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

[choosetruth]

Georgia nods, though she knows Arya can't see it. Some instincts are hard to fight. "My eyes burn in the light. I'm used to doing a lot of things in total darkness because sometimes I have to." Retinal Kellis-Amberlee isn't known here like it is at home, but she still has never put any effort into keeping it hidden. She wears her sunglasses and explains the situation and just lives with the fact that she has one extremely obvious weakness. Take off her sunglasses and she's all but helpless.

"How long's it been?" Judging from the way she reacted, Georgia's going to guess it's not her whole life, and probably not very long at all. While the whole other senses getting more powerful thing is sort of a myth, you do get better at paying attention to them. George wasn't stomping or anything, but she also wasn't making an effort to walk quietly. Arya could have heard her, if she'd known to pay attention.

[needlebearer]

It's difficult for Arya to know exactly how long it's been, though she's done her best to mark the passing of days by the changes in sounds and the amount of visits Jaqen and the Waif have paid her. She shrugs, to indicate that this is only an estimate.

"Three weeks, more or less."

[choosetruth]

Not very long at all. Poor kid. Georgia won't be the one to say it, though. Pity doesn't help anyone.

She doesn't know this kid, so she isn't going to assume anything. She looks like she needs help. But Georgia won't force it on her. If it were her, she'd probably want to do it on her own. "Do you need help getting to a room? How long have you been in Wonderland?"

[needlebearer]

Arya freezes for a moment as the full impact of what Georgia's saying hits her. Then a smile of relief that's almost giddy crosses her face.

"Wonderland? A girl is--" No. No need for that now. She's free to be Arya Stark here. "I'm really back?"

[choosetruth]

"You're really back." So however long she's been here, she left and only recently returned. Good to know. "Were you sighted when you were here before? You may want to make different accommodations now."

[needlebearer]

She nods, feeling her hair fall across her face as she does so and pushing it away. "I was here for over a year. My room is on the third floor."

[choosetruth]

"Would you like me to help you get there?" She'll have to figure out a way to do it on her own, or find someone capable of helping her more full time than George can. But George can get her started. If Arya wants.