eachdraidh | 3rd Circuit, Video [UNSEELIE LOCKED]

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3rd Circuit, Video [UNSEELIE LOCKED]

[Loki and Hiro have taken a small room in Diasbaile, mostly barren save for the wooden cabinets that seem to blend into the background. Loki would have done this himself, but there was insistence on Hiro's part of aiding in the delivery of the very, very bad news. The focus is on the two of them, and Loki speaks first.]

Hello.

This is a message of the emergency broadcast system. As you can see, our sirens are down for the moment, but I assure you that the news is none less dire.

[Loki's voice drops to something uncharacteristically serious.]

Ah, yes. So—listen up, Unseelie.

[Hiro's sitting almost a little too close to Loki, face more ashen than anyone in their court has ever seen. It's a reality they have to face and while he'd been hoping Loki would find some more information in his research, they're running out of time.]

Some of you had a vision at the beginning of August. A dream about fire and machines with shards for eyes. I didn't have the vision myself, Loki did…but we can both confirm these are real. These things are being created now and they are coming. Monsters that run on shards and blood. But there are some things you guys don't know yet.

[When Hiro stops, Loki barely glances down before he picks up without missing a beat, as if he's giving him a moment to collect himself. Loki looks perturbed at the recollection of the golems, but not nearly as pale as Hiro.]

Our dear friends the dwarves have crafted mechanical monsters, forged from melted metal and living shards. These mecha-beasts are brought to live with blood magic and runes. Not your basic run-of-the-mill runes, not even my fancy-smancy "stay out of my room" runes, but hundreds of them in intricate designs—sorcery that's very possibly lost to antiquity—all working together to bring them to life.

And if that isn't nightmare material, these large, metal machinations have keen senses when it comes to shardbearers, even those that find means of hiding themselves, if you get my drift.

There are hundreds, even thousands of them, with no exaggeration.

[The longer they stay on camera, the more Hiro finds himself shrinking into his sweater. Loki delivering the brunt of the bad news helps, but dredging up the memories is more than mildly horrifying. There's one key factor though that they've neglected to mention.]

We don't know when they're coming, but judging by the amount of time between the last vision and its turnaround to coming true, it's soon. Really, really soon. We don't know when they're coming and we don't know the full extent of what they can do or why they're being unleashed.

[A pause.] Ideas. We need ideas on how we can combat these things and how to keep everybody safe. Start using your brains and focus on what's really important here.

[The important thing, he thinks, is that this war? It's much, much bigger now than just Seelie vs. Unseelie. It's now about just staying alive.]

I would suggest highly against approaching them… [Loki glances at Hiro.] …As I’m certain we’ll offend them somehow.

[Considering the fact that there are other things…he can agree with that.] …right. Defense ideas then. Lay 'em out. [A beat. And then:] Privately, if you would. Doesn't matter if they're coming for all of us…this is still a war.

[And he sure does know that there are certain devices generated by a certain witch that can see this broadcast. He had agreed that the Seelie should know what's coming. Doesn't mean they should be privy to everything else, too.]

Not exactly how I pictured life in a giant robot series, hm?

[Though that’s meant more for Hiro. They have some questions to answer, and Hiro needs a little bit of a perk up.]

[Hiro at least gives a small grin in response, but says nothing else. Definitely Q&A time.]

[ooc: As a note! Most threads will be answered by Hiro, but he may call on Loki for assistance. Additionally, Hiro is aware Hermione's compasses can see posts on both networks so those with compasses are capable of seeing this post. They just won't be able to see the threads in this post. Have fun guys o/]

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[ when hiro stares, zuko thinks it's at his scar. he can't move his bangs to cover it, so he bristles instead. it's fortunate he's already scowling, or else he'd try and burn hiro with his glare through the communicator. ]

[ years with it, and zuko's still sensitive. ]

[ as annoyed as he is, his tone doesn't change. it doesn't shift into being biting or sharp, but simply brainstorming. he's not the idea guy, but he thinks he can try and make sokka proud by tossing some of those useful ideas into the mix. ] We can try and melt them. [ if the boiling rock was here, zuko would offer to push them into the water. he thinks that'd see them melt, even though the freezer just grew hot ... ] My sister can bend blue fire, and I can make mine really hot. If they were made from fire, maybe they can be destroyed by it, too.

