doting than anyone. I won't let him away from me until he cries about it because I missed him too much, having to make that choice.

( James seems content enough to be with Sansa for now, though, and she's grateful. )

Besides, he has to re-meet all of his family. His Aunt Wanda and Billy, he's already met you, Tommy. I suppose Uncle Tony is on the list as well. That's a very big list for a small boy.

[Tommy smiles at the kid, nodding.]

Yeah. I like that idea. Family back together. Well, kid, just don't ask for my cooking.

bright lights, big city

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