I'll be the watcher of the eternal flame [Eachdraidh IC Contact]

[zerotohiro]

"Busy. Leave a message!"

Comments

Locket, mid-to-late-June-ish

[sculptor_of_aman]

[The Elf in the locket looks mostly curious as she is addressing.]

Hiro Hamada? I am Nerdanel. It was suggested to me by the baroness Ariadne that you might be able to help me with a project she requested involving the security of her spire. I have some ideas already, and would be happy to discuss them.

Locket, later June

[zerotohiro]

[Network he's been checking. Personal messages...eh. It's been touch and go and when he finally gets back to it he realizes he has a missed message. He's never met Nerdanel before and his response is just as curious. It seems as though the keyword here is "Ariadne."

So, he calls back only a few days after the initial call.]

Hey, sorry! I...kinda got distracted with some stuff...anyway, hi. Ariadne sent you to me? [Forgive him if he sounds a little pleased with that.] I'd talked to her earlier this month about securing the spire, too. What kind of ideas are you thinking?

Locket, Early-Mid July

[needmetoo]

Hiro?

[That voice? Is the voice of someone who's got a lot on their mind.]

It's been a while. Sorry. Are you there? [A beat while she berates herself. Right this whole message is because she got the equivalent of an answering machine.] Let me know when you're there, I guess.

Locket, Early-Mid July

[zerotohiro]

[It doesn't take long for him to answer, maybe only twenty minutes at the most and when he does call her back it's only slightly obvious that he just woke up from a mid-day nap. Pulling all-nighters is starting to catch up with him.]

Xion, hey. Everything okay?

7/1, audio, early morning

[erythristic]

Hiro, you're in all likelihood asleep right now. But when you wake and find yourself lucid, I need to know where you are.

7/1, audio, early morning

[zerotohiro]

[Not even five minutes go by before she gets a response. It was another late night and so sleep wasn't coming that easily anyway.]

Grell? [If he sounds surprised to hear from her, it's because he is. The longer he talks, the more awake he starts to sound.] I'm up. I mean I'm awake and I'm back at the castle. Why? Everything okay?

[Grell being alive is one less thing to worry about, at least.]

voice »

[unsolitary]

I know your birthday is around the same time as Jason's, so I need a birthday list from you, too.

( implying that yes, she has asked Jason for one already. )

A list of anything, but a few things so I can surprise you with something from the list?

voice »

[zerotohiro]

Things that'll explode.

[He's trying to sound as serious as possible, but there's a tiny lilt to his voice that says it's partially a joke.]

But if those are off the table, I can always use more tools and parts, I guess? Or books? [He actually sounds a little confused. He's used to presents from Cass and Tadashi, and he got a lot of cool stuff last year, but. There's a problem when you're a teenage boy and everything you'd want is either a.) inoperable outside of the station or b.) out of reach.] You don't actually have to get me anything, Clarke. I'll be okay.

[Other than the fact it'll be his sixteenth birthday and that's still kind of baffling to him.] But if Jason's being difficult, I can probably help you come up with some stuff by suggesting everything he won't like.

text | early July

[semiurge]

Are you allowed out of jail yet?

text | early July

[zerotohiro]

Think I might be moving to the parole period soon. Kinda depends, but I've been allowed some freedom here and there. What's up?

7/1 | VOICE

[vigilantist]

I forgot to ask you if you wanted any souvenirs.

7/1 | VOICE

[zerotohiro]

You're hilarious. [The response is dry, but he's not mad. Instead, he just shakes his head even if Yuri can't see it.] Though I won't say no to pastries from this really good bakery next to the university just outside. You're still there, Yuri? Or did you travel somewhere else?

Rune locked letters, various dates

[fell_to_hell]

[Nico writes back mostly because of how corny some of these letters Hiro sent are. Well, and because he wants Hiro to know that he hasn't disappeared or forgotten the dumb, teenage genius.]

[June 24th]

Those were awful and you should feel bad, but I liked the sketch. It was cute. I also wanted to tell you that I'm now related to my big sis legally as of yesterday.

[June 27th]

“I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”
-The Highwayman

[June 30th]

I actually have a Roman demigod friend here, now. He might appreciate that joke, if he hasn't heard it before. The nerd jokes are charming I think?. But they're terrible, oh my gods. Looking good in that armor and I'm totally not that cool looking in action.

