08. music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?

[keepscalm]

Characters: [OU] England (keepscalm), Ruler (faithstaynight), and you!
Setting: Various (floors 77, 3, 86, 74, and 30). Put your scenario in the subject line!
Format: Starting action, but I'll match you. :)
Summary: It's time for England to clear up a few things.
Warnings: Stock language and nation angst, and also probably some talk of the Hundred Years' War. Maybe character death?

scenario A♛ floor 77 (closed to faithstaynight; backdated to March 27th)
[After the meeting concludes, England lingers about by the staircase. He's nervous; his heart seems too loud in his ears and his palms are clammy (though that might be the humidity of the sauna). This is something he's been meaning to do ever since their exchange in the infirmary, but he's not really used to his past coming back to haunt him this literally. And he's even less used to actually facing his problems.

When Ruler next passes by him, he clears his throat to get her attention.] ...Ruler.

[England averts his eyes, faltering momentarily. He's quiet a moment before looking back to her.] ...might I have a word?

scenario B♛ floor 3 (open)
[It's not unusual that England is in the library, but it's only in the past few months that he's actually been given a job there. He's most likely shelving books, but occasionally he pushes in the chairs of the desks or collects books that have been left by the terminals.

If he walks by you, he might offer an absent:] Do you need help with anything?

[But if he's busy, you might have to approach him yourself. Both are equally likely.]

scenario C♛ floor 86 (open)
[Not everyone would be aware of the dangers of this floor immediately, but England is certainly one that is well-acquainted with the lore of the fae. So one might wonder why he's lingering about a place like this, especially seeing as he's lurking just outside the bounds of one of the fairy rings.

In the middle is a marker, a smaller circle formed from pebbles lodged into the dirt. Some distance away, closer to the edge of the ring, is a small string of assorted beads, crafted in one of the workshops.

England kneels just in front of the mushrooms. There's a rabbit-like creature fluttering about nearby; though it can't be seen by anyone who doesn't believe in magic or the supernatural, being on this floor might render it visible to some non-believers.

It's not really clear why they're here, but one can always ask and find out.]

scenario D♛ floor 74 (open)
[This floor finds England adorned with a cloak — it's wrinkled and there's a seam off-center that suggests he'd had to sew together two smaller spreads of fabric to get a piece big enough to make the cloak out of. He has also made himself a fleece scarf in bright yellow, which clashes hilariously with everything else on his person.

Sometimes you just work with what you have. Better than freezing to death!

Which he doesn't want to do while he explores the castle.

He carries a wand with him, which is equally hilarious (and probably the only thing the scarf matches). However, the star does appear to be glowing, and he holds it out in front of him much like a lamp.

Should he come across someone else, he gives them a bit of a questioning look, like it is very strange that anyone other than him would be tromping through the snowy ruins of some old castle.] Are you lost?

scenario E♛ floor 30 (closed to first responder seekinganswers)
[This is always the worst part of the trip up to the farmland (he'll often take the steps two or three at a time when he knows no one is looking). England is well-acquainted with the mechanism of this staircase, and every trip ensures that he emerges onto the next floor with unpleasantness settled in his gut.

Usually, he's lucky.

Today, he's not.

The staircase vanishes from under him just as he's almost to safety — one sharp gasp later and he's hanging off the next step up on the way to floor thirty-one, the very edge of the section of staircase that's still left.

He doesn't have to look to know the monsters writhe on the floor underneath him, just one slip of the hand away.]

Comments

[keepscalm]

[That draws a short, muffled sound that might be a laugh. He enjoyed your funny, Zelda.]

Most people on Earth can't even see our fae. [He tries to sound conversational, but it's hard to keep out the twinge of bitterness.] Usually coming to my land can temporarily grant them the sight necessary, but—

[His tone turns wistful as he offers a hand to his rabbit companion as it passes.] Not much to be done for a non-believer, I'm afraid.

[sageprincess]

[The subtle shifts in his tone gets her to look up from her task, her head tilted ever so slightly. This is not a terrible complicated conversation, however, so its a bit easy to pick out his thoughts on those who cannot see the fae.]

That seems so odd - belief being necessary to see them at all. [Her gaze shifts to the little fluttering bunny as she speaks, though... it sort of seems like she's looking through it rather than at it.] I was certainly surprised the first time I saw a fairy, but it was not so strange that I could not believe what I was seeing.

[No, she had other things to think about at the time, like the green-garbed child the fairy was with...]

[keepscalm]

It was not always that way. With the rise of science and reason came skeptics. People became less willing to believe in things that could not be logically explained. [He can't say he regrets the advancement of technology, but he does regret many of the losses that came with it.]

Of course, magic altogether had been rather frowned-upon by the church for centuries anyway. [He scratches the top of the rabbit's head; Arthur, too, has a bit of a distant look about him.] So some might say it was for the best that people stopped believing.

