❝hold your own, know your name❞

[guiltapalooza]

Characters Willow (guiltapalooza) and you! OPEN.
Setting: The infirmary.
Format: Action to start, but I'll match if you want prose.
Warnings: Maybe some mention of past violence.
Summary: Though she's laid up in the infirmary with some pretty debilitating wounds, Willow's feeling a lot better than she has in months, and is more her usual self. Her magic is finally back, and she's welcome to visitors.

[Willow is currently propped up in bed, a stack of pillows fluffed behind her and the layers of blankets tucked around her. There's healing, scabbed scrapes on one cheek, and her right hand is splinted; she's wearing rather boring gray thermal pajamas, but along the neckline clean white bandages can be seen wrapping across her torso. It's not a surprise that with how battered she is she's also very tired. She's rather dazedly holding a mug of tea in her hands, cradled in her lap to stabilize it while she rests and not bother her injuries.

But despite all this, when someone enters she looks up to greet them with a sleepy smile.] Hey.

Comments

[guiltapalooza]

[She gives her an empathetic, if slightly self-conscious, smile back, understanding what she's saying completely.]

It really should've come with an instruction manual, [she jokes.] I didn't know what I was getting into. Do a few spells, read about it in musty books, and then... suddenly you realize it's almost your whole life now, and no one ever told you how to handle it. Or maybe that was just me.

[sageprincess]

No, I understand entirely. I...

[She trails off then, as if uncertain whether or not she really wants to divulge this sort of information about herself. Or whether or not she should.]

... Without recounting a long and rather wearying tale, to be honest... I came into my powers through an act of my own foolishness. Ever since, I have merely been trying to rectify my mistakes with what I have been blessed with.

[... Wow, she just said a lot. Well, certainly more than she'd normally ever tell someone. Could it be because she hopes Willow might understand in turn? No matter, she's embarrassed herself enough already, and she looks down at her hands in her lap, fiddling with the fingertips of her gloves.]

... My apologies, I do not mean to seem depressing.

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow looks at her earnestly, empathetic and oddly vulnerable about showing it.] No, no, it's okay. Sometimes you have to talk about this stuff.

I know how hard it is to try to make up for something you've done wrong. [Boy, does she ever.] It just gets-- so huge. And it feels impossible, but you have to keep trying. I get it.

It's hard to do that by yourself. [And honestly it is nice to hear about someone else's problems for once, instead of thinking of her own. Zelda is so kind and almost awe-inspiring in her grace, and how regal she is; Willow likes her, and knows that Link cares about her, and overall doesn't hesitate in the least to help her if she can. Even if just by listening.]

[sageprincess]

... Yes, that is... an accurate description of the feeling.

[Even so, it's obvious she's still... uncomfortable with revealing so much (in her eyes, at least). She has spent so long being secretive out of necessity, so long hiding her thoughts and feelings behind a stoic mask, that it's difficult to do otherwise. Despite not needing to disguise herself anymore, she still has to keep up the appearance of the wise Princess of Hyrule.

Even if she sometimes feels like anything but.]

Still, I... these are my burdens to bear. I should not trouble others with them, especially given my station.

[guiltapalooza]

Oh, station, [she says in playful scorn, trying to keep it light so Zelda doesn't feel like talking about it is such a big deal.] Piffle on station. Being a princess doesn't make you inhuman-- um, in-Hylian. No one's meant to go through life alone.

Besides. We're just talking. Don't be so hard on yourself.

[sageprincess]

...

[Ever so slightly chastised, she goes quiet for a moment, looking down into her lap. Oh, if only she could truly take those words to heart, but alas, she's spent too much time thinking otherwise.]

Your words are kind, but... [A sigh. It's difficult to get the words to come out.] I am... meant to be an example. Link, our descendants... they look to me for wisdom and guidance, and the last thing I wish to do is betray the faith they have placed in me.

[guiltapalooza]

Let me tell you a secret about being in charge. You might have to have that face to the rest of the world, but you have to someone you aren't in charge for, or you go crazy. The pressure builds up and up and before long you're like a... a soda can that got shook too much, and fizzz, everywhere.

[She makes an accompanying exploding gesture with one hand, animated as she describes it.] I have this on good authority.