thenearshore | 29 - Autumn Leaves

[The chrysanthemums are certainly doing their part in temporarily soothing the princess' typically troubled heart, but the mild surprise and subsequent blooming warmth in her chest at his earnest response to her teasing is all her own.

It makes her remember Link, a little-- that moment after the Water Temple had been restored, and the waters of Lake Hylia returned to its basin once more. One of the first real, tangible signs that the evils wrought by Ganondorf's reign were finally coming to an end. And then, of all things, her Hero told her that the Zora princess who had just ascended to sagehood wanted to give the Sheikah warrior that had saved her from the Evil King's icy curse upon her people her gratitude.

"Did Ruto want to thank me?" she had said then, taken aback beneath the guise she wore. "I see... we have to save Hyrule for her sake, too. Don't we?"]

My, listen to you! [She says now, the warmth and affection in her smile reaching all the way to her eyes.] You are actually sounding a bit like the part of a god.

[It's really such a shame Caster likes to play the charmer and the fool so often; she quite appreciates this more matured sort of optimism he keeps hidden away a lot of the time.]

... That said, I am not certain Lady Amaterasu will appreciate you plucking her gardens dry. [She makes this comment as she leans over, a hair's breadth away from resting her head upon his shoulder, to get a better look at what he's crafting there.]

[ "A bit like the part of a god" a god he has no idea how to be, a god he never wanted to be named as. But if she praises him, maybe there is some hope to this. Before he gets to find a clever - or not - answer, she's close, leaning on his shoulder... No, that's not it, she's looking at his handiwork. It's a hair decoration, a wreath- but then he scrambles to put it away from her gaze- ]

No peeking, it will be done in a moment... [ No more surprise, but he can at least try and put a fight ] I think Lady Amaterasu will forgive me that one time, surely.

[ And even if she doesn't he will make sure to survive her wrath. For an evening like this, for Zelda smiling and teasing- Even pushing his feelings aside, having ever troubled friend finally enjoy a moment a little, yeah sure punish him, he'll do it anyway. ]

[Well, now. This is a bit different from the usual. Where's the witty quip in response? The joke that brushes everything remotely serious away? Not even a bullshit smirk, wow. Zelda's smile falls a little as she straightens back up, innocent confusion taking the place of the mirth in her eyes.

But also Caster is now Hiding Something. And Hiding Things from Zelda is a surefire way to make her even more interested in the Thing. She leans this way and that to try to peer around him, though being a giant tree man helps him in generally blocking her line of sight.]

Mm, she does seem to be a forgiving sort, fortunately...

[Is Add even still doing his community service for ripping a hole in time and space, she doesn't know. She also doesn't really care right now because she's busy pushing herself up as tall as she can while staying seated to peek over his shoulder. She would be terrible about Christmas if it existed in Hyrule, frankly.]

If she'll be extra angry, I'll just bring extra cake. [ Because of course, Amaterasu is the most important right now- ugh, now that he did not know about the Intense Curiosity passive skill Zelda got on her, but really he should have seen this coming.

With how intensely investigating the cult she is if just to give the most recent example... So his weaving the wreath goes into hard mode, as he also keeps fidgeting in place just to keep it out of her view- he's not sure if he succeeded, but finally, it's done. ]

Fine, I'll show you. Just close your eyes for a moment.

[ Pretty please? So he can just drop it on top of her head. Probably adjust to make it lie better, and totally not accidentally brush her hair along the way- If she agrees for the closing eyes condition, obviously. What, a man can dream... ]

Cake that you will make Archer make, no doubt. I do not believe for a moment that you can bake.

[Gardening? Okay, sure. It's a bit odd but she can see it. Baking? Hell no. But this thread of conversation is becoming increasingly irrelevant, something going on in the background while they both focus on more important - and much sillier - things. Zelda might get a glimpse or two of the wreath, but as her curiosity isn't quite strong enough to make her get up from her comfortable seat, that's about all she gets.

Caster makes his request, and she pouts - actually pouts - but obliges him.]

Fine.

