impaoftheoath-blog

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Made uncomfortable by her slip, Impa took a deep breath, attempting to calm her slightly frayed nerves. Noticing the young guard heading for the door, she followed his initiative. “I am.” She stated, striding through the door he held propped open, realizing she’d likely not come to any conclusions outside anytime soon and that she might as well give it a go.

“I came to... clear my head.” Impa explained vaguely, stalling near the entrance of the temple. Before her was a large expanse of marble and pale stone, ornately carved in a style reminiscent of the original temple built centuries ago. The temple always seemed to echo with a chorus of voices singing ethereally, despite the fact that no vocalists were visible. When she asked about it as a student, her dahn explained it was because the barrier between the spirit realm and the physical realm was so thin in the temple that those beyond could be heard. Apparently the temple spirits beyond the barrier were extremely fond of choral music.

Eyeing the gold statue of Nayru as she had done countless times before, Impa felt goosebumps crawl up her arms, the Soul and Blood Marks raising on her skin. Nayru was the goddess she favored, although she prayed to them all. There was always a slight guilt pressing on her chest at the sight, and she assumed it was a common reaction. Today however it felt heavier than usual, so heavy that she couldn’t bring herself to move past the entrance. 

“Do you know what I’m thinking?” Impa spoke softly, her voice uncommonly gentle as she tore her gaze from the idol and looked over her shoulder at the guard behind her.

A Fair Warning || Open

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Impa knew as soon as she saw the look in the man’s eyes that she’d made a mistake, but it was hard to fight a lifetime of instinct. It was in that moment, recognizing the concerned face in front of her, that a small grimace pulled at her own face. He hadn’t been among her guard for much time, and every time she came face-to-face with the man she couldn’t help but feel there was something familiar about him. Something she’d yet to place. Lowering her blade, she slid it back into the sheath, eyes darting around to see if anyone had been around to witness her accidentally threaten a member of her guard.

“I-I see. Very well.” Impa stammered, regaining her usual casual posture, which was still quite rigid. “It’s nothing. I was simply, ah... distracted. I’ll admit I did not hear you.” She grumbled, the admission a painful one. Reportedly, this young man was capable of telepathy, so concealing the truth of it may not serve any purpose. Nevertheless, she worried what he might say to others. She was still quite young for her position, there were plenty of older Sheikah of equal skill and with more experience who’d be willing to take the job.

Still, asking him not to say anything felt dishonest, and discussing the source of her distraction was something she still felt unwilling to do. So she simply stared at him, her expression dissatisfied. 

A Fair Warning || Open

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Impa’s eyes widened as they scanned over the plans of the perimeter wall, seeing that there were windows beginning around the height of five feet. “Is this guard a Kokiri?” She grumbled under her breath, knowing that she was heads taller than the tallest Hylians but that most were above five feet tall. 

“Mmhmm...” Impa hummed her reply, hearing Zelda’s voice lilt as though she’d asked for input, no doubt on something not requiring much of an answer. She scrawled out the note she’d made prior, letting out a frustrated sigh. 

“Did you know a guard said he was unable to search for you because he was too short to see at his post?” Impa exclaimed, finally resting her hands in her palms in defeat. “You’d think if he were too short to do his job it would’ve come up before his monarch is kidnapped.” She pointed out, chuckling sardonically. 

Breach || Impa & Zelda

Zelda tilted her head back to balance the book on her forehead, still idly musing aloud about the perceived difficulties of water automatons, but her eyes slid sideways to watch Impa. She wasn’t paying attention to anything Zelda was saying anyway.

Zelda laid the book on the arm of the chair and stood to cross the room to her vanity. She propped her chin on her hand and boredly picked through a few pieces of loose jewelry scattered across the rich wood below the mirror.

“Don’t you find that terribly tedious?” she asked over her shoulder, her eyes watching her governess in the reflection of the vanity.

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A Fair Warning || Open

It was just after sunset, and Impa stalked the promenade outside of the temple, refusing to go in just yet. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy visiting the temple, it was quite the opposite really. She was raised in a close-knit culture that encouraged spirituality and meditation. It was also in the temple where Impa had received some of the clearest visions of the Sight, a peek into a likely future. She however, did not like to enter the temple until clear of mind, and her mind was far from clear. 

Between the disappearance of her charge and the actual finding of her charge, Impa’s mind was foggier than it had been since she was young. But she wasn’t young anymore, and couldn’t afford to hold on to her childish impulses. So she’d made the decision to release them in the temple, and yet now struggled to get a grasp on them in the first place. This dense fog of feelings was also hindering her instincts, making her senses dull. So dull that she hadn’t noticed the sound of footsteps behind her until they were nearly on top of her. Impa swiveled around immediately, one of the small daggers on her thigh ringing out as she pulled it from it’s sheath preemptively. 

“State your intentions.” She barked, her own crimson cloak shielding her face in the moonlight.

