tunics | RL W/ ANGE

[ .. It's strange. It's so quiet in this place compared to the cities she's been in before or even Rokkenjima with its constant rain. It's like there's nothing here but nature in the dark.. Ange shivers, finally getting more self-conscious about the fact that she's still wet from the rain back there, and from the realisation she holds onto his hand a little tighter.

Normally she might have tried to give a suggestion despite not really having any idea, but she can't do it in this state, so she shakes her head. ]

I.. don't really care..

[..hm.. he figured as much.

link just nods, and he can see her shivering, feeling it even since he's still holding her hand, but he soon starts to walk with her, pulling her along and guiding her along, feeling the cool night's air on his skin as well.]

Then I'll start by showing you something.

[as he pulls her they walk across the bridges all around the lake, going over them and they pass by a stone marker in the grass at one of the points, but then walk further over another bridge until they reach a small island situated in the middle of the lake.]

...The sunrises are really beautiful around here, I want to show you.

[ She does look around a little bit as they walk, but even then it's not a lot. She's mostly staring down at her feet as they walk, allowing herself to be passively pulled along. It's been a while since she's just been in nature like this, that time she was on Rokkenjima was the only time in a long while before that too.. she's way too used to cities.

But when they're at the island she glances up a little again to see where he brought her - although it's not warily, she does trust him to not lead her into the middle of danger. ]

Sunrise..? .. It's already that late? [ Her voice is still surprisingly tiny compared to her usual speech. ]

Yeah...

[he lets go of her hand for the moment, looking over at the tree on the tiny island. he's walking over to it, placing a hand on it.]

...I, um... I don't really sleep. So often times I'm awake for a few days before I finally get at least a little rest.

[he turns to her, smiling.]

But I get to see great things like sunrises and stuff.

[ Not sleeping, huh. At least she doesn't find it too weird, it's not like she gets normal sleep.. she just sleeps whenever she feels like it usually, which doesn't end up being a whole lot. She gives a tiny nod at his smile though, at least wanting to acknowledge it despite not really being able to smile back herself. ]

I've.. been out in the city for so long that I haven't really seen all this stuff much. [ It's different seeing it there, after all, much different.. ] .. It's prettier here. You're lucky..

[lucky? well, that might be true, but there's tons of monsters here on top of everything else. like his friends leaving, that's not... something he finds very lucky, they're going to be all sages at this rate, honestly.

but he smiles at her.]

I'll show you more things Ange. Even if something seems tough... I want you to know you can always come here and stay in my world. I um... [he scratches his cheek.]

...I want you to be okay, so we could even stay in my tree house back in Kokiri Forest. [such a childish thing, isn't it?]

[ He's so kind. He's so kind and that makes everything even more hard. She's already decided she doesn't want to live, after all - what is there left for her to look out to after she finds out the truth? - but then him offering this is.. pretty painful.

There's a few things she would rather not leave behind even so though, after all.

The realisation of just how difficult it is makes her gaze drop to the floor, away from his smile, so bright and blinding that it hurts her. ]

I.. I'd like that, but.. maybe we should do it sometime soon then. [ Before she dies. She doesn't want to deny Link of that at least if he wants it, she wants to at least still give him something.. ] I'm going to be.. busy soon, probably.

[if link she just wanted to die he'd keep her in his world forever, honestly.]

Busy?

[he glances at her for a moment before looking back at the tree.] Busy with what? Can I help at all?

.. Ah, no. It's nothing you can help with, really..

[ Not with the game, since he's from another world than hers, so it's not like he can do anything for it. And then after that.. there'll be nothing he can help her with anymore, huh. There won't even be anything left of her for him to help.. ]

It's something I'll have to do by myself. Nobody can help me.

Hm...

[he doesn't like words like that, that no one can help her. he frowns, but as soon as he goes to say something to her the sky is slowly changing. it transitions from that blue to a slight orange, the sun just barely peeking up above the trees far in the distance.]

Ah, here we go. I love the sunrise here.

