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A LEGEND OF ZELDA ROLEPLAY
Welcome to ZRP! We are an non-canon RP site with an original tale taking place within the
lore of the Zelda Franchise. While the events of this site are entirely non-canon, we take advantage of the canons of other
games to explain its story fully. As such, we are located within the CANON TIMELINE. Do you like what you see? If so, feel free
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11/12/21 GUESS WHO'S BACK! Thats right, and we are cooking up a good ol reset for everyone. Please be patient as things will be a little empty as we archive. Pop into discord if you have questions.
The woman's voice carried to his ears, the Zora less tense after a soak, but it wasn't as if his anxiety could was away. The shark-toothed Zora stood with a hunched posture and his hands tucked into his pocket and his drenched hood occasionally dripped onto the hardwood floor. The aquatic merchant was not acting out of inconsideration for Maude's poor floors, but rather the nature of his kind made the notion of drying off a burden.
Her dry greeting was never something that bothered him, per se, but he could never drive away the feeling that she, on some level, hated him. It was a feeling he consistently felt amongst most social situations and this one was no different. No it was worse... He felt his eyes drift to the side as he lamented the implications of his presence. A gloves hand reached up to his jaw: still damp hair painted against his forehead messily as it stuck, dropped or otherwise drooped. He would eventually settle in the seat, hands on the tables surface as he gnawed at the air, jaws clenching as he forced an expression, if only to bind the rumination temporarily.
"I stayed at a farm for a short time in Hyrule once." He'd finally speak up, though his voice sounded distant, as if searching a memory he could no longer piece together. "She had let me into her home, no doubt, no questions, and openly offered me succor, weary after my travels." Back than he traveled alone and was compelled by a dark, waning sense of inferiority to break anyone who would belittle him, accost him. "I hated her for it. It felt fake, like she was only doing it to save herself." His gloved hands clenched into a fist. "Maybe she was." He exhaled the breath he had not realized he was holding while reminiscing. "I never found out." He body visibly relaxed, though only slightly. "I left believing she was out to get me." He'd add with a shrug. "Who'd honestly give a shit about me?"
After speaking he would hunch over his proffered plate of food, arms on the table as his legs spread shoulder length: wet feet flat on the floor. He took the spoon and began to shovel food into his mouth, looking like a man who had not eaten in years. His etiquette was atrocious, but one could hardly expect a traveling merchant who spent most of his meals in the back of a wagon or in the slums at a bar to have much precedence for such things. He did not take a breath as he ate and wolfed down all he could until he started to cough. He was unused to eating such amounts during any meal so it was difficult to push it all down.
His thoughts caught up to him, mind returning to his truncated comment. "Thanks, in any case." He looked away as his hand came up to wipe any unseemly dribble from the side of his face that was paralyzed. "It was okay." And that was quite a glowing review from the pescatarian. He looked out towards the window. "Are the others here yet?" Or in Farrah's case: up.
He was already feeling quite awkward with Maude as his only company. Moving to sit back his hands came to rest on his loose, baggy pants. He looked akin to a delinquent with his tattered cloak, which was quite a contrast to his look during the party earlier that season. It was like day and night. He had gone from Pauper to Prince and back to crooked peddler overnight. Which one was an act?
What was Nex?
"Show my your cuccos or something." He was a traveller so being indoors was always aggravating, entrapping. "It's stuffy in here." It was unlike to have been an insult to the comfort of Maude's home, but an indirect declaration towards his wanderlust and tension.
The Zora had always been one to find family gatherings a disconcerting prospect. In all fairness his family was a dysfunctional mess that consisted of several distant aunts and uncles who considered themselves more knowledgeable on the family's inner workings despite their regular absence. Little annoyed Nex more than a know-it-all who knew nothing. The aqueous merchant was far more considerate towards more personal gatherings and contented with no one about face to face dining or heading to lesser known pubs. In the lesser known dives you were least likely to be recognized for your more egregious habits come after overindulging on spirits. He was a mean left hook come a throw down!
Nevertheless the cautious cichlid found himself dreading the possible interactions from Maude's ilk. He knew already of Nerina and Farrah, but what other horrors would await him? The terror had nearly sent him out the nearest window. He had braided several feet of bedsheets ad if he was imprisoned, though in a sense he was: by social conduct. After being invited into the Lif household it was only natural to accept the invitation despite being quite aware of one's crippling social anxieties. Damn his good manners!
The Zora had, instead, escaped into the nearest body of water, which happened to be the tub. He had dis to meticulously fill it to the near brim so that upon entering only a good few ounces spilled out. He was with his back to the basin as he stared up. He was dressed down in naught but his wetsuit: hands crossed over his chest as he pondered his inevitable doom. He would have to go socialize, lest be dragged down by the critical gaze of Maude or raucous morning energy of Farrah. The thought alone was exhausting. His face slacked ad he exhaled beneath the water, bubbles dancing to to the surface as they gently broke with silent pops!
Moving to sit up the washed out wimple would ruminate on his lack of skill in these sorts of delicate matters. When you were at the home of your interest's mother did you share a bed, or was one expected to dig themselves an early grave and bury it? He felt the latter to be a valid option given his happenstance concerning social interactions. After climbing out he stood there, letting himself drip dry, mostly, before heading out towards the aforementioned breakfast nook. The room made Nex sneer, though not to the overwhelming gaudy country style that seemed to radiate from every nook that a plant could find itself growing or drying herbs hanging. No, no. It was the overwhelming smell that carried from the plants. It was like being in soup.
