Video | Having an alter ego is handy at times

[sageprincess]

[Hello, network. Have a strange man (?) on screen. Oddly enough, he doesn't seem like he's new to the tower, even though only a select few should be able to recognize him.]

I cannot stay here long, so I will be brief: an acquaintance of mine has been acting strangely lately, and I believe the cause to be the sweets that have appeared around the tower recently.

I want to be certain, however. Has anyone else been met with a similar situation during the past few days? If so... do you know of a way to reverse the effects?

[He is a patient one, but waiting around in a tower gone mad is not high on his to-do list.]

Comments

[ocariness]

[ 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.

[sageprincess]

[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.]

[ocariness]

[ 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?

[sageprincess]

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?

[ocariness]

[ ... 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...? ]

[sageprincess]

[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?

[ocariness]

[ ... 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. ]

[sageprincess]

[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...]

[ocariness]

[ 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... ]

[sageprincess]

[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.]

[ocariness]

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

...

[ WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS??? ]

[sageprincess]

[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.

[ocariness]

[ ... 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.

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

[sageprincess]

[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.]

8DDDD

[ocariness]

[ ... 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. ]

[sageprincess]

[... Tilting her head down a little bit.]

If it is, then I am equally guilty.

[More so, even, given what Link doesn't know.]

... Thank you, Link.

[ocariness]

[ A small smile. ]

... Well... I believe we at least know the course of action for the Hero of Winds, from this.

[ Which is a slightly archaic, I was-raised-by-the-Deku-Tree-And-His-Old-Treenglish way of saying, "Tiny Link needs to be stuffed full of normal candy." ]

[sageprincess]

[That gets a little huff of almost-laughter out of her.]

Yes, now it is merely a matter of finding him before he causes any more trouble.

[No worries, brosis, she is fluent archaic purple prose.]

[ocariness]

[ ... Right they should probably do that. ]

I do not imagine that will be difficult. But I'd be concerned if he did something to you as yourself... perhaps we should separate to search for him.

[ Even though she kind of doesn't want to but you know. ]

[sageprincess]

I do not believe he wishes to harm me, but all the same, his behavior is... unsettling.

[And she doesn't really want to leave yet, either, evident by the tinge of reluctance in her voice.]

... Yes, we would be able to cover more ground that way.

[ocariness]

[ .... Yeah it's pretty obvious they don't want to part ways sob. ]

I admit it concerns me if we stay together for too long. I would not want him to find us this way, it would be too obvious, even to a child.

[ ... Unfortunately. ]

I will begin my search here and on the neighboring floors. ... Be careful.

[sageprincess]

["This way"... okay, yeah, embarrassment is back.]

Yes, of course. He may not wish to harm me, but... I do not know how he would react if you were seen with me.

[Like this, especially. So, yes, she will just... detach herself from Link in the most dignified manner she can muster. Spoilers: it's really, really not.]

And to you as well. I shall take to the upper floors, then.

[ocariness]

[ They're the MOST elegant shh.

AND THEN HIJINKS ENSUED. And they probably found the smaller Link. Hopefully? ]

[cantstopme]

[He's really not that hard to find, despite his attempts to go Metal Gear Link on everyone - just look for a moving crate wandering around the hallways. It's probably him.]

[sageprincess]

[She's been beaten to hell and back, but... she still needs to save the boy.

So, sometime after her encounter with Samus and subsequent "saving" by WW, she stumbles around the halls, searching for both some milk chocolate and him.

She just needs to hold out a little bit longer...]