10

[asea]

Who: Walter and you
Where: Plaza
When: Afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Open

[Today, Walter breaks his typical routine by heading down to the plaza. Normally, he would check on Shirley first but lets her be, and goes out without the usual cape to boot. He doesn't appear nearly as tense, though his posture is still guarded; careful.

Upon seating himself in an outdoor cafe, a familiar waitress attends him.]

Hello there! Oh . . . you look a little different today. Waiting for someone?

[Walter stares, and she continues on on an assumption.]

Here's some water, free of charge. I'll be back once your girlfriend comes!

[But he came alone. And alone he is, sitting near a fountain with an untouched, full cup of water, across an inversely empty chair. If he had to answer why he's there, he wouldn't be able to supply a reasonable answer. There's . . . nothing else to do.

He just looks out of place. There's a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, and it's steadily beginning to irk him despite his otherwise cooler disposition.]

Comments

[zelda_hylia]

[When there's nothing to do, Zelda simply invents tasks for herself. She can't stand being idle for long. It would be a lie to say she's not a little surprised that Walter recalls her name, but she turns away from the coral easily enough.]

Here and there. I'm checking the readouts on the coral, then I was going to analyze them in the Welcome Center. I try to stay in the plaza for the most part when new arrivals are showing up. You never know who the coral will bring next, after all.

[Or what.]

[asea]

[He's never been very social, so he'll pass on dealing with new arrivals. On the other hand, the earlier part of her statement piques his marginal interest.]

Analyze them?

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelda is more than happy to share her research with anyone that asks - she's just tired of attempting to shove it down people's throats. Most people in the city are content to just wait out the coral until they return home, and she's come to accept that. Her expression becomes slightly more serious as she regards the readouts.]

Yes. The coral has been varying in its output since we were merged with that dream world temporarily. For awhile, I was able to predict the coming of a curse based on the energy level, but... it overloaded shortly before the attack on the island, and now it's giving us a curse at only just over half its full power. It may have something to do with Thalassino returning, but I can't be certain as of yet.

[asea]

[He's heard only brief mentions of the coral's "output." He folds his arms -- with Zelda's data on the subject, it seems like something definitely worth studying. It takes him a little longer to follow along on the topic of Thalassino, but he's quick enough to remember.]

That woman who was released a week ago? The Head Priestess . . .

[zelda_hylia]

Yes, that's correct. She's none too happy about her imprisonment, either. I couldn't get her to give further details over the network, but she claimed that she would see to the coral when she had a chance.

[She also said that the best thing they could do for the coral was to leave it alone, but since when can Zelda do that?]

[asea]

So she didn't say why it was acting strangely . . .

[Given the coral's apparent fluctuations in power, he would be inclined to leave it alone if Thalassino knows what she's doing. It doesn't do to be in the dark forever, however.]

[zelda_hylia]

No, she did not. Not that I can blame her since the network is likely monitored, but I'm not comfortable being here without learning how this coral works. It seems to regulate every aspect of our lives, we can't afford to simply take someone's word for it that they will fix it.

[Zelda is kind to be sure, but she's also pragmatic. She wants to trust in Thalassino, but she'll do her best to find out what's going on in her own way, too.]

[asea]

[They can't. Ignorance is not practical. He can see their logic behind "leaving it be," which is why he throws out this much,]

The people worship it as a deity. It should be able to fix itself.

[It's more a statement than his own personal stance. Logically speaking, this should be so. Yet there are always . . . other factors.]

[zelda_hylia]

Gods are as fallible as everyone else, their failings are simply on a grander scale.

[Zelda curls her hand up by her chest, lowering her head momentarily before beginning to head for the Welcome Center. She's got her readings, now.]

[asea]

[ . . .

Quieting at that, he follows with Zelda at the front.

He's too used to the idea that any godly being -- be it the will of the sea or otherwise -- can do no wrong. Only bring good to the people. So the humane words Zelda tacks onto them gives him pause, and he drops the subject there.]

[zelda_hylia]

[If Walter had ever been in the Welcome Center before, he would find that it's been remodeled since Zelda took over. There's a shower now, and a table for having a light snack and some tea. There's also a small kitchen towards the back, which is where she heads first to put on some tea. After that, she moves to sit at the table. It's situated by the window, so she can see if anyone arrives.

And then out comes the folder full of data and her notebook.]

Any time in particular you would like to look at?

[asea]

[Taking a seat across Zelda once she has hers, he eyes the folder and notebook in that order. It crosses his mind how structured this entire center and she is about the coral's state, and it puts his listless mind at marginal ease. It's something to do.]

Whatever you have on hand. [But if he has to choose:] As early as possible.

[zelda_hylia]

Very well. These are the readings for the coral starting about a week after it began fluctuating.

[Have a handy graph, Walter! The other axis indicates the presence of a curse, and there's definitely some correlation there. When the power of the coral is high, there tends to be a curse - and then there's a drop in power afterwards.]