[She closes her eyes. A man can dream, indeed.]

[ That's... true. He and Lancer did try to bake, and it ended up being edible. But it definitely didn't look the part. Definitely not gift-worthy, Archer's cooking is better for that.

But who cares about that detail. She's closing eyes with most adorable pout and Caster's breath is stolen away. Damn, quick, as long as it works. He puts the wreath on her head, tucking it so it rests perfectly as it should ]

Two more seconds, please.

[ He whispers a request and pulls that smartphone of his to take the photo. So he will have proof that it actually happened and wasn't just his imagination. And to show her, since they don't have a mirror ]

Done, you can open your eyes princess.

[Her ears flick a bit as he adjusts the leaves and stems around them - they seem sensitive to that kind of brushing touch. Though her brow furrows in puzzlement, she keeps to her word, keeping her eyes shut at least until she hears the simulated click of his phone's camera going off. She has to peek then, one eye squinting open as if to ask "what's the big deal?" before opening the other when he says he's done. ~~how long before that picture is a lock screen--~~

Again, she lifts her hands to feel around the wreath now sitting upon her head, and she laughs lightly as she realizes what it is.]

What is this for? Am I a princess of flowers now?

[This is silly. You're silly, Caster.]

[ He might be silly, but she is incredible so it evens out. And she's laughing, laughing. Screw the cult, investigations, serious stuff, just let this evening last as long as possible. ]

Mhhm, good title. We should use it! [ He hums and nods very enthusiastically, he shows her the photo on his phone and then he can hide it away- so no ideas of deleting it, never. ~~Lockscreen incoming~~ ] Around those flowers you're their Queen.

[ Wandering into fairy mound to never return was a real danger in his time. But if a sight like this could welcome the potential guest there, why to ever leave? ]

This is just the smallest gift of appreciation I could offer, but I hope you'll take a liking to it. [ It's a wreath, and even celestial flowers will wilt- or dry- and there is a temptation to suggest enchanting it. But then there is beauty in its ephemeral form- not everything is going to last. ]

[Zelda looks appropriately scandalized when Caster turns his phone to show her the picture he took while she was unaware, and she reaches to try and snatch it before he hides it away. But this is all done in a very lighthearted manner, with an aura of amusement about her, and though she pouts again when her attempt fails, she also lets the matter go just as easily. She settles herself back down, and between all her reaching and peeking around, she's ended up quite a bit closer to Caster's side than she had been originally.

A confident Zelda that actually feels secure in herself for once is a surprisingly relaxed Zelda, indeed.]

Hmm, the flowers are quite lovely, so full and vibrant despite the season... [She pulls out the bloom that had been placed behind her ear as she says this, admiring its many petals-- but then she looks back to Caster with a mischievous glint in her eyes.] Ah, but what if I am a greedy Queen, and the smallest token you "could" offer does not satisfy me? What then?

[She is also a Zelda much more willing to indulge in silliness. It's a festival, after all, isn't it? She's allowed to enjoy herself.]

[ Ah, what an unfortunate wording, who would have thought the queen would be so greedy. ]

Then I need to make up for my accidental offense, by crafting much more luscious gift!

[ Did you want a flower necklace, or full flower regalia Zelda? Because that's what you're going to get! ]

And maybe make a spectacle out of it too- [ He adds with a wink as he starts writing the runes around the bush he picked most flowers for. Being mindful of the earlier comment that he shouldn't just pluck her garden dry, his spell commands the stems not just to heal but to grow new flowers, starting from the buds to slow bloom- but it doesn't stop at this as he keeps writing more detailed spell this time.

Affecting growth of plants was one of the easiest spells he had, using them in a fight, trapping, and surprising enemies- but here he doesn't need a sudden, aggressive growth wielded as a weapon. Here he has to go slow, be careful and shape the stems and flowers into a precise, delicate form-

A drop of sweat shows on his brow, it's harder than he thought but it's not going to deter him. Much focus, wow ]

[Of course, everything has to be a show with him. But she does seem a great deal more impressed with this particular spectacle than others he might have put on for her in the past. In battle, flashes and flourishes are weaknesses waiting to be exposed, but this? This is something different entirely. This is growth and healing and life happening right before her eyes, and she scurries closer to get a better view, her wonder worn openly on her expression.]