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Impa peeled back the map of the entire castle, licking her finger to flip through more specific drawings, looking for one of the perimeter wall. Zelda’s chattering behind her used to be something she took comfort in, as she did most of their private conversations. Now they felt somehow devalued after what happened at the festival, which was irrational, she knew. 

“Hmm...” Impa hummed thoughtfully as though she were interested, however glancing up again at her liege to make sure she was safe made her less believable. Finally finding the detailed image of the perimeter wall, Impa breathed a sigh of relief.

Breach || Impa & Zelda

A fountain unveiling. Zelda couldn’t think of anything she’d rather be doing less. She’d be expected to be well-dressed and probably give some sort of commendation to the workers responsible.

“Fake fish?” she asked, rapidly cycling through the pages of the book now. “How did they do that? Automatons or something? Seems like the water would rust the gears.”

She closed the book with a turn of her wrist and crossed her legs as she reclined back against the seat, now talking to herself more than to Impa. “Unless the gears were treated,” she said, deconstructing the idea. “Maybe some kind of hydrophobic oil. Although that might interfere with the gears too. Or cause bubbles or something.”

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Griffith by tang haoming

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Impa shot up at the sound of the Queen’s voice, noticing how distracted she seemed and frowning slightly. “Today is just the unveiling of the updated fountains. I believe they added, ahh... What was it...” Impa’s voice trailed off, her eyes gradually trailing back to her work.

“Fish. Not, uh, real fish, fake ones. Why they couldn’t keep up with real fish is beyond me.” Impa grumbled, staring blankly at the map. “It’s this evening, just after dinner.” She added promptly, looking up briefly and noting the position of the sun outside, indicating it was just past noon. 

Breach || Impa & Zelda

Ever since the festival Zelda had hardly had any time to herself and had even been forced to bid Gant farewell in a formal, public setting because she couldn’t manage to slip away. Even now, in her privy chambers, Impa hovered nearby and kept casting absent glances in her direction, as though Zelda would manage to slip away in the five minutes since the last time she looked.

Zelda held a book in her lap but she wasn’t really reading it, instead finding herself watching the clouds drifting through the colored glass of her window seat.

For the dozenth time, Impa glanced over at her and the queen sighed.

“What is on the schedule for me today, Impa?” she asked, turning her eyes to her book as she idly flipped through the pages. “A meeting? An appearance? I think I misplaced my weekly itinerary.”

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Breach || Impa & Zelda

There was something wrong. At least, Impa believed there was. Ever since the festival had ended, she’d doubled the guards, expanding their hours and her own in tandem. She’d given long lectures to those under her about the “abandonment of responsibility... disappointment beyond measure... a total disregard for order and duty.” 

That being said, most were handling the assumed punishment with grace and penitence. In comparison, Impa was barely leaving her Queen’s side. She’d occasionally step out for a moment or two, but otherwise hadn’t left her while still not really discussing much of anything important. After all, the breach in security had been of her own doing, so there really wasn’t a crisis to address or a monster to run from. 

Presently, Impa sat in a stiff wooden chair in the Queen’s chambers, hovering over a map of the kingdom. She’d been trying to come up with solutions to the blind spots discovered over the course of the festival and very fruitless pursuit of the Queen, among them being that a guard on the perimeter wall complained that his short stature kept him from aiding in the search. How his height was a factor, it was still unclear. Glancing up, as she did every minute, she noted that the Queen was still in fact present in the room and not appearing in danger, she angled her face back down again, scrawling down on the map, “add height requirement for perimeter wall patrols”.

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Impa’s body was usually rigid, but she became even more poised as the chiming of Jas’ jewelry met her ears. The words date and atmosphere were like projectiles, ricocheting around in her mind dangerously. So then she hadn’t been mistaken, and had actually agreed to a date with this woman. 

Her mouth slid open at the salute followed by an airborne kiss, no reply leaving her agape mouth to anything that had just been said or done. And just as quickly as their conversation had began, Jas blended into the crowd, off to Goddesses only knew where. Probably to check in with her king. 

Impa’s chest swelled as she stood, turning on her heels and heading back towards the courts, her grin just visible in the lamplight.

Business with Pleasure || OPEN

Jasdaë gave a short laugh before sliding off the rim of the fountain, the ornaments on her ankles chiming musically with the movement.

“Then it’s a date,” she said, leaning slightly into the last word. “The night after tomorrow should work for me. I’ll meet you here at seven in the evening, that’ll be time enough for them to light the lanterns and the water fires. I think it’s important to the atmosphere.”

She offered a jaunty Sheikah style salute and blew a kiss to the captain before turning to slip into the crush of the festival crowd. She still had some work to do, although she planned to fit in some more leisure time as well.

She decided the king could most certainly not find out about her liaison with the captain.

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aventine (you carried my heart) a ss & hw zelimpa fanmix

listen @8tracks.

