sixthiterationlogs | [open] What are you made of? Water and glass

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[open] What are you made of? Water and glass

WHO: Princess Zelda
WHERE: The Fountain, the Southern Inn, the Library
WHEN: Now-abouts
OPEN TO: Klaus, All
WARNINGS: None anticipated

for klaus, the fountain

It's like floating, she thinks, musing on her sense of self this last hundred years. Without a physical body you're aware of the world around you, but you can't interact with it. You can sense sounds you can't hear, you know that temperature exists but you don't feel it. And if you open your eyes the world looks different than it should.

But it definitely doesn't look blank, bluish white and strangely distant. And your lungs don't exist, so they definitely don't burn with the need for air. Instinct carries her to the surface, exploding into a world that's very physical and very real. She treads water in her green scrubs, letting out a cough or two, too stunned by shock and confusion to do much else for a time.

ota, the southern inn

Zelda takes the first unoccupied room she finds, changes into dry green scrubs and finger-combs her hair again before venturing out into the common room and kitchen. It's very different than what she's used to, and she approaches it all with the caution of one who knows she isn't supposed to touch. Royalty isn't really meant to play around in the kitchen or wander curiously through a sitting room, and it definitely isn't meant to run fingers over every surface to remind herself what it all feels like.

Her restraint means that she's hyper-aware of everyone who enters the room, and she greets them all with a shy "hello."

ota, the library

The library at the schoolhouse is where Zelda knows she's going to spend a great deal of time. She's nothing short of delighted as she practically dances from shelf to shelf. There's so much knowledge here, and she has completely unfettered access to all of it. She pulls down books on the most common tasks and the most difficult sciences: basket weaving, soap making, astronomy, chemistry, everything she hasn't been allowed to study in any detail. She hardly notices anyone else there, and is liable to bump into somebody.

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There has to be something to keep him sane. His leg is finally letting him move around more, but that doesn't mean there is much he can do in town. With Alistair a bit messed up from losing his best friend and thus no lumber to work with, and Leonardo probably busy managing his boyfriend, it isn't like Reeve has much he can work on. His leg won't let him go far enough south to deal with the farm either, so here he was, moving through the library, looking for one book in particular.

He knows he saw something in here about the care of small animals. He needs an idea on how to get the perfect rabbit hutch for Bull.

What he wasn't expecting was the young woman who seemed vaguely elfish, looking about ready to devour the whole library.

"Need some help?"

She spins at the unexpected voice, only barely keeping the last two books from slipping off of her pile and onto the floor. A blush colors her cheeks, but no, not her ears.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone else was here. I was just curious, that's all." She still feels like she should apologize for carrying about in such an undignified manner.

"Curiosity should be lauded," Reeve smiles as he approaches a shelf. Look, he's barely even limping anymore. "Are you familiar with the library here? I'm trying to refind a book. Need to build a hutch for some rabbits for a friend.

"I'm afraid not," she admits, her tone even more apologetic than before. "This is the first time I've seen it." But that limp of his is worrying, and she can't help but ask.

"Are you injured? Should you be walking around?"

"Yes, I am injured. No I shouldn't be walking around. But I am going mad from it," Reeve shrugs. And he starts moving through the shelves, looking over titles. "I don't suppose you could help me look. I know it's here, somewhere."

She huffs a sigh, but there's a wistful smile on her face. It's something Link would do.

"Yes, of course. You're building a hutch?" As far as she knows a hutch is a sort of chest, but she doesn't know much about rabbit care so surely he knows what he's doing. She piles all of her books onto her left arm and leans them on her chest as she runs her other hand across the shelves. She knows she saw something about woodworking just a moment ago...

"This shelf, perhaps?"

"The rabbits have to be somewhere. I'm hoping to find some advise on how manage them without chicken wire," Reeve muses, frowning as he starts running his fingers over the shelves to figure all of this out. Then he pauses, realizing the situation with her books.

"Ah, your hands are so full. I'm sorry to do this, ma'am. That must all be heavy."

She's not sure why you would use something for chickens on rabbits, but she's not going to ask.

For a moment she stops, fingers still tracing book spines. He called her ma'am. Not Princess, not your Highness, Ma'am. There's something thrilling about that, though she's not sure why. Maybe here she can take a break from being a princess?

She blushes and adjusts the books in her hold.

"Oh, it's quite alright. They aren't as heavy as some of the books I've hauled about. I really don't mind."

