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

[It's not his story to tell, truthfully, but he knows where Thrall can find answers if he asks. He doesn't want to focus on what's happened in the last few days. Not now. Not yet.

Instead, he's mostly pleased with Snowsong and he can't help but laugh a little as she licks at his hands. Hiro Hamada has actually devolved into a real child. He lets her leave his hands and looks up at the bag Thrall's holding, grinning slightly.]

Yeah. Definitely could eat…wait it's not bandersnatch again, is it?

[Hiro needs to be a child more often. This is war and the opportunities are somewhat bare. Snowsong's happy to oblige when her attention span comes back around, sitting her big fluffy butt right next to his feet.

Thrall snorts at the question.]

No, it is far more tasty this time. You can thank the spirits for that.

Mind leading us somewhere? We're not familiar with the area any longer.

[Yes, well, tell that to Hiro. It's war and he doesn't think the amount of time they have will allow for such things. He scratches behind Snowsong's ears again, grinning up at Thrall.]

Trust me, you have no idea how thankful I am for that. [But he steps back, gesturing for orc and wolf to follow.] Come on, we can head out this way a little further up the mountain path. You mind sitting outside for a while?

[He might, when Hiro isn't being grounded.] Of course. [He's a Frostwolf. Arid climes, be they cold or hot, have never bothered him overmuch.

Snowsong is curious about this new place. She lopes on ahead, leaving Hiro and Thrall to their own devices.]

If you are cold I can ask her to curl up with you. I think she would oblige.

[And as a tiny honorary Frostwolf, Hiro's doing his best to get used to the outdoors. As they begin hiking and Snowsong darts ahead, Hiro looks up at Thrall with his usual calm, slightly awed look.]

I might take you up on that, but the weather's not too bad yet. Besides, we're only gonna be here for a few hours. [A pause.] Thanks for coming all the way out here though. I know the trading post is kind of far from here but with everything working again it's a little easier, right?

Remember what you told me about Katsa?

Well, don't go around telling people that stuff. It's not anyone's business. I shouldn't have been privy to it.

I realized that about ten seconds after I told you. Anything else I should or shouldn't be doing today?

[Thrall is warm and attentive. He even pauses to fix Hiro's shirt, which has the tag inside out.]

It was no trouble. I would cross the sea for a friend if they asked.

[Spirits know he's done it for less, a.k.a. an old man yelling at him about the END OF DAYS. That tends to get people moving.]

And as I said, Snowsong wanted to meet the newest member of the pack.

[He's kind of grown used to people fussing over him like he's an actual child, so that doesn't even faze him. Actually he's just shaking his head in response.]

Should I just assume that you've actually done that before? [Because really.] But I'll keep that in mind. You guys won't ever have to go that far. [He looks forward to where Snowsong is.] She's really cool. Kinda wish I could be like her, you know? Huge with power and speed behind me. Maybe then I could actually do something about what's happening.

If you told anyone what I told you about my life, tell me now so I can break your nose for it.

I think you just want an excuse to break my nose. [A beat.] I've kept that to myself. But got it, don't tell anybody anything. [If he sounds slightly agitated, it's just out of slight guilt that he slipped up like that.]

You've given me plenty enough reasons already if I wanted to go for it. [And then he ends the call, because he misreads the irritation as "irritation at him," and he's just not interested in that.]

An old prophetic spirit appeared to me and told me to take my people and sail. I was not pleased about it, of course, but he was right in the end. A true seer. He said that my friend was in danger, and he was.

[He follows Hiro's gaze. Gently, he sets his free hand on the boy's shoulder, rubbing a little bit and trying to be comforting.]

You'd only be a bigger target. It's better to let people like me take the hits.

[A pause. His voice lowers.]

You can always, always come to the trading post if you need to. If you feel unsafe, if your friend cannot come to your rescue, then ask me. I can hide you.

I don't think I'll ever really understand spirits and prophecies and who you can really trust. But at least you rescued your friend...right? [Oh god please say he's right, Orc-Dad.

He's still pouting slightly even with the comforting gesture and he knows Thrall has a point, but that doesn't make it any easier to accept.]