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Impa sketch

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by ARMAN AKOPIAN

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Impa fiddled with the hilt of the scimitar at her hip, wondering how exactly the night had taken such a turn. Once again, the thought crossed her mind that this was all some cruel joke orchestrated by Gant, which wasn’t an entirely unreasonable thought in her mind. And yet still there was the possibility that Jas genuinely was interested in spending more time with her. Which was definitely more staggering. 

“I- erm, believe I could find someone to take my place,” she spoke slowly and deliberately, still not entirely sure where her statement was headed, “for a night.” Impa avoided eye contact for a brief moment, then finally chanced to turn and see the charming smile spread across the Gerudo woman’s face. Her own face was still solemn, despite a subtle flush on her cheeks. 

Business with Pleasure || OPEN

Jas gave a thoughtful hum, tipping her head before she spoke. “And what nights are you not keeping vigil?” she asked. “I know a place in the bazaar that sells passable Gerudo rum. It’s not run by real Gerudo, mind you, and the drink is obviously better when it’s from the fortress, but you might find the city type more palatable anyway. And it’s a lovely place, right on the water, pretty drapery, colored lanterns.”

She took another drink and tucked the flask away again, turning her head to smile invitingly at the captain. “Maybe you could find time to go there. I’d be willing to show you the location.”

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character aesthetics - a medium

I can speak to the dead. No - really. Sometimes it feels like they’re trying to c l a w their way out of my head.

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Impa stilled her breath as Jas reached over, the movement kicking in her training. Had she been a couple more drinks in, Impa definitely would’ve blocked the gesture, and was immediately glad she didn’t as the brush of Jasdaë’s nails sent a shiver down her spine.

Impa nodded as the Gerudo spoke, a small smile forming at the thought of her in training. Impa wondered what she was like when there was nothing to tease. “It sounds similar to Sheikah training. Although definitely less teasing, I’d think.” She exhaled, trying to imagine her comrades attempting to use the technique of the Gerudo. It was certainly a ridiculous image. Seeing the alcohol displayed before her, Impa frowned, wishing she could partake further but knowing it wouldn’t be wise. Despite using The Sight earlier and seeing nothing grandly amiss amidst the revelry, she still didn’t feel comfortable taking the chance.

 “Thank you, but I shouldn’t, no. I’m still technically on-duty until the Queen retires. Odds are it will be a boring night, but alas. I must keep vigil.” She sighed, knowing this would be the end of it, as her occupation required of her. She had no ‘off-days’, no vacations. She had to be constantly ready to defend and protect the queen.

Business with Pleasure || OPEN

Jasdaë’s eyes lit up with delight at the sudden banter, pleased to see that she was engaging this otherwise stoic knight captain. Jas took the liberty of reaching over to tuck a loose strand of white hair behind the captain’s ear, her lacquered nails barely scraping over the sensitive point there.

“I couldn’t agree more,” she said with a laugh under the words. “People who lack subtlety can be so predictable. I’ve always liked a good riddle to keep me guessing. My coryphee— that’s the leader of my caste, she acts as an instructor when we’re in training— says that subtlety is the goal, not the starting point. So many people see it as something that just happens, but I find it takes immense practice to barely tease at what you mean and leave the rest a mystery.” She gave a pointed look to the captain and took another, longer drink before offering the flask again. “Can I coax you into one more?”

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Impa gave a skeptical grin at the mention of the fighting pits. She’d heard of them, they were fables ladled with glory in Rohylia and the victors were practically worshipped. “I’ve never been myself. Perhaps I could become famous.” She replied with a hint of playful sarcasm, her eyes staring a little too long at the flask perched on Jasdaë’s lips. Clearing her throat, Impa focused on the question at hand, pushing back a tendril of silvery hair that had managed to leave the burgundy ribbon holding the rest of her hair in place. 

“I suppose either could win given the level of experience. But I personally rely on speed, as I’m sure you could guess, despite this bicep you seem taken with.” She held in her own laughter as she focused on the ground below her, working at regaining her serious expression. Finally, Impa looked back up at the woman beside her, head cocked slightly to the side and that same lock of hair coming loose from behind a pointed ear, dangling freely. “Besides, I find the art of evasion quite engaging, don’t you?” She asked honestly, her expression stoic.

Business with Pleasure || OPEN

Impa’s reaction to the question was subtle, although Jas couldn’t help but notice the tenseness in her back and shoulders, and the pause before she answered.

Not one to make anyone uncomfortable from her questioning (outside of interviews, that was) Jas offered a subject change.

“You know,” she said as she brought her flask to her mouth, letting it hover over her full lips. “You would do very well in the fighting pits at the fortress. They aren’t as dangerous these days, of course. Now it’s all sport and a good time. Have you ever been, I wonder? I currently have a load of money riding on one of the main contenders.  I think speed generally has an edge over pure power, you see. But what do you think, Sefdeail? Is it better to be strong or quick in your expert opinion?”