eachdraidh | 1st Circuit - Text for Both Courts, Video-locked for Unseelie

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1st Circuit - Text for Both Courts, Video-locked for Unseelie

[There's probably a better way to do this, but at least he can put out feelers and see what he's working with. Since the decimation of Caer Scima Hiro's been a little more than bitter toward the Seelie and while he doesn't want to have anything to do with any of them, he realizes that as a scientist he needs to gather as much information as possible.]

It's been a long month, hasn't it? I'm not used to any of this. Monsters? Destroying people's castles? It's weird. I was getting ready for class one day and the next I came here and then the fighting started. I think I'm going to fall really, really behind in my homework. Makes me wonder…what do you miss most about home? I can't be the only one who really misses advanced tech (computers, video games, even the old stuff like VCRs would be okay at this point.) And I know, I know, the Station exists but it's not the same. So, what about you guys?

[If he can figure out what people value? Maybe they can use that to their advantage, too.]

[Unseelie Locked]

[Now comes the hard part. With that out of the way the video function of the locket clicks on and it's obvious that the locket's hanging from something in front of Hiro. He's in a room at the Station, ever-recognizable blue hoodie hanging loosely on his frame but the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. More importantly than that? He looks a little nervous.]

…hi. My name is Hiro Hamada. I don't know most of you, but I hope you're listening anyway.

[He pauses and looks to the side, evidently looking at someone else who's in the room with him. Deep breath, Hiro.]

It's not a secret that we lost this battle pretty bad. That's a fact, but I think there's something we can do about it to help recover. I know there are other people that don't know how to really fight, or there are people who can only fight with weapons. What if we could do something more than that?

[Give him a second and he's holding up his hand. It looks as though he might completely freeze up but after a short moment a small fireball appears in the palm of his hand. He wants to put it out immediately, but he pauses long enough to at least look at the locket again.]

I couldn't do this when I first got here. [And the fireball vanishes.] Think about how much stronger we'd be as a court if everybody could wield a couple of spells. Even if it's not something you want to use for offense even picking up a few for defense is better than nothing. I know there're a lot of magic users here but…well, Lemina and I have been working on something pretty cool.

[He's going to lean forward and pick up what looks like a piece of paper with a class list and a list of elemental spells written on it to show the camera.]

The Guild's designed to not only teach people how to unlock their own magic ability but hone it and build up to becoming a better magician. We have a few ideas how to use it to help our side of this war. We're going to start classes soon for anybody who's even kinda curious. [A pause.] Look, I didn't even really believe in magic before I got here and knowing the little bit I learned saved me back there. It'd be really cool if you guys considered it and you can always ask Lemina or me if you have questions.

[Actually…he looks off screen toward where Lemina's sitting.] Maybe we should do that now?

[ooc: This is actually going to be open to both Seelie and Unseelie because of the mage university being started by Tzilan just outside of Redgate. Lemina's been putting up flyers around the Station and Hiro just doesn't realize it and has a very strong bias against the Seelie. You can check out more about said-Guild in the class link above, and you can sign up your character here. As an aside, Lemina will also be teaching classes at said-university on her own, but will be keeping the Guild as something separate. edit: also Lemina might pop into some threads as well!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...uh.]

Are the first three not monsters, or...?

Well, Marta is if you don't like her cooking. And sometimes if you're another girl she gets really jealous.

Don't tell her I said any of that if she ever comes. She'll kill me.

Tenebrae is a Centurion though which is apparently different from a monster but he doesn't seem that different, except that he really likes puns and lame jokes.

And Richter is... I guess he can be intimidating. But my monsters are all really friendly and sweet. They're my best friends. I've made new monster friends here but I still miss my old ones.

Well girls are weird like that. A lot of girls get jealous when their boyfriends are around other girls though. [Yes he's purposefully misinterpreting that just to see what Emil says, don't mind him.]

Sounds like somebody else I've met here. What's a Centurion though if it's not a monster? If it's not human it's something like an animal? Why would you miss somebody if you're afraid of them? Richter, not the monsters. We don't have monsters where I'm from (not real ones) but the fake ones are usually pretty brutal. The monsters here don't seem that much better. How do you even befriend those guys?

No! Marta's not! We're not! She's my friend? Something like that anyway it's not-- But I maybe like her.

Well, Tenebrae looks like a big dog cat to me. A Centurion rules over certain monsters. Tenebrae rules over darkness based ones. But I still think it's a technicality....

Richter is actually really nice! He just doesn't know how to express himself very well I think. And I might be his dead friend. it's really complicated.

But monsters are easy to befriend. They're just like people. Monsters want companionship and worry about dinner just like us. We're the ones who decided to call them monsters. I don't think they like that word very much. Oh! I know. You should meet Topo. He's a Fenrir.

Maybe? [Ahahaha. Man you know what. You can keep your girl problems sir, he's going to bask in his state of "not interested" for a while longer.]

So it's like a monster king but it looks like a domestic pet. I wonder how somebody like him would deal with being stuck here. ...you...what?

[Why is everybody from your world potentially dead, Emil, what the hell?]

