vatheon | Let's do one of those OPEN posts guys

Entry tags:

Let's do one of those OPEN posts guys

Who: Zelda and ~anyone~
Where: Nostalgia Nook (morning), walking around (early afternoon), library (afternoon-evening)
When: March 6th
Style: Either
Status: So open it might leak into other people's posts, sorry about that people.

[Zelos was out for the day, and Zelda had grown very used to his company in the week since Sola came back. Kind of disturbingly used to it, really. She decides to head out herself to do a little shopping and then go to the library. It seems like she has something on her mind, but when doesn't she?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Likely best. [ They've been standing in the water for some time and Duke isn't sure he can feel his toes anymore. So he'll start for shore now. ]

Do you wish to, or shall I? [ Clean and cook that fish, he means. He's starting the fire in any case. ]

Hmm? I can do it.

[She steps out of the water with him, reaching up under her skirt and producing a kunai. Zelda might not have had much of a chance to get good at formal cooking while she was on the run, but survival skills were something she did learn. She takes care of the task without balking in the least, holding the fish out to Duke.]

Oh good, there's another one.

[And there she goes, picking up the second victim from her little outburst and giving it the same treatment.]

If there is more than what two can finish, I can provide it to some other forest life that would rather not get their feet wet. [ And there's a nice little fire started, and he'll take that fish. Don't be offended if he absently checks her cleaning job - he's not used to cooking with other people anymore.

... he doesn't have anything to cook with on him, really.

Sticks are easily whittled into spits. If Zelda wants to do anything fancier... ]

[She sees no reason to do anything fancier. Her cleaning job is thorough, nothing else would need to be done. She guts the second one, looking amused.]

I think I could eat a whole fish myself about now. You could not?

[ A moment of thought.

Yep. He can finish the whole fish. ]

Had meant if any more surface.

Ah, yes, of course. I hope I didn't kill more than that...

[She holds out the second fish for Duke to put on the spit.]

That was the first time I have tried any sort of offensive magic. It's a little frightening, to be honest.

[Zelda does not count sealing Ganondorf or creating the light arrows. She didn't take any sort of direct harmful action.]

[ Duke does so, then sits with his feet closer to the fire than the rest of him. ]

It is an alternative means for defense, protection of ones dear. Yes, while it is devastating; like all things, it is a tool for ill or good, it is also a second or first line of defense. [ A slight nod toward the sword he'd sat next to him on the ground. It's not glowing there, just a funny looking blade of white and red. ]

As a swordsman and mage both, if I am disarmed, I can turn to spells. If I am rendered incapable of casting, I turn to blade. Choices. It is still blood on hands, whether physically or no. [ Because using a sword is always messy. Duke's just figured out a way to keep more of the mess off him. ]

Perhaps why best to learn healing as well.

I suppose you're right. So long as a tool is properly wielded, it shouldn't be feared. Learning such a controlled method of magic makes me far more comfortable with the idea of offense.

[She wraps her arms around her knees and rests her head on them, looking content.]

Is swordplay difficult? I can use a bow and throwing knives, but they are both weapons meant to be used at a long range. I am somewhat defenseless if cornered.

... Many factors. How heavily armored is opponent, how skilled, swift, sturdy. Different sizes of blades have different strong points, some may be enchanted toward an element; an aid in some situations, a hindrance in others. It is something that requires all the body, not just strong arms. Keen mind aids. [ Turning those fish about, because the side closest to the flames seems near done. ]

I cannot say that I find it so; however most recent years find that I have developed a swordstyle that many would call.. cheating. Not the "cheating" that one would see in a "street fight" however... [ He rarely holds onto the blade. ] I mix magic and bladework more freely than some.

[Despite her verbosity just moments before, it seems like working up the desire to cast an offensive spell tired out the princess quite a bit. The warmth from the fire on her somewhat chilled feet has lured her into a light doze. Her breathing is slow and even. It's debatable how much of that explanation she actually heard.]

...? [ He'd been expecting a comment about that, so when he looks to seek a reason why...

ah.

It takes him an awkward moment, but old learned habits have him taking his coat off, picking a few stray white hairs from it, and settling it over her shoulders.

He doesn't quite have the same too-skinny shape now that it's off, but that's probably because his shirt is loose and hides it.

