(Untitled)

[a_mere_child]

So. A handful of Sateré-Mawé tribesman opted to come with the Resistance when they left South America. One of them, Maripyaipok (he also answers to "Mari"), was what Shephard calls a "headcrab wrangler," catching and drugging black headcrabs for use in the tribe's coming-of-age rituals. Alyx tries to be understanding of other people's cultures, but

Comments

[stealth_bandage]

"You know, I'm trying, and I can't think of a single way that sentence could possibly end well," comments the blond fellow just down the Bar. "Centaur?"

[a_mere_child]

"Spider," Alyx murmurs without looking up. "Really big spider, right up against his cheek..."

[stealth_bandage]

"...."

This is Arcade's 'bleah!' face.

[a_mere_child]

Alyx catches the expression, and the corner of her mouth twitches a little. "Yeah, tell me about it."

[stealth_bandage]

"Do I even want to know why?" says Arcade. "Was there alcohol involved? Chems? An injudicious bet in front of an attractive woman?"

[a_mere_child]

"None of the above. The guy just really likes crawly things."

[stealth_bandage]

"Brr." Arcade shakes briefly, like a wet dog. "You get used to them where I live- you sort of have to- but that's not a reason to get all friendly with them."

[a_mere_child]

"He's got his reasons, but..." Alyx shakes her head. "I never wanna see a grown man talking baby talk to a spider ever again."

[stealth_bandage]

"...... oh.... kay," says Arcade slowly. "Is he... quite right in the head?"

[a_mere_child]

"I sincerely doubt it," says Alyx. "But that probably applies to most of the Resistance."

[stealth_bandage]

"You'd know better than I," says Arcade. "How are matters faring on your side of the door, or shouldn't I ask? Where there's one massively overbuilt arthropod there's generally another two or six or twelve."

[a_mere_child]

"There's an entire continent full of 'em," replies Alyx. "Australia's native wildlife was too much for most of the Xen species, apparently."

[stealth_bandage]

"Ugh. Lovely," says Arcade. "How big do they get, anyway? Or is it mostly down to venom?"

[a_mere_child]

"Both. There are spiders that can take down birds, and funnelwebs have some of the most toxic venom in the world. And that's not counting all the other nasty shit around..."

[stealth_bandage]

"And people lived on this continent voluntarily?" Arcade says. "I've read some of the surviving histories. There isn't much about Australia beyond mentions of its strategic importance in terms of uranium mining."

[a_mere_child]

"...actually, if I remember right? Most of the white folks who settled there were expatriated prisoners."