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[forhylia]

Characters: Link and whoever wishes to poke him
Setting: Room 04-04 and Floor 1, breakfast time
Format: Prose preferred, but feel free to use action/brackets
Summary: Link wakes up, completely unsurprised and unbothered that his world has ended. That's old news. Time to go eat some oatmeal and figure out where he is.
Warnings: Spoilers for the Skyward Sword prequel manga


Link was only half-surprised to be waking up. One does wake in the afterlife after death, no? But as he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, something was quite wrong. This strange suit was uncomfortable and strange looking. The room was sparse and seemed overly sterile. And how in the world did the ceiling glow? He tugged at the collar around his neck, frowning. Thankfully it wasn't restricting his breathing, but it was bothersome.

This was far from what he had pictured.

There were a few things to be inspected, though. Three other beds, all empty, as well as a nightstand with two envelops upon it. Frowning curiously, Link lifted the first one and carefully tore it open. Strange, that it did not require a seal to remain shut. There was a slight ache in his chest as he read it. Yes, he knew that his home had been destroyed. He didn't need that reminder of his failure. At least he could rest assured that his people were safe in the White Goddess's loving arms.

The second letter, however...

The further Link read, the stranger things became. All these things that were expected of him... This was where he would sleep; unexpectedly three others would be occupying the room with him. Food could be found downstairs. What was a 'network'? A postal system of some sort? Link placed the second letter on his nightstand next to the first. Perhaps he could find somebody to speak with about it.

He got out of bed, cracking the cricks out of his neck and approaching the chest that was obviously his and thankfully unlocked. He pulled it open with a grin.

"Excellent." He smiled as he pulled the Master Sword from the chest, inspecting it carefully. As expected, it had taken no damage in the battle. He pulled it partially from the scabbard, closely inspecting the triangular symbol that had appeared on the blade. He set the sword aside, pulling out his various other belongings. The ridiculous white jumpsuit was on the floor within seconds, soon to be replaced with Link's signature green tunic, hat, and boots. He contemplated putting on his mail and gloves, but chose not to. They would stay in the trunk. He was only going to eat breakfast, hopefully. Link put in his earrings, setting his gloves, sword, and armor back in the trunk and closing it. He opened his door and set out into the hallway.

Time to find out what this afterlife was all about.




Link fumbled for a moment with the elevator buttons before making his way to the first floor. The dining area was a reasonable place to look for people, and he was hungry.

He settled himself at a table with the bowl of oatmeal a worker had handed to him, taking a look around the room. There were other people milling about, chatting and eating. He dug into his oatmeal, which wasn't half bad. The food quality in Hylia had suffered significantly under the crumbling regime of the king.

Link had intentionally sat himself at one of the larger tables as if to hopefully invite company.

Comments

[forhylia]

Link pulled away from her, pain obvious in his eyes. She'd been trapped here too long. Far too long. There was a flash of anger, then, at this place. At the people running it. How dare they keep all of these people trapped here? How dare they keep her trapped here?

"How long have you been here, princess?" Perhaps it seemed like a sudden change of pace, but he had to know. He had hardly expected her attitude to be so defeatist. It was difficult, being a man whose optimism had always been impenetrable to a fault.

[sageprincess]

Oh, well, that certainly wasn't taken the way she meant it to be. In hindsight, perhaps she shouldn't have been so open with how the Tower as affected her. Inherent trust or no, this man is still a new arrival, unaccustomed to the 'nothing left to lose' kind of attitudes that are prevalent within the Tower's walls.

She averts her eyes, feeling she's disappointed him, somehow.

"... Fifteen months, give or take a few weeks." And yet it's felt like so much longer. "I apologize if I do not meet your expectations."

[forhylia]

Link's eyes narrowed, though not in a hostile way.

"I have no expectations of you. Especially not in a place like this." Goddess or not, she was still a teenage girl with hardly a recollection of the legacy she carried.

But that was far too long. More than a year wasted, spent trapped in this strange and hostile place.

[sageprincess]

"You... do not?"

Princess, Sage, Bearer of Wisdom, Goddess' Descendant, Leader... The mantles she wears are heavy and thick, to the point that looking past them and seeing Zelda is something precious few have attempted to do. Or at least, so she believes. And yet, here is a man who has every reason to think her great and infallible, but he says he holds no expectations for her.

It's... strange, to say the least.

[forhylia]

"There is only so much one young woman can do. What is one to do, trapped in here." Link smiled gently. He hesitated for a moment.

"If it helps... I have failed far more people in my days than you most likely ever will in your lifetime. And I was supposed to be a hero." Link himself had yet to come to terms with that. Was it odd to see the White Goddess like this? Yes. But gods were not without compassion. And could this princess truly be called a goddess? It was no insult to her, but Hylia's divinity was gone. She was hardly more than a tired girl, now.

But that was Link. His loyalty knew no bounds, and now was not the time to be critical of Zelda. She had more than enough of a reputation to live up to as it was; how could a human ever live up to a god?

[sageprincess]

"I doubt that," she whispers ruefully, more to herself than him. Just in case, though, she amends her regretful statement with: "Heroes are called as much because they leave some inspiring story behind. Even once they are gone, they bring light and hope in the darkest nights."

She knows nothing of this hero's legend, but the idea that Link, any Link, could fail is one that is entirely alien to her. She's quiet for a moment longer, though it's the tense sort of silence that people fall into when they are unsure if they should say something or not.

The tension evaporates in seconds, however, as she appears to decide against it, shoving aside those feelings for now. It's become so easy to compartmentalize those sorts of things - almost second nature - and the switch between tired, vulnerable girl and polite, if weary princess is visible by the way she sits up a little straighter, and speaks with a bit more formality than she previously did.

"Thank you, though, for your consolation. Your kindness is greatly appreciated."

[forhylia]

Link paid no mind to Zelda's denial of his statement of his own failure. He would not wallow in self pity over it, especially not in front of this young woman. As much as he had loved his people, he had been a mere tool to them, one to be kept locked away until needed. He had been taken advantage of, and he knew that.

"I am only sorry that I cannot do more." Link didn't buy into the slight personality switch. Whether or not Zelda realized she had shifted herself to a more put-together position was irrelevant. What else was to be expected of royalty? There was a certain art to being a public figure.

[sageprincess]

"You need not be. You have done enough for my bloodline already." She doesn't know his legend, but if he personally knew Hylia, than he was instrumental in setting the stage for Hyrule to be founded. And even if that was not enough, this ancient feeling in her heart begs her not to ask any more of this man.

"And I am a grown woman, besides. I am capable of taking care of myself, so you do not need to fret over my well-being."

She had shown too much, exposed too much vulnerability. The lofty expectations she can do without, but she also does not need pity.

[forhylia]

Link only sighed and gave a nod. He would not treat her like a child, no. But that didn't mean he would not show her kindness.

"I am a knight of Hylia, my lady, I think it comes in the job description that I am to fret over your well-being." He smiled.