[o5] ‸^‸ Fifth Song.

[ocariness]

Characters: AU!Link (OoT) (ocariness), Samus, and (eventually) AU!OoT Zelda, and whoever!!
Setting: 1) Meadow Floor (floor 25) (locked to Samus), 2) Infirmary. Set after this thread.
Format: ACTION PLEASE I cannot prose. At. All.
Summary: Link just got the shit beat out of her them by AU!OoT Zelda who thought they were an evil jerk. Seriously wounded, she escaped using Farore's Wind. She's later helped by Samus to the infirmary where she doesn't (luckily!!!) die.
Warnings: Uh... lots of blood, BAD injuries (the damage: one arrow lodged in their left eye and skull, a cut under their left eye, full body burns, scrapes, bruises, a not TOO deep stomach wound from a blade, a dislocated shoulder, annnd lots of trauma.), possibly eyeball gore? Angst. Anything else TBA.

[1 - Locked to Samus]

[ When the magic of Farore's Wind had faded, Link found themself on the stairs of the Meadow Floor, where they quickly put the hookshot away on their hip and began limping, holding their shoulder and wincing, slowly, to the floor the Infirmary was on.

The wounds were extensive: the arrow had dug deep into the skin under their left eye and embedded itself in an awkward semi-vertical position with a small lean, somewhat into their skull, from the attempt to dodge it. Din's Fire had given Link burns all along their body. Luckily, none of them were worse than sore, due to Link's generally wearing several layers of clothing. The tunic, however (blue, but not the Zora one), had seen its last: it was charred and barely staying together. It as bloody, as was Link. The stomach had been ripped open where Link had been cut there, too, and was also bleeding. Their shoulder had definitely been at least dislocated upon landing on it, which was just par for the course of the pain they were feeling. On top of that, numerous scrapes and bruises and tears in the Tunic and their pants peppered Link's body; it had been a very, VERY rough fight indeed.

... Unfortunately, despite the Hero of Time's dogged determination, using that spell completely exhausted the last of her energy. There was too much blood lost and too much pain; they could not continue on, not without help. Exhausted, crying, and bleeding heavily, Link collapsed, back down upon reaching a section in the Tower's stairwell where there was a landing. With a single loud CLANK from the metal shield and sword on their back, they fell.

A second, smaller clank could be heard after their arms landed as well, from the gauntlets shortly following.

Still conscious, but only barely, with their remaining eye, they gazed up at the ceiling, wondering if they were going to die a third time. ]

[2 - OPEN]

[ Once they had finally been gotten to the Infirmary, the wounds were quite exstensive, so it would take a long time for Link to heal unless someone had healing magic or a fairy on them, which Link did not at the moment.

Perhaps you've run into Link while they're fixing their wounds, or perhaps you happened to find them after they were bandaged not unlike a mummy, especially around their head, arm in a sling. Either way, the hero is quite out of it, but it's not improbable you might have been told by someone that a certain long-eared blonde was here... ]

Comments

day after, as you said <3

[sevenyearbeautysleep]

[And enter the Infirmary she does, the other Hero's bow and quiver in her arms. She's well aware that currently she is the last person they want to see right now, but after what her royal counterpart has told her...
There is no evil Link in this horrible place. She had nearly murdered an innocent - no, a hero.

What she has done is beyond forgivable.

She gulps then, her hands shaking a bit as she approaches the other.]

... E-excuse me. I know you may not want me here, but I am here to return your things. I have been informed that you are far from being the Link I know, and I know now that it was wrong of me to do what I had done. I take back everything I have said; you are much more fit for the title of Hero of Time than I.
I do not expect you to accept my apology, but I wish that someday, you and I could be considered allies.

[She speaks quickly then - it sounds rehearsed, despite the waver in her voice. But she wants to make sure she gets out what she can, before being turned away.

The bow and quiver are placed nearby, and she waits for the other to respond - bracing herself for yelling, or harsh words, or... well. Anything, really.]

sob, best foot to start on, tbh

[ocariness]

[ Link is, quite frankly, EXHAUSTED.

Far, far too tired for this right now. A good night's sleep has not helped much, frankly. Enough that they are, at least, conscious, anyway. Honestly, it's taking all their willpower not to just shut this girl up mid-speech and tell her to leave.

