a light in the dark

[sageprincess]

Characters: Zelda and you!
Setting: In and around Room 1-09 and the new secret room, backdated
Format: Action to start, will switch if prose is preferred
Summary: Not letting the fact she's been in this place for two full years get her down, Zelda hangs up her regain and then plays music for the chipped units.
Warnings: None!

January 1st, Room 1-09
[Room 1-09 is typically one of the quieter dorms given the fact its sole occupant (for now) is on the calmer side (at least, externally). But about half-way through the first day of the new year there is quite a bit of noise coming from the Princess' room in the form of hammer-like banging. Investigating will reveal it's exactly what it sounds like: Zelda stands on her knees at the head of her bed, driving a nail into the wall with a hammer borrowed from the workshop. At the foot of her bed, leaning up against her trunk, is a large framed map, presumably the gift she received from Aria.

Later, once she's done preparing the wall, comes hanging the map up. Except... the thing is actually pretty heavy, and its size makes it unwieldy for Zelda alone. So, friendly faces passing through the first dormitory floor may be stopped momentarily by the Princess peeking her head out of her room and a question.]

Excuse me, would you mind assisting me for a moment? It will not take very long, I promise.

Any day after the explosion, the secret room on Floor 101
[The completion of the collar fluid research also means having a bit more downtime than the past six or so months has allowed. And after finding Aria's new home in the secret room, well...

Aria chose that name for a reason.

Those that enter the new area will likely hear Zelda, or rather, Zelda's harp, before they see her, seated as she is with a modest audience of confused but curious chipped retrieval and worker units around her. The spartan, metallic surroundings mean the melodies she plucks from her harp echo somewhat oddly, but she plays on regardless. It's a pleasant, if somewhat nostalgic use of her free time, she thinks.]

Comments

[sageprincess]

[She nods, letting her fingertips graze across the frame.]

Mm, this is the map Impa had hanging up in her house. It is not the most detailed rendering of Hyrule, but...

[If there's one thing that's remained constant, that's remained true against all the Tower has thrown at her, it has been her desire to see Hyrule flourish and thrive once again. And this is hardly an adequate replacement, but... for this moment, she feels a little less distanced from the land she has always devoted herself to.

The fact that she knows the one who made it is not trying to make her suffer through her memories of home also probably helps her mood.]

[faithstaynight]

But it is still close enough that it is a great comfort.

[If she wasn't the person she was, Ruler might've been a bit jealous. After all, the only gift she ever received from those within the tower was a package containing the burnt shards of her funeral pyre.

But she could never feel that way. Not when someone - not just her friend - is so happy to have a reminder of home. So she leans a bit closer, examining the painting.]

Will you tell me about all these areas?

[sageprincess]

[She nods once, subdued, reflective almost, but then her exuberance returns in force when Ruler asks about Hyrule, and she nods again. There's little hesitation in which place she chooses to describe first; her finger immediately moves from the frame to the northernmost point of the map.]

This is where Hyrule Castle once stood. It overlooked Castle Town, which was once the busiest population center in Hyrule.

[Then, a little quieter, shyly but nostalgically:]

I remember sneaking out of the castle when I was a girl in order to play games at the market. Impa was never amused, but... I always thought it was worth it.

[faithstaynight]

Sneaking away from the castle? My my, Zelda, I wouldn't have imagined you were such a troublemaker as a child.

[Ruler lets out a soft laugh at that.] Though it is quite good to see that you haven't lost that rebellious streak. Though some may disagree, it can be a good trait to have.

[sageprincess]

[Her shyness dissipates at the teasing, and though she lightly smacks Ruler's arm for it, the grin on her face is wide and unmissable.]

You would have too, if you had to sit through lessons in etiquette for half a day or more.

[Then, more wistfully:] They were grooming me for an era of unprecedented peace and diplomacy. I suppose it makes sense they would disagree with you on that point.

[faithstaynight]

Hm... I do believe I would have, as well. [She laughs again as Zelda smacks her.] Even before I realized my calling in life, I never was one who liked to stay in one place for too long. Always running about with my siblings, though I stayed out of trouble more than they did.

[Ruler's smile fades, only just a bit, into a look of concern.] Please forgive me for saying so, but that... almost seems a bit absurd. Even if whatever deity or deities you choose to believe in say that there will be a long era of peace... one should always be prepared for anything that might happen.

[sageprincess]

It was not so much about a predicted peace ordained by the gods, but rather... Hyrule had just come out of a long and bloody civil war when I was a child. They wished for an heiress who would be calm, steady, and level-headed, as to smooth over relations before either side had to resort to martial action.

[She sighs, a slight shrug accompanying it.]

Regardless, it is a moot point, now.

[Ganondorf saw to that.]

[faithstaynight]

... I'm sorry.

[And now Ruler's smile fades completely.] I did not mean for this to take a negative turn.