[He and Clarke usually get up around the same time. Rhea sees to that. Today, though, today Clarke didn't wake up, wouldn't wake up. It's not the first time something like this has happened, but he hadn't stayed awake himself more than an hour after she'd passed out.]

[A couple of imps show up once he realizes she's not about to wake up any time soon, with the intention of taking her away; Bellamy more or less tells them to go fuck themselves, and it's fortunate they listen to him and leave despite that, or he might've followed up on Octavia's threat to start beating them up. The noise probably hadn't gone unheard in the house, wherever Octavia is.]

[He goes to find his sister next, looking mildly panicked, but he's determined to keep his cool about this despite that. He knows these things happen, that people can and do fall into enchanted sleeps. They just need to control it, as best they can.] Octavia. We have an issue.

[ Octavia's really just, for a lack of better words, dicking around the house. Rhea's gotten into the habit of stopping into her room once she's managed to wake Bellamy and Clarke up, although today she didn't, and that probably should have served as a warning sign, but really she was just glad for the extra sleep once she wakes on her own. anyway, she totally does hear the muffled sounds of conversation from her room, but it doesn't sound too heated or anything, so she doesn't think anything of it. not at first, at least. she tries to listen in as she quickly gets dressed, but the time she's got her boots on, the voices are gone.

not that any of that matters much, once Bellamy finds her and he's got that look on his face. it's not quite the same level as "surprise inspection", but it's up there. ]

What kind of issue? --And who were you just talking to?

Imps. [He hisses the word out with annoyance his sister will probably understand.] They're gone now, they wanted to take Clarke to the castle -

[Which brings him to the point. His shoulders heave a little with a silent sigh.] You hear anything about enchanted sleeps yet?

What? No. [ which is an uppity reaction to the first part, and she even looks towards their room like she's thinking about the fastest way to incapacitate one of those jerks before they can get to Clarke. but oh, right, he wouldn't be here if they were still trying to get to her. and he asked a question. slow down, champ. she shakes her head, brow furrowed ] I mean, only a little bit. I think you mentioned it. You said this place can show you home after you've been here for a while. Is that how it works?

[He runs a hand through his hair, the motion more mechanic than thought out.] More or less, yeah. But the last time that happened, I fell asleep right after she did. And no imps came for us. [At least, he assumes not, or they'd have woken up in the castle and not their bed.]

Right now, Clarke just - isn't waking up. I tried. I've heard this happens, that people can fall asleep without seeing home. There's someone I'm going to talk to but - [He pauses, collecting his thoughts, which is weird for him instead of just continuing to ramble off.] Until then, we just need to make sure she stays safe.

[They already live in what's probably one of the safest houses in Diasbaile, but Bellamy's having a few moments of extra concern anyway ok!!! Clearly the only person who gets to see that in him right now is his sister. Even just knowing she's in the house too is already helping.]

[ her brows furrow just a tiny bit more with each thing he's telling her here because ohboy, everything mentioned manages to pop three questions into her head, but it can wait ]

Yeah, of course. I'll stay here, make sure nobody comes in or out. [ especially imps. because they're the worst. ] Is there anything I should.. do? I mean, she's just asleep, right? I just need to look out for her?

[ who knows with magical sleep, ok. maybe there's some kind of weird protocol. ]

[He runs a hand through her hair.] If it is just this enchanted sleep, it should be fine. We just need to wait for her to get up. [Things he is not going to mention even though he's thinking about it: what if she's asleep for a while? Things Octavia can probably tell he's worried about: that.]

I'm more concerned about - word getting out too far, maybe someone trying to take advantage of the fact that she can't fight back. [And his sister already knows how careful they have to be, how guarded the house is, the targets still on both their backs.] We can't just stop everything we usually do, but I don't - I'll figure it out. I just needed you to know what was happening.

Hey. It's going to be fine. [ she hits that careful tone that ..doesn't actually sound careful, but it's real and solid without being too outwardly "I SEE YOU'RE WORRIED AND I AM HERE TO HELP". ] Nobody has to know anything's different. --I know no one is going to believe Clarke's just taking some time to herself, but we'll think of something. If anyone asks for her, we can say she's just- gone into lock-down mode to learn some kind of new magic. Something powerful, something that means she can't be disturbed.

[ there's a sort of flippant hand motion towards the end there, a very obvious I don't know, I'm winging it. but then she's just pushing her finger to his chest, a sort of hey, anyway, okay. listen. gesture. ]

You do what you have to do, what you normally do. I've just been exploring since I got here, nobody's been paying attention to that. So I'll stay here with her while you're out, and nobody comes through that front door.

