Quest 02 (Open)

[newmemorywhodis]

i. Vault: Caves are for shield surfing
Deep within the Vault, there's a system of caves that slope ever-downward. Sometimes they open up into big, open caverns. Other times, they narrow into something more like tunnels.

They are also, as Link has discovered, fantastic for shield-surfing.

So maybe watch out if you take a casual stroll through these caves, because there's a small Hylian careening down the caves' slopes at full speed, standing on the back of his shield like it's a snowboard.

ii. Flotsam: What hoarding problem
In the communal Floating Dorm, rooms were small. Storage was very, very limited.

And yet anyone who lived or regularly visited might have noticed that despite this, Link was regularly bringing back quite a lot to his dorm. He can be regularly seen bringing anything from a sack full of mushrooms or various flowers and herbs, to am armful of bundles of wood.

But it's clear now that the space is getting...challenging. Because the door is wide open, and the inside is looking packed. And it's really not clear just where exactly Link is going to store the full set of deer antlers he's just dragged to his dorm.

iii. Flotsam: Communal cooking
At least Link never got the chance to hoard much food in his room, it was easy to cook up whatever he foraged and hunted at the communal kitchens. He'd soon become a familiar face who regularly cooked for the group.

This time, though, Link was peering closely at the recipe book he and Id had found at the market. It was propped up so Link could see the reference pictures, along with a loose piece of paper scribbled with Link's handwriting - in Hylian, a language that no one else would be able to understand. Unable to read Imperial himself, he'd needed Id's help to translate the recipe.

Tonight, it looked like it would be crab for dinner. As Link glanced at the recipe notes, and started prepping the crabs, he hummed cheerfully to himself.

Comments

[newmemorywhodis]

Link doesn't see the need to fuss at all - he's perfectly fine! - but neither does he make any move to object to her patching him up. He'll let her poke at him as necessary.

(Zelda would always fuss. He kind of misses it, from her.)

"Shield surfing," he says, before jerking his head in the direction of his shield.

[relentless_sentinel]

Zelda is a smart girl. Some boys need fussing over. Like dummies who fling themselves from great heights. Or up to them from what basically amounts to a slingshot tower...

Nephenee's aid falters for a moment as she tries to understand what that term means. The closest term to "surf" she's got is talking about the surf, like waves. So after a minute to try and fail to parse that, the Hylian gets the most confused emerald eyes looking up at him under that ever-present hat. Huh, there's freckles there, who knew? (Considering this is the closest she's gotten to anyone so far, probably not many. It's only because she's busy worrying that she is so near.)

"Uh...what's surfin'?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's face doesn't change. It's still that neutral, largely blank-faced expression. And yet there's an intensity to him as he looks back at her, like he's practically vibrating on the inside.

She doesn't know what shield surfing is!

He runs down to where his shield landed. Grabs it. Darts back to where she is. And then without saying a world, answers her question.

"Hup!" he says, jumping up into the air while flipping the shield underneath his feet. As the shield comes down, it begins sliding down the floor of the sloped cavern - with Link balanced on top of it.

This is shield surfing.

[relentless_sentinel]

She's still getting used to trying to read him, but she's starting to reckon he emotes more with his eyes. Good thing he doesn't wear a hat like her, he might be a lot harder to get a bead on.

Nephenee starts a little and backs up as he scurries off, her head tilting as he runs back with his shield, and there's a surprised "Eh?!" when Link does...whatever he just did! What in tarnation?? How...? Why...?

Yeah, all she can really do is watch and make confused Nephenee noises.

[newmemorywhodis]

If she spends enough time with him, she'll get the hang of reading him. Learn how to pick up on his microexpressions, those subtle hints that are there, for those who know him well.

Fortunately, Neph doesn't have to stare in surprised confusion for long - Link only shield-surfs a short way down the cavern before stopping, picking up his shield, and running back. He'd just wanted to give her a demonstration - not zoom off into the distance.

"Shield surfing!" he says. See? Now she knows what it is!

[relentless_sentinel]

Well, she's learned more than she knew back after they first sparred, so she's picking them up, even if she isn't completely aware of it! Thankfully she's not as hard as him to read, but even she's got her weird tells.

Nephenee just stares at him for a moment, then at the shield, the ground, then back to him. The Hero of Hyrule is now diamonds. Then she looks back towards her own long shield...she can't imagine that working. But she points towards it and gives him a quizzical look, wordlessly asking if it'd work.

A+ old spice reference there haha

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods his head vigorously. Her shield would absolutely work too!

Then, just in case she needs the added incentive...he holds up his own shield. Locks eyes with her. And says, "...Race you?"

He's not sure if Nephenee is the competitive type...but right now he's betting that she is.

Great memes age like fine wine~

[relentless_sentinel]

Nephenee's a little surprised hers will work, and part of her is wondering about how beat up it'll get.

But despite the fact she'd deny it if asked, she does have a playfully competitive streak deep down. He's caught her attention!

"...Hold on." She wants to give her shield a better layer or protection, so she quickly whips out her polishing cloth and armour wax and sets to work. It's not her normal babying of her armour (she already did that recently), just enough to keep it from getting too many new scratches, given she doesn't usually, you know, grind it against stone.

"A'ight. All good."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link doesn't bother with any kind of countdown. He just waits until it looks like she's ready, then says, "Go."

...And then hops on his shield and starts sliding down the cavern. Better get on that shield quick Nephenee, or Link will pull way ahead of you.

[relentless_sentinel]

Oh! She barely knows how to do this, but she'll do her best!

Unfortunately, this is so past what the Sentinel is used to, and not really like anything she's done that she can refer to, that she lands on her rump the first time. But she figures it out the second! Mostly. It takes her a second to figure how to really get it going, so Link's got a good headstart! But huh, this is fun!

[newmemorywhodis]

Link zooms ahead - though he does glance behind, and slows down a little when he realises he's way too far ahead of her.

It might be a race, but...she's still learning. He doesn't want to just leave her in the dust.

But when it looks like Nephenee's getting the hang of things and is catching up to him a little, he'll pick up the pace as they twist and turn and careen down through the caverns.

[relentless_sentinel]

This is one of those times where being taller isn't a good thing, because while Nephenee is pretty trim, the height still adds drag, as does the muscle weight.

But she watches Link as she adjusts, and tries to mimic his movements and stance, tucking in a bit. It only goes so far, but it helps her start to catch up. The real kicker, as it were, is getting her legs in the right place for this. Having childbearing hips and not a super-wide shield makes that a bit more difficult, but nothing to be done about that!

"Wah!" A little yelp escapes as she wobbles from hitting a rock at a bad angle, and her arms flail a bit to keep her balance...but she stays upright, barely! Woo!

[newmemorywhodis]

Link glances behind, to see how she's doing. She's a bit wobbly but...eh, she's doing alright.

Time for Link to kick it into gear then. He can't let himself get beaten by a newbie!

He crouches down, making himself smaller and more aerodynamic - and faster.