[July 1st]

I'll stay safe as long as you do.

[Because Elysium help the poor soul who kills Hiro in combat and Nico hears about it.]

Action, around the sixth or seventh.

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Hiro would be walking through one of the larger courtyards in the castle when he'd here that familiar giggle, but echoy and a bit distant. Maybe above him?]

[A few moments after that, before he can actually leave the courtyard, there'd be the sound of hands clapping together.]

Heeeeeeey Hero, what's goin' on?

[But there's no actual sign of Lumina anywhere...]

[zerotohiro]

[Everything was fine and he was lost in his own thoughts when he heard Lumina. He immediately stops, turning his head to see if he could spot her but there's nothing. His imagination's powerful, he knows that, but...this is absurd. He continues to walk but then he hears her speak and he stops again, narrowing his eyes as he looks over his shoulder.]

Lumina...that better be you and not someone who's learned to imitate you. [Where are you, dude. Seriously. He's even going as far as turning in a circle to look for her.]

Video - Mid-July

[chaoticwhimsy]

Hey Hiro, I've got a science-nerd question for you.

Video - Mid-July

[zerotohiro]

[Well the view she gets is the ceiling of his room at Caer Scima, but he answers.]

Great. Good to know that's what I can always help with. [Hes mostly teasing her. But he's at his desk working on something even as he replies] What's going on?

voice | 8/3

[uneulogized]

Get somewhere private.

[No hello, nothing like that. He needs to cover his bases here.]

voice | 8/3

[zerotohiro]

[When he speaks? It's very, very low. He's excused himself from Bellamy and their preparations for Parrais, mildly surprised Jason's calling him right now.]

Kinda hard to do that, but I'm alone if that's what you need. What's going on?

voice » late 8/3

[unsolitary]

( the problem is, she doesn't even know what to say. Hiro's done things in the past that have worried her, but she's never felt disappointed by him, not really. it's a first. )

You didn't tell Jason that you left.

( it's not a question, it's a statement, because she wants him to know that she's aware. her voice is softer after that, could edge on sad. )

Why didn't you say anything? To me? ( a beat, hesitant, and she can't keep the emotion out of her voice. ) Do you not trust me anymore, after I told Jason about what we talked about at Redgate?

voice » late 8/3

[zerotohiro]

[He's awake, because of course he is. Sleeping isn't doing him any favors and after the call with Jason he's sort of felt absolutely terrible. Hearing Clarke's message though doesn't help at all. Actually, it just makes him feel even worse. He debates not responding to her at all, but when he clicks onto the network to respond he's very quiet.]

No. It's not that. [He thinks about saying "sorry", but he's not sure it'll even help anymore.] I don't know. [He knows exactly why.] I just--

[...something occurs to him though and he stops.] You told Jason. [It makes perfect sense. It suddenly clicks how Jason found out, why Jason was upset, how Clarke stumbled into the middle of something bigger that's his own fault that he thought was, what, helping? This is a mess, as usual, and on top of being completely certain he's finally fucked up enough to lose his--Jason, now he's disappointed Clarke.

Maybe he should just ask Bellamy to leave him in Glaschu.]

I didn't know you two were talking that much about it. [About them, he means.]

8/5 - Private Text

[scorchedchivalry]

Hiro Hamada,

The time has come to put into service the things from R&D that are ready to go. Please give me a list of that which is available so I can see to their implementation.

Saber
-Reul's Right Hand
-Knight of the Necroveil
-Champion of Redgate
-Unseelie Commander
-King of Knights

8/6 - Private Text

[zerotohiro]

[Sorry for the delay, Saber, your head of R&D was busy doing a little bit of B&E.]

Saber,

I have strings to pull and people to make arrangements with but I think we've come up with some pretty useful devices and spells that can be used for both offense and defense. Will a list suffice, or are demonstrations needed as well?

-H. Hamada

voice | 8/8

[heralding]

... Turns out that I could use some advice. You up for helping?

[Lightning has goals and ideas for what she can do next here, but Hiro really is someone who helps put things into perspective. This had begun as a way of looking to someone and helping him believe in himself, but she really does believe in him at this point.

