the_campus | Announcement 001

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Announcement 001

[Whether you're waking up in the clinic just now, or have already done so and are now wandering the halls, a sudden screech of microphone feedback blares over the speakers before fading back out.

A moment later, a woman clears her throat. Her voice is husky and mature, but still feminine, and overall she sounds very authoritative...if not a bit sarcastic.]

Good evening, and welcome to the new school year. I hope your arrival was a pleasant one, last year everybody threw-up from motion sickness, it was quite messy.

[There's a long pause as she seems to think, or perhaps just let any anticipated bustling chatter calm down.] Now, you're all intelligent human beings...for the most part. But I suppose I'll pretend I'm talking to the insipid uneducated masses for a moment; it shouldn't prove too difficult.

[She clears he throat again.] In every hall, you shall find a small intercom. You may use that to ask me any questions after my announcements and "privately" converse. Now, if you head North down one of the halls near the clinic in the Central Wing and keep going, you'll eventually come to either the West or East Dorm Wings, depending on which fork in the road you chose. There you'll find all necessary bunk beds and spare socks.

So, make sure you're all well rested for class in the morning; we wouldn't want to get a failing grade now would we?

[And with that, there's another burst of feedback before her announcement abruptly ends. Anybody who had been wandering the halls will notice a distinct lack of...well, anybody else aside from new arrivals, the Nurse, and the Lunch Lady.

The strange woman over the loudspeakers may have mentioned classes, but the school seemed completely devoid of any teachers to provide those classes. In fact, a lot of things seemed...off.]

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Speak to the Voice
General Mingle

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[He had a feeling that Pyrrha was also new to this place. No matter; every place you can enter has an exit, and every puzzle has a solution. There will be a way out if he can only find it.]

I'm sorry, Pyrrha, I don't know what to do yet. I'm looking for my Fairy now. You haven't seen her, have you?

[Although Link grew up without a fairy, he feels lonely without Navi's presence. He doesn't like being stripped of an invaluable friend and ally.] I was confused by the voice. It said we have a class in the morning, but I don't remember signing up for one.

[He shrugs lightly.] Do you want to skip the class together? We can look for my fairy and a way out of here.

Edited 2013-05-20 05:52 (UTC)

You... have a fairy? Really...?

[Shaking her head.] I'm afraid that I've... never seen a fairy before. [...But now she kind of wants to!]

[She blinks at his suggestion.] S-skip?? ...Together?

[Pyrrha nervously shifts her weight a bit; feeling a bit shy... though the thought of possibly encountering a fairy IS certainly tempting.] I don't remember seeking any classes out, either... but...

[After looking around a bit warily, she whispers.] Would it really be wise to disobey the voice? What if... what if we anger it?

Edited 2013-05-20 15:14 (UTC)

[He brightens visible at the question.] Yeah! She helps me a lot with puzzles and fighting.

[The thought of angering the voice doesn't bother Link... at all. Voices are always attached to beings, and if the beings are evil he knows he can find some way to defeat them. Why should this one be any different? As a result, he merely shrugs in response to Pyrrha's concerns and gives her a small but confident smile.]

I'm not afraid. If something happens I can protect you.

[And if he could lure the voice out... it might be the boss of this place! Defeating the boss always creates a portal out of wherever you are.]

...You... do a lot of "puzzles and fighting", then? Are you a warrior..? [A warrior who... solves puzzles?]

[Pyrrha is very used to living her life as someone who simply goes along with the things that other people have in mind for her- so of course she becomes a bit nervous when two different sources have two entirely different things in mind. She could obey the ominous voice now- which might be the most "safe" option.... Or, she could get really crazy and actually do something that she kind of wants to do. The mere thought in itself is nerve-wracking. Decisions are hard!]

[But, somehow, as she looks over at Link's confident smile, Pyrrha almost has no choice but to trust in someone so... self-assured. He's even offering to protect her... When was the last time that she has encountered such immediate kindness from a stranger?]

