let's do the time warp again

[notyetlegend]

MERIDA COURT Seelie, neutral INFLUENCE ★ ★ ★ TITLE Friend of the Dead, Hartslayer, Brave Heart, Lady Lioness of DunDealgan OCCUPATION Lady of DunDealgan. archer, huntress, swordswoman AGE 20 ABLE TO FAST-TRAVEL wings given to Angus via a boon in December 2,700 as of September 2,701 will have a ring that can teleport her to places she's been before in Seelie territory COMMUNICATION METHODS compass, given by Korra (sangilak) and made by Hermione (brainiest) that will give network access and point to 'home' (place/person/etc) capable of sending correspondence via bird, mainly ravens RESIDENCE IN 2,701 DunDealgan, south of Daonna RESIDENCE IN 2,702 DunDealgan, south of Daonna MAJOR EVENTS BEAST MASTER Due to being the only one able to get close to Cu Chulainn and calm him down while in werewolf form, locals around the area of DunDealgan start to regard Merida as a beast master of sorts. Considering how she feels about his warp spasms, she doesn't exactly like this apparent appointment but if it's to protect him from any sort of torches-and-pitchforks scenario, she'll take it on. [ ✖ ] TRUST IN BLOOD A search through Treun for the escaped convicts of Leathann turns into a dangerous situation. In a moment of desperation, Merida accidentally kills a convict who has the intent of doing something unsavory to her. Traumatized, it's Gilgamesh of all people who pulls her through and reassures her that she did nothing wrong. The golden king, unwittingly, earns himself her trust and loyalty. [ ✖ ] LADY LIONESS The year had seen to a great deal of change in Merida. Not just in something deciding that her fate lay within the other court, but in herself and the actions that she took, in the thoughts that she processed. Some part of her became...less idealistic, as it were, more open to the idea that this was war. It had taken her just near a year in the Drabwurld to accept that as fact, that she'd only be seeing home in her dreams, and half a year later to find it in herself to move on. This land of the fae was her reality now. These were her people. And that was why she needed to protect them. [ ✖ ] MAJOR CHANGES SORCERESS Merida has started to take her magical studies more seriously than before. By the end of the time skip, she should be appropriately trained in all the magics she has taken on, both fire and runic magic. WARRIOR Likewise, Merida has been honing her combat skills throughout the year. With a new sword from Diarmuid as of August and a new bow from Wan as of Yule, she'll feel as though she'll be better prepared for any of the future battles. Having killed her first human (accidentally), Merida starts accepting the idea that it's okay to kill people sometimes.

