Jon Snow - A Song Of Ice And Fire

[starkwhitesnow]

When he steps into the sorting room, he takes a minute to kick mud and snow off the bottoms of his boots. He isn't certain where he's ended, but he is certain it doesn't do well to start by ruining someone's floor. The pause makes the wolf at his side stop, as well; he pauses to rest a hand on it's head, and they look at one another for a moment

Comments

[artsy_jilly]

Jilly entered the sorting room, cautiously, keeping a wary eye on the wolf. She listened to the questions without comment, and then approached the applicant.

"What is the Night's Watch, and why are you Lord Commander? You look... well, don't take offense, but you sort of... look a bit young for it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, people tell me I don't look my age either." She decided now would probably be an ideal time to stop babbling.

[starkwhitesnow]

"I'm not the youngest that's ever been. Eighth or ninth, if I remember right." He straightened a bit. "The Night's Watch keeps the Wall. We keep the lands safe from what lies beyond it, out where most would not set foot. Safe from the wildlings and whatever else there may be." Wights. Worse. Things not fit to speak of. "I am Lord Commander because I was chosen so; we make our own leaders, and politics is only part."

[artsy_jilly]

"Eight or nine..." She whistled appreciatively. "Now that's young. If it's not too much of a personal question, why did you decide to join the Night's Watch? Or were you given a choice?"

[starkwhitesnow]

"I mean I was the eighth or ninth youngest." He nods. "Out of nine hundred and ninty eight. Joining the Watch.... it's a long and complicated history." It isn't, but that's the polite way to put off a story. "I had a choice -- actually, my father tried to dissuade me."

[maid_brienne]

Brienne looked pale.

"You are the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch -- the one who has given succor to Stannis Baratheon?"

[starkwhitesnow]

"I wouldn't call it succor," he says, with a certain sour tone.

[maid_brienne]

"What would you call it, then?" Brienne's jaw is set, her body tense.

(( Spoilers for ASOIAF will likely follow, as per usual with Brienne. ))

Spoilers ahoy

[starkwhitesnow]

((Ahoy!))

"Temporary tolerance. Any may stand with the Watch, no matter their manner or past." He shifted up to the balls of his feet. "That does not mean we shelter from a storm. Nor that we would miss him should he disappear."

Jon, for his part, would not. Particularly if his men stayed behind.

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

You seem to place a great deal on your personal honor, sir.

[starkwhitesnow]

I've been in a place where it was all I had.

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

I am sorry to hear it, sir, and to bring up the recollection, if it is painful to you. But how do you safeguard your honor, sir? I hope you have not that distressing tendency to insulate it from injury with a palapable layer of improper pride.

[starkwhitesnow]

How else does one protect it? I test it, I trust it, and I live it.

[ugly_old_hat]

A strong arm and a sturdy back, you say? I may need someone to move some furniture around!

[starkwhitesnow]

He peers at the hat, slightly baffled. He blinks owlishly at it for a minute, and then nods. "I could certainly oblige."

[ugly_old_hat]

Well, then, that's settled! I'll send you an owl when I need it done, or maybe the Headmistress will lend me Kojiro. He could maybe help you move the furniture if he's not too busy!

Hmm, I'm almost certain where you ought to go. Your leather almost looks like spandex!

[starkwhitesnow]

"Spandex?" Such a strange place, this. "If I may request? Gryffindor. I have family and business to tend to."

Gryffindor!

[ugly_old_hat]

Your (promise of a future) bribe has been accepted!

Welcome to Gryffindor!