Quest 01 (Open)

[newmemorywhodis]

i. Flotsam: Scouting from the sails
In any new place, Link's first instinct is always to go up. Get high, get somewhere he can see, and then paraglide to the next point of interest. Well, with no paraglider, he couldn't do the last part. But he could do the rest.

So Link will just casually climb up the mast of whatever ship he happens to be on. If there's a ladder, he'll use it. But if there isn't, he'll find a way to scamper up anyway. From there, he'll perch on the edge of the sails, looking out over the armada of ships that make up the Flotsam.

And if you don't spot him when it's up or - or feel like braving the heights to join him - well, he's gotta come down sometime. He might drop down next to you.

ii. Flotsam: Floating markets
Link can't afford anything here, but already he loves this place.

He's already mentally making a long list of things he wants to buy - that wickedly long spear! That exotic spice! The weird glowing rock that would probably be useful somehow! But it's the clothes shops that Link ends up spending the most time in. Something with a bit of protection would be best, but he can't help but also be drawn to some more decorative options. Like that nice flowy white blouse, that reminds him of the Gerudo style...

iii. Flotsam and/or the Vault: Sword practice
On the deck of one of the ships - or sometimes in the Vault's armoury, if he's feeling like a change of scenery - Link finds runs through a sequence of sword forms. They're smooth and practiced, leaving no openings or visible weaknesses in form. It's clear from the way he moves that these movements have been ingrained over many, many years.

When the sequence comes to an end, he lists up his sword and looks at it. It's not the Sword that Seals the Darkness. It's not even comparable to most of his other weapons. But it's serviceable enough. Link can fight with a stick if he has to - he can certainly make do with this.

Comments

Vault- Sword Practice

[chosenkingoflucis]

"Not bad" a voice comes from the doorway where Noctis is casually leaned against the frame with his arms crossed. "Not bad at all. I think you'd even give Gladio a run for his money."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link does not say anything in response. From the the way he pauses, lowers his sword, and looks towards Noctis with his head tilted to one side, the question is clear all the same.

Who is Gladio?

[chosenkingoflucis]

"Gladio's uh, a close friend from back home. He trained me in combat since I was young." He chuckles a little, "We didn't get along at first, but now I trust him with my life. I mean, that's his job, but there's a difference, y'know?"

Noctis gestures towards Link's sword with his chin.

"You prefer swords?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods. "A soldier?" Or at least, this Gladio was someone who was good at fighting.

He looks down at the sword. Shrugs.

"Swords. Other weapons." Pretty much whatever was at hand, really.

i

[poormeowmeow]

Izutsumi is also someone who tends to like to get someplace high. Call it her cat instincts. She wouldn't, but whatever. She's also been poking around in the rigging and the platforms, taking a look at what she can see, feeling the breeze ruffle her hair and fur and just trying to adjust to this. It's a lot.

She's a little surprised to see someone else up here as well. She's draped on a yardarm, not much bothered by the motion of the ship.

"...you're pretty steady up here, huh?"

She's almost impressed.

[newmemorywhodis]

Probably Link shouldn't be as comfortable as he is. He doesn't have his paraglider, after all. There's nothing to catch him if he falls. Oh well, too late to worry about that now. He'll just have to make sure not to fall.

To Izutsumi, though, he shrugs. Does at least reach up to grab a rope, for some semblance of safety. "You too," he says, looking at her. He might be perfectly comfortable climbing all over the place, but even he would hesitate to lounge in such a precarious position.

[poormeowmeow]

"The tail helps," She shrugs and then offers a little laugh. She loops her arm through a rope and glances out over the horizon for a long moment. He glances at Link again and furrows her brow.

"...you're an elf."

It's not a question. Well, at least not the way she phrases it.

Flotsam Sword Practice

[xenovore]

Laios has actually seen Link practicing up on deck before, a few times, but he hasn't paid it much mind. Elves aren't an uncommon sight in the Corsairs, nor are swordsmen- Laios is the latter, himself.

But because Laios is the latter and because he vaguely remembers Link a day or so ago, he eventually winds up approaching Link.

By standing out of swinging range and staring at him until he makes eye contact, then waving.

"Hi there."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link waits until he's finished his movement, before straightening up and dropping his dance. Sword held lightly to one side.

"Hi," he says, looking towards Laios. There's something of a curious, expectant air to him as he does so. Does Laios need help with something?

[xenovore]

"I see you're using a sword!" Laios says. "I also use a sword. See?" He gestures to the one sheathed at his hip, then clears his throat.

"We could spar some time. If you like."

II

[fray]

Little as Id has, he's intent on getting a hold of the basics to maintain a weapon. That's the mission he's set himself on, stalking his way between market stalls briskly as he looks for the object of his quest. What he finds first, however, is a familia little guy.

He pauses, visibly debating. Link looks pretty occupied with that billowy shirt he's looking at. Still, he actually had a question he'd meant to ask the man, so he spurs himself to close distance.

His shadow falls over Link before he says anything, by simple virtue of time of day and positioning. Well, that and Id's still learning the ropes when it comes to being remotely social. "Hey." Decent greeting?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link pauses. Lowers the shirt slightly, so he can see Id over the top of it.

"Hi," he says. Waves a few fingers at him, while still holding the billowy blouse.

Clearly, these two are masters of the greeting.

[fray]

They're absolute champions.

Id keeps going strong, following up the greeting by pointing at the blouse Link's holding. "Nice shirt." He doesn't know anything about the guy's sense of fashion, but it is indeed a fine shirt.

