AEF INBOX

[sageprincess]

[ text | voice | action | other ]

Comments

text; 7/20 (or so?)

[futhark]

You've left your notes in class today. [ Did she left them or did he pocket them is a good question ] I'm holding them hostage. I will return them in exchange for one question answered.

I will be waiting for your decision until tomorrow's mid-day break.

[sageprincess]

[EXCUSE YOU SHE NEEDS THOSE

... damn, she needs those.]

Fine. Is it something I can answer over the watches or must it be in person?

Sometime In July, the crack of dawn

[digiorno]

bad news

his highness wakes at dawn even when very sick

worse news he is loud enough that i am also now awake

[sageprincess]

[and now she is also awake thank you giorno and by proxy ozy]

Good news, if he has that much energy then he is likely through the worst of it?

"Good" news. Possibly optimistic news.

Is he speaking sensibly at least? Or, as sensible as his "normal" is, anyway.

Action (sort of) early August

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Zelda will find a small package with a necklace inside of it. It features a cameo pendant with a metal bird skull mounted on it.

An unsigned note accompanies it that simply reads:

"You were in the way. It wasn't personal." ]

Aguril 8

[futhark]

[ With celebration taking most of the Aguril beginning, it kind of made it harder to sneak back on time into the Coven lessons again. Someone took longer vacations for most of classes (he couldn't access his magic fully with the limiters anyway so)

That someone required one day at Evocation to notice that one (1x) Princess is not having home-made lunch. One day is an accident, two days are a coincidence, three... three are a pattern

So on the 8th of Aguril he approaches one (1x) Princess holding two [(1), (2)] lunch boxes. ]

Hey, it's been a while. I got something for you. [ Caster says as it's just the most obvious thing in the world and puts the boxes on Zelda's table. One of the boxes contain more meat and is generally simpler, the other one has handcrafted stuff like those local, carrot-like vegetables cut into freaking flowers, complete with edible flowers.

There is no kill like overkill when it comes to Archer cooking. All that he had to say was "Hey, could you make a lunch for that girl in my class too" and that's what he gets. ]

[sageprincess]

[This... is unexpected. Zelda looks up from her notes at the boxes with no small amount of surprise, blinking owlishly as though they conjured themselves out of thin air right in front of her. And with the voice that accompanies them, she is reminded all too much of Litha, causing just the very tips of her ears to redden as they turn downwards slightly in question.]

... Whatever for?

[They do look delicious, each in their own way, but she has to wonder. What does he want? What's the catch? There's gotta be a catch.]

text. 10/1 at . . . like 6 am. whoops.

[digiorno]

[She'll likely have felt it, whether or not she was conscious at the time: alarm first, fear (of missing something? of being wrong? of doing something incorrectly? all of the above?), excitement and concern and a fierce protectiveness tumbling one after the other until they all land in a pile of exhausted relief. It's a strange shift from the penetrating loneliness of previous days, especially the last couple of weeks, that the contrast is surely startling.]

[The message he sends, in contrast, is startlingly (disingenuously) calm.]

good morning. sorry about the early hour. this isn't time-sensitive, but when you have a moment, could i speak to you?

[Nailed it.]

the mortifying ordeal of having a nocturnal bonded

[sageprincess]

[You know what.

Yes, it's startling. Yes, he's hiding something behind the veneer of nonchalance. But is she going to attempt to decipher what the hell all of it means before the sun has even come up? After the month they've all had?

No. No, she is not.]

is this something that needs to be talked about in person or will the watches suffice

[Punctuation is for people who have had eight hours of sleep.]

action, 11/8

[thejoyrider]

[Was Zelda, by any chance planning to completly ignore the masquerade and remain in her room, possibly practicing her magic during that time? Not on Marie's watch. Zelda will not be doing any studying today, the tiny Queen of France will make sure of that!

So there she was, dressed in an extravagant and heavily decorated red dress, knocking on the other woman's door. She was holding a package for the other queen which she initially was just going to leave at Zelda's doorstep, but it would be better to stay and make sure everythin goes according to plan. Just in case]

Are you in there? I know you are! It's time to get ready for the masquerade!

