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!]

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[Uh.] You really think that's a good idea? [See the problem is that Hiro won't exactly stop him either...Thrall's an adult, he can take care of himself.]

Despite how that sounds, I am not volunteering to break my own arm. The only risk is you possibly fainting at the sight of a small cut.

It is better to learn now than to be pressured during a battle. You will make less mistakes that way. [He frowns a bit.] I only had very basic training before I found myself healing fallen soldiers. It was not pleasant for... anyone involved, but we had no other options.

Good point. [He'd much rather learn in a controlled environment than out in the field. Just like any other experiment run in a lab. You test and trial and error the thing to hell and back before introducing it to the world. There's a smirk though.] Nah, I get bigger cuts every other day. It's not a big deal.

[It's an exaggeration. It's a huge exaggeration, and he just hopes Thrall gets that.]

[Thrall is literally the worst. Jesus Christ. But he catches that humor, and adds to it.] I certainly hope not, or else I'll have to outfit you with a set of plate.

You mean like armor? [He tilts his head, already moving on to the next thought.] I have armor back home…since the monarchs are taking requests maybe that's what I should ask for next.

Yes, like what I wear. [Funny how Hiro isn't even saying no.] You are already accustomed to wearing armor? I am... surprised, and yet not. Did you make it yourself?

[Hey man he's not stupid. After what just happened he's looking for anything to protect himself even after he criticized the armor they were offering shardbearers at the feast. He's still running around without armor now, but he knows he'll need it eventually.]

It's not armor like you're thinking, I think. [He grins, nodding at the question.] It's more like a high-tech metal suit and yeah I built it myself. [A beat.] I built my friends their armor, too. I could show you the designs sometime if you're really interested.

That... is a bit different than what I am imagining. [He brightens.] I would love to see the designs, Hiro. Everything you create is interesting to me.

I really wish I had it here. [It's worth repeating that wish a few times. Maybe if he says it enough, it'll come true.] All of the rough drafts are still in my journal, I can show you whenever you want. [There's a short pause and he rolls his eyes to the ceiling in thought.]

I, uh...also have part of a friend's armor here. If you want a real up close and personal look off-paper.

You still have your sharp intellect. Use the materials around you and perhaps you can create something even better. It's worth a try, isn't it?

[That's a cool idea though.]

Only if you do not mind. [He caught that hesitation, kiddo.]

Edited 2015-03-06 12:51 (UTC)

Thankfully. [Said in a way that suggests he's a little peeved still that the monarchs have taken away so many of his acquaintances abilities.] I've been trying to track down materials for some things but they make it a lot harder than it looks. It's going to take weeks. [If not longer. If at all.]

I don't mind. [He sorta minds. But he trusts Thrall.] I could even show you now via locket.

Sometimes it takes blacksmiths months to finish a full suit of armor. There may be ways to speed it up, though. Have you tried conferring with other craftsmen?

[There's Thrall, always suggesting he ask for help. Hiro is pretty tiny and Thrall is afraid he might accidentally slide into the furnace. That would be bad.]

Well, as long as you are offering... [He cants his head in a friendly manner.] I would like to see your work.

Yeah but blacksmiths don't have the skills I have. [Oops, your ego's showing, Hiro.] I haven't really, no. I've been splitting my time on some other stuff first. [Spire-work and magic and who knows what else. Hiro never really fully discloses everything he's working on.

The approach reassures him though and he's suddenly getting up, picking up the locket and spinning it around. It soon becomes clear that what was holding his locket during his demonstration was Baymax's rocket fist, the red and purple armor still in relatively good shape. He lets the camera do the showing for him and when he speaks it's with a tinge of pride.]

This is part of one of the suits I made. It probably doesn't look like much by itself, but...[But it's pretty big. It should speak for itself.] They don't really work here but I added rocket thrusters to the wrists so that the fist can fly on its own for attacks.

[Thrall chuckles softly at that.] It is something to consider. I certainly didn't build Orgrimmar by myself.

[He watches the locket carefully, takes in what he sees. His eyebrows jump upward, and he smiles and nods approvingly. He's impressed.]

Incredible... You thought of that all on your own? [He squints at the locket as if that might bring the rocket fist more into focus.] I cannot imagine how formidable the entire set is. It looks sturdy. Your friend must have appreciated this armor you made very much.

[Thrall pauses. The next part is... risky... but he feels this is something they can connect on maybe.]

You carry a part of your friend with you, it seems. As do I. My armor, the weapon I wield-- these things belonged to my friend, who was Warchief before me.

And Orgrimmar is…? [He can assume it's a weapon, but the name's not clicking in his head.

