06 ❆ "Who are you?" he would ask her every day.

[needlebearer]

Who: Arya Stark and YOU
Where: The main entrance to the mansion
When: March 21
Rating: PG at first, will update if needed
Summary: Arya returns to Wonderland, without her vision
The Story:

The sounds of the bustling Braavosi street abruptly vanish, as does the mixed scent of exotic fruits and spices and human filth. At the same time, Arya's memories of Wonderland come crashing back into her, as though someone has pulled back a curtain in her mind and put them on display for her. Logically, it makes sense that she's back there once again. But Arya isn't sure whether she's just finally going mad.

She's hunched in the main entrance, tattered rags hanging off her frame, her cheeks pale and a little gaunt from lack of food, a large cut under her lip, mud and bruises scattered elsewhere. Her hair is longer than before, reaching to her shoulders, and her milky white eyes stare blankly ahead of her. A wooden bowl containing a couple of the square coins of the Iron Bank of Braavos is nestled in her lap, and she grips it as though terrified that even that meagre amount of money will be stolen from her at any moment.

She jumps whenever she hears footsteps, unsure if the person passing by will take pity on her and give her some food or coin, or whether it's the Waif ready to beat her again, and gropes blindly around the floor to find the staff she had to defend herself with.

Comments

[needlebearer]

Arya hears him approach, but she doesn't expect him to address her, and she jumps a little as she hears him speak. Her blank eyes automatically search around for him, an instinct it will take some time for her to unlearn.

"A girl has no name."

She isn't sure if this is some trick, some test the man who was Jaqen H'ghar had set for her, and whether she'll be punished even more severely for failing it.

[directed]

Only when she looks about does Rip catch sight of her eyes and understand what it might mean. His explanation just became that much more difficult to provide; she cannot see, meaning the shift of environment might not be so obvious. Moreover, her fear would only stand stronger for that lacking, that obvious weakness which others might exploit.

She doesn't offer up a name, nor does she refuse to speak--and in so many ways, it's worse for that.

"Alright." He doesn't believe her claim to lack identity, but Rip doesn't push the point. If she doesn't trust him, she won't offer that information, period. Instead he leans forward, his arms resting lightly against his legs.

"Do you know where you are?" He suspects she doesn't, of course; every action speaks of one newly arrived to Wonderland. The true question is if she has realized it yet, and Rip pushes a bit further. "You're not where you were. You can tell, can't you? It sounds different--quieter, yes? And it smells different. Not like the streets you're so used to."

Not that he has any way of knowing what world she comes from; he's guessing, but confident enough in his assumptions to be sure.

[needlebearer]

She can tell she's not where she was, but it's not instantly apparent to her where she is instead. As well as the sounds and smells being completely different, the whole feel of the place is calmer. She presses her hand to the floor and runs her fingers over the carpet - a tangible contrast to the cobbled streets of Braavos, rather than relying on the more subjective changes in the noises and scents.

"Is this Wonderland?" she asks tentatively. She doesn't want to get her hopes up, but she needs to at least discount it as an option.

[directed]

Though unseen by the girl, Rip's eyes widen in surprise at the answer. So she does know, recognizing perhaps the feeling of the carpet beneath her fingers as she stretches them over the floor. He nods before catching himself, reminding himself that he has to answer out loud.

"Indeed. I take it you've been here before." Well, it does spare them both the difficulty of a full explanation. Instead he opts for a different approach, one that would hopefully help her better get her bearings. "You're in the entrance hall on the first floor of the mansion."

[needlebearer]

Arya nods, and as Rip explains precisely where she is, she sinks down in relief. She can picture it perfectly, and feels properly oriented for the first time.

"I was here for a little over a year. But that was so long ago now."

[directed]

This isn’t the first time that Rip’s heard of someone being relieved to be in Wonderland, although it’s still somewhat strange to see. Yet he can’t help but understand on some level the way that visible tension drains—given her rags, how could he not?

“Well then: welcome back.” He doesn’t manage a smile; he can’t, when he considers the hardships this girl will apparently face whether in her own reality or this one. And that’s based only on what he can see, what he assumes from her appearance and nothing more.

“Is there anywhere you want to go, or someone you’d like to get in contact with?” The girl might be quite capable of managing on her own, and if so, then Rip would leave her be. They are strangers, and she has no basis to trust him. Yet the help is there should she decide she needs it; he’s willing to let this play out however she wishes it to.