[In the end, Pyrrha decides that she trusts this boy- just a bit more than she fears the ominous voice, anyway.]

If... if you wouldn't mind having me along... [Though her eyes are usually filled with a certain degree of sadness, Pyrrha does offer the boy a very small, pleased smile as she looks to the floor.] I would very much enjoy having the chance to meet a real fairy. I'll try not to be a burden on you.

[He nods in agreement. Fighting does involve an awful lot of puzzle solving... it's good that he has the patience for it.

Link knows that he'll have to approach this place like a puzzle too. There are rooms to explore, so there also must be items to find and enemies to defeat. As far as he's concerned, coming here must be part of the natural course of events.]

I don't mind! I'm sure Navi will be happy to meet you too, especially if you help find her. [This girl can't be more of a burden than Ruto, can she? As long as he doesn't have to carry her around it shouldn't be a problem.]

Do you fight much? [He gestures to Pyrrha's sword and shield. They look well-made... probably expensive unless she found them on a quest.]

I see...

[Pyrrha looks down to her sword and Elk Shield, before shaking her head.] No-- er, I mean... yes, I suppose... but... I'm not a fighter, really.

These weapons were given to me by... um... [How to describe Tira?] ...by a... friend. -They're only for my protection.

I really don't want to fight anyone, though. [...And yet she does. There's a pause, as the girl awkwardly averts her gaze; fighting down a fleeting sense of guilt. Pyrrha raises her gaze to Link's.] It... it probably sounds rather weak of me, to a brave warrior like yourself... but I don't like fighting. [She hugs her shield to her chest.] It scares me to death.

Oh.

[It's strange to think of someone going around with a sword and shield who is terrified of fighting. Women don't usually fight much anyway though, do they? The Gerudos and Impa do, but they seem to be exceptions to the rule. He can't remember seeing any Hylian women fighting.]

That's okay... you don't have to fight. [This time his smile is meant to be reassuring.] There's plenty of other ways you could help if you want.

[Like standing on switches or keeping a lookout!]

[Pyrrha looks back at Link; giving a small nod of her head.] I would prefer to help in other ways if I can...

...But... I will fight if I must protect myself. [A pause.] Should something happen, you... you needn't put yourself in any danger for me.

[She doesn't need the death of yet another good Samaritan on her shoulders. Pyrrha has seen enough good people die because of her "bad luck". Ah; but she doesn't want to spoil the mood too much by elaborating any further...] ...Anyway... um,

Do you know where you would like to start our search?

[Link stares at Pyrrha, expression clearly perplexed as he listens to her words.]

But... that wouldn't be very brave of me, would it?

[Everyone tells Link that he's a hero now... that everyone is depending on him to save them because no one else can. Heroes are supposed to always be brave. He wouldn't be worth anything if he saved himself at the expense of another.]

[He takes a few seconds to consider where to start the search.] I already looked outside, but maybe not as well as I could. We should see if we could get on the roof.

[With that he starts off down the hall, expecting Pyrrha to follow.]

[Pyrrha only looks confused by Link's confusion. She simply stares at him for a moment- before hurrying to scurry along behind him as he starts off down the hall.]

[She bites down upon her bottom lip; unsure of how to phrase herself. Pyrrha doesn't want to insult Link or suggest that he is a coward... It's just that... well, she's had many people turn their backs on her before. The people in her life... well. They tend to die a lot. And those who do not die, tend to turn their backs on her or betray her trust in some fashion. So... if she's just prepared for it- if she can continue to keep her emotions in check and remain at a certain distance from people... Maybe... things will be okay.]

[She's always been a forcefully reserved and restrained young woman; moreso as the years go by and her supposed "bad luck" continues to haunt her.]

[When Pyrrha speaks again, it's in a slightly hesitant tone.] ...As I mentioned before... It isn't my intention to burden you. So I... I just mean that... seeing as we've only just met, I understand that there isn't any way for you to know whether I'm worth risking your life for or not.

