"...to answer the calling she cannot deny."

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[It vaguely amuses Jewel how little her comings and goings are checked these days. Considering how long she was barely able to even leave the inn itself without some sort of an escort, she rather relishes this. In any case, she decides -- apropos of nothing -- that she's going to visit Lord Jabu-Jabu, or "Guppy" as Linksha still calls him

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[in_to_shadow]

[Curious. The giant fish is there.]

[His Zelda had told Sheik about Lord Jabu Jabu, the giant fish deity the Zoras revered. He had never seen it, it was long gone by the time he had first ventured to Zora's Domain, but it was there now.]

[Perched high on the rock overhanging a cavern not yet icy (and the target of his earlier exploration - it is chilly, especially with the lingering winter, but not the frozen hazard that it was in his own time), he starts when a slim figure emerges from the Domain. Dark hair instead of blonde, but the regalia (and seeming fondness for purple) mark he as - possibly - one of the Zeldas, if not one he has met before.]

[The one who shares her body with the Sheikah girl, perhaps?]

[The water is deep beneath him, so he moves across the rock until he can jump in to knee-deep water. Hiding a wince at the way the water immediately seeps in to his shoes, he approaches the princess, demeanour open and friendly.]

It would be hard to go fishing if all fish were that size, no?

((OOC: Gyeh. Stupid uni

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[She does not know this particular Sheikah. But he seems pleasant enough, so Jewel relaxes her guard.]

It would indeed. I don't believe I've had the pleasure, though I'm guessing your name is Sheik?

[in_to_shadow]

Indeed. And yours Zelda?

[Crossing the distance to the platform the fish waits at, he leans against one of the tall pillars that edge the platform, tugging down his cowl and smiling pleasantly.]

[jewel_of_hyrule]

That it is. Though I'm more often addressed as Jewel; there are so many Zeldas here now that it's a bit simpler to use a nickname. So you have come to pay your respects to the fish lord?

[She sits cross-legged on a flat rock, and although her expression is placid, it's by no means unfriendly. He's not troubling her, and based on her experiences with the other Sheikah of this Hyrule, she doubts he is likely to prove anything but an ally.]

[in_to_shadow]

In that case, it is good to meet you, Jewel.

[A nickname would probably not be a bad idea. Particularly amongst the various Links and doubles of himself.]

And not really, I did not know he was still here. The Zelda of my time had mentioned him before, but I was just exploring.

[He waves a vague hand at the entrance to the cavern.] It is frozen by my time - well, six-odd years after this.

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Jewel nods.]

By my time -- which is a few centuries down the road, if I understand it correctly -- knowledge of this cavern has been all but lost to us. At the very least, I know of no one who has visited it. Which is a shame, since it is a charming spot. Will you have some lunch with me?

[in_to_shadow]

[Sheik smiles a little crookedly.]

The cavern itself is not particularly lovely - too full of keese for my liking - but the fountain itself is pleasant. [He waves a casual hand over the entire area.]

And thank you, I will.

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[She passes some bread and fruit to her new companion.]

Our fishy friend here is a very good listener, but not much of a talker. So I think I'm glad to have encountered someone a bit more vocal. Have you been in this Hyrule long?

[in_to_shadow]

Yes, fish tend not to be wonderful conversationalists. I shall endevour to be more talkative.

[He smiles, a little mischievously, and considers the question. How long had he been here? It felt like forever.]

A month, perhaps. Maybe a little longer - it is difficult to keep track of the time here, I have found. And yourself?

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[She chuckles at the quip.]

About six months, possibly close to seven. As you say, marking time is a challenge. But I believe that to be more or less accurate.

[in_to_shadow]

Seven months?

[He's a little aghast. More than half a year in this place! What if he is here for this long? What if he never gets home?]

[What if none of them do? What will become of their respective Hyrules then?]

Has... in all that time, has anyone made it home? How long has this been happening?

((OOC: Last tag before bed. It's quarter to one. Night! ^_^))

[jewel_of_hyrule]

How long it's been happening, I do not know. But there do seem to be some who have made it home -- at least, we can find no better explanation for the fact that they are no longer here.

[She chews on a bit of bread, looking thoughtful.]

Yes...they must be home. Whatever they were sent here to do or learn must have been accomplished, and so they were sent back. I have to believe that.

(ooc: Sorry for the delay! My muses apparently took the weekend off.)

[in_to_shadow]

[He's a little comforted by that - at least this place doesn't take and take without ever returning those it has taken previously.]

That is... something, at least. You believe we are here to do or learn something?

[Then what would his task or lesson be? He can think of many things it might be.]

[jewel_of_hyrule]

That's my theory, in any case. I have to believe that there is some logical purpose for our unplanned transplantation. If I try to accept that it was all simply random and pointless, I might go mad.

[She delicately licks a bit of fruit juice from her fingers.]

I have learned many things since my arrival, some of which I would honestly rather have not. But it's no easy task to unlearn a lesson, however troubling.

[in_to_shadow]

[Sheik nods, a little troubled. There are too many paradoxes and contradictions involved in this strange place - learning of one's own future and the future of others could have drastic implications when returned.]

Perhaps... if we are ever returned, that which should not be known becomes unlearnt while the lesson remains. It would not be a good thing to be returned with knowledge of, say, one's own destiny.

[jewel_of_hyrule]

A very good point. Especially considering the vast disparity of times from which we have all been brought -- I share housing with both one of my own ancestors and a young man from some three hundred years after my time. It's more than a little perplexing. But I'm certain that whatever knowledge the goddesses have us retain when we leave will be no more than we can bear.

[She hopes.]