closed.

[hylights]

Who: Zelda (hylights) & Keyleth (zephrah)
What: two young women go out on the town
When: the day after this
Where: Market District
Warning(s): none

[It was a novel experience, Zelda thought, to be waiting for a friend to spend the day with. She can't really recall ever having done such a thing in the past. Her duties kept her away from such trivial things, and her friends... those few friends she had, most of them had their own tasks to do. Twisting a lock of hair around her finger, she wonders to herself what her father would have thought of her gallivanting around a market all day instead of doing something more important. Nothing pleasant, she's sure. Blowing out a sigh, she tries to focus on today, rather than the past.

She had sent Keyleth a text message earlier, asking the other woman to meet her at the eastern entrance to the markets. That's where she is now, idling near a stall that's selling colourful bolts of fabrics. The lovely blues and greens keep drawing her eye, but she makes sure to keep checking the crowd for Keyleth.]

Comments

[zephrah]

[ Keyleth isn't hard to spot, being almost six feet tall with bright red hair and antlers. Not a lot of antlers to be spotted in the crowd, that aren't hers. More than once she's almost gotten distracted by the offerings of the market stalls, and has to remind herself how rude it is to keep someone waiting and that she can browse once she's met up with her friend.

Thankfully their eyes catch while they both scan the crowd, and Keyleth beams a smile, lifting a hand above the rest of the crowd and waving it a little as she jogs up. ]

Sorry, am I late?

[hylights]

[Zelda brightens when she sees Keyleth's wave, and returns it happily. She clasps her hands together and shakes her head.]

No, not at all. Were you able to find it all right? I'm still learning the landmarks myself.

[She gestures to the brightly decorated fabric store she has been loitering around.]

And I thought this might draw enough attention to make me easier to find.

[zephrah]

It definitely helped!

[ Keyleth suffers from Shiny Syndrome so she definitely spied the bolts of cloth first, and Zelda's presence near them soon after. ]

I kept getting distracted by the market stalls. I should really find a job so I have money to shop.

[hylights]

[She laughs a little, clasping her hands behind her back.]

I'm much the same. But I thought, we can at least look around and see what people make here. [Tilting her head, she cocks an eyebrow.] Perhaps decide what we want to buy later.

[zephrah]

That's a good idea!

[ Though Keyleth doesn't have anything in particular she needs right now, it's nice to think ahead. She clasps her hands in front of her and falls into step with Zelda. ]

I'd like to have a little house, eventually. With a cozy little sitting room. Full of my plants, and lots of fluffy pillows. Maybe by a window, where I can sit and read, or have a cup of tea.

[hylights]

[Her eyes widen a bit, and she suppresses a smile. That's miles ahead from her own thoughts, which have been practical until now.]

You have quite a solid plan already! I haven't even thought about where to live after we move from our current housing... but to have a place of your own would be wonderful. Something you can do what you like with.

[zephrah]

Daydreaming more than planning.

[ Keyleth smiles softly, a bit wistfully. ]

I've been thinking a lot about home, and how, well, this is home now. So...we need to make it home, you know?

[hylights]

That's true... I admit it's not much like where I lived at home.

[Living in a small, shared house is dissimilar from her castle chambers in nearly every way. It isn't something she resents, though. She had seen the ruin her home had become. Zelda's glance falls on a stall filled with decorative tablecloths, and she turns to run her fingers over one.]

But it would be silly to keep comparing, wouldn't it? [She looks over to Keyleth with a self-conscious smile.] I feel it would only lead to disappointment.

[zephrah]

It's not silly. We're always gonna think about home and miss it. But...

[ She smiles a little and gestures, sweeping her hands out to indicate the busy market space, the two of them, all the people around them. ]

I mean, we're alive. So's everyone up there sleeping. We've got a second chance, you know? We gotta make the best of it. And our home is never truly gone as long as we keep it in our memories.

[hylights]

[Zelda pauses with her fingers on the embroidery, then turns a warm smile on Keyleth.]

I believe that too. I want to keep it alive as much as I can... the stories, the knowledge. The memories of it all. It isn't the first time I've had to start from scratch.

[She pulls her hand back, and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.]

Then... why don't we look for something we can keep in a house? Just a small thing, so it's easy to carry. Until such time as you really bring it into a home of your own.

[zephrah]

I guess we have to start somewhere, right?

[ Having so little to their name does make it easier to relocate when the time comes--and something small can't hurt, can it? ]

What do you think, something practical or something a little more frivolous?

[hylights]

[Casting her gaze around at the stalls, Zelda taps her chin and thinks. There's so much on offer here, and certainly running the whole gamut from vital to useless. Her own inclination is to practicality... or things that spark her technical interest.]

Well, we could start with a pillow. That seems like a bit of both to me.

[zephrah]

That's a good idea! A pillow or a pretty blanket. Both practical and decorative, and will travel easily. You're really good at this, Zelda!

[ From anyone else it might sound flippant or even mocking; not from Keyleth. Keyleth is one hundred percent earnest, and shopping is hard. ]

[hylights]

Oh, thank you. [She's touched by the compliment, even if it's not something she would fuss over herself.] Only I've never done something like this before, so I'm not sure that's true.

[zephrah]

'This' being shopping, or 'this' being room decorating?

[ Keyleth pauses by a market stall to examine a few pieces of jewelry, not with any intention of purchasing, just enjoying the browsing. ]

[hylights]

[Looking over the jewelry without really seeing it, Zelda reflects on her answer. She had spoken without thinking; a bad habit to have in a princess.]

Both, I suppose. I could decorate my own room a little at home, but there were certain standards I had to keep.

[A bed used by princesses for generations. Royal bows for the mantlepiece. A desk gifted to her by her mother. There was little in her room that spoke to her own desires, besides her diary entries.]

