towerofanimus | 3rd Constellation - I thoroughly blame Plus for this

Characters: Issun, Fado, and Princess Zelda.
Setting: Issun's trunk
Format: Action or I'll smite you both
Summary: Issun didn't take his labyrinth punishment so well; the princess and the priest manage to find him.
Warning: Alcohol? Sadness? Drunken sobbing? FLIRTING??? idk man

[Wandering by his room, it wouldn't be hard to hear Issun sobbing to himself - though it's certainly muffled thanks to the trunk he's hidden himself in. The chest had been converted into a miniature home not too long before the labyrinth "game" - a door was carved into the front, and it was emptied out and filled with makeshift furniture.

Currently, Issun's sitting at his table, using a cork for a temporary chair as his punishment ran through his head once more.

He woke up, back in the fields of Nippon, but it seemed like it had been sucked of its life. The dry, brown grass crunched beneath his feet, and the water smelled rank of poison and decay. Even the sun was gone - nighttime lasting past what should be midday. It felt almost disgusting to be here, and it felt like a block of ice was dropped into the Envoy's stomach.

His prayers didn't reach Nippon...? Was he gone this long? Did the people really stop caring? Even going through the once lively and beautiful Kamiki Village, he was reminded of how important his being here was; Sakuya's once lovely tree stood shriveled and lifeless. It wouldn't even make good firewood, at this point.
And all of the trees that the villagers once held dear are standing dead and rotting. It made him sick.

He needed to get to work. He had to knock some sense into the people of Nippon. But no matter how hard he tried, they wouldn't believe him.
Some even laughed at the idea of gods...
Even his own prayers rung empty, as if there was no one in the heavens left to hear him. It was painful.
Every single bit of this was painful.

... Being back in the tower was almost a blessing, at this point. They even gave him something from home - though looking at it wrenched at his heart. A jug of Kushi's Purification Sake... perhaps it'd help purify him. He needed to get these thoughts out of his head, after all.

So that is the state he is in, should they find him - currently burying his face in his arms and thoroughly intoxicated, crying to himself (though he thinks he's being quiet).]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's almost strange how easy it is to push her emotions aside, to lock them away deep within her heart where no one can see them once the participants of that sick "game" returned to the tower. They were all recovering from the trauma of the experience, and the last thing they needed was the grief of someone who all in all probably had it fairly easy in comparison.

Even if what she saw down within the depths of the tower still haunts her.

It's with this mask that she wanders around the dormitory floors, dutiful Wind Sage at her side, searching for her friends who had been trapped within the labyrinth. When her acute Hylian hearing picks up the sound of muffled sobs as they pass by Issun's room, however, she pauses, turning to her companion.]

Do you hear that? I believe I know that voice...

[Though it was much cheerier in her memory.]

[Fado hadn't opted to dwell on it; though disturbing nonetheless, they were not able to do anything about it now. He was well-versed in waiting and biding his time, and now it was simply waiting to see what happened next.

The Princess however he knew had not lived the many years he had experienced to arrive at this conclusion though. And so for the most part, he hadn't left her side, now walking next to her as she searched. He had his violin in one hand and his bow in the other as per usual, though he doubted now would be appropriate time to play a tune.

When the muffled sobs came however, he paused along with Zelda.] I hear it; strange....

[A moment to think, and:] Issun? [He followed the sound of the sobbing (though minute as it was), and motioned with his bow for Zelda to follow, opening the door to a nearby dorm room and peaking inside.]

[He hears their footsteps and talking outside of the dorm, but at this point, he's damn certain he's quiet enough to not be heard. Even though he's wrong.

So there's no real reaction, other than a mallet hopping out of the trunk to greet them.

Hi guys hi this treasure seems to want you over there.]

[And follow Zelda does, peering inside the dorm and, well, she's not exactly surprised that they don't see the little Envoy right away, considering his stature.

That mallet, on the other hand, is quite surprising.]

... A hammer?

[Weird. It seems to have a life of its own somehow.]

[Fado glanced around the room, keeping his eye out for Issun (he was pretty used to having to spot small glowing creatures after all--), but when he came up short, he turned his attention to the mallet along with Zelda.]

That's even stranger. [And he. Coudln't help but give the hammer a light tap with his bow after a period of scrutiny.]

[... Oh, you know what? Its current owner is much too upset for this - hope you two don't mind it shrinking you down. Just a couple shakes, and you're small enough for the trunk to look as big as a house!

And then it simply sits by Issun's curtain door, almost expectantly. C'mon guys, does it really have to spell this out for you.]

[Well. Maybe just a little, because Zelda here is kind of busy being disoriented and a tad freaked out by suddenly becoming tiny.]

Goddesses above--

[She does not need this on top of everything else, alright.]

Ah--!

[Whoah OK yeah what just happened

Fado was used to being close to the ground, but not this close.]

Princess, are you alright...? [A quick inspection to make sure Zelda was OK and then, a curious glance at the hammer.] This is certainly some...interesting magic.

[Issun seems to have grown quiet now - but because he's just too tired (or maybe drunk?) to keep crying.

The hammer, of course, gives a little hop. Don't you have something to do, you two??]

I... yes, I believe so. [Another odd look to the hammer] I think it is requesting our assistance.

[And, well, what else are they going to do in this state? So, hesitantly, Zelda steps forward, drawing back the curtain door slowly.]

Issun...?

[Fado followed Zelda's lead, giving the hammer a curious glance before peaking in through the curtain door himself.]

Issun? is everything alright?

[Well - the sound of the other two entering makes him jump a bit, but when he notices its just Zelda and Fado, he slumps back into his chair, holding his face in his hands. His cup's landed on the floor a long time ago - the golden sake that's left sparkling where it landed.]

If ya call failin' every - everyone who's counted on me alright - [hiccup!] - sure! Everything's just... hunky dory!

[he heaves out a heavy sigh, though it's broken by another little hiccup. But he stands up off of the little cork chair, stumbling a bit.]

I guess it coulda been a trick'a the tower, but who knows anymore! I failed'em anyway, the gods won't even... even talk to me anymore!

[A bit more stumbling, and he flings himself at them both - clinging to the princess because lady and burying his face in her chest. He says something else, but at this point it's completely muffled.]

[... Oh, dear.

There are so many reasons why Zelda is unsure with this situation.

Ignoring the pain Issun's talk of failure brings to mind, she sets her hands on his shoulders and pushes him back just enough so he's no longer breaking awkward boundaries. She tries speaking gently, although she can't help the slightly uncomfortable undercurrent to her voice.]

Issun... you did nothing wrong, of this I am certain. You have been through a great ordeal, and our captors are powerful and without compassion; you must not take their cruel deeds as your own faults.

[... And then she's looking towards Fado because help please.]

[Help was on the way! In a manner of speaking. He didn't pull Issun away from Zelda, but he did lay a hang on the guy's shoulder after moving his bow and violin to the same hand.]

The Princess is right, you know. You have failed no one; those in a position of power here will attempt anything in order to lower our morale and break your will to continue. Though the voices of the gods may be far away, and even indistinguishable at times, it is at these times when they need your aid the most.

3rd Constellation - I thoroughly blame Plus for this

Clearly nothing can go wrong with this plan.

flawless tbqh

this will go over swimmingly

Swimmingly in tears and ridiculousness

LOOK GUYS I TAGGED

HI PLUS HI

PLUS HI PLUS

HEEEEEEEY YOOOUUUU GUUUUUUUUUYS

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