I'm not a royal, or wealthy or anything... [She looks down at the floor.] In fact, I... I was bought as a slave, to live a life of servitude. And as such, I have almost nothing to my name at all. So I wouldn't be able to properly reward you for your bravery, either...

[He listens to the girl as they walk, again appearing troubled by her words. As the hero, just as he is always meant to be brave, no one else ever questions the wisdom of the risks he takes. In fact, he's more or less been molded to embrace recklessness.]

It's okay, Pyrrha. I promise.

[Before Ganondorf took over, Link wouldn't really know what a slave was supposed to be. Now he has a good idea about it, and feels badly to think that Pyrrha is suffering that sort of fate.]

I don't do this for rewards [although he never turns one down]. I do this because it's my destiny. Everyone says so. I would never let someone be hurt if I could save them. I won't let you be a slave again either.

[Playing the hero has evolved into somewhat of an obsession over time. It's not good enough to simply do his duty... he just can't say no to anyone. About anything. Navi is always bugging him to get back on track, but he can't help it.]

Your... destiny?

[Pyrrha stares again; almost in awe. He's so... straight-forward and self-assured. So much so that... unfortunately, against her own better judgement, Pyrrha has already begun to admire him. His earnestness and self-confidence makes everything seem... so very simple.]

...Very well then. [The girl looks down to the floor at his words. Link is... very endearing indeed. After a moment of silence, Pyrrha realizes that she's actually smiling a bit. Oh dear. She shyly covers her mouth and corrects it.]

You... you are indeed very brave. -Much more brave than I ever will be... [A pause.] But you know... you needn't concern yourself with my freedom. Being a slave isn't so bad once you get used to it... [She thinks it over.] I was clothed and fed, at least. ~~[Pyrrha's standards for "not so bad" are actually pretty low.]~~ -And because I was quickly bought, it made me a noble family's property... which, in turn, kept me safe. Once something is yours, you don't usually want it hurt or damaged, see?

[Pyrrha continues walking alongside Link; staring down the hallway.] -At least that's how it was explained to me, when I was approached about it. And the man who sold me was very kind... He kept going on and on about how much I would be wanted... [It almost flusters her to think back on it. Mr. Dampierre was very convincing.] He was so persistent that I just... went along with it, I suppose. That's why I allowed him to sell me.

[Yep. So Pyrrha was basically sweet-talked into choosing a life of slavery. She says this all very plainly, as though it were a good idea to let herself be bought by strangers, rather than a bad idea that happened to not turn out as badly as it could have... initially.]

Yeah. I wasn't sure I believed in that kind of thing before, but now I do.

[Unbeknownst to him, Link is leading the two toward the West Wing of the building. No one way appears particularly right, so he may as well choose one at random.

Glancing to his side at Pyrrha, he just misses the small hidden smile. Link does admittedly enjoy a compliment here and there, so he's happy to hear that she thinks he's brave.

The talk about how being a slave isn't all that bad though... that sounds very peculiar to him. He thought being a slave was a pretty black and white issue. Why would anyone want to belong to someone else? Then they could do whatever they wanted to you! It's just like having an evil tyrant as king.]

Don't you think that man might, er, not have really been thinking about what was best for you? [He bites his lip, shooting Pyrrha another sideways glance. Link doesn't want to judge someone about the way they live their life, and yet...] Is being someone's item really what you want?

It must be nice... -having such a noble destiny. And knowing where you want to go in life...

[Pyrrha was told that she has a purpose in life too, once. Unfortunately, that purpose was to bring death and destruction to everyone around her. ...Quite different than Link's.]

[Of course, Pyrrha hasn't yet accepted that destiny. She would never wish for such awful things to happen because of her.... But... unfortunately, things never really seem to turn out the way Pyrrha wants.]

W-what I want...? [Pyrrha blinks; looking over to Link as though the mere concept were foreign. She quickly averts her gaze once she realizes that Link's gaze was upon her, however- and looks down to the floor instead.] I...

