sixthiterationlogs | (no subject)

WHO: Arya Stark
WHERE: By the fountain
WHEN: December 13th, afternoon
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Arya Stark being Arya Stark, discussions of violence more than likely
STATUS: Open

It had become something of a habit. Arya would explore the strange town, and on the days when her older brothers weren’t keeping tabs on her? She’d range further. Into the woods, looking for any signs of anything off. Old campfires, ruined buildings, anything that might hint at what story this place had. Not too far yet, not with what had happened. Just enough to start getting used to what was normal, so she’d notice when things were off. While snow hid quite a bit, the lack of leaves and undergrowth currently meant she could see much more of her surroundings.

But even on days when Robb or Jon were paying more mind to what she was doing, her daily explorations took her to the fountain park. If anyone asked, she was simply hoping that other members of her family might show up. Not entirely a lie, but the knife borrowed from the kitchen hidden under her coat belied the claim, as did the dark expression she sometimes cast towards the fountain when alone.

There were specific people that if Arya saw them arrive would certainly get a hand, though that would be followed rather quickly with a knife somewhere unpleasant. There was no way she’d take any risks and if there was one Southern lady here already, who was to say more wouldn’t come? Those who meant her family harm? So no one should pay any mind to the girl scowling at the fountain like it had somehow personally offended her, hands in the pockets of the coat she wore. She wasn’t bothering anyone, wasn’t getting into trouble. Just plotting a bit of hypothetical murder, nothing wrong with that.

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Yeah, Johanna already likes this for what it is. "If you're planning on doing that and you want to make a scene, this is a great place," she says, her words dripping with mild criticism. "If that's the message you want to send, but if you want to get it done quietly and quickly, then I've got about a half dozen better suggestions." It's not like she wants to put herself out there and get a reputation as a murderous thing, but at the same time, it's kind of what she knows.

And you have to play to your strengths.

"Don't worry, I've got plenty of my own I don't want to see coming over that ridge," she vows. "And I do want people to see me end them."

Arya wanted to get annoyed. She wanted to get angry but at the same time? She was right. If she murdered them right here, how would she get rid of the bodies? How would she avoid being tangled in this and by extension her family?

"...I'm listening if you want to share." Better to choke down her pride for the moment, hear these other ideas. She needed to be careful here, it wasn't like she could simply vanish and move on if things got messy. She was stuck with the consequences if she was caught.

Johanna's kills have always been very strategic, but then, her entire play in the Games had been so. Unfortunately, it's the kind of strategy that you burn as soon as you use it because no one believes you as the weak little simple girl for that long, plus you kind of outgrow it. The girl in front of her, though, doesn't have that issue. "I've always been a fan of lulling someone into a false sense of security," she says.

"Act demure and weak, scared," she says. "And then, when they least expect it, in goes the sharp end."