甲辰 002: 處暑 [Throughout September]

[singlemilletgrain]

♪ Ti o o beh lok ho
Ah gung nag gia di tau beh gut o ♪

1: Seeds [Early September]
In a conical hat and durable overalls, she checks her setup, knots the ropes attaching the plow one last time, and gives her docile oxen an affectionate pat between the horns.

"He Sheng. Xiao Man. Let's do a good job today."

As she guides her oxen through the underground fields of Vault, she gazes upwards at the jagged, rocky ceiling of the Vault settlement and briefly contemplates with a faint frown. There was no way that the plants in these fields were getting all the sunlight they needed to grow properly. But she had ideas. For now, she could just be thankful she wouldn't get too sweaty.

Supremely self-unconscious, it isn't long in the day before she is comfortable enough to start idly singing, her clear and vibrant voice ringing out through the vast fields even as she works.

♪ Gut ah gut gut ah gut
gut diu ji bui suan liu go ♪
♪ yi ya he to jin jia cu bi

2: Light [Mid September]
Some weirdos are on 50 foot tall scaffolding doing something to the ceiling of the Vault. Below, two oxen meander around in circles, occasionally lowing in faint concern. The plowed and sown fields are growing miraculously quickly. September was the wrong month to sow wheat altogether, and yet an acre of rapidly growing buds are sprouting up as far as the eye can see.

Currently, Shu is clinging to the roof of the cavern in an enormously precarious situation, her tail wrapped around the scaffolding to keep her secure as she drills something into the rock. A young man near her is holding some blueprints and a whole heap of strange looking materials.

"The real problem is the unpredictability. Our efforts will go to waste if the equipment is damaged by a stray blast. If only we could find a way to protect the above-ground harvesting system... Ah! Tch, I dropped it. Well, let's take a break. Thank you for your time today."

The man gives a curt nod before descending the ladder while Shu sits cross-legged on her giant scaffold in the middle of a field and muses.

3: Harvest [Late September]
There is no possible way this field could already be yielding dividends. And yet it is, and Shu is patiently, single-handedly cutting down her crops that reach higher than her head, still hum-singing her song. The oxen now are familiar sights around Vault as Shu takes a ride on one whenever she needs to get anywhere particularly distant with groceries or other deliveries. They don't help, but they are cute, which is emotional help. This matters significantly more.

Anyone who approaches will be met with a beckoning hand or a distant call, depending on how far away they are.

"Hello! You are the help I advertised for?"

Regardless of the answer, a burlap sack and a sickle are thrust into their hands, because it is clear Shu is not listening. "Start here with me, and I'll show you what to do."

Ti o o, o o... ♪

Comments

[newmemorywhodis]

Link dutifully shows up, not too long after Shu calls him, with a soft "Hi."

And then he waits patiently for her to tell him what he can help with. Maybe she needs him to collect something for her?

[singlemilletgrain]

"You are so prompt."

The door opens and Shu ushers him in.

"Thank you for coming at my whims. What kind of tea is to your tastes?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums thoughtfully, as he steps inside.

"Haven't had tea much," he admits. Which meant he wasn't really all that familiar with all the kinds of varieties. "Maybe...your favourite?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"I will brew you something resembling si mao tea from my home."

Shu responds immediately, leading him to the kitchen.

"It is a dark fermented tea brewed in the mountains with a superbly mellow taste."

So saying, she gestures for Link to seat himself in the kitchen (he will notice she has a normal kitchen table now that she has returned the twelve-seat dining table she borrowed) and busies herself for a minute or two in the kitchen. She returns with a steaming teapot and a tray filled with little green cakes.

"Thank you again. I did not mean for you to rush over immediately, but I appreciate the gesture. I will get to the point. I would like you to teach me how to effectively use a shield."

[newmemorywhodis]

The small kitchen table is nice; Link sits at it dutifully, glancing around her kitchen as he waits. When she comes back with the tea and cakes, he doesn't hesitate to dig it.

At her request, however, he blinks in surprise. Of all the things he might have expected her request to be...that hadn't been on the list.

"You're a warrior?" he asks. Though the question feels like the wrong one to ask. Surely if she were a warrior, she'd already have been trained to use a shield?

[singlemilletgrain]

She smiles faintly, understanding that it does not quite mesh with her appearance or expressed interests.

“By profession, I am a farmer, but I am also a contractor with Rhodes Island, a pharmaceutical company. At least, that is their official facade. In practice, they operate to address global emergencies, nascent wars, and natural disasters. As a contractor, I am a Guardian.”

There is something about the way she emphasizes that word that seems to give it the force of the capital letter.