"…morning." He mumbled, unused to having to greet someone come morning.
It was a pathetically demeaning prospect that he hadn't before had others to greet come his waking hours. It Also didn't help he spent much that time asleep as his waking hours once exceeded seventeen hours.
@maude ● 498 ● I've never been a morning fishstick
Nex was keenly aware of Farrah's movements to his left as he laid prone in the soft cushion. He was unaware of just hi painful the sitting position was he spent the day in until he was laying down. He often stayed sitting with his legs crossed and back slouched as he sold his wares or bartered for something a bit better. But being able to fully bury oneself in between cloud-like mats like this was liberating. He was not often able to enjoy resting in a bed and they were usually the stiff, aged beddings of a run down inn. This was a wholly satisfying feeling. Reaching his gloves hand up the Zora would scratch the side of his red face. She was close. He could feel her breathe tickling his ear.
"...s-sure." He mirrored her whisper.
Though he'd honestly lose his voice were he to speak any louder. Something about this situation was different from camping in the wilderness. This was more vulnerable, exposing. It wasn't an open space where you had to make do. In the privacy of someone's home you were expected to relax, but Next hasn't relaxed properly in what felt like an age. Despite his trepidations he started to drift. He felt a heaviness in his eyes and a weight on his chest. His hands had crossed over his stomach, almost protectively. His eyes slipped closed as his jaw became slack.
"…something edible." Though his edible usually consisted of something soft and malleable for his jaws to manage.
His jaws. They had gotten considerably worse since she last saw him. He used to at least be able to hold his face in a scowl with his jaw clenched, but now he was barely able to hold his mouth closed, looking as if he was constantly sneering. He would not rest long, his mind often finding it difficult to feel safe in a new environment. For now Nex would rest, a soft breathing replacing his usual open mouth sighing. Maybe Farrah could help him. His jaw was still attached to his head. Perhaps the damage could be repaired somehow. There was no saving his eye, but it would do for the shark to regain his bite. Perhaps with that his spine would straightened again.
It was problematic, trying to face Farrah with his mindset. He couldn't give her the attention she deserved, or that he wanted. He self tense when he faced her, his mind ringing at the feelings that swirled about his thoughts. He needed time to sort his feelings. The Zora was surprised the Old Stones had set the youthful king free from their clutches without a fight. The Zora smirked, trying to maintain a semblance of sociability as he felt his skin crawl due to the sheer number of bodies at the festival. He was glad that his voice carried through the fog of voices, and hardly expecting the Goron King to accept his request to speak so easily.
As they moved off to the side Nex got a better feeling as to why the man was quick to agree. He wanted to get away from that mountain of noise. The Zora couldn't blame him. Farrah stayed close so it made Nex a touch self conscious. Nex always tried to be well informed of his surroundings so that he was caught off guard. Reaching up the man brushes his gloved digits through his cobalt hair. It was almost funny. More people seemed to slide into the festivities, but he didn't want to stay longer than. What was needed.
"My mother is a Hylian born Zora, as am I by birth, but I've lived quite some time with the other side of my family there. Lovely place." Run by a mad king. Clearing his throat the Zora would motion his hand. "I was sent to ask about setting up some trading, but that isn't something kings take care of." So it can be considered later. He glanced to the side, to Farrah.
What was the best way to present this to the man? He didn't want to sound selfish. He had already dragged Farrah all this way and demanded a lot of Maude. He felt he was taking advantage of his mother's generosity since she had given him the chance to come to the Jubilee under such a pretense. Shaking his head he would turn to the bodacious brute, his white gloved hands held out in a casual display to show he had no weapons. Of course he did but it was bad manners to have them in hand when discussing business.
"Your majesty," he would choke out the tile, prudently distressed by formality. "While my family is into collecting and trading antiques I am much more interested in the history behind them. If I told you I was in search of the lost histories of cultures around our land, would you be interested in finding a project that invests in finding our past in order to drive our future?" After all if you don't know the mistakes of the past you can't avoid them in the future.
This was to much of an experience for Nex to have so early. The missive he had received before the festivities had nearly sent him into a cardiac arrest. It had his family's herald pressed into he was seal meaning it was some serious business. What had been most unsettling was that it was delivered from his mother. The whole affair had him shaking when he read it. They wanted him to go to the Jubilee and talk to the head asshole in order to strike a trade deal between them and Holodrum because Pan was a useless sack of shit when he was gone. Good! Bastard did nothing but eat his weight in squid half the day!
He was getting worked up, hand holding his glass of rum shaking a bit. "Nevermind that…" he tried to push away his own disdain, raising the cup towards his lips. "Like I give a shit." He downed the rest of the drink, doing his best to relax.
It had been his mother's meddling that even got him ahead of the line to participate. If not for that they'd still be waiting to be ushered in with the rest of the crowds. Crowds! Goddess the crowds! He sulked, his face tucking behind the fold of red cape over his shoulders. Maybe this was a mistake? While his mother had sent him on this errand he was more interested in pursuing his own wants and needs. He would try to make the request, but it isn't why he wished to speak to the man. It was this -- all of this.
