Is This Home?

[animusmods]

Characters: anyone who got sent "home", anyone going to rescue them
Setting: your world?
Format: any
Summary: Post your nightmare world! Travel to other nightmare worlds! Save people from nightmare worlds!
Warnings: general angst/horror warnings for now

There's a bright flash of light and a screech of sound before you pop back into existence in familiar territory. Maybe something's off about it, though...

Comments

[pixietea.livejournal.com]

Rescue them? So others were facing similar nightmares in their worlds? England almost scoffed. He's amazed that anyone thought to rescue him, frankly. It's only after the thought occurs that England wonders, with some disturbance, if that kind of thinking is what has kept any of his own kind from rescuing him.

That said, he's so grateful to Link that he doesn't know how to begin to articulate it. He'll possibly have words after they get out of this place -- wherever it is, because there's no way that it's actually London, even if he can feel the connection with all his people as if he were really home. Her words strike a chord that makes him cringe outwardly. Right, to Link, he was just a human. If Link's world even had humans.

It's not something he wants to think about, but he has to explain it to Link. "Resting won't make any difference for my health," he starts. "My body will continue to drown as this place sinks further." Or, it would, if he wasn't actively breathing the water that felt like it was appearing out of nowhere. He grimaces. Clearly, England doesn't want to explain at a time like this, but while he's not rapidly dying and they're still clueless about an exit...

"This is the capital of England," states the kingdom, and then, for good measure, "My country." He chances another look out towards the city. It looks like something out of one of America's dreadful apocalypse movies. "I have a...connection with the country. I am the country." He pauses. His facial expression is almost sheepish, because he's aware of how crazy that sounds; that's why he introduces himself as Arthur, even though he feels a stronger connection to the name England than any human name that could be given to him.

The sheepish expression turns into a frown. "...It isn't normally like this," adds the former empire as an afterthought.

[ocariness]

Link is not sheepish in the least towards him. In fact... she feels almost as though the revealing of one secret deserves another, but in due time. And, to be frank, she is rather concerned that he may find out her gender due to how close they are in proximity, but there was just no time to worry about it. She takes his words in, not at all bothered. No, the expression on her face of worry is more of what he has said: that the only way to help him will be to get him out.

She gives him a very serious look.

"Then you're a deity of that land... you are no different than many I know. I am certain there are still more people who need our help, however," she says, looking down at her things. The Hookshot... yes, perhaps she could use it to get them to safety. After a small pause, she looks at Arthur, giving him a determined, courageous, unyielding look. That would have to be their back up in the event that Farore's Wind failed her.

"The tunic I gave you will keep you from drowning, in that case, but we cannot afford to waste time here. I'm going to have to carry you the best way I know... and... I will speak to you... properly... when you are safe, and everyone else is back."

She pauses, looking a bit more sheepish--was this a good idea? But Arthur had trusted her. She, too, must trust him, and will be kind enough to hear what he has to say. At the very least, she could explain her heavy destiny to him, perhaps?

"I can use magic to get us out of here... at least, to the door. I created a warp point when I came in," Link added, "it should carry us to the exit. ... I hope."

[pixietea.livejournal.com]

A deity. He had to say, the only time he'd ever been even close to considering himself nearing godhood was at the peak of his empire, when his strength was at its highest and the world was at his feet. And yet, he still couldn't quite wrap his head around the concept.

There's no time to explain it more clearly, though. Link has already said that they'll talk when the danger has passed -- or, passed as much as it can while they're in the Tower, anyways. England has had too many run-ins with things he'd describe as no less than horrific for him to think that the place is anything close to being safe.

The Hylian's unsureness is a smidge worrying, but he would rather take that option than the alternative of sticking around this wasteland. He shifts a little awkwardly. "Thank you," he eventually says. There will be time to say it afterwards, but it merits saying now too. This is more important than a small favor.

England knows he's going to have to hold onto Link, but he's hesitant to initiate it. He's not comfortable with touching strangers (especially knowing that he's the one being carried, which is a considerable blow to his dignity), so he doesn't want to draw it out longer than is absolutely necessary. After a while, though, he outstretches his arms, opening them to Link's hold, whenever she's ready.

[ocariness]

There's no hesitance on her end as she casts the green light around them, the telltale sign of Farore's Wind. Although there is some nagging concern in the back of her mind about him possibly finding out... more than she was comfortable with. She wore underclothing, however, on top of the bandages, so she could only hope that England wouldn't find anything odd about her or go poking around, even by accident, so to speak. Aside from which, she trusted him enough by now and wanted to saved him, so she saw no point in delaying. If need be, she could pass it off as him having been in this odd world at the time.