PLANS co-parenting wolfhound pups with Lancer fire magic training shard training become known as some kind of beast master by the locals visit the new Barrel once a month bandit stomping along a trade route with Korra swan shooting competition with Gilgamesh in April Treun tourney Samhain White Hart Hunt II: the Hart's Revenge SUMMARY OF KNOWN DETAILS For the most of it, Merida will be working on training in both her fire magic and her shard, along with learning some runes from Lancer, when she's not taking part in any of the events happening. Gaining influence in the surrounding area. Strengthening and being able to control her magic will be one of her primary focuses. She'll also be helping out around DunDealgan since she'll feel partially responsible for everyone there, considering she's courting its Lord. Many of her efforts will be going towards building up better personal relations between DunDealgan and the natives surrounding the area. Another thing that I have planned is for her to open up a combat school for women of either court and/or natives only, offering it as a place of refuge during times of battle, and once she's lost her idealism and become a little more war hardened, offer her students out as mercenaries. This will all take time, possibly over the course of two time skips, but ideally I'd like to start planning things out now. TIMELINE OF EVENTS SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May) EARLY MARCH - waking up in Caer Glaem EARLY MARCH - chat with Saber EARLY MARCH - chat with Mako MARCH - making the fortress warm and toasty MARCH - helping Diarmuid control his fire MARCH - being defrosted by Gilgamesh, telling stories of the fae in exchange MARCH - holy Lugh it's a lion MARCH - bandit stomping with Korra LATE MARCH - chat with Ben LATE MARCH - the Barrel MARCH - monthly summary APRIL - things get frisky thanks to the harp (NSFW) APRIL - Diarmuid's birthday at the Barrel APRIL - breaking the harp MAY - swan hunting competition with Gilgamesh. interruption by bandersnatch MAY - running into Ben MAY - monthly summary SUMMER IN 2,701 (Jun, Jul, Aug) TREUN - spectating post tournament TREUN - exploring the markets and drinking TREUN - shopping and talking with Saber TREUN - chat with Hiro TREUN - dancing with Alyosha JUNE - monthly summary JULY - talking with Gilgamesh during beachdraidh JULY - bar fight JULY - helping Diarmuid with CSI: Daonna JULY - reassuring Lancer and going home AUGUST - training and talk with Diarmuid AUGUST - to the Sunsoak Markets. Diarmuid asks an important question AUGUST - monthly summary FALL IN 2,701 (Sept, Oct, Nov) SEPTEMBER - visiting Alice SAMHAIN - relaxing with the bae SAMHAIN - talking with the Shuck SAMHAIN - dancing and talks with Diarmuid SAMHAIN - relaxing and talking with Sam SAMHAIN - adventures in Scima with Gilgamesh SAMHAIN - what happens in Samhain stays at Samhain NOVEMBER - team up with Wan in Daonna NOVEMBER - archery lessons with Wan NOVEMBER - trouble in Treun (cw: sensitive topics) WINTER IN 2,701/2,702 (Dec, Jan, Feb) DECEMBER - rematch with Saber DECEMBER - meeting Diarmuid in fox form DECEMBER - celebrating first year anniversary with Lancer (NSFW) JANUARY - the Barrel FEBRUARY - the Barrel SPRING IN 2,702 (Mar, Apr, May) MARCH - QUEST: skeleton zombies MARCH - post quest wind down. serious talks with Sam (cw: sensitive topics) APRIL - Station date with Hiro LATE APRIL - lone fox LATE APRIL - furry time at the Barrel MAY - stopping Alice from doing something stupid ಠ_ಠ

( codes by whambam )

Comments

[zerotohiro]

[He's not acknowledging it verbally but the tiny smirk on his face is enough to say that he's pleased she's enjoying the meal and he is, once again, right about something. It's been rare lately so it's nice to not double-check his instincts. Though he coughs suddenly around the bit of crust he's swallowing down, eyebrows flying up into his hairline.] Wait, seals? [Don't tell him that! He's just thinking of all of the seals back home...the wild seals...he could never eat them. Or...kill them. Ohgodwhy.]

There're some places that have only a few hundred people but they're always surrounded by bigger cities. As time goes on populations just keep getting bigger and bigger, especially as suburbs pop up. [He looks down, a smile growing again as he thinks about what he's really saying.] San Fransokyo's a suburb of San Francisco, actually, but it's been around for like over a hundred years. We have all kinds of stores and stuff but we have farmers markets and stuff, too, for people to barter and trade stuff. That's what pawn shops and flea markets are for, too, and sometimes if you go down to the beaches they have all kinds of tables for people selling and trading stuff. I guess it's just weird because for most people it's not their main source of income. [Hunting is such a foreign concept to him that when he looks up it's clear he's not sure how to react.] Aunt Cass and Tadashi made everything at Lucky Cat...I tried to help once but Aunt Cass told me I wasn't allowed in the kitchen anymore after I broke the blender and some other stuff. We also get a ton of our ingredients shipped to us but sometimes we trade some stuff with our neighbors. And since the cafe's open every day Aunt Cass works a lot to keep things running. When Tadashi and I weren't in school we'd pick up some shifts, too.

[From the way he's talking there's no doubt that he appreciates everything his aunt has done for him way more than he did before. Much like it wasn't obvious to Merida, it wasn't obvious how much grief he'd put his aunt through by being a major brat and how much Cass sacrificed and went through to raise the two boys that weren't her own. It's also clear that Aunt Cass has been a major fixture in Hiro's life since he was a young child and the only person he really remembers, besides Tadashi.]

Yup, those things. They're really good if you light them on fire and they're super-melty and crispy. [No. No they're not, Hiro, you're just gross.] I have no idea how I'd take down a whole deer in the first place. I don't do a lot of hunting. [But, despite the fact he shouldn't be, he's more interested in this whole "rabbit" thing. If he wasn't wasting money on food all the time, he could save it for other stuff.] Aren't rabbits kinda hard to catch though?