"They all just -- look the same." He murmured as he watched the Gorons dance and enjoy their festival with the other races. "None of them are familiar and yet they are great allies to Hyrule. And live just across the hills from us in Holodrum." He looked to the side as Farrah seemed to just appear.
But honestly he was in his own head, thoughts manically fluttering about. It was a miracle he was able to handle it this much without gripping his holster for comfort. No just keep his arms at his sides and keep drink-- oh, the glass was empty. Holding it up in disappointment the Zora would gruff when Farrah treated herself to imprisoning his arm between her b-b…corset. He cleared his throat, face red from drinking.
He asserted to himself.
"S-so you say." He allowed his eyes to trail down her dress before he looked back to her face, his mouth pulled back in a sneer. "L-let's go kidnap him." He could have said rescue but he doesn't rescue people. "Gorons never shut up so if we leave him to socializing I'll be unable to meet him." He would sigh and fiddle with his cloak.
The gold pressed plate has his family's crest carved into it and was what clasped his red cloak over his shoulder. He was not used to wearing such a form hugging outfit so he was a little uncomfortable. Everyone can see him and how his body worked… Maybe he should eat more. He was grossly underweight and could stand to see a bit of sunlight. His brand was obtrusive and his face was distorted. He had brushed his hair down so that it would better hide his face, leaving the left side exposed for better conversation. It was well known that the left side of the face was always the most attractive, especially when the right was partially paralyzed.
He would set the empty glass down and make his way towards Konungr's table. He did take notice of some large woman, but only because her hair stood out in its coloration among the lights. Nevertheless he would push ahead. His steps were deliberate, slow. He didn't want to trip and look like a fool. His gaze shifted towards Farrah, eyes narrowing slightly. He quickly turned ahead before he was caught slipping.
"You look… better than usual." He clenched his jaw as he tried to find the word, but instead his callousness shone through. "Shit…" he scoffed. "You're not ugly or anything." Maybe he should stop talking?
Feeling disgusted with his faux pas the Zora tucked his red face behind the portion of the cloak crossed over his shoulder. When then approached the table Nex shifted gears. He was a merchant of the Ujua Tribe. He could, at the very least, like it.
"Chief Korungr," Why were Goron names so cumbersome? "I am --" he hesitated for a split second, his name flashing passed his mind's eye, but the Jubilee meant there were all sorts about, witches and fae like included. "Nex of the Ujua Tribe in Holodrum." He bowed his head, keep his arms against his body. "This is my plus one." He'd let Farrah decide if she wanted to give her name away to someone who wanted to steal it. "I was sent on behalf of my family to discuss some important matters with you." Not that he'd talk on them long.
He had his own interests outside of his family's venture for rupee and prestige.
There were a lot of reasons Nex chose not to eat very much, but regardless of the specific factors the primary deterrent was discomfort. Most foods were difficult for the Zora to chew so it would put a hard limit on his choices. While not restricted in his dietary selection he was Zora and primarily a piscivore through cultural tendencies, so his desire to consume land based meats or vegetation was a narrow practice further blocked by his inability to break down the foods in the first place. This left to adverse responses to meals not within the space of his usual selections which he knew to be fair game to eat.
Irrelevant.
Irrevocable.
Insufferable.
He kept his arms folded behind his head, her question filling his mind with an innumerable amount of responses to her query. The majority, of which, were hurtful demands of her damage that she'd find it appropriate to ask that. But it was well within her right to have concern for him, even if he lacked self respect for himself. He was still driven to survive so he ate enough to do just that. Sometimes he simply lacked the know how to separate the disingenuous advice handed down which was unfit for a Zora and ego. His gaze drifted towards Farrah.
He could tell her to mind her own business. There was also a choice to out right ignore her. But the thought of lying to her concerning his condition seemed the most vile of his atrocious thought pattern. His state hardened, glaring at her with the malcontent of his own indecision. Where normally he would bade the curious needling of outsider's to simply 'stuff it', it was harder to console himself with the idea that Farrah would just get over herself. All those thoughts crossed the span of mere seconds, creating conflict over a simple question that, for most, was simple.
He opened his mouth, seeking annoyed that he even had to answer such a rudimentary concern. "Yesterday." He scoffed and moved to sit up, arms pulling forward to raise to his feet. He felt like he was being negotiated with, bribed even. "If you burn it may as well toss it…" his backhanded way of pressing his preference.
His teeth… he was half the shark he was meant to be. Subconsciously the brute would reach up to rub at his jaw. What a shitty card he's been dealt. He followed behind her, eyeing the cooking area with disdain. Could Farrah even cook? He has never seen her cook. He was no chef himself but he could prepare basic meals. Broiled fish, gruel, anpan Shit -- he was just as useless in the hearth. Reaching up he rubbed at his head, ruffling his hair. As he grumbled he raise this head, eyes becoming wide at the sight.
Her room was brilliant, bright and full of color. He seemed enthralled, staggering towards the bedding. What was this mystical place? It was like stepping into a dream. The soft, pink color enraptured Nex's mind. It was a soft, warm memory. He shifted in a way that made his coral bracelets click. They too had a soft pink color and without his cloak the jewelry was clear in view. His attachment to them was an anchor that kept him grounded during some of his more critical spirals. In his dreamy state the Zora plopped down on the bedding, his eyes blinking as he leaned back, head turning to Farrah as he opened his mouth.
