walking.

[theladyofwinterfell]

WHO: Sansa Stark
WHERE: Network
WHAT: This child is walking. Seriously.
WHEN: late April
WARNINGS: TBD


( Sansa uploads a short video to the network before she goes live - James has finally taken his first steps and she's so delighted to have caught it on camera. She knows there will be plenty more after this, of course, but she cannot be prouder. )

James is walking! I think his nameday is in a fortnight or so - it's hard to keep track - but he's started walking over the last few days and I wanted everyone to know.

( Sansa tucks her hair behind her ears and grins a bit. )

I also would like to ask if I could get someone to mind him for a night or two this week? Just for a few hours. I'd like some time to myself that isn't sleeping.

Comments

[hadthehighground]

Congratulations!

If you like I can watch him. I already take turns with Padme regarding the twins, and we have a nanny droid.

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Sansa knows Obi-Wan from the ship and he seems a kind man. He often helps Padme, from what she can tell, so she feels comfortable enough leaving James with them. )

Are you sure it won't be too many babies for you to watch?

[hadthehighground]

[He has definitely been around! Even though they hardly know each other, it’s nice to know someone trusts you enough to leave their child with you.]

I will be fine. Don’t worry. And like I said I have the nanny droid to help. The twins at least are not anywhere close to walking yet.

[Give that a year or two and Obi will probably be chasing after them.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

I remember when James was that small. I could not imagine having two of him at once. Twins ran in James' father's family. I could have well been in that predicament.

( Sansa smiles softly, glad to talk to someone who seems to like children. )

I'd still have another, though. If it ever became possible.

[hadthehighground]

It is a lot to care for. Though in my case it’s not my responsibility alone. Having support is the key, and you deserve that as much as anyone else.

I hope one day you get your wish.

[theladyofwinterfell]

I hope so as well. I think Padme is lucky to have your help, though. She seems like a wonderful woman in as much as I know her so far.

[hadthehighground]

She is that. We have been friends for a very long time. Helping to take care of her children is the least I can do for her.

[theladyofwinterfell]

You're a very good man. Where I come from, men are only interested in children as heirs for the most part and have little to do with raising them, especially when they aren't their own. You're a rare breed.

[hadthehighground]

Perhaps. Though I’m certainly not remarkable among my kind as we Jedi care for our younglings as a community, whether we are male or female.

It pains me to hear thats not the case where you’re from. Does James not have a relationship with his own father?

[theladyofwinterfell]

No. His father would have wanted one but we weren't in a relationship back home, only here in this place. We don't know one another that way back in Westeros.

( And it would be far too difficult to explain that to Tyrion Lannister of all people. )

But for a time, James' father got to see him and be with him. Not nearly enough, no, but he was loved.

[hadthehighground]

Oh, I see.

[Well that's rather complicated, and a bit sad as well. It also made him wonder. Did that mean James didn't exist where she's from?]

Well, you and James are welcome to come to the temple any time. I think it would be good for him and the twins as they grow up to be around each other, and you will have our support as well.

[theladyofwinterfell]

I want to do that. I never dreamed he'd have other children to see growing up in this place.

( She'd thought herself the only one foolish enough to have a baby in this world but Padme had hers here, too, and she thinks they're both brave for it. )

I think it will be good for us all.

[hadthehighground]

[They are both brave women, Obi-Wan would agree with that. He didn’t really know Sansa all that well but he’s starting to like her already.]

I think so as well.

That being said, just let me know when you would like me to watch James.

[theladyofwinterfell]

I will. Thank you so very much for your offer. I appreciate it and am glad for it.

[noch]

This is a male child of your species?

[ Please forgive her, she's never seen a human baby before. Ever. Stiffly, she adds: ]

I congratulate him for his success.

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Sansa has been in space long enough to understand different alien races and she nods, excited about James and his accomplishment. )

He is. He's almost a year old, so it's about the time for him to walk, but I was still shocked when he did.

[noch]

[ Merrin is watching the video again, bringing the device up close to her face. ]

He is very... cute. [ The pause is a little uncertain, but ultimately sincere. Again, this is her first human baby. ] He has inherited your hair color exactly.

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Any compliments to James are compliments well received and Sansa laughs delightedly, nodding quickly. He might be a terror while he's teething and she might be terrified he's going to choke on something but he is hers and she's proud of him. )

He has! My older brother had red hair and my lady mother did too. He gets the curls from his father's side.