Maybe I'd be a bigger target but I'd also be a bigger threat. Isn't that the important part? I want to start teaching people not to mess with us instead of still letting everybody fight for me.

[He looks up again then, a grateful smile in place.] But I know that. Trust me, I will always remember that. But I'm also tired of hiding. I'm going to get better. ["Stronger."] I need to start being able to haul my own weight and keep you guys safe, too.

I thought I had saved him. [Thrall hesitates. He can't lie, won't lie to Hiro.] In truth, Grom saved us all... at the cost of his life.

[Thrall is a bit concerned by Hiro's shift toward wanting to fight. Still, he knows there are good reasons to fight, and there are bad ones.]

Is it simply a matter of being self-reliant, or are you driven by something else? If you fight, you risk your life and you risk your entire world. It isn't a decision to be made lightly.

( following this exchange, she already feels about ten times lighter about things. because yeah, nothing is better or fixed, and nothing has changed, but-

there's the promise of something normal, and that feels better than anything. )

Sooo. Any plans tomorrow?

[Unlike Clarke's bit of chipperness, when Hiro responds he sounds...tired, mostly. But he'll muster up a little bit of enthusiasm because it's Clarke.]

Um. Probably practicing writing out runes, maybe looking for something new to read in the library...you know, real exciting stuff. Why?

That sounds boring. You should come on a Jason-approved field trip with me tomorrow.

I mean, if you aren't too busy with your rune writing.

Clarke. I can't go anywhere without asking Jason first, and you know he's going to say--

[...oh. Wait. Hold that thought.]

Wait, what? [He doesn't want to be too hopeful yet, but.] ...where?

The university I attend. It's near Redgate. I though you could come and sit in on my classes with me, if that doesn't sound too boring, and we could go to Redgate's library after?

( would it be boring? she isn't too sure; she loves going to school, and Redgate has a really impressive library, so- maybe it won't be too bad. )

I really want to do something... you know, normal. Jason said I could bring you with me, if you want to come.

[There's a very long pause. And then, quietly.] Yeah. I mean I was going to school before the imps brought me here anyway. I sort of miss it. [A lot. He misses SFIT, he misses his nerds, he misses home and it's so weird how just the idea of sitting in on a few classes kind of makes him excited and homesick all at once.]

But that sounds great. I've been there before, but it was just once when I was visiting Loki and I didn't actually check out the university or anything. We mostly crashed in his dorm and look at the library for a few hours. [There's still one thing that baffles him.] He really said yes?

Not sure if these classes will be anything like the one you were going to back home, but it's something, right?

( she huffs out a bit of a laugh at how surprised he is. )

I promise he really said yes. I get you for the day. No silly business, though, or he'll probably try to ground me, too.

They might be even better. What kind of classes? What are you learning anyway? [Do you hear this. Do you hear how excited this stupid nerd is. This is something he can at least pretend to fit into better.]

You...wow. Unbelievable. [Best mom. Okay, be serious, Hiro.] But okay. No silly business. None. Absolutely no fun whatsoever. [...!!!!!!!!!!] Tomorrow morning then?

Well there are two separate colleges that break down into different studies. So there's the college of magic, which has the department of shard study, and then the department of ritual. Then the college of lore, where it's the departments of sociopolitics, sciences, and faith. I'm mostly in the college of magic for shard study and ritual, but I also take a class in sociopolitics.

( Clarke how do you manage this on top of being the Midach and in the Red Hand? it's crazy. )

Tomorrow morning. I'll come pick you up at the castle.

[/INTERNAL SHRIEKING he's not freaking out you're freaking out oh god how did he completely miss all of this. Oh. Right. By being a dumbass and roaming around the Drabwurld instead. It's probably best that this is voice so she can't see his face. He can at least pretend to be casual.]

So that means we get to see both, right? That's kinda cool. [Uh, more like freakin' sweet.] That sounds great. I'll be ready. Just...let me know what time you're showing up and everything.

[...no he's still not sure if this is really happening.] He really said we get the whole day?

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

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