There was a chance he was going to complain.
There was a chance he was going to gripe.
There was a chance he was going to leave.
But he did none of those things. Instead he would him and confirm her assertions of comfort with a far off stare.
"I guess." He weakly agreed. "No wonder you're such a lazy ass." He pushed back, flopping on the bedding.
Holy shit his back hurt so much, but the bedding was do nice. His hands rest on his stomach, jaws parting a bit as he yawned. The Zora's eyes became lidded as he relaxed. He supposed he could understand why she was so resistant to get up and out of bed. This was stupid. He wasn't tired, but he felt so exhausted suddenly. He closed his eyes and he relaxed for a moment.
There wasn't anything here that could hurt him, was there?
A whole day away?! He slumped back on the seat, head leaning on the spine of the couch. He let out a sigh as his legs splayed out, the man all but crumpling at the idea of having to travel any more in the day. No, forget that. He stiffened a bit when she seemed distressed by his disinterest. It wasn't that he did not like her. He hoped such a thing was obvious. But he never spoke the words or expressed the feelings expected of him. He tried, but his tongue would raise and his words would instead come out harsh and grating as opposed to soft and caring. He didn't want her to think that. It was a sour feeling that made his stomach twist.
"It's not." He agreed as his head lazily turned to look out of the window. "It's too hot…" Out there, but it was cool in here, cool enough that he took off his robes.
He didn't take his cloak off easily. It was his second skin and the way he hid himself from the world. He didn't expose himself to others without difficult justification. He closed his eyes before he turned to look towards the ceiling. He didn't sleep much anymore. He was always uncomfortable in the back of his wagon, by himself. He used to ride in his family's caravan where he was safe to relax, but alone he has to worry about larger predators, bandits and other despicable degenerates. He drew his hands from his pockets, arms pulling up and behind his head in a stretch. The wetsuit was tight on his body so it was easy to see his bones shift under his lithe frame. He was a bit thin, in an unhealthy way, but old habits kept him on a wire.
As a healer she would like recognize some of his maladies. He's like recovering from scurvy by his slow, sulking movements and occasionally complaining about soreness. Boy he complained a lot about that. His weak jaws and the blindness in his right eye... Some of these could be overcome, some less so. But he never spoke of them and they were only noticable to a trained eye or one who spent time around Nex, which Farrah could account for both.
He didn't want her to think that... But neither could he bring himself to tell her it wasn't true! He was torn and split between his desire to remain and his urge to flee. He felt a familiar tightness in his chest as he felt guilt well up from making her question his considerations towards her. And yet he failed at every turn to take responsibility for the feelings he stirred in her and that he led her to believe. He was trash.
He let out a disgusted sigh, mostly towards himself and a bit towards the idea that she might just cry about it. He didn't know how to deal with that. He could barely deal with his own. How do you tell someone that their pain hurt you? It seemed wholly selfish. He couldn't say such a thing. He couldn't console her like that.
"Fine." He relented. "We'll just see? I haven't slept in a while anyway. Kinda hard to sleep traveling so far." Getting from Horon to Gerudo Town as quickly as he did took its toll, even if it was just his horse pulling the cart. "Let's just hurry up. If your bed's shitty and lumpy I'm going to sleep on your wash closet's floor." And if she had a bathing basin even better!
Nex looked to Maude, who seemed to have way more fun, but he was a stick in the mud, so wasn't generally comfortable being around too many people, but he could admit that those two were not do hellishly draining. A rare take from his social experiences. The Zora had got to eat so he was in a pleasant mood, more so than usual. Despite how he chose to dress the Zora was far from the rupeeless scoundrel he dressed like. He was not given to flaunt his fortunes and neither was he some wealthy noble elite, at least not yet.
Such plots took time.
Reaching up to pull his hood over his head the Zora would huff. "I know this city like the back of my hand." Which was covered by a glove so his familiarity with said portion of his appendage was questionable.
Even still the sulky shark followed Maude out of the establishment, the Zora taking note of the locale. At least skulking behind the woman he could avoid the alley drunkard and safely make it back to the main roads. Looking around it could visually be confirmed that the crowds now trickled through, he market's high hour bleeding away into the coveted afternoon. He sighed out, having held in a bated breath. He did have his coin from his trip to the counters, but much of that needed to first go to necessities and family. He would see what was left after. He glanced over to Maude and shifted back, like a ghost gliding in that cloak of his. He held out a gloved hand towards the woman.
"I'll pay you back for the meal and company later. I need to make sure that my horse hasn't died of old age." It would be their departure, for now.
Besides he didn't need Farrah skulking after him, worried he died in an alley or something.
While Zora weren't necessarily incapable of dealing with some heat, Nex had never been very good at dealing with the heat, but it was fault of his own, frankly. He wore a skintight wet suit that covered his body from neck to ankles and a water resistant cloak that was normally work by sailors to aide in keeping warm on the open seas. Gloved hands, thick trousers: the fish was roasting in his own clothing, even of the darker color helped fend off some of the sun's rays. The water helped cool off his belly, the sensation of cramping noticeable when he was hot. He hadn't eaten since arriving in the Town. Last night.
