He can't help a small smile at the mention of Tyrion. He hadn't known the man well, but it was easy to see how much he cared for Sansa.
"Where I am from, people engage in sexual acts simply for the enjoyment of physical sensation and with no intention of pursuing more of a relationship. It does not make you a whore." He squeezes her gently, trying to be mindful of the bruises. "I am not defending him, but it could be a difference in culture. I could not imagine anyone who has seen such glimpses of the kindness in your soul would leave you because of your physical shell."
Though he doesn't voice it, it's likely clear from his tone how little he thinks of anyone who would do as such. "His actions are his own. That he chose to end association means only that he does not realize what he will be missing in your talent and wit and heart."
"I shouldn't have given it to him," Sansa says, keeping herself as close to the soldier as he'll allow. He comforts her like no one else and it feels as if he's a missing part of her, in ways, and she wishes she'd come to him with it earlier instead of letting it fester.
"I just thought a man who told me I deserved everything I wanted wouldn't leave me when I told him that he was what I wanted. Men are liars, though, and I've always known that. I shouldn't have trusted another one to tell me pretty words and mean them. He's not a man like you or Tyrion."
Sansa suspects there's few men of that caliber left in the world and she doesn't think Tony Stark is among them. She takes comfort in the soldier's arms for a moment before speaking again.
"He doesn't even deserve my name. Do you think I can rename a person a bastard even though I'm not a queen here? Because if I can make you a Stark, I can make him into a Snow. Even if it's between us."
"Did you take pleasure from it?" If Tony had hurt her in the act, well, that will certainly complicate things. But he gets the impression that the hurt is only emotional — still not a small thing, but considering Sansa's unique history with physical intimacy, an unpleasant tumble between the sheets would likely complicate her heart even more. "He did not hurt you in that, did he?"
If he did, well, the Soldier was going to need to have a conversation with Tony.
"His platitude may have been false, or he may never have believed you would ask him for himself. Regardless, I feel it is better we have learned his heart so soon, and before you became more entangled with him." As much as she's hurting, it would be worse if this had been a longer relationship.
"You are still a queen, even if these are not your lands. I would think that entitles you to some control over your own history, and those who share your name." He's quiet a moment, considering. "Rewrite your story to cast him as a concubine you've deemed not worth the trouble, if you so desire it. You are a queen. You have that power."
"He didn't hurt me in bed," Sansa says quietly. It's embarrassing, in a way, to be talking about this but she's always been able to talk to him about these things. Sometimes she thinks that the soldier is someone who knows her better than she knows herself. Still, it's important to make certain he knows she wasn't hurt physically; Sansa doesn't think anyone could win a fight against the soldier at all.
"I liked what happened. I just thought I was doing things the modern way. Women in my time are just married to one man after the other and I thought that I was being modern to be...willing to be casual about it. I was trying to be what I thought he wanted."
That, she thinks, might have been the problem all along. When he says that she can pretend Tony is a concubine who isn't worth her trouble, she cannot help but laugh. Still, if Kings can have concubines and whores, can't a Queen? He's not really wrong.
"Then he's Tony Snow," she says. "Even if it's just between us. He liked to spend time with James but I guess it's within my right to withhold that. That's why I thought...I don't know. I thought his words meant something because he was kind to my son. I didn't think a man could deceive me again."
"You should only try to be what you want to be. Just because someone is casual about it, doesn't mean that you have to be."
Which goes for so many things, truly, but he supposes that he has particularly strong feelings about choosing one's own path and the decisions that feel right for oneself. He can't truly relate to how she's feeling, having no desire to share physical interactions with another, but he does understand the pressures that can come from not being what someone else expects.
He nods as she renames Tony in her view. That's important, he thinks; names and family ties mean much to her and this, he thinks, is a small step in her healing process. "You have the right to control your son's entire world, especially considering his age. You should do what's best for him; there seem to be plenty of others who would be a good role model that he will not lack for babysitters."
"I'm sitting next to a role model," Sansa says, pressing a kiss against his temple. Talking to him almost always makes her feel better and she's glad she unburdened herself with him. Her soldier would never disparage her or think less of her so long as she does things for herself (she thinks) and she does love him.
"I love you, you know. You're the only person who understands me in and out. You don't think I'm ugly or weak because Ramsay nearly broke me. You don't judge my choices. You just care about me, in your way. You never ask me to be anything other than what I am."
And, in the same vein, she doesn't ask it of him. "I'm glad you came back. We take care of one another."
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no subject
"Where I am from, people engage in sexual acts simply for the enjoyment of physical sensation and with no intention of pursuing more of a relationship. It does not make you a whore." He squeezes her gently, trying to be mindful of the bruises. "I am not defending him, but it could be a difference in culture. I could not imagine anyone who has seen such glimpses of the kindness in your soul would leave you because of your physical shell."
Though he doesn't voice it, it's likely clear from his tone how little he thinks of anyone who would do as such. "His actions are his own. That he chose to end association means only that he does not realize what he will be missing in your talent and wit and heart."
no subject
"I just thought a man who told me I deserved everything I wanted wouldn't leave me when I told him that he was what I wanted. Men are liars, though, and I've always known that. I shouldn't have trusted another one to tell me pretty words and mean them. He's not a man like you or Tyrion."
Sansa suspects there's few men of that caliber left in the world and she doesn't think Tony Stark is among them. She takes comfort in the soldier's arms for a moment before speaking again.
"He doesn't even deserve my name. Do you think I can rename a person a bastard even though I'm not a queen here? Because if I can make you a Stark, I can make him into a Snow. Even if it's between us."
no subject
If he did, well, the Soldier was going to need to have a conversation with Tony.
"His platitude may have been false, or he may never have believed you would ask him for himself. Regardless, I feel it is better we have learned his heart so soon, and before you became more entangled with him." As much as she's hurting, it would be worse if this had been a longer relationship.
"You are still a queen, even if these are not your lands. I would think that entitles you to some control over your own history, and those who share your name." He's quiet a moment, considering. "Rewrite your story to cast him as a concubine you've deemed not worth the trouble, if you so desire it. You are a queen. You have that power."
no subject
"I liked what happened. I just thought I was doing things the modern way. Women in my time are just married to one man after the other and I thought that I was being modern to be...willing to be casual about it. I was trying to be what I thought he wanted."
That, she thinks, might have been the problem all along. When he says that she can pretend Tony is a concubine who isn't worth her trouble, she cannot help but laugh. Still, if Kings can have concubines and whores, can't a Queen? He's not really wrong.
"Then he's Tony Snow," she says. "Even if it's just between us. He liked to spend time with James but I guess it's within my right to withhold that. That's why I thought...I don't know. I thought his words meant something because he was kind to my son. I didn't think a man could deceive me again."
no subject
Which goes for so many things, truly, but he supposes that he has particularly strong feelings about choosing one's own path and the decisions that feel right for oneself. He can't truly relate to how she's feeling, having no desire to share physical interactions with another, but he does understand the pressures that can come from not being what someone else expects.
He nods as she renames Tony in her view. That's important, he thinks; names and family ties mean much to her and this, he thinks, is a small step in her healing process. "You have the right to control your son's entire world, especially considering his age. You should do what's best for him; there seem to be plenty of others who would be a good role model that he will not lack for babysitters."
no subject
"I love you, you know. You're the only person who understands me in and out. You don't think I'm ugly or weak because Ramsay nearly broke me. You don't judge my choices. You just care about me, in your way. You never ask me to be anything other than what I am."
And, in the same vein, she doesn't ask it of him. "I'm glad you came back. We take care of one another."