Duke will let Zelda sleep until food is done. Wouldn't want to waste the fish. ]

[She hadn't been sleeping too deeply, so the coat around her shoulders stirs her after a moment. At first she pulls it closer, but as her minds clears she figures out that:

1. She was just nodding off, and
2. This is Duke's coat.]

I'm sorry! I, ah, I didn't intend to fall asleep like that, I-I just haven't been sleeping all that well as of late...

[And his voice was soothing, but she wasn't going to say that much. It might be a throwback from the curse still, curling up against a giant purring cat and falling asleep sounded heavenly.

Except he's not a cat, he's a man, and that makes it embarrassing.]

[ And it smells like wood fire and all sorts of trees.

Duke just gives her a blank blink, and pokes the fire a little more. ]

Have notices that formula have become more tiring, here. Perhaps the unfamiliarity of it makes it more of a strain for you. [ And that over-charged one. ]

[It's probably mostly the overcharged one.]

Still, it was quite rude of me to fall asleep after asking you a question. I apologize.

[Still embarrassed but not overwhelmingly so, she takes the coat off and folds it neatly, holding it back out to him.]

Thank you.

No need. [ To apologize. If you're tired, you're tired.

Ah, yes, his coat. He'll shift a little further away from the fire and put that back on, before offering her one of the fish. ]

Perhaps best to not continue today.

[She takes the fish on the stick and bows her head in a brief and silent prayer, managing to eat it delicately despite the fact that it's... well, a fish on a stick.]

That might be for the best. I would love to continue another time, though.

[Zelda has a feeling she should get home anyway. Oh, if only she knew the trouble Zelos was going to cause her tonight!]

.... After, perhaps. [ Is that a mildly guilty look at the basket of books? They got so very sidetracked.

It was a very good sidetracked, though. Very interesting. Not delicate, his eating of the fish, but there will be no mess at all. ]

Should not take me long. [ But he's going to spend tomorrow helping people garden, shhh. Breaks from magic are good. ]

Perhaps a reverse - if you can find a way to describe how you do so to someone with no experience in... perhaps freeform would be apt?

[It was a wonderful sidetracked, Zelda hasn't had that much fun since arriving in Vatheon. She lights up at his suggestion.]

Of course! I will endeavor to make it as easy to understand as possible. You've been a wonderful teacher so far, Duke.

[ How...

What?

No, he's just confusing and she's already good at magic... or good at dealing with formula, its close enough in his case and...

This is an uncomfortable Duke. It's not complete with drawing his shoulders up, but he is very purposefully paying attention to the fire now.

How does he react to people saying good things about him, to him? He doesn't really... know? Remember? It's.. been a while. . . .

Say something in return. That he can do, right? ]

You are very quick at applying the things... I try to explain.

Thank you. I think it took an embarrassing amount of time to get used to offensive spells, though.

[Having finished her fish off, she drops the stick into the fire and stands to get her things.]

I'll come see you on a day that I'm less tired, alright? You live in the forest - correct?

... No reason to find a lack of will to injure others for no reason to be embarrassing.

[ And tending that fire so it will burn away remains and then die on its own. Duke gathers the basket back up. ]

Correct. May be easier for me to find you, however.... [ He'll pass word among the squirrels or something. ]

Aid to find the edge?

[Zelda puts her shoes back on, glancing up at him with a small smile.]

I paid attention on the way in, so I do not particularly require it - but I don't mind the company if you were headed that way.

[If he doesn't come along, she'll probably traverse most of the forest as Sheik. Skirts were cumbersome sometimes.]

... Part of the way. [ A hint that his home isn't particularly far from the way in, or maybe he just takes different paths all the time.

Right. His shoes.

Since they've been working on magic together, Duke doesn't think much of setting the basket to floating as he proceeds with the slightly awkward looking set of motions that is dusting feet off, then putting socks and boots on while standing. When had Dein Nomos vanished? good question. ]

[Glancing to the floating basket, she laughs.]

I don't know why I didn't think of that on the way in. I should have! My arms are likely to be sore, now.

[It doesn't seem like she's particularly bothered by the fact. Her female body needs to get more strenuous exercise, anyway.]

... Mostly to hold onto it while hands are otherwise occupied. [ Although a couple of birds have decided the handle is a good place to rest, so he doesn't take it in hand again. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

Aww Duke, you're using complete sentences!

Gasp!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

My sister read this and said "and then Zelda/Duke starts happening"

It's definitely a possibility. He won't be rid of her now, he knows too many shiny things

And now she smiles |D

MOD UPDATE THOUGHT BUBBLES OMG

THOUGHT BUBBBLLEEESSS

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject