Collab with ChandakinsIn the span of five minutes, Felicia was convinced that she never should have come here.
But here she was, in the presence of a Poe, an unsettling figure garbed in brown, two Skullkids, three sheikah, whoever that
jerk was back there, and now... a fairy that wanted her to help save Hyrule.
Five minutes ago... give or take...As the majority of the group hesitantly followed the fairy towards the back of the graveyard, Felicia stood at the entrance scratching her shoulder and feeling her canteen through her pocket. This was insane. Who were all these people? What were all these weird creatures doing here in Kakariko Village?
After a few halfhearted steps in the fairy's direction, Felicia glanced down to find the only person there whose name she knew thus far.
"
Hey, uh...," she crouched down with her knees together and gave him a light tap on the shoulder, "
Graham... right? I think we're suppose to head over that way."
Felicia's voice sailed across two planes of existence, over seven mountains of consciousness, and plunged deep into a vast ocean of sensible qualia before finally landing just short of Graham's ears. Although he'd provided no discernible reaction to the annoyed glares and ruined magic tricks surrounding him, he suddenly perked up after hearing his name, turning his head to meet Felicia's gaze as she politely reminded him what they were doing here. The Subrosian struggled to make out her facial features amidst the vivid scenery of the graveyard, but ultimately failed as her eyes, mouth and nose seemed intent on melting off of her face and pooling in a grotesque flesh colored puddle on the ground. He could tell at the very least from her pointed ears that she was Hylian.
"
Yes, well, okay, hm, yes, well. I'll just be standing up and walking over there, then, I suppose," he noted, his already strange Subrosian accent further muddled by a slurred, detached articulation brought on by the sedatory effect of the bean. "
Well, okay, then, alright, let's, uh... let's do that."
Despite this resolution, Graham didn't seem to be moving an inch. Not for a lack of desire to stand up, but, rather, there seemed to be some complete miscommunication between brain and limbs. Unfortunately Graham's less-than-adequate sense of the passing of the time failed to clue him in on just how long and awkwardly he had been slumped on the floor, unmoving, saying nothing.
Wait, I'm standing up right now, right? Right? Can we check, just to make sure?I don't know, I'm pretty certain we're standing up, other Graham. It's kind of unlike me to just forget to do something like that.Do you think you could just check again, Graham? I just want to be thorough, is all. You know how I worry.Well, if you say so... oh, goodness. It looks like we didn't actually stand up, other Graham.Shit.So you know when you're done drinking a drink, but you still want to chew on some ice, and so you tilt the cup back to get like one or two cubes to slide down, but the ice doesn't move? So you keep tilting it back but then all the ice cubes just suddenly come rushing down at once and you make a fool of yourself? In a very similar manner, Graham's body parts suddenly exploded into action and he stood up with perhaps too much vigor. The lightheadedness had only become worse as the effects of the bean had set in, and although Graham managed to catch himself on a nearby fencepost before toppling over backwards, he still felt as though he would be much more effective and useful to everyone if he was laying down and inspecting the many flecks of graveyard dirt that called out to him in unison with their unique, dirt-like flair.
The crazies surrounding him all seemed to be listening to the fairy, but Graham couldn't be entirely sure as they appeared to him as colored shapes resembling freakish figures rather than actual people (perhaps that was for the better, as he wasn't sure his stomach could handle another unsettling face-melting incident). His attention slowly drifted to the fairy, Lethe, whose movements and natural light left colorful, kaleidoscope like lens flares in Graham's strained bean vision. He beckoned to the Hylian woman to come closer, as he didn't quite feel confident leaving the support of the fencepost just yet.
"
Perhaps I'm just seeing things. I mean, you know me and my wild imagination, right?" he half-chuckled, apparently oblivious to the fact that this face-melted Hylian woman didn't know a single thing about him besides his name. "
If I'm not mistaken, that's one of those forest fairies, right? I know a guy who pays good money for them in bottles. I think he eats 'em. Not sure! You should help me catch her. I'll be your best friend, I promise," he proposed, in a hush whisper. The bean had made him much chattier than usual, it seemed. "
I might even let you keep some of the money from the sale. But you'd have to be real hush-hush about it. Discretion is key in the fairy trafficking industry."
Unlike Graham, Felicia was a bit less keen on trusting folks without faces. Part of her wanted to help the man, but the larger part of her didn't really want to touch him. And so she simply watched, following his movements with her hands, but being sure to stay well out of his way.
"
I don't know if that's such a great idea," she replied, leaning forward while matching his hushed tone, "
I think we ought to hear her out first... I mean... well, you can't really catch her with so many people around, you know?"
She was beginning to regret stopping to help this loon at all... but somebody had to, right? Might as well be her. It at least gave her an excuse not to get any closer to that shady Sheikah temple. As for his fairy trafficking idea... Felicia had a bad feeling about messing with the sort of fairies who could project thoughts into your head... or who were at least in cahoots with someone who could. Not that she couldn't use the rupees or anything. She then realized that 'sort' of fairy was also the kind she'd rather not enrage by not following instructions.
"
You're no fun at all. Dream big every once in a while. You think I got where I am today by 'hearing people out'? Ridiculous," chuckled Graham, shaking his head. He wasn't exactly sure what he meant by "where I am today" considering he was not exactly a pillar of success himself.
Felicia reluctantly extended her hand, happy to still be wearing her gloves, though they reeked of fish, given her previous endeavors that day.
"
Do you... need some help getting up?"
"
No, I'll be quite alright on my own, thanks," sighed Graham, pushing off the fence post and struggling to take a few steps forward. "
Sorry in advance for this, by the way," he added quietly. He then put his hands up to his mouth and called out after the fairy.
"
Hey! Fairy lady! This girl said she was going to try to catch you in a bottle and sell you to a collector," he exclaimed, motioning towards Felicia. "She offered to pay me to help her, but I said no because I'm a good guy!" he explained, loopily. He then proudly put his hands on his hips, feeling a rush of bean-induced confidence in his master plan.
Ha! Classic misdirection! If she thinks that this dumpy fishwife is out to get her, she'll never see it coming when I actually try to steal her! Foolproof!A sound like something of a "
Uwah?!" escaped her as Felicia straightened up, looking from the no-faced and somehow two-faced Graham to where the fairy was now serenely floating up ahead. She stood there frozen, waiting for the fairy to reply or perhaps smite her, but nothing happened. Nothing at all. Either the fairy was deliberately ignoring them, or she wasn't at all concerned with people trying to bottle her up.
If Felicia was hesitant before, she was downright terrified to approach the fairy now. With each passing second that the fairy didn't respond, however, she felt a little less anxious. Making up her mind to quickly get things over with, she briskly walked past Graham, being sure to provide a light, but deliberate, nudge with her elbow as she passed. She glared at him over her shoulder before moving on. He seemed to be walking well enough alone anyway.
Now standing amidst the others (albeit further towards the back given Graham's lie), Felicia was back to scratching her shoulder and chewing her lip. Whoever the creepy guy in the brown cloak was, he seemed none-to-happy with not only the fairy, Lethe, but the Goddesses themselves. All at once, Felicia found herself feeling much less worried for herself and much more worried for that guy, especially now that she knew the person the fairy was in cahoots with was the Goddess Farore herself.
Dervish