Losing a shitload of blood will do that to you. When they removed the arrow, at least it took the eye with it cleanly. The bandage around their head now clearly shows this.

But Link is not one to hold grudges. They may not want to see this girl, but...

Bah. Whatever. It didn't matter. ]

... So you spoke to the Princess.

[ Link doesn't even have the energy to attempt to lower their voice right now. It's already weak and tired.

They really don't want to even look at her. It's hard enough simply adjusting to seeing things with one eye; they did not want to look at Zelda. ]

I am no more fit for this title than anyone else, apparently. All I have ever made are poor choices. Take of that what you will.

[ ... A small sigh. ]

I expected to die a third time. Funny, how they enjoy toying with us. Pitting us against each other.

[ Then, the tone is still quiet, but mocking. ] "Oh, we will take people here that you love and pull them from opposite timelines so that they hate you! It will be humorous!"

Truly, very amusing.

s-sobs

[sevenyearbeautysleep]

[... Well. This isn't what she expected - and to be honest, this is a lot worse than being yelled at or having things thrown at her. She's not sure how to deal with this at all...]

... I'm sure you would not have attacked me as I had, had you been in my position.

[That's all she can really think of to say, though; not a thing she could do would make any of this better, after all.]

I know it's not much, but if I can help you in anyway, all you need is say so...

[ocariness]

... What has happened has happened. It is hardly your fault. I am as responsible as anyone for not being clearer.

[ ... There is the longest of pauses, here, and the silence stretches on awkwardly. ]

Truthfully, I do not have the energy to be angry. I am far too tired for that. If we are stuck here, it honestly does not matter. If you hadn't done it, I am sure someone or something else would have.

Death is inevitable in this place. I am not being negative, it is merely a fact.

[sevenyearbeautysleep]

But you should be.

[She kind of spat that out without thinking, of course; but she covers her mouth afterwards. Link is injured; tired, and in pain. Arguing won't help.]

... What I mean is; while I am relieved that you aren't... currently angry, I wouldn't blame you if you had been. This place has hurt you far more than I could ever imagine...

...

I have probably stayed longer than my welcome, had I been welcome at all. My apologies.

[That's her way of saying "Iiii should probably go, huh?"]

[keepscalm]

[England had had a little Accident with one of the sewing machines on the workshop floor, and that's why he's in the infirmary. Nothing incapacitating, and nothing he'd have even worried about if he wasn't concerned about how dirty the needles on those things were. He's just here for disinfectant.

It's when he's glancing around the room at the various beds, empty and occupied alike, that something makes him take pause. It's not unusual by any means to find people injured in this Tower, but someone had certainly suffered some grievous harm, to be wrapped up like that.

He looks over them with a weary resignation. Was it the doing of the Tower? Or one of its occupants? Not that it mattered, since everyone here was stuck with both.

And then he spots the ears.

Cold, sinking horror shoots through his chest. He almost drops the bottle of disinfectant in his hand. Calm down, he tells himself. It could be any number of people completely unrelated to the two he knows with elfin ears like that.

Distantly, he wraps his newly-cleaned finger with gauze and tapes it down before he slowly starts over towards the bed. As he gets close enough to see the small section of unbandaged face, the dread multiplies exponentially and clenches uncomfortably in his stomach. Maybe it's not him. Maybe it's just someone who looks very similar.

He shoves away the sound of shattering crystal and squelching gore that surfaces from the recesses of his mind, where the fodder of his dreams dwells.]

...Link?

I feel like all my icons should have eyepatches on them now

[ocariness]

[ ... There is silence for a moment before Link's eye sets on England, and the words register.

Oh. ... He was worried. ]

Arthur... [ Pausing. ] ... hello.

i feel like that whenever an injury happens......

[keepscalm]

[Oh god. It is Link.

He tries not to let his horror show on his face. Link is watching him. Stiff upper lip. Though it's hard to hide the haunted look in his eyes.

Once he's at Link's bedside, he kneels, so that she doesn't have to look up at him. His arms rest on the edge of the mattress, and he swallows. Even here, where death could easily restore Link to full health, it never gets easier sitting at the hospital bedside of someone you owe your life to.]

Who-- [He stumbles, amending:] What did this to you?

Half the Zelda cast is losing body parts LMAO

[ocariness]

[ ... A small frown.