[link walks back over to her, smiling a little.]

[ She at least has to lift her gaze for that, huh.. it's hard, but in the end she does manage it, even if she has to force herself a little as she looks up, seeing all the colors in the sky. ]

.. It's pretty. [ She does mean it, even if she still sounds a little hollow and lacking energy. ] You probably get to see a lot of nice stuff out here..

[he turns to her, his smile warm and kind.]

Yeah... but- I didn't always get to see stuff like this. I used to be locked away too Ange.

[in the forest, with all his friends but... no one really liked him.]

You can go wherever now though, right..? You're not stuck anymore.

[ Which is the main difference between them, or so she believes, either way. Link is free. She's stuck in her situation, nothing is ever going to change, she'll always be hated and restricted if she doesn't do anything herself. ]

.. Aren't you happy now..?

[...is he happy?

link is pretty happy about a lot of things, feeling excited about most, thrilled to actually be out in the world.... but...]

I'm not... complaining. [he shrugs, a sad smile tugging at his lips.]

I'm really not, I've loved my journey so far... but seeing your friends... leave you, get turned into Sages, and not knowing what's at the end of it all, it's just weird.

What do you mean, being turned into Sages..?

[ She didn't hear about that from him yet, although it can't be much good if he says they're leaving him. It's not really much she can understand, she hasn't had much friends before - at most she can think of people she misses from the community - but even so, she knows loneliness can be the most painful thing of all. ]

[...ugh, it's just so tough to even think about, honestly.

link remains quiet for a bit before finally saying something to her.]

Sages are those that protect certain temples and areas of Hyrule. Once you're a Sage, you're basically like a spirit, confined to that temple.

Saria, Darunia, Ruto.... some of my really good friends, they're all Sages now. I... have two more temples to go and I don't know who else will turn into a Sage.

Wait a moment.. [ At least it helps, focusing on him for a bit. It means she doesn't have to worry about her own problems back home, even if it's just for a moment, even that's fine. It's Link, after all, she's seen him even as a young boy so it's not like she can ignore his problems now. ]

Isn't there anything you can do to stop it? I mean, why would it specifically be all of your friends..?

...No.

[he shakes his head, smiling sadly.]

There's nothing. It's what has to be done after all and... I'm not complaining. I'm a hero, I have things I need to do as well.

[ He's okay with it that easily..? Even though it's obvious he's sad about it, he doesn't even protest when his friends are leaving him like that? It twists something inside of her, and her own expression is definitely worried - it was pretty open to begin with, showing what she actually feels for once. ]

T.. that's not right, Link.. even if you're a hero, you're a person as well..! Nobody likes being alone..!

It's okay Ange.

[it is, honest. he shakes his head a little.]

I have you, I have others from the community, I'm not really alone.

Yeah, but.. [ .. she doesn't really know what kind of argument she wanted to bring up. She just knows it still doesn't feel right, even when he says that. She knows people on the community too, after all, but even so she can't be alright with being alone in her world..

So Ange just shakes her head. ]

You're still in pain, aren't you?!

[is he in pain...? well...

link is kind of used to pain, and he's not afraid of it at all, he's far too courageous for any of this.]

You see that sunrise, Ange?

[he turns back to it now, gazing out at the rising sun.]

....I'm fighting to protect all of this, to protect Hyrule, and even though it's a little... lonely, seeing my friends be turned into spirits, whatever I do I'm doing it for everyone else.

A hero can't complain, and I'm not.

[ She does look along with it. But even so, it.. still doesn't feel right, none of his words feel right. Sure, he might be a hero, but in the end Link is still a person too, right..? Can he really say something like this, that he can't complain just since he's a hero.. even though he isn't happy, he can put aside his own feelings for the sake of everything else?

Ah, maybe she's just being the selfish one here since she knows she can't just say she's okay like that, but still..

She wraps her arms around herself as if she's cold. ]

You're way too selfless, Link.. It's almost painful to watch.

