Sleepover before the storm

[attheclocktower]

Characters: [OU] Xion, Excalibur, and whoever comes
Setting: Floor 101
Format: Whatever floats your boat
Summary: It's the night before the infiltration. People are plotting, discussing, and Xion has brought a Dream Eater so those who want to try to get a good night's sleep have a marginally higher chance of doing so. So in short it's a Tower-flavored sleepover. Bring your own pillows.
Warnings: Nothing in the top level. Will try to edit if anything changes but if something comes up in one of your threads make sure to add a warning in the subject line

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[Standard mingle post procedure. Make your top levels. Tag around. Have fun. Or not, this is Animus after all.

Notes will have been passed out and quiet discussion gone around by word of mouth, just saying that several people were spending the night in the hidden floor. Anybody who spoke to Xion would have been told that she's trying to figure out a way everybody can get a good night's sleep. You'll need to supply your own blankets and pillows but... hey, at least if you have trouble sleeping, you'll have company?

Note that any characters who sleep on the Hidden Floor, if they normally suffer from nightmares will likely have notably lessened or absent nightmares (up to your discretion) owing to the Dream Eater that Xion has brought with.]

Comments

[lorule]

Yes, you have time. [She looked down.] I would offer you to come to my Lorule, but-- [Who would want to live in the Dark World 2.0? No one, that was who.] I'm sure you will find much better.

[ Like Hyrule. She had little doubts she could make a happy life for herself in Zelda's land. But she wouldn't speak of this now. ]

Of course I will [She grabs Grainne's hand from the side of her dress and tries to smile.] And I shall help you if you have not taken a decision then.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne is too surprised to take her hand back, and it does a fairly good job and a long way to steady her. Blinking away tears for an entirely different reason, she smiles back at the girl.]

Thank you... I think I may have needed to hear that.

[lorule]

I pray you find your answer soon. [She nodded and let go of her hand.] Should you need to find me before then, you know how to contact me.

[athousandcurses]

I do... You're not leaving already though, are you? [She looks slightly disappointed.] It has been a little bit boring out here...

[lorule]

[ She had actually planned to go to her room, but-- ]

Ah, no of course. I can stay a bit longer, if so you wish.

[athousandcurses]

Thank you.

[She may barely know Hilda, but her presence has quickly become something of a... comfort. There's something of a kindred soul in her, if Grainne was to put the feeling into words.]

I wanted to ask you how you have been faring here. Are you going downstairs with the others?

[lorule]

Ah.

[ Slightly embarrassing question. ]

I have been doing... 'well.' [As well as one could do in the tower of animus, which didn't mean much.] I don't speak much with the others, however.

[ Not really any point. Sides, half of the time either they thought she was Zelda's evil sister, the other half they spent it laughing at her kingdom's name. ]

[athousandcurses]

[This time, it's Grainne who reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder.]

Are they mistreating you?

[lorule]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No, of course not. With what little time we have left, I simply do not know them enough. Nor do I have the patience to dispell all what people may think about me.

[athousandcurses]

What people may think-- what is wrong, Lady Hilda? [Concern shows on Grainne's face. That kind of thing is never good to hear.] What could people possibly think that is not right? Is it something that I can help you with?

[lorule]

No. You haven't met her, have you? [A pause.] Princess Zelda. She's been here far longer than I and looks like my reflection from another world.

And people who knows her-- Are generally confused upon seeing me.

[ And that got old fast. ]

[athousandcurses]

A twin from another universe? [Stranger things have happened though. Grainne can sympathize.]

I had nine sisters... we were often being mistaken for each other. I think I can understand, but... there is something more to it, isn't there?

[lorule]

[ She nodded. Aside from the hair and eyes color, they were identical. Even their default clothes were, but that wasn't the worst. ]

Yes. I have been keeping a secret from her, and from all those who know her. Surely they would hate me if they knew. This is what makes the situation so... Uncomfortable.

[athousandcurses]

I do not know Lady Zelda... but is it truly that serious that they would hate you? Often when we are alone with secrets, they can seem so much more momentous. It is your secret, but do not discount the forgiveness and spirit of the people who live here.

[Grainne doesn't know anyone any better than Hilda, but she has seen the familial connections and togetherness of those who have been here a long time. Surely Hilda can find a place here?]

We all have a common goal, after all.

[lorule]

I... [She paused and hesitated before continuing.] Lady Grainne, would you forgive me if I had brought your world to the brink of destruction? If I had allied with your enemies? If I had caused meaningless pain and suffering to your people?

[ She trusted Grainne enough not to repeat that to anyone-- And not to misinterpret. But still, as far as she was concerned, people in this tower wouldn't be half as forgiving as the Link and Zelda of her world had been. The Zelda in this tower had been clearly more weary and less innocent than her counterpart. ]

I cannot forever hide behind excuses, and forgiveness has its limits. Some people may forgive me, but others will not, and I cannot blame them.

