faderift | the start of something new

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the start of something new

WHO: Sansa Stark
WHAT: Sansa learns about the changing of the years in Thedas; Sansa works on her sewing.
WHEN: 1 - 8 Wintermarch
WHERE: around Skyhold
NOTES: A general catch-all for Sansa to start out the new year.

i. the changing of the year.

Sansa has slowly been learning how life in Thedas works since arriving through the rift two moons prior and one of the things she's learned about this month, actually, is that they celebrate the change of the year in Thedas with a holiday called First Day. It's a simple thing to celebrate, really, and somewhat arbitrary but Sansa likes the idea of visiting others throughout Skyhold and drinking with them, breaking bread with them and generally making their acquaintance.

She's been terrible at making acquaintances since coming here, after all, and so First Day and the days after give her a chance to work in the kitchens and make simple little cakes to pass along to others. It's nothing taxing, certainly not for her since she isn't much of a cook, but it is a kindness that she wants to bestow upon those who have made her feel welcome since coming to Thedas and she wants to demonstrate she has an interest in learning how their world and celebrations do work.

ii. slip a stitch into something new.

In the afternoons, Sansa likes to work on needlework. It's become a way to make a bit of coin while she stays in Thedas and she's always loved her embroidery besides so making clothes and mending cloaks has become a way to earn money and pass the time. It reminds her of long, cold days at Winterfell when she'd sit by the fire with her mother and the septa, learning how to make her stitches small and neat, and oftentimes she dreamed of mending things for her lord husband someday. It's a mundane dream but, funnily enough, one afternoon it occurs to her that she's done that very thing and sometimes she smiles to herself or laughs just a bit.

Yes, the shirts are much smaller than she expected of a lord husband and often they are in shades of Lannister red and gold but she doesn't care about that. Here in Thedas nobody cares about Lions or Direwolves or Stags and when she draws her needle in and out of her mending, it's a soothing and calming activity that she doesn't have to worry about. No one cares about the subject of her embroidery now and she's free to do whatever she likes. The freedom is exhilarating.

iii. the frost falls upon the ground.

When the weather is clear enough, Sansa takes the chance to walk around outdoors. It's cold still, even to someone with Northern blood like hers, and the ice is still evident upon the grounds. Sometimes there's ruts from horses or wagons, crusted over with mud and ice and Sansa is careful to keep her skirts clear of them; she still doesn't like to be dirty even if she's much less squeamish about it than she was as a child in Westeros.

When a bit of ice falls from the edge of a roof, she dodges it carefully and when snow slides into the back of her cloak after shifting off the eaves of Skyhold proper, she squeals in surprise but it doesn't drive her indoors. The winter sunlight is weak and thin but she soaks up as much of it as she can and when snowflakes alight on her cheeks, she often pushes back her hood so that they can catch in the shimmering auburn of her hair.

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"Ah, well, if you would like to try one of these cakes, I do need someone to test them to make sure they're edible," Sansa says. It's actually a plum job, really, but she wants to play along.

"Could you manage?"

"As a special favor, I'll even do this for free," he winked, looking at the cakes with hungry eyes, waiting for them to cool enough to take a bite of.

"Are these a family recipe?" he inquired to keep the conversation flowing as he waited.

Sansa shakes her head. "No, not really. It's something I remember from being a girl, naturally, but I learned it from one of the cooks at Winterfell."

She pauses for a moment. "Then again, it might well be a family recipe - it's just not my family."

Kirk tilted his head at her, curious as he reached out to take one of the treats, waiting it for it to cool a bit more before he ate one.

"You enjoy them don't you? And you like the cooks very much, I presume?" he gave a soft smile. "Then I think it's safe to call it a family recipe for yourself too."

He took that moment to take a bite of the treat, letting it spread and melt in his mouth. A loud hum left him, a pleased flush rushing his cheeks and he gave Sansa a thumbs up for her efforts.

"Oh, I'm so glad you think they're good," Sansa says. She's only just learning how to cook herself; her previous knowledge in the cooking arts has solely been conducted by observation.

"I wanted to make something everyone could enjoy. Food is for sustenance, I know, but there's a real pleasure in eating something just because it tastes good."

Kirk's smile remains warm, licking his lips and his thumbs clean of his treat.

"You're right, there is, and this sort of thing is important," he agreed. "Meals are when we can gather, socialize, and share our stories. Having something delicious just makes it better."