[noch]

[ Sansa's laugh catches Merrin off guard, but her expression quickly softens. This woman is so proud of her child, and it's endearing. ]

It is... common? This type of hair color.

[theladyofwinterfell]

Not terribly common. Red hair runs in my family but it isn't common among my people. Most of them are dark haired.

( Now that most of her family is gone now, the look of her stands out much more than it had when Robb and her mother were alive. )

I'm glad he has it. It ties us together a little.

[noch]

I see. The color does not appear in my people.

[ She's just going to file that tidbit of information away. For reasons. ]

It reminds me of the sunrise on my planet, Dathomir. I... like it.

Video also

[thesepreciousthings]

Oh. My. Gosh, lookit 'im go. That's gonna be trouble, right there. Congratulations t' both of you.

I can watch him for a bit if you still need someone. Or, y'know, alternatively, if you do have enough people, I can give you some company that doesn't drool or fuss.

[theladyofwinterfell]

Both would be excellent. I still owe you tea or something after you helped me on Coruscant.

( Clarice had been quite kind to her, for no gain of her own, and those things still shock Sansa after the life she's had. )

We should spend an afternoon together.

[thesepreciousthings]

I'd like that an awful lot. Why not both? We can hang out while someone else watches him and then I'll take a turn so you can get to know someone else or just, you know, be.

I've been helping Tommy out at the diner, you want to meet me there? Any time's fine.

[theladyofwinterfell]

The diner would be perfect. I go there a lot myself, actually, and I've been helping Tommy out some since I got back.

( Sansa cannot help but smile. It's been a long time since she's had a new friend. )

You're wonderful, you know.

[thesepreciousthings]

[that strikes her in a spot she hadn't expected. Mapp was her only real true, close girlfriend, and she hadn't seen her in years. to be considered one to someone again fills a need she'd almost forgotten]

That's sweet of you, Sansa. But so're you. When do you want to meet up at the diner?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Go, James!

I saw Obi-wan's response, so I guess you're covered for right now. I don't have a lot of experience with babies, but I'm learning.

You're settling in again ok?

[theladyofwinterfell]

I'm settling in really well, actually. It helps that I've been here before among this group of people but I feel...at home in a way that I don't feel like I am when I'm at my actual home.

I think it's because people are warmer here.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He grins, remembering what her birth home is called.]

And I'm guessing you don't just mean the relative climate.

[theladyofwinterfell]

No, I don't. I'm very stand-offish at home for a lot of reasons. Here, I don't have to be. None of you are a threat to me because I have nothing you want. I don't have power you seek.

[ezra_of_lothal]

That...makes sense, but yeah, makes me glad for you that you're here.

Not that leaving duty behind is easy in my experience.

[theladyofwinterfell]

It's not. If I hadn't been here before and left, if I didn't know much time doesn't pass for my people - I would worry that they had no leader. Instead, I know they are safe when I am here.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Is that how it works for everyone? Gotta be honest, I do not want to be dumped back to the moment I came from.

And you've got James...how does that even?

[Work.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

I'm not sure. I was certain if I ever left, he wouldn't come with me and somehow he did. I had to hide him when I returned home because I could never explain him otherwise but he's happy and healthy and returned.

Perhaps the Agrii need him.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Hopefully they don't have any ideas about starting a monarchy here.

[He's mostly joking, but really what could they need a specific baby for?

He's a little comforted for Padmes and her babies' sakes though. Hopefully if they all went back, they'd go together, and be happy and healthy, too - with enough information to keep them that way.]

[theladyofwinterfell]

I wouldn't want one and I'm a queen. We're too different a group of people, I think. If everyone was of my country or yours, we could set up one of those governments but it's not the case.

( And Sansa thinks it would only lead to strife. )

[ezra_of_lothal]

I'll take your word for it. I don't really know what makes a government better or worse, aside from the morals of the people in charge.

[no_applause]

Oh Sansa, that's wonderful!!

[Padme is grinning just as widely.]

James can always come and visit us whenever you need a break.

[theladyofwinterfell]

( Having another mother around has done wonders for Sansa's spirits and Padme's smile is absolutely contagious. )

I would love for James to spend time with you. Of course, we have to make a date to all spend time together as well. I can't wait until I meet your twins.

[no_applause]

[It really is wonderful. Padme's happy to have another mother around... Especially a more experienced one.]

Of course the invitation extends to you, as well. Please, you must come for tea sometime.