sixthiterationlogs | [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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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.

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

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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