[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

[ocariness]

[ ... Oh.

Link frowns when Eikichi falls, but since he is okay, turns their attention to Tatsuya and notices he did not, in fact, perfectly land as they'd hoped.

Actually, neither of them did? So Link is left frowning very deeply. ]

... I was sure that they would both land on their feet and then agree not to fight anymore... was my aim off?

[ Um... ]

What is wrong? Why do you not climb down?

[ Staring up at you, Tatsuya! Link doesn't understand the repercussions of what has just occurred because......... well, they're nine, mentally. How could this have gone so wrong?! ]

[nemophila]

[He expected them to land on their feet? Holy crap he must have been a frikkin' acrobat.] No, no...! I mean... I don't.. think they're as coordinated as you anticipated.

Michel...? [....Nah he looked alright. It WAS Michel after all.]

[So for now he'll turn his attention to Tatsuya who was...clinging to the tree branch.]

Tatsuya...? Do you need help? [ 8( ]

[vvvroom]

I'm...okay. [Thanks, sweetie.]

[And uh...climb down? ...Right! Climbing down. He, uh. He can do this!

After a minute of just clinging there, he slowly and awkwardly reaches for another branch.

Misses. Falls a bit, clings to the trunk with both arms and just.

Sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiides down the trunk awkwardly.

Wow, that was terrible.]

[ocariness]

[ Link is actually pulling out the Longshot from their utility belt various items, and keeps it on-hand until Tatsuya finally gets down in the most awkward fashion imaginable.

... It is left out as Link is removing their hat and sort of... scratching their head, bemused, staring up at the trees near the clearing and then looking back down.

Hmm...

... Eventually Link puts the hat back on, puts the Longshot away, puts their arms behind their back, and attempts to smile anyway. ]

... You are not fighting any longer! I am glad. Why did you not roll or land on your feet, though...?

[ Um... nope, they sure aren't? But... really, Link? ]

[vvvroom]

[Guess who has two thumbs and is fidgeting with his lighter right now?

This guy.

Don't mind him while he tries to calm the fuck down after that "Life flashing before his eyes" experience.]

[nemophila]

[Ahaha... Jun's just gonna go over and give Tatsuya a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Hang in there, bby.]

[deathboss]

[Don't mind Eikichi leaning on his own tree, breathing in and our pretty rapidly.]

Th-that wasn't...you can't do that to someone!

[BREATHE IN. AND OUT. BREATHE IN. AND OUT.]

...I don't care how strong you are, the minute I can stand on my legs again, Michel's giving you a talk!

[ocariness]

[ Holding a finger to their chin.

Thinking.

Um...? Link frowns. ]

... Do you usually have this much trouble with trees? You were supposed to land on your feet and climb down and stop fighting.

[ Very confused. Are they upset with them...? ]

[vvvroom]

[Oh boy Tatsuya's finally talking again.]

We don't...there's not a lot of...are you half-cat!?

[He....may need a bit longer to sort all his thoughts, though.]

[nemophila]

You're um... I think your world is very different than the one we came from.

[Well someone has to be calm here, jfc guys.]

[deathboss]

No you idiot! Look at the ears! Link's an elf or a dryad. Especially with that green tunic...

[Right? Right?!]

[ocariness]

[ ... Link tilts their head, looking particularly confused. ]

... Do you mean the peoples Legolas comes from?

[ Because if so, we are sorry to inform you you're wrooong! As for Tatsuya... ]

I... do not believe I am part... whatever that is.

[ So guess who's never seen a cat in their life? ]

[vvvroom]

Will you shut about the elf thing already?

[And see? Not even an elf. How do you like that, Eikichi.]

Oh, uh, I was kind of joking with-....[Wait.

Never heard of a cat?]

...You know. Cats? ...Really agile, good at climbing, always land on their feet?

[Ring any bells for you, dude?]

[ocariness]

[ ... Shaking their head. Agile, good at climbing... hmm, they... can't think of anything in Hyrule like that. ]

No, I am sorry, I have never heard of a... cat. ... Oh, but I have spoken with someone who is an elf!

[ Smile! ]

[nemophila]

[Guys stop arguing about elves]

Where we're from, cats are common household pets; like small animals that people live with for company. [Someone had to be mature here.]

Where are you from?

[deathboss]

The hell with you as---

--Wait no...cats?

[Wow that is...special. He stays silent after that, since Jun asked exactly what he was going to ask himself.]

[ocariness]

[ Link nods at Jun's explanation, picturing some sort of agile beast with wings that flies around enemies and always stays by someone's side... also, it might be glowing in their head. ]

Oh, so they are like fairies! Do cats also help you fight and function as partners? Do all your people need cats with them as a rite of passage?

[ ... Right, they asked where Link was from. Well... ]

You want to know about my home? Or... my home land? Hyrule is... very big, but my home is deep in the border, inside the forests there. Kokiri Forest, to be precise.

[vvvroom]

[Tatsuya is staring at Link like he's some kind of fucking alien.

So, judging from that look, no. No, cats do not do that at all.]

They're...pets.

[nemophila]

[Ahaha...hoo boy.]

No, they don't fly or anything. And you're not...really required to have them. People just take care of them and keep them for fun and companionship. They're not usually trained for fighting.

[But he lived in the forest! That...explained some things sort of!!]

[ocariness]

[ ... Link's expression turns to a frown. ]

Is that what a pet is? A... companion, for fun? You do not raise them for helping you... then they are like the dogs in the Castle Town I have met?

[ Link is now readjusting the inner picture here to make it like some crossbreed between a fairy and a dog... ]

[vvvroom]

Well, they...can catch pests and stuff, but you don't really train them to do that.

[So they can be useful, kind of... Also, what kind of place has dogs, but no cats??]

How...often have you been out of the forest?

[deathboss]

[Please don't mind Eikichi. He's got a pencil and a small drawing pad out and appears to be drawing something.]

[nemophila]

Kind of like dogs, yes. They serve the same basic function, but they behave differently.

[PROGRESS.]

[ocariness]

[ Link doesn't even hesitate with this answer to Tatsuya. ]

According to Rauru, over seven 'years' have passed since I picked up the Master Sword, and I think it was... at least one of your 'months' before I did that. It may have been longer. Why do you ask?

[ The way they say "years" and "months" is like the word is some foreign thing to them because the Kokiri don't give a fuck about time. Luckily, Link is learning Months/weeks/days thanks to being here. ]

Your world sounds very strange.

1/2

[vvvroom]

...Seven years? [That couldn't be right, could it? Hell, he's about their age, so he must have been just a kid when he left, and...]

You say like you didn't actually go through-