I dunno, dude. I haven't really tried the whole "talking to monsters" thing. [Unless you count the jabberwock...] Maybe they just don't think you'd be satisfying as a meal so they're sparing you. A Fenrir like...a wolf? A giant wolf?

[Also more questions for the ages: why does everybody have some kind of wolf?]

Well...

All right I might as well explain it in case you ever meet him. So Richter had this friend, Aster, and he died, except he didn't maybe? Because I have a split personality that might be Aster. I'm a fake personality but my friends don't really like me saying it that way. Anyway we look just like Aster. So I think that's why Richter is a little harsh on me. Sometimes if you talk to me it's not me, it's the other me. I know it's strange....

[........Yeah.]

You know maybe I should show you Topo.

[Emil turns on the video and shows off his wolf because clearly that will help this situation from being less awkward.]

This is Topo! Monsters really are friends. You just have to try.

[And have pact magic, Emil. The pact magic matters.]

[...it's official. Everybody's crazy. He's not even sure how to respond to that other than--] Oh. Okay. So...who am I talking to now?

[He doesn't get a chance to get an answer though because there's suddenly video and there's suddenly a giant wolf and seriously, why is it always wolves?]

He's....wow. [He's just staring for a second, don't mind him.] So what are you saying, that you just walked up to him and asked to be friends with him?

Oh! Right, sorry. [He points the locket back at himself and gives a shy wave.] I'm Emil. It's nice to meet you. Things just get complicated if I don't explain and someone meets him later...

A-Anyway, I guess it is different for me. Monsters naturally want to be my friend, as long as I prove myself to them. Topo was a really tiny wolf when I met him. I have a lot of other monsters too.

Hey. I'm Hiro. [...wait.] Oh! You know Colette, right? [He's putting pieces together pretty fast and realizing that Colette's world is pretty messed up and weird.] She sorta told me about you.

[He's still a little fixated on the giant wolf though.] He's...kinda not that tiny anymore. Where do you keep them all? How do you keep them from attacking each other? How do you prove yourself to them? [Questions, questions, questions.]

Oh yeah Colette is my friend. But we're from a different... time? She's from before her journey is completed, I think. Her journey's been over for a while for us. But she's still my friend even if she can't remember me right now. I won't let her down.

[Speaking of down though, Emil sits down near Topo's leg. Topo leans his massive head down to snuffle at Emil's hair, tail thumping behind him. He's more like a very very big dog.]

I keep most of them in the stables! Topo can't fit though so he lives outside. He doesn't mind it! He can hunt as much as he wants. I just worry someone will mistake him for a bad creature. But once they're friends with me, they're friends with each other. See, after I fight them, we make a pact. The pact symbolizes our willingness to work together and be friends. They don't always work but when they do, creatures will be friends with each other. They can be your friend too then!

[A beat.]

Well... they all have their own personalities though too. My Kelpie is, uhm... a little harsh.

I met her a couple of weeks ago while I was at the Station looking for something and she told me a little about it. [He's just not going to go into how much is a little. That's not important. What's important is making sure Emil's ~~not a murderer~~ just a normal dude who happens to be a few years ahead. He's busy watching the display on camera, grinning slightly when Topo seems to just be perfectly fine in Emil's presence.]

I think as long as he doesn't attack first people probably won't have a problem with him. He looks friendly enough. [But looks can be deceiving, and Hiro's a cat person anyway.] So you have to fight them to make a pact in the first place? Why not just make the pact without the extra step?

...okay. What's a Kelpie? [And what do you mean by harsh, Emil.]

A Kelpie is... a really good example of why I can't just skip to the pact part. [He laughs a bit while Topo pads around in a circle before lying down beside Emil, his big head bumping purposefully against his leg.

Emil scratches his head while he talks.]

Kelpie live in rivers and bodies of water here, so you should be careful. They're peaceful enough unless they think you're hostile. Then they're vicious. They'll drown you if you don't take care around them. They look like water horses. I really had to earn my kelpie's respect in a fight. That's how animals think differently than humans. Strength is respect. They like human things, too, like gifts and affection, but they want you to prove yourself.

[A beat.]

Unless it's a fairy. You can usually get them on your side with enough candy.

Good thing it's a little too cold to go swimming yet. [He's not commenting on possibly being hostile. It's not that he's hostile, but he can be a little rambunctious, even he can admit that.] So basically they want to prove you can push them into submission and then drown them with love. [That's weird. That's super weird and he's not sure he ever wants to deal with the monsters here ever if that's what it takes. He grins a little at the idea of the fairies being addicted to candy...until he remembers what Hiccup said about them prying out people's eyes.]

I think I'll pass. I don't think I'd be that great of a monster tamer.

It's probably best not to try unless you're skilled. I wouldn't want you getting hurt. Oh, but if you ever need one, Aster will tame one for you. I'll ask him to do it for free, too.

[Hiro seems to be a friend of Colette's after all so it's only fair to offer.]

