riverviewlogs | [open] february catch all

Entry tags:

[open] february catch all

who: Zelda and you
what: catch all + TDM prompt
when: late January through all of February
where: various places
warnings: none

a. gramarye magic research

[A job. Zelda's never truly had one before, not in this capacity. She was born into the role of princess and had done her duty all her life, but it wasn't a profession she chose. She counts herself fortunate that the Field Researcher job she was offered rang true to the passions in her heart. If she had been anyone else, free to choose what she did in life... it might easily have been something like this.

So she was excited to get started at Gramarye, and be shown to her office. It was then that she realised this office used to belong to someone else. And she discovered quickly that they had left behind filing. A lot of filing. She's not averse to reading and sorting paperwork, but it's been so haphazardly stacked around the place that she has to start from scratch.

Much of her first few days is spent organising, as a result. She pulls folders out of cabinets, skims through the records, and loads up boxes with items that don't belong in here. It's common enough to find her marching out into the corridors with another box in her arms, heading for the archives while muttering under her breath about the mess.]

It really should have been moved months ago... did they never do any filing at all?

b. shopping

[Sturdy as her travel clothes are, Zelda needs more than one outfit. She sets out into the shopping districts in the evenings, armed with her pay and a determination to get at least a week's worth of clothing. She wends her way in and out of stores, picking through the wares and seeking out something practical.

Easier said than done. More than once she finds herself standing in the aisles with a printed blouse or a pair of jeans in her hands with a feeling of abject confusion. She turns to whoever is closest with a question.]

Excuse me, but... do you know if these pockets are meant to open?

c. library

[Reading through the guides at work isn't enough for Zelda. On the weekends she heads to the public library, notebook in hand and eager in spirit. It's a comfort to be among the stacks of books, all neatly ordered and waiting to be read. The library doesn't look much like the one in Hyrule Castle, but it reminds her of that cherished place all the same, just from its purpose.

She flits around the library in the afternoons, picking books off the shelves and reading at one of the desks by the windows. She also badgers the librarian for information - a lot. Someone save the poor woman from these endless questions.]

d. wildcard

[If you have another place you'd like to find Zelda, hit me up at

dudemeister or on PM! She's a busy bee and would check out everything.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Part of being good at disguises is understanding fashion. Ergo, it makes perfect sense for Katsura to be stalking around the clothing store like he's one a hunt for bargains. He's actually walking past the women's section when Zelda speaks (he'd finished riffling through it earlier), but he turns his head readily enough all the same. The question catches him a little off guard, but given the way his expression immediately sours and he scoffs in response, it's clearly a familiar subject. ]

No, they aren't.

[ He reaches out to take the pair of jeans from Zelda, trying to suss out which of the pockets are sewn shut. It's probably the back ones again, isn't it? Those bastards. ]

Apparently you're meant to buy a bag if you want to carry anything else with you - as if there's never a need to keep a low profile!

[ He speaks like that's not a weird thing to say. Explanation given he huffs, then holds the jeans back out to Zelda. He's pulling the edge of the pocket away from the rest of the pants so she can see the little row of switches holding the two together. ]

If you rip out these stitches, sometimes there's an actual pocket inside - but I wouldn't buy them on principle.

[Zelda blinks with surprise as the jeans are whisked out of her hands. They aren't meant to open?]

But then - why go to the trouble of sewing a pocket in if they don't work?

[She doesn't see what the point could possibly be. It just seems... frustrating. Though it's clear Katsura also finds it equally annoying, given his reply. Tilting her head a bit at his comment about the bag, she doesn't find it quite as strange as the jeans themselves. Bags were useful when travelling, after all. She even has a pouch on her belt for such purposes.

She furrows her brow at the stitching around the back pockets when he holds them back out, as though this might pierce their mystery. When she sees what he means, her eyes widen with surprise.]

How absurd. Making something and then rendering it unworkable like this... I don't see why anyone should bother.

Not even the store attendants seem to know. It's ridiculous, right?

[ He offers the jeans back to Zelda. She can buy them if she wants, but he certainly isn't going to spend money on pants with fake pockets. Also, this pair probably won't fit. ]

But it seems like most stores here do the same thing. They make clothes less practical to make them more 'fashionable', instead of just keeping the fashionable clothes and practical clothes separate.

[ Katsura is used to there being a pretty clear line between 'clothes you wear to look nice' and 'clothes you wear for daily life'. For the line between the two to get so blurry is pretty odd to him. ]

[Taking the jeans in hand, she feels even less certain about them than before. It's not as though the pants she already owns have pockets... but they don't have foolish ornamental ones either.]

