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

[Hey, that counts as a break. It means Hiro can think about other things for a while. Plus, being tired out actually puts people in a good mood, sometimes? Endorphins, man.

Thrall's tone softens at Hiro's apology, along with his expression.]

It's all right. You are busy, and that is fine. I wanted to meet with you before I found myself waist-deep in other work.

Are you still unable to travel? Could I contact your... retainer... and make some kind of arrangement?

[Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people don't go on a murderous rampage. It seems as though several of his friends are preparing themselves for busy-work and gathering information soon. To hear that Thrall's potentially going to do the same isn't a surprise at all.]

Still have to stay in the Dorchadas, yeah. Jason's wanted me to stay at Caer Scima but when Clarke asked him I got to go to Redgate the other day. I guess I could ask him? Where were you thinking?

[Yep, he's on the move now that he's got a solid idea of what he wants to do.]

The trading post. There is a lot of room for us to train, and I can close it up for the time being so there will be no company. Unfortunately it's in Nimh Gleanne.

Jason may not want you to leave Caer Scima, but I can escort you if he feels you can't be trusted to travel alone.

Oh. [If he sounds hesitant, it's because he is.] I need to check with him. He said yes to Clarke but that was also after a huge argument.

[There's a pause as Hiro clearly thinks about what would happen if he went without checking in first. He knows about Thrall's trading post but he doesn't know how Jason would feel about it. In his head, he feels like he's finally doing a little better. Clarke got Jason to say yes and while 90% of that was probably because Jason likes Clarke, part of it had to be because Jason trusted him even a tiny bit.] But I mean that shouldn't be too bad? Aren't you going to lose a lot of business if you close it though?

I will speak to him myself if I must. I have to guard myself more carefully these days, and that means my appearances at Caer Scima must be brief. Surely he could understand that much.

[Thrall understands, he really does, but Hiro also isn't entirely a child and this is important.]

Only a little. The resurgence of the Void has made travelers... scarce. It would only be for the time you are here.

I don't see why not. We've all gotta take care of ourselves now. [Which is part of why he's okay with being castle-bound. On the other hand, this is becoming super problematic.] Guard yourself from...what though?

[Because if it's just the monarchs...man. Hiro just assumes they can see everything.] You'd think that the Void pushing in on the coast would drive everybody inward and business would be booming. It wouldn't be that long though, I promise.

[Thrall doesn't believe they're gods. If they are, well, gods can always be killed.] I would rather not say. All paths are fraught with danger, particularly the ones less traveled.

[Sorry, kid.]

No, unfortunately. Dorchadas has taken quite a beating in the past year, so most traders settle in Glaschu.

Take as long as you need. I won't be eaten out of hearth and home over a few days.

Yeah...it's okay. [Is it? Time will tell, but he's wary now and it makes him wonder what else he doesn't know just yet. There's a harsh huff at the idea that Dorchadas is still downtrodden, you know, seeing how it's not their fault it's the way it is.]

We'll have to change that someday. [He doesn't like the idea of taking as long as he needs though.] Let me talk to Jason myself and see what he says. He's gotta understand why. [He hopes.]

[Thrall can't tell him everything. He wants to, but it's not safe over the communicators-- even Hiro's-- and it's certainly not safe for anyone to know unless they're behind the cause.]

If all else fails, let me speak to him. I do not know your guardians nearly as well as I would like.

[That's because they're all secretive bastards and so is Hiro, but ah well.]

[There's a sharp laugh.] You really consider him my guardian? Guess it makes sense you haven't talked to him much...a lot of us don't actually talk to each other as much as we probably should. Pretty sure Jason knows about you at least.

He gives you rules to abide by, and you seem to be friends. That makes him your guardian, does it not?

[He tilts his head.]

Although I... suppose that makes me your guardian, too, in a way.

If we're going by that definition, then I guess everybody's a guardian to me. [He lifts his eyebrows almost comically, like he's trying to indicate how silly the implication is.] That shouldn't be everybody else's responsibility though, should it?

Friendship ensures that it goes both ways. If I seem like I am about to do something incredibly thoughtless, I trust you to stop me.

[Thrall really isn't bothered, all things considered. He does find Hiro's worrying about him kind of nice. Amusing. But he knows Hiro would help him if he asked for it.

Luckily, Thrall's been careful.]

Well obviously. [He can't help but laugh. Then again, he's also aware that they both know if the other is too determined there is no stopping them. But the assurance is nice.]

Maybe I'm just still getting used to it. [A beat.] For a really, really long time it was just me and Tadashi. Is it bad that I'm still not sure what to do with people sometimes?

[Yeah, there's that. But if they're both determined about something then, you know, it's probably for a good reason.]

It isn't something you can change overnight.

[He rubs at his chin.]

Sometimes I still get nervous speaking to my advisors. When everyone begins talking at once, I get overwhelmed. I cannot tell you how many times I've snapped at someone without meaning to. It's instinctive and... sometimes even frightening.

But you're a war chief. [Because apparently that's important here.] You'd think everybody would actually shut up and listen instead of talking over each other.

[A hand comes up to rub the back of his neck instead.] I'm getting better, but there are some people that're still a challenge. [Like Jason. There's a heavy sigh then.] Speaking of challenges...guess I should go try to convince Jason that I'm not going to disappear into the void if I leave the premises for the day. Wish me luck?

[Sadly, unbeknownst to either of them then the silver sickness will hit and all sorts of terrible things will go wrong, but it's nice to pretend that isn't the case just yet.]

[Hiro... that's so cute.] You would think so, but that's hardly the case. I chose opinionated people for advisors so that I would have every angle of a situation. That doesn't mean they all get along.

[His tone softens.] Let me know if there is a problem. I want to help you as much as I can.

Tough crowd. [A beat.] But if anybody can hold them in line it's you.

[There's a deep breath and a slow exhale. This'll be fine. Really.] Thank you. I'll see what he says and let you know soon.

[And then there's the disconnect. SORRY THRALL-DAD, THE DRABWURLD'S ROUGH. He'll check back in again soon.]

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

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