[He knows the tone, and it helps, it steadies him, because that's what Octavia does, whether or not she's even there sometimes. He doesn't quite grin at her, but the feeling is there, and he's grateful without saying it.]

That's probably not too far off. She more or less did that last month anyway. [The spellworking. It wasn't quite so closed off, but it shouldn't be hard to fool most people into thinking so, if it really came down to it.] I'll check in on her office, make sure nothing drastic comes up.

[Even if she's winging it, it's not like Bellamy's in another position. But he's reminded that he doesn't have to wing this alone. He scoops his arm around her shoulders for a quick squeeze after she jabs at his chest, then nods.] We'll give you something to do, so you don't get bored.

[It's easier to focus now, and he has his sister to thank for that, with her started plan. He builds on it.] Ariadne will have advice too. And I'll try to temporarily increase the watch on the house.

[ excellent. she tossed him a line and he's rolling with it, which is good. she leans into the hug when she pulls her in, nods affirmatively along with what he adds. it all sounds good to her. this'll be fine. then again, she still hasn't actually seen Clarke in her deep sleep, so it's probably way easier for her to process this. but that's fine. it's all good. ]

Sounds like a plan. [ a beat ] And I'm sure she'll wake up soon, Bell. Clarke's not going to let some magic spell keep her out of commission for long. She's too stubborn.

[Realistically, he knows all these things about Clarke himself, but it's good to have an outside confirmation too - even if it is his sister, but doesn't that make it better? Especially with the way she'd stopped letting him get away with his bullshit.]

[He offers her a small grateful grin, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.] I know. I know, thanks O. Nothing happened the last time we were out for a week. We'll make sure it repeats the same way.

Octavia! [Yup, that's the first thing she's going to hear when he calls. It's excitement and energy and maybe a tiny bit of nervousness that she'll have changed her mind but he doesn't allow himself to stop. He has a few hours free at the moment. He's using them even if it kills him.] What're you doing right now?

[ there's a huff of a laugh before she responds ]

Right now? I'm talking to you. [ OHOHOOOO SO CLEVER but no she sounds amused more than anything else. again she's just kind of taking a second to appreciate how ..familiar this feels? even if they've only known each other about a month. it's a nice feeling, compared to everything else she's had to adapt to here, so far ] What are you doing?

[W o w.] You're hilarious. Really. [But it actually helps him relax a little, less anxious about dragging her out and proposing his ideas. It's more comfortable is what it is, but he's not sure he recognizes it as such.] I am packing for a trip through Llorona and you are coming with me. I wanna see what's out there right now and maybe get some target practice in if things start chasing us.

Yeah? [ she's a little surprised, but mostly just excited. target practice. that sounds promising. ] What kind of trip are we talking about here, a few days? Because I can definitely do a few days. [ the idea of getting to explore with someone who knows their way around? awesome. she's been heading out for hours at a time, but always came back home that same night. having a reason to explore beyond that is kinda perfect ] I just need to let Bell and Clarke know. But it's up to you. What'd you have in mind?

[There's a laugh, though it doesn't sound that amused.] Maybe next time. I've only got a couple of hours before I have to get back to work but this could be a good way to scope out where we wanna head for a longer trip.

[And also it gives him an idea of what he's doing that he can shuffle around everything on his plate. Sometimes Hiro has great ideas. Biting off more than he can chew isn't one of them.] Anyway I already told Bellamy I was taking you with me, like, a few weeks ago. Unless you don't think a few hours is worth it?

[Yes, that's a challenging tone. You totally wanna see how much ground can be covered in a few hours, don't you, Octavia?]

Oh, you told him, huh?

[ she really likes the mental image of Hiro messaging her brother and just being like "AND OCTAVIA'S COMING WITH ME", and it's probably obvious. but that's okay. her eyes narrow a bit at that tone, but in a.. good way? ]

I think we can make a few hours worth while.

Totally didn't even leave any room for argument. [He's leaving out all kinds of details but hey, whatever, this story at least makes him sound good and that's what's important here.] I'm just grabbing some extra equipment but I can be at your place in...fifteen minutes? Maybe twenty? You're at the house still, right?

I am still at the house, yes.

[ honestly just laying around being kind of lazy. she just spent the last few days cleaning up a shrine with a literal zombie, okay. ..not that she knows SImon's a zombie but, y'know. he looks the part. anyway, she's taking a chill day. or at least she was, before something way more interesting came up ]

I'll be ready to go when you get here.

I can't, like, teleport or anything so it'll take a few to get out to Diasbaile, but I remember how to get to your place from there. I'll meet you on the porch and we'll go from there?

[And then something else occurs to him.] Hey, did you ever find a weapon to actually use?

