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

[He's not having a good time, so Thrall makes an offer.]

Not necessarily, but I thought you might want to meet someone.

[There's a bark from somewhere nearby.]

[...Thrall-dad you are actually a good dad. Fuzzy animals, wolves or not, will always make him feel better (especially since he'd love to bury his face in Mochi right about now and can't, and Shijima's gone, too. He sounds a little cautious when he responds, but there's a tiny bit of his energetic self back in tone.]

...Snowsong? [Okay. Also sounding a little hopeful but. But what else would it be? Thrall would have flat-out told him if he got another dog.]

[Thrall's grin is nearly audible.]

Yes. She is very curious about the human pup, as she calls you.

You can come to the trading post or I can come to you. The fairy rings are operational, so it's up to you.

Human pup. [Theeere we go. There's a tiny bit of amusement now.] Well I'm pretty curious about her, too.

[There's a pause, and a quiet "oh."] I...don't think I can really go out to the post. [Dad grounded him.] But I can go to any of the spires and the castle? Would that work?

[Up his eyebrow goes. Hiro, what did you do this time?]

The spires would be more preferable-- perhaps Ariadne's. Can you take a short ride outside if you are guarded?

I will try not to wrestle a bear this time. Snowsong is too swift to be caught, at any rate.

[You don't wanna know. There's a frustrated little sigh, but he still sounds resigned.]

I'm at Ariadne's now, but...I can't really leave the area, you know? We can hang out around the main part of Diasbaile though, I think.

[Hiro Hamada...really, really fucked up in the most colossal way possible.] Would that be okay?

That is fine. A place with a little privacy is all I ask. [He doesn't have spells of secrecy like Waver, so he has to pick his meeting places carefully.] I would like to speak as freely as possible, given recent circumstances...

Outside around the spire should be fine. [Though he's curious now what, precisely, Thrall wants to speak about.] See you soon?

[A smile, more in his voice than anything else.]

See you soon.

[It's about an hour and a half later when he finally appears. The fairy rings have made things easier, but the ride to the nearest fairy ring is still rather formidable from Nimh Gleanne. Thankfully he has Snowsong. He dismounts his wolf when he reaches the settlement that's popped up around the spire, and stops into a local business to get the medieval version of takeout. He's delighted to find that it's run by one of the refugees he escorted to the spire over a year ago now.

Free food. Awesome. Snowsong keeps nosing at the bag, but he ignores it. She wouldn't like the meat since it's cooked, though the potatoes are deliciously garlic-y.

It's hard to miss Thrall when he shows up. He stands far taller than any man in sight, and he's paired with a giant white wolf with fur as white as the Hart himself. Yet for all the intimidation he brings, he greets each refugee he remembers with a smile and a little bit of conversation and--

-- well, that's also why it takes an hour and a half, basically.]

Edited 2015-05-11 01:48 (UTC)

[Somehow this doesn't surprise him in the slightest. He's not expecting Thrall to be on time but at least the time gives him a chance to be outside and explore the settlement even on his tight metaphorical leash. Knowing his boundaries has put a damper on his spirits for the most part but now that he's outdoors it helps lift his mood a little more, weaving his way through talking to refugees occasionally and finally settling in the dirt by a tree.

It's not Thrall that gets his attention first, but Snowsong herself. While Thrall's bidding another refugee goodbye Hiro's bouncing up to his feet and approaching the duo, stopping to peer up with a large grin.]

Took you long enough.

[Thrall's ears perk right up along with his brightening expression when Hiro makes himself known. He's missed the little guy. He beams and clasps both Hiro's shoulders, as if he might grab him in a hug, but he's wearing his armor so he's... going to spare Hiro that horrible crushing death.]

I was sidetracked by some old faces. My apologies, friend. Are you hungry?

[Snowsong is immensely curious about Hiro, though. As Thrall pulls back, the giant white wolf swoops in to sniff him from head to toe. Her eyes are a similar shade of blue to Thrall's own. When she decides he's a good egg, her tail swishes excitedly and she shoves her face into Hiro's hands for pets.

Thrall laughs, then.]

She likes you, as I thought she would.

[He won't be staying at Diasbaile for long after this meeting. He knows that, so he plans on making the most of this visit. Thank you for not crushing him, Thrall-dad. He doesn't seem to mind the hands on his shoulders though and that's plenty of progress from when he first arrived in the Drabwurld.]

I could probably eat a little, yeah. Did you have something in mi--whoa. [Hi Snowsong, it's nice to meet you too. He stands very still then, allowing the wolf to sniff him out and judge him thoroughly. He knows better than to move before she's done but as soon as her head is in his hands he breaks into a small laugh as well. It's a nice change from the somber atmosphere that's been around lately, especially with everything that's happened to Diasbaile and his friends. And the audience. And his own life.]

She's so cool...[He's not at all bothered, just petting the wolf's head and scratching behind her ears.] How do you think they got here here?

['Cool' is not the term Thrall would use, but he's accustomed to Hiro's odd expressions now. He's been called cool and awesome a few times. It's... cute. He can sense a sort of darkness about the town, he has since he came in, but the specifics are lost on him. He might ask later.]

She doesn't remember. Perhaps they took her the same way they took us. [Snowsong licks Hiro's hands with her big pink tongue but she doesn't go for his face. Now that she's sufficiently covered him in wolf spit, she shakes herself out and sniffs at the ground.

Thrall pats her flank, then holds up the bag with his other hand.]

Meat and potatoes, an adequate staple.

[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?

[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.

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.

[...annnnd there goes all of the wind from his sails, so to speak. He's quiet for a minute, shaking his head finally.] I'm sorry. Kinda seems like a pattern, huh?

[He probably has good reasons to be concerned considering it's Hiro and Hiro doesn't quite have the means tor eally fight just yet.]

Why can't it be both? What if I'm being driven by wanting to be self-reliant and also protect everybody here? [...but he pauses, stopping completely as he looks up at Thrall again.] What do you mean the entire world?

I think he wished to atone for the mistakes he made. But... I don't know. He is with the ancestors now. I hope he has found peace.

[It is kind of a problem.

At Hiro's question, something troubled crosses Thrall's expression.]

You don't know... Hiro, listen to me very carefully. [He stops, and he makes sure no one is around. It's just Snowsong, and his keen orcish hearing confirms they're alone. He sets his hands on Hiro's shoulders and looks into his eyes.]

If you lose your shard, you lose your connection to your world. You know that. But it also means that your world dies.

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