A report left in Zelda's mailbox, carefully placed into an envelope made out of yet more library paper that has been carefully folded so as to be self-sealing & bound in twine. The knotwork is...complex. Jean's handwriting on the inside is as neat as they can make it; bigger than normal, lacking the bold strokes of their usual handwriting.
To the offices of: Madam Princess Zelda Subject: Initial report regarding the island CC: None
Madam Princess, Initial forays into the island are proceeding well and contact has been made with numerous factions among the natives (hereafter referred to as the CLIENTS). The hazards of this place have not been exaggerated. An attempt to investigate the local sirens (F-00-01) nearly ended in a fatality after a memetic attack on the part of the siren, but the incident was quickly salvaged thanks to the timely intervention of Agents Lucas and Kurt, the latter of whom demonstrated medical training and the ability to quickly teleport. As we organize I would highly endorse Mister Kurt's inclusion on a Welfare or Rescue team.
Attempts to investigate the plant life have confirmed your initial hypothesis; they appear to be ordinary living things in the main, though their connection to the brutoks (F-00-02) is not yet understood by me or anyone I have spoken to on the matter specifically (see below). There is an available proposal to investigate the brutoks further; an in-person meeting may facilitate this process better than a series of letters. Initially I intended to capture one of the creatures with the assistance of Agent Ahri; however, she has resigned her contract, and is no longer present.
On the matter of the clients, as you may already be aware I have accepted employment at the library, where I have experience already. This has led to initial contact with Ms. Leeds and her Historical Society. Ms. Leeds possesses vast resources, among them ownership of the local mint, making her a strong de facto and de jure power on the island. Information on that mint is seemingly not common knowledge; Mr. Degas possessed vague enough knowledge on the matter that I initially had the impression that the Brass was paranormal in nature. However, 'trust but verify' may be the word of the day; inside knowledge on the mines may prove of use.
Additionally, contact has been made with Client E - [here a sketch of said client, in rather nice detail, is included] - who has reported firsthand experience with the island but struggles to formulate it into words. Accessibility assistance with further contact would be most appreciated; I caution that Client E, while delightful and interesting, seems unused to the society of others. A light hand should be exercised in this matter.
Finally, there is a potentially useful contact for the abovementioned brutok proposal, with complications. Contact has been made with Mr. Neil, self-claimed founder of a local 'occult' society, which is directly researching subjects relevant to our work (e.g. the energy that powers the curses, objects of power, and the local supernatural creatures). However, Ms. Leeds and Mr. Neil evidence extreme antipathy towards one another, and while I would welcome Mr. Neil's assistance in my proposal I fear that accepting it may well anger Ms. Leeds and make our job that much more difficult.
As we currently have no regular time set for these reports or for work meetings I remind you that I am available at the library during its operating hours, or at the provided apartment after approximately midnight, local time.
After returning from her latest fishing trip, Zelda was surprised to see the letter sitting in her mailbox. It took her a while, sitting at her kitchen table, of un-knotting the letter's binding with care. She read over it with great care, a bit befuddled by the language and formatting. However, it was highly informative and corroborated some of the things she already knew.
Under exactly no circumstances whatsoever would she be going out of her house at midnight. After dark was already pushing it, but that late into the night was asking for trouble. But the Greymare Library would still be open for a few more hours, so off she went.
"Hello Jean!" She called out as she rounded a corner to find them at work. "I got your report! Thank you very much, and I do apologize if my response was delayed. I was doing my own work. I have a few things to fill you in on, actually."
"Perfect! One moment, Madam Princess, I'm still not sure if I'm doing this right."
'This' turns out to be politely informing the receptionist that Jean is Taking A Break with all the air of a child that wants to be absolutely sure that they're allowed to have this cookie, which, yes, yes they can. No Siren page today; socially oblivious in some ways Jean may be, but they did notice the weird looks they got swanking around like that.
The thought has already occurred to them that looting a better Page for social interaction might be something to do. The fashions on the island make them feel...odd. The suits aren't suits and are also wrong, the menswear's...
...Masculine, and the women's wear likewise. Blech. Something will come up! Or they'll play a shell game with their gender on the daily, one of the two.
Having secured their break they find a quiet spot at the study tables to sit down with and dig out the drawing provided to them by Client E, which they set on the table so they won't forget to show it to Zelda. The Expectant Expression that follows says, in all ways but out loud, 'you first'.
Pleased to have been given the floor, Zelda quickly recounts all the things she wished to speak about. Unfortunately, she does not have Jean's endless supply of library-provided scrap paper, nor her Purah Pad. Alas.
