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

People in our world don't tend to live that long...it's rare for people to live to be over a hundred but even then some of them are still really, really smart. [He understands Thrall's anger and he'd have to agree that yes, Reul was a bit...much and the entire audience was only a show of his authority. However he doesn't say anything to agree or disagree. He's still a little wary of speaking about the politics of this world until he understands better. This is the time to listen, not argue.

He makes a face then, partially at the question and partially at Snowsong licking him again. He doesn't mind the latter nearly as much as the former though and he's looking at his hands, considering for a moment.]

Thrall. Even if I build things and stand behind them that makes me just as responsible as if I were out on the front lines fighting anyway. [It's something he's repeating from someone else, but also something he's really given thought to. While he plans on doing that as well...] And I need something big to show Morla and Reul that I'm not putting all of us in danger. Kinda like what Jason did. [Not exactly like Jason did because he's not nearly as much of a fighter as the older man, but a big gesture.] If I want to make myself a smaller target, gotta start there first.

I don't doubt that. Humans live the same on mine, and orcs as well. [He thinks Hiro is being too nice about Reul, honestly. It's clear to Thrall that the man's a tyrant and he needs to be brought down. Morla... less so, but he's turning more and more toward other options the longer he's in the Drabwurld.]

It puts you further from danger. You are not made for the front lines no matter how much you feel you need to prove yourself to them.

[He sighs deeply. This is an argument he just isn't going to win, is he? He sits in the grass rather unceremoniously, setting the bag of food aside. He's... not really hungry after this conversation.]

... I know I can't stop you, so I won't waste my breath trying. I only want you to consider what you've learned.

[He bows his head, almost a little shamed that he's frustrated Thrall with the conversation before following suit and settling on the grass, drawing his knees closer to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.]

...sorry. I know you're right. [Of course, the definition of "right" can be dependent on any given day. Thrall definitely has a point though. A good point. A valid point, especially.] Ever feel like you've learned so much but you've also learned nothing at all? I've learned a lot but the pieces still aren't fitting right. I just need to work on new projects.

[He looks up then, tentative to ask but curious all the same.] What are you doing with the trading post now that Reul threatened to kill all of us?

[Snowsong flops down on Thrall's left side, her big white ruff beneath his elbow as an armrest.]

Sorry for what? Your stubbornness? [He smiles around his tusks.] I would be lying if I said I was any better. As long as you understand that you are fighting for more than just yourself, then that is all I ask.

[He takes a nice warm bun out of the bag and offers it to Hiro.]

I know you will do the right thing when the time comes. What that is, I do not know yet... but I trust you. I also know you will make mistakes, as I did-- but that will not change your heart.

[There's a slightly bemused look at that, but he leans forward to take the bun anyway. He doesn't bite into it right away, settling to hold it as he mulls over that thought. Of course he's stubborn and of course he understands it's now a much, much bigger picture. Jason had recently scolded him for not paying attention to what the world needs and only focusing on what he wanted. It's the same lesson, just presented differently.]

Yeah, well, those mistakes will probably get me killed if I'm not careful. [He realizes that, and he finally picks apart a piece of the bun to shove it into his mouth.] Friend of mine recently told me just that. That we won't know what the right thing is until we're in that moment. I think that's what scares me most about everything. Back home it didn't matter because my friends and I were a team and we knew mostly what we were doing. Even disappearing to save Abigail...I knew it was never a mistake. It was always the right thing even if we weren't sure we were gonna come back. With this though...I still don't really know.

[He shakes his head, shoving more into his mouth just to shut up.] But I bet you're not the only one who's pissed. Things are going to start shifting again.

Your friend is wise. [He mulls over his own bun, though he splits it in half rather than picking at it like Hiro does. After a moment, he gives half to Snowsong.] Sometimes we do not know if it was the right choice until much later. The right thing is not always the easiest one.

[There's a light eyebrow at the language, but he doesn't deny it. He's... more interested in what Hiro is saying.]

You risked your life to save someone?

[Didn't his brother do that? Oh, Hiro.]

Edited 2015-06-12 20:49 (UTC)

He's also kind of a jerk. [But the grin should be enough of a hint that Hiro doesn't mind at all. Joshua is...really important to him, even if he won't actually openly admit that.] But he's been around for a long time, so I kinda can see his point. [His eyes shift to look at Snowsong instead, watching the wolf sniff at the bun herself.] Kinda makes you wonder if there's ever gonna be cases where you'll never know if you made the right choice.

[He wonders if Tadashi could be resting easy if he knew his choice was in vain. But the question causes his head to jerk up and a guilty little look crosses his face. Whoops.]

Oh...um...didn't...I ever tell you that? [Well, the apple certainly doesn't fall far from the tree in this case.] Her name's Abigail Callaghan. For a long time everyone thought she was gone. When we found her though, we knew we had to bring her back.

Edited 2015-06-12 22:42 (UTC)

Sometimes. [Thrall has a bit of experience in that regard. Lately it's been more and more that way, but he doesn't want to shove all his insecurities on the teenager. He's fine, right now.]

No, you did not. [He doesn't scold Hiro or even sound disappointed. He knows Hiro takes time to open up.] That was very brave of you... and foolish, as you already know.

Was she kidnapped?

