animus_network | Video | Having an alter ego is handy at times

[ A nod. Link is relieved that they are also safe, but the reason they aren't armed... well, just in case they do lose their wits, the knife will be given to "Sheik".

Which... Link does now, yeah. She is now basically entirely unarmed save for her shield, which, if she was in a situation of being attacked, she wanted to keep on her person. ]

... As am I. I presume the young boy following you has caused a bigger mess than should be possible. I... was worried about communicating so openly, and it honestly had not occurred to me that perhaps the sweets were the cause of this.

[ Never heard of Valentines Day before, derp derp. Sheltered child, medieval era, and all. ]

If it comes to testing this for the sake of others, and it does end poorly, I did not want to be armed should you need to get away from me.

... I am concerned there may be no way to fix this, but... do you really believe these to be antidotes?

[ Holding up the box. Honestly, she doesn't, but you know. ]

["Mess" is an understatement. For a brief moment, she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose with her non-knife wielding hand. Goddesses, she's tired...]

I believe I now have a bounty on my head because of all this.

[It's said idly, disbelievingly, because honestly, the situation seems to just get more and more ridiculous as time goes on. But soon enough she shakes herself out of that mindset to focus on the issue at hand.]

... I understand. Thank you, Link, truly. Even without testing, it... means a great deal to know that I am not alone, here.

[And then she frowns at the box. Troublesome things.]

As for the sweets, no, I do not think so at all. If they are, then I believe I shall take the infection.

... I'd offer to stay with you for protection, but it would be suspicious if you were seen with me constantly. But... you are not alone. I promise you that. I will do what I can.

[ A small sigh escapes her lips. What a mess... ]

As for these... [ Motioning to the box in her hands. ] I would take the infection as well, but... I had not suspected these to be the cause of any problems. Though there may be more to this; perhaps they are not lying? I know the ones that I ate had nothing in them, I believe they were solid... what do you make of that? Do you think they could be an actual cure?

Edited 2012-02-18 22:05 (UTC)

[She nods, understanding. As much as she'd like to, she's known since the start of all this that staying with Link is simply not an option. That said, the promise of aid is... greatly appreciated.]

I do not know. Perhaps. It is difficult to test the effectiveness of a supposed cure for an infection that shows no symptoms. But... it does seem odd that certain ones will warp the minds of those that consume them while others do not.

... Perhaps I am seeing patterns where there are none, but I believe there has to be some reason to it all.

[ ...! ]

Perhaps... the sweets themselves are the infection...? I do not recall feeling sick before, to be honest.

[ It's... a reasonable deduction, to be honest, if the candy was making people nuts? (Hardy har har.) Even so, Link is not really... sure what this means.

If it's true, anyway. Though it's just a wild guess. ]

Nor do I. And I certainly would not put it past the maintainers of this place to do something of the sort - perhaps our performance in that game was unsatisfactory to them.

[It's plausible. ... But she still feels like they are missing something.]

If they wished to make everyone sick, even going so far as to put the sweets into our food without our knowledge, then why risk having certain ones that seemingly do nothing?

[Curiouser and curiouser...]

[ ... They are definitely missing something... ]

If this is a test... an experiment to see our reaction, like the others, perhaps there is more to the ones that do nothing?

[ But what? ]

[She goes silent at that question, a look of serious contemplation upon her face. It certainly seems logical that they all should do something, but if Link ate one and is still of a sound mind, then...]

... What of those who have been acting strangely? Do you know if consuming the seemingly 'safe' kind affects them in any way?

[ A thoughtful headshake, but suddenly Link's expression is suddenly quite serious. ]

... I have not heard anyone test this, but...

[ Whatever she's getting at, Link is... fairly sure she understands. Thus the grave expression. ]

You could test this on me, if you wanted.

[ Perhaps this is why Link had come here fairly unarmed all along, without any real equipment. She pauses with the shield, only to take it off her back. ]

... Without this, I would be defenseless if it came to that. I... would rather endure something so that it might help the others here than go on guessing. If I can help with your theories... then please, use me.

