vatheon | Nothing but books, ever again

...Have noticed. [ He's trying to un-mangle a tin cup he must have nearly dropped, snatched, and sort of crunched.

Also that pack doesn't match his definition of "some".

The most Duke will leave is for more water for tea. If only to have things that smell nice, although probably because Zelda being nearby involves talking, and talking means needing things to drink.

He also hasn't quite figured out how to get his wings to go away, so enjoy that soft glow. ]

[Zelda was weak to start with and she'd expected the increase, so she hasn't broken anything just yet. She walks over and sets the pack down with a thud, looking at his wings. They're pretty, but they look almost... bloodstained somehow.]

I suppose that you have, haven't you?

[She focuses on her crystal and dismisses her wings. Hers are a brilliant golden color, not dissimilar to Zelos's - though they're more like Colette's wings in shape.]

It shouldn't be anything too difficult to control with practice, though.

Mnn. [ Maybe they do look a little stained. Or maybe they look a little like they've been burning and are running out of fuel.

He blinks at her, trying to figure out how to do the same thing and his wings poof away. ]

Similar to the grasping of a container, thinking it full but being surprised at its lack of weight. Startled, is all.

[Experimentally, Zelda tries to float one of the books from her pack in the air. At this point, he might notice that whatever power Zelda usually holds inside her, the one that's similar to something he would have felt in Link - is gone entirely. The book tumbles down.]

Ah, it seems like I'm not particularly good at it like this...

...? [ Duke studies her for a moment, definitely noticing that lack golden feel. Which made sense; he lacked his magic when he was a sphinx, after all.

Also this seems similar enough to his own magic that he can catch the book - although it does jump a few feet up in the air. ]

.... increased.

An increase? I suppose that makes sense.

[She knows the reduction in her own power is likely due to the fact that she's missing the Triforce, but she refuses to think of it. It'll be back in a week. It has to be.]

Maybe if I compensated for it...

[Zelda tries again, putting out more mana this time. The book wobbles, but it doesn't fall again.]

Oh, it works!

[ They should juggle the books. ]

... know more of this change. [ Zelda does. He just knows he accidentally broke something, and that everything is bright and clear and a bit loud and surprisingly even-temperatured. Oh, and glowy wings. ]

Ah, yes, I do. Though the person I know with this condition is rather closed-mouthed about it, I've had quite some time to observe it. I believe our hearing should be improved in addition to the increased strength. We will not have to eat or sleep unless we feel like it. There is probably more to it, but...

[But it's not as if she sat Zelos down and studied him, as much as she wanted to!]

... "condition". [ Although, that could explain why he might be talking quieter than his usual quiet, his hearing getting better.

But Zelda! Now they can sit down and study each other! Because they're both angels. ]

Not a new being entirely?

No, we aren't a new being, just modified. Our mana should be in a sort of stasis, for one thing. You know, I've never gotten a chance to sit down and take a look...

[Hmm. HMM. This could definitely be a thing!]

We should study each other.

[Way to be blunt there, Zelda.]

.... [ Duke is evidently of agreeing mind to this. His mana shifts to allow him to study Zelda -

Although after a moment, he remembers that he got to do that last time. ]

Can do as I had? [ Your turn to study him first. ]

[Wait. Wait... do... what Duke did to her? As Sheik?]

Are, ah, you certain about that? I don't want to make you uncomfortable...

[Maybe she could avoid that area? But what if there was something there she didn't know about, a change of some kind? She'll never know if she doesn't look! Does she want to know that badly? Is it even important? An increase in strength might be from an increase in testosterone, which would mean...]

Edited 2012-06-10 04:36 (UTC)

....? [ Confused Duke is confused. ]

Have studied, you have not, should make even? [ Oh dear, has he become harder to understand? ]

Yes, I suppose that's true.

[He must just genuinely not care about that sort of thing. There's no way he didn't realize what he did, right? There's just no way. Calling on her mana, Zelda wraps it around Duke gently from the head down, trying to not get redder at the mental picture that's forming.

Oh, wait, that's interesting. It's like he's stuck in a permanent battle state, the natural limits a body imposes to avoid damaging itself removed. Can he feel pain? It seems like the flow of mana from his nerves to his brain is somewhat dulled, especially the pain receptors. The receptors for heat and cold are dulled as well, though pressure and general touch seems to still be intact for the most part.

Sorry Duke, she's thoroughly distracted with her studying now and has forgotten just where her magic is pressing.]

[ That's okay, Duke is focusing on feeling - as passively as he can, so he doesn't mess with the information she's gathering - exactly what that magic is doing when its studying him.