[notyetlegend]

Yep, seals. Dad took me huntin' for them once...nearly lost his other leg an' an arm. Nasty things. They're easier if you have a spear or a lance, somethin' you can throw from a distance. If you've got th' arm strength, you can pin them to th' ground an' watch them bleed out.

[Sorry, Hiro, she's not noticing the look on your face, just chewing her pizza. This is normal dinner conversation back home after all, though she does glance at his arms and - nope, noodle arms. Looks like she's not taking him seal hunting. Still, he has her attention when he goes on to describe San Fransokyo, looking at him over her slice. It all sounds so fantastical, like tales her mother would tell her about the Otherworld.

She can't help smiling when he mentions messing up in the kitchen, laughing a little. She can recognize that he appreciates his aunt, knowing how much she now appreciates her own mother.]

I tried helpin' out th' handmaidens in th' kitchens once an' I nearly set fire to th' castle if it makes you feel better. Sam's been helpin' me get better with it, but I'm still better at campfire cookin'. [There's a pause, tilting her head.] So...theoretically you could eat cooked marshmallows if you have fire magic, right? [Merida then shakes her head at the question.] If you know how to make snares an' fire an arrow, they're not a problem. You can go off an' leave everythin' to th' snare an' come back for it if you're not leavin' th' area.

[zerotohiro]

[Mer...please stop. Please stop, you're going to make him either stop eating his pizza or cry about the injustice of seals. Not that he can talk seeing how he'll willing and easily devour crabs and octopus and other seafood, but seals are a whole other ballpark.] I didn't think seals were that vicious.

[Her story gets a laugh out of him at least.] We were never that bad. We usually just got in trouble for taking things apart for our inventions. Who's Sam? [He looks at his hand and, knowing he's only being a show-off, lighting a flame in his palm.] I guess so. I haven't actually tried it but that's a really good idea. [There's a huff.] I've never used a bow before but I think I can figure out a snare. It's just like rope that catches prey, right?

[notyetlegend]

[It's unable to tell if she's just trolling at this point because her face is so straight, but she shakes her head, taking another bite of her pizza.] Och, these things were as vicious as a cat in water. I've got th' scars to prove it.

[Setting her pizza slice down Merida rolls her sleeves up her left arm to her bicep, showing faint scarring from teeth. She'd obviously been younger when it happened, given how her body had grown around the scars. The sleeve goes back down when he's had a good look at it, picking her slice back up.]

Sam's a healer who has a clinic in Treun. You'd know him on sight by his wings. [There's a small wince on her face when she mentions the town, but it quickly goes away in favor of taking a bite of her food again.] Well aye, they're a bit more fiddly than that though. Precise length an' a good hidin' spot. Warrens are easier to find in this weather, so we'll set one of yours up near one an' wait.

[zerotohiro]

[He's sort of used to being trolled by people with straight faces, but it's been a while. It's the words that get him to relax though and he makes a face again, nose crinkling slightly as he tries not to crack a grin.] As someone who's actually put his cat in water, I can believe it.

[When she moves to show him the scars though he's leaning across the table to get a better look, a very quiet "wow" leaving his mouth as his eyes widen. He's impressed, though that seems to be the norm when it came to Merida.]

Never met him. [But that should give him something for his memory bank and something to remember if he's ever back in Treun.] But when I was in Treun I was a little busy trying not to get killed. Natives are pretty touchy about their money. [While he's talking he's been working on another slice himself, usually not talking with his mouth full at least.] Oh. Right, I knew that. [Sure you did, kiddo. He frowns a little though.] You think I can catch something within a day?

[notyetlegend]

[She laughs when she hears that, hardly surprised. Her brothers had put a cat in water before, part of why she'd compared them, though in all honesty the seal that had attacked her had been even more vicious. Looking back on it, she could see why her mother had stopped her from going on the seal hunts after that, considering it had been no one's fault but her own, though she didn't understand it at the time.

Merida's lips quirk a little bit when she hears that part about the natives, taking a bite of her pizza.]