Incredible... [She breathes, reverent as she watches the blooms dance and weave before her. Don't lose that focus now, doggo!]

[ ...

For once, maybe being a Caster isn't that bad..? In no other form, he could pull this feat. Focus, focus and so he redoubles his efforts, making the flowers bloom and branches grow closer as if a lush cloak resting on Zelda's arms. Indeed, a queen of flowers, that makes even late autumn bloom.

He stops writing and arranges the flowers around her with an unexpectedly serious expression. Hand by accident- on purpose - cups her cheek as he questions. ]

Now, is it better? [ A hint of amusement shows in his voice as he continues- he might be a little amazed, a little too into the scene, but he still sees how silly they are being. ] Should the queen be greedy again, I will not rest and outdo myself again.

[She watches, mesmerized as the cloak takes shape around her, little bubbles of laughter escaping her as the leaves tickle her neck and other slivers of skin left exposed by her clothes. Her eyes are torn away from the marvel with Caster's hand on her cheek, tilting her chin up and holding it gently and steadily, like she's something precious.

Her pulse flutters just a few inches down from where he keeps his hand, but for once its quickening is not out of fear or anxiety or anything of the sort. Unburdened by the doubts and insecurities that plague her mind, she feels almost giddy being touched like this, seeing him staring at her like that. It's not a feeling she knows what to do with, however, and so she simply returns his gaze, wide blue eyes staring back up at him with no less wonderment than when she regarded the blooming chrysanthemums.]

... No. No, I am satisfied. While I am curious as how you would attempt to surpass this performance, it would not do for you to drain yourself dry on my behalf.

[The garden is replenished, but that energy had to come from somewhere. As much as she enjoyed it, she is not so far gone in her contentment that she doesn't remember that.]

[ Thanks, flowers. It's all your fault. Or maybe it's all thank to you. Can't decide if they should be thanked for or blamed truly. She is bound by her duties, he knows there is nothing real he could offer, being a long-dead ghost form a different world.

But right now, they have a Moment, and all the doubts are erased. ]

Maybe I would make you a throne- [ He says with a softness rarely heard in his voice ] If that was not enough, a whole castle if I have to. I'd just keep outdoing the expectations for you, over and over.

[ How? No idea yet, he'd figure it out if they went there. If he had to make whole The Far Shore bloom he would attempt it. He would drown the Heavens in flowers, maybe faceplant along the way, but hey, he got enough of followers to return after a nap.

For this smile, for this gaze, for finally making a positive impression on someone that matters a lot. ]

[Her skin warms beneath his palm but she doesn't pull away, closing her eyes and smiling bashfully as he goes on about all the gifts he would shower her with if she allowed him to, in a gentle voice so different from the confident, brash tones she's used to hearing from him. It sounds like a line from a storybook - the knight declaring the depths of his devotion to his lady - and, for once, Zelda allows herself briefly to dream of the castle he'd build for her, and doesn't think at all about how her own lies in ruin.

She lifts a hand as she glances back to him, lightly covering his with her own.]

Are you implying your admiration is similarly infinite?

[She's toeing the line dangerously close to the things she normally dares not think about, but in this moment, with the cool breeze rustling a soft cascade of leaves from the trees and butterflies dancing in her stomach, she wonders instead:

What do I have to fear?]

[ A touch of her hand should be enough- should be, but is not. He moves his face closer so when he speaks it's just in a whisper. ]

There are a few things that are truly infinite- [ If he had to name some, it would be a challenge. Time, for example, comes to mind, as well as some more cynical observations. But tonight no cynism is allowed, and he finds a lack of its presence to be incredibly refreshing.