He keeps himself behind the camera so Thrall can't see his face but he can see Thrall's just fine.] Yeah, it's an upgrade of his old armor. His was the last I made. He…[There's a laugh, though it sounds a little beaten.] He wasn't that into it at first because he thought it'd make him look too threatening, but it helped a lot. He was into it after a while.

[He knows that the question was going to come up and there's a stop.]

…oh. [Oh. Maybe Thrall would get it then. Um. Wow…how to…] I can't really use the rocket fist myself but it's something from home I wanted to keep. I was bringing it into my lab when the imps brought me here. [It's a start. He's more willing to elaborate with the right questions but he's not going to outright say anything yet.]

A city. The capital of the Horde, and their stronghold.

[He frowns as Hiro goes on. The kid is obviously struggling. Something must have happened. He wants to-- wants to ask, but is it too early? It might be. And yet the child aches, he really does, and Thrall wants nothing more than to comfort him.]

Hiro...

[The name is soft on his lips. Sometimes it's easy to forget that he's an orc, a terror on the battlefield, when he's so gentle with everything including the tiny locket in his hands.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[Must be the orc-version of "Rome wasn't built in a day." Yeah. That makes sense.] Pretty sure there's a difference between gear and a whole city, you know.

[Oh god. Ohhhh god, nope. Nope nope nope. He recognizes that shift in tone and while he should, in theory, maybe talk about it that's broaching on categories he's not sure he wants to get into yet. So much for maybe opening up about it. It was one thing to tell Lemina and Loki. That was mostly out of circumstance and accident (more like "Lemina threatened not to teach him anymore" and "Loki carried the robot arm out of Caer Scima") and even now he sort of regrets it. The less people know about what he's dealing with, the less they'll question and just let him move forward and take on responsibilities and make a place for himself. That was the best solution.

It's nothing against Thrall, and part of him feels a little bad for instantly shutting down, but at the same time...]

There's not much to talk about unless you really want to hear about my boring nerd lab. [It's entirely a diversion of the topic, he knows, but he's testing him. He's waiting to see how this goes.]

Perhaps. [Hiro is sarcastic and Thrall really kind of likes that. But right now, he's more focused on making sure Hiro is comfortable.

Obviously he's not. He's basically squirming in front of Thrall. This would be easier, he thinks, if he was right there in front of Hiro. But he doesn't have the luxury of teleportation.]

Whatever you say, I will listen, [he says patiently.] It is important to you-- and what matters to you also matters to the people around you.

[He can dodge the subject too.]

Some things are easier to talk about in person, at any rate.

[He's charming that way, isn't he. But Thrall isn't letting the subject drop like most people he knows. Why. Why isn't he letting it drop? Why does he have to face it right now? Thrall's right; it would be easier if he were right in front of Hiro so Hiro couldn't wiggle his way out of it. That's how things happened with Loki and Lemina. This though? This gives him an advantage and he's doing pretty well with keeping a front on.]

So even if I told you about my boring lab and classes that probably don't make sense to anybody but me, you'd listen anyway? [So they're playing a game of dodgeball, basically. So what? It's still something to keep in mind for the future, especially since Thrall might not be the worst person to explain things to. If he feels like it.]

[Thrall is still ever-patient. It's no wonder Earth was the first thing to respond to him in the Drabwurld. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that Hiro is trying to wriggle his way out of it, and yet Thrall doesn't really push him. He's just letting him know that he knows when something is up.]

Absolutely.

Huh. Not bad. [He's impressed by your persistence, Thrall. He's quiet again as he thinks, lifting both eyebrows as he monitors him for a moment.]

Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime, but it's a pretty long story. [And not something he wants to share over a network full of people, locked or not.]

I suppose I will take my praise where I can. [As far as not spilling secrets in public-- that Thrall can understand.]

You need not tell me anything if you are uncomfortable. But I would like to get to know you, and I do not mind sharing my past if that is something you are interested in.

Of course I'm interested. You're still the first orc I've ever met. Pretty sure your past is a lot more interesting than mine though.

[That is to say that sure, Thrall. Story for story, even if Hiro's going to wiggle out of it as best as he can.] I don't mind learning.

For the wrong reasons, most likely.

[He rubs at the back of his neck.] There are... not many people of your age, or mine, in the Horde. And because I am Warchief, I don't receive opportunities like this often...

[His ears lower slightly.]

What I mean is-- I enjoy speaking to you and I would like to call us friends. But only if you... want that.

[HOW DOES I CHILDREN???]

[Somehow Thrall always manages to say things Hiro doesn't expect and so he falls quiet, staring at the camera again. Okay. So it's not just him. He's not going to explain why there's a softer smile as he nods.]

I kinda thought we already were, but if you really wanna make it official...[He's mostly just teasing at least.] I don't have any friends my age back home and I don't have a lot my age here, either. We should all stick together anyway, right?

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

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