towerofanimus | Every day's great at your... Animus?

Entry tags:

Every day's great at your... Animus?

Characters: Yosuke Hanamura and YOU! Yes, YOU!
Setting: Room 2-14 and Floor 14
Format: Action is vastly preferred, but I'll prose if you want. Just be warned - prose tags take me a lot longer.
Summary: Yosuke arrives! Derping ensues.
Warnings: Swearing!

Room 2-14

[Yosuke's never been quick to wake up - unless it's someone waking him up in the middle of class. Laying in bed an extra few minutes is normal. What's not normal is the bed, the room, or anything about this place. And then panic ensues! What we end up with is one Yosuke trying his best to keep calm as he takes in these strange surroundings in a slight panic]

What the hell?! Who's idea of a joke is this!

Floor 14

[Yosuke - now dressed in his usual threads, headphones around his neck, has found his way to the entertainment room. He doesn't feel particularly jolly though, and rather than enjoy the entertainment he's sprawled on a couch, looking up and contemplating the last few hours of his life]

[Approach?]

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[ It's okay, bro. Her best friend is a fairy that basically never stops talking animatedly, so she'll listen to the whole thing! ~~Good thing important points are always highlighted in red text!~~ ]

Your friends sound wonderful. I believe I'm acquainted with the last of them.

[ ... Heh. How she wishes Navi were here. Part of her is a bit envious, the friends she'd had... they didn't know her anymore. She couldn't be around them, because of this timeline. ]

It's good to hear you value your friendship with them. Division and mistrust breed ill, after all.

Value them? That's one way of putting it. I'd trust any one of them with my life.

[He sighs before turning his attention back to the present, giving Link a playful punch to the shoulder]

Though you seem like a pretty good guy yourself. Not that there was any doubt - if you're alright with Naoto, you're alright with me.

[ ahsdflhg punch! Haha, okay, she was not expecting that one, but have an amused smile. So this is what socializing is. It's kind of weird, to be honest. Usually people expect things out of her, without even asking.

.. Well, Yosuke seems pretty cool, at least. So she doesn't really mind being a little friendly, at least. Even if she's quiet by nature. ]

... You seem to know your way around weapons. If you don't mind me asking, what sort of thing is it you and your friends do?

[And there it is, the million dollar question. And there is absolutely nothing that's going to be easy to explain to Link. Time for super generalized answers!]

Ninety percent of the time we're just regular students going to school. The other ten percent, we fight monsters in another world and save people who become trapped there.

Oh, then we're alike in that regard.

[ Pausing. Hang on... for all the things she could pause on to think of, she accepts the "we save people from TVs" bit. But... ]

What are "students" and "school", though?

[ ... Yeah. That. Did I mention she grew up in a forest and was raised by a giant Tree with a mustache? ]

[The fact that Link fights monsters? Not terribly surprising, all things considered. You don't walk around that armed unless it's for a fight or cosplay, and... well, cosplayers sure as hell don't act like that]

[... but how the hell is he supposed to explain school?]

O...kay...

[He scratches the back of his head]

A school is a place people go to learn from teachers. History, math, reading - all the basic stuff. And a student is someone who goes to school to learn, not to teach.

[ She looks thoughtful for a moment, before chuckling, because it sounds so ridiculous to her. ]

... Your world sounds very strange, Yosuke. And your people have no fairies or guardian...?

[ SO weird. ]

[Strange? That's the funniest thing he's heard all day, and he can't help but smile]

[... but then he hesitates for just a second]

By fairies, you mean...

[ Yeah okay she's kind of seriously raising a brow now. You sound so silly to her, Yosuke. ]

Surely you know? Partners and guardians... they're very important--at least, they were where I grew up.

[ Lol what growing up you're technically ten, but details. ]

They're quite small, generally all one sees is their colorful glow and their wings... all of them have different colors to them, too.

[ A pause. ] ... I hope you don't mean to ask me if they exist?

[There's a look of relief on his face that Link means THAT kind of fairy... and that look quickly shifts to a blank stare]

[Fairies and swords and bows... what the hell kind of world does Link come from? But Yosuke doesn't want to be a total ass, so he tries to compose himself and respond as best he can]

I, uh... well, I've heard of fairies! Just, where I come from, they're kinda sorta, um... well, legends?

Not considered real?

[ A VERY different one. ONE INVOLVING PRINCESSES AND EVIL KINGS AND MONSTERS. And dragons. And stuff. All that mythological crap. ]

... Not real? That IS strange. A fairy coming from the forest to choose someone is a rite of passage in my home. Usually, a Kokiri and their fairy are inseparable.

