video | un: manbun

[song_of_ice]

[With the matter of jobs settled, there was less on his mind and less focus on how he would survive. With more time on his hands, he was able to turn to helping the rest of the survivors, especially those that he had spoken to. Whatever reason they had been brought here, they needed to band together to survive.]

I know not everyone present has had to learn combat or come from places that are generally peaceful. Whether or not we stay in this city or travel somewhere more dangerous, it is wise to learn how to protect yourselves.

For those that have an interest, I practice and train in the courtyard among the other guards. If you want to wield a blade or understand basic defense, come and meet me there. I will teach and train you.

Comments

[song_of_ice]

A lord. He might have been a bannerman to the warden of the realm in Westeros. Or he could have been a warden, overseeing a large section of the kingdom in the king's name.

[But her world didn't seem to be the same as that.]

I suppose it doesn't matter anymore.

[A beat.]

Most lords don't train their daughters to fight.

[maipokerface]

Yeah? It's not really that rare where I'm from, particularly if the daughter is a firebender.

[Should she pause to explain that? He had a point that it didn't matter much anymore so she passes it over for now.]

My father didn't train me though. I learned by myself because I was bored. That was my excuse at the time anyhow.

[song_of_ice]

You sound like my sister. Proper ladies weren't supposed to use the sword, but she chose to anyway. She could shoot and fight better than the boys her age.

[Whether it was boredom or something else, Arya was a warrior. Just as Mai seemed to be.]

Firebending? What's that?

[maipokerface]

Sounds like she knows how to have a good time then.

[The amusement is plain in her tone. Now, how to explain firebending.]

In my world, there are [... were? Her brow furrows at the thought.] three different nations. The Fire Nation, the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. There were Air Nomads as well at one point but they haven't been around in my lifetime at least. Except for one person, that is.

Some people in each of these can control a particular element. They're called benders. Firebenders for fire, waterbenders for water and earthbenders for earth.

[She pauses there and adds:]

I'm from the Fire Nation. I'm not a bender though.

[song_of_ice]

[That's at least easy to understand.]

Not everyone is capable to bend? How is it determined?

So you need other ways to defend yourself?

[maipokerface]

Usually if someone is a bender they'll start bending as a kid. That's about the only way honestly. Some families just have more benders - like the royal family for example - but it doesn't mean two non-benders couldn't have a bender as a child. At least in the Fire Nation, I don't really know about the others.

Not really, defense was never a big issue. I was a politicians daughter, I was pretty much protected twenty-four hours a day whether I liked it or not.

[song_of_ice]

What do the benders do with these abilities? Do they serve as soldiers? [It seemed like a dangerous power to have, especially in a world where there were benders and non benders. What stopped them from dominating the non benders?]

You were simple bored?

[There's a smile of amusement on his face.]

[maipokerface]

Honestly I'm not all that sure. All the soldiers I know are benders but it probably differs. Maybe?

[It seems she knows very little about the intricacies of other cultures within her world. The Fire Nation had little to do with others beyond "helping" them during the war. And Mai herself was particularly insulated from the larger realities of the world beyond what she was told as a child.

... She never had tried to learn much after the end of the war, had she? Not that she had particularly wanted to but it now strikes her as something of a waste in some way. Out of everyone it's her who's here, the only one awake and one of the least ready to describe any culture beyond the Fire Nation's own.

She's thoughtfully quiet a moment as her thoughts roll around in her mind. Guh, she's going to end up brooding as much as Zuko ever did. She huffs a dry if somewhat unsure laugh then.]

Definitely. You'd think "don't speak unless you're spoken to and don't raise a fuss" would be pretty easy to accomplish.

[song_of_ice]

[He wonders if he asked the wrong question, given her silence and thoughtfulness. It was something he could empathize with. For all he was taught and shown, there still was a great deal about the world that he didn't know or understand. It seemed impossible for anyone to truly 'know something' as vast as all of that.

Mai, for what she had shown him, was not a foolish person. There was more to her than she allowed others to see. Her "boredom" likely stemmed from a distaste for the life she was expected to lead. She and Arya would have a great deal in common.]

I'm not sure it is. It's easier to speak your mind than to stay silent and let others speak for you.

[maipokerface]

No kidding it is. It's a lesson that took me a little to learn but I think I do just fine with it now.

[Maybe a little too fine. Mai isn't known for being one to check her tongue when it comes to her thoughts after all.]

You have a sister, hm? I have a brother.

[song_of_ice]

[He nodded, trying to force away the memories of his lost brothers and sister. They were in the pods now, Robb and Sansa were awake. It didn't remove the painful images of Rickon dead on the field, Arya when Jon last saw her and Bran asleep and broken in his bed.]

She's asleep. [The one Mai reminded him of.] Sansa and Robb, you'll meet in time.

Is your brother here?

[maipokerface]

[Mai gives her head a slight shake.]

I'm kind of glad he isn't. I'm not sure how he would handle being away from both my mother and father. He's too young for that.

[song_of_ice]

Your mother and father aren't in stasis?

Is there anyone you know there?

[maipokerface]

They are. Everyone from my world is... I guess. Otherwise they're hiding out pretty effectively since I haven't run across them.

[That and she swears everyone she knows is lined up in a pod. Her mother, her father, her baby brother, Zuko ... all the way down to people she barely knows.]