two | video

[whichend]

[ 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.

Comments

[cashlin]

Arya, I like the way you think.

[Seeing a girl Arya's age so sober about all of this doesn't shock her-- it's left her impressed. Not even adults have this measure of sense sometimes. The very least she can do is to take all of it seriously.]

The name's Lilith. Bianca mentioned me when she was talking about the forge. I dunno how good of a teacher I'd be, but I'm a damn good shot, and if it keeps more of us alive, I'll help out.

[whichend]

Thank you.

[ Arya nods respectfully, one comrade to another. ]

The forge is a good idea, and I am glad you and Bianca are moving on that. And I am glad you are a good shot, as well -- ranged weapons are safer to use in hunting, after all.

[cashlin]

You can count on me for that much. I've been using guns for years. Until we can get that forge up though, we're-- [an exasperated sigh] --a little dependent on what we had on us bullet-wise, which isn't gonna last forever.

[She trusts in her own powers, of course, but as much as she hates to admit it her mastery of them's not complete. Better to have a functional gun in her hands until then.]

You talk to Jack yet-- big dude, beard, eyepatch? Me an' him are... wearing Rage down on the ammo bit.

[whichend]

Then the forge ought to be the first priority. I do not wish to waste bullets, and I am more than capable of defending myself without a gun.

[ Arya nods. ]

I have. Would you like assistance in convincing her?

[ Arya can appeal to Rage's more...endearing side, if she has one. ]

[cashlin]

Sounds good to me. You know anyone who knows how to make one of those?

[As for Rage... well.]

The more rage we can toss at Rage, the better. Apparently, she's looking for a big trade.

[whichend]

I do not know for certain, but I think Jack is likely to know how to make them. Bullets are not especially large, either, so I think many more of us could learn.

[ Arya smiles, thin-lipped and rueful. ]

I have some rage I can provide.

[cashlin]

[At that, Lilith actually laughs.]

You are really on top of this.

[whichend]

[ Arya's brow furrows. She's not quite sure what's so funny. ]

I am doing my best.

[cashlin]

No, I'm not laughing at you!

[...Well, she kind of is, but it's for a good reason.]

I'm just surprised. I've met grown men who're doing worse than you are here.

[whichend]

I am not surprised. Men have grown stupid from their power.

[ she smirks a little. ]

And I grow smarter, when they are not watching me.

[cashlin]

You're gonna grow up to be a real terror. I kind of love that.

There's really that many stupid men where you come from?

[whichend]

[ Arya smiles grimly. Oh, Lilith, she's already a terror. ]

I do not know if the men are any less stupid than the ones you know. It is less about their slow minds and more about how I have had to be smarter than them all, to survive. Their contentment makes them stupid.

[cashlin]

[what a good child, she's so proud.]

Tch, yeah, that sure sounds like men, all right. Rough planet back home, I'm guessing?

[whichend]

I do not know much about planets, but my home was certainly rough.

[cashlin]

What was it like?

[Couldn't be worse than Pandora, but she's curious.]

[whichend]

It was a place at war.

[ Arya really doesn't have anything to compare Westeros to. Besides Hadriel, it's all she's ever known. She hopes her description gets the point across. ]