[o6] ‸^‸ Sixth Song.

[ocariness]

Characters: Link (Woods) and whoever happens upon them!
Setting: Floor twenty-five aka the Meadow Floor!!
Format: Action.
Summary: Link is training, because it takes their mind off of things, and because there was a lot to digest from that Q&A session, as well as the accidental post later.
Warnings: Flowers and training and also Ocarina playing! Oh, and if this counts as a warning... Link is a girl. She is hiding it, though. So unless your character has x-ray vision and can see her boobs or knows the truth, she will probably not admit it and will be otherwise lowering her voice and continuing to pretend she's a guy. ... Yeah.

[ One, two, three. Sword strokes, training, practicing, making sure that the sword in their hand... was worthy of being there.

When fighting, Link didn't need to think about all the things that bothered them. It was just them, and their blade.

Link had been making arrows, practicing with their bow, and fighting every night they got the chance. The monsters only grew stronger, but their resolve had only increased to not give up.

Eventually, Link moves on from the sword-training, rolling, jumps, and flips, to pulling out the various items and weapons the hero was known for.

The bow was first. Targets that Link had carved, strategically placed all over the floor, sometimes in very difficult spots, were where they were aiming. After not more than a minute to catch their breath, the Hylian began practicing their aim.

One bullseye.

Two misses. They'd gotten rusty due to getting accustomed to only one eye and compensating, so relearning to aim properly with both eyes now would be very important.

Every day, Link would come to this place, traveling the long way. Jogging, usually. They had a routine, it provided structure that the Hero of Time so desperately needed.

Navi was also gone. It wasn't fair, but they wouldn't give up.

Soon, the targets were all full of arrows. Some shined with a brilliant light. Some were on fire and subsequently put out. Some had icy sort of magic on them, freezing the targets solid. However, even Link gets tired, and runs out of arrows, so for now, the hero puts their bow away, sheathes the Master Sword and the Mirror Shield, and simply finds a spot in between the flowers so as not to harm them, resting, hoping to enjoy the peace.

... If you're particularly lucky, you may even come across Link playing their Ocarina later, still on the same floor. ]

Comments

[vvvroom]

[There are around three dudes hanging out near the forest's edge.

They can't be seen, but it's really obvious they're there because

1) They are apparently really really terrible at moving around in a forest setting, so whenever they move around, they're really loud and super obvious.

2) Two of them are arguing about...something, but whatever it is, the words are kind of muffled. Whatever can be heard is along the lines of "rude", "nerd" (whatever that means) and "embarrassment".

It's unclear whether or not they even know Link is there at this point.]

[ocariness]

[ ... Well, LINK certainly DOES know, because Hylians have excellent hearing, don't 'cha know?

So they're kind of distracted from the Ocarina they were about to take out and play, and listen very closely.

Is someone else there?

... Several someones? Hmm... should they be on guard? Link is careful to make sure their weapons are close by, just in case. ]

[deathboss]

[Nope. No weapons! Just a slightly large guitar case. NOTHING TO SEE HERE. Eikichi was totally not debating about "nerd" things and saying things as "but you don't understand" and "fellowship is like a bro group"

Fascinating stuff. He doesn't notice or sense Link at all.]

[alwaysataclimax]

[During the sword practice, a red fellow passes by, and opts to stop and watch a bit for a bit before speaking up.]

Blowin' off some steam, eh?

[ocariness]

[ ... Link is only slightly taken by surprise, since they're very aware of their surroundings at the moment.

The reply is only one word. ]

... Training.

[ So, yes. ]

[alwaysataclimax]

Hmn.

[Momotaros reaches behind himself, and pulls out a large red sword, letting the blade of it rest in his free hand.]

Y'need a partner?

[sageprincess]

[Guess who's in desperate need for some down time.

This girl.

And guess who's just going to quietly join Link while she's relaxing.

Also this girl.

Not saying anything yet, just taking a seat nearby with a bit of a sigh. Link won't mind, right?]

[ocariness]

[ ... Oh, it's Zelda! Link can take time out of whatever they're doing to always sit with the Princess.

Also, their best friend. She earns a smile, though. Their last adventure had made Link a little reluctant to spend too much more time talking, so there's some silence for now. ... For now.

Though she... can't help the big, goofy smile. Being with Zelda meant a lot, okay. Fuck Jason and his "different worlds" crap, Zelda was her friend. ]

[sageprincess]

[Though her feelings on that particular subject may not be so simple (does she truly need to feel so guilty, then?), the sentiments are the same. She told Link she would remain by her side so long as she would allow it, and damn it all if she's not going to fulfill that promise as best she can.

... She feels lighter already, seeing Link's bright, silly smile, and neither can she help smiling genuinely in return.]

How has your day been?

[Simple, friendly, and only said due to fear of the silence becoming awkward, despite being... rather content with it, really.]

[syncingdoll]

<sub>[Kohaku, as usual, came here for the flowers. More specifically, flowers-to-be, but she's not against perusing the ones that have already grown - and not even entirely because she might find something she can use. They're pretty.

When she catches the whiz of an arrow, Kohaku first ignores it as a bug - but there it is again, and she stops. After some time, she manages to locate the archer themselves, carefully keeping away from any targets she spots. She watches Link until the arrow supply is run out, and then gives a lazy bit of applause.]</sub>

[ocariness]

[ ... Link is, of course, only made aware of this girl's presence when they happen to give that applause, due to how focused they were on the task at hand.

A small frown.

... Well, Link isn't exhausted, but a bit tired, and rest wouldn't hurt before they made a regular spot-check on the Longshot and other items in their arsenal.

