the house that heaven built + open, joiner

[body]

[size=10pt]Valkyr's arrival makes him jump, visibly so. Ottawa takes a step back or two, ears laid flat against his head. God, what is that? In all his time on earth, never once has he ever seen something like that. Is it a... dog? Would it be rude to ask? Is this some higher power physically manifesting itself before him? Man, he sure hopes he hasn't suddenly incurred God's wrath.

It speaks. It's calm, so he thinks. No bolt of lightning from above has come down to smite him, so Ottawa lets himself slump just a bit. He doesn't think he'll need to run at this point. He wonders if they'll hunt him down if he makes a break for the exit. "Slaves?" Ottawa repeats softly. He grimaces. Hopefully he hasn't been misunderstood - he didn't plan to sign his life away or anything today. "...that's not..." It probably isn't his place to say anything, though he's sure the look on his face makes it clear he disapproves.

"I - I can't tell if you're being serious," he says. Is this a joke? No one is laughing. "Ottawa," he mumbles. "I - I won't be here for very long." Assuming he even has the choice to leave anymore, he plans to book it out of here the second he can. This doesn't seem like the kind of place he wants to be.