[o4] ‸^‸ Fourth Song.

[ocariness]

Characters: AU!OoT Link (ocariness) and whomever finds her.
Setting: Floor 11 (Daytime). Set immediately after this, which is the day after the events of Hitori Kakurenbo.
Format: Action probably I'm terrible with prose lately?
Summary: Link now thinks that her ancestor hates her. Tired and emotionally past breaking point, she found somewhere (or so she thought) to be alone and sob. She really needs a hug.
Warnings: TOWER OF SADIMUS/ANIMANGST and tl;dr. But uh, other than that? None yet!

[ Everything around her was ripped away in a whirlwind of green light and the wooshing sound of air as Link returned to the warp point she'd set on the meadow floor.

It's hard, but she manages to pick herself up and not break down there, as luckily the warp point was next to the exit, as always. She gets up, numb, expression pained, and begins slowly making her way back to her room. By the time she returns to the meadow floor, she has since fixed her clothing, rebound herself, and gotten a shower.

... There was no evidence the person sitting next to the lakeside is a girl at all. Link had seen to that not being noticed.

She might be hard to spot, wearing a blue tunic instead of her usual green one and not bothering with having her hat on, but you'll spot her sitting on a bank, head pulled to her knees. There's the sounds of quiet sobbing every so often.

She shouldn't be allowed to carry the Master Sword, the name of Link, or anything else. She simply didn't deserve any of it; she had been forced to age and she never wanted it. She'd experienced loss, and the Tower was pushing her past even her limits of bottling things inside.

Something had to give. Perhaps it was her. Perhaps her ancestor deserved this sword more than she. Or the small Hero of Winds. Why was it that he, younger than when she'd started, was not forced to age like she had been? Was she never worthy to begin with? Did they simply "make do" with her? Was she a replacement "Hero"? Link didn't know.

What she did know was that she wished she could go home. Zelda deserved better than her. ]

Comments

[ocariness]

[ ... How can they turn that look down, Willow... ]

I... I suppose.

[ But... BUT what is a movie Link is picturing something that moves... vaguely. ]

/edits this a thousand years later

[guiltapalooza]

[Yesss, her nefarious powers strike again: that of the pathetic look.]

You'll see, it'll be great. I promise I'll pick something with a happy ending, too. [Willow doesn't think she could handle anything depressing right now, herself.

That said, she puts on a fake pompous voice and lifts her chin in the air.] Would you do me the favor of escorting me to the media level so that we can begin your education, kind sir?

OMG HELP THIS IS ADORABLE?

[ocariness]

[ Link has to be inclined to agree, frankly. Happy things would be nice.

There's a small smile, at least, at Willow's attitude. They can't help but feel a brief twinge of guilt, but that's pushed away. Link can play along, at any rate.

Offering her an arm. That's what gentlemanly people do, right? Link had seen it happen in towns and stuff. That's how chivalrous men act!!

Though they don't think too much speaking should be a necessity here. You know, strong silent type. Also, Link's trying to recover from looking so vulnerable earlier. ]

I CAN'T HELP IT'S DOOMED TO BE ADORABLE. also do you have a movie request for them?

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow is completely unphased by his lack of speaking, because hey, she dated Oz once. She is cool with the stoic. She reaches out and daintily places her hand on his arm, as if she were high class and wearing skirts, which she definitely isn't.

They start gallantly toward the stairs. In her mind, at least, they're being gallant.] So has anything good happened to you lately? Any nice, cheery gossip? If not, I can supply, but I wanted to do the polite thing and give you a chance to get a word in edgewise first.

[She gives him a grin, trying to keep the mood positive. The last thing Link needs is more dwelling on everything that happened here. Willow isn't going to make him do it, isn't going to bring up a single bad thing unless he wants to talk about it. She's not even going to ask him why he's wearing blue.

... She might say it brings out his eyes nicely, though, because heck but that's the truth.]

...... IDK something heroic maybe like Robin Hood or something? OTHERWISE I DON'T CARE

[ocariness]

[ Hey, they are totally prim and proper and gallant and amazing like a rich girl in a giant poofy dress and a fancy guy in a tuxedo, okay.

In their minds, at least.

Thankfully, Link knows how to descend and climb stairs in a very dashing princely manner. ]

... My partner is here. I am not sure if that is for the best, but I was happy to see her. I suppose she's going to worry herself sick while she's here...

[ Navi, how they'd missed her. ]

I WILL FIND YOU AN ANSWER. TO PLURK.

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow is probably far less knowledgeable about royal manners than Link, and does her best along with him, undeterred by any foibles she might be making. Being correct is so not the point here.

She brightens at his news, genuinely happy for him.] That's great! Better to have her worrying and with you than worrying and not with you, right? Since I'm assuming that's the other option.

What kind of partner is she? [She would be the last person to make assumptions about what 'partner' meant...]

AND IT IS THE BEST ANSWER.

[ocariness]

[ ... Well, Link is just mimicking Zelda's regality and what they heard about and trying to pretend to be what they've heard about Knights and whatnot, but hey, close enough, right? ]

... You are right about that. Navi is... well, I do not think I exaggerate when I say she is one of the most important people in the world--in any world--to me.

[ Link looks thoughtful, for a moment. ]

Fairies are very important to the Kokiri.

She worries a lot, but she is very wise and brave. She knows far more about the land and any enemies we meet than I do. ... I feel as though I had learned to take her presence for granted, considering it was always her who told me friend from foe, and... I admit that she did most of my speaking for me.

[ Of course, Link doesn't stop, but they do sort of have to pause verbally and realize how ironic that is, at the moment. The expression on their face goes from happy to a little bashful. ]

... I do... not normally enjoy talking. I suppose that has changed, somewhat... I did not have her around to do it for me.