He watched her depart to fetch another glass, the brute reaching up to rub at the right side of his face trying to smooth out his features. She seemed all a huff at his comment. It wasn't as if he was incorrect in his assertion! She was quite beloved by her family and given all she needed to maintain herself in such a way. He leaned forward to pick up the second cup, his eye narrowing at her as he greedily supped from the glass. He sputtered, nearly breathing the water into his gills as she questioned the permanency of his body, but as the question morphed and shifted to be the result of his work he calmed down, barely managing to swallow.
He was rattled for a moment. The woman was too damn perceptive. It was great against their enemies but don't use it against him! He snorted into the cup, good eye turning away as his right one pinched closed. He seemed to be dismissing her concern, but he would finish the second glass and down the third halfway. He wanted to splash the rest onto his face… he stared at the clear liquid, mouth smacking together as he felt the temptation grow. He grumbled a bit, though his face deepened in color from its pale chalk.
"B-bed?" He ... He never really was keen on sleeping in beds.
Sure the lumpy sack, or a pile of junk, but a bed? He looked to her, the cup held loose in his hand and the bottom resting on his knee. His brows furrowed as he considered the offer. He wasn't sure he could even sleep in a bed, let alone next to Farrah. Wait. What?!
"W-with you?" He stiffened, sulking. "Can't we just go out to a lake or something?" They had oasis' right? "Besides it's still early." He glanced towards her room.
He seemed to be shifting between excuses to not go, but he was interested in the idea of seeing Farrah's toom. What did her room look like? Back home his was a little plain and cluttered. One could contest if anyone even lived there. He was curious. Setting the cup down he would rub the back of his neck.
"I'm not tired. But, uh. I haven't seen your room before..." It wasn't as if he'd ever offer her to see his, it was too embarrassing.
That had been a disaster, were he to be given a chance to label it. Though he had struggled with his responses because of the daunting subject matter he was also at a loss to inventively describe the aberration that were his emotions. Sometimes he feared he cultivated absurdist ideas in his head fueled by pure fantasy, with next to no conjecture to measure them from. Nex had often felt events in his life flowed unevenly and without justification as to why they occurred. Where, in his youth, he had once had held belief River Zora hibernated over the winter months, locked frozen as nightmarish sculptures that dotted the river's banks like headstones was proven false and he would have no such peace from his cousin come the off seasons.
Reaching up he tapped the right side of his face, left arm moving to tuck under his elbow to shelf the anxious motions as he rocked on his heels. He seemed deep in thought, quite distressed by his excessive responses. They were too cold and just heartless. Nex was not like many people any have met. While an ascetic would have you believe we were all the same deep beneath that surface: Nex's surface was caked in grime and disillusion.
His whole face had become a burning red, his heart struggling to remain barred in his chest and he fret over his callous reactions. His head would snap up when Maude's voice carried to his ears, eyes narrowing as he focused on her face, as if searching for signs of cracking beneath what he could only deem a farce. Certainly Maude was smarter than that! He did not know her well, but that which he did know she was no fool. The farmer was quite difficult to haggle with and had him a challenge when negotiating. It was a bit of a thrill to find someone so mentally capable running about backwater towns where the stereotypes of bumbling, naive farmhands was rife.
But, to his surprise, she continued.
His arms would fall to their sides as his defenses all but shut down. His racing heart slowed to such indiscernible beats the jellyfish would almost think death come to embrace him. His expression softened as his features seemed to slacken from their usual, tense pinch. He glanced down to his arms, long and wrapped in thin sinew, as his legs did much of the work in the water. His gloved hand came up to rub at his sides, a bit self conscious of his malnutrition, his inability to hunt and eat on his own a source of shame. His jaws tensed slightly, the power of his bite having long since diminished in the wake of his self-branding. He shook his head at her question.
"N-no..." He regarded, eyes lowering, like a pup being scolded by its mother. "I don't get very much sleep on the roads these days." He shrugged and rubbed at his arm pitifully. "Been on my own for a bit... " If he hadn't bumped into Farrah when he did in the Gerudo's village he'd of like collapsed from exhaustion. He was at his limit. "... You..."
The question was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't want to taste the butter sting of the possible and most probable answer. He dare not put himself in such an exposed position. He didn't know Maude and he still had a touch of fright as he knew not what she was fully capable of. She was far more astute and capable than some of the coral-brained brutes he has come across. He shook his head, turning to spit out the thought with a scornful scoff.
"You really trust too easily. But I guess. We'll see what she's able to teach me!" Though he spoke those words he grimaced as pain wormed its way through his extremities. "I know very well the weight of love, its pains and discomforts. But I also know the warm feeling... " He touched his hand to rest over his heart. "Warm." He sighed, pocked tongue poking out to brush at his lips as he returned to a slouching position, defenses molding back into place as he seemed to melt into his cloak, vanishing into the shielding confines of its folds of fabric. "...thanks." he whispered before turning his back to her and made his start to amble off.
He glanced back over his shoulder, eyes pinched closed as he sneered. He felt he was far enough and would hiss out towards the farmer. "You need to work on your form, you splash way too much!" He heckled, as if to shift back into their comfortable state of agitated acquaintanceship.