[ if toph was here, he knows she'd declare herself tough and save the day metalbending. ]

[If he had a bit more self-awareness at the moment he'd realize it's very rude to be staring but he's not putting two and two together. As it is he doesn't realize why Zuko's even more irritable suddenly and he settles for a small glare of his own.]

Everything does have a melting point. [Though it's the phrasing that catches his attention. "Bending" fire? He's not the first person he's met who can do such a thing but he never mastered that ability himself. Meditation with Wan...didn't go that well.]

It's not a bad idea. But how're you gonna get close enough to melt them without them melting you first?

[ that's a good point, one zuko hasn't thought of. but he doesn't particularly care about his own safety. if he can help by melting these things, then him possibly melting along with them is worth the risk. it's how he had approached the jabberwock. ]

I can shoot myself up in the air with my bending. [ it sounds simple, what with his easy tone, but it isn't, is it? fire magic has vanished from the drabwurld, and zuko knows he'll be pulling more energy than he's used to from the sun and himself. but it's worth it. it's what uncle would tell him he'd do. but he remains confident, less bristled and annoyed by what he believes to be hiro staring at his scar. ]

[ he needs a back-up plan, to think things through ... ] I can teleport away if it gets too hot and then try again.

I think a good handful of us are going to rely on teleporting out of the way if these things get too close. They were docked when Loki and I saw them so we don't even know how fast they're going to be able to move. [Wait a second though.] So you' can kinda make yourself into a human rocket? Is that what you're trying to tell me here? That's not exactly a bad plan. We can at least get an aerial view of what we're working with, too.

Have you met Baron Storm? He's got fire powers and can fly, too.

[See, all chattering no staring. It's okay Zuzu, it's not like Hiro's not used to people staring at him because of the gap in his teeth anyway.]

[ zuko looks a little sheepish. ] Not really … [ he's just zuko, no flaming torch or rocket or great balls of fire here. ] I can use fire to propel myself. It's kind of like using air to shoot yourself into the sky. And I can break it if it's shot toward me.

But I'm not immune to it. I can still get burned. [ he doesn't outright point to his scar. he does shift his bangs just a little, irritated that they're always in the way. he knows johnny, not intimately, but he remembers him from the tourney and of what some of the natives have said of him. he sounds like a good guy — and a firebender crown prince zuko would've been envious of. ] I'm not like Baron Storm. His bending is different to mine. But I have something that can make my fire hotter if it's a particular time of day. I haven't used it in a while, so I hope it's not broken.

How can you break fire? Like what does that even really mean? [He knows how Johnny handles fire, but this is something new and interesting that he wants to learn.

It's only when Zuko subtly mentions it that he finally looks at the scar and there's a small look of "ouch." But he doesn't bring it up. This is about business and how to make things work in their favor, not Zuko having a giant facial scar. As far as Hiro's concerned it's a point of interest, but not the immediate thing to draw his attention.]

I don't even know what Johnny does is bending...I think he just can light his whole body on fire. What time of day are we talking? We should test it out and see what temperature your flames reach and figure out if we need another boost or not.

[ how does zuko explain anything? how would uncle describe this? he knows with an invitation to tea and possibly a sandwich or two. ]

[ his tone is softer, without its sharpness. everything about him, from his posture to how he seems to speak, is conversational and ready to be open. ] I can deflect it. My sister used to shoot fire at me all the time, and I'd be able to — [ zuko brings his arm down, like it's a blade. ] I'd just be able to stop it by doing that.

But I don't think I can use my boon twice in a month. [ there's a crash in the background; zuko doesn't flinch as miss maud makes a mockery of his suite in the castle. hiro will be able to hear a roar and a giggle in the background. ] The imps told me at dusk I'd be able to tap into it. It makes my fire as strong as it was during Sozin's Comet [ he pauses, opening his mouth, brows furrowing, as he remembers hiro isn't from his world. he doesn't know the comet enhances his bending just as the moon dulls it. ] — it, uh, amplifies firebending.