So there is a somewhat bashful smile. Admittedly, they'd competed plenty of times, and enjoyed winning, but somehow being found practicing in public and being given an applause made the Hero feel modest.

You'll have to forgive them for not being overly talkative, though, Kohaku. ]

[lookmanostrings]

Your marksmanship is impeccable.

[He's been watching for a few minutes or so now, standing a good distance, holding his arms and his violin behind his back, and an even broader smile on his face than normal.]

[ocariness]

[ ... Link wasn't... expecting this, I'm sorry.

But they can just TELL a Kokiri when they see one. After all, their tunics are basically the same. Hand made. Green. And... well... that instrument was like how they all made their own at home in the forest, too, and though Link did not recognize this particular Kokiri, there is much eye-widening.

We apologize, the Hero of Time has kinda checked out. ]

...!

[ You... you can't be. Really? ]

[lookmanostrings]

[He couldn't follow their whole thought process, granted, but it was easy to tell they were surprised. And he couldn't help a bit of a chuckle as he brought his arms out to his sighed and bowed.]

A pleasure to meet you, Hero of Time. I am Fado, of the Kokiri Tribe.

[princeofjunes]

[There isn't a ton that can make Yosuke remove his headphones, but the piercing melody of the Ocarina cuts through the synthetic beats and makes him pause the player immediately. He's tired, but there's nothing to do but smile when he sees his familiar pointy eared friend]

[Still, he doesn't want to interrupt, so he tries to be silent as he approaches, wanting to hear as much of the melody as he can. He's never wild about more traditional forms of music - there's nothing wrong with them, they've just never really been his thing - but there's something about the songs Link plays that just captures his attention every time]

[So until he's noticed, he'll just stand there smiling, and he even closes his eyes and allows himself to be lost, however briefly, within the melody]

[ocariness]

[ When Link is finished--and it is a few minutes before they are--a smile spreads across their face, because they have noticed Yosuke, and are glad to see him. ]

Yosuke... you are well. I am glad.

[ After all that'd happened recently, well... Link was concerned for everyone in this place. ]

Were you listening for long?

[princeofjunes]

[Now that he won't ruin anything, he sits himself down, still with a happy smile on his face despite everything]

Likewise, Link. Good to see you're in one piece.

And honestly? Not for nearly as long as I would have liked to. I forget you're a musician sometimes until I hear you play. It's... [Well he can't say beautiful because that's not manly, so compromise time!] it's pretty awesome, man.

[doublechecks]

[He was here primarily for relaxing earlier on, as he does daily actually. One thinks better when surrounded by nature anyways.

...Well, before he saw this person training their marksmanship anyways.]

Impressive.

[He can't help but let out a word in order to get their attention. And finding that he's already spoken anyways, he decided to continue the sentence.]

Do you always practice your marksmanship here?

[ocariness]

[ Link... hadn't noticed Lelouch, to be honest. Too absorbed in what they were doing.

Link is a bit proud of the marksmanship skills they'd rightfully earned, but to be honest, the fact they'd missed at all was bothering them. ]

Whenever it is possible, yes. Unfortunately, I need to practice further. Having once lost and regained my eye within the last few months, I had compensated for losing it, but gaining it back has thrown me off yet again to where I will need to reorient myself.

[ There had been a few misses.

... Given that Link had become such a good archer on both horseback and off that the Gerudo couldn't beat them? This bugged them. A lot. ]

[moontothetide]

[Tara comes down the steps onto the meadow floor just as Link is wrapping up their bow practice. She stops dead with a soft "eep", seeing the targets scattered around and the arrows sitting out of them like quills.

But she also sees one of the arrows burning just before Link puts it out, and she's curious, and impressed, and once she's sure that the other isn't about to shoot anything else, she steps down onto the floor proper.]

...good job.

Um...w-were you done? Not to rush you, o-or anything. You just...looked done, but, um, I-I just wanted to be sure. It's okay, if you're not.

[ocariness]

[ Link isn't bothered, Tara, no worries! ]

You are not mistaken. Do not worry, I am merely practicing so that I may aid others.

[ In the name of good. Not evil. There is basically no one more Light Side than Link. ]

... Thank you. You flatter me, though. I am slightly off regardless. Every arrow should have hit its mark, though I missed a few times.

[hachitaro]

[Taro's always had good hearing - a bonus for being reasonably paranoid. Still, that music comes as a surprise - and then he mentally kicks himself for it.]

[That spirit had told him there were several Links here. He had even met Zelda. It shouldn't be that surprising.]

[Taro creeps forward, following the music to its source. He bites his tongue, trying not to yelp in surprise, because there he was. Seriously, this place was like some nerd's dreamland.]

[ocariness]

[ Link will just be over here, continuing to play a song of no particular recognizable pattern. It seems to be something self-made, actually.

Of course, if Link noticed, they didn't really stop, because stopping in the middle of practice would be silly.

It will be another minute or so until Link is done, and finally removes the Ocarina of Time from their mouth, falling to silence. It was nice to just play because they wanted to. The music is far more magical in real life, for certain--nothing else has that quality to its notes quite like the Ocarina of Time. ]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku hears the sound of arrows and stops to watch, he recognises him. The Link that tried to shoot the computer. He nodded at him not going close in case he disturbed him.

Archery wasn't something Suzaku was trained at but he could still tell he was very skilled at it.]

[ocariness]

[ Link pauses long enough to lower their things and pass Suzaku a smile.

What's up, fellow life-saver? ]