Aye, I learned that back when th' anti shardbearer stuff started gettin' rowdier an' nobody would appreciate it if I sold them fresh caught game. [Daonna hadn't been fun, even going back there later with Wan had had her on edge. She looks at him and tilts her head, chewing her mouth full and swallowing.] I don't see why not. We have to set th' snare properly though, otherwise it might end up mangled.

[As much as she wanted to teach him how to set a snare, she didn't want him to be faced with the prospect of killing a rabbit face to face.]

[zerotohiro]

[Hey, he'd been younger at the time and assumed that because he loved the wading pool Aunt Cass had set up on the rooftop garden for him, obviously Mochi would love it, too. At the time he'd been very upset that Mochi was upset and Aunt Cass had scolded him but now he can look on it and laugh.

In a way, it surprises him how easily he can talk to Merida despite not seeing her for months at a time. He can't quite pinpoint what it really is, but there's something that sets him at ease and...almost makes him feel like this is home. It's something calming about her and yet something that loosens the heavy knot in his chest knowing that there's somebody who gets the idea of adventure and having a rambunctious streak. It's...comforting, he guesses.]

I think I lucked out and just missed out on all of the demonstrations. [He winces slightly. He'd been busy with everything, traveling and working and traveling more, but the news had traveled.] This place gets crazier every time I turn around.

[Yeah...he'd lie and boost himself up and tell her he'd be fine but he wouldn't be able to handle it yet. It's almost a shame just how much he'd been babied as a kid and almost laughable now thinking about how a year ago he'd thought he was so tough and knew what he was doing. It took a lot of trial and error, losing people and making mistakes to make him realize he needed to slow down and learn.]

Sure. I think I have time for that. [And even if he didn't he would make time. His tone made that clear.] I...can probably learn how to take down deer and stuff later.

[notyetlegend]

Be glad you did. They're not a sight for your young eyes. An' you'd do well to keep your nose out of Daonna.

[The tone of her voice says he should be glad, a small frown crossing her features as she remembered the aftermath, the looks she got walking out of Daonna with Lancer, even the chants of 'get them' during bar fight the night before. It still scares her to think that could have been them, her and Korra and the others. One of Merida's hands rises to finger the ring around her neck again as she chewed up the pizza crust, leaning back in her chair.

She can feel something similar about him that reminds her of her brothers. Mischievous, but well meaning in their mischief. It's nice, she thinks, in the way that taking care of Blair and Sorcha until she could return them to their uncle hadn't been. Something of a sisterly feeling but not quite. She couldn't put her finger on it. Merida leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other before she laughs a little bit.]

I think you're a hundred years too early to take on a deer, lad. Angus bucked me off avoidin' th' White Hart's antlers when I took him down th' previous year. [Merida's smile turns a bit gentle.] With time, though, you'll manage.

[zerotohiro]

Is Daonna really that bad now? [Merida might be hearing herself say "stay out of Daonna", but all Hiro's saying is "Daonna's having issues that have to be fixed" and it piques his curiosity all over again. This world is such a bad place for him in a way, if only because he finds himself continually going where he really shouldn't be going, learning things only a little too late.

His eyes widen again because...right. Hartslayer. He knew that, but it was still hard to picture.] Well if the legends are anything to go by, we're probably going to be here another hundred years. [A beat.] If we're both still here, will you teach me then?

[notyetlegend]

Six shardbearers were executed just for bein' shardbearers. Seelie an' Unseelie alike don't matter to th' natives. In th' end we're both causin' th' same kind of destruction in their lives.

[Both, which will be a strong indication that he was right in his thoughts that she was Seelie now. Merida looks troubled by it and glances away, face frowning as she twisted the ring around before she glances back at him at the question. She laughs a bit, then shrugs her shoulders. If both of them were still there in a hundred years, would the war be even worse? Would one side be victorious in that time? Would the world still be here? Merida's hand drops to cross her arms over her lap, smiling.]

If we're still here in a hundred years? Sure. But I think we can manage in fifty.

[zerotohiro]

...wow. Hard to believe sometimes that we're that big of targets. [Strangely, it matches what Nico was trying to tell him and what the Seelie were trying to do to appease the natives because in the end? They were all to blame.

The phrasing solidifies his theory though and while there's a slight frown...it makes sense. He doesn't seem to mind since he figured it out on his own, and though he has questions he has to think of how to word them correctly. He owes her that much.]