Link's gaze wanders away from Arthur, despite knowing that look too well. He's seen worse before, they are certain. ]

... I...

[ Even now, they're worried people might go after her. ]

You must promise me you will not go after her... I may not like what she did, but in her position if she had been someone else, I... I cannot say I would not have done the same.

[ Had it been Ganon... ]

Maximum trauma gooooo

[sageprincess]

[When Samus told her what happened - that she found Link injured and injured badly - whatever the Princess of Hyrule was doing previously was instantly abandoned in favor of running to the infirmary as fast as her legs could carry her. Her mind races just as fast as her body as she runs, thinking of every morbid possibility as to who or what nearly killed the Hero of Time. Ganondorf? Ghirahim? The Tower itself? Does it even really matter at this point? Link is hurt and needs her help--

Not again, a single thought lingers, she can't die - not again!

Breathless, she finally reaches the infirmary, and only slows enough so her eyes can take in her surroundings, find the one she's looking for.

What she sees horrifies her.]

Link!

[Like a flash, she's at the hero's side, eyes frantically scanning the other girl and the extent of her injuries. If she knew exactly who caused her friend's grievous wounds, she might have approached more cautiously, but as it is fear has temporarily replaced reason in her mind.]

Farore, give me strength... Link, what-- what happened? What can I do?

..... I still feel like I need to put eyepatches on all my icons dammit

[ocariness]

[ Link stiffens when they hear that voice, but it is far less malice. Right now she's so out of it that it's hard to accurately tell which person it is until her uninjured eye wanders to Zelda's appearance.

Her Zelda.

... No, that girl was not Zelda, she couldn't have been, Zelda was her friend. ]

You... the real you... I'm glad.

[ The words are short and very sort of stitched together, almost. Link smiles slightly, but it's more out of simply being almost totally unaware of things than anything else. She has lost a lot of blood, after all.

... At some point, they are going to have to pull that arrow out of her eye socket and the eye with it.

Not something she is looking forward to. ]

THE COIN TOSS DEMANDS IT.

[sageprincess]

Real..?

[No, not the time for that. Link is... delirious, and rightfully so, considering the extent of the injuries she can see. She... She needs to stay calm, stay strong. For Link.

There is still so much worry in her eyes, but she tries to keep her voice level. Formalities are dropped in their entirety.]

Y-yes, it's me. I'm here now. I'm going to help you.

[She swallows thickly before putting a hand on Link's uninjured shoulder and gentling pushing back, urging the hero to lay down. And if that's not enough--]

Just... just lay down, Link. And hang on. It's going to be all right.

[Don't die.]

It also demanded Link lose her eye. THE COIN TOSS GODS ARE CRUEL.

[ocariness]

[ Kiiiind of beyond delirious. It's hard to say if it's the pain or the blood loss, at this point. ]

Yes... the girl stole your face and she attacked me... when I tried to get away, she burned me...

[ She just... smiles, here, even if she lays back as told. ]

I... I was looking for you. I wanted to make sure you hadn't... gone crazy... you have not... that's good.

[ Heh. It took Link quite a bit of effort just to hold on until she'd gotten here, so it's no big stretch to say that, yes, she is definitely out of it.

The injuries are quite extensive; it's likely not even magic will bring back her eye or get rid of the marking over it from where the arrow tore across her face. ]

[morphballin]

[There will be no dying on Samus' watch. She's already watched you die once, Link - and she has no intentions of it happening again.

A usual trip of patrolling brought Samus to a trail of blood, which was cautiously followed to its end - which was Link collapsed on the stairs. In a swift movement, Samus was beside the Hylian, looking them over for a moment before lightly tapping Link's cheek with her hand.]

Hey - hey! Wake up!

[ocariness]

[ --!!

Awake. They're awake. There's some mumbling, but it's incoherent. Have some bleary, half-conscious blinking, Samus. ]

... Zelda... where...?

[ Where was she? Her Zelda. The real one.

... That arrow is probably the nastiest wound. That would definitely not be coming out without some sort of medical help. ]

[morphballin]

Zelda's not here - just me. Samus.

[Her hand makes a reach to help Link up, but hesitates. Her armor blinks off with a small flash, and there's a look of worry sneaking into her usual stoic expression.]

...you need to get to the infirmary. What's not hurt so I can help you up?