"What could go wrong?" is not even a question. ]

-but that, that sounds like one of them. [ Even if she continues to doubt herself, and question her every move, he will repeat every time he recognizes the wisdom in her choices, he respects her determination, he believes in everything she could do and he loves those rare smiles she gives. They're close already, it's easy to go with a moment and that stupid, stupid heart, and just move few inches forward again. To close the gap between their lips. ]

[It is a good thing, perhaps, that Caster refrains from mentioning time in his musings on the infinite, because it means her focus remains entirely on him as he leans in close, as close as he did that night in his dreams, and she thinks only of him as their breaths intermingle in the quickly vanishing space between them.

She remembers when they first met, two souls lost in a world neither of them belongs in, and he teased her and flustered her, but also encouraged her to join in on the activities she would have only watched wistfully from the sidelines otherwise. She remembers learning of the similarities in their mentors, the women who have undeniably shaped them into who they are today, and how quickly he had promised to be there if she were to ever be in danger. She remembers how he was, once in the cold darkness of the void and once with the moon hanging high above the forests of what would have been his homeland.

She remembers being furious with him. She remembers being devastated alongside him. She remembers being happy and safe and just a little bit lighter around him.

She remembers, "But I'll let you figure that out."

And she thinks she has.

Zelda has never been kissed before, and so there is some uncertainty inherent in her response. But she's not pulling away or pushing him back; her hand moves away from the one cupping her cheek to rest upon his shoulder, steadying herself as she presses back, tilting her head slightly and trying to mirror his movements to make up for her own inexperience.

Undeniably reciprocating.]

[ Nothing went wrong and everything is amazing.

Was it really that easy? All that dancing around unneeded, all that being careful unnecessary. Nothing to fear, nothing to worry for. Just them and the magical moment.

His stays on her cheek, it's a good place to be- but the other hand that carefully weaves it's way into her hair. Brushing by her ear as he tries to not get tangled into the flower crown and find a spot to rest at the nape of her neck. He marvels at the softness of her hair as it moves, he marvels at the softness of her lips against his.

How did it turn this way? When? He remembers a time when she teleported over at the Near Shore about ten feet in the air and he was there to catch her. How she teased him over a cat-toy.

How determined she was when her biggest enemy appeared and was thrown in role of her shinki. Everything she left behind in her kingdom, being thrown here by unknown forces

How much he didn't want to see her die in that void, because if there is some damn justice and fairness in the world, that's the moment when it should work and prevent that from happening.

Does it really matter where he started caring for her so much? Not really, the moment here and now is more important. The kiss is slow, and gentle and like if it was never to end. But it has to eventually.

Like everything. ]

[Zelda has never been one to live in the moment; the "present" isn't something that ever truly existed for her. Ever since she was born into the world, a child of destiny, the past and the future have hounded her every step - the expectations of past weighing upon her shoulders and in her veins, the visions and uncertainties of the future haunting her dreams and plaguing her thoughts. Every second that once belonged to the future would pass on directly into the past without ever stopping to be considered, a steady, unerring tempo she has come to know as well her own heartbeat.

But then, her heartbeat isn't that steady right now, is it? She feels his hand brush against her ear and his fingers tickle at the nape of her neck, and they send tingles down her spine that she notes to be surprisingly pleasant. As is the kiss itself, of course; he's warm and soft and slow and gentle, and her fingers curl into the fabric at his shoulder as she considers how this is so much nicer than she thought it would be.

Eventually, someone's got to breathe, though, and as they part she lets out a shaky exhale, her hooded gaze lingering on his lips for a moment longer before glancing back up to meet his eyes. She simply stares at him like that for another moment, starstruck, and maybe in another time and place, that's when the past and the future would have descended upon her demanding answers in their twin voices, what about your duty? what about his? what about your strength? what about Archer? what about what about what about--

But, for now, the present exists.

And she smiles, a girlish, beaming grin, giggling lightly as she finally allows it to sink in.

He likes me!]

[ And oh, just how much he likes you.

This is like feeling alive all over again. Servants are creatures of battlefield and wishes, but if your only wish is to fight for the sake of it, it's fulfilled as soon Grail helps the magus to bring you forth to this one again.