Or I can meet you somewhere in between. Whatever makes things faster. No use in doubling back or anything.

[ it's probably obvious she's still learning the map, but the offer is genuine. she's not going to make him meet her here if it makes no sense for him to. she perks up a bit at his question ]

I had one forged for me. The Brucolac got me in touch with someone. I'm still paying it back, but it's mine. [ grin ] And it's awesome.

You've definitely gotta show me then. [A beat.] I've never met the Brucolac but I've heard a lot about him. If it's awesome then it's totally worth whatever you have to pay for it.

[He has a few new toys of his own, too,but there's no sense giving her any kind of hint.]

Think you could meet me at Ariadne's spire? It's still kinda in the mountains but it's a lot closer to the forest. We can probably walk a few miles and be in it. Plus I can take the fairy ring right to her place.

I'll bring it with me.

[ she probably brings it everywhere with her, let's be real ]

Perfect. Half an hour?

Half an hour. I'll meet you there!

[And with that he disconnects the call and basically zooms around the castle packing the rest of what he needs, including his armor. It's not going on his body yet, but it's going in his bag along with some weapons, snares for traps, bait, etc.

Like most instances when he's prepared to do something he really wants, Hiro finds himself at Ariadne's early, maybe about five or ten minutes early. But that doesn't mean he's wandering off. He'll just plop himself right in front of Ariadne's spire and wait for her.

This...was going to be a really good experiment.]

[ continued here! ]

Hey, Octavia. Could I get your help with something? It's for Bellamy's birthday.

Hey. Yeah, sure. [ it's not SUPER obvious by her tone, but she's a little surprised by the topic, mostly cause she's never had anyone to talk about Bellamy's birthday with? it's a conversation she's only ever had with her mother. so it's a little weird to have someone bringing it up to her. but the good weird, so- ] What did you have in mind?

Well, I'd like to paint your mother for him. ( she doesn't know what Aurora looked like, only heard rumours about Octavia, and what had happened. so her starting point? is next to nothing. but she has an idea for what she'd like, and- Octavia's really the only one that can help. ) And you, too. The three of you together, actually. You'll have to describe her to me so that I can get the sketch down; is that something you'd be okay with?

It's- [ probably good that it's a conversation without video, because her brow furrows up tight at that, and she's not even sure what she's feeling, so she doesn't know what her expression is reflecting ] That's a pretty loaded question.

[ but that's totally not what Clarke wanted to hear, and she only takes a second to give her more ]

I mean, I'm okay with it. [ maybe it's just because it reminds her of the last time she and Bellamy talked about their mother- well, had that fight about what happened, anyway. she can't figure out if she herself could handle a portrait of her and Bell with their mom, like she's still around. can't figure out how it would make her feel. but this isn't about her, is it? ] I can try.

Yeah? Are you sure? It's okay if it's not something you're comfortable with. ( Clarke's nothing but understanding about it; she lost her dad, she knows how overwhelming it can be. especially having to pull on memories to describe someone you lost? Clarke doesn't know if she'd be strong enough for it, were their situations reversed. )

I can always just make it one of you two together if it's too much.

Nah. It's a cool idea. I know he misses her a lot, so- Yeah.

[ she tries to shake herself out of her mini-funk then, pulls in a big breath ]

One thing I know for sure is that Bellamy's got her smile. Getting him to laugh, like, really laugh - that'd be the best reference for her smile. Their eyes were the same color, too.

( the locket easily picks up the sound of pencil over paper as she sketches; she knows Bellamy's face better than pretty much anyone elses at this point, so that part is easy. )

What about the shape of her face?

[ it takes her a second, but ]

Kind of like your mom's, actually. Oval-shaped, I guess. Only her jaw was wider, like mine and Bellamy's. [ a beat ] Does that make sense?

( silence again as she continues to draw her rough outline, taking her time in doing so to make sure she gets the basic shape correct. )

It does. What about eye shape, and eyebrows? What her hairline was like and the length of her hair.

Like mine. A little rounder, maybe, but her eyes looked like mine. And, uh. Thin, I guess? [ this is getting harder, mostly because she's realizing that wow, she doesn't remember her mother's face as well as she thought she did. and that's a little weird to come to terms with, so she'll just.. do that later. ] Her hair was like mine, too. She even parted it on the same side. She always wore it down.

( Clarke continues her work on the sketch in continued silence, doing her best to call up features from both Octavia and Bellamy to get it right. if there's anything off about Octavia's voice, Clarke unfortunately misses it while being in art-mode. )

Nose and mouth? Um- And now broad or narrow her shoulders were. ( a beat. ) And then I should have something for you to judge the accuracy of.