video. | un: z.hyrule

[hylights]

[The video opens on Zelda sitting in her office at Gramarye. She smiles once the video begins, a little subdued.]

Hello. I hope everyone's faring better after the events of a couple of months ago.

[She considers saying more, only to shake her head slightly. Best to let terrible memories lie. Besides, that's not the point of this broadcast.]

This is going to sound like a strange question, I'm sure. But I was wondering if anyone had advice on what sort of things are useful to buy when moving into a new home? I'm looking at apartments at the moment... they have furniture in them, but I'm not sure what else usually goes into a living space, especially here in Riverview.

[There are just a lot of gadgets that seem useful. And fascinating. But how many of them are practical? That's the real question. After a moment, Zelda has to smother an awkward laugh.]

It's probably obvious that I haven't done this before. [She looks down for a moment before holding up a magazine, folded open to a page advertising a dehumidifier.] And... I’m interested in how these work, but how necessary are they? How humid can a home really be?

Comments

[ video | un: honeybadger ]

[honeybadgerer]

You need stuff that screams you. Not like actual screaming but like. Things that make you feel at home.

Also food. Make sure you have food.

[hylights]

Well, food shouldn't be too hard, since I already buy that where I am...

[The other thing though?]

It's hard to say what would make me feel at home when this place is already so different from there. I could take some things from my office, I suppose.

[honeybadgerer]

I'm sure there's stuff you can get that makes it feel like home even if if this place is different. Like scented candles!

I always wanted scented candles but Laura said we'd end up burning the place down.

[hylights]

Oh! Candles are a good idea - what kind of scents do they have?

[She doesn't need them for lighting but it would feel more like the castle that way. Zelda has to blink at the casual mention of a housefire--]

That would only happen if you put them somewhere inappropriate, like next to curtains or paper.

[honeybadgerer]

Huh.

[ the more you know. ]

But they have all kinds of scents! I don't know them myself, but I'm sure you can find what you need.

[hylights]

I've only ever used them for lighting the room. But they have other kinds of lights here, so decorative ones might be nice.

[honeybadgerer]

Yeah. You could also find posters and paintings of places that kinda look like home too?

What's your home like anyway?

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

I don't know how they work, exactly, but back home in Seattle, you definitely need them. But then again it rains pretty constantly so...

As for what you need: a can opener. Never forget a can opener and a dust pan.

[hylights]

Because they make the air less humid, right? I never thought of that as something that could be changed.

[In all honesty, she might get one just to see how it works. It's so very tempting. Zelda stifles a laugh.]

See, that's the sort of thing I wouldn't think of until I reach for a can. Cans themselves took some getting used to.

[11calls]

Yep! That's what they do. They normally work pretty well too!

[And then Alex chuckles softly.]

For me it was a knife. I didn't remember to get a new, sharp life and ended up like...trying to use a butter knife for things that didn't work with a butter knife.

[hylights]

I can just imagine how frustrating that was... but not wanting to give up and go buy a new knife in the meantime.

[Well, that's how Zelda would look at it. At least for one day.]

[11calls]

Oh yeah, I definitely refused to get dressed and go to the story after I had just spent all that energy moving! I swear, I ended up practically ripping off pieces of cheese more than actually cutting it!

[hylights]

[She has to laugh at the mental image Alex is giving her.]

That sounds like a formidable piece of cheese! Do you have a proper knife for it now?

video | un: blacklion

[lionunchained]

In terms of what you need for an apartment, part of it would be taking stock of what you have already in furnished apartment. You need cookware, kitchen appliances that aren't included, bed linens of course. Any touches like lamps and decorations that appeal to you. That will help with making it see more like home.

There's a lot of things offered that... well, something else could do the same thing. They only do one thing and waste space in your house.

[Sorry, you got a science-y person here...]

A dehumidifier? Essentially they pull water out of the air using one of two different possible methods. Unless your apartment is humid, you may not need one. It maybe just general personal preference to get one, like if its too humid in the summer for you that you'd use it. Otherwise, some people need them for health reasons or older buildings may need them.

[hylights]

[She nods along, itching to take notes but not really able to without being rude.]

Some of those appliances I know you can also use elsewhere. Like those 'washing machines' for clothing. There are stores where you can use those.

[By contrast, Zelda leans in to Shiro's description of the dehumidifier's inner workings. She's a science fan by heart if not by name.]

Do they store the water somewhere internally or evaporate it somehow? I honestly wouldn't have thought of the process at all if it weren't for the advertisement. That's not the sort of device we have at home.

[lionunchained]

[Eh, he wouldn't have minded if she did]

Exactly. Laundromats charge for using their machines, but compared to the cost of buying one, its minimal. I say save your money for other things first. You can always get a washing machine later.

The dehumidifier, in version 1, has a chamber where the water is kept. Like how water collects on the outside of a glass is how that works. It has to be empties periodically. The second version uses different materials that by their nature draw water from the air, which of course need to be changed when they become over saturated.

[hylights]

Oh, that's a good idea. It's a lot of money for everything at once.

[Something she's already realising. At least she has plenty stashed away.]

That's fascinating. I almost want to get one just to see it work.

[lionunchained]

Yeah it is. Prioritizing is a good first step. There are somethings you have to have and things that would be nice to have.

I think we have one. I was planning on doing work in our attic at some point and its not insulated yet so its more exposed than the rest of the house. I can always show you how it works.

[hylights]

I think I can manage easily enough with just a few things at first. I can build up to more.

[At Shiro's offer, she practically beams.]

Really? That's so kind of you - I've love to see it.

video @chronicler

[scholiast]

(It's so good to see Zelda in both better spirits and better health; it makes Lucretia smile to see her laughter, however awkward and smothered it may be!)

Well, there are the basics, obviously, but I suppose you're more after how to personalise your space? You could put some art on the walls. Maybe some of your photographs.

[hylights]

I am thinking of that, yes ... though covering the basics is a good idea too. I've never made my own space like this before.

[The idea of putting up her photos makes her brighten.]

Oh, yes, I could do that! Now that I know how to print from the Slate I can even use some from home.

[scholiast]

It's a lot of fun once you get into the swing of things.

I like to have plants around, and– animals, too. Have you considered getting a pet, perhaps?

[hylights]

--a pet?

[Judging from the blank confusion, probably she had not.]

No, I've never had one. I had a horse once but that isn't quite the same thing.

[scholiast]

(A horse, Zelda...)

My partner has two pets; you could have one of those, if you like.

[hylights]

[It was a royal horse, very fancy. Technically she has a horse again now. She just hasn't begun to think of it as hers yet.]

I-- Lucretia! I wouldn't just take one of their pets.