[The amicable tone does wonders for keeping Hiro calm and though he's watching very closely his mind's already racing ahead with possibilities. Deflection is different from immunity but maybe that would be enough.]

...your sister used to shoot fire at you? [What the hell, Zuko. That's a whole other kind of sibling rivalry there, but he says nothing beyond that. He jumps at the crash and he narrows his eyes to peer further into the camera like it'll help, trying to pinpoint the sounds.] Makes enough sense. Most of our powers in this court work best at night. [It's a good thing Zuko elaborates because he sure would be asking what Sozin's Comet is, but it's a good enough explanation for him.] If that's true, then we'll keep that as our last resort. We could always put you on sky duty and also help block the fire out for people who can't defend themselves.

A friend of mine--Katsa, actually, you might know her, suggested we move everybody closer to bodies of water and scatter them out. Any ideas on that? [A beat.] Ideally what might be best is if we have a strong fighter assigned to a group of people in varying locations so they have time to stall or distract the monsters to give the other shardbearers a chance to get to safety...but that still puts us at risk. [He rubs the back of his neck suddenly, slightly sheepish.] I've never really dealt with something like this before, so some of my ideas probably sound better on paper than they really are.

[It takes a lot to admit that. Ouch. His pride.]

[ at the mention of katsa, zuko smiles — just a small smile, enough for hiro to notice he's no longer scowling or looking almost blank in his own expressions. who knew his face was capable of such movement? ]

If you had a waterbender like Katara, moving to bodies of water would help her take down the monsters. [ but katara isn't here, and zuko chooses not to dwell on it. if toph was here, she'd be able to metalbend. unconsciously, he lifts his hand to touch his upper arm, right where her metal bracelet is. if only, if only, if only — it's how he thinks now, always considering himself to be a part of that team and no longer alone. ]

[ there's whistling in the background and then another crash. zuko doesn't even acknowledge it. ]

I might know someone who can do better sky duty than me. [ his dumb as hell dragon who just licks him all the time, but he doesn't say so, not on this locket. his brows furrow as he looks down, hair sweeping across his temple, as he tries to think — he doesn't ask himself what ozai would do, but what he'd do, as fire lord. ] But how fast do these monsters even move? There's no point potentially sacrificing shardbearers so others can escape if we can't outrun them! Those people should be the teleporters or fast runners. Anyone who's slow is a liability.

Firebending and waterbending. Why didn't I think of that? [He pauses though, wondering who he even knows that has water magic at all. He notices the reaction to Katsa and it solidifies the fact that he did go with the right answer, at least. He's still busy wondering what the hell's going on in the background, but maybe it's better not to ask.]

That's the other problem. We're not going to really know how fast they can move until they're released. The dwarves had them kinda locked up so they can't move at all inside their mountain but judging by the fact they have four legs? I'd say probably pretty fast. What do you suggest we do with the slow runners then? Hiding them is only gonna work for so long if the things are seeking out the shards.

[ if he asks, the little beast will appear, and zuko quite likes the fact miss maud isn't climbing all over him like he's some sort of tree for the moment. ]

Don't let them be a part of it. [ it's as simple as that. he knows fire lord ozai would've said use them as bait, sacrifice them for the good of the nation. but zuko isn't ozai. he feels diplomatic; he knows, to his own ears, he doesn't sound like zuko, but more of the leader of the fire nation. he doesn't sound or look uncertain at all. ] Only let the fastest people draw them away. Let the slow runners do something else — research, evacuation ...

[ he cards a hand through his hair, exposing more of his scar. ] This isn't the time to take big risks. Four legs mean that they're fast. They've been locked in the mountain. If they're hungry, they're going to need to go up against those who can hold their own weight. And we shouldn't be focusing only on them. There's blind spots we have to think about.

[He's too curious not to ask, give him like three minutes.

The confidence Zuko has in himself is obvious and that's the one reason Hiro's actively listening to the boy. It makes sense, of course, and it falls into his line of thinking but it's the last pieces that he hadn't thought through so much. He'd blame it on being rattled still, but it's partially out of never really fighting a war-war before.]

We're planning some evacuations. I need to start figuring out how many people in our court are even capable of teleporting around and if they can bring more than one person with them while they do it. That's gonna be our greatest strength with them.