That somewhat awkward feeling is something Duke ignores as well. Sort of feels like his skin is on a little too tight, that layer of magic. Zelda may notice, while studying him, that there's a point along his arm where his magic does a weird loop pocket... thing. There's a couple more of them - another alongside his other arm, one like a backpack, another like he'd tuck something into his coat. One of those.. has a feeling of more magic inside it. Different from the beside-the-arm spot where the odd feel of Dein Nomos hides, because this feels like... a lot of magic, although one different from mana. Perhaps if mana was a fruit, this was the rough seed that would be hazardous from the center. All nice and stable, but potentially hazardous. ]

[Interesting. What is that, exactly? She continues her studying for a good while before pulling her magic back, likely leaving him feeling a little chilly. Light based magic has an inherently warm feeling to it, after all.]

It seems like the crystal puts you in a suspended state of sorts. It's only a partial suspension, but... I don't think someone wearing one of these would even age... go ahead and tell me what you can find.

[Zelda braces herself for being studied in return. If Duke can not react to it, then goddesses, she can not react!]

... Suspended. . . [ Duke is trying to place that lack-of-warm. It sort of feels like the chill that one gets when they leave a patch of sun for shade -

Which connects to the next thought. If he's suspended, more or less, then he could... possibly bask a bit in the sun with less, or no, ill effect from burning. ]

... wonder if would lessen sun's effects... [ Oh, right, they're geeking. Duke blinks once, and turns his magic back to Zelda. He goes about studying a little differently this time - First focusing on the crystal, which would be a lot more awkward if he was paying attention to what was about the crystal as well, then spreading out and following the nerves and everything that he can sense the crystal effects. ]

[He probably would be perfectly alright in the sun! Just as Zelda said, he would see that the receptors for temperature and pain are dulled. Some of the natural processes that cause aging are suspended, and she's in a state that's perfect for battle. Really, studying it, there's no question that one of the original purposes of these crystals was to make someone more effective in a fight. Whatever hidden powers the princess held before are gone now, though she's got quite a bit of magic in her own right. She remains silent and absolutely still as he takes a look, though her heart rate skyrockets.

He'll notice that, won't he? Goddesses, why?]

[ That is odd. A little bit of further study seems that it's something to with metabolism processes, although that study gets interrupted as he notices heart rate skyrocketing. Something wrong?

. . . Wait.

. . . . . oh.

Oh.

Duke's magic is abruptly not doing any sort of study on anything ever. His mind is trying to figure out if he should be embarrassed - the information had been gathered and found without sight, but the magic did sort of function with that, in a way, or maybe it was only that way for him and..

Yep he's turning red. ]

[She's well aware of the visual aspect of the spell, and that's exactly what caused her to get so worked up. She'd been fine when it seemed that Duke thought nothing of it, but seeing him just as red as her...]

It is... alright. I studied you, after all. I know you don't mean it that way.

[He doesn't, does he? She's not sure what she would think of it if he did.]

Study, and studying something else at that. [ 'That way' is awkward things, right? ]

... And reaction is starting to make sense now. [ Oooohhh hindsight. Isn't it wonderful. ]

Really, i-it's alright. We're both vessels for these crystals at the moment, I know you wouldn't do anything inappropriate. Please, think nothing of it.

[She won't be able to think nothing of it, but there's no need to inflict that on Duke, is there? He crumbled at the thought of having friends, complicating things further would be a mistake.]

.... [ Still awkward. But...

... Yeah, he can focus on it not being awkward. Even if it still was clearly, even as he shoved it aside, awkward.

And Duke is always a bit weird about interest in inappropriate, and thus took a bit to figure out male and female and inappropriate and..

Sorry Zelda, but he isn't interested. Definitely. ]

Can... attempt...

So we're in some sort of stasis, that much is confirmed... what else did you see?

[Oh, see! Yes, that's a good subject change.]

Speaking of vision, have you noticed that yours has improved?

...? [ A blink. Yes. Right. Magegeeking. ]

Stasis seems to be partially metabolic functions slowing - explains the lack of need for food, if thought of that way.

- Yes. Less... bright, and far more detail and color, even compared to shortly after you healed.

We should see just how far this stasis is carried... do you think you would still burn easily in the sunlight? Maybe we should go up to the island and check. I can always heal you if you burn regardless, after all.

[Mostly? She just wants to fly around in the sky proper. It had been wonderful with Lysunder, but doing it under her own power was another matter entirely.]

... This is true. [ And he's got layers of clothing on anyway, so hopefully he won't just turn tomato faced-and-scalped. ]

Although uncertain if can feel it... [ Carefully pressing his hands together. if sensation is dulled, would the heat from sunshine be as well? ]

I don't think you'd be able to feel it properly, but I'll keep an eye on you.

[It will be obvious if he turns red, after all. She's used to seeing his face with no pigmentation whatsoever. Zelda holds her hand out, sprouting her wings again.]

Let's go! Have you flown yet? It's fun!

.... Hmn. [ Kind of dampens the fun of being able to lay out in the sun, not being able to feel it as he basks, but it might be worth it to ~~blind people anyway~~ do it because he can't normally.