[There's a heavy sigh, thinking of how to respond without elaborating so much that it might be overwhelming.]

No, not exactly. Abigail was part of this project back home...Silent Sparrow. It was meant to be the first successful portal travel but the project wasn't ready and the portal was unstable. The head of the project went through with it anyway and because of that the portal collapsed on itself and Abigail got stuck for a long time. Everyone thought she was gone forever.

...the other portal was revived recently and Baymax realized she was still in there. So...you can see why we had to go save her. She was in hypersleep that whole time and came out of it when I pulled her out.

[There's a very distinct word choice. "We" had to save her. "I" pulled her out. He doesn't draw attention to it though, continuing with the story.] She's okay now. I don't know what's going to happen to her now because her father was arrested, but she's okay.

[Poor Hiro. He needs more friends that aren't medieval era dumbasses. Still, he understands the concept of portal travel. He is, after all, best friends with a mage.]

You had to-- because no one else would. Is that what you mean?

[Hiro really is like his brother. Thrall's expression softens, and he reaches out to pat Hiro's back.] She will have to start over, I suppose. It is not the worst of fates.

I cannot say I would have acted differently in that situation. I wonder if that makes me a poor influence.

Edited 2015-06-21 21:47 (UTC)

[There's a short nod.] Someone had to help. That someone had to be us...we were the only ones who could after everything that happened.

[In a way, it's a lot like what Tadashi did. On the other hand, it's not like Tadashi at all (in Hiro's opinion. But that's a whole other can of worms.) He just flashes a semi-grateful smile in return. At least Thrall's handling this with ease and it's for that reason he continues going through the motions like this doesn't still bother him.]

I dunno about being a poor influence. I would have done it anyway without influence. [A shrug. Not true. Tadashi instilled something in him thanks to his death and they both know it.] But what bothers me is that the same thing can't happen here, you know? I can't do those things for people here.

[Tadashi really did leave his legacy in Hiro. Looking at him now, Thrall can see how he's gotten taller in more ways than one.]

I guarantee that you have helped people more than you realize-- whether it be from friendship, gestures of kindness, or hard work. Salvation comes in many forms. It isn't always a grand, selfless gesture that captures the attention of the whole world.

[He passes out a bit more of the lunch-- garlic-stuffed baked potatoes wrapped in cloth, pieces of poultry. And of course he gives part of his share to Snowsong, because... he's a dog owner, basically.]

[Food is a fantastic distraction from the subject at hand even if his appetite's tanking the longer they talk. But Thrall put in the effort for him and surprisingly he's actually respectful of that.]

You realize that for every good thing I do I end up doing something else to destroy that, don't you? [It's a dry tone, but it's true. Hence being grounded.] I guess I just don't feel like it's enough when everybody else can do so much more and I'm just...["Me." At a loss of what he can do without his usual materials and without asking everybody to help him.] Never mind. You're right. It doesn't have to be something huge. [He ducks his head to focus on his food, also looking at Snowsong out of the corner of his eye.] Thank you. I guess I forgot.

Your words are so dark yet you still have so far to go. When your life ends, you are not judged with your mistakes on one side and your accomplishments on the other.

[Snowsong gives Thrall a white-eyed stare. He sighs and gives her a little more of the prairie chicken or whatever this is.

He eats politely for a minute as he thinks on what to say. When he's done, he looks at Hiro again.]

You have talent and potential. You have the cleverness to sustain these things and the determination to see them through. Even so, you feel you are unworthy because you cannot work the same way other people do.

Find a new way, then. Blend the old with the new, like you did when we healed the land. You say that everything can be improved... So, work on your way of thinking.

[It's a harsh criticism, but Thrall says it gently and without bite.]

[If he's bothered by the judgement, he doesn't outwardly show it. Actually, there's a short laugh of surprise as it clicks exactly what Thrall's saying.]

...Tadashi used to tell me all the time to look for a new angle. [Literally all the time.] And I passed that on to my team. Maybe I just got tired of looking and not finding the angles I wanted. [Screw it, he's just going to take a potato and work on eating that.]

Everything happens really fast here. But there's always time to think things through...right? [He's not entirely sure, but he'd like that to be true.] It's just one more project for me to work on, but at least this one seems easier.

[Hiro mentioning his dead older brother is pretty huge. Thrall's expression softens further. He wants to ruffle Hiro's hair, but that might be too much right now, so he lets him work on eating lunch.] Everyone gets frustrated sometimes. As long as you don't give up, you can be as frustrated as you want.

[His lip curves into a slight smile around his tusks.] There is plenty of time. [Unsaid, but felt: I believe in you. He really does, and he has, this whole time.]

[He's getting better about mentioning Tadashi. It gets a little easier every day to mention Tadashi even if he still is careful about it. He can talk about him, but he's focused on food because it's easier to split his attention.]

I just have to remember that. And at least I have people to remind me of that. [He looks up from under his bangs, giving Thrall a pointed look. He sees what you're saying there, dude.] I'm not going down without a fight though. That's not why I'm in this court. We just need to keep moving.

[And that is what they'll do. They're resilient, then Unseelie court. Hiro's always known that. They've had a lot of hard hits since Hiro and Thrall entered this world but they've made it out each time. They just can't give up.]

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

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