[ There was no hesitation. Link had always valued the safety of others above her own. She did not fear what might happen to her; she never truly had. If those chocolates fixed this, then the only way to know for sure would be to use them on someone infected. ]

Edited 2012-02-21 00:53 (UTC)

[Link may not fear what will happen to her, but Zelda does. As the hero makes her case, a slow, subtle look of abject horror makes its way into her eyes--

No, no, I can't lose you too! Not again!

--but she eventually, hesitantly nods. Link... Link wants to do this. Link is thinking of others, not herself. Goddesses, how selfish does that make her, letting herself only think about Link's safety?]

You... You will need to tell me which kind you had.

[She gestures to the box of candy, suddenly hating the damn things even more.]

[ Only one real way to find out, ahahaha, right? First, though... the shield is taken off and placed on the ground. That way, if Zelda truly had to fight her or subdue her, she would be unguarded.

After this is done, Link carefully observes the candy after opening the box (Goddesses, she'll be put off chocolate forever after this, even though she's never even had it before now), and once she finds the one that looks like the ones she'd eaten earlier, she nods.

It's square and a brighter brown than some of the others. She offers it to her companion, as a prompt to use the knife to cut it in half first. Just... so they know. It appeared to be solid, but it was hard to tell. ]

... This one, I think. I would need to see the inside to be certain, but I believe it was this one. Which would mean any others are not safe to eat.

[ She's not bothered, but all the same... she offers the other a small smile. ]

I'll be fine. I promise. I do not think it will kill me. ... Someone must do this, if we are to help anyone else, after all. Better someone who is prepared and can control themselves than someone who is neither.

[Quietly, she takes the chocolate, places it on the flat of her palm, and carefully cuts it in half. Sure enough, it's solid all the way through. Holding it up to Link for confirmation, she, well, she tries to smile back, but it doesn't really reach her eyes.]

I know. You are right, though this once I wish you were not.

[So much worrying, aaaah.]

[ It's... not okay but it would be. Link silently nods, the smile fading, expression serious. ]

... Yes, that is it.

[ Most certainly. Now they knew what to look for. Well, then... ]

If I have arrived at the same conclusion you have, then your theory is that this... may negate the ill effects of the others somehow. Am I correct?

... If so... what would you have me do?

Yes. Yes, you are correct.

[Link, you are cruel, making her say this. She swallows, steeling herself.]

... You would need to consume one of the tainted sweets, and then follow it with this.

[She glances down to the cut up milk chocolate in her hand... and then promptly closes her fist around it. Her words become hurried, concerned.]

Are you absolutely certain you wish to do this?

[ ... She knows, expression apologetic. ]

... I am sorry. This is not your fault or your responsibility. Do not blame yourself. This was my idea to begin with... and I am certain. We will not get any closer to helping anyone if I do not do this.

[ But there's a nod. No hesitation. Reaching in and taking one of the sweets (it's a cherry one, from the looks of it), and eating it.

At the very least, she could not hurt her with weapons. Zelda could defend herself. ]

...

[ Silence. Link is not sure how to feel, but it's slow and gradual as the moment drags on, and she is beginning to realize she is under some sort of effect, because oh dear god she would never fantasize about hurting anyone.

... And yet it was so tempting--no. She must hold herself back. She had to be strong. She had to maintain a clear enough mind to tell Zelda what was happening.

Suddenly, she understands a lot of the going-ons here better. Was she truly this violent, inside...? ]

[You can tell her it isn't her fault until you're blue in the face, Link, but she'll never believe it.

She opens her mouth to vainly protest, but then Link eating the chocolate and Goddesses, please be okay.

As the moment wears on, her expression becomes increasingly wary, her body tensing in preparation to fight or flee.]

... Link?

Edited 2012-02-21 13:21 (UTC)

[ ... It's immediate, but if Link did not have the self-control she did, this would have ended poorly about half a minute ago. As it is... ]

... Now I understand what is happening to these... people...

[ This is... so wrong. She knows it's wrong, but it's almost like an intense itch, that urge to make others suffer.

And until she does that, she can't feel satisfied.

... Oh, Din, give her the strength to not hurt anyone, please... and Farore, give her the courage to face this.

It's taking pretty much every ounce of her willpower not to look at Zelda and then just... slam her against a wall and--no. She cannot. Zelda is her friend. She cares for her! ]

... I... it would be a lie to say I'm hurt. I am not...