[ Haha, Navi came to her late, it's true. And at the Deku Tree's discretion... which could be thought of as her not getting one on her own, but she's not bothered. Navi was her best friend and an invaluable ally. Though she DID wish she was here... ]

I can say with one hundred percent certainty that a fairy has never come from a forest to be my guardian or partner.

[And now, to change the subject from fairies!]

So you're a- a Kokiri? I've actually never seen anyone with ears like yours before. They're sort of cool.

[And remind him of elves but he'll leave out that part]

... Oh. Um. ... Thank you.

[ She can't really think of a good compliment back. What is being social and not being awkward? ]

Yes, I suppose I am, but not by birth, more by... adoption. If I was a true one, I wouldn't age.

[ Eternal children and all that. ]

[~~oh we haven't gone anywhere near awkward yet~~]

[So then he's NOT a Kokiri? ... not that Yosuke even knows what it means to be a Kokiri, but this is just getting more and more confusing]

Okay, hold on. So the Kokiri are immortal, but you're not a Kokiri, you just live with them. And it's normal for every immortal Kokiri to have a fairy best friend, who's also their guardian?

[ ... Oh, haha. Poor Yosuke. Link feels kind of bad for confusing him. ]

I apologize, explaining things is more said fairy's usual task... not mine. I... honestly do not do well with this kind of thing.

[ "He" is quiet for a moment, considering. Speaking is... not what Link is used to, obviously. ]

If it helps... I didn't know this myself until very recently. I'd always been... different, from the others, living there. No fairy had come to me before, and it had been a very long time, which is unusual.

Edited 2011-12-12 06:00 (UTC)

[Crap crap crap!]

[Cue Yosuke feeling like an ass again. Of course he'd bring up the you-don't-belong memory. He didn't mean to remind Link of that, honest! The teenager flusters again, trying to find some way to recover]

Well... different or not, you seem like a good guy! I bet those Kokiri people were lucky to have you there. Plus, you still got a fairy! So there's that!

[ Flustered right back! IT'S OKAY REALLY-- ]

A-ah, I didn't mean to cause you discomfort...

[ asdfjhs' trying to fix this sob. ]

It's simply that you asked, and the answer is... complicated. I had been chosen to fulfill things outside of my home, so it should have come as no surprise to me that I was not one of them. I was left in their care, and I am grateful for it.

[ Link's a little sheepish, here. Modesty? Yeah, there is definitely a lot of it. ]

Your friend told me that he works for the greater good. Justice. You do as well, by saving others, correct? ... Well, my duties are similar as a Hero chosen by the Goddesses who created our world... it's something only I could do, so I usually don't have company.

[There's a lot to process here, so give Yosuke a moment]

[So Link's okay with his lot in life. That's good at least, saves him from that bit of awkward]

[But... did he just call Naoto a 'he'? Well, okay, it's not like Naoto introduces herself as... well, herself. But isn't she over the whole hiding it thing? So he can say something, right? It'd only be right to correct Link. But... is it really his place to say anything? I mean, Naoto isn't him, and it's something about her. Dammit, this is making his brain hurt. Abort! Abort! Focus on the other thing!]

Wait, you keep saying it's only you. So you're not a hero, you're the hero, right? The only one? That's way more impressive! Don't sell yourself short!

Edited 2011-12-12 07:44 (UTC)

[ She... can't help but feel like she's missed something, but oh well. ]

...

[ She's not going to complain. Heroes don't complain. She has about all the emotional expression right now of a spoon, so please forgive the lacking reaction. Part of her is contemplating all the times of disbelief she'd gotten; she can only assume Yosuke is saying this BECAUSE of how she's hiding herself.

Heh. If only she knew the irony of Naoto's situation. ]

If you say so.

[To Yosuke it just sounds like modesty, and he can't help but grin. He's on a roll now, which can only mean one thing - he's heading straight for the metaphorical trash can]

Of course you met Naoto. You two seem pretty alike in some ways. I mean yeah, Naoto's a famous detective, but she never really takes a ton of credit for how smart s- [And he trails off, realizing what he's said]

[Smooth, Yosuke. You lasted for all of a minute]

[Please don't let Naoto kill me]

I... probably shouldn't have said that...

[ ... "She".

... Link's shock is probably being misread as surprise to finding out Naoto's gender from Yosuke, but in truth, it's that there was someone else passing themselves off as male that happened to surprise her. ]

... Wait.

[ Wow rude. So apparently Yosuke knew--of course, they're friends, right? It must have taken something dramatic, then. Link can't help but wonder why Naoto would have ever wanted to reveal her gender. Perhaps it was because, like her, the field she was in was not one that women were widely accepted in? ]

When you say "she"...