I wouldn't have thought pants like this would be considered fashionable to begin with. They look more like practical clothing to me. It's why I was looking at them.

[She's already found dresses that are suitable for more formal occasions. This, she had hoped, would be better for her actual work. Zelda purses her lips then puts the jeans back on the table.]

Though a bag would also be useful. Just not as a substitute for a pocket.

You should be careful of bags you find in stores like this, too.

[ So long as they're on the subject, he may as well give her a similar warning. ]

Plenty of them are made of poor materials, or only hold a few objects or once, and some of them look like they're water proof or made of leather but actually aren't. You're better off storing things in your sleeves than using some of them.

[ This world's fashion is dumb. Everything is so deceptive. And to illustrate his last point he lifts a hand and sways his kimono sleeve back and forth. Indeed, the bottom-most potion of his sleeve swings with a sort of heaviness that implies there's something more than fabric in there.

[She takes that all in, with an ever-deepening furrow between her brows.]

I see... they're all made for appearances, then, rather than actual use.

[The kind of things she would have seen among the noble women of the court. But those were so obviously separate from utility gear that it's still baffling to consider others might want to pretend at function like this.]

Is it just this store, or would there be places that sell items meant for stronger use?

[ Katsura nods, maybe a little more enthusiastically than possible. It's so dumb, he's glad Zelda understands.

He's also glad Zelda is asking a question he can help her with. He nods, turning to point back towards the shop entrance. ]

There are stores for camping and sporting on this same street. The supplies they sell there are more durable. Some of them even look aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

[ Making the whole fake pockets thing even dumber than before. ]

[She perks up at that, to hear there's a better store with more suitable items for sale. Camping is familiar to her as well.]

I hadn't thought of that. I'm used to camping, so hopefully the items in there are closer to what I'm used to.

[Offering a hand to Katsura, she smiles again, glad to be back on track.]

My name is Zelda.

[ Ahh, it's good to be helpful. Katsura smiles as well, reaching out to take Zelda's hand and give it a shake. ]

Katsura. It's good to meet you.

[ And since this store is clearly a waste of time, Katsura withdraws his hand and gestures to the street again. ]

I haven't been here long, but I at least know where the other stores are. I can show you, if you like.

Oh, if you could, I'd appreciate it. I find the layout here quite distracting at times.

[Which is the point, of course. Drawing people in with shiny racks of wares and sale signs. She's not used to such gaudy tactics.]

[ Fortunately, Katsura isn't aware that store use that particular tactic to get people browsing longer, either, so Zelda is spared another indignant rant. For now, at least.

But that's lucky in more way than one, too. It means they can have an actual conversation as they walk. ]

If the fashion here is strange to you then you must be another outsider, right? What sort of world are you from?

[She follows along after him, nodding her head.]

I am, yes. My world is known as Hyrule. The technology there isn't so advanced as here, and everything is much more spread out. We don't have any cities of this size at all.

[Maybe they will again, someday, now that the Calamity is past. But that will take time.]

Are you an outsider yourself?

[ Huh. That sounds like it could be said of almost anywhere - he's certainly run into more people that find this place unusual than not.

As for himself, he nods. ]

I am. I come from a place called Edo. The way you describe Hyrule sounds like what Edo was like when I was child. [ There's a brief pause before he adds, blandly ] But then aliens invaded. Cities and technology advanced rapidly after that.

Aliens...?

[She's not overly familiar with the term, but she can figure it out through context.]

I'm sorry to hear about the invasion. Our world had advanced technology long ago, but it's been thousands of years since anyone has known how to make it.

[ Katsura nods. ]

Aliens. Creatures that came from another world to seize control of ours. We call them Amanto.

[ No big deal, right? Katsura certainly seems more interested in Zelda's world than his own. Especially the mention of lost technology. ]

Something cataclysmic must have happened for that technology to be lost.

[ Sounds like something out of a video game. ]

And they are still in charge?

[It doesn't sound like an agreeable situation to her. But Katsura himself seems unperturbed by it all.]

It's possible, yes. There have been a few events like that in the past. Some of the technology remains, and we managed to get it operational again.

[ If she's around him enough, Zelda might figure out that Katsura seems incredibly chilled out about most things. As it is, his expression changes when she asks if the Amanto are still in charge, sliding into a frown, but even then it's mild enough to look more thoughtful than anything. ]

They are - but not for much longer.

[ And in that, at least, he sounds confident. Then he moves on. ]

It could still function after thousands of years...?

[ That's... fascinating, actually. ]

[How curious. At least it seems that something might be done about it soon.]