Then in fifty years, I'll hold you to it. [There's a softer grin as he leans back, seemingly done with his pizza for a little bit and calculating his next move.] ...Merida, can I ask you something? I mean you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I just...[May as well get it out there.] When did you switch sides? ["How" is the more appropriate question, but he doesn't even know if she knows.]

[notyetlegend]

I heard it startin' up back when I traveled during my first winter here. I was turned away from a few taverns an' inns before I could find shelter or make my own.

[There's a pause there as she thinks back, shaking her head. She'd been sixteen back then, hard to believe. Merida glances up when he asks that of her, nodding her head in an incline before she glances off to the side. It wasn't as sore of a spot with her anymore, considering she'd come to terms with it.]

No, it's alright. I was switched just after th' battle. [She drops her hands to find another piece of pizza, just to fiddle.] Lord El-Melloi suggested my place on th' scale had changed, Saber believes I was stolen. I think... [Here she tilts her head, biting her bottom lip.] I think it's to do with what your shard an' your heart believe where you belong. I was sixteen when I first arrived in th' Drabwurld, an' just before th' battle I'd dreamed of home an' came back with two years worth of memories an' growin' up. Things had changed...I'd changed.

[zerotohiro]

I guess I've just missed all of it. [Which is partially true. He's been listening and watching but Hiro's been keeping to his own agenda, too. Keeping his nose out of trouble in one sense but being buried alive in another.

He's relieved that she's not offended and actually answers his question, arms folding over his stomach as he listens patiently. He can believe that Saber would think such a thing. It would make the most sense. But...could the shards really be determined by the heart of a shardbearer?]

I know people can change as they get older, but...that's still a lot. [He blinks slowly, pondering over that.] I don't think even if I went home I'd change that much. I have things to do there but it's no different than here. I was fourteen when I showed up in the Drabwurld but sometimes I feel like nothing's changing at all. Things are just getting bigger. I don't know if that makes sense.

I guess I'm asking because you're the first one I've met who switched sides without really having a say in it. The other girl I know actually asked Morla.

[notyetlegend]

[She remembers talking to Diarmuid about the switch, how he'd said that she was an example of why the division was foolish, but she doesn't mention as such to Hiro. She'd gotten over being snatched up by Solais, but she still didn't understand the reason why. Merida looks a bit surprised when he says that about the other girl, even as she laughs a little hesitantly.]

I won't be speakin' to Solais anytime soon. I have a friend that asked her about th' war an' another took th' fall for her an' had his powers an' titles stripped. [Needless to say, she was terrified of meeting Solais.] I think that's a meetin' I'll put on hold for a while to come.

[zerotohiro]

I've never spoken to Morla either. [And even if he doesn't outright say it, his expression and the shift in his tone is enough to say that he's outright terrified to now after everything he's done. Everything he's been doing.] But the other girl told me she marched right into Caer Scima and asked to switch to the Unseelie court, offered her everything and Morla just...let her.

[There's another short pause.] If you had a chance to change your own fate, would you? Without the outside influence of the monarchs, without anybody interfering. If you had your own choice...would you change anything about how things are now?

[Talking about dead rabbits was much, much better, wasn't it?]

[notyetlegend]

I spoke to Morla durin' my first month here. She helped sink in th' fact that I couldn't save my mother from this side.

[The other being who had a hand in that was the Black Shuck, but that hadn't been until much later in the month. She turned her head to look at Hiro, with a slightly raised eyebrow when he says that, whistling.] Well, I have heard th' Unseelie are far more forgivin' of traitors. An' she must have impressed her some.

[There's a small part of her that just can't help the little laugh that leaves her mouth at that.]

I used to ask that. If I could change my fate an' choose whether or not I wanted to marry, wanted to take over th' homestead from my mother. [She shakes her head, smiling softly.] I think if I was sixteen again, with th' knowledge that I have now of how that turned about, I'd be speakin' to my mother rather than askin' a witch for a spell to change her mind.

[zerotohiro]

I totally missed the last audience Morla had. [He almost pouts here, inhaling deeply before pressing forward.] It was my fault, I knew that they were having one and I just couldn't go because everything was way too messed up and I needed to fix things first. By the time I did, she was gone and the fairy rings and the lockets broke.

