with knowledge comes great responsibility

[anythingforyou]

[What an absolute ordeal all of that was.

Today was certainly one hell of a day, that's for sure; they've managed to take care of another Guardian and gain it's trust (or at the very least, something resembling it), they managed to find Candice and manage to...well, maybe not get her back in a state that's altogether wanted, but ensure they managed to get her at least into a place where she could possibly regain herself. It will likely be a process, as such things are, but they've done their best, and they should have no regrets.

The center is definitely going to be a welcome reprieve for all of their suffering, at the very least. The Kompot is certainly more than enough to likely get everyone warmed back up and in a stable condition, along with the copious amount of blankets the locals have provided. They've got the time to rest and get ready for their next adventure.

Rest well, ye merry band of travelers. You've earned it.]

Comments

[hyruglyphics]

[ She played her part to get Candice to town, to get her situated somewhere that they can possibly hand her off to the locals, to help her be rehabilitated. If she wanted to linger with them she would try to linger closer. That said- As the day concludes, as things settle down for the end after those trials and after the loss of the world has been laid bare, while the group (or at least most of them) are in one place, Zelda clears her throat and well, concretely says, ]

I would like to apologize to you all. … I am sorry. I lost my temper, what I was not helpful to our cause today. It would not be right of me to allow that to linger.

[ It's possible that pressing the point helped but... honestly, it's hard for her to declare that one way or another. It’s said with the same of dignity and poise Zelda does try to present for herself, but it is betrayed somewhat by how dry her mouth and eyes feel. Her eyes are distinctly bloodshot. She’s just… tired. She doesn’t refuse responses directly to that, but she also doesn’t linger for them either.

How she handled things wasn’t becoming of a princess or of a scholar. To have Kayneth praised for rationality while she handled things the worst really cemented that home for her. As such when she finishes the apology, she doesn’t quite distance herself from the group, but she does sort of settle into a position huddled up with Saber a ways off from everything. Miphanus is beeping near them, but she just wants to be with the one of the four who actually has body warmth.

That's her evening. ]

[perfectselfie]

[After a little while, Aya will come on over with a cup of tea for Zelda.]

How are you holding up? I made tea, if you'd like some.

[hyruglyphics]

[ How is she holding up... indeed. Zelda's eyes are still bloodshot, though she got most of her crying out back in the cave. Though her hair is now much more messed up because Saber has licked her head. ... Now it reaches its tongue out to lick at Aya. Or the tea. Let's lick as first instinct.

That said, Zelda, ]

Oh... yes, that is nice of you, thank you.

[ventulus]

[ Ventus kind of had a feeling that she might've apologized after all of that, though he's not sure if he thinks she really did too much of a bad thing in the first place. Sure, he knows that there were extenuating circumstances with the Pokemon, but at the same time...there was actually a lot he wasn't okay with either.

He's not sure if he can make anyone feel better after that, but maybe he can try to make it clear they're not alone in this, and that might help. ]

I'm not going to really blame you for any of that...that wouldn't really be fair.

[ ... ]

Do you want to kind of talk about it a little more? Or something else?

[hyruglyphics]

[ About it, about...? Not really, not... at all honestly. Still, to have the young man speak up a little, she looks a bit sheepish, Miphanus floating behind her with more naked concern towards her. In this precise moment here, having put her on the spot? ]

Maybe? Nothing comes to mind.

[bloodspent]

[He'll come join her later that night, after he's had some time to bleed some things out of his system; his hand's wrapped and he'll further deal with whatever injuries he did to himself in the morning, right now it's just good enough for government work and he'll come sit down near her so he's not just standing over her.]

How're you feeling after all that?

[It's quiet, but it's a question that's being put out there anyway.]

And I'm not asking if you'll manage, or if you're okay, because I'm sure you will and exactly none of that is feelings.

[hyruglyphics]

[ Honestly she was about to say something like she would manage. So when Jake corrects himself there, she considers saying something else, perhaps focusing on his hands... but she ends up just smiling softly. He really can be astute about things. Saber, next to her, might be trying to lick at his hands to test that taste? But she gently pokes her to try to stop the Lickitung. ]

Embarrassed, frustrated... homesick, as well, I suppose?

[redbellion]

[ he heard zelda's apology, and honestly, keith doesn't blame her one bit.

when she's off away from everything, keith finds her, holding her book in his hand. ]

Hey, Zelda. Do you...mind if I sit here?

[hyruglyphics]

If you do not mind the risk of Saber licking you.

[ . . . She's already reaching out to do that. She likes to lick people in order to get a taste for who it is. ... This is Zelda's attempt at humor even though she feels awful. ]

Away from Everything

[takestheblame]

...you didn't have to apologize.

[Hey, Zelda. So you're away from everyone...you may want privacy, he supposes. Kiryu decides to say his part and not force his presence on her further than necessary]

What you said was the truth. Even though it may have been reckless to say it, and Uxie wouldn't like to hear it, truths aren't meant to be softened. It may not end well sometimes, but saying what's right and what isn't is important.

You had the guts to speak your mind. I believe you showed once again why everyone here should have a high opinion of you.

[Congrats, Kiryu approves. Then again, he's the guy who isn't deterred by an opponent's power and goes into situations where anyone else would die, usually involving saying what's what even if it makes someone angry. He's pretty much approving how he'd have behaved too if he had the chance]

[hyruglyphics]

[ She wouldn't want to let it be known she wasn't accountable too. Not after she questioned Ignis or Camilla, or after she had more or less scolded Bucky after last time. It was only right... proper. She inclines her head though, and Saber - well, she might try to lick something on Kiryu, but for Zelda's part... ]

... Perhaps so. But I did still endanger all of us needlessly.

