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! ]