"So, first off--- I also made contact with Dr. Neil West, the leader of the Ocularum. I went with Ahri before she left, and he had some very interesting theories about what could be happening to the island as a whole. Among these, he suggested that the island could be on a corrupt leyline or otherwise have a problem with the energies within the location itself, which I find to be the most sound theory I've come across. He also thought the presence of a malevolent entity was possible, which could very well be, but I agree with him that the idea this could be the doing of any one person seems rather absurd. He plans to run some tests on energy signatures of newcomers as well to see how transportation to the island has impacted them, which I plan to help with."
"Next, I wanted to discuss what we found during a recent fishing voyage. During our last trip out, we did some dredging and recovered an ornate knife that appeared to be a ceremonial blade, which had an engraving on it. Does the word 'devoramus' mean anything to you?"
Cannot Believe Working On The Floor of Language Has Just Become Relevant For Actual Language Reasons
Jean goes very, very still. There is immediate Concern in their eyes.
"...Yes, Madam Princess," they murmur after a moment. "By itself it isn't much, the language it comes from uses a lot of context and abbreviation, so translating it is even more of a best-guess than translating things are normally, but...it's something in or adjacent to "We devour, consume, absorb; we enjoy or partake". First person plural, but not an um...not a royal 'we', not like 'we the people' or 'we at the company'."
Zelda's face fell at that, her mouth pressing into a flat frown. "Hm." Clearly she found this news as concerning as Jean did. "A ceremonial blade that says 'we devour' on it. Its presence also made everyone on the Copper Coin quite uneasy. Whatever manner of ritual that blade was used for, it cannot have been intended for good."
"There...were objects at home too, we called them 'Tool Abnormalities', they behaved a bit differently than other things in containment. Usually inscriptions on them were at least a little oblique or symbolic, but you could learn a lot if you read the documentation, not just...not just the practical advice, but the stories of the tool. The music box is coming to mind and I'm not sure why, it's..."
Jean frowns. "...The music box was useful and easy to manage. Play it and everyone's mental health gets a bit better. But it came from someone's happier days, days they lost, and if you play it too long, you lose those happier days too. It attacks your mind. You only understand that if you read the story, right? It. Wants you to read the story, it needs people to know its pain and loss. I keep asking people what they think these things want and no one seems to understand what I'm talking about, and I think. Maybe. This time. I am not the weird one?"
Jean had asked Zelda to meet them on the outskirts of town, when they had shore time together. Now they wait there, with an odd setup: their bedside table, with a wooden case stop it, and human-shaped targets pinned to the trees, each made of many pieces of notebook paper.
Zelda made her way to the edge of Northwest Hollow, as Jean had requested. She was in good spirits, excited to spend some quality time together, but frowned at their expression.
"Jean! Is--- everything alright? I'm not late, am I?"
They brighten up, for a moment, before going back to that troubled expression. "It's fine! I - I got something for you, but you may not want it. Here, come look, but don't touch them yet."
Zelda comes over, green eyes wide with curiosity, and peers into the case.
"...Pistols?" The weapons are new to her, having not existed in Hyrule. The old-fashioned sort like flintlock pistols are common here, but these... These are sleek. Ornate. Their aura is disquieting. "They're beautiful."
"Yes, they are..." Jean sighs. "I know these. Together they are called Solemn Lament, a weapon made by L-Corp during my tenure with them. Even if you don't want them, they need to not...not be out in the public."
Without thinking, they quietly take Zelda's hand. "Solemn Lament is made to kill monsters, but it has another use. The white pistol can destroy or restore a mind, while the black attacks both the mind and body. If something like the parade were to happen again..."
To the offices of: Dearest Zelda Subject: A surprise CC: None
My lady,
Evidence suggests that successful contact has been made with local manager-figure ("Goddess") Kora following the events of Mendel's attack, with support offered by Mdm. Kora in a managerial capacity. Pending direct contact and her ability to meet relevant terms - chiefly, avoiding violation of my original contract with the white-haired lady - I will be considering myself in her employ on a provisional basis. While this letter is relevant to the overall project, here to include and emphasize my belief that it may be best not to tell Doctor West, the overall purpose of this writing is to inform you that I will be showing up to our next shift on the Copper Coin with a new look, with which I am quite pleased. It feels quite bold, and while foreign to the fashions of my home it carries their spirit in a comforting manner. Consider this both a warning and an attempt to build anticipation.
Zelda is delighted to receive the letter, chuckling at it both because of the information and deciphering Jean's carefully coded language. They bury it in corporate-speak, but Zelda knows them well enough now that she knows they're excited.
She shows up to the next fishing excursion with a spring in her step, excited to see Jean's new look.