[zephrah]

[ Zelda's experiences with royalty and responsibilities sounds much more like Percy's than Keyleth's. Keyleth's father was strict when it came to her lessons, her duties, but her personal space and her free time (what little of it there had been) had always been her own. It didn't sound like Zelda had been afforded the same freedoms. ]

Hmmm...what would you have done differently, if there hadn't been standards to keep?

[hylights]

I would have made it an extension of my study.

[She's quick to answer, though she follows it with a tiny laugh.]

Not that my research notes didn’t creep into my room anyway.

[zephrah]

[ Keyleth feels like Zelda would get along really well with Percy. They seem like they have the studious noble sort of thing in common. And she's pretty sure Percy is technically a prince.

Not that Keyleth can't relate! She can! Preparing to become the Voice of the Tempest required a lot of studies ]

What did you research?

[hylights]

[Zelda nods congenially at the stall keeper, then moves away. It wouldn't do to give him false hope of a purchase; the jewellery is a bit much for her. At Keyleth's question Zelda brightens, always eager to talk about her research.]

Oh, a great number of things, but my focus was on ancient Sheikah technology. It's been thousands of years since anyone has built the devices. We were able to piece together enough information to get some of it working, which we needed to prepare for a great calamity.

[zephrah]

Oh, wow. [ Researching ancient technology sounds incredibly cool to Keyleth. Once again, she thinks that Zelda and Percy would get along just famously. ]

So, do you like, invent things?

[hylights]

Invent...? You know, I don't think I ever have. I was so concerned with working out how to operate things that already existed.

[zephrah]

That's still really neat, though! My friend Percy likes to study things like that. Invents things of his own, too, sometimes. You'd probably like him. If he ever wakes up, I'll have to introduce you.

[hylights]

I'd like that. I'll have to introduce you to Link as well, when he wakes.

[She pauses, surveying the stall they've arrived next to. Cushions galore. With a mischievous grin, she gestures towards the table.]

Now, I think you'll definitely find something here.

[zephrah]

Ooooo!

[ Keyleth bounces up on her toes and claps her hands together eagerly, hurrying over to the stall. Her interest immediately zeros in on the jewel tones; Keyleth has always loved deep, vibrant colors best. ]

Oh, they're all so pretty! How does anyone pick?

[hylights]

[Keyleth's excitement is infectious, and Zelda finds herself eagerly perusing the cushions as well. Her eye is caught by a particularly shiny one, sewn with sequins in the shape of a bird.]

Goodness, I don't know... this one is lovely, but I don't know that I would want to sit on it.

[zephrah]

[ Keyleth is initially drawn to the shiny, and it is really pretty. But Zelda's right. Keyleth runs her hand lightly over the design and yeah, it doesn't feel all that good against skin. ]

Hmmm...maybe not something with...whatever these are on it. [ Plastic is not a thing yet in Exandria. ] I like the colors, though!

[hylights]

It's just so eye-catching.

[She thinks it would be fabric-catching as well, if someone were to sit on it. She casts her eyes over the other cushions.]

How about one with just a dye pattern?

[zephrah]

That could be nice! Or something with some nice embroidery. [ That would have a pattern but still be soft, right? In theory. If it's just thread. Keyleth meanders around for a bit, picking up a few different, brightly jewel-toned pillows and hugging them to her chest just to see how they feel. ]

[hylights]

[Zelda taps her chin, giving each cushion Keyleth picks up serious thought. When she grabs one with a bright interlocking pattern in greens, she claps her hands together.]

That one. I think it suits you.

[zephrah]

Oh, wow! It's really pretty, Zelda!

[ And, far more importantly, her friend picked it out for her, and that makes it special. ]

Okay, I'll get this one! [ Keyleth gives Zelda a quick, impulsive hug. ] What about you? You should get something, too! If not here, then somewhere else.

[hylights]

[Zelda makes a little "Oh!" when Keyleth hugs her out of the blue, but she laughs a bit. The other woman was so cheerful and friendly. It's a breath of fresh air, and something Zelda doesn't have much experience with.]

If you think so. The cushions do look nice, and I'm hoping to find another place to live eventually. It would make a good start.

[zephrah]

Yay! I'm probably not as good at this as you are, but I'll try.

[ Still hugging her selection to her chest, Keyleth goes back to browsing. ]

What colors do you you like best?

[hylights]

I'm not so adept at it, really... [She hums, thinking about it.] I used to wear mainly blue, white and gold.

[These aren't favourite colours, she knows. But they're the royal colours, and made up the entirety of her wardrobe.]

[zephrah]

Hmmm...

[ Keyleth picks up a few and rejects them one by one, then holds one up for inspection: ivory with gold brocade, and little gold tassels at the corners. ]

What about this one?

[hylights]

[Her eyes widen and she reaches out to run her finger along the fabric. It's a beautiful cushion, and something about the ivory reminds her of her mother. She isn't sure why ... those memories are dim with age. Zelda looks up and smiles with pleasure.]

I like it. It's a good choice.

[zephrah]

[ Keyleth yakes a quick peek at the tag just to confirm that both cushions are the same price, then hands Zelda the one she picked out for her. ]

Here. You buy the one you picked out for me and I'll buy the one I picked out for you. That way it's like we bought each other a gift. It makes it more special.

[ It's silly, but don't they all need some silly fun in their lives? ]

[hylights]

[It is a little silly - but at this moment, Zelda doesn't care.]

It does. That's a wonderful idea, Keyleth. Let's do it.

[zephrah]

[ Oh wow, most people don't really go along with her when she's being a goof. Keyleth squeals softly in delight and grabs Zelda's hand to lead her over to the person manning the stall. ]