[ 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! ]