Jean is dressed to impress, and greets Zelda with a big smile and a sweeping wave of their hat. Their cheeks color faintly as what they just said processes. "I say a lot of vaguely nautical things in this!"
They leap from the deck, hit the dock in a roll, and come up still smiling into a bow. When they rise from it their eyes are bright. Does Zelda like the new look?
Zelda laughs brightly at the showboating (no pun intended), clapping after the tumble. "Ahoy!" she says back. "You look absolutely fantastic! I love the feathers." She reaches up to touch them lightly with her fingertips.
Jean grins, very happy even with their face turning red. "Madam Kora provided it! The experience has been fascinating so far...it's more of, haha, almost everything. Training sharpened, faster speed! It's even better on the ship - I wonder if this is what it's like to be Madam Gebura..."
You may remember Gebura as Jean's old boss, whom they speak of with awe, affection, and fear as a peerless warrior.
Zelda's not sure how to feel about Gebura. The way Jean talks about her... it's hard to tell what sort of person she was. If she was worth admiring. But if Jean is happy, then Zelda is happy.
"Well, you look amazing, and I know you're always happy to hone your skills. And it's quite incredible that you were able to earn a gift from a deity! That's incredible!"
She can't help but think how much praying she had to do to get her own gifts... Thank goodness these goddesses are a bit more responsive. But then, if that's the case, why is the island still cursed? Hm. Things to chew on later.
It's a night in, with much for Zelda to do; paperwork on the books for her new ship, filing information that Jean has brought about the new arrivals, and otherwise administrating. As usual for this sort of thing, Jean has taken over part of the table and is compiling their notes, or, rather, was compiling their notes, and is now done.
They keep sneaking longing glances at the Madame Princess, biting at their lip with those sharp teeth. It's been difficult, living together, as Jean has been torn between Waiting Politely and their urge to get Zelda off until their Hylian lover can't remember her name, kingdom, sorrows, or how to get out of bed. Jean has been patient, but ever since moving in they've restrained themselves from even masturbating, not wanting to intrude on Zelda's privacy.
The boldness that overtook them at the festival is rising in Jean's heart. They scoot their chair back and walk over, laying their hands on Zelda's shoulders for a gentle massage. "You seem tense, my lady," Jean murmurs. "...If it wouldn't be too distracting I'd like to help you relax while you work."
It is unfortunate for Jean that Zelda, for all her wisdom, often misses cues such as these. It's not that she isn't interested--- in fact, the closer she gets to Jean and the more confident they become, the more attractive she finds them. Especially after the pirate costume. But her desire for sex waxes and wanes, and Pumpkin Hollow has kept her so busy that the mood simply has yet to strike.
As Jean comes around behind her, Zelda smiles, preparing to tell them that she's perfectly fine and not to fret on her account. But as she opens her mouth to speak, something about their tone and their touch registers, and their meaning snaps into place.
Oh.
After a moment of looking a bit surprised, her expression warms, and she reaches up to put her hand over one of theirs. "I suppose I have been at it for quite a while... Did you have something in mind?"
Session of Beat Saber. Unexpected sequel to Crypt of the Necrodancer. Introduction of Dance Dance Revolution! to Marrow Island.
"I should probably say what!" Jean flashes a guilty grin, far less teeth than their resting slasher smile. "I'm done with my own work and thought, hahahaha, thought maybe I'm a bit wasted sitting at the table. Or rather above the table. If I'm not being too bold!"
"On the contrary, I would love for you to disrupt my work," Zelda teases, her voice low as she enjoys their affection.
Under normal circumstances, she doesn't care to boss people around or act as if she is above anyone. It feels stuffy and haughty in a way that feels out of character to her. But she knows Jean likes it, and when she's with them, somehow it feels... fun. Like some clever game.
"Be a good servant and kneel before your princess."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A Written Report; Late July
To the offices of: Madam Princess Zelda
Subject: Initial report regarding the island
CC: None
Madam Princess,
Initial forays into the island are proceeding well and contact has been made with numerous factions among the natives (hereafter referred to as the CLIENTS). The hazards of this place have not been exaggerated. An attempt to investigate the local sirens (F-00-01) nearly ended in a fatality after a memetic attack on the part of the siren, but the incident was quickly salvaged thanks to the timely intervention of Agents Lucas and Kurt, the latter of whom demonstrated medical training and the ability to quickly teleport. As we organize I would highly endorse Mister Kurt's inclusion on a Welfare or Rescue team.
