Light in the darkness

[hylianxsheikah]

[Zelda peers out the window of the laboratory on the shores of Lake Hylia, looking to see if the rain has slowed. It's pouring down as hard as ever, and the sparsely furnished laboratory is feeling damper and chillier by the moment. She sighs and turns away from the window, resigning herself to spending the night here. At least there's a stack of

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[hylianxsheikah]

[She's startled to her feet by the sound of the door suddenly opening and turns quickly, sucking in her breath in an involuntary gasp. She almost sags with relief as the firelight illuminates a familiar face.]

Thank the goddesses it's you, Link.

[hylianxsheikah]

Oh no, please don't. [Now that he's here, she realizes she much prefers having his company to having none; it frightens her to be alone in these circumstances.] Stay if you don't mind, I have the fire...I'm too tense to be alone.

[She wraps her cloak around herself again, sinking back to the floor.] I'm sorry I have no better hospitality to offer.

[tehnrija]

[Unbeknownst to the princess, there's someone peering in from the other side of the window pane, shivering as they attempt to endure the cold. Technology from a different world keeps them invisible to the naked eye, and for that, the stranger is grateful

[hylianxsheikah]

[The knock on the door brings Zelda to her feet in consternation. She stares at it for a moment, worrying her lower lip reflexively. Should she pretend the place is empty, and not answer? No, that would be pointless--the glow of the firelight gives her away, and besides, the door doesn't lock; her visitor could simply walk in.]

[She goes to the door and opens it carefully, peering out into the night, opening it a little wider to let the firelight illuminate the visitor's face. What she sees makes her step back in surprise, with a softly uttered] Oh.

((ooc: you too bro 8|b))

[tehnrija]

[Sheik stands still, attempting not to shiver to save face, his eyes focused squarely on Zelda rather than the dry laboratory behind her. He isn't as surprised since he's already stolen a glance at the princess. Up close, the resemblance is even more striking; it's something he tries to ignore.]

Pardon... my intrusion. [His voice is low - as low as acting will allow it to be. It's ambiguous enough to fool most of his colleagues (or at least, confuse). Sheik hopes it will be the same here.] Can I stay inside? At least until the rain stops.

[hylianxsheikah]

[She hesitates a moment. Sheik--her Sheik, not this one she doesn't know--would tell her to be wary, that even a familiar face is not necessarily a friend. She knows that, yet...she is simply not the kind who can turn a fellow traveler away from shelter. She steps aside to admit him, or perhaps her.] Of course. Come in.

[hylianxsheikah]

[A search of the loft over the laboratory proved fruitful; even though Zelda came here with nothing, she's found a few things to make the night more comfortable. There were blankets, which she simply tossed down the ladder, an old, smooth pair of wooden cups, which followed suit, and even a dusty old bottle of wine, which she carried down instead of throwing. Back on the ground floor, she pulls her cloak around her and is inspecting one of the wooden cups in her hand--it has a small dent from its fall--when she hears the knock on the door

[hylianxsheikah]

Warrior. [She returns the greeting shyly, calling him by the only name she knows. She shuts the door carefully behind him once he's inside, shutting out the cool, damp air and the loud pattering of rain, looking up at him again as she pulls her cloak around her.]

[She shakes her head emphatically. His appearance may have caught her by surprise, but with him here, she hardly fears what else could be out there in the night.] No, I'm glad...I mean, you're welcome to stay, if you like. I have little to offer... [She looks around the spare little room, then indicates the table and chairs in a corner.] Will you sit? I'll try to build up the fire.