This is a time table for the curses.

[She produces a few sheets for this one. Working with Matthew, Zelda has all the curses listed from day one. They used to have a regular schedule, but such is not the case any longer - she's marked where the coral took damage on the chart. If Walter's looking for busywork, Zelda is definitely the person to go to.]

[asea]

[Wonderful, a graph. He glances between it and the sheets -- swiftly, to take in the pattern and sorts of curses there had been in the past. He's no statistician, so he's skimming for a general understanding.

Finally:]

Only thirty?

[But given the present infrequency of curses, the thirties can speak for a considerable amount of time. All things considered, it's not that long.]

[zelda_hylia]

Yes. Covering the roughly two and a half years foreigners have been recorded as being in Vatheon, it averages out to about one curse per month - though since they used to be far more frequent, it's less than that. If we go for an extended period of time without a curse, it seems that we're at risk for world-altering events.

[She taps Yami's attack on the bubble, the merge with Somarium, and the fairytale curse with her index finger as examples.]

[asea]

[As he follows her finger through the paperwork, Walter only recalls Yami's attack and the merge with Somarium. The fairytale curse, after a glance at the date, happened almost an entire month before he arrived.]

Is there a trend in how frequently these world-altering events take place?

[zelda_hylia]

That's a little difficult to say. The only thing that's been steady is a large attack of some sort each summer. Though I suppose you could say the others have been somewhat seasonal as well... just long enough to lure most people back into complacence.

[Honestly. People behave themselves for about a week after an attack, and then they're right back to acting like nothing's going to happen at all!]

[asea]

Is it just coincidence?

[The question is more for validation of her own opinion. It might be the coral acting deliberately, or another force moderating this trend. Or entirely random, though he considers this slim.]

[zelda_hylia]

I don't think it is.

[Part of Zelda is afraid that she, too, will fall to the apathy of not wanting to bother with the coral in time. She already doesn't try to shove it down people's throats quite as regularly as she used to, choosing to be a little more quiet with her research. Letting out a small sigh, she glances up at Walter and smiles a bit.]

I didn't know you had an interest in these things. You're always welcome to come take a look.

[Maybe he cares now because he has a friend here? Though the last Zelda had spoken with Shirley, she seemed concerned about how Walter would take the time differences.]

[asea]

I didn't.

[Walter pulls back, straightening and meeting Zelda's gaze rather blankly, but not as impassive as usual. He'd told Tiir early in the month that it didn't matter, because the barrier will without fail fall someday. Yet now, for some reason, he's more inclined to dwell on the subject.

It probably has to do with the fact that he doesn't have anything to keep him occupied.]

This is the first time I've given it thought.

[He won't deny that offer, however.]

[zelda_hylia]

...interesting. Perhaps you've been cursed with the opposite of apathy today?

[She's off the subject of the coral now, looking at Walter intently. There was certainly something different about him. Was it a lack of motivation that caused him to not care about things usually? That doesn't seem right; he's always on the move after all.]

[asea]

[Now this is about him? He doesn't want to talk about himself. No, this is about the curse.]

. . . no. It's something else.

[So he admits to it. Unless he's having an unorthodox mood swing, the change is obvious. Even he can "feel" that. He'll put this much forward:]

Don't expect any of this to last.

[zelda_hylia]

"This"?

[She ponders over what exactly it is that he could mean, then grins wryly.]

Do you mean you speaking with me instead of walking away? That is alright, it does not bother me overly much. I do not expect you to be my friend, Walter - only my ally. You keep your head in a battle and don't require much looking after or excessive amounts of communication. It has always been easy to fight by your side when the circumstances call for it.

[And unlike some of her other friends, she doesn't feel like Walter would endanger himself too much to attempt to aid her. Honestly, she appreciates that. He would probably try if it was feasible, but he would also probably give up if it wasn't.]

I do not mind talking either, though. Do keep that in mind if you ever have any questions.

[asea]

[If she has ever rendered him genuinely speechless, this is the best example of it. For a moment, all he can do is stare at Zelda. When was the last time he'd been told something like that? That's not the issue. Rather, isn't there someone else he should be hearing this from? The words are right there, yet the image is off.

He should have heard those words elsewhere at another time. Should have.

A part of him stirs, and there's a feeling akin to longing. But he can't be bothered to think about that.

So he sits there in silence, small surprise painting his features. Of all the responses she could have given -- pleading her case, accepting with ease, anything -- this is far from what he'd expected.]

[zelda_hylia]

[It is an acceptance of sorts. She'll just take him just the way he is. She can tell that Walter generally doesn't have an interest in pursuing a friendship with her. As long as he's alright, she doesn't mind that. She would like to be friends, but experience with Zelos has taught her that you just can't force someone to open up to you. It has to come with time.]

You don't have to look at me as if I've grown a second head.