ONE ❢ VIDEO

[firstreturned]

[The woman who appears on-screen does not look particularly angry, or even that getting angry is something she makes a habit of beyond possibly rolling her eyes when a barista writes her name wrong on a Starbucks cup. She's standing against a nondescript stone wall much like Hope was in his first broadcast.

After a moment, a mildly curious expression resolves itself into a perfectly pleasant smile that appears to be entirely sincere in nature.]

While I can't say I enjoyed having to be brought back at all, that was a wonderful welcome you creatures gave me and I wanted to thank you for it. It's like you couldn't even control how much rage you were expelling.

I see many of you have had a look at my armory, I hope you enjoy it. Keep up the good work and I'll keep you as well stocked as you keep me.

Comments

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[whichend]

[ The politeness, the hair -- at first, it's all too much, and Arya just stares at the camera like a deer in headlights.

Then it occurs to her that that's a little rude. Ordinarily, she wouldn't care, but she doesn't want to make anyone called Rage angry. And she knows someone who looks an awful lot like Rage who would demand some politeness. ]

It's, ah, terribly -- no, not terrible, nothing is terrible -- very, yes, that's it, it's very nice to meet you. Um. Lady Rage.

[ Arya had forgotten how terrible she was at being a proper lady. This, she thinks, is a pretty good reminder. ]

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[firstreturned]

[Rage merely waits out the deer in headlights time Arya is having with a curiously raised eyebrow. The politeness serves her well and she is granted a pleased smile.]

Why thank you human. Lady Rage, I like the sound of that.

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[whichend]

[ nod nod. common courtesy. she's got this. ]

Thank you for the armory, Lady Rage. The broadswords were quite nice especially, and the maces. I've never used a mace before!

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[firstreturned]

[Rage's eyes widen a bit, bright with interest.]

Did you enjoy it?

[whichend]

[ Oh, Arya can talk about this! She's good at weapons. She grins and relaxes, just a bit. ]

Yes! I'd only fought with a rapier or a dagger before; small weapons that are more agility and speed dependent than anything else. But I'm getting much stronger, and I can bear larger weapons. I'm still working on stances and follow throughs with most of them, but it's fun to use heavier weapons as well. They cut through the air with so much speed and power, it's like I'm a knight!

[firstreturned]

[Rage listens to Arya's cheerful description of her trials with various implements of distruction with a distinctly pleased smile on her face.]

Well I don't know what a knight is but I don't see why you can't be one.

[whichend]

I'm not a man. Where I come from, knights are only men.

[ She says, glum. ]

[firstreturned]

Well that's stupid. Can you be a knight here?

[whichend]

I don't know. I don't have a proper name anymore, and there's no one to bestow that title upon me. It may not be possible.

[firstreturned]

You don't have a name either? Why not?

[whichend]

I had to give it up. It was an exchange for food and shelter, and perhaps power.

[firstreturned]

Can you get another?

[whichend]

Remaining nameless was part of the agreement.

I have a name here, but it is a lie.

[firstreturned]

Are the people you made an agreement with here?

[whichend]

No, but...

[ she sighs. ]

Their god may be. He takes many faces. And besides, I do not know if I know how to be that person again.

[firstreturned]

Was it difficult?

[whichend]

Fear asked the same question.

You and Fear are not the same god, with different faces?

[firstreturned]

We are different. For one, he's an ass while I am magnificent.

[whichend]

[ She chuckles. ]

Hope seems to think so too. And you are not a second face of Hope's, either?

[firstreturned]

I am not. I am still more magnificent. Do Gods often have multiple faces for you?

[whichend]

The one I served did. He was the Many-Faced God, and his gift was death.

[firstreturned]

Well he sounds like a prick. How are you supposed to worship someone if you can't tell who he is?

[whichend]

Through priests .

[ it's the priests that worry her more than the god itself, really. ]

[firstreturned]

And they're trustworthy?

[whichend]

I don't know.

But I had nowhere else to go, so it didn't matter.