hadriel | two

[ Arya has gotten much better at using the camera on this thing since she arrived, and she's able to keep the camera focused on herself this time without much effort. Which is good, because she knows she needs to be taken seriously if this is going to work.

Arya is standing in the charred remains of what looks like was once a kitchen. The setting is on purpose -- it's a reminder to what happened, and what needs to be done because of it. ]

Hello, Hadriel.

You all know what happened last month. You know how the food was contaminated, and you saw the sickness that took many of us, and caused the sick to feed upon the healthy whether they liked it or not. This happened because we are too dependent on food from beings we do not see and do not fully understand.

[ She says, firmly. ]

We cannot afford to rely on the gods like we are children, and they are parents. There is enough of us here to survive on our own, all of us, if we work for it. We share one thing: whatever each person may think about this place, none of us were brought here willingly. That, I think, is enough to trust one another if not work together.

There are other ways to get food. There is a man named Newt here who knows how to grow it, and if that is your interest or specialty, it may be a good idea to talk to him. I can hunt, and I think there are a few more of us here who can as well. There is certainly enough of us to find food for everyone. Monsters can be meat, and more and more monsters are brought in every month. We need not go hungry, and we need not be helpless.

[ Arya swallows. Off-camera, she's digging her nails into her palms, not wanting to say her last piece, but knowing she can't keep hiding it forever. There's a brief pause before she gathers herself enough to continue. ]

My name is Arya Stark. If you would like to contact me. If you are interested in hunting, in learning, in teaching others, or even simply becoming independent as a city.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good. I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt.

[And he can pretty much guess what happened, from what he's heard and seen, so he doesn't ask. If she wants to talk about it, she will.]

You took your name back. I'm proud of you.

[He pauses for a moment.]

I don't mean to be condescending. Just - I know it wasn't easy.

You are not condescending.

[ Arya has heard plenty of condescending remarks in her time, but Adam hasn't said any of them. She smiles a little, glad that Adam is proud of her, a little proud of herself. ]

I started. It does not feel like my name completely yet, but it never will if I do not try.

[ A beat. ]

It wasn't easy, but you have helped me. More than I think you know.

You've helped me too. I think it's okay, to help each other.

[And by that he means that she doesn't owe him anything, not even thanks. He wouldn't even know how to start explaining that, though. Just that Adam is slowly starting to really understand that friendship isn't an exchange of favors, but something else entirely.]

It's a good name. And you have a lot of good ideas, too - we can't rely on them to take care of us. We're nothing more than pets to them.

It is.

[ It takes trust too. Adam has seen parts of Arya that she's barely able to acknowledge, good and bad. She's slowly but surely let down some, if not many, of her walls. It happened so slowly that Arya didn't realize that's what she was doing, that she was still capable of that kind of friendship. ]

Not even pets. They feel no sentiment towards us.

[ Fear had been nice enough, but then he threw her into a hole in the ground, and Arya doesn't accept the niceness as valid anymore. ]

If they really think they're gods, then I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. We would be like ants to them, then, basically meaningless except as a way to get power.

[He doesn't like that. Who would? But Adam also doesn't know how to even begin to fight back, except by being as useful to the people here he trusts as possible. That much he can do, and that's why he'll do whatever he can to help Arya.]

I don't know what to expect from them except more torture. Please keep yourself safe.

I can handle torture.

[ Arya says, both a statement of fact and a reassurance. That doesn't mean she likes it, but her life has been full enough of it that she knows how to cope, more or less. Torture, in some ways, is easier than certain messy emotions. ]

I will do my best to keep my safety, and yours too.

[ That's a solemn promise. ]

You shouldn't have to. None of us should.

[Adam is far from the kindest person in the world, but he doesn't think that anyone really deserves what happened last month. Losing control of yourself like that, hurting people - it's not the sort of torture Arya should have to be afraid of, at the very least.]

I wish I could offer you the same, but I don't seem to have the ability to keep anyone safe. But I'll be careful.

That is why I am doing this. I think this city could be a good place, if it did not have its horrors.

[ It certainly has good people. ]

You may not keep people safe with the sword, but I know you do that in other ways. You found Arya Stark and kept her safe even when I could not.

You're right. It won't be easy, but not everything here is bad.

[Adam doesn't make friends easily, but he's made friends here, and that's something.

He's not sure how to reply to Arya's words, though. Something like that - it means a lot to him. He's never thought of himself as the sort of person who could do something like that.]

I... thank you. It means a lot to hear that.

[ Arya smiles a little, gentle. She hopes Adam believes her. ]

Good. Because it is the truth. Which you should know, truly, because I am not good at lying and using the glowing box at the same time.

[He does. She has no reason to lie about that, after all.]

Well, multitasking like that is pretty hard. You're good with your phone, though, especially considering I'm sure there's nothing like them where you're from.

[ Arya smiles at the compliment, proud of herself. ]

Nothing at all. And they are so useful! Sometimes I use it like a lantern, when it is too dark here.

[ Since the burial, Arya has taken to using it as a makeshift night light as she sleeps. ]

That's smart. Someone made a game for it, did you see? I know you probably don't have much time for games, but you could try it.

[They both definitely need some mindless stress relief occasionally.]

I saw a post about it, but there were so many angry replies that I did not see the point in reading the entire thing.

[ The camera shakes as Arya inspects her phone, looking for the game. ]

Yeah, I wouldn't bother reading the replies. That guy's pretty oblivious, but the game is fun. We have a lot of games like that where I'm from.

Is the game a competition? Can I beat others at the game?

[ Arya smirks a little. ]

Can I beat you?

I think it's just to play by yourself for now, but I heard they're trying to make it a competition.

[He grins.]

I don't know, though. I'm pretty good at video games.

[ Arya beams. You're on, Adam Parrish. ]

Perhaps, but water dancing has made my reflexes sharp. I may still prove to be a challenge.

Then I'll be looking forward to taking you on. I could use a challenge.

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