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

[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.

[chosenkingoflucis]

"He's trained his entire life to be ah- The King's Shield, actually." Noctis comes clean, eyes darting away then back again as he scratches at the back of his head. "Little bigger deal than just a normal soldier."

It's not that Noctis is ashamed of being King of Lucis. It's more the crushing weight of the destiny that goes with it, specifically his, and how at the current moment, just thinking of donning the Ring of the Lucii that marks him as such, makes him feel sick to his stomach. Especially with how badly he failed Luna and Ignis, yet he's supposed to be the One True King?

"Aaanyway... you up for a little spar?" He attempts to change the subject.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums softly. "A knight?" He isn't familiar with a title like The King's Shield - but it sounds like the kind of role that should be a knight's. Maybe not that different from his position, as Zelda's protector.

Then he looks towards Noctis. Shifts his body, moving from a relaxed, casual position to one that is more on guard - one that looks ready to deal with anything that might come Link's way.

He says nothing, but it's clear that the answer is yes.

[chosenkingoflucis]

"Yeah, pretty much. His dad was my dad's Shield too, so it's kinda an Amicitia family gig."

Noctis watches as Link's demeanor shifts and a slow smirk crosses his own features. He, too, gets into a ready stance as four spectral weapons materialize and encircle around him.

[newmemorywhodis]

"...Your father is the King?" Link says, head titled to one side. Though it's an image of Rhoam that pops into his mind - Zelda's father.

But while Noctis's revelation - perhaps accidentally - or royal heritage barely makes him blink, the appearance of spectral weapons makes his eyes widen briefly. That, Link was not expecting.

Link begins circling slowly, sword at the ready - but not striking yet. He doesn't know anything about those spectral weapons. Before he strikes, he wants to see how Noctis uses them.

[chosenkingoflucis]

Yeah... that was an accident. Hopefully Link won't treat him too differently.

Amusingly enough, Noctis' father, King Regis, looks as though he would be the same age as King Rhoam, though really, he appears a lot older than he is on account of using his lifeforce to keep The Wall up around Insomnia, The Crown City; a duty that would have become Noctis' eventually had Lucis not fallen and the Crystal stolen by the Niflheim Empire.

Witness the Power of Kings, Link, as another blade appears in his hand, this one much simpler, and having been obtained recently. Noctis watches Link's movements as well, but being that he's more the impatient type, it's inevitable that he'd strike first, sending one of the crystalline arms, an axe, in a swooping slash, seemingly by using only his mind. Simultaneously, he'll throw the weapon from his hand, Noctis' body appearing to turn phantasmal and blink to close the distance between them, sword in the lead with a downward slash to finish out the warp strike.

[newmemorywhodis]

Despite the fact that it's being wielded telekinetically, Link doesn't have any trouble dodging the axe. Just a deft step to the side, and it swings right past him.

The warp strike throws him for a loop, however.

Link's eyes widen, and he just manages to bring up his sword to block Noctis's. He returns the strike, a quick strike to the side - before jumping back, out of reach.

Except, he's not out of reach. Not with that move of Noctis's. And yet Link still stares back at Noctis, as if daring him to try it again anyway.

[chosenkingoflucis]

As Link blocks and then swipes, Noctis pivots to the opposite side, Link's blade slicing through a phantom form of the prince forged of blue light.

Noctis then falls back as well, but don't worry Link, you'll get another chance to see that move again soon enough. Now Noctis wants to see what Link can do, so he takes up a defensive stance.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link is quickly coming to the conclusion that Noctis's abilities are very strange.

It's like for a moment, he wasn't there. Like he'd become something like one of the Sage's avatars, if only for a moment.

So Link circles, eyes narrowed. And while Noctis is taking up a defensive stance...Link doesn't take the bait. He circles, and he doesn't attack.

Because really, Link's best move is one that has to wait until Noctis attacks him. If only Link can get the timing right...

[chosenkingoflucis]

You wouldn't be the only one mystified, Link. That's the Power of Kings for you. What Link has yet to find out is, that it also drains Noctis' life force.

Fortunately for Link, patience isn't one of Noctis' strengths, so after failing to get his opponent to attack him, Noctis strikes again, this time rushing in normally and executing an upwards diagonal slash.

[newmemorywhodis]

This time, Link's expecting it. And it's exactly what he was wanting.

Because he's seen enough of how Noctis moves to get a little bit of feel for how he fights. Enough that he can pick the right moment to dodge - and when he does so, Link will suddenly be moving very, very fast.

It lasts no more than a second. But in that moment, Link is presses forward, making multiple strikes against him - and all before Noctis even finishes his diagonal slash.

So sorry for the crusty tag, you can drop it if you want but I'm replying

[chosenkingoflucis]

The flurry of strikes comes as a surprise, Noctis barely able to dodge, leaving a spectral phantom of himself. Link does manage to put a nice gash in his shirt.

Noctis falls back again with a cocky grin.

"Nice one, but how do you do against magic?"

Purple bolts crackle around his hand, unleashing towards Link in a line that will follow even if he dodges.