[Exit]
@maude ● 783 ● Guess it's time to get out of the pool
What a stupid ass concept. Nex knew Hylians were full of shit most of the time, but shaking hands as a greeting? He heard of it but he felt that it was one of those things Hylians told people to mess with them. The left side of his face upturned in a sneer as Maude explained to him this bizarre ritual. So far he's had his back smacked, head put in a lock and side ground into by a man's elbow. They had found ever conceivable way to introduce themselves, save this. Though when the man kept his arms tucked against his side and had a glower like a deep-sea lurker it was easy to determine that the brute would, in no way, initiate contact. That was the vibe he sent out and most people were smart enough to follow through. He was not a man of ill-repute but he did not seem one to put on unnecessary airs in order to satisfy a status quo he had no intention of maintaining.
"Ha?" He leaned forward, mouth parting at the incredulous words. "That sounds like made up shit." he was not shy to say so, because he was sure Maude felt the same way about extending hands with a person. "The thought is shriveling." He hissed before looking away.
What nonsense. It was difficult enough overcoming the delicate balances of social conduct without having to add layers of ritual that required meticulous planning. The man had enough of a time deciding if he even wanted to get out of his bedding in the morning, let alone escalate or extend his social confrontations with people. He wanted to make sure all his transactions were short and to the point. He already had his narratives ready for customers memorized. He needn't any new information to sort. It was tiring, in any case. People were a scourge and the predator would like nothing more than isolating himself in a watery cave somewhere to take a damn nap.
"D-don't ask such embarrassing things! As if!" He barked, the shark snapping his teeth together as if in threat, but Maude like knew that his snap was empty, jaws strong enough to scrape off icing from a cake, to be sure. His face turned red as he tucked his head low, reaching up to pull his hood over his skull. "I'll treat her however the hell I want." He spat. "It isn't like I don't treat her well." He couldn't honestly say he was nice to her, he had a habit of hissing defensively that Maude could see quite clearly. He pouted and pursed his lips. Her questions were not difficult, but they put him in a difficult place. "I'm not selfish," He regarded. "I always watch her back." He had before and he was not keen on the idea of letting someone get the better of her.
He definitely shouldn't tell Maude about the one time he cut a guy's tongue out because he talked shit about Farrah. That doesn't sound so good out loud as it does in one's head. Asshole had it coming! He sulked, realizing none of his answers seemed at all satisfactory. They were defensive and, at best, scathing. He was self aware and could do little of the shell he closed himself inside of. Pulling up his arm he rubbed his wet sleeve across his face. He hoped the water dripping from his hair would hide the absentminded tears as he battled his thoughts.
"I don't like anyone. People are useless bags of flesh and bones. All they do is talk shit and act like they are better than the person in front of them!" He sneered out from the cover of his hood, which now shadowed his face. His foot tapped uneasily against the ground, a slapping noise plapping from the wet sole. "...'cept, I like listening to Farrah and... she doesn't think I'm..." He reached his right hand up to hold the side of his face. " --some spineless jellyfish..." he'd say, tracing the brand. "I dunno. I just wanna be with her." He was quiet a moment, the word stuck in his throat. "...I don't like her." He admitted. "I love her." He scoffed, grossed out by his own weakness.
Maybe he was just a spineless jellyfish.
He has yet to say these things to her face.
He's practiced.
But when he looks at her his throat becomes p a r c h e d.
The Zora kept his eye on the retreating Maedhra, bubbling against the surface of the water. Everything below his nose was obscured by the rippling waters, his body shifting beneath with an effortlessness Nex failed to show on land. Zora were known to hold themselves with poise and grace, but not Nex. The lad was a bumbling entrepreneur of calamities if one left him to his own devices; a lanky beast of two left flippers, as it were. When the young woman was out of sight the Zora found peace to swim back to land, cerulean eyes drifting to Maude as she agreed with the duchess' assertions of his queer disposition. It was not as if he could help his mannerisms. They were a coping mechanism keenly build atop defensive behaviors fed by a threatening world. He reached the bank, arms coming up like the gangly limbs of an octopus before he hoisted himself up. Like this one could see his lithe form. The cloak often obscured his build, but he did have muscle, as expected of someone who traveled and swam often, but his height and racial traits distributed that weight quite differently. As he pulled onto the land his legs tucked up underneath him, leaving him in a squatting position, arms slung forward. He turned his gaze ahead.
"You don't make promises unless you plan to keep them, shaking hands indicates you have made a promise, swore an oath. I may be many things, but at heart this was one of the important things my father told me: never shake another's hand unless you mean it." He held up his right gloved hand, left finger tucking under the fabric to lift it slightly, revealing the pale palm. "It isn't comfortable touching hands with others anyway. I get rashes." It was the best he could explain the phenomenon induced by his numerous, irrational fears. "I was born in the sea, but raised in the river with my father's family. So the rules of my family's business are instilled quite early." In fact when selling his goods or trading Nex had a very different attitude.
Was it something easy to recall he spoke with more clarity, confidence that was a mere shadow of what he was normally. He stood straight and scrutinized everything the other said, deliberately testing and pulling to see how far he could get. He was a typical merchant, but he had a flair of sale unique to his Zoran roots of bartering. It could seem a bit more aggressive than Hylian trade, but theirs involved more subdued physical cues involving posturing. Perhaps the Hylians too did this, but in subtly different ways.He stood to his feet, the man's height diminished by his habitual slouch. Tucking his hands into his pocket he sneered as a sigh escaped him, his head turning away.