EXCELLENT. YES GOOD.

[guiltapalooza]

[Absolutely close enough.

Willow listens intently, always curious to learn more about her friends.] I didn't realize you were talking about a fairy! [She sounds kind of like his Watcher, to be honest, but she knows he won't get the reference so she keeps it to herself.] That's really cool, Link. It's nice to have someone looking out for you.

But I think you do just fine with the talking. [She gives his arm a consoling pat.] I've never had any reason to complain, anyway; and I'm sure Navi doesn't think you take her for granted or anything like that.

[ocariness]

[ Okay, Link is grinning. Cannot help it now, it's infectious. ]

... There was a time I was just not very open in general. I did not get to talk to many people. My job is usually one done alone, so I had minimal help. Navi was the only one who stayed with me.

[guiltapalooza]

She must be really important to you. I'm happy for you, that you get to have her here.

Some of my friends showed up recently, too... [A self-conscious smile.] I was going a little wiggy without them, gotta admit.

[ocariness]

[ No way. Grinning. That is such good news in it's own way. ]

It is nice to have them here, isn't it? I am glad to hear that, Willow. Truly.

[guiltapalooza]

[Mostly she's just thrilled that she seems to be succeeding in cheering Link up. It's more important to Willow that she make a positive impact in he friends' lives than she knows every detail about them... though frankly that's important to her, too. But mostly she just wants them to be happy.

Her smile is a lot more honest now as she grins back.] It is, isn't it? But thanks. I knew I was missing them, but I didn't realize exactly how much until they got here. Even if I have a thousand complicated things to tell them, I still... I feel a lot better.

[ocariness]

[ Look at that, they're at the media floor. Truthfully Link has never spent much time here; the machines were odd to them. ]

I have not spent much time here... I can hardly work those 'terminal' machines, so I did not really know what any of these were.

[ Seriously it's confusing, what... is this. ]

You will have to explain, I'm afraid.

[guiltapalooza]

No worries, I'll show you everything. Pretty soon you'll be a media junkie like the rest of us 21st century people, a slave to the negative messages and imagery of the industry, blah blah blah.

Mostly I just like thinking about someone else's problems for a change. [Willow takes him gently by the sleeve and tugs him lightly over to a couch and TV area, a huge rack of DVDs stacked up alongside it.]

Now we just have to pick one.

[ocariness]

[ Link allows the tugging and does eventually sit down, though there's a pretty concerned expression here, Willow. ]

... These will enslave people?

[ WILLOW THAT'S NOT FUNNY...... ]

[guiltapalooza]

--Oh, uh, no, that's just me being facetious. Don't take what I say too seriously; hyperbole is a fine art.

[She speaks absentmindedly, facing away from him and perusing the stacks of DVDs.] But they are pretty addictive, in the not-drug-addled way.

[ocariness]

... I hope you don't mind when I say that some your customs baffle me.

[ Seriously. Link could be sarcastic at times, but it's a little difficult to tell when someone is saying they'll enslave people or are addictive and you don't know the technology.

Also, drug. Another word they don't know. This might be a long night. ]

How do these work, anyway? I am aware they are machines, but... I honestly do not know how they can function without magic.

[guiltapalooza]

Nah, customs tend to baffle, [she says cheerfully, and hey, that makes coherent sense in her mind.] --Aha, this will work perfectly. [She pulls out a DVD case, having recognized it by title, and goes over to the TV to set it all up.]

It's kind of a long, complicated thing, but I'll try to simplify it, [she says over her shoulder.] Think of it like... really really tiny bolts of lightning, that we've figured out how to use to power things and make them move. Like how water wheels can produce energy, too, just on a different level. Sort of.

[... Yeah, hopefully that made any sense at all.]

[ocariness]

[ Oh. Well, that kind of makes sense, they suppose! ]

... I have a feeling we may be spending a long time playing catch up on my end.

[ Staring a little transfixed at the TV. How does this thing even... images, man. IT'S LIKE MAGIC only it's not which is sooo weird... ]

Do you do this sort of thing often, Willow?

[guiltapalooza]

That's okay, [she admits a bit wryly,] we probably have plenty of time. We can take it as it comes.

[She flops back onto the couch beside him, happily settling into the cushions. Willow has gotten very familiar and comfortable with the media level; it almost reminds her of the Summers' living room. The remote is snatched up, and she navigates through the titles to hit play.]

Oh yeah, I do this all the time. It's totally normal where I'm from-- normal normal, not my crazy Sunnydale life normal.

[ocariness]

[ Link can't help but appreciate all this strange technology, admittedly. ]

Well, I would think one's definition of normal changes depending on their home, too.

[guiltapalooza]

If someone exists that would consider my town normal, I'd be deeply concerned for their welfare.

--So this is called Ever After, by the way, and is kinda a sappy romance flick, but I can at least guarantee that it has a happy ending? It's based on a well known fairy tale from my world.

[ocariness]

You're making me wonder just what goes on in your town, Willow.

[ Link won't ask, but the smile there indicates some mild amusement at the thought.

Letting the topic drop, they can't help but wonder what a fairy tale is. ]

By "fairy tale", do you mean stories told by fairies, or...?

[guiltapalooza]

Um... a lot of things. It'd be a long explanation, trust me. Very long.

[Something about the mouth of hell and destiny and demons and all that. She suddenly realizes why he'd be interested in fairy tales, and giggles a little.]

Oh, no, we don't have friendly fairies like you do -- or not many, anyway. A fairy tale is an old story that was told to kids to teach them moral lessons; they usually have a grain of truth in them.

[ocariness]

[ Lightbulb moment here, for certain. ]

... Oh. That... makes a bit more sense.

[ Link isn't going to talk much more, aren't you supposed to be quiet for stories? At least they have manners. ]