... To be honest, she is not used to playing the hero exactly like this. But saving people was something ingrained in her so deeply by now that there was no plausible way she would have ever left him.

"Please don't move while I make preparations. ... And... you're welcome. I'm glad I found you."

If nothing else, the magic would get them to the door. There was hardly enough wood or surfaces her Hookshot could cling to here, so she'd need to be crafty. Her pause is only brief before she offers her hand to him, helping him slowly into her arms as she enters the column of green, shining light. If it feels like anything, it would be weightlessness, a lack of feeling. The magic itself transported by changing the person's form briefly into pure energy until they had traveled back to the original point created, after all.

In a few short seconds, they are over the water, and landing quietly at the door to the outside. Link can't hide her relief at this; she's glad it worked.

[pixietea.livejournal.com]

He has to chuckle a little, very softly. Link wasn't really the one who should be happiest for this finding. "I'm certainly glad you did too," he returns, before allowing himself into her grasp.

There's only a vague, nagging thought that Link really is rather soft -- softer than he would have really expected, just from looking. It's hard not to notice while he's clinging to her for dear life. It's the least of his concerns, though, and hardly his business in the first place. He'd prod fun if this was America (wasn't that a laugh, the idea of that idiot coming to save him), but he doesn't know Link well enough to be comfortable with it.

He doesn't give it much lingering thought. He's probably still just out of his mind.

The magical transportation is dizzying; he has to close his eyes not to get nauseous. England doesn't have a weak stomach, but he's not quite up to his full hardiness at current. Once he feels like he has mass again, he opens his eyes, and can't hold back a sigh of relief at the sight of the door. At first, he goes to reach for the knob -- and then, with the sudden shift in balance, remembers he's holding onto Link and almost falls in the effort to right himself. Er, that's awkward. Is he allowed to walk now, or is there something else?

[ocariness]

... Link has to admit she is rather concerned, overall, about what England might be thinking. If nothing else, once they've landed, the consolation comes in England's awkward forgetful slip-up; if nothing else, it would serve as an EXCELLENT, far less focused on her distraction. Not to mention an excuse to let him stand on his own, thank the Goddesses.

So she does just that, putting him down, and feeling just a bit embarrassed by things, all considered. But at least the door led out. That... was really what mattered.

She's... not really going to say anything (it's hard enough not to think too much and to keep embarrassment off her face at this point, she doesn't do well with physical contact), so you should probably take this as a sort of 'after you' gesture, England. After all, she hardly knows about the rule of ladies first, and even if she did, she wouldn't abide by it to save her cover.

[pixietea.livejournal.com]

England is a little wobbly when he stands, and he's shaking all over, from the cold and the adrenaline rush. But he has weathered worse than the realization of a deep-seated fear and has still remained standing resolute. It would take more than a little water to truly bring the British Empire to his knees.

He nods to Link as she holds the door for him. He then holds his head high with all the dignity he can muster while clammy, trembling, and breathing water that shouldn't be there, and crosses the threshold back into the Tower with determination.

England doesn't mean to look back -- he doesn't want to, he wants to be able to leave this nightmare behind -- but the sound of a voice echoing in his head makes him turn to glance over his shoulder at the drowned wreckage that was once his beautiful capital.

'I thought, since your worlds were destroyed, I'd use your minds to put you in a similar one. But why do you want such a terrible world? I think it's safer for you here.'

His eyebrows knit together in confusion and he looks to Link, wondering if she has heard it as well. But he can't dwell on it; before he knows it, he's back in the cafeteria, and suddenly what he's breathing feels like air again. He chokes a little at the sudden difference, but it segues into a deep inhale. Oh god, that's so much better.

...except, he feels sort of faint. He should probably either get to his room or the infirmary -- it would be nothing short of humiliating to pass out in the middle of the dining area.

[ocariness]

Link sighs absently, because she doesn't believe that voice for a minute. You can tell by the look on her face, however, that she's not pleased. Meaning yes, she heard it too. She sees England's tiredness, and offers him her arm should he want to lean on her. She pauses, not wanting to force anything on him, before she finally speaks.

"... You need to see if the infirmary can aid you," she says, "I'm concerned."

She's relieved that, at the very least, England is breathing easier. She knows this is hard on him, and she's sad it had to be this way. But whoever did this was trying to help... right? She couldn't hate them, even if she disliked the idea that this was Arthur's fault.