[001 ∆ the lost mask]

[childhero]

Characters: Link (Majora's Mask) and YOU
Setting: Everywhere in the Tower -- You pick your location!
Format: Action
Summary: Guess who just woke up in the Tower? This young Link is taking a look around, hoping he'll find... well. Someone he knows or, at the very least, someone who looks approachable.
Warnings: None! They'll be added in should any come up, though.

[Link has never been one to sit around and wait for someone to give him the answers. He never would've stopped Ganondorf or freed any of the Giants if he did that. No, as soon as he got dressed and gathered up his items (he was missing some of his masks... that made him frown, but at least he still had most of them), he was up on his feet and exploring the tower. He needs answers, he needs information -- more than what was given to him in that letter, anyway. He refuses to believe it. Termina... Destroyed? No. That isn't true. He was just there, things were almost over, it was almost safe. There had to be another explanation.

He wishes Tatl was with him. It was strange that she wasn't, but she would've had ideas about what was going on. (And Navi -- Navi is not someone he... Tatl was with him last, he would expect her to be there before he would expect Navi to be. He knows Navi hasn't been with him for a long time, and so he doesn't expect her to be. But Tatl was with him, and so...)

If he sees anyone else with a collar, he can ask them for more information. Maybe they've been here longer than him. Maybe there's something they could tell him. And, well... He needs to get to know the lay of the tower, so that he can be prepared for anything.]

Comments

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow is idly wandering through the art gallery floor, which is level twenty-one. The new locations interested her, but she was wary and hesitant about exploring too freely without backup, her previous experiences more than enough to turn her into a team player.

So she hasn't gone too far from the stairs, and is sitting on one of the backless, upholstered benches so common to art galleries, frowning across at the lit painting on the opposite wall. It's been a while since she arrived, and it's just occurring to her how odd it is to settle in somewhere like this. There's trolls everywhere, and none of her friends, and she's adjusting... but she wouldn't say she was comfortable or happy.

Although her thoughts are taking her anywhere but art appreciation, Willow wears her heart on her sleeve, and has a very approachable air. To tell the truth, she'd be happy to be interrupted.]

I'm sorry this took so long ;; Muse troubles

[childhero]

[Link is just going to be walking away, very quickly, from another part of the gallery. Those pictures -- Someone has a creative mind, that's all. Someone imagined a world very much like Termina, desolate and dead. Someone imagined people very much like the people that Link has gotten to know -- That's all. Someone's creative, but that doesn't mean Link has to like those pictures. He can just turn away and leave, like he never saw them in the first place.

So, Willow, there's a boy not older than ten or maybe twelve all but bolting towards you. He looks terribly upset. What do?]

no worries, it happens!

[guiltapalooza]

[She stands up in alarm. After years on the Hellmouth, her instinct now is to go toward danger, toward the fleeing people.]

Wh-- hey, what's wrong? [Willow steps quickly into his path, visibly worried but alert.]

[childhero]

[Ah -- Link stumbles to a stop. He didn't know anyone else was here.]

Nothing.

[He isn't a very good liar, even if he's reigning himself back under control.]

Nothing... important. [... better. Sort of.]

[guiltapalooza]

You can tell me, [she urges, glancing behind him as she half-expects him to be chased by something. But as nothing lurches out of the rows of art hangings, Willow turns her attention back to him.

He looks so young, though she knows that's no indicator of anything, really.] At least let me know if it's something dangerous.

[childhero]

[Link looks up at her and for a moment, studies her face. It looks kind, open. His mind unknots a little.]

It isn't anything dangerous.

[guiltapalooza]

--Oh. Okay. Okay, good. [She lets herself breathe, and think about other things.]

What do you say we get off this floor, then? I've never really been an art person, anyway.

[childhero]

[Link nods without any hesitation. Yes, he would very much like to get off this floor. D8]

[guiltapalooza]

[She glances back to make sure he follows, but leads the way hesitatingly to the stairs.]

Come on, I know a floor that isn't freak-worthy at all.

