hadriel | video

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[ Arya has practiced for this. The camera does not shake; she does not blink. She can give off no impression of weakness, of youth. What she is asking is not child's play. ]

As I am sure you already know, the gods of this city are seeking offerings. I shall be making an offering to the one who calls himself Fear. Those who give him an offering shall receive a blessing, should he deem it sufficient.

I have an offering. But I shall need some assistance in delivering it. If you are interested, please contact me.

[ She does not give a name. Her face, she figures, is enough. ]

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[Well, that's... interesting, if a little worrying.]

What is it that you need help with?

I arrived here with the face of another, dead girl. In my old world, I was taught how to swap one face for another, but the task requires two people. It's not pleasant, and I intend to perform it on Fear's altar.

[ There will be screams. ]

[Well, that sounds awful.]

I'll help you, if you really need it. Are you sure it's a good idea, though?

I'm sure. If I get Fear's blessing, I have another weapon to use, and he...he may bring them here.

You will need to help me change faces.

Not everything is about finding ways to fight. But if it's what you really want, I'll help.

[Even if he's really not sure it's the best idea.]

What's involved in that?

It is.

[ Do not doubt her conviction, Adam. She's given up everything else for this purpose. ]

We go to Fear's altar. You and I will stand on it; I'm sure it's big enough for the both of us. [ He seems like the type. ] You will press the corpse's face on my own, and no matter what I say, no matter how uncomfortable you become, even if I beg you to stop, you must not let go.

I will do the rest.

[He's certain he can do it, that's not the issue here. Adam has always been the sort of person who does what needs to be done, no matter how unsavory it might be. He's suited for it, at least in his own mind. You can't dirty something that's been tainted since birth.

So it's not that he's worried about. It's whether giving Fear power is a good idea, and how it might affect Arya.]

Will it change you?

It may.

[ She's trying to be reassuring, but really, she probably sounds more ominous. Gentle words were never her strong suit. ]

But that does not matter. I'm no one. I can become who I like, and still be just a girl.

[ She isn't Nymeria any more than she will be the woman who's face she assumes. ]

[Adam's never much needed reassurance. Truth is more helpful, in his experience. He thinks that over.]

It's your life to live, and your face to change. So long as you're doing it of your own free will, I'll help you.

Thank you.

I will meet you at Fear's altar at midnight. [ She gives him the tiniest, wry smile. ] Be very afraid.

[If he were a more paternal person, maybe, he would try to stop her. But Adam believes in letting people choose their own fates, make their own mistakes, and clean up their own messes. If it's his help she wants, he'll give it, and do what he can to make it a bit less dangerous, if possible.]

I'll be there. [He smiles, just a touch.] That shouldn't be a problem.

Are you sure the blessing [ though he hesitates to call anything from a being named fear a blessing ] is worth the risk of giving something up to Fear?

[ you are a tiny child, please think before you do this thing. ]

It is not his blessing that interests me. It is the result of his blessing, and how it might be used against a certain list of people.

[ she has a plan. ]

And what sort of result is he promising?

Fear. Directed at the people of my choosing.

It is a weapon, and I won't say no to it.

Are those people here?

You look like them. How am I to know who can be trusted? And it is possible that they could come, and I want to be ready.

That's... sensible. [ he says that very grudgingly. ] What do you plan to offer him?

A corpse's face. Screaming. Pain. Intense discomfort and revulsion. I will change faces with the dead on his altar, and it's not a pleasant process.

Maker's breath.

[ arya is a terrifying little girl. and cullen may be thinking she's a necromancer now. ]

And you--this process will not harm you in any lasting way?

[ good. arya means business. ]

There is no guarantee of safety, of course, but the only lasting impact is that I will have a new face, until I choose to remove it.

Will removing it harm you at all?

It may. It may not. Why should you care? I'm just a girl. No one, really.

You're a girl who is about to do something dangerous and doesn't seem to have anyone looking out for her. Caring about your safety is the very least I can do.

People don't really care about the safety of others. Anyone who says they do are liars.

[ She's been burned too many times to believe otherwise. ]

[ oh. that's a surprising and a saddening comment. ]

No one is completely honest, but I am telling the truth about this. I care. [ he pauses, looks to the side awkwardly. ] I would be terrible at my job if I didn't care.

You likely hate your job, then.

[ She says, equally stiffly. ]

My decision has been made. Either you will assist me, or you won't. Either way, it makes no matter. I am not giving up.

I actually quite like my job. [ but that's not the point here.

the point is, arya's going to go and do something he thinks is incredibly stupid and he can't actually stop her despite him being an adult and her being a kid. which is totally not how it should be, alright. ]

Then I will assist you how I can.

[ if it's magic and it starts to hurt her, maybe he can nullify it. ]

You're an idiot. [ wow, sharon, don't pull any punches. ]

You're wasting an opportunity. [ why not use the gods as they have used us, huh? ]

You'll give him what he wants for, what? A stupid, useless power? Don't be a dumbass.

Useless? Maybe to you.

I have people who need to pay for certain...offenses.

You don't need the power of some god to help you with that. Plus, if those people aren't even here, it'll do you no good.

I am not one to turn down a weapon, and I am prepared to make sacrifices. I see the same cannot be said for you.

[ She needs this. She needs power. Otherwise, she is only a girl, and a small one at that. A sword will only get you so far. ]

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