Oh. [Do you see the surprise on his face Emil? He wasn't expecting that at all.] Thanks. I'll keep that in mind if I need a death water-horse...thing. [Give him a minute to think.] There isn't another kind of monster that's good for traveling is there?

[But why wouldn't he offer to help Hiro???]

There's a lot of different types of horses here! Clegs are the hardest to catch and find. I don't know if I can find another one soon. [A pause.] Which, uhm, reminds, be careful around horse flies. Anyway, another type that I really like are these mist horses called Ceffyl Dŵr. They're usually pretty sweet but sometimes they fly up too high if you haven't tamed them well.

[Damn Seelies stop offering to help!!!]

Ah...what about something that's not a horse? I don't really know how to ride so it's kind of useless for me to try and get a tamed one, even if it's a magic horse.

Something not a horse...

[Emil reaches over for his diary and starts flipping through the pages.]

I could teach you how to ride a horse though you know. I don't mind. Oh, there's Bandersnatches? It's a type of bear that lives up near Unseelie territory but I don't mind making a trek to tame something for you.

But if you do pick something, I really will help you learn to ride it and be it's friend! I promise.

[Look at this face Hiro.]

I don't know about that. Horses are kind of...reeeally tall. [That's a great excuse Hiro, good job. That almost sounds believable and like you have an actual reason beyond "cannot associate with Seelie." It's something he's going to keep in mind though...you know. Just in case.] I don't think I've ever heard of a Bandersnatch either. Don't worry about it, dude. If I need something tamed I'll think of something, don't go out of your way.

[Why...crap.] You offer this to everybody?

Why wouldn't I? [He smiles.] We're all in this together, so I want to help everyone. That's why it's not going out of my way to tame anything. With pact magic, it's a lot safer, too.

[But he gets that Hiro might be nervous.] But, uhm, if you change your mind, you can just tell me. The offer stands no matter how much time passes. I can help in other ways too! Like, uhm.... Cooking. [That's a little embarrassing.] But I've made comfort foods for people from different time periods. I'm told my pizza is really good.

[This kid just wants a taste of home from the sounds of it, so it's only fair to offer what he can.]

I guess so. [Emil clearly ~~you should have gone to East High~~ Hiro's not entirely sold on it, but it's also something he never considered. Sure he knew that the Unseelie side were in this together, but he never bothered thinking about the Seelie being part of the whole, too. People like Colette and Emil really didn't know what they were doing for the Seelie court, did they? It was almost a little scary to watch.

He hadn't even realized that his nerves and the small amount of homesickness he felt whenever he was at the Station was that obvious and he looks a little sheepish himself when he responds.]

Even if I don't change my mind about the horse, I might take you up on that other offer if I ever see you around the Station. [It'd be a good chance to get a better read on Emil, too. Or at least that's what he was telling himself. Truth be told it was a lot harder to be mad at people like him or Colette even if they both baffled him. Is that what people close to his age were actually supposed to act like?] I don't really know how to cook. My aunt runs a cafe back home but she usually kicks me out of the kitchen.

[You break an oven two times and it's the end of the world, apparently.] I know Colette just got here, but how long have you been around?

[Emil knows, to an extent, what he's doing. The Monarchs wouldn't approve and that's scary but he knows what matters most is helping his fellow shardbearers. Courts aside, what they need to focus on is each other. He's sure Hiro feels the same too.]

If you give me a dish and the basics, I can make anything. It's about the only thing I'm really confident in.

[As for the question, he laughs a little.] A few months...? Uhmm... four or so? It was really fun before this war happened. We had Yule together at the Barrel and everyone got to ice skate together and exchange presents and build snowmen. [His gaze and tone turn sadder.] Courts didn't matter before this happened. I have a lot of Unseelie friends. I'm really worried about them. Everything must be so hard right now.

At this point I'd settle for a really, really good cheeseburger. Or taiyaki, but I think that's a little harder to bake. [The easiest way to sucker Hiro Hamada into anything is by using his sweet tooth against him, apparently. It wouldn't hurt to give that information, right? What're the Seelie going to do, pelt him to death with burgers? That wouldn't be so bad, actually.]

I keep meeting people that've been here for months and I don't know how it's possible to keep us this long. [But he listens because...that actually sounds sort of nice. People just getting along and not minding the company. Were things really like that once?] The war's been going for centuries but even with that people were still getting along? What changed? Why did this battle happen now? [Even if Emil doesn't know, it doesn't hurt to ask.]

[He takes a deep breath. He's taking a risk doing this. But this kid deserves to know what he thinks.]

...Some people in the court... started to question the Seelie Monarchs' methods. Just a month or two ago. I was there when it happened.

[He isn't much for praying but he hopes this gets the message across. Saying too much more would definitely get him into trouble. Please be a smart kid.]

[...oh. Oh crap. That was it, wasn't it? The Seelie monarchs were using this as an example of what would happen if people questioned them.

Holy crap. The look he's giving Emil is enough to relay the fact that he understood immediately and he nods slowly.]

Right. That..that makes sense. [What the hell.] Did anything else happen back then?

1st Circuit - Text for Both Courts, Video-locked for Unseelie

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