[really? he just shrugs it off, not really thinking about it too much, that's just how he is really, he doesn't care what happens to him as long as everyone else is okay.]

People need a hero, someone they look up to, and it makes me happy to be that one person.

You're not alone Ange.... I can tell you've been... really sad about a lot of stuff, but I'll never leave you.

[he walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her and he hugs her, this is what friends do so of course he's going to do this for her.]

[ .. Ange can't take it. With everything that's happened, and then hearing how sad things are for Link too and then him hugging her on top of it.. she really can't hold herself back anymore. At least there's nobody around here and she can hide her face against him a little, so she cries once again. Why does everything feel like it's so useless? Sure, she made her mind up on dying, but that means she'll only leave Link more alone.. she really is selfish, isn't she..? ]

I.. I'm.. [ she hics in the middle of her tears. ] I'm sorry.. I'm so s-sorry, Link..

[...she was crying now?

admittedly, he was a little confused that she was suddenly crying, but at the same time he knows that she's been going through a lot, that she's just been needing someone close to her.

not like he knows she wants to leave him too.]

It's okay.... you can let it all out, it's what I'm here for- you're my best friend Ange.

[ She can't tell him, she really can't. It's probably a cowardly option to take, but she just.. really can't tell him after everything he just said. It makes her stomach twist with guilt. ]

Don't s-say that.. [ She manages to say it inbetween the sobs, even if she practically has to squeeze the words out. ] Please.. [ It'll only hurt more if he says something like that, then it'll only be harder to just get rid of herself. ]

[...? is it... not true for her, does she not feel the same way? at the thought link hugs her a little tighter against him.]

I'm sorry.... it's how I feel though...

[ It makes her shake her head against him a little when she hears those words. He shouldn't apologize, it's not a problem because of him, it's all because of her, but she just.. she really can't say it after hearing all this..! ]

That's f.. fine, but.. I.. I...! [ She chokes up. She really can't say it after all. All she can do is cry against him, feeling more guilty than anything. ]

Shh... it's alright.

[he brings a hand up to her head, petting her hair now, trying to get her to calm down and he still doesn't know exactly why she's crying so much.

suddenly this newly started day was already becoming so dreary and dismal.]

[ It's not okay. She's being so shameful right now, breaking her cold exterior and showing herself like this in front of him - she can't do it, she knows it. Part of her doesn't want to let go, but if she lingers then it might hurt both of them more in the end, so.. she can't.

Ange quickly shakes her head, letting go of him and taking a few shaky steps backwards. ]

I.. I can't, Link-- I've got.. t-to go back..

[...what?

he stares at her, not understanding what just happened. he brought her here to talk to her, to make her feel better, but... him saying that they were friends... really upset her. why?

he was normally good at puzzles, at figuring out traps and the like- but this was something he just didn't get, and it bothered him.]

....I..

[he stepped back as well, turning his head away from her.]

....I apologize.

[ She can't say it.

But she can't not say it either.

Seeing this look on Link's face.. it hurts. It hurts a whole lot, since he's always so kind and nice and.. ]

I'm sorry.. [ Her voice cracks a little, and she just both looks and sounds really broken. ] I.. I'm going to die, so.. i-it's better if you don't get attached so you won't get hurt again..

[...what....?

he wasn't eve sure if he heard that correctly, if what she was saying was the truth or not. he had just informed her that he felt better that she was still around even though all his friends were leaving him and that was the truth, but to hear such words... to know she was going to die.

link frowned at that, his expression turning a bit harder, steeling himself he stared at her with a little more intensity, the stare of a hero- the look that he wanted to save her.]

What do you mean? [he wasn't angry, he was overly concerned for her, and the way his blue eyes stared into her own should say that he was determined to protect her from this fate as well.]

[ Ange knows it the moment she looks at his face and sees those determined eyes. She's a moron and she knows it. She's the one who's going to kill herself, she's not in any other danger - well, not more than she usually is, either way. And yet he looks like he wants to protect her from whatever it is that's threatening her..