"That girl was a pain, talking about weird things she doesn't understand." Nex didn't understand much, but love was something he was keenly aware of as his attachment was something that was slow to develop and complicated to present. "Not everyone feels the same, besides." He reached up to grab his chest, pulling at his wetsuit, which was exposed as his cloak was open and he did not have his usual blouse on top. "Hey Maude..." His arms fell to his sides, the slinking urchin looking sheepish in the sudden exposure of the air.
He bit down on his lower lip, his upper fangs pinching into the flesh, but barely. One could sometimes forget he was a Zora because of his clumsy, obtrusive mannerisms, but those teeth made it clear where his nature sat. Some blamed his ornery temperaments to his River Zora roots, many claiming their barbaric roots a cause for their more combative nature. It was far from the truth, his father a grand example of passivity. No, it was a simpler fact that drove Nex to bristle more easily and his unstable mental resolve. He simply could not maintain the hugs he so desperately needed.
"Do you think...you'd let me c-court Farrah?" It seemed hardly appropriate to ask when they were both dressed in their swimming suits, Nex less so, and after such a difficult conversation, but for Nex it now weighed heavily on his mind. "I'm not -- leading anyone on. It's just --" How could he excuse that? It had been so long that it did not seem an important matter any more. "--I guess the idea of losing someone else, bred excessive caution." He was at least aware of his maladies, though little could he resist their influence on his life.
It was a simple request, as simple as they could be with the complicated jelly.
Nex wasn't paid to call people out for their bullshit, but this was one of those times he was tempted to do it for free. He disliked there kinda of situations. He was keenly aware of his own foolishness. The drunkard in the alley had thrown him off his thoughts and pushed him to escape into the nearest establishment. For this sort of place to be open at such an hour in Hyrule meant that the city-state was lacking in more riveting forms of entertainment. Bowling was much more riveting than these kinds of past times. me here he was trying to quit drinking, only landing into situations that called for his lucidity to be put into question.
"Oh it's no problem Maude dear! We're cozy to stay right here with you!" Mary was just so affectionate, it made her job easier. "Well what about you him, you didn't give us your name!" She said looking to Nex.
The Zora narrowed his eyes, moving to lift his bowl and slurp the rest of its contents, clearing his dish. Stu sat close, his hand on the back of Nex's chair and his smiling face staring at he young Zora. He would notice what many did not, but it was their job to be keenly aware of their customer's needs. He had not touched the Zora, nor had he gotten too close. His smile grew as Stu stared at the fish gobble up his meal. It was a sloppy endeavor for Next. His crooked features ensured that not using his utensils or being persnickety made the simplest task of keeping liquid in his mouth difficult.
Stu held up a napkin, nonjudgmental, just happy to help. "Nex…" he grumbled, taking the wipe to clean off his face. "I'm not into that--"
"We know." Stu caught on quickly to Nex's aversion touch. It wasn't much of a leap to surmise his lack of interest. The way he looked to others and seemed I'll at ease in the establishment was clear enough. "But this is nice too right? Having a chat with friends?"
"Friends?!" The shark bit. "Why would I ever be friends with a pair oof--!" Nex leaned back when the Hylian held up his finger to shush him with a motion.
"Because we're friends now, right Mary?" He looked to his sister.
"Of course!" She beamed at Maude, quite excited to share her friend's drink with new friends. She was quick to return, Isabella blowing the most dramatic kiss leaving Mary to catch it mid air, tucking it into her corset for later. "Here you go Maude!" She set the drink down. "The house special!" Mary was the most excited about this.
"We know what Maude does," Stu began, looking to Nex. "What about you sweetheart?" Nex looked down to his bowl, than back to Stu. "Another fish Stew Izzy, if you don't mind?" Now the man had Nex's attention.
Nex mumbles a bit at first before the fresh, full bowl arrived. "Merchant. But..." He picked up his spoon, Stu being quite patient. "I want to be an Archivist. Collect, store history..." He quietly offered before shipping his stew.
Mary clapped her hands together. "Isn't that fantastic! You two are sooo capable. I always wanted to be a carpenter, but I was never good with wood or my hands." Her claim caused both Nex and Stu to look at her, stare even. "What? Can you two carve a birdhouse?!" The shrugged and Nex went back to eating. "You see how I mean?" She seemed legitimately unaware of her own faux pas.
Stu shrugged. "Well, Maude, Nex I have to say you two are lovely, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He pointed between them. "You two sure are the bee's knees. We need more customers like you to come by. You really liven up the place." He smiled at them.
The original hostess would come by with the bill, Nex motioning it over towards Maude.
"Ooo," Mary stood as Stu did. "Please come back you two! You are such a breathe of fresh air, you know? Let me brush your hair next time Maude!" Stu would bow his head and head off, Mary following suit. They had other clients to tend to!
Nex moved to stand, slouched in his robes. "I guess that wasn't so bad. Next time I'll pay." Nex always paid back his dues! "Are you ready to go?" The market had gotten quiet by now so it was a chance they could escape.
