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

[neverbeamemory]

[After a week of complete powerlessness, Sephiroth's powers are transitioning into real ones. However, this is at a rate by no means in his own control; some times he might go an entire day without feeling at all above the human level he was last week, sometimes he might feel confident enough to go hunting for monsters within the more dangerous levels of the Tower - only to then have just managed to get out of harms way when they failed again.

As such, if his powers were projecting his presence somehow, or if it was simply the strong-willed way that he holds himself - Sephiroth wouldn't know.

He too recognizes Zelda by a concise description provided, coupled with a fleeting glance in an elevator almost an entire year ago. It seems, from what he has been told, that she has replaced knights with worker units of the Tower now. An odd thought, one that draws a raised eyebrow as the Princess finishes playing, puts her harp down and addresses him.]

Just curious. Music is seldom heard in this place.

[He makes a point to unfold his arms and lower them to his sides, it's bad body language and he too doesn't want to seem confrontational given his unstable condition.]

Even if the acoustics hardly do it justice.

[sageprincess]

[6'1" men with long silver hair and severe expressions tend to turn heads regardless of powerset.]

Music demands spirit and life from its source. It is hardly surprising there would be a lack in a place that seems only to breed death and violence.

[Even she fell far enough into despair once that she refused to play. Whether she managed to claw her way back up from rock bottom or simply broke her way through to the other side is still up for debate. Her own body language remains formally pleasant - at least Sephiroth doesn't seem to feel the need to gloat or deride his conversation partners right off the bat like Ganondorf tends to.]

So it is indeed a shame this lively haven was not built with acoustics in mind, but I suppose beggars cannot be choosers.

[neverbeamemory]

[Naturally-

Though really, he's not much of an opinion on music other than it's a pastime which requires equal parts skill and imagination. Still, he might have argued that it's the musician that demands the music from the instrument but it's really a matter of opinion and he's not a musician.

A light shrug follows, rounded armor on his shoulders rolling a little with the motion. Indeed, Zelda seems pleasant enough; moreover she's polite - conductive to keeping his temper cool. Sephiroth breaks his gaze from the Princess and regards the units gathered around once more with a caution that is trying to comprehend.]

Bitter as the truth is. They seem to be entertained, at least.

so sorry about how late this is! writing block issues are terrible augh

[sageprincess]

It does not take much, admittedly.

[Despite herself, a slight note of fondness makes its way into her tone. It's not the first time she's encountered what may as well be children in adult bodies. Though the roles of 'guide' and 'guided' have been reversed this time around.]

Who would have thought worker and retrieval units were so curious under that blank facade.

/bows - as I said, will backtag til it dies

[neverbeamemory]

[That lift of fondness seems to fit like it had been some missing element of Zelda's dialog beforehand. Sephiroth's interest is pricked at lightly, but many it seemed thought more of these 'freed' units than he ever will; he's seen at least one other person name and even decorate their personally assigned supervisor.

Sephiroth's own assigned unit seems now to be lingering nearby as well. Himself, turns his attention across those units gathered around, green eyes narrowed resentfully but at least appearing to try to humor Zelda's suggestion. Not seeing the curiosity that Zelda hints at, and not really wanting to know what else hides beneath the skin of their good intentions either.]

I don't see it.