"A scholar then?" he asks, a smile as much in his voice as on his face as he continues going down the shelves, slowly and methodically. He does find one one small wood working projects that he takes down and flips through before shaking his head and replacing it.

Damn, he didn't want to disappoint anyone.

"My name is Reeve, and I understand that desire for knowledge. I was an architect back home."

"No, nothing like that." Quit wasting your time playing at being a scholar, her father had said. She misses him dearly, but she doesn’t miss his reprimands.

"But I have some interest in archaeology, and it requires some particularly heavy texts and a number of useful manuscripts."

"Even with casual study you should claim the scholarship you seek," Reeve counters.

Still his attention doesn't move from the shelves, until he finally finds what he's looking for. He gives a triumphant noise and smiles.

"Thank you for your assistance, ma'am. I think this will do it for me. Is there anything I can help you find?"

She smiles a little wider, touched by the casual remark. He's right- if she isn't going to be a princess here then she can be whatever she wants to be.

"Oh, no," she protests, "I hardly know where to begin! My education included only the basics of science, and I've never studied these common occupations before. I didn't know such books existed." But oh boy she is glad they do. It means she can learn everything, without having to wait or bother someone else for lessons.

There is no way to learn everything, but there is a lot of work to be done to learn even all of what you do want to know. Reeve smiles as he considers her selections. Then he smiles.

"If you ever want to learn some higher level math or physics, let me know. I'm already teaching someone some serious math. Architecture required me to learn a lot."

Unconsciously she hugs the pile of books a little tighter in sheepish excitement. It's hard not to be a little embarrassed by an interest she's been scolded for all her life.

"Architecture sounds delightful," she admits, "but what is 'physics'?" Nothing a princess would ever be asked to learn.

What is...? Oh dear.

"Math. Math to describe the world and how it works. Describing the force with which a blade swings or why we fall down or how the planet is round. All of these things can be described by physics. It's applying math to answer, well, the world."

Dear dear, he might have to bring another person into his math and physics lessons.

Her eyes brighten like a pair of stars being born. The act of swinging a blade can be described with math? What about the power that allows the Divine Beasts to move on their own? The motion of their massive gears? Would it be possible to apply that ancient technology to other things?

"Goddesses... You would teach me something like that? Truly?" Surely she's died and passed on to the sacred realms.

"Of course. Knowledge is a wonderful tool. I'll see if I can find some basic physics instruction books here. It falls into the scope of what this place actually carries."

What? He thinks it's better to start out with basics and some of it he isn't the best with.

"Is it? How fortunate." The library isn't very large, but it does seem to be well equipped. She hurries to find a table to set her books down on. Now she can carry every physics textbook in the building! And don't think she won't try.

"Now, don't give up on other things as well. There are so many things that you can learn here, and it is best for the brain not to monofocus. To give yourself breaks."

Which is really the best thing he can do. Reeve tucks his selected item for the hutch under his arm and then moves through the shelves. He will definitely find her a beginners book on physics and the necessary math.

Ever since returning home and being pulled back here, Aqua has taken pains to recapture her routine. She patrols the southern village, keeping an eye on how things are going to make sure no one needs anything and no buildings have collapsed or caused trouble for anyone. Part of that is surveying the land to see if any of the surroundings have changed. Like clockwork, though, she comes to the Inn to help at the midday meal, usually taking a cleaning shift. She wanders in today planning to eat and then help with the clean-up as usual.

New faces aren't uncommon here, especially for someone who hasn't been a resident for very long, compared to a lot of the other people. So when she walks into the kitchen to see someone unfamiliar, she smiles. "Are you here for the midday meal?" she asks, ready to be as helpful as possible.

"Ah!" The princess pulls her hand back from the drawer she was about to open, startled. She knows that’s silly- it’s a kitchen, of course people are coming and going. It’s just that she was alone when she entered, and that secretive instinct won’t disappear easily. She looks over at the pot on the stove and notices for the first time that it’s full and hot.

"Yes... I suppose I am." She hasn’t needed to eat for so long that she’s only just now noticing she’s hungry.

But. How does the noon meal work here? She kind of assumed she was going to be cooking for herself. She wavers, waiting to see what Aqua does rather than asking outright.

Aqua notices that quick reflex, the way the girl pulls her hand back, like she's been caught doing something she shouldn't. Aqua can't think of what she might have been about to do, unless she's just new and unsure of how everything works. Deciding not to judge her on just that, Aqua smiles and makes her way further into the kitchen towards the food.