[ Do you mean she as in Naoto is a girl and doesn't tell people or she as in it's a common mistake or what. ]

[Crap crap crap crap crap! He is so screwed]

[But the truth's out there now, so the best he can do is explain it and hope Link's as trustworthy as he seems

I already screwed up, so you can't tell anyone. I don't even know if she's really still trying to hide it.

But... yeah, Naoto's actually a girl. Where we come from, things aren't exactly great for women. [He winces - partly from the statement and partly because he knows he never would have even thought about it had he never met Naoto in the first place] They're getting better, but it's still hard for girls to get into certain professions, like the one she's in.

It's not right - like I said, she's the smartest person I've ever met, she's more than qualified - but that's how it is right now. So she did what she had to do to be able to fit in. Most people never know. Hell, I wouldn't have if it weren't for some... well, crazy shit that happened. She's getting better about it, I think? She seems like she's more okay with just being who she is, but... well, I haven't really talked to her about it, so I'm not sure how she's doing. There's been more important stuff to take care of.

N-not that my friends aren't important! Crap, that sounded bad...

[ Link listens intently, repressing the urge to sigh. She's conflicted at the moment; part of her is stuck between wanting to say that was also her problem, but the other part is angry that a world as "ahead" of hers, the one Naoto and Yosuke seem to be from was still burdened with such discrimination against women. Certainly, it sounded better than hers in quite a few areas, but... still, the point remains.

She doesn't grimace or outright frown, but her eyes and expression become just a bit more downcast. There was a lot going through her head after hearing this, and frankly, the worry of whether she should tell Yosuke that she is EXACTLY like Naoto is weighing heavily on her mind at the moment.

But as Yosuke seems to be horrid at keeping secrets and has already easily accepted her to be male without so much as a second guess, she decides it would be for the best if she didn't tell him. Finally, after a long silence as she listens to Yosuke, and a pause after he is done, Link speaks again. ]

... As unfortunate as it may be, it is very similar a situation with most residents of Hyrule you'll speak with. Even though the Goddesses created our land, it isn't often I have seen a woman in a position of power, except a very select few.

[ She brushes some blonde hair away from the side of her face, tucking it behind her ear. ]

I... understand [ Naoto's situation? More than you could possibly ever know or she could allow you to know-- ] now. Thank you for informing me, Yosuke Hanamura. You have my promise that I will take the secret with me to my grave, if need be.

[ ... "He" is surprisingly serious about that one. ]

[He can't help but sigh in relief. Thank god he had Link pegged right - the guy sure as hell seems trustworthy, and he's taking this seriously enough. Maybe even more seriously than Yosuke intended, though that's not a bad thing. The smile returns to his face, and he gives Link a grin]

Thanks for understanding. I really appreciate it. I can't believe I made such a stupid slip, but I'm so used to being with our circle of friends I forget other people don't know.

[He lets out a sigh, drumming his fingertips against the couch]

Between you and me though, I hope she can loosen up some here. I mean, if this really is the end of the world and we're all screwed, then who cares? And if it's not, don't we have more important things to worry about than gender? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd hope people are more focused on finding out the truth than caring she's a girl. But now I think I'm just rambling.

[ Link is taken aback. Here, she lapses into silence. It's awkward for her, because here he is, expressing something she wished so many others would. That it shouldn't matter. But it did, and... therefore, being a girl? The Hero of Time can't be a girl.

The person who always visited the ranch was similar, so Link must have just been another person like him, right? Not the "fairy boy", oh no.

The person who was a "sworn brother" to the Gorons that the leader named his son after couldn't be a girl.

The person who'd returned to the forest seven years later... could not possibly be Link because although she "dressed like him"... Link wasn't a girl, and Link wasn't a "grown-up". So much disbelief, just because as a child seven years ago before she'd been sealed in the Sacred Realm, she had happened never to correct people? That she had happened to be a bit of a tomboy and not act girly? Girly didn't EXIST in her culture as far as she knew. Or... the culture she was raised in. Gender was secondary, but it stung a lot.

Everything stung. That's why she stopped being the "fairy girl" and started being the "fairy boy". If she trusted herself and wasn't so afraid of the pain it might cause, here and now, she might just break down. But Heroes don't have weaknesses, so instead, she mutely nods, frowning ever so slightly, before looking away.

Whatever's bothering Link, it is probably not what it might seem. But she can't admit it. The silence is deafening to her, somehow, but she can't bring herself to speak. ]

Edited 2011-12-13 10:03 (UTC)

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tl;dr version: "..."