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

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.

There can always be one last thing that changes your fate. If he sacrificed himself to save you guys and he's with the ancestors? I don't doubt he's found it.

['Sort of like Tadashi', he thinks, but doesn't say out loud. He stands a little taller, not breaking eye contact as Thrall speaks before it clicks. The world dies. Of course. Of course it does, why hadn't he caught onto that sooner? If the Void was threatening to take over and take the lives of everyone in the Drabwurld, and if death meant losing your shard and losing your shard meant losing your connection to your home world then why wouldn't that mean the same fate much earlier? He's a little horrified by the prospect, and at the same time he remembers something Morla said at the audience about the Shuck and what will happen if they don't stop the Seelie. The destruction of everything until nothing's left to destroy.]

Who told you that? [It's a good question, but it's still clear that he firmly believes it. This isn't something Thrall's telling him just to scare him. This is something he needs to know. But so many of his feelings depend on Thrall's answer.]

Hn.

[The wound still hurts and he doesn't want to think about Grom when he's basically standing in his position. Making mistakes, trying to teach someone younger that he might call 'little brother'... It hits way too close to home.]

Someone I trust with my life. [Considering it was told to him under a spell that prevents eavesdropping, he's pretty sure it's legitimate information.] I was told many things, not all of which I am obliged to share. You must believe me-- not as your chieftain or your teacher, but as your friend.

Fighting is a last resort.

Understandable. [But at the same time it only makes him want to ask why. It makes him want to seek answers all over again, even if they're ones he may not like.

If fighting's really a last resort...did the others know? Did the others know that their worlds would end if they were killed in action?] Why don't more people know about this then? Isn't that kinda important?

If people knew, they wouldn't want to fight. There were other courts besides the Seelie and Unseelie, once. Over thousands of years, the courts have decimated the others and taken their shards. That means they've murdered countless worlds along with their people. The amount of lives lost is... unimaginable.

The monarchs will tell you that no price is too great for victory, but... if we are supposed to be fighting to preserve the worlds we have now, then killing the Seelie means destroying what we're trying to protect.

[Snowsong pads around in a circle and waits for them in a grassy place up ahead.]

We're beset upon from both sides and the third path remains shrouded to me. Still, you deserve to know what the consequences are.

Edited 2015-06-02 01:41 (UTC)

This doesn't make any sense. [There's something wrong. He's not sure who's withholding information, or possibly who's skewing information to win favor but everything he's hearing just doesn't add up. He can believe that there used to be other courts and he can believe the amount of lives lost is unimaginable.

But how can their goals make sense if the rest of that is true? It's a lot to think about. Thrall's successfully knocked him out of that desire to fight...for now.]

So really what you're saying is we need to find a way to guide more people to the third path before we end up destroying all of the worlds anyway. Right? [It still doesn't add up, but he's focusing on this one piece at a time.]

[Thrall lets him go and follows his wolf.]

All rulers all have their secrets, Hiro-- this I know well. The corrupt ones lie and cheat to keep their people in check. [He doesn't, personally, but he does have spies in places because wars aren't only fought on the front lines.] They have for lived thousands of years. Do you really think their sanity is intact? If they were human once, mortal and feeling like us, they have forgotten. Reul's actions have more than demonstrated that.

[Yeah, he's pissed.]

Yes. But... there is no third path available. Not right now. Not without risking the lives of everyone who dreams of peace. Those who might have been neutral have every reason to hide now, and I do not blame them. The barest sniff of discontent in either court can result in death or... undeath. As you know.

[He comes to a stop beside Snowsong. His expression is dark even as he pets her ears.]

I do not want you to be made into an example. You are worth so much more than that.

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