[That scar...he'll ask later, too. It's not appropriate now but he's definitely looking at it questioningly and sort of wondering if his sister gave it to him.] Think about normal animals. What slows down actual animals? I mean I'm from a city, this is pretty much the only time in my life I've lived somewhere that's considered "nature." [i.e. he doesn't know shit about hunting or wild animals.] What blind spots do you think we're missing though? Because I'm pretty sure those things are going to be our biggest focus and I've been trying to find some myself.

[ zuko thinks to inform hiro he can practically teleport a lot of people — two on either side of him and whoever thinks to hold his blue spirit mask. but it's not important, not in what zuko's trying to formulate as he speaks, and not in what hiro needs to ask questions about to paint a better picture for himself. ]

There's the natives. [ it's a blindspot, one he doesn't think anyone really considers. after spending time with them, even watching them grieve just like the people from his own home do, zuko's come to empathise with them more than he has the shardbearers. maybe it's wrong of him to turn his back slightly against his own people, but those of azure have made him feel more welcome than he ever has felt in his entire life. ]

[ besides, they don't leave him. ]

We need to get them out. And some of them are useful, too. They fought in the battles. Some of them have useful tools, skills, knowledge … I always ask them what to do when I'm stuck. They're not like Uncle, because they actually make sense most of the time.

[ just in case hiro requires an example — and not of uncle not making any sense — zuko's tone dips, more conversational and less of a leader, as he seems to be amused by what he recalls. ] They tell me the animals I know from home are called hybrids. [ he shrugs; it means nothing to him, what a hybrid is. even though he's been told over and over a lion is a lion without its shell, it's hard to break old habits. ] They know the land better than us. Maybe they don't know the dwarves' machines very well, but I had a race with one of them once, and they ran circles around me, even after I'd melted the snow to create a track. And I'm fast!

[His opinion on the natives is a little low, if only because he knows of a couple that would be just as willing to rip out shards as the shardhunters are. But Zuko has enough of a point and it also makes him think of Alice and her orphans. It's a blindspot not many of them are considering while they're thinking of how to save themselves.]

What I wanna know is how in danger they really are. If the hunters are reacting to the shards, will the natives be safe or are they just going to be fodder anyway to get to us? [He runs a hand through his hair, ignoring the way it sort of sticks up and fluffs out.] I want as few casualties as possible. I've only spoken to a few of them...some of them helped me build some foundations when I first got here but it's nothing big. They could help keep everybody safe if you think they'd be willing to. I've heard some of them aren't totally cool with us in the first place.

[Zuko, please tell him it's not all natives. The word "hybrid" causes a lift of his eyebrows because it's a word he's very familiar with. He'll have to ask about these hybrids later (tell him about the turtleducks, bro) but for now he's listening.]

We should try to get some together to map out new paths and tracks for our guys to move out. [Because that is impressive.] They'd listen to you?

I'm a Necroveil. [ he says it simply, like it's not a title that sets him apart from everyone else. but he says it because it does. ] I live in Azure, a village near Quendi. If the monsters are smart, they'll know some natives house shardbearers. They'll be able to sense me there. [ not them. even if hiro remains distrusting, perhaps even brushing aside any concern for the natives, zuko won't. he can't. he's the fire lord, and he's beginning to realise he just can't do that. ]

When there was a battle a year ago, I went to the homes of the native soldiers who had fallen. I still talk to most of the families. [ his tone and features shift from being diplomatic and into a softer smile. his voice begins to rise, more conversational and belonging to a teenage boy than to a leader of his own nation. ] There's this little lady I always help shovel snow. I think she wants me to help her with her garden, but I always burn things!

[If he's surprised, he doesn't show it. Though there's recognition on his face.] Thrall told me about your village. [It's good to have a face to match...the name he also doesn't have. Whoops.] It's not so much if the monsters are smart, it's like they're just gonna know. They'll sense you and whoever else is there. Any idea how many shardbearers are actually in Azure?