So, he's the first one she thinks of right now.]

voice | 8/8

[zerotohiro]

[Things have grown progressively worse since the last time he spoke with Lightning, but he thinks he has a method of coping that will work. And if it doesn't work, throwing himself into projects and researching and staying off the field is also an effective plan. When he speaks, it's less chipper than usual, but he's still happy to hear from her.]

Always. What's going on?

voice » 8/10

[unsolitary]

( she's still out at the spires with Jason, and she's been meaning to tell Hiro for a while now, but- the opportunity hadn't exactly presented itself. but now that Hiro has (hopefully) had a couple nights of regular sleep under his best, she feels a little less bad about dropping this on him. )

I'm dating Jason. ( yeah, she definitely just blurted that out. ) Is that- ( a beat. ) Are you okay with that?

video » 8/10

[zerotohiro]

[Thanks to Clarke, it's true. He's managed a few nights of mostly-regular sleep that he so desperately needed. The first night ended with him sleep nearly fourteen hours, catching up from the lack of rest. The nightmares were still there but only sparingly and very briefly. Whatever Clarke had done was a good solution, even though they would have to find another soon. The second night allows him to sleep on a regular schedule as well and so by the time the third day comes he's a little more like himself. While Clarke and Jason are off at the spires, Hiro's been staying at Clarke and Bellamy's place tinkering with projects and doing his research and generally just sort of regrouping.

So. When Clarke makes that announcement? No. No, screw that, he's just automatically flipping the feed to video.

And staring. Unblinking. Staring into the camera to face her, sort of the way a cat stares at a person and raises suspicions that the cat has no soul. He's relentless, staying absolutely silent as he lets those words settle safely inside his brain in a folder helpfully labeled "things I don't understand but don't surprise me", right between the files for "Aunt Cass's affinity for only eating chocolate doughnuts when she's stress-eating" and "Loki's ringtone is 'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk."]

...what.

8/20, locket

[erythristic]

Can you come outside?

8/20, locket -> action

[zerotohiro]

Uh. Sure?

[He has absolutely no idea why she's asking him that. Or what she's thinking. Hell, half the time Hiro's not sure he really wants to know what Grell's thinking or doing but he doesn't respond beyond that. Instead, he just makes his way outside to see if he can find her.]

package » 8/22

[unsolitary]

Of course, Clarke couldn't let Hiro's birthday come without actually giving him something to unwrap. In his room at the house, a small tube is left, wrapped, with a note on top that simply reads Happy Birthday, Hiro. Love, Clarke. Once unwrapped and the delivery tube opened, he'll be able to pull out a rolled up illustration; it could pass as one of the ridiculous group photos that are taken, aside from the fact it's done in watercolour. In it is Hiro, Ariadne, Loki, Grell, Bellamy, Jason, Billy, and herself, with the Diasbaile spire as the backdrop. Clarke's signature is in the lower left corner, accompanied by a small inked birthday cake as well as a heart.

[zerotohiro]

[It's probably not a surprise at all that the moment he realizes what it is he lays the painting on his bed and stares at it for a while, memorizing everyone's faces and the area he's been quietly thinking of as "home" for some time. It's also probably not a surprise that he carefully tapes the painting to the wall of his room at the house, right in a position where he can see it from his bed and from the doorway.

He's patiently waiting for Clarke to clear the general vicinity, but when she comes back she'll find a small box sloppily wrapped and tied with a ribbon. Upon opening it, she'll find two dozen macarons that're brightly colored and a note written in his usual scratchy writing.]

Salted caramel, vanilla lavender and strawberry milk were our most popular flavors at the cafe. Tadashi suggested the vanilla lavender one and strawberry milk was my idea. I think I was five. I don't know if they'll be as good as the kind Aunt Cass makes at Lucky Cat but I wanted to try anyway just to see if I remembered the recipe.

And maybe just consider this a gift? Like a thank you for giving me somewhere new to call home after everything.

[The note is signed with his name and a small cartoon doodle of his cat, Mochi. He knows Clarke will understand what he's saying. Diasbaile might be home to all of them and it's Ariadne's territory, but Clarke was the one who really made the final steps. For that, he's grateful. Also honestly Clarke if you thought he didn't notice the shift in demeanor you are sorely mistaken. Comfort food fixes everything.]

drop-off.