[ You just want to hurt her, right? Breathing heavily. So, so glad that she is unarmed because GOD if she'd still had that knife... ]

... If--if this does not work... please run.

[ Lip bite. She can't even look at Zelda right now, it's like she's fighting every impulse in her body which is screaming for her to hurt the other girl.

... Gingerly holding out a hand backwards. They need to get this over with quickly, or she's going to lose what little sanity she's got to this stuff. ]

[Okay, that's enough. Screw wisdom, she doesn't care to know exactly what's going on in Link's mind that makes her seem so conflicted. She just knows that something is wrong and this candy in her hand is the only chance she has at fixing it.

She nods silently, placing the pieces of milk chocolate into Link's hand and softly curling her fingers around them. An unspoken attempt at assurance.

Please, please let this work...]

Edited 2012-02-21 18:35 (UTC)

[ This is ridiculous. All she's done is eaten candy, but there is... slight hesitation.

Nevertheless, she must force herself to eat it, and she does manage, thank goodness, because she really REALLY is getting worse.

It wouldn't have been much longer before the other was in danger.

For a moment, she grip's the other's wrist out of impulse. And it seems like nothing has worked, and something is very wrong.

... Until finally, he grip loosens and Link, emotionally drained already, merely lets go and quietly slides against a nearby tree, until she finds herself on the grass, where she sighs. ]

... The people behind this disgust me... I--I'm sorry, I'm fine now.

[ That they would corrupt perfectly NORMAL people into wanting to hurt others... ]

[In that moment, when Link grips her arm, time itself seems to slow down. In that moment, her blood runs cold and her heart and mind race. It didn't work, she was wrong again, Link is in danger, she's in danger--

And then Link lets go, and that breath she didn't know she was holding is released.

Zelda just... falls to her knees and throws her arms around the other girl, whispering exaltations.]

Thank the Goddesses...

[She will be angry later, right now she is too busy being relieved.]

[ O-oh... being... hugged? Link is--awkward, and not used to this, so she sort of freezes, blushing. ]

...

[ WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS??? ]

[~~SHH JUST ENJOY IT~~

As the moment of sheer relief finally passes, she suddenly realizes, um. Yeah. Breaching protocol. Again. Whoops.

She hesitantly removes her arms from Link's person, and thank goodness the Sheik disguise covers most of her face, because she's thoroughly embarrassed.]

... My apologies.

[ ... She's awkward.

And reasonably sure that's not how this physical contact thing works. But aww, to heck with it. Grabbing your arms and pulling you down into her laaaaap for a real hug, Zelda. ]

... I'm just relieved it worked. This means we can help others. But...

[ Kind of... red, here, though... ]

You stayed with me. ... Would it hurt if we just... stayed a bit longer?

[ Not under chocolate effects or... anything, just... she doesn't know. Being around Zelda like this was almost nostalgic and... dare she say it?

Fun? Less... worrisome? Somehow, knowing she was Sheik made her feel... less concerned with her own secrets. Like they were old old friends who knew everything. ]

... We won't let this place defeat us so easily, at any rate... perhaps I just--enjoy your presence. I... was worried, about you.

[OHGOD BOUNDARIES WHAT BOUNDARIES

Okay. Okay. She is... sitting in Link's lap. There is nothing odd or abnormal about this at all. Nope. Just sitting in her best friend's lap like it's nothing. Yeaaah.

... If Impa saw this--]

Of course I stayed... I was worried for your sake as well.

[Just... going to hide her face a bit by settling it on Link's shoulder. Yep.]

And... and I suppose. If you truly wish for me to stay a while longer, then... I can.

[There's a twinge of guiltiness that arises from hearing those words (how long are you going to put it off, Zelda, you know this is temporary--), but... she desperately wants to be selfish in this moment, so it is subdued for another time.]

Edited 2012-02-23 20:00 (UTC)

[ ... She's just happy, is all.

And worried, after what she saw the other week, and just... ]

... Is it... selfish for me to say I just wanted us to have some time together? I think you deserve a rest.

[ That's all. ]

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Yes, the making of this icon was /entirely necessary/. =3=b

8DDDD