“I excel at protecting my allies and preventing enemy incursion into guarded territory. However… my abilities here are weakened. I have already made a gravely foolish mistake here. In order not to be a burden to the Corsairs, I need to learn the more customary methods of protection.”

She refills Link’s teacup and watches him eat, an activity that seems to give her more pleasure than actively participating herself.

“Please also be discreet about those details if you can. Combat is not my preference, but in my world, one must fight for the survival of those who cannot fight for themselves.”

[newmemorywhodis]

Link frowns, faintly. He's not sure he entirely understands what she is is talking about - contractors? Pharmaceutical companies? - but he can understand the desire to protect. To fight for those who can't.

"...Yes," he says, his voice heavy. He pauses, and takes another tip of tea. "I'm a knight."

Maybe she doesn't understand what that is, just like how Link doesn't understand contractors. But then, if she's someone who tries to protect others...maybe she does.

"...You have a shield?" She'd need something to work with, for Link to teach her.

[singlemilletgrain]

"I have purchased a wooden round training shield."

Shu rises from the table and goes to a closet, where she retrieves the item in question.

"I could also benefit from your advice on what type of shield is most suitable as I never used them previously."

She knows very well what a knight is - the Knights of Kazimierz are famed around the world. Their entire society is based around the knight tournaments and their traditions based down for centuries. Long ago, they stopped serving royalty in favor of serving the people (...theoretically, less so in practice), but she is aware of the history.

"You serve a family of royalty - or nobility?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link looks at the practice shield, and hums in approval. It looks serviceable to him.

"You want to fight on foot? Alone, or in formation?" The type of shield she needed might depend a lot on those factors. Though really, for a beginner, the exact type of shield probably wasn't as important as just having the shield.

Then Link pauses. Nods. And says, "Princess Zelda."

There was really only one person Link served, now.

[singlemilletgrain]

"On foot," she agrees, though a momentary image of her riding He Sheng or Xiao Man into battle pops into her head. That would probably be a bad idea, for the simple reason that her cows would get hurt.

"And I am most accustomed to holding the line alone, protecting those behind. It may be useful to learn some tactics involving other defenders later, but let us begin from a more rudimentary point."

"You are a princess's personal knight?" She had heard of this kind of thing before, even if it had died out in Terra. "You must be one of the most skilled knights in the country, then. I have lucked out."

[newmemorywhodis]

"Use a smaller shield," Link says. "Less protection, but easier to carry and manouve."

Alone, on foot? She'd need flexibility and adaptability over sheer defence.

Then to her question, he says simply: "Yes." Yes, he's her personal knight. Yes, he's one of the best - and was even before the Calamity wiped Hyrule's standing army out. He gives the answer without any hint of cockiness or self-importance. It's just a simple statement of fact.

[singlemilletgrain]

"I do not fatigue easily -- but I understand your meaning. I will look into what other options are available. For now..."

She refills his tea in an automatic sort of motion, despite the fact that he hasn't really drunk much of anything since the last time she did so.

"Would you be able to show me some techniques whenever you are comfortable? It does not have to be today if you have other business."

In response to his assertion, she takes it at face value.

"...Do you worry about her now that you are away?"

[newmemorywhodis]

"I can do today."

Really, Link didn't have much of a schedule. His waking hours varied wildly. When he was awake, rather than follow any kind of routine he just did whatever whim happened to take him at that moment. The only schedule he ever bothered himself with was Zelda's schedule...but she wasn't here.

Not here for Link to listen to, as she talked animatedly about her latest topic of interest. Not here for Link to cook for, not here to share meals with. Not here for Link to see her smile.

Did Link worry about her? Separated from him once again?

There's only one way he could answer that.

"...Yes."

[singlemilletgrain]

"Thank you."

Shu smiles in appreciation, though the expression fades as she notices the various facial motions flickering across Link's features. Her companion did not speak very much, she had noticed immediately, but more careful observation indicated that perhaps he spent that time in deeper thought instead. It is obvious that this topic is distressing for him.

"It is hard on the heart, being torn away from your family and companions." Shu, characteristically, responds with gentle empathy. "Do you believe your princess is capable of caring for herself or does she depend greatly upon you?"

[newmemorywhodis]

He's not the most emotive of people; his facial expressions have a tendency to be rather devoid of expression. But he's not completely blank. There's still something you can read of him in his eyes, in the small micro-expressions on his face.

Speaking of Zelda tends to bring those more to the forefront than usual.

But as to whether Zelda can care for herself...there's no hesitation. Link nods, immediately. "She's very capable."

[singlemilletgrain]

She nods slowly in response.

"Then I am certain she is taking good care to stay safe, so that you need not worry about her."