[chromosomes]

[ It's sheer coincidence that this package comes around Hiro's birthday; John had needed to find someone willing to track the kid down and drop it off. It's a bottle of some sort of potion, and the note is written in John's untidy handwriting. ]

Heard you talked to Him anyway. Not entirely sure what He did, but this helps people sleep without dreams. Don't know if it'll work against His magic but I figured it was worth a shot.

Don't destroy any of His shrines like your pink-haired friend; that won't help.

- John Grimm, Son of the Shuck, Death by Mercy and a Commander of the Red Hand

letter.

[zerotohiro]

[The same messenger is asked to wait while Hiro pens a letter for John. It's messy and written in his scratchy penmanship, appearing as though he rushed to get the words out.]

Mr. Grimm,

I've received some strange birthday presents in my life. Kinda weird that your package showed up when it did.

...I don't have to be formal, right? Judging by what your note said and what the package contained, gonna guess Lightning told you exactly what happened.

I know you said not to talk to him but I had to try. I'm not really one to just accept the way things are without looking for a new angle to make it work. I might be mad at what he did. And I might be mad about what he said, what he wants to do and everything in between, but I don't have any intention of destroying shrines either. Even if I've never agreed with how Death (in this world or my own world) happens it doesn't mean I'm going back on stuff that's already happened. It won't help. Gotta keep moving forward, right?

Anyway...thanks. You didn't have to but this will help. Trust me.

-Hiro

8/22, letter.

[boutant]

[ Spelled so that no one else can read it, Ariadne actually sends two pieces of parchment. On the first is a note. ]

Hiro,

I wasn't sure how I could outdo last year, so I hope you find this interesting. It's a secret I kept here for a very long time. Only a few people know; now you're another one.

Love, Ariadne

[ The second letter details everything Ariadne knows about dreamsharing specific to her world, from its origins as a military training tool to the technology and potential hazards. ]

8/22, return letter.

[zerotohiro]

[...what.

What.

What?

It takes a very, very long time to process what it is he's reading and he has to read the second letter over and over again as his brain flips into overdrive trying to grasp the idea of dreamsharing and how it's actually based on something human and real versus certain demigod powers he's heard of. It really doesn't need a response, but he sends one anyway.]

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THIS. YOU.

...we've GOT to talk about this more later.

Best. Present. Ever.

[Later, when they have time. Later, when they aren't preparing for another battle. But definitely later.]

late-August

[selfimage]

[ Hiro finds an imp running from his room, squawking and disappearing around a corner.

there's stuff left for him on his bed from the very literal birthday fairy! there's a large bag of mixed pastries, some young adult fiction (mostly sci-fi) that Loki's found at the Station (some of it has little bookmarks that say how awesome certain scenes are with emotes). there's also shirt that's too big for him that says NERD on it really big.

there's also a bag filled with morning glories and a handful of novelty fireworks. they don't do much aside from spin around and make colors, but it's all in good fun.

Don't use it all in one place. -L ]

( august 22 )

[anarchos]

[Bellamy isn't really used to presents. He got small gifts for Octavia when he could on the Ark, and he never really got many from anyone else in return. But Hiro's birthday sneaks up on him, and he realizes he'd like to do something for the kid, in the way he would his sister.]

[He finds a couple old mythology books from the Station, mostly Greek, and a bangled up copy of the Iliad. And then he goes through his armory, testing out weights and grips on axes until he finds a good one. Not too big that Hiro wouldn't be able to hold it properly, but not small enough to keep from looking threatening. He carves some protective runes into the handle, some boosts and enhancements onto the blade, channeled via his blood and a knife (no blood on the ax itself, don't worry Hiro).]

[And then he just - kind of leaves it all in Hiro's room, no note, no card, not even wrapped, but none of that's ever been much of a thing for him anyway.]

[zerotohiro]

[Gee, who would bother leaving a bunch of books on Greek myth and a weapon in his room in a neat little pile without any sort of note? He has no idea.

In all seriousness, he's actually kind of surprised Bellamy remembered and also pretty pleased with what he's been given. The axe will be good for the coming weeks, he thinks, but it's more the books that he falls in love with. He doesn't verbally say anything, but he does tack a note to Bellamy's pillow for him to find.]

Awesome choices, but how did you know?