[ocariness]

[ Link's smile, though small and pale, is an ATTEMPT at humor. ]

... I can walk. Just... tired.

[ Using what little energy they had left tended to do that, and when trying to get up, the wound on their stomach hurts, and Link puts a hand over it, using the other one to try and take Samus' outstretched hand. The armor should not surprise them, but it really could not--Link was in no fit state to be shocked. ]

How far... is the infirmary...?

[ Wincing. It's... really hard to get up and move and do anything, right now, but after a long shaky standing up and Samus' help, Link manages to be upright, at least. ]

[oldmannomore]

[Even with this new(ish) body, John still had problems. The CDF could do a lot of things with bodies, but one thing they couldn't do was prevent headaches from reading too late at night with too little sleep. So he heads down to the infirmary, looking for some painkillers.]

[... And then he spots the person - he's not sure of their gender, actually - wrapped up in bandages that look like they need to be changed. That arm looks like it's in pretty bad shape, too.]

[He's no medic, but eight years of combat (albeit with a different body) and a year or so of living on a colony with no real technology allowed has given him at least some of an idea of how to fix injuries. He approaches, tucking the painkillers into his pocket for now.]

Hey. Is it okay if I give you a hand with those bandages?

[ocariness]

[ Truthfully, the bandages are pretty bloody in quite a few places, especially as far as Link's head around their left eye and their stomach is concerned. Of course the bandages need changing, but, you know, Link is in no position to do it theirself.

Especially NOT with the trauma of what happened to their eye. ]

...

[ A small shake of their head. Do whatever you want. It's not like they can fight anyone right now. ]

[oldmannomore]

[He heads off for a minute and then sits down with a roll of bandages, a wet cloth, and some antibiotic cream.]

Just... make some kind of indication if I start hurting you, okay?

[Slowly, he starts unwrapping the bandages around their head.]

[ocariness]

[ Talk about bad. That head injury has a reason--there's a rough cut all the way up to the eye and then the eye itself is just... well, gone. The eyelid was also severely damaged.

At this point it's more a hole than anything else. At least the wound is not terrible anymore, thanks to the healing that had happened, but it was still fresh and the likelihood of opening the wound again was high if Link was not careful, especially with the cut on their stomach.

Link is silent, frowning, and looks away. Eventually, they do speak, if quietly. ]

... It has been healed, somewhat. Who... are you?

[cantstopme]

[It didn't take too long for the littlest Hero to hear of his Big Brother's injuries - but what took the little Link so long was what he was preparing for them.

When he runs in, he does so holding this out in front of them, with the biggest, most concerned frown on his face. He stops for a moment, looking for where the Hero of Time is laying, and when he spots them? he's running right over to show them their get well card for them.]

Big Brother - I heard you got really hurt, Big Brother! I made you a card, too.
I know you probably can't read it, since I think the stuff we write in is different than what you write in, but it says "get well soon, big brother"!

[He also drew a pig and a heart on it because he likes pigs and hearts. And it's got leaves because of the Great Deku Tree.]

[ocariness]

[ ... OH GOSH WHY ARE YOU SO CUTE what are they going to do with you, Sea... also it's a little hard to adjust to reading right now but not impossible; it's fragmented, but Link can SORT of vaguely guess what it means, even without his helpful advice. ]

I'll get well, I promise. It will not take very long with you here. I am glad you are safe.

[ This is the cutest pig aaaa. ]

[cantstopme]

[Sea gives them the brightest smile then, before moving to climb onto the bed with them - on the very end though, so he doesn't move them around too much. It's so he can stick it on the wall!]

There. Now you can see my get well wishes all the time!
I'm glad you're sort of okay too, Big Brother. You can talk and think and move and stuff, and that's good!

[Since he can't really say "I'm glad you're safe and okay too".

... OH WAIT -]

Oh, oh - I can bring you some of my Grandma's soup! I still have a whole bottle full, and it's really really healthy, and it helps me a lot better than those nasty potions and stuff!

[He wants to be helpful, okay.]

[ocariness]

[ Wryly: ]

Well, it is not as though I lost my sword arm to a fish. I can move fine, I just injured my shoulder and took an arrow to the eye.

[ No big deal or anything, right? ]

... You don't need to do that. I would not want to take that away from you.