What did she say to you to convince you? [And he shrugs.] That's what I said, but she didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal to offer what she had to Morla. Some people are kinda crazy. [In a good way.

The laugh startles him a tiny bit, but not enough for him to back down.]

I know you're not supposed to mess with magic but sometimes it just seems like the easier way out, doesn't it? [He shakes his head then.] Sometimes I wish I could go back and fix everything that happened at home. It'd change my "fate"--[Yes, he even uses air quotes]--entirely though. I don't know if things would be better or worse. They'd be better back home, maybe, but they might be worse if I were here.

Even if you can't change fate, there's always the possibility of changing somebody's mind, isn't there? Even if changing their mind would be the change of fate. I guess I can't decide if they're mutually exclusive or not.

[notyetlegend]

An' nobody's seen hide nor hair of th' monarchs since. [It was the same for Solais. Merida tapped her finger to her chin before she shook her head a bit at the question.] It wasn't Morla so much as it was th' Black Shuck. I spoke to him durin' my first Samhain shortly after.

[She'll elaborate if he asks, but the look on her face says just as much as she won't say. That she trusted the Shuck more than the monarchs. Merida inclined her head at that, conceding.]

Aye, I thought that too. That it'd be easier. I thought a quick an' easy fix would make my mother call off th' marriage, but it just messed things up by turnin' her into a bear. [She raises an eyebrow when he uses air quotes, tapping her chin again as she leaned back in her chair.] Sometimes things happen for a reason, just like my shard or my heart decidin' I belong in Seelie an' fallin' in love here in th' Drabwurld.

[There's a pause as she purses her lips together, looking at him.]

Do you think changin' how things went back home would make any difference?

[zerotohiro]

I heard. Kinda makes you wonder how much longer this is gonna last, doesn't it? [At the mention of the Black Shuck he sits up a little taller, staring at her with a more inquisitive look. So. Shuck really does have an effect on people. First Grell, now Merida.] ...and what'd he say? [He'll explain his own Shuck-experience shortly, just. He has to know.

...Merida you are hitting way too many buttons about things he's been struggling with and as much as Hiro wants to pretend he's good at hiding everything, he wears his emotions so openly on his face these days that it's hard for him not to react to her words. (First off, a bear? Right. Did he know that? Probably not. Though that explains the bear marks, maybe.) But moreso he's reacting to the things about the heart deciding where she belongs and "falling in love."

No. There is...way, way too much to unpack. One step at a time.]

Yes. [It's a very immediate answer, but he knows it's true. If Tadashi had lived, and if Callaghan hadn't stolen his microbots? If he'd just been a little more careful, maybe, or if he had stopped Tadashi from running into the building? Everything would be so different. His gaze drops to his lap suddenly.] ...remember how we were talking about creating legends here? What if I told you that I started creating my own back home, too?

[notyetlegend]

He told me that she was waitin' back home, missed me an' loved me. He knows my homeland well; th' Shuck, is a legend himself among my people. [She looked down at her lap, linking her fingers together with a small smile at the memory before she purses her lips together.] He said they grow arrogant, an' I agree.

[As do their prouder shardbearers. She doesn't say that part, doesn't want him to start getting assumptions about some people, and by they she means the monarchs. Arrogance could be someone's downfall, she knew that personally. Her own arrogance about showing up the suitors had caused a myriad of problems. Merida glances up when he says yes, smile back and soft. She's not going to ask if he doesn't want to share, but her eyebrows raise a little in surprise.]

Oh are you now?

[zerotohiro]

I don't think we have a dog of death where I'm from...just legends of grim reapers but they're just stories. [Even as he's talking, he's still looking at his lap. He'll try to meet her eyes later, but right now he's broaching a very strange topic that he doesn't usually go around sharing. Especially to the Seelie side. He can list the number of Seelie that know on one hand, but then again? It's Merida.

There's a slight sound of almost-amusement as she speaks of arrogance, immediately picking up on what she means. He can't really say anything to it though. He's been going through his own bouts of arrogance lately, too. His own arrogance was almost his downfall at home and had almost been his downfall enough times here.

Give him time. He's willing to share but he just needs to craft the story very, very carefully.]