...I... didn't think much of it.... [A pause.] I don't like to get my hopes up by dwelling on the things I want, really. I just... I just knew that I didn't want to be alone or hurt anymore. So it... it was okay. ...I suppose. [But... now she's a bit uncertain. Something about Link's question is making her second-guess the truth of her own words...]

[After a moment of hesitation.] ...Or... maybe... it's not okay. I- I don't know, but it's... easier. I don't want to upset anyone...

[Oh dear. Now she's rambling on about her thoughts, and making herself seem more and more weak in the process. Pyrrha clears her throat a bit.] But it... it's fine. So... um... [Trying to think of a way to change the subject now...]

I guess it is. I never really... belonged before, where I grew up. Now I have a purpose.

[And it's a purpose he can be really proud of. Until recently he never knew about the world outside of the forest. But now he knows all about it, and how great the different types of people are. Link would like nothing more than to help them out.

It sounds like the situation isn't nearly so straightforward for Pyrrha, however. He could have related before. When he didn't have a fairy, he did feel lonely in a way that the others couldn't understand.]

Maybe you just need to make some friends.

[Link claps Pyrrha on the shoulder, then quickly pulls his hand back with a muttered apology when he realizes that might not be the most appropriate thing to do. He shouldn't presume that it's okay to touch her in any manner.]

Do you, uh, want to be friends? [He looks ahead again, frowning thoughtfully after he asks. It really does sound like he's butting into her personal life, doesn't it? Navi would probably be annoyed with him again for getting into other peoples' business when it wasn't necessary.]

["Never belonged"? ...Pyrrha certainly knows the feeling. She has been a wanderer for her entire life, but has never known a single place to "feel like home". ...Whatever that feeling is like.]

[The truth is that Pyrrha has made several friends throughout her lifetime. It's keeping them that's the hard part. It's always only a matter of time before they betray her trust, or begin to avoid her, or... meet an unfortunate fate. Really, it would probably be much more sensible and responsible of her to avoid making friends.]

[-But as Link touches her shoulder, Pyrrha jumps slightly in surprise and immediately stares down at the floor; her face going bright pink at the contact- as well as the question. Pyrrha's heart flutters in her chest; and despite herself, she feels.... happy, at the prospect. The young woman continues to shyly stare down at the floor as she responds in her usual soft voice.] I...

[Again, a tiny smile is hidden- by the pale strands of her hair.] ...I would like that.

[Whatever doubts Link had about his intrusiveness fade quickly when Pyrrha appears pleased by his offer. He shoots her another self-assured smile.]

Great!

[Admittedly, it's a relief to have a friend in this strange place where he doesn't even have his fairy for company. He's always had Navi throughout his time away from the forest, and to be entirely alone anywhere else gives him a distinctly uncomfortable feeling.

Soon they arrive at a flight of stairs heading upward. Link leads the two in that direction, pleased when the stairs bring them to the roof of the building.]

Okay, keep your eye out for anything unusual. If you see what looks like a glowing orb of light, let me know.

[A friend.... She has a friend now. It's a pleasing thought... and yet nerve-wracking at the same time. Hopefully, this friend will actually stick around for a while.]

[After climbing the stairs, Pyrrha steps out onto the campus roof and feels a gust of wind blow through her hair. She tucks a few stray strands behind her ear and looks up at the clear sky, before nodding to Link's words.]

An orb of light... O-okay. [Is that what a fairy looks like, then? Come to think of it; she has no idea what to expect from meeting one.]

[Stepping out toward the end of the roof, Pyrrha blinks as she looks out across the campus grounds. This place really is huge. Distantly, she can see streets and trees and lamp-posts... It's odd; the strangely neat and man-made look of everything. Where ARE they, exactly? She doesn't recognize the area or architecture of this place at all...]

[Blinking.] ...um, Link?

[She points down to the sidewalks.] There are... people....

