melodiesoflife | The Fete at the Observatory

Entry tags:

The Fete at the Observatory

Characters: All (hopefully) uncaptured Heroes of Light
Where/When: At the Heroes' Observatory, the evening of February 10th
Summary: Ashelia has called a meeting - under the guise of a party - to discuss the next steps forward for the Heroes following the revelations revealed in the shared dream.
Warnings: N/A
Note: Each part of Ashelia's speech is centred around a different topic. Feel free to indicate what in particular your character is responding to in the headline for your top level! Alternately, if your character is bringing up something on their own, or not in direct reply to something Ashelia has mentioned, feel free to out the subject in the Subject line! There's a lot going on and a lot of ground to cover, so let's keep it organized so things are easy to find later!

"I would like your attention, please." With her experience as an accomplished politician, Ashelia's voice cut through the din of the gathered Heroes. The high ceiling of the meeting room lent itself well to the sorts of echoes that could easily cause headaches, unfortunately. The Queen planned to bring in some fabrics to soften the effects, but there had been little time for decorating, and it seemed there wouldn't be anytime soon.

The Lady Ashelia stood at the head of the incredibly large wooden table that dominated a good chunk of the room. Wooden chairs lined the edges of the tables, straight-backed and unfortunately not cushioned. It was clear that the Queen of Dalmasca didn't want anyone getting too comfortable in this particular room. There were papers in front of her, books and file folders and ledgers, all organized into neat piles. She picked up one of the papers, clearing her throat quietly before continuing. "If as many of you as possible could take a seat, I can call this meeting to order - and yes, I would like to apologize.

"As you may have guessed, this is not a fete. It is important for everyone to know..." Ashelia paused, waiting for the last straggling voices to quiet down before continuing, "that Mognet has been compromised. There is no longer such a thing as private correspondence, if ever there was. Keep this in mind in the coming months. The war has begun."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"As many of us have realized, and Markus observed earlier over Mognet, the usual appearance of new Heroes of Light at the Crystal of Fire around the fifth of each month did not occur. This disturbance of the established cycle may seem abrupt, but upon further examination, 'tis not so." The Queen took a sip of water. "The cycle has been disturbed previously, though not in such a drastic manner. Last month, crystal statues appeared and disappeared within the hour. Heroes awakened from the crystal stasis were unceremoniously dropped from the sky. So you see, this disturbance has simply progressed. I welcome your thoughts on this."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"Next on my agenda is the true motivation behind my calling this gathering. The night of February 5th, I had a dream." She stopped, shaking her head. "No, a vision. It did not take me long to realize I was not the only one to experience this. I've written the contents here." Ashelia held up a file folder. "However, if I am correct, many of you need only read it to refresh your memory." She stopped for a moment, putting the folder back on the table. "The ramifications of this new information are clear. The Empire holds four of our number captive, as well as countless other displaced Heroes in crystal stasis. It is my belief we must act on this information. We must save them."

Ashelia paused for questions and comments before continuing.

"The last subject I would like to cover is this." She held up a small, worn notebook. "This is the diary of the Lady Kalki, one of the Empire's Triumvirate. This woman, more than any other, has made clear her intentions are in opposition to us as a group. I encourage everyone to read through this document." Ashelia put the notebook down on the table and held up another file folder. "I have written a transcription myself, as the original is quite delicate." She put the file folder down. "This document provides invaluable insight into whom we can only assume is our enemy. It , unfortunately, poses more questions than it answers, but it does make clear that it is she who holds the answers that we need."

Ashelia took another sip of water, looking around at the gathered Heroes. "I once again open the floor to questions and comments. I believe it will take all of us to rescue our comrades; however, I also believe that if we do work together as one, we shall not fail."

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Zelda had collected things to keep within the observatory in case they were needed one of which was blankets. There was enough rooms in the new building for people to set up shops or rooms if they wanted to and the young goddess wanted to be prepared should the need arise.

She saw MarKus sleeping and smiled to herself at the sight. She knew that he had been working hard as of late and she didn't want to wake him. After excusing herself she quickly fetched a warm blanket draping it over the heroes shoulders like a mother hen attending her children. With that done she took up her post near the front of the room to answer any pressing questions.

MarKus had more reason there than to pass out and not interact with the situation, but, given the state he'd put himself in, well... as the blanket is tucked over his shoulder he mutters the name "Shirley" before seeming otherwise undisturbed by the action.

---

Many an hour later, likely long after the majority have left, and the power of being able to sleep through all the chatter, shouting, and other such noise, he wakes up, wondering where the blanket came from. Folding it up and leaving it on the chair, he picks up the pack he'd brought with him that was stored under the chair.

"Fuck... I slept through the whole damn thing..."

Zelda had been talking to others in the lobby as the heroes slowly trickled home. She was going to go check on MarKus before leaving and urge him to go home and rest more when she spotted him walking towards the front of the building. Her lips spread into a friendly smile stepping over to meet him half way to the first door.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He shrugs weakly, but he's not one to give her a negative answer. "Not really alright, but, better I guess. I've been... avoiding sleeping. No, rather, I've just been working so I have something more productive to do."

But after that brief muttering of words, he opens the pack he brought along and presents about a dozen or so rather... crude arrow heads. Depending on how much time Zelda spends with the arrows themselves, there's something more weighty to these arrow heads. One alone outweighs the average arrow including the shaft. "But at least you gave me a chance to test something. I need to grind them down a bit more but, I found a new way to make a better, denser steel."

She took the package with a smile regarding the arrows for a moment before turning to look back at MarKus.

