tomorrow smells of less decay

[toivory]

WHO: The Eldest Stark Siblings. Maybe Dad.
WHAT:  Sansa's checking in on Robb after Jeyne's disappearance. And the whole Eponine debacle. 
WHEN: Early December
WHERE: Wherever Robb happens to be living. 
WARNINGS: TBA.

---

"Robb, let me in!" Sansa's arms are laden with bags and a large box, but she shifts her pile on to her hip so that she can knock on her brother's door. "It's Sansa, and I've brought food." She also had brought some wine, some new clothes for Robb and the pile of clothing she'd found in front of his old dome. 

Hopefully he'd let her in shortly, but she was prepared to wait for her brother as long as she needed. And for as long as he needed. Finding he'd lost his wife once was hard. Twice was worse.

Comments

[kingnamedstark]

His new dome was at least clean and there were no signs of his earlier habit of drinking. Still, he had isolated himself to grieve for the disappearance of his wife, even if they had at least reconciled before she was taken. He hadn't been sleeping well and there were bags under his eyes when he greeted Sansa.

He frowned at the clothes Eponine had left in front of his dome, but said nothing for now. He didn't need them, he didn't want them. They were reminders of a past he was eager to leave behind. "Are you worried I'm starving myself?"

[toivory]

Gods, Robb looked awful.

"Absolutely," she told him, moving in past him to set her things down before turning back to give him a proper Sansa Stark hug. You know, the big ones that last for a while and are just really good. Those ones.

"I'm worried you're not taking care of yourself. I brought your favorite- or at least the closest I could get to it down here." Whatever that was. "And I didn't know what to do with those," she gestures at the dresses, "but I brought you something cozy to wear."

Sweat pants were so great, Robb, you really had to embrace them. Especially ones that had wolf paw prints up the leg. They even had pockets.

"When was the last time you showered?"

[kingnamedstark]

He hugged her tightly in return, glad that she was still here at least. After losing Jeyne, the reality of others disappearing became more real and sharp in his mind. "You can get rid of them however you want. I don't want to keep them." He thanked her though for the warm clothes.

He looked curiously at the sweat pants with a hint of uncertainty. It wasn't exactly what he was used to.

"A few days ago?"

[toivory]

She frowns at him quite heavily. "Go shower. Put those on after- they're trousers made for sitting about. I'll set up dinner, if you'd like." She points him toward the bathroom.

"Go."

[kingnamedstark]

He grumbled, but still followed her instructions. He tossed his clothes to the side, intending to clean them later. The sweat pants were a bit warm for him, but he wore them anyway. Sansa would at least approve that he did as he was told.

"What did you bring?"

[toivory]

She does approve of him in sweat pants and cleaned. Jeyne had been a very lucky woman.

"A good flank steak, red wine, there's some fresh bread as well, cheese, and roasted potatoes." Good, warm, healthy food that was sure to get her brother into something of a decent mood. Or so she hoped.

"Sit, eat. Talk to me."

[kingnamedstark]

Something that at least reminded him of home. All of the things that he enjoyed when they had feasts or celebrations. Roasted meat was something he could make here where everything was simple failure. "This looks filling." Something that was much needed, given that he hadn't fed himself much since Jeyne was gone.

"About what?" He was just as taciturn as Jon normally.

[toivory]

"Good. You'll like it, and there's plenty left for more later." She holds out a plate for him.

"About anything. I know things have been... Difficult for you lately. And I thought perhaps you'd want some company, or someone to listen." She would have loved someone to listen in her experience. "So you don't feel so alone."

[kingnamedstark]

"There isn't much to say." He knew it would come across as sullen, but it was honest as well. Much of his thoughts were hard to define or pin down, there were only emotions and those he felt strongly. The only sentiment he could give voice to was, "It's unfair she has to go back to death." But everything that happened to her was unfair and bleak.

He could at least hold out hope that his wife would someday return. No matter how long it took, he would wait.

[toivory]

"It is." She agrees, leaning back in the chair she'd taken. "Nothing in life is really ever fair. I'm glad you had the extra time with her. That's more than most get." She was extremely lucky that her family was here, including those that rose from the dead to be here.

"And that's what I know I'll have to tell myself when the time comes that I must return home. When Theon returns. You, father. But I can't dwell on that."

[kingnamedstark]

That was true. Not all could have a second chance. What troubled him was that so much time was spent repairing the damage he had done with Eponine. There was at least no lingering resentment. They had said what they needed to. But it still frustrated him that he had to go to her dome and then found that she wasn't there.

"Will we even remember what happened here?"

[toivory]

"I... don't know. None of us have left and returned that I know of to let us know. I like to think we will. And so I'm enjoying it to the fullest." Much like their father was, for instance.

Not that she was going to say that out-loud. She was just going to think it.

And have a drink of wine.