[athousandcurses]

Hilda... [Grainne is saddened to hear of her pain, and reaches out to gently squeeze her shoulder.] You are not an evil person, I am sure you... felt you had no choice. Whatever you have done could not have been out of hate or spite or for no reason. Maybe you made mistakes that led to those things...

[Shaking her head, she faces Hilda and gently reaches out to take her hands.]

I have seen many wars in my lifetime and people killing each other for little to no reason other than their honor, whatever that may be, demanded it. I have seen clans cut each other down just because they were in the way or insulted a foolish man's name. I have seen murderers get away free and innocent men slaughtered for the deeds of others. And yet those things are never the end of the world. Do not let the past keep you from learning and moving beyond whatever mistakes you have made. If they cannot forgive you, then they are the ones that now do an injustice.

[She grows quiet for a moment, eyes casting to the floor.]

[lorule]

You are kind.

[ Kind, but she didn't believe she should be forgiven. She shook her head, maybe she should tell Grainne of the whole story. She takes a step away and let go of Grainne's hand. ]

But... I'll explain you [A pause] Long ago, we possessed a sacred golden treasure called The Triforce. It could grant the wish of anyone who touched it-- Regardless of whether their wish was good or evil. Obviously, such a treasure drew unwanted attention to it. Many sought to control the Triforce, and soon Lorule was plunged into endless war.

My ancestors got rid of the Triforce to stop the war. They destroyed it-- Utterly and absolutely. Their intentions were pure, but they were blind. They didn't know the Triforce was the pillar that sustained our world, and without it, Lorule crumbled. It all happened ages ago, but today Lorule is a land of darkness, filled with monsters and slowly decaying into nothingness. My people long lost hope. This tower only accelerated the process.

[ She stopped and looked away. How this story ended was probably easy enough to guess. ]

I tried to steal the Triforce from Zelda's world. And the entire time, I knew what would happen to Hyrule if I were to succeed. I knew her world would be destroyed and yet I persisted. And you're telling me, they would be doing an injustice by not forgiving me? No, I do not think they would.

[athousandcurses]

I... [Grainne trails off, unsure of what to say or do. It isn't like anything she has had to deal with in her lifetime. The land had been threatened many times by war and strife but never complete oblivion like this.

But... there is something that seems familiar about it.]

I do not know what to say, Lady Hilda. It sounds so similar to stories I have heard, of one land conquering another for resources and riches or just to sustain their own, killing the people... It... just sounds like a war of a different nature. And to save your land... surely they would understand the desire to save it, at least.

[She's getting confused though, and she shakes her head. A few words won't make anything right, not for something that important.]

But why would anyone create a land that relied on a golden treasure to sustain it? A world is not a bridge that requires a keystone... there must be some way to fix your world after you return.

[lorule]

This question would be best asked to our Gods. Many believe they cursed us with the Triforce, and sometimes...

[ She couldn't help but agree. This didn't really change anything either way. ]

None of this changes what I have done. I see you are perturbed by what I said-- And yet, you are foreign to the world of Hyrule. Imagine the reaction of someone who would know the meaning behind what I did.

[ She turned away then. She felt the weight of what she had done worsening with every words, speaking of this had been a mistake. Even if she knew it was justified... ]

I'll-- Be taking my leave. But... Thank you.

[athousandcurses]

No, Hilda! [Grainne reaches out an hand to stop her.] Do not leave in sadness... I... you had good reason. If anything can be said about you... it is that you loved your people. That is never a bad thing for a ruler. There are so many who do not, that do worse for more selfish reasons.

Please don't...

[She looks upset now, worried for her friend and what damage she caused with her words.

Why does she keep making this mistake? After all the times her words had caused harm, she should have learned by now... if only she had been granted the wisdom of her father.]

[lorule]

[ They probably both lacked in wisdom, but Grainne's words had done no harm to her. She shook her head though. ]

This is never a bad thing, least it leads to madness and destruction. Your intentions are kind, but I do not wish to be excused for what I have done.

[ She paused for a second and thought. ]

If it had been you, would you forgive yourself so easilly?

[athousandcurses]

Ah... I am one of those people that have done things for far more selfish reasons.

[Grainne deflates, already knowing the answer, not even stumbling over the words.]

Through my actions, I have gotten many innocent men and women killed who had no stake in the situation save the unfortunate fact of who they were allied with and it ended with all that had transpired in vain.

If I were in your place, I cannot honestly say if I would or not... I only know that I could not for what I have already done, and that is why I am in this form now.

Knowing myself, I can take a guess and say that yes, I would have forgiven, if it was for a reason like saving a kingdom. I... have done many "necessary" things since starting my war to receive the power to save the person I was trying to save. Those actions do not bother me so much.