[Listening to Zuko talk and watching his face change causes him to be quiet, if only because it's always interesting to him to see how people handle this war. Who's still kind to natives, who builds reputations for themselves, that kind of thing. Without noticing he's relaxing and he's grinning to himself because...well. Isn't that kind of why he became a hero in the first place? Keep people safe and protect them. Zuko took it a step further and strengthened bonds.] I don't even have that excuse, dude, I just can't grow things. Sounds like they really trust you. [Trust is a better word than respect.] How did you guys prepare for the battle last year?

It's just me. [ he doesn't hesitate when he says it. he does, however, seem a little crestfallen. it'd been him in the beginning, then it'd been littered with others, or simply just sokka, and now it's back to how it had began. ]

We trained. They helped build some fortifications. [ like snow dragons. he likes to think it worked. he still can't believe, years later, that his blue spirit mask actually frightened a spirit away. but he doesn't say it; the blue spirit is a fugitive in his home world, and someone he sometimes thinks of becoming in the drabwurld. ]

[ he doesn't. for some reason, being zuko is just fine. ]

I never asked any of them if they knew magic, if they were the ... mages some people talk about. But I know they'd want to help. They risk their lives talking to me every day. [ zuko shrugs and lifts his hand to brush some hair from his eyes. ] They're the soldiers you never think to recruit. You think they're too weak, but they're the strongest warriors you have.

Oh. [Sorry dude...he knows that's probably a bummer, but he doesn't dwell too long. It's better to focus on keeping the one shardbearer alive than think of the ones who're gone. He's trying to think strategically, get back to the way things were at home and focus in his element again. It's been hit and miss but he can at least pretend.]

Thing is? If anybody would know about the dwarves and if they've ever given any indication this was coming it'd be the natives. Maybe they know things about the history of this world that isn't written in the books and that we don't even know about, and if the magic the dwarves are using for the machines is ancient it makes you wonder what else the people of this world know. If you really think they'd help, would you mind asking them? We could use all the help we could get to keep our guys safe at this point.

And to keep them safe.

[ the fire nation had been all for one and none for all. father would be too interested in keeping himself alive, all of his loyal fans and soldiers well and far from the ancient dwarven magic. zuko had once thought himself included in that throng of people, but after being burned and exiled, zuko doubts his father considers his son as one of his own. ]

[ it's difficult to separate himself from the natives, though. zuko doesn't look at them and see their own nations. he'd done so once, believing the water tribe could never be peaceful with the fire nation, but he's since learned otherwise. katara may fling water at him from time to time, but he knows it isn't out of a desire to hurt him she does so. ]

I can ask. [ zuko appears sheepish: ] They don't seem to speak much of it, but then I haven't really asked them anything about the drabwurld.

[ again, sometimes zuko falls prey to the pattern of believing he knows the world as he does his own. he's getting there, but he's still learning about its intricacies. it's interesting, to say the least, but aggravating when they need that knowledge most. ]

But I'll only ask if you make sure to look out for them, too. Refuse to stay with them if they ask you to. Help them get out of harm's way. They're in as much danger as we are. I doubt the machines care. [ he pauses for a moment. ] Do machines even have feelings?

[He just waves a hand.] Yeah, we'll keep them safe, too. Trust me. We're doing what we can. [Selfishly, maybe, he's a little more concerned about the shardbearers than the natives but he's also just unsettled at the idea of anyone dying. Nobody asked for this. The only thing left was making sure they got out of it.

It's clear that Zuko has a stronger connection with them though and if that's what he wants to do, Hiro can't exactly stop him. Maybe they need these kind of people on their side to balance everything.]

It never hurts to ask…and maybe I can ask them some things, too? I mean I'm not entirely sure where Azure is but it can't be too hard, right? If we have an idea of what they know and the right questions to ask maybe we can figure out a better strategy.

[This world's too complicated. Hiro's still learning that he doesn't know everything and it frustrates him to no end, but he's also learning how to ask the right questions for the right situations. It's progress.]

We will. We'll take care of them, too. [It's a big job. But…it's what Tadashi would have done, isn't it? He shakes his head suddenly and at Zuko's last question he narrows his eyes a bit.] Machines definitely are capable of having feelings. I don't know if these ones do though. Didn't get close enough to ask, so we should probably assume not.