The size looks like it would fit Link, so maybe it's reasonable to surmise that he's shopping for himself, besides.

Vault - Sword Practice

[lyorning]

Aerich took an interest in how others fought. His own style was distinctive, so he was watching the young man to see how he moved -- not just skill, but if his style was more aggressive or defensive.

His own training was limited as he didn't have the full set of equipment he was used to, but he could at least keep in fighting form. "Are you finding the blade serviceable?"

His vocabulary has improved markedly with practice.

[newmemorywhodis]

Right now, Link didn't have a shield - so to compensate, his style naturally had to lean more aggressive than it normally would. But it wasn't overly so, and Link also clearly relied on reflexes, nimbleness, and speed.

Sometimes, dodging was the most effective move in his entire arsenal.

Now, though, he pauses in his movements. Looks over at Aerich. And shrugs.

It wasn't the best blade. But it would do.

[lyorning]

This gets a nod -- Aerich has the same opinion, and given he only had the clothes on his back, a good sword was a lot to ask, even if they were fighting for these people.

"Would you care to spar with me?" He was trying to figure out how to adapt his own style, which relied on having armored bracers to block, to just a single blade. That and he was used to fighting his own people, so was having adjust to 'everything is lower' and 'your reach hasn't changed, but your opponent's is lesser'.

Market

[wontreadthesigns]

He wasn't the only one in the clothing shops, Snufkin's lips were pursed, looking at his own attire, and several outfits made for people under five feet in height. He disappears into the back, only to run out several minutes later buttoning up his own ragged pants while the Sheepkin proprietor comes out, looking rather flummoxed with a brand new pair of trousers hanging from their horns.

What was that about?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link pauses in his own browsing. Leans out of the racks of clothes, head swiveling from side to side as he looks between Snuffkin and the Skeepkin proprietor.

Well, now he's curious. So as Snuffkin runs out of the store, Link follows. He does not bother to attempt to hide the fact that he's doing so.

[wontreadthesigns]

It didn't take much for him to realize that he's being trailed, whipping his head around to see - recognizing him as the swordsman that helped him with the sea monster outbreak. Puzzlement crossed his face.

"Do... you need something?" Snufkin asked as he smoothes out his clothes.

II

[fuckthatdragon]

Another hand reached for the blouse at the same blouse Link was reaching for. It was attached to a hauntingly familiar looking young woman. The pointed ears, the blond elaborately braided hair, the green eyes, the blue and white fashion ensemble…

She wasn’t the princess of Hyrule, but one could be forgiven for mistaking Marcille for her at first glance.

“Oh!” She exclaimed , jerking her hand back in retail surrender so Link could take it. “Go ahead. I’m fine.”

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's head snaps up.

At first he doesn't see her face, with her turned to the side to reach for the blouse. So all he sees is the hair, the braids, the familiar ears...

"Zel-!" he says, eyes going wide. But right in the middle of saying Zelda's name...she turns towards him, and he sees that it's not her at all.

The wave of disappointment is crushing. And he doesn't even want Zelda to be here, because then she'd have been taken just like he was. And yet, he still misses her, and wishes she was here with him anyway.

"...Sorry," he says, looking away.

[fuckthatdragon]

Marcille blinked at that reaction.

"Zel?"

Was this ANOTHER person who knew another version of her? One was weird enough, and Izutsumi hadn't mentioned another elf.

Actually, looking closer, she decided he probably wasn't an elf. Humans might sometimes think Hylians look like Elves, but Elves can tell the difference.

Maybe he was a half-elf. That would be...interesting.

Flotsam, Sword Practice

[relentless_sentinel]

Despite being without her armour and its, frankly, comforting and familiar weight, Nephenee's never been one to slack off when she's found herself without something, so the decks have been one of her training spots as well. But this is the first time she's seen this fellow, as she ascends the gangplank. And as she watches, her thoughts are both in awe of his form...and him being pretty cute.

...R-Right, focus, Nephie! Shaking herself from that momentary lapse of focus, the tall, green-haired woman continues to watch him as she sharpens her halberd's head before her own training can commence, something she's done so often it's rote and practically muscle memory, her emerald eyes shielded from sight and sun alike by her hat. She's not going to interrupt him. That'd be rude!

[newmemorywhodis]

Link notices her arrival, of course. He couldn't have lived the life he had without good situational awareness, and she wasn't doing anything to hide. But he doesn't show it, not immediately. He just continues on with his forms, as if she wasn't even there.

Until he reaches the end of his current sequence of forms. Then, rather than moving immediately into the next set, he comes to a stop. Lowers his sword. And turns to look at her, head tilted to one side inquisitively.

Was there something she was needing?

[relentless_sentinel]

If she knew he noticed and didn't respond, she'd be impressed. That sort of awareness wasn't easy to come by.

But when he does make it obvious he's noticed, she starts a little. "O-Oh, s-sorry," She stammers, "A-Ah was...comin' o'er to train, too." And before she can stop herself, whether because he's clearly good with a sword and she needs a real training partner -the training dummies aren't cutting it, dang it-, or because he's pretty, she finds herself asking, "U-Uh, w-would ya...like to train with someone? Ya...sure know what you're doin' an'...form practice only does so much..."

Wait, why did she up and ask him like that?! Ah probably done gone an' insulted 'im! An' he probably wants to be by himself! Dang it, Nephie! She doesn't say any of that, but her cheeks sure heat up as she chastises herself.