水 / bank of wishes

@王┊baek juho it wouldn't be putting me out. besides, i used coming down here as an excuse to get away from home for a little while. /shrugging slightly, i make my way out of the water, shaking myself free of the droplets before i'm standing on the shore just a little bit away from you, a small smile on my lips while i gesture to you and your things
then i'll walk with you up toward zora's domain.

@水┊hirai momo I wouldn't wish to put you out. I doubt escorting a mere merchant was at the top of your list of things you might like to spend your time doing today. /though my gaze meets yours, and I'm witness to the light that dances within your eyes, I'm still reluctant to accept; the idea that you might wish to spend any more time with me than courtesy dictates is beyond my imagination and I look back toward my things
Though if you genuinely wish to accompany me, I wouldn't turn down the offer.

@王┊baek juho there are plenty of reasons as to why i'm not a princess right now-- /grumbling a little, i shake my head, thinking as to just why everyone has to treat me in such ways, and i glance up along the path toward zora's domain, the home i know well, and when i turn my gaze back to you, a little light dancing within my gaze
then perhaps you'd like an ? i can be some company of sorts.

@水┊hirai momo I suppose that's fair enough. You're not meeting with a royal envoy, after all. /unaware that anything might be amiss with you watching me, I withdraw my hands from about my belt, only to place them directly on my hips; with a tilt of my head, I glance along the road toward Zora's Domain
I'm on my way to a place you know well-- up to Zora's Domain. I would take your offer, but I should be on my way sooner rather than later if I wish to make it there before it gets much later.

@王┊baek juho that's not what i meant-- i just, im not doing very princess-y things. right now, i'm just a zora, talking to a traveling merchant. /watching your fingers move, i look up at you when i realize just how much i must be watching you, and i wander a little in the water, fingers trailing in the water as i dip my head, nodding slightly
i suppose that makes sense... where are you headed now? well, after your rest, i mean. you can relax again, by the way...

@水┊hirai momo I believe you are still the princess even when you aren't in Zora's Domain. /bringing both my hands before myself, I busy my fingers with the leather belt slung over my hip, and adjust the metal hasp of the buckle now that I'm standing still; my eyes leave you to glance up along the road, and I shake my head slightly/ I sold many of my goods on the way here from Lurelin Village already. That makes me a less attractive target to bandits, I'm sure, so I've been unbothered thus far.

@王┊baek juho that only matters when i'm supposed to be the princess. right now, i am but a young zora checking the waters to make sure that no one's littering. /nodding a little, a small smile plays over my lips before you speak, and i hum in thought at the idea of bandits roaming around up here, especially since i know that lizalfos often linger around the area
of course, of course. have you been lucky with sales, then? or bothered by bandits?

@水┊hirai momo I can think of many who would differ. /when you come closer to the shore, I keep my head bowed as a sign of respect; when you wave dismissively, I slowly lift my head and dare to meet your gaze, only to straighten up when you seem equally dismissive of that deference
I insist that you didn't disturb me. I suppose I'm just used to keeping an eye out for either customers or bandits. Of course that isn't to say I think you're either of those things... just that as a traveling merchant I need to be aware of both.

@王┊baek juho please-- being princess hardly matters. /rolling my eyes moreso at myself, i sigh and shake my head slightly while coming closer to the shore, standing in the water up to my thighs, giving you a bow in return when i suddenly feel some form of explanation coming up; lifting my gaze, i meet yours once more, lifting a hand to wave dismissively
no need for the bows, i was the one who disturbed. besides, you're not in my way. anyone can rest here, or come by.

@水┊hirai momo Ah... I suppose you've got me there. /standing up to my full height slowly, one arm crossed over my chest, I listen to you with the tip of my tongue just between my teeth; the name you give me is one I've heard before, though I've never put a face to the name to know that it is most definitely you; erring on the side of caution, I bow a second time
The name is known to me. If it's the princess herself that's come this far, then I should be the one apologizing for being in your way.

@王┊baek juho then why did you stand? /my response is a little cheeky, a playful glint in my eyes though i quickly bow my head in response, amused but not wanting to get too ahead of myself; when you tell me your name, paired with a bow, i dip my head once more, lifting my head to meet your gaze with a small smile on my lips
you can call me momo. it's a pleasure to meet you, of course. but truly, i didn't mean to disturb your moment of relaxation.

@水┊hirai momo You didn't disturb me. /my answer is quick, direct, but not entirely factual when I wouldn't have left my place if I weren't disturbed in some way; it's the fact that I didn't expect to see one of the Zora this far out along the river and so close to the path which motivates me to speak; it takes a moment before I take in your sleek appearance, and I lift a hand to my hair to push back a shock of red just before I hastily bow
My apologies. My name is Juho. I'm the visitor in these lands, so you don't need to leave.

@王┊baek juho /slowly, i peer around the rock, fingers curling around the stone as wide eyes come to focus on you while you stand at your full height, and it takes a moment for me to speak, still processing just how tall you seem when i know i've never seen a hylian as tall as you; quietly, i clear my throat, carefully floating just a little closer and speaking up loud enough to be heard
i'm sorry for disturbing you, i didn't mean to. i'll be on my way and leave you be.

@水┊hirai momo Is someone there? /after calling out, I drew my feet from the water to rest on the bank; using my hands, I pushed myself up to my feet and peered in the direction of the splash of water; I left my bag and boots in their place, trusting that whatever, or whoever, was nearby wasn't malevolent as I tried to investigate; it seemed a lost cause with no sign of who or what had made the splash, but I wasn't about to be dissuaded
Hello?

@王┊baek juho /for a long moment, i simply peered around the rock, both entranced by the sight of someone up in the area as well as the brightness of the hair atop your head, studying your form as you came to settle on the shore; seeing the shock of red suddenly rise, i let out a soft gasp, quickly ducking behind the rock with a little splash of water, hesitant to peer back out as i feel my heart race in my chest

@水┊hirai momo /it was my intention to travel to Zora's Domain on this particular trip, rather than heading further north toward Akkala; though I had little left in the way of wares from further south when I had last stopped in Lurelin, I had chosen to stop along the river to rest my feet; seated on the edge of the bank, my half-empty rucksack resting beside me along with my boots, I had cuffed up the legs of my breeches and dipped my bare feet into the water; after a while, the feeling of being watched was unshakable and I lifted my head, looking around me for some sign of life

@王┊baek juho /with morning duties done and out of the way, it was easy for me to slip away with the excuse of checking the river for trash and promising to clean it if i found anything; coming to the bank of wishes, i lingered in the water, checking for debris, but it was the sight of someone on the shore that caught my attention, and i was quick to slip behind one of the rocks in the water, hiding and simply watching from a distance without a word, entranced but almost afraid when it's not someone i can recognize