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?

[hylights]

[Zelda nods, a small smile spreading over her face.]

I do have a couple of things from home I can use to start with. And an embroidery project I could hang, if I ever finish it.

[Tapping a finger to her chin in thought, she's quiet for a moment. How to describe it?]

I used to live in a castle.

[honeybadgerer]

[ wait. ]

Are you a princess?

[hylights]

[Wow, that's. The fastest someone's ever worked that out.]

Oh - yes. I am. My name is Zelda, of Hyrule.

[honeybadgerer]

[ well. girl + castle = princess, obviously.

also this is officially the best day ever. ]

Did you have a princess gown? Did you have princess lessons? Oh, oh, did you ever get to smash the patriarchy?

[hylights]

[It's charming, really, to get this barrage of questions. Zelda's smile grows warmer and she laughs a bit.]

I did have a gown, though I only wore it for official duties. If I was out actually doing things I wore pants. And -- well, I think all the lessons given to me count as that, since I was one. Do you mean lessons in how to carry myself and treat with guests?

[Then she has to pause, and admit:] I'm afraid I don't know what a patriarchy is.

[honeybadgerer]

It's when kings and princes are mean. So the princesses have to come in and save the kingdom.

Those are my favourite kind of stories.

[hylights]

Oh -- well. No, I don't think I did that. Not really.

[Her father was often strict and she will have to save the kingdom... but not in that way.]

But we have a lot of stories of princesses saving the land from other things.

[honeybadgerer]

Do you have them written down somewhere?

Or a movie I can watch?

[hylights]

Sorry, but movies don't exist where I'm from. I could write them down for you if you like? I know them all by heart.

[honeybadgerer]

That'd be great!

[ princess stories, yeahhhh ]

Thanks Zelda!

[hylights]

It's no trouble. It just might take me a while.

What's your name?

[honeybadgerer]

[ she beams, her scars crinkling. ]

My name's Gabby.

[hylights]

It's nice to meet you, Gabby. Where are you staying in Riverview? I'm still in the shared housing at the moment.

[honeybadgerer]

Same here! I'm on Floor 14.

[hylights]

I'm on floor 8. Though obviously I'm thinking of moving out, since...

[She gestures at the camera. She did make this whole video message about it, after all.]

[honeybadgerer]

You should! It's important to have your own place.

[hylights]

I think so too. But it was nice for a while to live with others. I haven't really tried that before.

[honeybadgerer]

Yeah, it's kinda new to me too.

[ in a way. she's never been alone but neither has she lived in normal quarters until recently. ]