[sageprincess]

[Information about this place is scarce, she's found. In an ultimately futile attempt to gain insight, Zelda browses the uppermost library, eyes trailing on the titles of each heavy book. Maybe... just maybe there's something that could be of value hidden within these labyrinthine shelves.

And then, while flipping through a pages of a book that seemed halfway promising, she sees a small flash of green in the corner of her eye. Too small to be the Link she met earlier. The book goes abandoned as she follows after it, body moving before her mind really has a chance to process it and--

That's him. That's the boy she sent back.

And for once, words fail the Princess of Hyrule. After all, what do you say to someone you've said your goodbyes to?]

[childhero]

[He hears footsteps behind him, and he turns -- partly from instinct (how many times has something tried to sneak up on him?), partly from curiousity.

And he can't help it -- he stares. The Princess...? But -- No, it can't be her. This just... must be someone who looks just like her, goes by her name, but is someone completely different. That saddens him, but... well. This isn't in Termina any more, but something tells him this can't be her. It just can't.

(Hyrule can't be gone, too. Can't.)]

Hello.

[sageprincess]

[She just... kneels (no, not falls, it's just so she can see him better, not because her knees are weak or anything) before the boy, skirts puffing out briefly before settling around her. Her eyes trace over his features, lining them up with the ones from her memory.

His eyes seem more world-weary than she remembers.]

...Hello, Link. Do... Do you remember me?

[It would make perfect sense if he didn't-- she sent him back to a time before they first met, after all, but... maybe...]

[childhero]

[... this can't be her. He resists the urge to take a step back.]

You... [It can't be.] You're... from Hyrule. [It can't. (And maybe that's a strange thing to say, but... but.)]

[sageprincess]

[Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; she doesn't particularly care about that right now. She'll ask later if it comes up.]

I am.

[She feels as though there's a fist around her heart, threatening to squeeze. But she continues onward, tentatively pulling out the Ocarina of Time. Please, don't deny her--]

And... what of this?

[childhero]

[Link... isn't surprised she has it. But, in response, he silently reaches behind him and draws out the Ocarina. It would look identical, if not for a different kind of wear on it. This Ocarina has seen different places, played different songs, known the hearts of another people. But, at its very core, it is still the same.]

[sageprincess]

[Her face softens slightly upon seeing his Ocarina. She might not know the exact reason why he has it, but, well...]

I-- [No, Zelda, not you.] ...Your princess gave you that, yes?

[childhero]

[... that phrasing makes him pause, but he nods.] Before I left.

Dorm hallways o7 ALSO drops this here... before bed...

[ocariness]

[ As for how strange where you've been kidnapped is, that can probably instantly be solved by the fact there seems to be an older version of yourself here, wearing a Green-colored collar and, unsurprisingly, all their gear (mirror shield to Silver Gauntlets.)

... Naturally, they're equally confused to encounter who is undoubtedly a younger (or technically, isn't that the same? Time shenanigans...) version of themselves, which makes this extremely confusing all around.

However, this one is not that Dark, nasty clone, so the older version of yourself will not be attacking or anything, since obviously you're not trying to just be a general evil jerk. ... Besides, Dark Link kind of oozed a noxious, easily-sensible form of Evil Magic to a sensitive pure hearted-hero, so they figured approaching in a nonthreatening way would help return the sentiment that they, too, were not an evil doppelganger. ... And if it isn't that, it's probably the Blue Pocket Cucco in their hands that tells you "hello I am you from that Other Timeline only Not Really Sort Of?" ]

... Ah.

[ ... Hmmm, weird. Is something different about this one? It's hard to tell unless you really remember tob look closely. But seriously, what do you say to yourself? ]

[childhero]

[Blink.

Blink.

...

What?

How is this -- How is that --

He supposes he shouldn't be too surprised. Time is strange, after all. He tilts his head.

... Pocket Cucco... He can't help it -- He smiles.]

Kojiro... [It's been a long time. A long, long time.]

... WOW bad typo I meant "too" not "tob" whatever that is

[ocariness]

[ Yes, time is indeed strange, especially in the Tower. So many alternate realities and timelines! It is probably a good thing their title is, after all, Hero of Time, or both Links would be quite confused.