"How long have you been here? I've only been here for a few months, so everyone seems new to me more or less. I am trying to get to know everyone but it's difficult with as large as Skyhold is."

Once she has met someone, though, Sansa is careful to note their name and their preferences so that she can be well-informed upon a second meeting.

Kirk had to fully pause at that, considering the time, tapping his fingers against the counter as he considered. His brow crinkled, as if unsure, then rose in surprise and he shrugged his shoulders to himself.

"Well, if I'm doing my math right - a year," he said, giving out a soft, rueful laugh. "Doesn't feel like it." A shake of his head, taking another treat without thinking and turning it in his fingers. "I can't believe a lovely lady like you has trouble making friends."

"You're full of charm," Sansa says, cheeks going a little pink at that compliment. She's used to compliments from men, yes, but his compliment seems more innocent and sweet than most.

"And no, I haven't had trouble. I've just been very reserved since coming here. I want to learn this place as best I can before putting myself out there."

"Guilty as charged," he leaned back from the table and swept into a bow, arm across his chest. He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with laughter before resuming his position. In the background, he saw several of the other cooks roll their eyes, but they smiled as they did it. He turned their charm on them as often as not, after all.

"Well, you know what they say - sometimes the best way to learn is by doing," he brushed his hands free of crumbs, sitting back up. "Would you like company delivering your treats?" he inquired.

"I would love some company," Sansa says, her smile growing ever brighter at the suggestion. She likes how kind he is and unlike other handsome men who pretend to be kind, she doesn't suspect ulterior motive from him. She thinks she's better at discerning that now.

"Thank you for offering, kind ser."

"Always a pleasure to keep such a lovely lady's company," he assured her, coming around and standing so that his arm was cocked out enough for her to slide her hand through it if she wished.

"You could tell me more about your world as we walk," he suggested with an almost intensely sincere curiosity.

"Oh, well, my husband and I come from the Seven Kingdoms. It's also called Westeros, by some, so we're Westerosi. I came from the North which, unlike this place, is actually cold and frozen. Everything is backward to me in Thedas."

She's always associated the North with snow and ice and it's strange to her that here, it is the south that has long, hard winters.

"What about you? Where do you come from?"

"Husband?" he asked, looking at her and clearly thinking her not old enough to be married. But then, in these worlds like Thedas, marrying young wasn't so out of the question, as it? He laughed at her summarization of the climates in this world.

"I am from a world called Earth," he explained. "And where I'm from - the further North you go and the further South you go, it gets colder." Which is what he suspected was happening here - they were so far South it was cold and North was towards the equator and thus warmer.

"Seems like we are both quite a ways form home, my lady."

"A very long way from home," Sansa agrees. "I miss it, sometimes, but Thedas is similar enough in a lot of respects that sometimes I forget I'm not back in Westeros. It helps that my lord husband is here as well, so that we're able to navigate this place together. Do you have anyone from home?"

Kirk shook his head. "No, it's just me," he said. "I'm kind of happy about that and not at the same time, if that makes sense. At least if they're not here, the ship is being taken care of while I'm gone. But I miss my friends and my family." He flashed a saddened smile, but it cleared quickly.

"They're probably enjoying a break from me, honestly. I tend to attract trouble."

"Do you? Well, that's no good. We wouldn't want any trouble to befall us in a safe place like Skyhold," Sansa teases. There's plenty of trouble to be found in Thedas as well.

"I don't have many people left to miss," she admits. "But I understand the sentiment. I would miss them too, being here."

"Mostly it's interesting troubles, the kind you get a good story out of later," he assured her, and it was mostly true. Most of his adventures were relatively harmless, save for the few that weren't.

Kirk patted her hand gently and briefly, a brotherly sort of touch. "I'm glad you have someone from home here. I hate the thought of you being all alone, Sansa."

"I've been alone for a long time. Much of my family is gone," Sansa explains. "So it wouldn't have been very different for me, truly, to be here in Thedas alone. That being said, if there has to be someone from Westeros here, I am so, so grateful that it is Lord Tyrion. I know I am safe with him."

"Lord Tyrion is your husband?" he guessed, guiding her gently around a puddle. It wasn't a hard jump to make, given what she had said of her husband being here and if there was only one other person from her world here... not that many puzzle pieces to try and put together.

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the start of something new

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