Attempts to investigate the plant life have confirmed your initial hypothesis; they appear to be ordinary living things in the main, though their connection to the brutoks (F-00-02) is not yet understood by me or anyone I have spoken to on the matter specifically (see below). There is an available proposal to investigate the brutoks further; an in-person meeting may facilitate this process better than a series of letters. Initially I intended to capture one of the creatures with the assistance of Agent Ahri; however, she has resigned her contract, and is no longer present.
On the matter of the clients, as you may already be aware I have accepted employment at the library, where I have experience already. This has led to initial contact with Ms. Leeds and her Historical Society. Ms. Leeds possesses vast resources, among them ownership of the local mint, making her a strong de facto and de jure power on the island. Information on that mint is seemingly not common knowledge; Mr. Degas possessed vague enough knowledge on the matter that I initially had the impression that the Brass was paranormal in nature. However, 'trust but verify' may be the word of the day; inside knowledge on the mines may prove of use.
Additionally, contact has been made with Client E - [here a sketch of said client, in rather nice detail, is included] - who has reported firsthand experience with the island but struggles to formulate it into words. Accessibility assistance with further contact would be most appreciated; I caution that Client E, while delightful and interesting, seems unused to the society of others. A light hand should be exercised in this matter.
Finally, there is a potentially useful contact for the abovementioned brutok proposal, with complications. Contact has been made with Mr. Neil, self-claimed founder of a local 'occult' society, which is directly researching subjects relevant to our work (e.g. the energy that powers the curses, objects of power, and the local supernatural creatures). However, Ms. Leeds and Mr. Neil evidence extreme antipathy towards one another, and while I would welcome Mr. Neil's assistance in my proposal I fear that accepting it may well anger Ms. Leeds and make our job that much more difficult.
As we currently have no regular time set for these reports or for work meetings I remind you that I am available at the library during its operating hours, or at the provided apartment after approximately midnight, local time.
Agent Jean, Pumpkin Hollow Recovery Task Force
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Under exactly no circumstances whatsoever would she be going out of her house at midnight. After dark was already pushing it, but that late into the night was asking for trouble. But the Greymare Library would still be open for a few more hours, so off she went.
"Hello Jean!" She called out as she rounded a corner to find them at work. "I got your report! Thank you very much, and I do apologize if my response was delayed. I was doing my own work. I have a few things to fill you in on, actually."
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'This' turns out to be politely informing the receptionist that Jean is Taking A Break with all the air of a child that wants to be absolutely sure that they're allowed to have this cookie, which, yes, yes they can. No Siren page today; socially oblivious in some ways Jean may be, but they did notice the weird looks they got swanking around like that.
The thought has already occurred to them that looting a better Page for social interaction might be something to do. The fashions on the island make them feel...odd. The suits aren't suits and are also wrong, the menswear's...
...Masculine, and the women's wear likewise. Blech. Something will come up! Or they'll play a shell game with their gender on the daily, one of the two.
Having secured their break they find a quiet spot at the study tables to sit down with and dig out the drawing provided to them by Client E, which they set on the table so they won't forget to show it to Zelda. The Expectant Expression that follows says, in all ways but out loud, 'you first'.
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"So, first off--- I also made contact with Dr. Neil West, the leader of the Ocularum. I went with Ahri before she left, and he had some very interesting theories about what could be happening to the island as a whole. Among these, he suggested that the island could be on a corrupt leyline or otherwise have a problem with the energies within the location itself, which I find to be the most sound theory I've come across. He also thought the presence of a malevolent entity was possible, which could very well be, but I agree with him that the idea this could be the doing of any one person seems rather absurd. He plans to run some tests on energy signatures of newcomers as well to see how transportation to the island has impacted them, which I plan to help with."
"Next, I wanted to discuss what we found during a recent fishing voyage. During our last trip out, we did some dredging and recovered an ornate knife that appeared to be a ceremonial blade, which had an engraving on it. Does the word 'devoramus' mean anything to you?"
Cannot Believe Working On The Floor of Language Has Just Become Relevant For Actual Language Reasons
"...Yes, Madam Princess," they murmur after a moment. "By itself it isn't much, the language it comes from uses a lot of context and abbreviation, so translating it is even more of a best-guess than translating things are normally, but...it's something in or adjacent to "We devour, consume, absorb; we enjoy or partake". First person plural, but not an um...not a royal 'we', not like 'we the people' or 'we at the company'."
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Jean frowns. "...The music box was useful and easy to manage. Play it and everyone's mental health gets a bit better. But it came from someone's happier days, days they lost, and if you play it too long, you lose those happier days too. It attacks your mind. You only understand that if you read the story, right? It. Wants you to read the story, it needs people to know its pain and loss. I keep asking people what they think these things want and no one seems to understand what I'm talking about, and I think. Maybe. This time. I am not the weird one?"