[ She says softly. Not to mention, that she dug up that bit of herself, confessing about her friends and father- ... mmm. ]

[semistableman]

[It takes him a while to approach Zelda, because he knows what she's going through; he'd gone through it just a couple weeks ago, after all. But eventually, once it looks like the sea of people approaching her died down, he approaches her, offering her a glass of kompot.]

Here. You look like you could do with a drink.

[hyruglyphics]

[ Was it a sea of people? Maybe it was. Either way, she smiles, reaching for it, only to have Saber reach out to take that glass in tongue. It wants a drink too! ... But when Zelda looks up with green eyes she rolls her tongue back. Fine. ... But get her a drink too. ... Please? She gives an imploring look to Bucky.

But Zelda swallows and takes it, sipping it gently. ]

Thank you.

ways off

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena's been woozy-headed all evening, but Zelda's apology is something that cuts through that haze. The circumstances around that are crystal clear, and while he wasn't able to voice much at the time, he wants to at least get his words out to her.

So, well, he's pretty much indisposed on the bench and isn't up for moving much, but Monta sure is being restless and irritable, and he needs to do something lest he get into trouble again. And, well, maybe he's not supposed to be doing something that requires mental focus like this, but he writes off a quick note on a napkin anyway and has Monta take it to her.

It reads as follows:]

i know me saying this is not gonna stop you from feeling bad or anything but i think it was really brave of you to stand up to uxie like that. like i don't think either of you were wrong or anything but what we all saw uxie do was really terrible so i don't think it's wrong to react like that to it? and i get that uxie did what it did because it panicked and made a mistake and it felt bad too but it was also kind of insensitive about it kinda the same way michael was which i guess makes sense since he's a demon or something and this uxie is a deity? so they're the same type of being so they think similar i guess and i guess that's why he and uxie kept making fun of me but that's not the point i was trying to make. i forgot. anyways i think that it's okay to feel upset about this but i don't think you should let it hold you back too much either like we all have to get up and keep moving after this right? and its gonna be hard but i think you can do it even if i don't understand it much and maybe i'm being too forward saying this because this kind of thing went over my head and im sorry if this offends you but i dont think it will because youre really nice but im sor

[he ran out of space on the napkin.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ I mean Monta gets a lick for his trouble, or at least an attempt at one. But as Zelda gets the napkin she opens her eyes a little wider, reading it. That's...

It's endearing. It's endearing, but all the same, it's...

She frowns a little, but after focusing on it a moment, she actually laughs. She laughs and stands, half to find Miphanus (who was poking at the PC in there) and half to get to Sena and actually speak with him. ]

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael will come and settle down by Zelda. He's aware that he said some things in there that were maybe not the most sensitive? And also he made friends with Uxie, who she doesn't like. But that's fine! Right?]

I don't even think what you said was that bad. I mean, tactically, sure, but I've been told that people don't like when you view conversations as things to win.

[hyruglyphics]

[ Hi, Michael. Her shoulders shrug a little bit as he comes over, already bracing for it to be very morally relative. Saber also braces.

To try to lick his face.

But for her part... ] ... No, they don't. In a matter of diplomacy, it is, just by definition, but... But no, it was not- I do not believe it was wrong.

[anythingforyou]

[...Camilla really didn't respond to the apology at first, honestly. She's...been a little hazy headed ever since this day really got going and she's wanted to keep some form of distance from a lot of things. She was a little angry at Zelda for getting so cross, yes, but even Camilla could admit that she wasn't necessarily wrong.

She knows she should talk to the girl eventually. And...well, considering that Camilla kind of comes up a bit later on, she can at least finally manage that much.]

Zelda...?

[She just tries to get her attention, first.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Zelda, even now, doesn't believe she was wrong. She overstepped her bounds, lost her temper, but especially the initial outburst was justified... insofar as that mattered. It didn't matter at all, honestly. What mattered was the result of things, and the result was that she was not only useless there, but a detriment to it in the end.

Or so she believes anyway.

Still, to have the other speak up for her she is curled up with the Lickitung, letting it lick her hand mostly to entertain the thing. She lowers it, covered in some saliva to look up with ... well her eyes are less bloodshot, but they are dry. ]

Yes, I'm awake still.

[radiantflame]

[It's later in the evening when Morag approaches, carrying the violet and gold tome that belongs to her friend.]

...Zelda? A word, if you will.

[hyruglyphics]

[ By now she's cried out, she still looks... messy. And as Morag approaches, Saber the Lickitung is going to reach out its tongue to try to lick Morag. It's just what it does.

But as dor her, ]

Yes, Morag?

[fatalstrikes]

[Yuri was around to hear Zelda's apology, but he left the Pokémon Center shortly afterwards and doesn't return for a long time. When he does finally enter again he hesitates before approaching Zelda. He's moving a bit slower and more cautiously than he normally does, but other than that he seems... "fine" might be overstating it, but he doesn't look much worse off than usual.]

...Hey. Can I sit with you?

[It's sort of an awkward question, primarily because he just sort of joins people whenever he wants without asking, but he's... trying...]

[hyruglyphics]

[ I mean, it is awkward, though might be mitigated somewhat by the fact that the Likictung she's snuggled up against will take its tongue out to try to lick at Yuri as he gets closer. More to just sort of taste the guy out than anything!! But as for Zelda, she nods softly.

Go on, if you want.

She turns to face him better. ]

[enjoymyatelier]

[hmmmm. Well... you know. He’s not the best at comforting people, and he’d technically sympathized with both Zelda and Uxie... well. After things quiet down, he heads over to talk.]

I presume you’d like to take your mind off things? It was a long day.

[hyruglyphics]

Perhaps somewhat.

[ Beware of Lickitung, man. It wants to lick people that come close. ... Not to guard, per se, but to get a taste for everyone. It makes sense? ]