[From so high up, it's hard to make out any details about them- but there are definitely a few ~~NPC~~ people out there... just... casually going about their days.]

Edited 2013-05-25 02:56 (UTC)

[Having been looking in a different direction, Link didn't notice the people at first. When Pyrrha says his name, he turns to look over there, squinting at the people walking around down below.]

That's weird...

[None of them seem too bothered by their situation. Link does also notice the strangeness of the architecture, but he's used to being in unfamiliar places. It doesn't bother him much.]

Do you think we should try and talk to them?

[Though finding Navi is still his priority. She would know what to do... she always knows the right path. Fairies are mystical that way.]

[Pyrrha nods her head.] This is the first time I've seen anyone else...

...It might help us if anyone has seen Navi, right?

[The girl raises a hand; trying to call attention to their position as she waves an arm.]

H-hello...! [Her soft voice calls out, but it's obvious that either no one can hear her, she's being ignored.]

Yeah, you're right!

[Link lets Pyrrha try shouting down to the people, but when it becomes clear her voice isn't carrying, he gives it a try. No... that isn't working either. But when he'd been outside earlier, he hadn't been able to get that far outside! Everywhere were barriers of some sort. Maybe there's another way around them?]

I guess we're too far for them to hear us. Come on, let's keep looking.

[He makes his way slowly around the perimeter of the roof, searching for that familiar orb of light.]

I don't know why we would be separated. [He tries to keep the worry out of his voice, but it's still obvious he isn't taking this separation very calmly.]

[How strange, for none of the people walking around to see or hear them...]

[Pyrrha doesn't think much of it, though. She merely sighs and goes back to exploring the roof. The young woman continues to search, but... she's beginning to wonder whether the fairy is actually here or not. Eventually she looks over at Link; her brow furrowing slightly at his words.]

...Are you... okay?

[It's starting to look like Navi isn't going to show up any time soon. Surely he would have found her by now... or she him. Fairies aren't known for getting lost.]

Huh?

[It takes a moment longer for Pyrrha's words to push past his own thoughts. He nods, but doesn't feel quite so confident and energetic as before.]

Yeah, I'm fine. She'll probably turn up eventually, right? [With a sigh, he turns away and starts trudging back toward the stairway they'd used to access the roof.]

Maybe we better find somewhere we can stay for the night. I don't think we're going home just yet.

Y-yes, perhaps later...

[...Though in all honesty, she has no idea. Pyrrha still doesn't even know where they are right now or how they got here. Everything is just so confusing that... To be honest, she'd much rather not even dwell on it for too long at all.]

[Link's change of mood is noticeable- even to someone as dense at reading others as Pyrrha. She feels really sorry for him, honestly. If only there were something she could do.... But... Pyrrha isn't exactly known for bringing others happier times. If she were a more confident person- a better friend- she would have reached out to touch the boy's shoulder in support... But as it stands, she can only stand back in silence; unsure of what to say or do in this situation.]

[Feeling like she has somehow failed her newfound companion already, Pyrrha merely nods her head in agreement to his words.] Okay...

[Following closely behind once more, Pyrrha blinks as she reflects back on his words. Wait... "somewhere we can stay...?" As in... together.... for the night?]

[N-no; that's... probably not what he meant. Pyrrha silently chides herself as she decides that a person like Link wouldn't suggest something like that so casually. And, besides...]

[....wait-] Link?

[She awkwardly changes the topic of conversation as a question comes to her.] ...Um, if you don't mind me asking- how old are you?

[It just feels strange not having that constant companion... but at least he has Pyrrha for company now. No, he knows he can't expect to keep her around all the time. He'll just have to adjust again to being by himself more often than not.

Brooding on this topic, he forgoes conversation as they head downstairs. Only when Pyrrha asks him a question does he start talking again.]

How old am I? [Time is a bit of a fluid concept for him, since he can travel back and forth through it as long as he can make it to the Temple of Time. The answer differs depending on where he is in time at what moment.] Seventeen. Why?

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