Azure's near Quendi. The people there are nice. [ to him, at least. zuko doesn't know how they are to other shardbearers, but everyone who has come to see him has always been met with warmth. he doesn't want to think of it being due to them knowing him. he understands they feel indebted to him for what he'd done, but wearing his blue spirit mask and frightening a spirit away is really the smallest thing someone can do to help a village. ]

[ zuko doesn't understand people who are overly nice to him when he's done nothing to deserve it. but given he believes most of the time he deserves nothing, it's something he'll never be able to accept. ] I can take you there. They won't want to cook you and eat you if they know you're with me.

[ it's a joke, even though zuko doesn't smile nor deliver it with any pep. he's working on that. ]

[ he sighs, unable to help himself, ] I wish Toph was here. She'd be able to stop them. [ if anyone can stop the metal machines, it's toph. it's not the avatar — as much faith as zuko has in aang, toph is the master of metalbending. aang would be good with the natives, if zuko hadn't won them over. sokka would be excellent with brainstorming how to take the machines down. katara would be so hopeful they'd never feel like failures. and zuko would be able to cook for them. he has no doubt toph would be able to assist them; she's toph, for spirit's sake. ]

[There's a look of discomfort at the mention of Quendi, but he doesn't say anything. He knows where Zuko's talking about though and he considers for a moment before he nods.]

Being eaten isn't really on my list of to-dos, so I'd appreciate that. [His own delivery is a little dry, but he's smirking anyway.] That'd be great though. I wouldn't mind checking the place out and getting a better idea of what we're working with.

[He tilts his head.] What would she be able to do that the rest of us haven't though of yet? [It's a curious question that isn't meant to be malicious, but he's never heard of this Toph person.]

Toph's an earthbender. [ he says it in a tone so casual, as though he's simply reminding hiro of a fact that has slipped his mind. it's been years since toph had been in the drabwurld and although zuko misses her each and every day, he never likes to think of her in the past tense. his voice brightens in his praise: ] She's the best earthbender in the world. [ an indisputable fact, even though toph would stone anyone who thought to say otherwise. ]

[ but his voice remains almost proud, like zuko doesn't need to be the best firebender in the world to be proud, but simply to have a hoard of friends capable of so much. ] She was caught and locked in this metal box. She couldn't bend herself out of it at first, because it wasn't made of the earth. But she did. She ended up bending her way out of it because there's something in the metal earthbenders can bend, but Toph's the only one who can really sense this. She became the first ever metalbender the world has ever known.

She can sense when you're lying, too. She'd be able to sense if the machines are close. [ zuko cards a hand through his hair as he smiles. ] She's really smart. She'd be able to do what we can't do. She'd be able to figure out how to take down the machines.

[ he shrugs, ] She's Toph.

[From the sounds of it? He would like Toph. It's sort of a bummer she's not here because Zuko's right...it sounds like she could really be helpful for what's happening right now. She sounds strong. Amazing, kind of.

And then...there's the real question.]

Since she's not here though...what do you think she'd do? [WWTD, Zuko. Think about this.]

[ zuko thinks for a moment, pursing his lips, fingers against his chin. and then, casually: ] She'd hit me with a boulder.

[ it may not be able to help them with the machines, but it's always assisted them in the other things they've done — she's knocked sense into him that way, made him realise his worth with a rock to the head. she'd done so two years ago. his entire body aches at the memory of it. ]

Toph would tell us to leave the machines to her. She'd be able to destroy it or even control it, maybe. Aang would try and distract it with his airbending, and Katara would probably try and make it slip on water. Sokka would tell it a bad joke, and I'd try and melt it. [ to him, they were the perfect team, able to work in sync. he knows if toph were here, she'd call him dumb for writing himself so short, like his firebending wouldn't be able to dismantle a machine as well as her metalbending could. ]

[ his shoulders fall. ] She'd just know how to pull it apart, like she could figure out its insides and stuff. Toph always knew how to bend really small rocks. Kind of like how I know how to bend fire so it doesn't really burn me, I guess. [ when he'd been in the earth kingdom, he'd been so mad that he'd burst into flames himself. ] She'd figure out how it worked. What made it work. What could possibly stop it. How to break it, like shoving a stone in its joints.

3rd Circuit, Video [UNSEELIE LOCKED]

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