[sageprincess]

[She was, indeed, planning to ignore the masquerade several days ago. Her Bonded, however, quickly squashed any hopes of doing that, because Marie is not the only funtime bully that she knows. An elegant, if conservative and on the simpler side, suit lays spread out upon her bed as she opens the door, though the princess herself doesn't show many signs of being in a big rush to prepare for the event.

Her eyes widen as she takes in Marie's outfit. Someone certainly goes hard on parties like this.]

My goodness, what a gorgeous dress you've found, Lady Marie!

[...]

... Ah, but it is still a few hours away, is it not? [She... doesn't think she'll need quite as much preparation...]

masque overflow; edelgard

[sageprincess]

My, it sounds as though you fought a fearsome foe, indeed. [Her raised brows emphasize her surprise as Edelgard describes the goal of her war.] I can hardly fathom an enemy that utilizes faith as a weapon...

[The Goddesses are so removed from Hyrule, and yet their machinations are so evident, that the idea is one she has a hard time wrapping her head around. But it is a rather heavy topic, even if it seems Edelgard's story has a happy ending, and so Zelda shifts the conversation in a direction that will hopefully match the tone of this night of festivity a little better.]

Well, it is good to hear you have allies you trust to act in your absence. [Especially since she... doesn't.] Could I ask you to tell me more of your Fodlan, and the future you wish to see for it?

[unyieldingmarch]

It was mostly a creature, a dragon, masquerading as a God and the Divine. She built a cult up around herself, and dragons live for many thousands of years, so you can understand how she was able to do this.

[Edelgard's voice is light and steady, though she catches the twist in conversation and easily pivots with it. As easily as she gently dips Zelda down at one step, and pulls her back up at the next.]

The future I wish to see is a future where all men and women are able to succeed based upon their merits, not their blood. I know it may sound strange for a royal to say this, but I intend to dismantle the nobility and institute a system where people are given opportunities they do not have. The nobility of Fodlan has become corrupt, in part thanks to the faith created by my enemy.

I would see a brighter future for all, Zelda. Where anyone with the will and drive to study can live a happy life.

modranicht gift!

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias' gift for Zelda comes wrapped in blue and gold, identifying the sender quite easily despite that said wrapping seems to demonstrate a greater restraint when it comes to grandeur when compared to...well, almost everything Ozymandias does. As one might expect from him, however, he bucks the tradition of a handmade, crafted gift and instead, he's purchased for Zelda a coat fitted perfectly to her. It is not quite warm enough for the current weather, but it will no doubt prove useful as the snow ends and the temperature begins its slow ascent in the spring.]

[The coat, he thinks, is a fair compromise as far as tastes are concerned. He knows Zelda wouldn't likely accept something more aligned to his preferences when it comes to fashion, but he also cannot quite bring himself to gift her something that is a plain black or white. Hence why it's a solid color without any particular embellishments but not too drab.]

modranicht gift

[futhark]

[ Caster's gift in the box he presents is a filigree ear cuff, carefully modeled to fit the unusual ear shape that Zelda possess. The stones that dots it are not crystals but polished colorful small pieces of agate, incredibly rare thing in Aefenglom— that's a stone that assists with seeing things for what and where they truly are as Cú will explain.

They're not magically enchanted, instead, their own natural property is to be highly helpful in divination, even to the point of being used as a conduit

(And yes, the Wilder pendant they accidentally used back when in Dorchacht to track the enchantment... that was made of agate). ]

modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[Inside her room Zelda shall find a flower pot decorated with green fabric and bow of blue ribbon. It has white lilies growing inside. Next to it, she would find a plate of cookies Marie made by herself and a selection of hairbands Marie picked at the market to help Zelda with distractions during her study time]

backdated modranicht gift!

[scatmaam]

[ Scathach is giving Zelda two things!

The first is a handmade perfume, derived from oil essences. The primary scents are ash, cloves, and pine. The scents of 'darkness' that they both associate the other with.

The second is a leather charm, made into woven knots, depicting three Triquetra arranged in the same pattern as the Triforce. She hasn't asked why that symbol she's seen around Zelda is sacred, but her intuition knows that is, and she's unified it with a symbol considered sacred to her own people. The charm has its own scent from the oils used to process it; namely of scotch and sea salt. ]

2/29

[lucubrates]

[ She considers how to write this for a good few minutes. There may be people she has dropped formalities with, but someone familiar with Hyrule is a little more difficult to do that for. ]

Princess Zelda,
I would like to see you this evening if possible. I recently asked a person to be my first bond, and would like to ask questions about the formalities from your perspective. The knowledge I can accrue from books can only go so far in this particular area.