Wings. Right. How to get them - ah. ]

... not for very long after an initial test. [ Should. He... take that hand? It's a bit cautious - likes, it's definitely careful, his reach to take that hand. Definitely unsure if that was the right thing to do with her's extended. ]

[That's exactly what she wanted him to do. She might have only been able to do it for a short time, but Zelda is extremely comfortable with flying. The princess floats up and tries to tug him along, just as graceful in the air as she is on the ground. She looks more than a little childish in her glee upon taking to the air again, the awkwardness from only moments before being pushed away entirely.]

[ Duke goes along easily enough - he had his own spell to get himself off the ground, if never by far, so he takes to following her easily enough. A little bit of wavering, perhaps a bit like a fledgling getting used to actually flying and..

Duke never talks about his friend, the big creature that dwarfed the tree and was cut down by those soldiers, but after a little bit of flying he releases Zelda's hand and it may become clear that they would fly fast, because Duke looks something between thrilled and pained at being able to do it on his own.

Race? ]

[He doesn't have to talk about Elucifur, Zelda did see him in Duke's thoughts and dreams. At that mixed expression on his face when he lets go of her hand, she grins. Might as well distract him!]

Race you there.

[At that, she's off like a shot for the elevator.]

[ Duke follows. At first he treats his wings like he needs to be careful of them and the needed space for solid ones...

Then he starts cutting corners with just enough room for his body. Because non-solid wings means less space needed.

Race race race~! ]

[Zelda knows from the start that hers aren't corporeal. From the way she's behaving in flight, it's obvious that she has some ancestry in the sky. Reckless from the moment they begin, it's no surprise that the princess manages to pull out ahead. For once her usually neatly pinned hair is a mess when she "tags" the elevator, grinning over her shoulder at Duke.

Wait. Is he... not stopping?]

[ Duke thought he could speed up enough to make this a tie, at the very least. Only he saw her touch the elevator and...

... how does he use the breaks with these things. He can't exactly cup them to catch a bunch of air and slow down that way, which he may have tried.

And trying to anchor himself to the ground and poof his wings away as a stop just.. kinda has him flipping and whacking into the elevator... partially upside down.

.... That was obviously the best plan. ]

Duke? Are you alright? I think sense of pain is dulled like this. Let me check your head...

[Yes, that is her form of asking permission. Zelda runs her fingers over his scalp carefully, checking for bumps. Pain and temperature might be dulled, but touch in general is still present to some extent.]

... Fairly certain, should hurt.. however... [ He's just going to blink at her, remaining still while she's got her hands on his head. Even if he can't feel it, until a healer said he had no damage, he's not going to move.

And he'll have a nasty bruise or so, but not much else. ]

[She heals the bruises regardless, that sort of magic coming to her easily even without the Triforce. Though she admittedly enjoys playing with his hair, Zelda doesn't linger longer than she should. That would be taking advantage, after all.]

Just a little bruising. You should be fine now. I suppose we got a little overzealous, didn't we?

[ Once her hands go away, he works on righting himself. ]

Perhaps. Forgot that these wings do not function as solid, and thus ways to slow with solid would not apply to them. Likely should have gone up, then glided back down....

I suppose I didn't think of them as natural wings from the start. They're extensions of mana, you push outward with your mana to stop yourself.

[She smiles again, amused but not with any sense of malice. No, she's more just amused at how excited they both are to fly.]

I have heard that the barrier on the island bounces people off of it when it's pushed against. We'll have to experience that for ourselves!

... Yes. [ they should fly at it and see how far they get bounced back, and then figure out the ratio between their speed and resulting rebound and -

Now they're ridiculous mage geeks. ]

[Oh, it looks as if he might just be thinking what she was thinking...]

...we should run some tests on it while we have the ability to fly.

[This is the most exciting! Zelda hurries over to the elevator, waiting for the Station Master to run it with just a little impatience.]

[ Agreeing hum, and Duke will dust any bits of earth and stuff off him while they wait.

Although once the elevator is up there, he's going right into the air. ]

[As is Zelda, immediately heading for the forest with the barrier around it. If you head in on foot it functions more like the Lost Woods, but from above...]

Wah!

[It sends her bouncing back back a few feet, looking startled. That was fun...]

[ Duke circles her once or twice, a visual inspection to make sure that was surprise rather than pain. And then its his turn to get bounced off.

Very interesting! ]

[The barrier below is just solid, so why is this one bouncy? Perhaps in case any birds fly into it? Does the recoil increase with speed? What about angle?

Yes, she'll be trying all of those things promptly. Duke is likely to notice the small changes in angle as she assaults the barrier, but any onlookers would simply see two angels bouncing off an invisible force field repeatedly.]

[ Repeatedly. Like birds who haven't figured out that the bird they keep trying to attack is their reflection.

Most mature angels. ]

[Seeing Duke smiling like that, genuinely smiling, Zelda can't help but start to laugh. When was the last time either of them had smiled like this? Zelda couldn't recall it for herself. She wondered for a moment if Duke could, but chose to push it aside. Thoughts of angle and velocity and thoughts of the past are forgotten as she just enjoys the moment.]

Nothing but books, ever again

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