animus_network | [004 ★ text]

You know what, I am so sick of this. Completely sick of this!! And look at me, repeating myself and using multiple exclamation points (two!) like a rebel. Because I am a rebel!

I'm tired of all these embarrassing personal incidents. When they aren't embarrassing, they're deeply horrifying and disturbing. I just want regular old test taking anxiety again! I want worrying about whether Anya is going to ask Giles if he has a new orgasm friend yet in public! And all that demon stuff, even that was familiar.

But here it's like, oh, here's that troll kid I'm friends with and he got his arm torn off. Here's me turning myself into a troll and going creepy stalker over Aradia. (Which by the way, oh Goddess am I sorry for and eternally mortified about.) Or here's me picking up the bloody scraps of the clothes of the double of someone I'm friends with!

And don't tell me I'm using too many of's there, I told you I'm a rebel today! I just want my test taking anxiety back, darn it. I'd even take worrying over when I'm going back to college, and that was a lot of worrying.

... Okay, whining done. End whining. In other news, who's still having wacky collar-induced sickness and power-tampering shenanigans? Cause frankly I'm finding this really worrying and I want to get to the bottom of this.

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[Yeah, she didn't hear anything about him dying in the first place, so she's totally clueless about this.]

You only recently what? And what do you have to be sorry about? None of it was your fault, Link, I just need to vent sometimes. But venting-- not personal.

[Then she launches into the exposition without hesitation, rattling it off with the gusto of someone who's been in this position many times before.] As for what's happening, people are getting called down to have their collars 'adjusted', and when they do, they change the color. There's weird side effects like illness, paralysis, and especially loss of control of their abilities or just flat out loss of their abilities.

[ ... Oh. Oh, my. Pausing... how to phrase this? Link shifts a bit, thinking. How to word this. ]

I have plenty to be sorry about. I wish I had better things to tell you, things other than the fact Zelda and I, along with the younger Hero of Winds just died a second time. This place is becoming exceedingly more dangerous with each person they choose to bring in. If you see a large man with red hair calling himself Ganondorf, please, be exceedingly careful.

He is from my world--Hyrule. He possesses a great and evil power. I can only hope he was subjected to what you just spoke of, because I am deeply concerned for what he may do while here...

You... you did? Oh-- Oh Goddess, but you're okay now? [She hurriedly reaches out and switches the camera on, expression crumpled and radiating heartfelt worry.] And Zelda and... everyone, you're okay?

I'll keep an eye out for him, I promise, [she swears, as much as her heart sinks at having to add another big bad to her list.] If you need any help with him, you know you just have to ask. Just let me know what you need, Link, anything.

[ Sheepish look here. Link is... alright, but pretty damn tired looking. Someone's been taking sparse naps in and out of their room because failure to sleep there at SOME point would kill them, and they can't bunk with Zelda all the time.

You might also notice they happen to be wearing a dark blue tunic. Yeah, their green one was trashed. ]

... I will be, if I never have need of sleep again.

[ Fuck their life. Why are they in the same room... ]

I can put a ward around your bed, [she says instantly.] I have a lot of practice with warding spells, I'm really good at them. The easiest one would be just waking you up if someone crossed a certain line; barriers are trickier.

Would that help at all?

[ Link contemplates this silently for a moment. ]

... I am not sure if that would work against the King of Evil. He is very powerful. I would not want you to push yourself too hard, either.

It wouldn't be a strain, it's just a proximity ward. I can tie it to an object and I wouldn't have to do a single thing, you'd just have to make sure the object stayed intact.

I've held a barrier against a goddess before. I can handle this.

[ Willow, you are the best bro. ;w; ]

... I... would certainly appreciate that. I am not sure who decided it would be funny to put the man who has murdered many people important to me--or at least attempted to--in the same room as me, but I would like to have a word with them.

I hope it will not be too much trouble for you, though.

[She tries! She likes being bros. :(]

It's not trouble. We're friends, we help each other out. ... And I'd like to have a word with them, too. Some very stern words.

So when should I come down and do the spell? ASAP?

[ Aha. ]

I am presently situated in the hall- [ NEAR ZELDA'S ROOM... ] But if you have nothing more pressing... I would appreciate it.

How can I repay you?

Let me just get my stuff together and I'll be right there.

--Pfft, did you really ask how you could repay me? Don't be silly.

[She thinks it's so silly, in fact, that she's reaching out and turning off the video before he can even respond.]

[Instead she's just coming out there and looking for him, a battered leather messenger bag slung crosswise across her.]

[ AKJSHKSJHDG!!! Willow why did you hang up. >8(

But you will find Link in the dorm hallways, just... sort of waiting around. ]

[Because she is proactive and wants her friend to be safe!!

She walks right up to him, a wide, determined smile on her face.] Hey you. Ready to get down with our funky business?

[ Bah, fine. They see how it is. GOSH. They'll find a way to repay you, just you wait. ]

... I suppose so. It appears to be unoccupied for now.

Let's go then. We'll get you warded, trust me. I don't know how you've been sleeping at all with him in the room.

[She gives him a sympathetic look as they head over to his room.]

[ A small, very dry laugh. Truthfully? ]

... To be honest, I have only been sleeping enough not to perish. The rest of the time I have been avoiding the place entirely.

[ Oh so THAT'S why Link looks so tired...

But yes, they will follow you, Willow, if a bit warily. Seems like no one's there, at the moment--you might also note Dualscar's name is also at the door. This is Link's luck: that is, horrid. But not this time, since the room is empty, and thank the Goddesses it is. ]

[Willow does note Dualscar's name, and looks incredibly annoyed by it, though she keeps her words to herself. But she's definitely twice as determined to get this warding done, now, and it might reflect in her ensuing stubbornness.]

I can't blame you, but you seriously need some sleep, buster. And some calming tea, maybe. Talk about a rock and a hard place in here.

[They go into the room, and immediately Willow opens her messenger bag and checks through it. She's double-checking that all the spell ingredients are there.] So which bed is yours?

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