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Wrap unless she's stoppin' them?
A Complicated Gift | Early October
They seem...
Troubled.
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"Jean! Is--- everything alright? I'm not late, am I?"
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Jean opens the case. Solemn Lament is within.
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"...Pistols?" The weapons are new to her, having not existed in Hyrule. The old-fashioned sort like flintlock pistols are common here, but these... These are sleek. Ornate. Their aura is disquieting. "They're beautiful."
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Without thinking, they quietly take Zelda's hand. "Solemn Lament is made to kill monsters, but it has another use. The white pistol can destroy or restore a mind, while the black attacks both the mind and body. If something like the parade were to happen again..."
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Jean at the gates of Gerudo Village like "My gender is The Destroyer"
Wrap? I reckon we don't need to write a training montage unless you want to!
A Letter In Early November
Subject: A surprise
CC: None
My lady,
Evidence suggests that successful contact has been made with local manager-figure ("Goddess") Kora following the events of Mendel's attack, with support offered by Mdm. Kora in a managerial capacity. Pending direct contact and her ability to meet relevant terms - chiefly, avoiding violation of my original contract with the white-haired lady - I will be considering myself in her employ on a provisional basis. While this letter is relevant to the overall project, here to include and emphasize my belief that it may be best not to tell Doctor West, the overall purpose of this writing is to inform you that I will be showing up to our next shift on the Copper Coin with a new look, with which I am quite pleased. It feels quite bold, and while foreign to the fashions of my home it carries their spirit in a comforting manner. Consider this both a warning and an attempt to build anticipation.
Yours,
Agent Jean, Pumpkin Hollow Recovery Task Force
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She shows up to the next fishing excursion with a spring in her step, excited to see Jean's new look.
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Jean is dressed to impress, and greets Zelda with a big smile and a sweeping wave of their hat. Their cheeks color faintly as what they just said processes. "I say a lot of vaguely nautical things in this!"
They leap from the deck, hit the dock in a roll, and come up still smiling into a bow. When they rise from it their eyes are bright. Does Zelda like the new look?
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You may remember Gebura as Jean's old boss, whom they speak of with awe, affection, and fear as a peerless warrior.
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"Well, you look amazing, and I know you're always happy to hone your skills. And it's quite incredible that you were able to earn a gift from a deity! That's incredible!"
She can't help but think how much praying she had to do to get her own gifts... Thank goodness these goddesses are a bit more responsive. But then, if that's the case, why is the island still cursed? Hm. Things to chew on later.
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Hrm if we're dropping threads, this one might be one we can cut early?
Early December, At Home | NSFW | I Continue To Monopolize This Inbox
They keep sneaking longing glances at the Madame Princess, biting at their lip with those sharp teeth. It's been difficult, living together, as Jean has been torn between Waiting Politely and their urge to get Zelda off until their Hylian lover can't remember her name, kingdom, sorrows, or how to get out of bed. Jean has been patient, but ever since moving in they've restrained themselves from even masturbating, not wanting to intrude on Zelda's privacy.
The boldness that overtook them at the festival is rising in Jean's heart. They scoot their chair back and walk over, laying their hands on Zelda's shoulders for a gentle massage. "You seem tense, my lady," Jean murmurs. "...If it wouldn't be too distracting I'd like to help you relax while you work."
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As Jean comes around behind her, Zelda smiles, preparing to tell them that she's perfectly fine and not to fret on her account. But as she opens her mouth to speak, something about their tone and their touch registers, and their meaning snaps into place.
Oh.
After a moment of looking a bit surprised, her expression warms, and she reaches up to put her hand over one of theirs. "I suppose I have been at it for quite a while... Did you have something in mind?"
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Beat.
Beat beat beat.
Session of Beat Saber. Unexpected sequel to Crypt of the Necrodancer. Introduction of Dance Dance Revolution! to Marrow Island.
"I should probably say what!" Jean flashes a guilty grin, far less teeth than their resting slasher smile. "I'm done with my own work and thought, hahahaha, thought maybe I'm a bit wasted sitting at the table. Or rather above the table. If I'm not being too bold!"
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"No, not too bold," she replies after a moment. "Quite generous, in fact. It occurs to me I've probably kept you waiting, haven't I?"
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Jean leans in and presses a kiss to the back of Zelda's neck; they want to hear formal permission.
Or a command...
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Under normal circumstances, she doesn't care to boss people around or act as if she is above anyone. It feels stuffy and haughty in a way that feels out of character to her. But she knows Jean likes it, and when she's with them, somehow it feels... fun. Like some clever game.
"Be a good servant and kneel before your princess."
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