aetheling | nautical

Cymbeline doesn't really like boats, but they're the only way to get anywhere in a reasonable period of time, especially when "anywhere" isn't on the mainland. Today he is sailing to Vectis, to oversee the change of governorship; his father the king is needed for courtly matters back home and his mother the queen, despite being the source of his royal blood, declines to involve herself in affairs of state when she can avoid it. Zoyah takes more after Ranae than after Charles in this department. So, it falls to Cymbeline.

Walking on a boat is even more difficult than walking on land, and Cymbeline is no great shakes at the latter to begin with. Unfortunately, neither he nor Kerem, the court magician and Cymbeline's confidante, have been able to figure out how to apply the principles of practicable magic to alleviating princely clumsiness. So Cymbeline is clinging to the railing of the boat, watching the waves, trying to avoid having to walk anywhere.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

treasuresuntold

The stranger gives Zoyah a look, then throws up her hands.

From:

agnatic

"Do you even speak Loegrian?" asks Zoyah. "Um, wave your hand if you understand me?"

From:

treasuresuntold

No hands are waved. She fusses with the skirt a little more, managing to drag it up over her hips without standing up, and then she gets it aligned the same way it was on Zoyah, albeit inside-out, unbuttoned, and full of sand.

With the buttons undone, it neglects to cover the crucial area. The stranger does not appear to notice this deficiency. She's wearing a halter top of some kind of grey leather, so she does know how clothes work, but lower-body coverings don't seem to be her area of expertise.

From:

agnatic

"Parlis Aquitaniais?" tries Zoyah. "Latinitas?" (She is a well-educated princess.)

From:

treasuresuntold

Uncomprehending blankness.

From:

agnatic

Zoyah holds up her hands in a nonthreatening gesture and moves to button the skirt for the strange green person.

From:

treasuresuntold

The strange green person watches her approach, then shrugs and allows this.

From:

agnatic

After the buttons are done, Zoyah says, "Okay, so, um, do you want to come to the castle with me? Kerem speaks like fifteen languages, I bet he knows one you know." She accompanies this acknowledged likely-pointless speech with a gesture and a few steps along the beach.

From:

treasuresuntold

She studies the steps eagerly, then tries to get to her feet and follow. Her legs tangle up in the skirt and she falls on her face, then spends a short while cursing viciously in absolute silence.

From:

agnatic

Zoyah offers her a hand to help her up. "You must've got, like, really thorough sea legs if you can't even walk anymore. Or maybe you're dehydrated? I hope you didn't drink the seawater."

From:

treasuresuntold

The stranger takes Zoyah's hand and, with its help, manages to get up on both feet. She wobbles. She takes a step. She takes another step.

From:

agnatic

In this way, they may eventually make it all the way to the palace!

"Mother! Father! Cymebliiiine!" calls Zoyah. "I found a lady with gills and cosmetic transfers and she doesn't know Loegrian or Aquitiniais or Latinitas and I dunno what to do with her!"

From:

aetheling

Cymbeline is the first person to respond to this call. He comes out the side door and looks quizzically at his sister and the green lady.

From:

treasuresuntold

The green lady beams and waves at him.

From:

aetheling

Cymbeline waves back. "¿Habl'Iberiola?" he tries.

From:

treasuresuntold

She blinks uncomprehendingly.

From:

aetheling

"Okay, well..." He points at himself. "Cymbeline." He points at Zoyah. "Zoyah." He points at the green person.

From:

treasuresuntold

The green person shrugs.

From:

aetheling

"Okay, well... do you want to come inside?" he says with a corresponding inviting gesture. "We can show you to Kerem, he's better at some fiddly stuff than I am..."