Uh-huh. You're not familiar with the term "superhero" are you? [Maybe someone here had already told her.]

[notyetlegend]

Grim Reapers? [She tilts her head and there's no denying the curiosity on her face. Merida's never heard the term before, though she does rest her finger on her chin.] If it's related to those weird cultists, I'm afraid I don't know much about their cult.

[Which is to say, Christianity. She's quiet though, letting him know that she's going to be patient with him. If there's one thing Merida's learned, it's that patience can go a long way. Diarmuid has definitely rubbed off on her in a lot of ways, all things considered. Giving him time was definitely a thing she could do, and she raises an eyebrow at the word, shaking her head.]

I'm well versed in legendary heroes [her lover and Drabwurld father being two]</small but not superheroes.

[zerotohiro]

Huh? [Well that gets him to look up at least because...what?] What weird cultists? [Which is to say, Mer, you're totally asking the wrong kid who's not really one to practice religion in any sense of the word. He knows it and he's learned about it, but.] I mean I don't think reapers are part of a cult, they're just the ones who come through and lift souls from people when their time's up.

[There. That was easy. And sort of not painful to explain. Just...kinda weird. Man, he's never really thought about it. Nevertheless now that he's looking at her it's hard for him to look away despite the fact he's fidgeting a bit. From one impatient creature to a former impatient one, it's most appreciated. It's fine for Hiro to be impatient and moody but if anyone tries to rush him while he's struggling to get everything in order, it'll set him back and he'll clam up again.

There's a tilt of his head at the phrasing "legendary heroes."] I don't think they're the same thing. [How does one explain...] In my world, a superhero is...[No, wait, start over.] Sometimes normal people realize that there are unfair things in the world and they want to fix those. They want to help protect their cities and stop bad guys from harming other people and they do it in a way using powers or other abilities, things policemen or whatever can't do. That's what a superhero is.

Back home, some bad things happened and I had to be the one to stop the guy causing them. My friends helped me and I made all of our armor and weapons that helped us stop him. That was a few days before I came here.

[notyetlegend]

You know, those weird ones that only worship one god? [She waves a hand around in the air, trying to think of what they're called but it's leaving her blank. In the end, she drops the subject in favor of looking a little curious.] Huh...they sound a bit like th' Dullahans.

[In a fashion anyway. Her hand leaves the air and returns to its place at the ring around her throat, turning it around absentmindedly as he explains. There's nothing really to compare legendary heroes to. By her time, the exploits of Diarmuid had faded to only the Pursuit and Cu Chulainn had become renowned for his berserk state. Having come to know both, she knows they are more than their legends, just as she knows that Hiro is more than the one he says he's starting to make back in his world.]

So you decided to take your fate into your own hands.

[Just like she did, but perhaps in not such a terrible way? Time would tell if he told her in more detail.]

[zerotohiro]

[This...is the blankest of blankest looks. He's really not sure what the hell she's talking about for a few moments before understanding crosses his face.] Oh. Oh, no. I don't think they feel that way about the grim reaper. I don't really know. [Dropping the subject sounds like a fantastic idea.] There's more than one Dullahan?

[That's not the point. The point, rather, is--well. Actually he's pausing the point because he's watching her play with that ring. He wants to ask what it represents and his gaze flickers down to his hand where there's a silver ring on his own hand carved with protective runes. A gift from Grell for his task. It doesn't seem to be the same but he can ask her later. He's already started. He can't stop now while he's making his point to hopefully obtain answers.

In a way though, yes, he did. Even if he doesn't think of it that way.]

I did what I had to do because nobody else would. [The police were of no help when he told them about the microbots. He'd been the one to puzzle out that the man in the mask was responsible for Tadashi's death. He'd been the one to make Baymax's armor. He'd been the one to talk his friends into helping him. He'd been the one to start everything.

...he'd also been the one to give the villain the tools he needed. He swallows around the lump in his throat as he continues.] ...I had to be the one to stop it because I was the one who accidentally started it. I created my own legend because I'd changed the way the story was supposed to go on accident. That's why I wanted to know if...[...if it was common to question what would happen if he'd changed fate again, and if it was possible to really do that.]

It was my fault. [It's hard to say if it's a statement of its own, or if it's a tack-on to the previous one. Either or seems fitting.]