But this is different, this is like once again having something worth fighting for. Duty, purpose, sense, tad bit more complicated and more personal than the eternal dueling. Funny, he would never wish for a second life, should he got the hands on the Grail, but here he is, being granted one anyway.

He moves closer again, touching their foreheads together. Hand on her neck barely moving, fingers drawing circles incredibly slow. He returns the smile, with a sheepish one of his own. The beaming grin of her being the best reward he could ever get. ]

Hey...

[ Very eloquent conversation starter, but the warm tone might be just enough ]

... Hey.

[Zelda responds in kind, softly, with equal warmth and eloquence. Her typical levels of articulateness seem utterly beyond her right now; she cannot imagine being able to maintain that graceful and formal standard when her breath keeps being stolen away every time Caster shifts his fingers. When her heart feels like it's going to beat out of her chest at the sound of his voice. When her soul feels too big for her body to contain when she looks into his eyes.

It's intoxicating - this giddy, bubbly kind of happiness - more so than any potion or drink. And it will be hell when she crashes, but for now she's content to ride the high.]

That was nice.

[Truly next level conversation happening here, yes.]

Mhhm... agreed.

[ He wholeheartedly agrees with this assessment. His smile wide and just simply happy. No hint of teasing, sarcasm, or just generalized bullshit. The wistfulness, however, hides in the tone of his voice ]

We should do this again. [ Hopefully more often. Hopefully- ha ha. Why can't time just stop still in an exact moment like this? Getting trapped for eternity anywhere sounds like a terrifying deal, but getting trapped for an unspecified longer time here, doesn't sound like a bad deal. Have her laugh ring and sing around. ]

Maybe I can figure out how to make it nicer but- [ He gestures at the flowers around them and his face drops into a slight embarrassment ] -topping that setting will take a while.

[ There, he admitted it. He can't win with a garden like that. But for seeing her starstruck and happy - that's the word, right? - he will keep trying. ]

[Her cheeks flush a bit at his suggestion, but the thought is also kind of exciting. We should do this again, like this isn't some one-off dreamlike fantasy she's experiencing. Like he'd be willing to kiss her like that and hold her like this again. Like he'd want to, despite everything.

Sparkling blue eyes are only torn away from his own crimson ones by the feel of his hand leaving her skin to gesture at the flowers, and she sighs with a touch of amusement.]

Yes, well. [She looks back to him, open and warm.] Fortunately, I am not as demanding as the Queen of Flowers is.

[So it'll be fine. Probably.]

[ This fantasy could as well be reality, if not for the fact that the very same reality is going to soon be very crushing for both of them. One day, hopefully, one day.

Caster' hand travels to her shoulder, where it can rest, albeit fingers might not be staying still. Tapping, or drawing shapes occasionally. He tilts his head to rest against hers, only to move his face and have his lips completely accidentally brush against her ear-

He still lives, but even if he didn't it would be worth it. ]

Princess.

[ He says ]

Zelda.

[ He whispers ]

Demanding or not, I'd shower you with flowers the moment you'll wish for it.

[ "Runes did it" is the best explanation ever ]

[All her breath seems to leave her then in a shuddering exhale that ghosts down the side of Caster's neck. The ear he whispers into twitches slightly against his lips as it burns hotly, her trembling fingers twisted into the fabric of his cloak.

Zelda.

It's not as though no one calls her by her name in this strange world they've found themselves in, but not him. Never him, not unless it's incredibly important, and the idea that this - whatever this is - is somehow on the same level as that ultimately fruitless attempted contracting seems to set every fiber of her being alight. Fitting, probably, given his affinity to fire. But it's also altogether much more sensual than she entirely knows how to deal with, even under the soothing influence of the chrysanthemums (though a wilder part of her imagination does wonder what it might be like if he were to put just a little more weight against her shoulders, pressing her down to lay against the cushioned mat beneath her--), and so it takes her a moment of simply breathing and willing the dryness from her throat to find her voice again.]

I... I understand, Cú Chulainn.

[She understands a great deal now, she thinks.]

29 - Autumn Leaves

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