[The bunny seems to note Zelda's strange gaze. England lets him go, and he flies in to get a closer look at Zelda, moving to nuzzle her shoulder.]

[sageprincess]

What is illogical about magic?

[Hi Arthur, your protegee literally comes from a fantasy world. She can understand the thought that some might prefer science and technology to magic, but can they not coexist? And that church business is odd as well.

The bunny moves in before she can voice the rest of her questions, and well, since it seems to like affection, she places her string of beads on her lap and gently scratches it behind its ears.]

... I suppose avoiding a conflict like that would be considered-- hm?

[She cuts herself off, train of thought thoroughly derailed as the back of the hand that's petting the fairy begins to glow with a golden aura. Three triangles appear, in much the same shape as on that handkerchief she made and attempt at embroidering, with the lower left one glowing slightly brighter than the others. She regards it with a confused and admittedly concerned frown, obviously surprised at its sudden appearance.]

The Triforce...?

[Why is it appearing now?]

(this is still Link I'm just using this account for literally 1 icon)

[shadesofregret]

[ ... And the reason becomes apparent as someone breathing heavily races into the floor looking extremely disheveled, exhausted, tired, but here--of course, on their hand glows the opposite triangle, the one of Courage, but Link isn't paying that any mind. Right now, all she cares about is that Zelda is here, she finally found her. She's still in this Tower, even if it took her seemingly hours to find you, she doesn't care. Her tunic is a little on sloppily, as are most of her effects, only the sword and shield and her gloves and such and quite honestly it's obvious she left her hat in her room.

She was in a bit of a hurry.

... Because right now your hero is back and she is running up to you and tackling you with more force than an angry Dodongo. There aren't any words from her mouth, but there's a noise of quiet sobbing as she buries herself completely into the other girl. Fortunately, they both manage to avoid plowing into any of the circles. Make of this what you will, Arthur; fate is an odd thing, as is having magic triangles on their hands. The Triforce is a brief appearance, it fades quickly after the two of them end up on the ground.

Princess--no, Zelda, she's home. And she is so, so sorry she was gone for so long. ]

[keepscalm]

[England is fully ready to resume his lament over the rule of science and technology in his world when Zelda finds herself distracted. It's unusual for her to stop in the middle of a conversation with him; curiosity piqued, he finds himself leaning over a tad to catch a glimpse of the Triforce himself.

He doesn't actually have time to ask after it. The sound of footsteps disrupts his thoughts, and quickly thereafter someone is tackling Zelda to the ground.

England's fae companion is quick to dart out of the way of the collision. It looks to England, but he's more preoccupied with the sudden pile of Hylians on the ground. He doesn't want to think it — he saw her name in the graveyard, he's been leaving flowers there for months — and yet he can't help but hope.]

Link?

[sageprincess]

Kuh--!

[The Princess hits the ground forcefully, and for a moment all she can see is stars. The wind is knocked out of her as well, forcing her to gasp silently for air. In that moment, when her vision is swimming and she can hardly breathe, she's too disoriented to register the being that tackled her as anything but a threat, and her fingers begin to sparkle and glow with magic in preparation of defending herself against the intruder. Maybe one of her comments angered the fae that surround them--

But... wait. Surely Arthur would be more alarmed if she were being attacked, right? And... aside from the residual pain of being knocked to the ground, she's not being torn apart or otherwise hurt by whatever's on her.

... Is that sobbing? Definitely not typical Tower monster fare, then. Still a bit dazed, she finally looks down upon the being that had tackled her, and, oh...

The magic summoned to her hand instantly evaporates.

Blonde hair.

Green tunic.

Dare she hope? Dare she believe for one moment that fate can be so kind? After meeting the ancient hero and reuniting with Fado and Sky, she had thought whatever blessings had been afforded to her were thoroughly used up. And yet, here, right before her, right on top of her...]

Is... Is it really...?

[Now she gasps for entirely different reason as she stares, equal parts fear and prayer. Please, don't let this be a dream--]

[ocariness]

[ Link does nothing but wait for Zelda to realize she is not a threat, raising her tear-stained face up to the other girls and nodding vigorously.

She has no voice, she is sorry, but the nodding, the nodding, Goddesses, the nodding. And as soon as she somewhat de-latches from Zelda... she slowly rises and... moves to drag Arthur to the ground with them into a big hug on both sides blonde family pile.

She can't stop the tears, or the shaking.

She missed you both, this gesture says. I have not forgotten, this gesture says. I'm not leaving again, this gesture says. And if she must she will prove who she is, somehow.

It's probably a bit obvious now that she isn't just a blur, after all. How often does she rush out without bothering to bind herself? Not very often. ]

[keepscalm]

Ghk—!

[Needless to say from that surprised sound, this is not a reunion he expected to be a part of, though he considers both girls very dear to him.