[No elaboration, nothing. Maybe it doesn't even need an answer. All that matters is that if Bellamy tries to find him later he'll find one (1) 16 year old boy asleep on the couch with the axe on the floor within reach just in case and the Iliad sprawled over his face, having dozed off in the middle of reading it.]

September 1st (voice)

[needmetoo]

[This was perhaps one of the harder ones to figure out what to say. Their last conversation had not exactly gone well, but... after everything he'd told her about, helped her understand... She owed it to him to not vanish without explanation.]

Hiro, I... it's Xion. I'm... I'm sorry about last month. I'm sorry I haven't really said anything since then.

You asked about what have I done where it felt like I was doing what I wanted to do, rather than what I was told. And... Even then I had an idea, but I wasn't sure if I could tell you then and I'm still not sure if I can now. But...

[There's a moment where she hesitates, teeters on the brink of saying it or not, then...]

I'm leaving. I don't... know when I'll be back, or if I'll even be able to. Even if... even if the idea I had is wrong, I'm never going to find what you were talking about here. What we're being told to do is wrong, and there has to be another way. I'm going to look for it.

I'm... I'm sorry I had to say this here. I didn't know how else to get it to you. And... I am sorry. Thanks for all your help.

September 1st (voice)

[zerotohiro]

[Truthfully, the rest of August hadn't been much better in terms of how things went in the Drabwurld. He spent a lot of time following his own trails and paths of magic to protect the Unseelie court while also doing his research on what he and Loki had discovered, on top of taking on duties and extra lessons to become Clarke's second in command and learning how to grow used to his Shuck curse. It hadn't helped that he had other rabbit holes to fall down and split his time so much. It's the justification he gives himself for not being able to reach out to Xion either.

On the other hand, it's not as though her message really surprises him either. She's not the first to debunk from their court, and he's certainly not going to stop her. He hadn't stopped Lightning and he still liked her very much. The thing was simply that he had to follow the ones he cared about and place his faith in the idea that they're going to do something different. There are bigger things than what he even dares to say.

It's for that reason he calls back later in the day after a few other meetings and there's a bit of silence following.]

Good luck, Xion. Just take care of yourself out there. [What else can he say to that? "Thank you for telling me you're abandoning everything?" He can't fault her for it, no, but at the same time he's conflicted. It's best to leave it at that.] Let me know if you need anything else. I'll try my best.

package » 9/6

[unsolitary]

( after making a quick trip to Parrais in order to fetch a book for Jason, she also stops at the most popular confectionery in the city. with a box of sweets that is certainly too much for any one person to consume handed to her, she returns to Diasbaile.

while the book is left in Jason's rooms, the box of cookies, small cakes, and other treats and pastries is left on Hiro's desk. on the top of the box, she draws out a very quick sketch of Hiro and Rhea enjoying the treats inside, but writes a quick not safe for dogs! beneath the art.

after what he'd made for her in return for his birthday present, she assumes that Hiro will massively enjoy the collection of what's inside the box. )

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope, Japanese calligraphy

[prissykid]

[It's taken a little while for Joshua to send an answer of acknowledgment back, but here it is. All that's in the envelope is a small piece of paper that says the following:]

A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.

9/7, Protected Rune Envelope

[zerotohiro]

[The response is immediate and sent back. It's not written in calligraphy but it's a weird sort of mash-up of kanji and English for super-encryption! (No it's probably just because Hiro's lazy and busy.)]

What's THAT supposed to mean???

early September

[notyetlegend]

[One evening, there is a small pouch sitting on the end of Hiro's bed. Upon opening it, there is a necklace of wire, wrapped around carved deer antler, a symbol etched into the bone. A small amount of healing magic can be felt from the antler itself, and the rune has been boosted with blood. Only a small piece of paper sits in the pouch as well.

Be careful.
- M]

[zerotohiro]

[He wishes he had something to send back to her, something that she wouldn't have thought of herself and something that she could benefit from. As it is, this is good timing for him to know that Merida's alive, well, and that she heard the news.

Later though, a messenger will find her and pass off a letter. It's simple but enchanted so only she can open it.]

Only if you'll do the same. See you at the end. I promise.

9/4

[erythristic]

HIRO, WHAT IS A COPIER?

[zerotohiro]

[Whoa. He stares at the message for a minute before he responds, raising his eyebrows.]

A copier? It's a thing that makes copies, why?
And why are you yelling at me?