Perhaps he has gotten in over his head. Festivities were never really his thing, not only that but this was a Hylian celebration where citizens of Holodrum would be scant in presence, if at all. Holodrum's citizens were fairly seen as snobby and their materialistic nature often presented itself in their citizens through their practice of the art of trade. There were few more brutal in their sales tactics than a Holodrum merchant. A Zora merchant was even greater of a surprise as their kind cursed outsider's with a look and spent much of their lives detached from the rest of Holodrum's society.
Out here in Hyrule Nex was more oft mistook for a Sea Zora. He was a bit more social than most of the Suken City and his brutal honesty was an effective method of maintaining a familiar boundary with customers without creating distance in the way his family did. They were traders and have always been. Greed was a strong sentiment among the older natives of Holodrum and ever present in his family's efforts to bankrupt farmers, making them dependent on their trade, or profiting on the misfortune of others. Nex never liked their methods, forced to deal with the tactics when within. The city walls.
But here? Out here he could chat, trade and familiarize himself with outsiders because he was often seen as such by members of his own tribe. Here he was the Sea Zora his mother always believed him to be. She was still a member of that kingdom, never cutting ties with her people despite her arrangement with his father. He was glad for this because he could honestly and proudly say he was from the sea…
But that did not mean he did not carry the prejudices from Horon. There the more distant relationship with the mountain born warriors was further eclipsed by his various interactions with them being less than favorable. He knew never to go drinking with them as they has no means of holding their liquor. This time around the Zora was dressed to impress as his goal was to meet and speak with the Leader of the Hyliam Goron, but he was not sure if they were just as or barely less primitive than the barbaric Goron of Horon. But that was an aside.
Underneath it all Sinnie chose to wear his wetsuit. If they were going to be so close to a Goron's territory one would have to expect an intense heat. This was his means of keeping his scales cool and moist. The neck of the wetsuit hid the scars that end over his gills, but it gave no indication that the collar was not smoothed up, fashionably. Overtop he wore a white overcoat decorated in gold-colored trim along the collar, down the body and the cuffs of his sleeves. It looked like the coat a Hylian general would wear, or a knight captain, but there were alterations that, at a second glance, made it easy to discern it was not, such as the brass buttons being plain as opposed to carrying the symbology expected of a decorated uniform. A red cape was draped over his back and folded over the front of his chest where it was clipped in place by a large, gold-pressed medallion with the crest of his house. The crest seemed to be centered with Nayru's Wisdom, held aloft by pictographic images of a wave flowing left and right. Beneath was the silhouette of a shark, the family's totem. His trousers were simple, deep blue, almost black, and had a looseness to them that was controlled towards the shins as the cuffs of the trousers were tucked into freshly shined boots. They were still his old, thigh high boots he has worn for years now, but a good shine made them an acceptable pass for the jubilee. All and all if one did not give careful look to the prestigious Zora: he could easily be mistaken for a decorated naval officer.
He adjusted his gloved hands, white coverings replacing his usual black ones. Now he needed to find the Goron Leader and approach them, but so many writhing bodies! When the dance began he melted into the crowds towards the buffet line, if only to get a better view of things before braving the ever touchy golems of power.
"I can't tell them apart ..." He lamented as he sipped on a bit of rum, his good eye glancing to the side. "How am I expected to do this?"
Nex was glad to finally have something warm to eat. Hylians often are Suh salty and rock hard foods that his fangs finding purchase was nigh impossible. Most of the time he barely had the energy. What he really wanted none of them ever made any good in the city and he rather not come to hate any more of his favorite dishes. At least the city knew how to handle stew. He laid his spoon back into the chunky, dark broth, trying to quell the shaking. His tired gaze, more so deflated from half paralysis, turned to Maude as she seemed to call not one, but two other people to their table, somehow.
It was beyond his mental state to determine whether she did this on purpose or had some sort of Witch's touch to be able to charm so many people. He honestly hated how her simplicity was all she needed to make the world twist around her. Her fists helped and it seemed even the debauch pair were equally aware of her physical prowess. How they could honestly praise it was --
"Lukewarm…" he mumbled, seemingly about the dish.
But still he would finish. He was raised better than that. Nex would nearly choke on his mouthful, shaking his head at Stu. No, no. Not this again. Why did everyone think that? He felt he made it crystal clear he hated company. What made Maude ant different?! E-even if he was neutral towards her company. He sighed, supposing it was his lack of ire and intense measure of fear of her flex that caused him to entertain her presence as a mere result of his being anywhere bear markets!
"No, I'm an acquaintance." That was the term and he was sticking to it!
But before he could further refute Stu gushes! "Oooh, how cute. Friends should always feel like they can hang out like this, Mary lookit!" He called.
"I know they are just the cutest pair! You must get mistaken for partners all the time! I know when I'm out with Isabella everyone thinks we're married! Oh when you are so close to your friends, what's the difference, right?" Mary would wave towards the bar where a tall, dark skinned hostess with draping clothes and red hair that curled so vivaciously that it covered her eyes.
"Even I thought she had gotten married under my nose." Stu admitted. "You two are just peas snug in a pod. You know Mary, I think we should do something special for them."
She held up her hand. "You stop, I know exactly what they need!" Mary looked to Maude. "What do you think hmm, do you two want to go to the back room? It's much quieter and there Isabella can mix us some top notch drinks!" It seemed the room was just down the hall, a quieter smoke lounge for those who needed a little less light after a few too many. The bar did seem to cut into the wall, the other half of the building attached for such a purpose.