He tumbles into the pile with little grace and a lot of sputtering. While he's been growing slightly more accustomed to the affections of the people he's met in the Tower ("people" here meaning "mostly Zelda"), he still wasn't prepared for this sudden onslaught of emotion and hugging. Of course, this doesn't stop him from wrapping his arms around each girl in turn, once he regains his bearings.

The relief he feels at Link's confirmation is overwhelming to the point it almost makes him feel sick. Because while he's happy — so incredibly happy to see her again, this reunion comes with a price. It is impossible to live in this tower without suffering. He's disgusted with himself for being happy — in any measure — that she's trapped here again.

But then, it's either here or her dead world, isn't it?

At least here, she is not alone.

That thought doesn't alleviate the guilt, but it does prompt England to hug her just a little bit tighter, because he knows what it's like to be alone.]

...it's— it's good to see you again.

[An understatement, certainly. But the soft, sentimental edges of his tone give him away.]

[sageprincess]

Din, Nayru, and Farore...

[Her exaltation is whispered, barely more than a breath formed into words. She's too shocked to return the embrace before Link is moving away, and no, come back, she needs you-- but it's a blessedly short separation. And as affectionate she can be around Arthur, just this once, everything in her being is focused on the brave girl in green. Arms wrapped around her, she holds onto her fiercely, fervently, desperately, as happy tears begin to run down her face.

Perhaps she shouldn't be as elated as she is to see her dearest friend again under such circumstances. Perhaps she should realize it's inherently selfish, what she feels, and she should feel horrid for thinking such. But in this moment, she can't care. Link is back and it feels like a part of her that had been missing has been returned to her, and how can anyone feel guilty in the face of such overwhelming emotion?

She clings to Link, fiercely, fervently, desperately, and says nothing because words cannot even begin to describe what she feels.]

[ocariness]

[ ... Yeah, she's not going to be letting go anytime soon. Sorry about that, guys.

Link is so happy to see Zelda alive, there aren't proper words to express it. Though, with how raw her throat still feels, she wasn't sure she could express them, anyway. Link just lets Zelda cling, because she feels the same way, but Arthur is just as important, she wants him to know she still is herself.

That she remembers. It's okay.

It's not okay, not okay at all; Hyrule is dead, she has been trapped there for time she cannot even properly count, worse than when she was sealed into that sleep for seven long years. Was that how Zelda felt?

It's this thought that she tries to brush a tear away from the other girl's face--a gesture of comfort, of care.

After a very long moment indeed, Link just kind of gives England a very big, stupid, tear-stained smile. Hey. Did she miss anything? ]

[keepscalm]

[The tears of both young Hylians make his throat tighten unpleasantly. Though he, too, is happy to see them reunited, at the same time he has the feeling that he does not belong. And he doesn't, not really. He cares deeply for both Zelda and Link, but this is not his reunion to be a part of; there is history there that he is not a part of, and never will be.

The feeling needles the same part of him that the guilt of his happiness gnaws at. He wants to let himself be happy for once, but the sting in his eyes reminds him that he can't. He cannot afford himself such unbidden emotion in this place. Not when he has seen it put the weight of the world upon Zelda's shoulders and get a knife held up to America's neck.

So he keeps his chin up, blinks his eyes dry, and raises a hand to dry the tears from Link's face with the same shirt cuff he had touched to her cheek over a year ago now.

He's so happy to see her, but here — with Link and Zelda each crying in his arms — is not his place to say it.]

[sageprincess]

[Damn it all, Arthur, you know some of that weight could be lifted if you could let yourself smile. Oh well.

The Princess' hand follows Link's upon her cheek, wiping away the evidence of her own emotion. She swallows heavily - no doubt clearing the lump that's gathered in her throat - and leans back slightly, looking Link up and down for injuries. Some things never change.]

Are you... Are you all right? You are not hurt, are you?

[The Tower has grown immensely since they last saw each other, and there's no telling how long Link has wandered in search of her.]

[ocariness]

[ She shakes her head at Zelda as a confirmatory "no". She isn't hurt. Not physically. Not really.

... As for Arthur, she does sort of give him a look. She loves you, you know. Don't do that to yourself. She can feel SOMETHING off, though she's unsure what it is, but Link will take both of their gestures with a smile. It's just... so great, to be back near BREATHING company. Any company, but particularly the ones she cared for most.

There is something slightly more pressing, though. It has been on her mind since she tore her trunk open to dress. She did not see the Ocarina of Time. She did not have it. Link fumbles a bit, worried--making a gesture with her hands and mouthing the words "Ocarina" at Zelda.

Then looking at her worriedly. She has to have it, right? She doesn't feel safe if it's not in her possession, somehow. Maybe it's a thing she needs to cling to but Goddesses above, not having it at home was bad enough. ]