video: un: swan

[sheriffing]

Uh, hi.

[ can she have points for effort? the wave she gives is more uncertain than friendly, like she's not entirely comfortable addressing the entire network (she's not). she figures it'll work for everyone else the same way it does for her. when Emma has something to offer, she answers. when she doesn't, she leaves it to someone else.]

My name's Emma, and as a lot of you have already noticed, I'm new here.

[ she's been called out on it enough to know that it's obvious. some part of her still doubts everything here and it bleeds into conversation too easily. most people have been here long enough to accept this reality, but Emma's still thinking of home.]

I'm not gonna pretend that my first instinct wasn't to wallow in my disappointment until my family wakes up, but I know there's a lot to be done here. I've seen all of you getting things done here, and I just wondered... how have you been able to use the skills you learned in your home world to keep you busy in this one?

[ because it's time for her to think about taking on a job, and making a difference, and she's pretty sure that doesn't mean a sheriff's badge and a cruiser anymore. so far, she's been part of the clean-up effort, but she needs something else to get by on.]

Back home, I was the sheriff in a town called Storybrooke, Maine. Here, I don't know. How did you know where to start?

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[song_of_ice]

[And she's probably right, but there's only been one thing he's been able to do with his life and that's use a sword. It was hard to think of anything beyond that.]

I wouldn't know where to begin.

[She at least understands that need to help, which speaks about her character, more than what they shared over drinks.]

Do you know how to fight?

[sheriffing]

I know the feeling.

[ she used to think the only thing she was good at was finding people. turns out that she has a few more skills than just the one she was willing to own up to.]

Yeah, I know how to fight. I'm used to fighting.

[ usually with whatever is around.]

[song_of_ice]

[Something he is used to as well.]

With a sword? Do you have any experience?

[He could at least do something with his skills, even if he couldn't just rest and move away from frightening.]

Fighting is all I've done since I was a boy.

[sheriffing]

Enough to keep from getting myself killed, but I could be better.

[ she gets by with a sword, but she hasn't hit the same level of comfort she has with a gun.]

I have my father's sword here, it's a work in progress.

[ is it too much to hope that someday they won't have to fight so hard?]

[song_of_ice]

That is the most important lesson. [It's said with a note of solemnity before he breaks into a smile.] That and "stick 'em with the pointy end."

[It still stung to think of Arya, but it didn't change or lessen his smile.]

Your father was a warrior?

Good, then we have something to start with. Meet me at the training yard?

[sheriffing]

[ he has a point there, that seems to be crucial to anyone's understanding of sword-fighting. Emma smiles, nodding her agreement. that part, she was pretty clear on the first time. ]

He was. And a farmer, and a prince. Mostly, he was brave.

[ brave in the face of difficult situations, and hopeful that they wouldn't be that way forever (she could learn from that, maybe, if she wasn't adjusting to all of this.]

You're going to train me?

[ she's amused, and, well - a little surprised by his kindness.]

[song_of_ice]

You're a princess then?

[He doesn't talk about being king, but it's nice to know someone else has experience with those sorts of titles.]

I am. I trained my men at Castle Black. I can have you stronger and faster in a few weeks.

[sheriffing]

Technically, yeah. I wasn't raised by my parents, but I think my dad would probably roll over in his stasis pod if I denied being a princess.

[ it's not a title she uses often, but it's one she knows she would have had, if things were different. one they wanted for her.]

You'll have me faster. I'm already strong.

[song_of_ice]

[Fair enough. He nodded in acknowledgement.]

I was named king before coming here. [Once, but no longer.] I don't know many princesses.

[There was a queen, but he didn't want to think about that now.]

If you disarm me and knock me down, I'll agree with you. Fair challenge?

[sheriffing]

A king, huh? I should have known.

[ he has that look about him, now that she mentions it.]

Named king? I can't believe you'd want that job.

[ she'll barely call herself a princess, and he took that on willingly.]

You're on.

[song_of_ice]

I didn't, but I was given it and I agreed to serve to protect my home.

[Which he was then quick to give away for a better candidate.]

Shall we meet in the training yard?

[sheriffing]

I know what that's like.

[ sounds a lot like being the savior, but in a place where everything sounds terrible.]

Sounds good.