Will there be some kind of uprising...? After years spent like that, I wouldn't be surprised.

[Zelda nods energetically, always keen to talk about her area of interest.]

They do, it's quite remarkable. We haven't been able to work out what the power sources are made of even though we pulled some of the pieces apart. But to still be working after thousands of years, it must be incredibly resilient. I'm hoping that I can find out more about it here, since there is a lot of information about technology that I wouldn't be able to get at home.

[ Zelda gets a nod in response to her question about the uprising, but this time Katsura doesn't elaborate. Those are details for another time, maybe.

Instead he seems focused on what she explains about her world. Knowing about weird ancient technology from a place he's never going to visit doesn't do him an abundance of good, but learning about Zelda's talents does. ]

So you're a researcher yourself, then? I've heard the resources here are extraordinary, even given the circumstances.

Yes, I suppose you could say that. [She wouldn't define herself that way at home, if only because 'princess' must come first. But here, she doesn't mind.] And they are. Even just the library has a huge range of material on technology and engineering that I've never seen before. It's quite different from trying to work it all out yourself.

[ Truthfully, even hearing that she's more of a princess than a researcher wouldn't be that unusual to Katsura. He knows some strange people. ]

I'll be sure to seek you out if I have any questions, then.

[ He sounds like he means it, too. Before eh can comment on it further, though, he lifts a hand to point at a particular store that has a variety of camping gear on display in the front window. ]

Here we are.

Oh - of course, I'd be happy to help. If I can.

[She isn't quite ready to claim superior knowledge on anything in the Quarantine. Far from it. But she's sincere in wanting to help if Katsura was to ask. Zelda turns to look where he's pointing, eyes widening a bit at the sight of the camping store.]

That does look more like what I'm used to. At the least it doesn't look so flimsy.

[Unlike Zelda, Elizabeth was going through the library with more of a purpose. On patrol, the creatures they guarded against were unlike anything she'd seen before. Going up against any obstacle without study was foolhardy and suicidal; she needed to know what they were dealing with before she could be of any help to the squad.

She had several bestiary books with her, as well as a notebook and pen when she came across the young lady seeming to pester the librarian with question.] I believe this library is open for public use, you should not have to go through every book so soon in one day.

[She had approached the librarian for a third time today - hopefully the last - with questions about whether the archaeology section would be receiving any new items soon. It isn't that she's read everything in there yet. It's more that she's just so keen to know.

When Elizabeth ventures over, Zelda is a little taken aback. The librarian, relieved, scurries off to help another customer.]

Well - yes, of course. I do know that. I've even gotten one of those cards that lets you borrow things to take home. It's very helpful though to ask the staff what they know when the opportunity arises.

[Elizabeth followed the woman as she walked away, noting the relieved expression on her face.] Indeed, but I think there are others who need just as much help. The librarian cannot be in more two places at once, after all.

[She looked at the books the woman was holding.] Just, what exactly are you trying to research?

Edited 2018-02-08 20:12 (UTC)

[Belatedly Zelda realises she might - just might - have been monopolising the poor staffer's time. How embarrassing. Stepping away from the counter, she has the grace to look a bit contrite, nodding at Elizabeth's assessment.]

You're right. I hadn't considered that. I should work out how to use the 'computer' search system, but I'm still getting used to the machines.

[In some ways it was similar enough to the Sheikah Slate she has hooked into her belt... but in others it's vastly different. Typing was a slow process that Zelda found annoying so far, if only for her own lack of skill.]

At the moment I'm trying to find out about the basics of rail travel. Have you seen the trains here? [She shuffles the books around, pulling out one about the history of locomotives.] We don't have anything like them in Hyrule, so I'm curious about how they work.

[She supposed the woman was justified in that. The 'computer system' was confusing, and she had to spend an entire two days reading on just how to understand them. To say nothing of learning about every other mechanization.]

I have, but I must confess I have not heard of any place called Hyrule. [To hear the woman's accent, she assumed she must've been from England, or at the very least one of the colonies.] As for the machines..vehicles..I am as curious as the next person newly arrived, but I have other things I need to read on.

[Learning about trains and electricity was all well and good, but she could read about them at her leisure. Learning of the creatures they might find outside the wall too presidence.]

[Zelda takes that in stride, not surprised. She's yet to find anyone else besides Link who knows of Hyrule.]

That's all right. I think I may be one of only two people here who come from there. Where are you from?

[She gathers the books back against her chest, curious as ever about what people might be reading for their own benefit.]

Well, there is plenty of time to get to everything, as you said. I know that when I arrived I focused more on work notes than general interest.

