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030 » sippin on that tennessee
[the relentless rain brought on by vah ruta's rampage doesn't bother alca — not exactly — but it does make it hard to cook. he can't just build a fire wherever he wants, not while it's raining... so he winds up making camp in a small cave on the banks of the zora river, where he uses some firewood and flint he has on hand to build a fire.
he's not usually in this part of lanayru — or at least, he doesn't remember being in it — but he's happy enough with the food he's caught for the day. the rain has lured out rare fish he wouldn't normally spot in these waters! he's got some neatly sliced hearty bass sizzling in his pan, so he's just singing to himself, waiting for everything to cook. the fire is visible to anyone who might be swimming in the river...]
Fish, fish, fish... ♪ Hmm, it's a little cold. Cold, cold, cold! ♪
he's not usually in this part of lanayru — or at least, he doesn't remember being in it — but he's happy enough with the food he's caught for the day. the rain has lured out rare fish he wouldn't normally spot in these waters! he's got some neatly sliced hearty bass sizzling in his pan, so he's just singing to himself, waiting for everything to cook. the fire is visible to anyone who might be swimming in the river...]
Fish, fish, fish... ♪ Hmm, it's a little cold. Cold, cold, cold! ♪
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and it's the sound of crackling fire, the scent of cooking food that has his stomach gurgling. he's not a growing Zora anymore, he's basically the most grown he could ever be at this stage of his life (LOOK AT HIS DAD OH NO IS THIS WHAT HE'S DESTINED TO BECOME rrrrreeeEEEEEE, live fast and die young tbh). ]
Hello? Who's there?
[ he doesn't enter first. in fact, he wants to confirm it's not some kind of monster living in this cave. weirder things have happened. better to be safe than to be sorry, even if he could probably take on anything his size. ]
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Hm? Hello! It's me! Who are you?
[who's there? me, apparently. not very helpful, at least alca doesn't look like a monster.]
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I don't know who 'me' is, but may I enter? [ he chuckles, as he rolls his shoulders and stretches out to loosen up a bit. ] I promise I"ll show you mercy for a little snack.
[ he'll at least humor the probable stranger. besides, they sound so cheerful... it'd be rude to barge in, even if he technically has every right to. ]
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[finally realizing that he can't be seen from the entrance of the cave, alca pops out from behind a rock formation, squinting at the stranger in the rain. a zora? a red zora. a big zora. oooh.
alca himself is rather petite.. and blue, and pink. he peers out from behind his rock just long enough to wave at sidon, smiling, and then he turns back to the fish sizzling in his pan.]
Do you want a snack? I just made lunch, so you can have some.
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he'll have to wrack his brain for such unusual cases later. ]
I'd be honored.
[ and he takes a seat, tucking his knees against his chest as he gets comfortable. ]
Tell me. You're rather colorful. [ it's the pink! it's... rather pleasing to the eye. ] Where does it come from?
[ perhaps he can learn where he's from through this line of conversation. ]
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[that is, by no means, a modest deflection. alca takes the remark as an opportunity to show off, delicately pulling one of his head fins into place beside his cheek, the same way a hylian might adjust his hair. he's... preening.]
I'm not sure! From my mother, maybe? Oh, or what if I've spent too much time in Lurelin Village? The water is so warm down there, you know, and all the Hylians are so friendly.
Here you go!
[alca's traveling necessities encompass his cooking pot, some plates, and a handful of eating utensils. he's already laid them out neatly in the cave floor; he serves up a slab of sizzling bass slathered in a mysterious sauce, and holds it out for sidon's consumption.]
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he takes the plate and a fork, murmuring something in appreciation as he cuts a sliver of the meat and wipes up some of the sauce before sliding it into his mouth. ]
... oh. Oh! [ sparkle sparkle! ] This is marvelous! [ he takes a few more bites--- bigger ones, and that plate is quickly polished off. ]
You must come back with me and cook for some of the elders and my father! I'm sure he would be happy to reward you in some fashion... and me as well. I am a prince, after all.
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Sure, sure! I like cooking for people. Food makes everyone so happy, don't you think? Hmm, how many dishes do you think...
[he trails off slowly, and comes to a visible mental halt.]
...Huh? A prince?
[theoretically — if alca didn't have the memory of a goldfish — this would stir some long-forgotten knowledge of zora's domain. but it doesn't: alca only panics because, well, sidon is a prince! and shouldn't alca have been much more polite to a prince?]
...Oh noooo! Wait! Should I call you something special? — No, wait! I didn't introduce myself!
[aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAああああああ]
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Yes, a prince. The only prince, to be exact. [ he tries to keep a cool demeanor, not wanting to further fluster Alca. ] And no, you don't need to do anything different! Just treat me like any other Zora, okay?
[ he holds his hands up in deference. ]
But please do introduce yourself. It's been a long while since I've met such a... kind individual.
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Oh... um, I'm Alca...