.. Then how could she ever tell him that the threat is herself..?

For a moment she feels very tempted to just turn around and run even if she doesn't have a worldhop device, but it's that last logical thought that keeps her grounded, even though she's starting to feel more and more helpless the more she speaks. ]

I-- ... j.. just that. I'm going to die, I already know that.. a-- and I don't want to hurt you.. [ She swallows thickly. ]

[if she would have run he would have chased her anyways. link takes another step towards her, searching her- needing to know.

how does she know this?

not like he knows his own fate, he's a hero, the hero of time, but he knows what it's like to mess with something as crucial as time.]

...Please tell me.

[why won't she tell him everything...?]

I don't want you to die, and I won't let you die.

Twelve years ago, my family died, and I... Yes, surely I died on that day as well..

[ At least this is easier. It's not even a lie. She truly believes it, there's moments where she's fully convinced it's true. Ever since that day her life has been so crappy since she technically hasn't been alive anymore. It's like seeing a last daydream before she dies, a really, really long one.. ]

.. That's.. why it can't be helped. There's just going to finally be an end to this long dream I see from right before I died.

[no, that won't happen... he can't let it happen. link takes another step towards her, his expression determined now, no signs of wavering.]

I'm the Hero of Time, I'll go back in time and I'll stop that from ever happening to you-

[can he really do that...? who knows... he has the power to control time, this is true, making night into day and so forth but... twelve years? that's far too much.]

...Or something... I..... I just can't let you die Ange.

[ .. Yeah, that's right, isn't it? Even after he says the first part, she knows it too. Even if he's the Hero of Time or anything like that, there's no way he can change anything twelve years in the past - and even if he did, it wouldn't be her who would become happy, she knows that. She's already the Ange from a world where they never did come home, after all.. ]

I'm sorry.. Link. But.. I.. I can't be saved anymore. [ At least that isn't a lie. She's already lost all will to live, so of course she can't be saved anymore. ] After the next game, I'll be gone, so.. I don't want you to get hurt too much. You're too nice for me to let that happen..

Stop it Ange.

[he shakes his head, his hands forming fists at his sides as he feels the emotions building within him. he doesn't usually get irritated or mad, but right now he can't deny what's stirring within him.]

I can't.... I can't ignore this, and I can't leave you! You realize this, don't you?!

[she should know what he's like, what he's always been like, ever since he's been a kid he could never turn away from someone in need.]

Yes..

[ It's a genuine answer. She knows Link isn't the type to do it, even if she asks him too - even if she'd plead or beg, he wouldn't listen to that, he'd still be so stuck on the idea of saving her. But for a moment she wishes he wasn't. ]

Just...

[ She opens her mouth.

But then she closes it again, shaking her head softly and her gaze turning downward. ]

.. I'm.. just sorry, Link. I'll go home now..

[he reached out to her at that, his hand grasping at her wrist.]

No.... no don't go, at least not tonight-...

[he's almost... afraid, and he's never afraid, he can't ever be he's the courageous hero. but the thought of her leaving, that she'll go back to her own world and he'll never see her again.

and he's used to not seeing his friends again.]

Please?

[ She was already trying to walk away, but the grip on her wrist stops her. She can't do now and she knows it - not when Link sounds so.. so desperate. It almost breaks her heart, really.

So even though it'll only hurt him more and it'll only hurt her more.. ]

.. Hmm. [ Ange nods a tiny bit. ]

If you want me to stay just for tonight.. that's fine. [ Not like Ange wants him to be alone either. He's too kind of a friend for that, too important. Hurting him is already enough to break her heart. ]

I have a room to myself back in Kakariko... we should go to it.

[even though the sun is still just rising, so actually- she'll have to be here the whole day with him.]

[ She can't back out now.

And honestly, Ange isn't in the right mindset to protect. She feels so tired and empty at the moment, drained of the only thing that kept her grounded. So she just nods. ]

Just.. bring me there then, please..

RL W/ ANGE

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