[She opened her mouth to say Meryton, but if she didn't know Hyrule, than likely she wouldn't recognize towns in England.] The country of England, though I do not know if you have heard of it either.

[There was some relief in that, however strange it was.] I have been trying to learn about the various creatures outside of the walls. As part of the guard, our duty is to defend against them, but to go against any opponent without even basic knowledge is akin to suicide.

[Even with beasts, what might work against one might not against another-and from what she had researched, such a misstep could be fatal.

I haven't, no. [It's the same with any other places she's been told about, so it's easy enough to admit she doesn't know of England.] Though I always like to hear about people's homes.

You're with the Perimeter Guard then? That sounds like a sensible thing to do. Are any of your fellow guard members able to tell you about the creatures as well?

After they inquired about..job skills..[Just the thought of even being asked made her smirk just slightly. Her family may have not been gentry, but there was still no need for she or her sisters to find employment.] They thought I would be a perfect addition to the guard, of which I was both shocked and yet not entirely surprised.

[She knew of her own skills of course, but to actually be allowed even if she was a woman, that part did surprise her.]

Some, no doubt, especially the more senior members I imagine, especially on weaknesses, but not all of them and not everything that would be useful to know.

[Advice from experience was useful, but not everyone had the same experiences.]

Was it surprising to be asked? I must admit, I've never been asked whether I would like a job before... I find it exciting to have one.

[Being a princess was role enough back home, and encompassed too much to ever really pursue anything else. Not that her father would have allowed it in any case.]

Of course. With something like the Guard, I imagine pooling everyone's knowledge is of benefit. But having a foundation of local knowledge like the books can offer is also very useful.

Yes. The only way a woman could get a job in my world is if her family runs a business or she is forced to take employment under a great family. [Her family didn't run a business, but she would rather seek employment as a lady-bodyguard than risk an unhappy marriage.]

Most of the important knowledge is collected on file, but only..[She tried to think of how to describe the notes.] Only the most important notes are collected. I am more curious about biology, habitat, ways to track the creatures down or read the signs that they have been in the area.

[Zelda blinks, surprised. That sounded quite restrictive compared to her own world.]

Is that so... women do a number of jobs where I'm from. In fact, the Gerudo people are entirely women, and so they do everything you could think of.

[She nods, understanding Elizabeth's desire for more detailed knowledge.]

You want something more specific. It could be there are researchers or scientists who have that kind of knowledge. My own job is to examine things in the field beyond the wall, though I haven't gotten started on that aspect yet. Some people are experts at tracking animals as well.

[She doesn't know how to respond to that, torn between jealousy and wondering if the woman is just that naive. That she was just as a stranger to other worlds and cultures was likely of course, but she could not think that everyone was as like as the other.]

All women? How do they..how do they reproduce? Do they kidnap men for when they wish to breed? [The chinese were not so taboo about reproduction as the English, so she wasn't so blind in such cases.]

I do have some ability in tracking. Perhaps it is not my strength, but it helps sharpen the senses. What has your research found thus far?

Oh no, nothing like that! [She lifts her hands in placation, lest Elizabeth think they were fiends.] They go out and find Hylian husbands. Men aren't allowed inside Gerudo Town, but I know quite a few Gerudo would live in other places in Hyrule for a while to have families.

[And then, ultimately, most returned there with their children, only visiting their husbands occasionally. It was normal; that's what the Gerudo have done for hundreds of years. It doesn't yet occur to Zelda that others might find the whole thing strange.]

Well, I haven't yet gone outside the wall myself, but I've been going through the location information at the Institute to find places to start. I'm meant to look for evidence of magic use.

[Family was always vital for survival where she was from, so even if the women remained in the town to raise a family, them leaving didn't make sense. She couldn't understand the logic of being with a man just to start a family. At the very least, they didn't resort to kidnapping husbands, but the thought of visiting one just to breed and not simply raise a family together-frankly it all seemed like a waste.]

[She studied the woman a little longer, but it was clear she was only going by what she was told or perhaps the word of close friends who practiced such traditions; so they would clearly see nothing wrong with it.

Maybe exploring the outside would do some good. For all I would prefer reading, personal experience is sometimes the better teacher. I would take the role of bodyguard if you decide to.

Oh - that's very kind of you. [She's sincere; though Zelda has been in Riverview for a while, she hasn't been sure how to go about asking Perimetre Guard members for accompaniment. At least with Link she doesn't need to be concerned with asking, but he isn't always available.] Thank you, I might take you up on that sometime.

If you don't mind my asking, do you use a weapon of some kind?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] february catch all

( b )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

C

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject