sixthiterationlogs | it's a little thing called puppy love

WHO: Sansa Stark
WHERE: In front of her home
WHEN: Dec 8th
OPEN TO: Open
WARNINGS: will update if needed
STATUS: Open

Raleigh had told her about the strange boxes that arrived now and then for people without warning or clue as to who sent them. It was in one of those boxes that he had gotten his cat and she knew that Margaery had gotten her puppy the same way. Sansa didn't consider that it might be possible she would get a box of her own, though.

So imagine her surprise when she stepped outside with the intention of going for an early morning walk only to stop at the sight of a box sitting on the front step. Freezing, her lashes fluttered as she blinked at it and the fact that her name was written rather boldly on the lid. Her lips parted in surprise as she glanced back and considered calling out for someone to come look just in case what she was seeing was a trick of the imagination. Not that she did actually call out. Instead, she turned back to make sure the box was still waiting for her and pressed her lips together when she saw that it hadn't disappeared.

Closing the door gently behind her, she took a careful step closer and then another until she was right in front of the box where she could kneel to get a closer look. She started to reach for the lid when suddenly the box jumped just a little, causing her to jump a little as well. She froze for a second, holding still for a heartbeat or two, before finally opening the box to see what was inside.

The way the box had moved clued her into the fact that there was most likely something living inside but nothing could have prepared her for the sight of a white, fluffy puppy inside. Almost immediately she was cooing as she watched the puppy wriggle in excitement at the sight of her. Then the puppy was doing its best to get out of the box, its back feet scratching against the side as it tried to pull itself up and over in an attempt to get to Sansa.

"Ooh, you little sweetheart." Sansa giggled, reaching in to scoop the puppy out into her arms. Then she sat right there on the front step of her home, giggling again as she tried to avoid the exuberant 'kisses' the puppy was trying to give her face.

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Sansa didn't need to look at her friend's face to know the expression that would be there but she still glanced up to see the knowing look on Margaery's face while she moved to sit down too. She knew that Margaery would be concerned about any man that Sansa might be intrigued by but it wouldn't be nearly as bad as her brothers. Not that it was bad that they would be concerned too since she knew they were only looking out for her but she wasn't in a rush to tell them about Raleigh.

As it was, she seemed to hesitate for a moment before she continued on with Margaery. "He's very sweet to me. He was the first person I met and the one to bring me to the Inn where I found Jon. I told him my name was Alayne but he wasn't mad at me when he found out I lied."

"I saw him without his shirt on." She whispered a moment later, ducking her head a little again as she smiled to herself.

She grinned, pleased and amazed at how well things had developed for her friend. It seems in only a short while, she had lost her heart to someone. There was less reason to worry than there might have been in King's Landing. There were no political stakes here and others were more concerned with survival than playing the game. Raleigh was nice enough. He would treat Sansa like a lady.

"Good," she told her friend, placing an arm about her shoulders. "I know him to be a hard worker and a good man. So long as he respects you, I might find him worthy enough of you."

The image of Robb shirtless flashed in Margaery's mind, remembering how it was when she had seen him that way for the first time. Leaning closer, she asked in a soft voice, "Have you kissed him?"

While Sansa was definitely intrigued by and drawn to Raleigh, she wouldn't quite be ready to admit to losing her heart to him. The last time that she believed that she was in love with someone, she had pushed aside all caution and reason to pursue the person she thought was meant to be her true love. Doing so had done nothing but bring her pain and the death of her father. But Raleigh was already treating her far better than Joffrey ever did.

She smiled softly when Margaery wrapped an arm around her and said something about thinking Raleigh could be worthy of her. Then came the question about kissing and the blush in her cheeks most likely gave her away. Not that she said it out loud because suddenly she was turning to face her friend.

"You can't tell Robb or anyone else." Her eyes were wide as she focused on the other woman. "Please, promise me that you will keep this a secret. I want to tell Robb and Jon myself, when I feel it's right to do so, and not a moment before."

Raleigh could never be Joffery. Even at his worse and even with as little as Margaery knew of him, there were very few that could match that level of cruelty. It would have been apparent by now. Such a dark heart would be difficult to hide, especially in an environment that provided so much stress and frustrations.

Margaery grinned, nudging Sansa gently. "You look as though something has happened. What is it? Did he tell you that he has feelings for you?" It had all happened so quickly it seemed, but that was no different than how things had gone with Robb.

"Sweetling, you know that I would never betray your confidence. Not even to Robb." It might put her in an awkward position, should Robb discern that she had this secret. However, Sansa was her friend and she would never betray her confidence. "If it eases your mind, I swear I won't tell your brothers."

From what little Jon has told her about the man destined to be her next husband, it seems that Sansa might have found someone who could be as cruel as Joffrey if not worse. She doesn't know everything but she can remember the dark worry in her brother's eyes as he made her promise that she would run away from Winterfell and to him if she ever goes back home. It's something she hasn't shared with anyone else yet.

"No, nothing like that." There hadn't really been a lot of talk of feelings but she suspects that is only because it's all so new. "We haven't known each other for that long yet. He only just found out that I grew up in a castle."

Then she relaxes when her friend promises not to say something to Robb. She knows it will put Margaery in an awkward position but she leans into the other woman with a smile. "Thank you. I will tell them soon, when I know more, but I want to be sure first."

If only Margaery had known what became of her friend. She would have done all that she could to free Sansa from Baelish's grasp and take her to the far safer High Garden. She would have been spared from Ramsay Bolton and married to a far kinder husband. At least here, she was granted a new life and a chance to truly love a good man.

"I can only imagine how he responded to that. I tell so few that I was queen." Which is far different than the woman she was in Westeros. "You have spent some time with him, though? What do you do together?" Her grin becomes slightly mischievous.

"You don't need to worry, Sansa. I would never betray your confidence. Tell them in your own time. Though," she leaned closer, "you must tell me more about Raleigh."

it's a little thing called puppy love

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