Additionally, I have preference for meeting you at either of our homes. I would be happy to host you at my cabin if you would like.

HRH Princess Zelda of Hyrule

[sageprincess]

[Ah... that looks a little silly, doesn't it? They said they were going to try to be more casual around each other, but that... ended up being a little complicated, and easier said than done. Which feels like something of a theme, though she doesn't want it to be. Even if a part of her is still guilt-ridden, a little spark of joy bubbles up in her chest to see the future princess asking her for advice.

Maybe she should... take... initiative? Baby steps.]

Zelda,

As I understand it, each ceremony is as unique as the pair that enacts it, but I would be happy to speak of my experiences with the whole process if it would help you. Miss Nerissa and her Coven mean well, but I understand their perspectives can sometimes be... unhelpful to those of us less familiar with the concept.

[aka they were pushy as all hell a few months ago and it rubbed her in all the wrong ways]

If you would send the directions to your cabin, I can be there within the hour, if it suits you.

- Zelda

text; 3/5ish

[arturiarex]

Lady Zelda,

A mutual acquaintance of ours suggested I contact you regarding a potential room. I am currently searching for a place to live beyond the barracks.

I look forward to your response.

-Saber

[sageprincess]

[Everyone's being so formal in their text messages recently...]

Saber,

You must be the one Shadow spoke of, then. With her vouching for you, I can hardly say I have any immediate objections. If you would like, you are welcome to stop by and see if the rooms we have available are to your liking.

I shall send directions on how to get here from the Coven momentarily. So long as I receive some prior notice before your arrival, I am flexible with whatever time works best for you.

- Zelda

[And, as promised, the directions pop up on Saber's watch a moment later, ye olde google maps style.]

text;

[whydogs]

Hey.

You're Zelda, right?

[sageprincess]

[Oh, this is a surprise.]

Yes, that is correct. How can I help you?

juril 5, lunar eclipse

[digiorno]

[The circus . . . is pretty silly. Giorno doesn't say it, though, not unless Zelda says it first. There's something to be said for preserving the — well, the mystique. Even if it's silly mystique, even if it's juvenile and inconsequential, even if the whole thing is a scam overlaid by bright colors and flashing lights so thinly that one can still see its bones, it doesn't really matter. It's all right not to pick everything apart to the bone.]

[Although he likely wouldn't be thinking that way if he were here with someone other than Zelda. He's aware more keenly with her than with anyone else how strictly she holds herself apart from simple joys, as minor as sweets or as major as companionship. Some of his insight is due to the Bond. Some of it is just because he's looking in a mirror when he looks at her in the right light. Self-denial is easy to see in someone else once you've done it to yourself for long enough.]

[So he won't question the circus. He wants her to enjoy it. He'd like to see her smile a little, maybe. And he doesn't slide his hand into hers as the Sisters begin to darken, but the thought is a loud one.]

[Instead:]

I'm glad this happened after dark. So I could come with you. [Soft and thoughtful, as the show comes to a close. They're lingering on the edge of the crowd, although they've certainly paused too long to pretend they weren't watching. There's still some somersaulting happening, it seems.] Otherwise they might have gotten you up on stage and sawed you in half.

[Oh my God, Giorno.]

[sageprincess]

[The circus is very silly. Her eyes are too keen to not notice the moments where sleight of hand is employed over pure magic; her mind has been sharpened too much to be fooled by the distractions the actors use to disguise their tricks. But it's novel, as most silly things are to her, and interesting to see how these rogues have honed their farcical craft, and she feels comfortable enough with Giorno to indulge, just a little. She particularly likes the acrobats - the sparkle in her eyes betrays her in this as they linger instead of moving on.

But Giorno's quiet, gentle words pull her attention away, brows raised and lips parted with mild surprise at the sudden sincerity... until he ruins it, and she can't help rolling her eyes a bit instead.]

Ah, yes, how fortunate. You would have to carry my torso around on our walks if that was the case. I doubt it would be good for your back.

[You terrible, terrible boy. She's learning dark humor thanks to you.]