As it is, the older one shifts a little, and, really, can't help but wonder what it is about this younger version of them that seems so... somber. Sad, almost. More than usual, anyway.

Perhaps they were from after everything? If they knew about Kojiro, then they'd already traveled the spans of time. That... gave Link some bearings, anyway, but not nearly enough, because it's obvious just from a glance their equipment is different.

The poor Pocket Cucco is just a bit confused by seeing a smaller Link, so it ruffles a little in greeting. ]

Oh... I think he's confused.

[ Well, they're pretty sure that expression is one of a newbie to this place, since much like this other Link in front of them right now, there had been a lot of confusion and concern arriving not only fairyless once again, but also being told their world had been destroyed. This place was far from "expected" on ANYONE'S radar, to put it simply. ]

I... suppose you and I are the same.

[ Really, they knew Time Travel was odd, but truthfully, there was never a pause to consider that they might run into their other self. ... Weird. But knowing this place, the question is even more complicated: is this younger Link them, or is it one from a different timeline's reality? ]

I didn't even notice XD

[childhero]

[A part of Link wants to reach out and touch Kojiro's feathers, just to affirm he's really there, that this is really happening. But then, he supposes this isn't the strangest thing to ever happen to him.]

Yes... and no.

[Silver gauntlets... Mirror Shield... Still an adult. He hasn't fought the King of Evil yet, then. The memories swirl in Link's head, and he is both at once fond and nostalgic and homesick and lonely. (Still fighting for his home, his people. No -- That is a thought that is automatically pushed down. That is a thought that does not happen.)]

GOOD because I keep tagging you at ridiculous o clock

[ocariness]

[ This earns the most quiet and curious of headtilts. Time shenanigans, huh? It was a little weird, seeing a younger version of yourself face to face, but hardly unexpected, considering the timeline weirdness before.

The Cucco, in response to the touch, however, is quietly pleased. It's still Link, after all, and animals WOULD know them best. Honestly, Cojiro had been kept purely because... Link had a soft spot for animals in general.

... Something is definitely bothering the smaller Link, though, but really prying would be rude, right? Well... ]

...

[ Nothing is said here (hah, is that surprising, really?), since Link can't think of if it would be wise to inquire. It's suspicious, but it'd be bad to create a possible paradox from asking on either end, right? Perhaps it would be best not to ask. A relative subject change is in order, it would seem. ]

I've yet to find a path out of this place. And... be wary of the people wearing red collars here, they're not captives.

[ Stay armed, even on the nicer floors. This Tower is far from safe, and Link had seen why firsthand. Those poor people... ]

that's my fault though. partially

[childhero]

[Something about Link's face softens as he watches the Pocket Cucco, though he isn't aware of it. His other self is... lucky, to have a companion from home with him.

At the subject change, Link looks up, eyes sharpening suddenly. Information. It's a kneejerk reaction -- in Termina, there is room for error, but he'd rather avoid it at all possible. Take in everything he can. Learn quickly. Put together the pieces accurately without failing, or else he'll have to turn back the clock again. (A part of him inwardly shudders.)]

Red collars? [He wants to know what happened with them.]

[ocariness]

[ ... This is an expression of beyond distaste and purely into upset and disgust. What they did to those people had been--

... But no, they won't describe it in detail. That's their burden to bear. Those people... ]

They're... workers. This place can render any sort of magic null, and the ones wearing the red collars are capable of taking people with ease. Usually for experiments.

[ It is not... something you want to happen. Those people had disappeared, everyone else had been acting funny, signed up for an experiment against their free will. It burned Link's blood. Made it boil, that they'd claim to be so virtuous as to have saved them and then done that. And then that they'd caused everyone else to turn to MURDERING them (no, Link refused, the hero would rather die than harm another living soul--), it was disgusting. ]

[childhero]

[Can render...] So sometimes, magic works fine?

[frown.] Experiments? [More information is needed. The way his otherself said it, though, they can't be anything good.]