"That's why I'm here, too," she says, motioning for the young woman to join her. "If you're new, I'd be happy to show you around. The midday meal is open for everyone. All they ask is that you try to contribute somehow. I usually help clean up afterwards."

She grabs two bowls, offering one to the other girl. "My name is Aqua."

Just like that Zelda relaxes, relieved that she isn't committing some terrible faux pas. Times like this she really does miss the days before the Calamity, when she could visit other kingdoms with full and clear understanding of the culture and etiquette.

"I am, thank you. I am Princess Zelda, of Hyrule." She gives a proper nod in greeting before accepting the bowl.

"I would greatly appreciate your help, Miss Aqua."

Aqua's body language doesn't change too much at the title, though if they were on Zelda's world instead of this one, Aqua would drop to her knees in a heartbeat, just like she did for Queen Minnie. Right now, though, she smiles and makes a note of the title, but doesn't do anything else in an effort not to frighten or startle her. "It's very nice to meet you, Your Majesty," she answers, her tone still as kind as ever. "Everything here is free. Just take what you want and then we can sit down out in the dining area to eat. I wouldn't mind keeping you company, if this is your first time here."

She knows as well as anyone that it's nice to have company on the first visit. That way she can help ease the princess into a new life here, for as long as it lasts. Aqua dishes up her own food first, acting like a guide for Zelda.

Zelda hasn't spent enough time around commoners for it to be any kind of shock that Aqua doesn't bow. It would only make her feel more distant, anyway, more like a bother in this strange new place. She smiles in return.

"I would like that, if it's really no trouble. I don't mean to keep you from your own work." It's hardly Aqua's responsibility to take charge of the royal novice.

She picks out her own food and follows Aqua into the dining room.

Aqua gives a gentle shake of her head in response. "It's no trouble at all," she assures the princess as they make their way to an empty table. Setting her food on the table, she settles into one of the chairs, smiling over at the young girl. Zelda looks so young and so lost. She reminds Aqua a little bit of Kairi when the redhead had been very little. The urge to help her while they're here remains strong.

"I like to eat first and then help out with cleaning up," she explains. "Being here for the midday meal is a good way to meet people. A lot of the residents come here for the meal or just to talk to other people. It can be a good way to see how everyone is doing."

Those are definitely some of the reasons Aqua comes by anyway.

"How long have you been here?" she asks gently, wondering if Zelda has just arrived or if she's been avoiding the masses for one reason or another.

Lost she most certainly is. She's not really sure if she can count herself 'young' anymore. She listens earnestly as she eats, observing the others who join them in the dining room as politely as possible.

"Some hours, I should think."

"Oh!" Aqua's eyes widen a bit in surprise at that response before turning sympathetic. She remembers what it was like to be so new, to have to trek out of the bunker all the way back to the village and find somewhere to sleep. She had chosen an empty house for the night, after she had dried off. Hopefully, Zelda has found somewhere to settle to start.

"Have you found a room or a house to stay in?" she asks gently. "I think the Inn has a few rooms available still and it's better than being alone or sleeping outside."

She did no such thing, in fact.

"I used a room here to change clothes, but I wasn't sure if it belonged to someone. For the most part I've been looking around." She was too enthralled to care that she was wet until the clothes started to dry and get really uncomfortable.

Aqua can understand that feeling. This world has so much to explore and learn about. Even in the few short months that she's been here, so much has been discovered. And so much still remains hidden.

"You can ask Miss Kate which rooms are available still," Aqua offers. "She's in charge of the Inn and the rooms, as far as I know. I can help you find her after we're done here. I'm not sure who's in charge of the Inn's supplies, either, but she should be able to tell us both."

That way they can at least find Zelda some extra clothes and maybe be able to barter for some food to store away.

"Inn supplies?" She doesn't get the connection. Inn supplies should only be for use by the inn, right?

Aqua nods. "Things like clothes and blankets. Rope and cooking utensils, too, I think. There's a supply closet here and anything inside is free to be used by anyone. Everyone here is very aware of how hard it can be and we want to make sure we help each other as much as we can." She'll point that closet out to Zelda once they're done eating and cleaning up.

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[open] What are you made of? Water and glass

Library

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dying over that icon

she's really REALLY into science...

and he will happily teach her as long as he is around. ftb?

donezel washington

Inn

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