[alca fidgets as he takes a seat on the cave floor, tucking his legs to the side as he balances his plate on his thighs. he peers up at sidon timidly, as if trying to hide beneath his plaid bandana; he tries to think about things that will keep him calm and relaxed, like deboning fish, and washing vegetables...]
...My name's Alca! I travel by myself. I've been traveling a really long time...
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[ that name rings familiar in his memories. a distinct Zora who apparently went missing one day, and no one knew where he'd gone. there was a search, of course, but going beyond their part of the world was too dangerous a task while more significant events transpired. that didn't mean Alca was considered less important.
but even a prince who cared more about his people than himself couldn't sway the oldest or 'wisest', which meant being unable to convince his father. ]
... how long would you say you've been missing?
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[he tilts his head, and then holds his hand a few feet off the ground.]
I used to be this small...
[...in other words, at the very least, he's been gone long enough for a zora growth spurt. which is a long time!
even in those days alca had been a dreamy, empty-headed sort of child; it hadn't been too much of a surprise that he had gone missing, or else, gotten washed down the zora river. these things happened. in a way, it was inevitable.
alca does not seem too upset, as he delicately takes a bite of his fish, and shivers, one hand against his cheek, in apparent glee.]
Ahh... so good...!
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[ he takes a moment to savor the food he just ate. it's a good thing that Alca enjoys his own food--- who ever heard of a chef who couldn't eat it and enjoy it? that's blasphemous! ]
So, Alca. What brings you here? The prospect of many varieties of fish? The weather, which has been much rainier as of late? Or, perhaps, you've been lured by the need to return to your homeland?
[ he fondly looks upon the other zora, smiling more with his eyes than anything else. ]
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[alca looks at sidon again, but this time with complete incomprehension. he knows the word, obviously — it's just something that never belonged to him. homelands were for other people, like gorons heading for death mountain, gerudo women leaving their homelands behind to find their destined partners. he shakes his head.]
I just go where I want to. Towards the wind, and the water...
[he pauses.]
...The water here is really nice, though! It's so clear, and it feels really good. It feels safe. If there was just more sun...
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[ but even Sidon's generally positive approach to things isn't enough to cover his disdain toward the state of the weather. rain, thunder, and the potential for a flood that could devastate the entire region. it's not his people that he worries about, though a flood would increase accessibility for possible enemies, but those who cannot deal with it.
it would have a dramatic effect. too much of one. ]
We try to keep the waterways safe. After all, that is how we do most of our traveling. The paths are less so, but still...
[ he allows himself one small sigh then straightens up, smile returning to his face. ]
... no matter. Tell me, are you a capable fighter?
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[alca answers positively enough, but then he seems to think the matter over, deflating visibly. he changes his mind.]
...Maybe!
[he's afraid of moblins... and bokoblins... and he usually just outswims lizalfos, so...]
...I fight Chuchus sometimes...
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[ and he holds out his hands to demonstrate the size. if Alca could take one of those down, he's clearly very skilled!
also that blush is cute. fking help me. ]
But if you come with me, I'll ensure your safety. You wouldn't have to stay if you feel uncomfortable, Alca. [ his smile evens out, staying gentle--- basically, no teeth showing. ] I am skilled with a bow and if that fails, we are swimmers. We can get away from them easily.
[ with a bow of his head, he suddenly raises it with a look of fierce determination! ]
You could show off your cooking skills, as a Zora who has traveled the furthest from our land... and we would be happy to compensate you.
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You don't have to thank me! I want to cook. I'll make everyone really happy! I promise!
[he taps his feet on the ground, alternating feet between taps. the overall effect is a bit silly, but it's clear that he's excited, at least.]
Wait... are we going now?
[wait.]
Wait... where are we going?
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Uh... no. [ blink blink. ] Of course not, only when you're ready to go.
[ another round of blinking. oh dear. ]
Where I live, of course. The center of this region is where almost all Zora live.
[ except for Alca. ]
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[given that he loves food, it's uncommon for alca to spontaneously forget about his meal. but he's just so very excited! plus, it's sort of nice to sit close to sidon. he's so big! he looks so strong! sidon wouldn't let alca get captured and trussed up by bokoblins, right? that's happened a couple of times...]
I'm really happy. I've seen a lot of Hylians and Gerudo, but never other Zora.
[alca pops some more bass in his mouth. nyum nyum nyum nyum.]
But, you're a prince, right? So are you the prince of all the Zora?
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Really? No other Zora, but you've encountered other races! That's amazing, Alca. You probably have more knowledge than some of the eldest that live among us. We may need some time to get as much information from you as possible.
[ with a wide grin, he curls an arm around Alca in a friendly way. ]
I am. In the future, I will be King as well. I would hope by then, you will still be around to tell me about your travels.
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Okay! I'll tell you anything you want to know!
[concern takes over his small face for a moment as he suddenly regards sidon with a small and helpless pout... :( ]
Sometimes I'm not very good at explaining things, though... I'm sorry...