"Being busy is good but you need to sleep." She glanced around the almost empty room before gesturing to MarKus. "Let me walk you home."

Zelda turned towards the door stopping to wait for him to join her. "You can tell me about this steel."

If MarKus were younger, he'd have taken that as a romantic gesture. Or maybe if he'd not been so tired.

"I'll try to. There's a lot of chemical science to it that even I don't get, but sometimes you can just do things even if you don't wholly understand."

MarKus tries to explain that iron is refined into steel. But during that refinery process, if it's re-heated to liquid temperatures, then put in an earthen container and mixed with leaves while it's cooling, the carbon in the leaves leaves it with a different structure, one that's far more compact, and thus, far more durable and dense. Less need for maintenance, keeping sharper edges longer, not to mention it looks pretty cool after the metal's been sharpened and buffed.

Normally he'd prattle on about it faster but he has to stop and think sometimes, either to break it down for someone who doesn't know this stuff or just him being tired.

"That's called tempering right?" Her smile was wide as she listened patiently to his explanation. They made many weapons and blades used in the fields in her town and the blacksmith was a friend of hers.

When Link and her were little they used to wake up early just to see the blacksmith stoke the fire that was always running in the smithy. Things broke often and they had to be replaced to get work done.

"Yeah, it is. You harden it further when you heat it up, get it shaped right, then cool it really fast." He was surprised she knew that but, hey, good on her for knowing.

"But basically since the carbon from the leaves adds a new element into the steel it just settles everything in a better pattern. Like..." how does he want to try an explain it. "Like you have a bunch of triangles and squares. You can put them together, but you'll get some gaps. But a bunch of triangles you can fit together perfect."

He stops for a second. "You know, if you ever wanna give it a try, I'll let you. But I know you're hella busy with everything else. And I don't want you to mess up your hair either. Working by a fire and next to a bunch of cold metal plates are way different." He reaches back and grabs his own rather long ponytail at the mention.

Zelda continued to listen, happy to see MarKus light up as he talked about his work. Her gaze was clear and confident as she smiled up at MarKus. "That makes sense though I'm not sure I could do it."

Her eyes went to the tips of his hair nothing their burnt ends. She loved her hair and had gotten the beautiful golden locks from her mother. Her hand absently went to her hair pulling it over her should and gently petting the soft locks.

"I'm sure I could pull my hair to the side but.." Zelda didn't want to be shallow but she didn't want to lose anything that reminded her of her mother.

If anyone understood that sentiment, it was him. Some about the resemblance to her mom, some about the hair itself.

"Speaking of, if you don't mind me asking about something generally girly, you don't have any suggestions do you? Honestly, your hair is beautiful Zelda." Straight blunt, and not even flirting with her! "I don't suppose you have any advice that doesn't require cutting it. My hair used to be in better condition."

And I promise that it has nothing to do with his lack of real sleep the last few weeks.

She smiled at his compliment feeling her cheeks warm slightly. "Thank you for saying so." She had always taken good care of her hair and because it was so long it was sometimes a chore. Since waking up in this new world she has found new ways to take care of it since the mixtures from home weren't in this world.

"It took some time but I have created mixtures to use on my hair. Most are herbs but they smell lovely. I can give you some if you want?" Her tone was soft and gentle sounding like a mother looking after her young. A delicate hand reached up and lightly brushed his hair aside. "Your hair doesn't look so bad."

"Well, it used to be better. I'll admit I used some of my girlfriend's shampoo for a while." he says, a bit embarrassed, but not all that much. And then she was touching his hair too...

"I don't think I could just... take it but... how about this, huh? A trade?" MarKus holds up the arrowheads. "I'll still need to finish them up... they're probably really blunt but, I spent more time working on the technique than making stuff so, yeah. Anyway, we can trade, some of your hair-stuff for artillery."

Zelda retracted her hand with a smile. “Sounds like a good fair trade.” She wondered absently who all he had left behind when he woke up here and if he was lonely. She didn’t know what she would have done if Link had not been here with her. He was a sort of strength that none could replace and she was blessed that he had woken up by her side.

“I need to make more but I can drop it by your shop when I run my errins next.” They kept walking forward and Zelda’s thought drifted back towards MarKus’s appearance. He didn’t look like he was doing very well and as much as she didn’t want to pry; she was concerned for the hero. “I know your worried but you shouldn’t let your help suffer.”

"I know, it's totally bad it's just... how I deal with things. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do, especially here since, this isn't even where I'm from but... It just seems smarter to keep myself busy rather than allow myself the time to go out and do something stupid." he explains.

After a few steps he just stops. "You know, like revenge for the fallen and all that." He didn't know what happened to Yuffie or the others that didn't come back. Could be dead or not quite as bad but still.

"I mean, there was a point where I wasn't even allowed to think AT the enemies so... I just had to keep myself busy making sure everyone could fight when it was time so... I guess that's where I formed the habit. But you're still right. I should sleep. I kinda slept today I guess." And he laughs.

Zelda shook her head with a mother smile. "Doesn't count." Her tone was gentle but it was also matter of fact. She looked up towards MarKus keeping her gaze steady and strong.

"That doesn't count as sleeping. I want you to go home and get a good nights sleep alright? There are people worrying here about your as well." Her smile widened. "You might have slept through it but we have some ideas. We are going to get everyone back." Her voice was confident and sure but it also remained light and hopeful.

Zelda wasn't above walking him home and tucking him in his bed if it got him to finally take a full nights rest.

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The Fete at the Observatory

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