Hakuna matata

[malik_caesar]

Who: Malik and Zelda/Sheik
Where: Plaza Cafe near the Library
When: 11/11 Noon
Status: Closed

[Malik is sitting at the cafe that Zelda mentioned waiting for her or Sheik to show up. He made the suggestion to Sheik, but it was Zelda who set up the meeting.

He's a little bit earlier than they had set the time for, so he ordered a tall glass of lemonade while he waited. He's leaning all the way back into his chair, relaxing, and casually observing the passersby in the plaza, occasionally sipping his lemonade from a pink bendy straw.]

Comments

[zelda_hylia]

[It's a little silly to come out for lessons on something like relaxing, but after all the people that have told her that she apparently doesn't know how (as well as remembering Ky, who is even worse at it than she is), Zelda's come to accept that it might be something that people need to learn, just like anything else. She's brought all the books in the library that she could find on eleth, but it still amounts to only a precious few. One seems to be on valkines in general, the other is about the basics of cryas and its use in every day life, and the last is something Malik would be quite familiar with - an elementary textbook on artes that was likely used in the academy.

She's quite intent on not focusing on her depressive roommates or her scuffle with Guy today.]

Hello, Malik.

[malik_caesar]

[He stands up from his chair as habit when in the presence of royalty.]

Your highness. [He bows his head slightly, when he lifts it again he has a smirk.]

Did you leave any books left in the library?

[zelda_hylia]

Please, Zelda is fine.

[She sets the books down on the table, tilting her head at him curiously.]

It is only three books. I was not sure which would be the most relevant.

[The teasing apparently went right over her head.]

[malik_caesar]

[Sometimes she makes it too easy.]

Of course Princess Zelda.

[He sits back down and gestures to the other seat at the table. He's not so stuck on formality that he has to pull out a chair for her.]

First lesson. Are you familiar with jokes?

[zelda_hylia]

[She settles down, about to scold him for using her title again... but then he mentions the bit about jokes.]

Of course. I try to not make assumptions about that sort of thing with people I do not know well, though.

[Zelda's certainly never met someone Malik's age that jokes around frequently. She's not sure what to make of it.]

[malik_caesar]

That's the royal upbringing. It makes it so difficult for people to enjoy themselves.

Is this a formal meeting? Am I a dignitary or ambassador?

[Are you calling him old?!]

[zelda_hylia]

[This time at least she seems to pick up on it.]

You would be more of a tutor, would you not?

[Zelda smiles a bit. He does seem to have a good idea of how nobility functions, even if he doesn't much behave like it himself. Of course, neither does Zelos.]

[malik_caesar]

I suppose so, though I prefer the term instructor.

[He smiles.]

It's a lesson on relaxing, however, so right now I'm just a helpful friend. No titles.

[Just because he knows how it works, or can be very proper if the situation warrants it, doesn't mean he likes it.]

[zelda_hylia]

Is there a penalty for using titles?

[malik_caesar]

Everytime you use a title, you'll have to make a silly face for five seconds.

[Malik, of course, is not smiling.]

[zelda_hylia]

That's hardly fair. I think you have a few silly faces to make.

["No titles" is the sort of thing that has to go both ways! If someone calls her "princess", she responds by behaving more formally. It's something that's difficult for her to quit. Explaining that is a little awkward, though.]

[malik_caesar]

Ah ah ah Princess. I've already mastered the ability to relax so I am allowed exceptions.

[zelda_hylia]

Is that how it works? I thought such a thing would be easier for a properly relaxed person.

[Please Malik, do demonstrate. One of the waiters pops by to refill his glass. The princess requests some tea, then looks back to Malik intently.]

[malik_caesar]

[Malik clears his throat, taking the proper set-up time for such a demonstration.]

Oh, it is Zelda. I just prefer tradition sometimes.

[zelda_hylia]

[Much better. She does relax somewhat when called by name.]

There is certainly some value to be had in tradition.

[Though it's not always correct. Some have to be changed, but that doesn't change the fact that others are perfectly respectable.]

[malik_caesar]

[Malik nods.]

Exactly, but that doesn't mean you have to follow it perfectly. It's your life, live it how you like.

[He sits up from his lounging position to take a look at the books she's brought.]

I take it you like reading?

[zelda_hylia]

I do. Having real experience in a subject is generally better, but you can learn a great deal from a book first.

[She wasn't allowed to get out much as a child, Impa was fairly overprotective. Most of her time was spent reading in the garden. Or spying on people.

...yeah, her hobbies haven't really changed at all.]

[malik_caesar]

I can't deny that. If we sent out every knight that came into the academy to fight without studying first, we'd never have any knights.

Reading is a great way to relax, it's not on the top of my list, but this isn't about me. What would you like to talk about?

[zelda_hylia]

If you don't mind, I'd like to hear more about eleth. These books are somewhat useful, but they speak of it as a basic world concept and don't really cover it from an outsider's perspective.

[She'd also like to compare eleth to fonons, but that can wait for another day.]

[malik_caesar]

Only if you can assure me that this is relaxing for you and not part of some plan.

[Most of the people Malik encounters don't have technical discussion on magical energies for fun. There are exceptions of course, Pascal for instance, but Malik can't be sure with Zelda.]

[zelda_hylia]

Plan...? There is not even any eleth present here, what sort of plan could this possibly be part of?

[Sure, she can get to be a little conniving sometimes, but she doesn't see the purpose here.]

[malik_caesar]

I don't know, which is why I'm asking. The second time we met you assailed me with most of the inter-workings here in Vatheon and you seemed intent on figuring out what was going on or fixing things.

Don't get me wrong, I think that's an excellent goal if that's what you wish to achieve. It's just not relaxing.

[zelda_hylia]

Ah, that. No, this is not related. The study of different types of magical energy is just a hobby I have picked up since coming here.

[It's a subject she can chatter on for hours, much to the detriment of Duke's throat a few times. He's not one for extended conversations.]

[malik_caesar]

Hobbies are good.

[Duke may not have the stamina for long conversations, but his voice more than makes up for it.]

If I remember correctly, we've already talked a little about it. Eleth...

[He goes into a technical explanation of its uses and the ways to harness it. Most of the discussion is directed towards military and combat uses as that is what Malik knows best. He does mention other aspects of it, probably most interesting to Zelda would be its life giving or generating properties. He also mentions the curious nature of how eleth may be a type of life force of its own and the beings that are composed of it. His example is the dragons living in the valkines. He mentions Fodra again, and its connections to Ephinea, and the Zhone cage (which he looks a little uncomfortable about when describing). He does not directly mention the artificial creation of life that was taking place on Fodra and the humanoids, nor does he mention Sophie, but from what is said Zelda may be able to guess or see this application. He leaves out many of the details about Lambda but does relate his apparent birth from, affinity for, and ability to control it.]

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelda is a good student. Having taught quite a few himself, Malik would be able to tell right away. She takes out a notebook once he gets to talking, one that appears to be well-used. She does seem to genuinely enjoy it, despite the fact that it's not the sort of thing people typically choose to discuss in their free time. He might not be directly teaching her about relaxing, but the amount of information for her to focus on that is not related to the past few months does cause her to finally relax.]

It sounds so versatile! You could populate many dead worlds with a system like that.