(no subject)

[king_inthenorth]

WHO: Jon Snow
WHEN: The first few days of the month
WHAT: Arrival and settling in
WHERE: Around Gazin
WARNINGS: Just blood for now but it's Game of Thrones, who knows what might come up

[Arrival]

This wasn't exactly what Jon had meant when he wished that he could be somewhere else -- he hadn't enjoyed being in the middle of a battle against a seemingly endless army of the dead, but he knew that he had to be. All of Westeros was depending on the outcome.

It had been a throwaway thought in the face of impossible odds, and then here he was, staring at a sign labeled "Gazin." He has never heard of such a place, but then, he's never been outside of Westeros. There must be a lot of places he's never heard of.

What a sight he must make -- sword drawn, his face and armor covered in dirt and sweat and even some blood. His immediate vicinity is deserted. There's no one to give him any answers, or any other indication of where he is or how he got here. There's only one thing for it. He sheathes his sword and heads in the direction indicated by the sign, in search of someone who can provide some answers. Or a stream to wash off the grime. He's not picky.

[Around town]

He's been here long enough to have discovered that in many ways, this place is similar to Westeros. Similar enough that it hadn't taken him long to get used to the place, anyway. He has also discovered that living as far North as he did in Westeros, he had missed out on things, like markets and taverns. Even the life he would have had without Robert Baratheon's meddling wouldn't have been of those sorts of things -- it would have been sheltered for different reasons. But here, freed from all of that, he can live the life he truly wants to live. Whatever that life is.

Right now he's enjoying that freedom and lack of responsibility by wandering through the town, going wherever his feet take him, before ending up in the tavern at the end of the day with a pint of mead. He's not relaxed enough however to go around unarmed; he's got a sword at his hip and a knife tucked into his belt.

Comments

arrival

[inwhite]

He's a less alarming sight to the man who has none. He's not trying to eavesdrop, but Xiao Xingchen can still catch the nervous whispers of those around him. And when their paths nearly cross, he can smell the sweat and dirt.

And the blood too.

"Are you alright?"

He asks gently, seemingly not concerned about why this man might have blood on him, or if it's even his own.

[king_inthenorth]

He's not trying to be an alarming sight to anyone, but sometimes these things happen. At least he's not still riding a dragon. That might really alarm people.

"It's not as bad as it appears." Yes, he is absolutely covered in dirt and sweat and, yes, even blood, but not all of the blood is his. Most of it isn't. It's more bruises and scratches he's suffering from, nothing bad enough to keep him out of the battle. (Even death wouldn't have kept him out of the battle with the Night King there, he thinks wryly. Thankfully it didn't come to that.)

"I'll be alright."

[inwhite]

Xiao Xingchen gives a soft nod to the man on his lips. He still wonders if the injury might actually be as bad as it appears, if he was able to see it all. It sounds like the sort of reassurance that men would give, especially ones too used to battles and injuries.

"Can you tell me what happened? Did someone harm you?"

[king_inthenorth]

Did someone harm him? Not really. So far he'd managed to fight them off. Did someone want to harm him? Absolutely.

"I fell off a dragon." He's lucky he didn't end up hurt worse than he is, honestly.

[inwhite]

He...

Xingchen tilts his head, listening for something more in the man's voice. Amusment, maybe. A clue to whether or not he's serious, or if he merely has secrets that he wants to keep.

"I wasn't aware that there were dragons here." There's no mocking in his voice. Maybe this man just told him something very valuable. "They must be a danger to many people. Especially if you attempt to ride them?"

[king_inthenorth]

"It didn't happen here. It happened before I arrived here." Maybe there are dragons here though. Anything is possible, he supposes. "There hadn't been dragons there for generations either, but now there are." He considers not even adding this last part, because how does he even know it's relevant, but the fact that the dragons even allowed him to touch them in the first place, much less ride one, is all the confirmation he needs. "My ancestors used to raise them."

[inwhite]

His relief is slight for that very reason. This man says that dragons exist, so of course he believes him. And he hasn't been here long enough to know all of its creatures. Maybe they will one day just show up. It almost sounds like that's what happened on this man's world, for them to be gone for so long and then suddenly appear.

"They must make fearsome pets. I always wanted to raise chickens."

There's a soft smile on his lips. He's serious though.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

[king_inthenorth]

He figures that Daenerys's dragons must have recognized something in him, something that told them of the connection that used to exist between his ancestors and the dragons, and that was why they'd tolerated him. He wonders if there were dragons in this place, if they too would recognize whatever it is about him.

"I don't know that pets is the right word for them. Not in the same way as chickens, at least." He wouldn't call those pets either, but at least he grew up with those underfoot.

"I've been told that I may be able to find a place at the inn, but I haven't been there yet."

[inwhite]

"It's true. If you stay on the path that you're on, it will take you right there. The marketplace is near enough. You can find me there if they don't have any available lodging. I can at least provide a roof over your head."

Well, Xue Yang can. But he shouldn't be too surprised if Xiao Xingchen brings home an injured stranger, after all he did the same thing with him.

[king_inthenorth]

"The marketplace." That's good to know too; even though he has no way of paying for anything yet, he should at least get a feel for what's available, and the layout of the town. "I'll make my way to the inn then, and I may see you later in the marketplace."

[inwhite]

"I wish you the best of luck."

Xingchen smiles, though the man sounds like he has an idea of what he's doing and what he needs to do. He may adjust more quickly than most.

"I'll be there for awhile. It takes me some time."

To find the things he needs and navigate the crowds.

[king_inthenorth]

"Perhaps I'll find you there then." The first things he wants are a bath and an attempt at sleep, but if the sleep doesn't happen, then he'll be out in town, learning his way around.