This is meant to be reassuring, though given the long and storied history of people named Zelda being kidnapped while people named Link are away, this may not be strictly accurate. Shu rises from the table.

"I will go change into more appropriate clothing. Please take as many refreshments as you please."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums in acknowledgement, but not really affirmation. Zelda can take care of herself; Link will still worry for her regardless. And it won't change the fact that he misses her.

But Shu is right - it could be worse. At least he'd gotta Zelda back, before ending up here. If she was still the Light dragon, still wasn't her...he's not sure how he would have coped with being away from home.

So while Shu gets changed, and Link has some more tea...he thinks of Zelda.

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu emerges in apparel much more akin to her workwear, overalls and sturdier boots. In one hand, she grasps something that looks like a short staff while she picks up the shield in the corner with her other.

"I am ready whenever you are."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods - and then walks outside.

He figures Shu probably doesn't want to practice inside her kitchen.

Once they're reached a suitable area though, he pulls out his own shield. Angles it so that Shu can see, while he shows her how the straps go about his arm.

"Shield always goes on your left," he says. "Even if you want to use your left to fight. Left side has your heart."

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu might win in a Food Wars competition, but not in that way. She follows him out towards an open space adjacent to the fields she has been tending. Her oxen, which have been casually grazing, sense her presence and begin to meander towards the fence to watch.

"Like this?"

Elegant and graceful though she is, it is apparent that Shu has never done this from the way she fumbles as she maneuvers her arms into the straps. She eventually holds up the shield in something resembling an acceptable posture. Briefly, she wonders how a left-handed person is supposed to attack and defend with the same arm, but this fortunately does not apply to her.

...Actually was Link left-handed?

[newmemorywhodis]

If she thinks back, she might remember that when Link had made his own written, translated recipe notes, he'd used his left hand to write. So perhaps he was in fact left handed - even if the position of his shield and the sword on his back suggested otherwise.

As she puts on her shield, Link reaches out and touches her shield lightly, shifting it to better adjust her position. Then he stands in front of her, shield held in front of him, demonstrating the right stance.

"Shield faces your enemy," he says. Which is perhaps an obvious point, but an important one.

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu tries to remember whether he had balanced more mushrooms in his left hand or his right hand and comes up with a blank before she cottons on to the much more likely method of recalling which hand he wrote with. So even a left-handed swordsman needed to fight with his non-dominant hand. Was that a serious difficulty to overcome? In which case, simultaneously, it meant left-handed novices had a higher barrier to entry while left-handed experts necessarily had to practice much more to become experts.

Vague thoughts running idly through her mind, Shu takes up the correct defensive stance, focusing on mirroring the position of Link's feet and the shifting of his body weight. Though she might not have used a shield before, she is generally familiar with the correct approach towards combat.

At his instruction, she smiles briefly.

"I will endeavor to remember. ...You can strike at me, if you wish."

[newmemorywhodis]

If it was a difficulty, it's one Link has more than overcome by now. Back in his home of Hyrule, there's no one who comes even close to Link's skill with a blade.

Left handed or otherwise.

For now, though, Link does not draw his weapon. Instead, he takes a moment to walk over to a nearby tree. Bends down to pick up a stray fallen branch. And then gives it a few quick swishes through the air, testing the weight of it. Only then does he come back to face Shu - because he's absolutely not going to test a beginner with a bladed weapon.

"Follow me, and block my strikes," he says, as he starts to move and circle around her. Then, when she seems comfortable enough keeping the shield facing towards him - he strikes forward with the branch.

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu wouldn't necessarily mind, having a considerable amount of experience in combat and enough supernatural durability to shrug off a casual blow from a sword. But she appreciates the care that Link takes in instruction. She has the sense that it is possible he has done this before - perhaps a part of a knight's duties is to see to the trainees.

Her usual tactic in defense was 'stand there and let the blows bounce off her skin.' In this world, with significantly less power, that did not suffice. Consequently, it is a bit of an adjustment. At first, she leans far too heavily into the shield, as if she is deflecting the strike with the entirety of her body weight. When the first strike comes, she seems to try to push it away with the shield instead of simply blocking the blow.

It is not too much of a surprise that she stumbles forward.

[newmemorywhodis]

After the Calamity, there weren't many soldiers left. Link had needed to try and help train the new Hylian army. Not something he'd ever thought he'd end up doing - with Link's taciturn nature, he wasn't usually someone who'd come to mind as a potential teacher - but there hadn't been anyone else.

Shu's a bit different from a green, inexperienced recruit, however. From her he's seeing problems a little different from the ones he usually expects, and he has to reach out to steady her as she stumbles.

"Just block," he says. "Parrying comes later." She'd need the basics, and a better sense of the right timing, down before she could attempt that.