Innermost Fears

[cyan_princess]

[Somewhere near center of Castle Town sits the young Zora Princess, Ruto. She frowns, and clutches a rock, absentmindedly tossing it in her hand, again, and again. She’s not really paying attention to what she’s doing. Her mind is too busy swarming with thoughts.]

Comments

[tehnrija]

[No sound is heard from the small stone that Ruto threw. It did not hit the wall and land on the ground - rather, it was caught between the bandaged fingers of a nearby Sheikah.]

[Stone in hand, he approaches.] Why would they, indeed.

[What was troubling the young princess?]

[cyan_princess]

[This is met with a rather startled reaction from the Zora princess. ...She'd not meant for anyone to actually hear that.]

What...

...W-when did you get here...!?

[tehnrija]

When this rushed past my line of vision. [Once close enough he bows to Ruto, extending an open palm, the small stone resting in it.]

[cyan_princess]

[She hesitates momentarily, before taking the stone back, assuming that’s what he expects her to do. A pause, and then she resumes tossing it in her hand again. She wasn’t sure what to say, feeling suddenly embarrassed. But what had been said had been said.]

...I guess you heard what I was saying then, didn't you?

[The question, however, was rhetorical.]

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Jewel gets severely chastised if she goes to Castle Town -- or anywhere else, for that matter -- by herself nowadays, so it's actually rather helpful to have this self-appointed Sheikah guardian trailing around after her, almost invisibly. She doesn't know where he is, but she knows he's there, and it lets her get around that don't-go-out-alone rule that she and her housemates have agreed upon.

It also lets her be in Castle Town, ostensibly looking for food supplies, at a moment when she can come across the Zora maiden.]

Princess Ruto? Are you all right? This is a dangerous place to be alone.

[cyan_princess]

[Ruto pauses briefly, quite surprised to see Jewel here. She'd assumed she was alone in this part of Castle Town... However, in response to her inquiry, she shrugs, feigning indifference.]

...Yeah, of course I'm okay! I'm...

[She trails off momentarily, before continuing.]

I'm not worried. I doubt it's all that dangerous.

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Jewel nods. She and Ruto have not really been introduced formally, but she knows the Zora girl on sight, and she doesn't want to overstep herself. She also should not be lingering when there is work to do. Still, even in such a troubled time, it disturbs her to see someone so obviously in pain. Especially a comparative innocent like the younger Princess.]

I heard you saying something about someone hating you. I'm sure that isn't the case, but...has someone spoken unkindly to you?

[cyan_princess]

[Another pause, as though she's not sure she wants to admit her insecurity. Though she can't very well pretend she didn't say anything, she attempts anyway to ignore how she feels.]

...No.

...It's... not important at all!

[But the princess has never been very adept at lying.]

no worries~

[cyan_princess]

[Ruto glances up in a rather startled surprise at the unmistakable voice of the Fierce Deity. She hesitates for a moment, wondering if he’s heard her mumblings. But... it doesn’t seem to be the case.]

[She goes to approach him, though her words are spoken in a more reserved tone than usual.]

Hi... Yeah, I thought I was the only one here too.

...What’re you doing in Castle Town, anyway? I thought you would have been up on the mountain or something.

[cyan_princess]

[She nods.]

Yeah, those rumors are right... I doubt he's actually going to be able to take over anything with that stupid army, though. There's too many people who wouldn't let him.

[At his invitation there is another pause, somewhat unusual for her. But then, she does so, walking up to the fountain and sitting down.]

...Sure.