Btw I haven't mentioned it here yet but discord is available to mutuals to chat/plot. Just let me know if you're interested and I'll tell you what it is.
“His body smelled like a precious-wood forest; his hair, like sandalwood, his skin, like cedar. It was as if he had always lived among trees and plants.”
— Anaïs Nin, Little Birds
🎁
You got People you know by Selena Gomez !
AND WHAT HURTS THE MOST IS PEOPLE CAN GO FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO PEOPLE YOU DON'T…He may have regained a few of his memories. Something that should bring him joy, but instead, it comes with a bitter ache ❝ They were my friends, ❞ he murmurs, the companions meant to stand by his side, fighting together to vanquish the Calamity once and for all. But that wasn't how it ended, was it ? They are dead, and that is a weight that makes him falter. His next words catch in his throat.
His gaze falls, lingering on the ground ❝ and the only thing I have of them are a few scattered moments ❞ Their laughter, their faces, the sound of their voices — ALL OF IT FEELS SO DISTANT. And it is a cruel twist, isn't it ? To remember them again, as if meeting them for the first time, only for those memories to become a painful reminder of what had been ripped away and could never return. Yet the loss doesn't stop with them. It spreads further to the other soldiers of the royal guard in which he had served and every other person who had slipped entirely from his mind, lost to the depths of his forgotten past.
PROMPTS FOR ORDINARY THINGS THAT FEEL INTIMATE * inspired by this post. these don't have to be romantic - you can specify romantic or not when you send them. in essence, these are simply intimate, affectionate moments to share with someone you love and care about. adjust as necessary, send 'reverse' for the reversal of the prompt
[ lean ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder
[ shop ] sender and receiver go to the grocery store together
[ brush ] sender brushes receiver's hair
[ tie ] sender helps receiver with their tie, either by putting it on or adjusting it
[ necklace ] sender helps receiver with the clasp of their necklace from behind
[ zip up ] sender assists receiver with zipping up a piece of clothing
[ unzip ] sender assists receiver with unzipping a piece of clothing
[ shoelaces ] sender bends down to tie receiver's shoelaces
[ swipe ] sender notices a smudge of something on receiver's face and gently wipes it off
[ braid ] sender braids receiver's hair
[ jacket ] sender takes their jacket off and hangs it on receiver's shoulders
[ puddle ] sender hurries to stop receiver from stepping into a puddle
[ drinks ] sender brings receiver a drink from a bar/their kitchen
[ feed ] sender feeds receiver's pet/s for them
[ cook ] sender and receiver cook a meal together
[ feed ] sender allows receiver to try a bite of their dish, holding their fork out for receiver to taste
[ teach ] sender, an expert at something, takes time to teach receiver how it works and how they can get better at it, too
[ readjust ] sender comes up behind receiver and readjusts their stance (maybe holding a gun, holding a golf club, aiming for something, etc.) to help them
[ makeup ] sender fixes receiver's makeup for them
[ bathroom ] sender and receiver go to a public restroom together and have a normal conversation in between the stalls
[ aloud ] sender reads aloud to receiver
[ refill ] sender refills receiver's glass without asking
[ massage ] sender notices receiver looks tense, steps up behind them, and massages their shoulders
[ listen ] sender listens to receiver explain something they're passionate about
[ silence ] sender and receiver comfortably exist in silence together, both of them working or reading or focusing on something different
[ food ] sender brings food over to receiver's house
[ hum ] sender hums along to a song receiver is singing
[ see ] sender sees something that reminds them of receiver and texts them a picture of it
[ admire ] sender stares at receiver across a room, silently admiring and appreciating them from afar
[ win ] sender lets receiver beat them in a game
[ puzzle ] sender helps receiver solve/put together a puzzle
[ carry ] after receiver falls asleep in an inconvenient place, sender carries them to a bed and tucks them in
[ kneel ] sender finds receiver sick in the bathroom ("tossing their cookies"), and kneels beside them, holding their hair back and cleaning their face
[ clean ] sender helps bathe receiver
[ wash ] sender helps receiver wash their hair
[ patch ] sender carefully patches one of receiver's wounds
❝ i’ve got time. i’ve got lots of time. ❞
MORNING LIGHT SPILLS ACROSS THE VAST PLAINS OF HYRULE AS THE SUN CRESTS THE HORIZON, BATHING THE WORLD IN SOFT GOLD. The landscape stretches out in quiet solitude, a peaceful expanse of rolling hills and gentle meadows, untouched by the chaos of the past. In the distance, the faint call of birds echoes, their melodies carried by the soft breeze. All the while, beside Link, a stream flows steadily over smooth, polished stones, its surface shimmering in the early light, tracing ripples that mirrored the quiet stirrings of a waking world.
❝ I'm almost ready ❞ he murmurs, aware of the subtle impatience laced in the other's teasing tone. Still shaking off the last traces of sleep, the knight glances down at his reflection in the clear water to smooth out his tunic, his hands moving over the fabric with a relaxed, almost automatic effort. HE RUNS HIS HANDS THROUGH HIS HAIR, TYING IT BACK INTO A LOOSE PONYTAIL, not quite as neat as usual but functional enough. Then, with a final tug at his belt and an adjustment to his sword, he glances back up, the lingering drowsiness almost gone as he walks over to where he was waiting for him.
Once he reaches him, Link finally asks the question that had been lingering in his mind ever since Kenneth had started to wake him ❝ Why the hurry today ? ❞ His voice is calm, curious, as he tilts his head slightly, watching for a response ❝ Did anything happen while I was asleep ? ❞ he adds, his brow lifting just a little, his tone shifting with a hint of concern. If that was the case, what kind of hero would he be ? It is not a moment where he could afford to let his guard down. Not after everything that had happened.
Honestly I need more interactions here so...like this for a small thing from Link?
❝ courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten. ❞ ❝ you’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you? ❞ ❝ am i so beautiful that you’ve got no words left? ❞ ❝ forgive me. i’m a coward at heart. ❞ ❝ you and i aren’t as different as we thought. ❞ ❝ this time, we fight together. ❞ ❝ if all else fails, use fire. ❞ ❝ the history of light and shadow will be written in blood. ❞ ❝ what makes you happy… does it make others happy, too? ❞ ❝ it’s a secret to everybody. ❞ ❝ do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? ❞ ❝ tell them the war has ended. ❞ ❝ many years ago, i felt so free… ❞ ❝ we all deserve a happy ending, don’t we? ❞ ❝ they were all good people…my people. ❞ ❝ be careful about going around judging people by their appearance. ❞ ❝ may the winds of fortune be at your back. ❞ ❝ you have great eyes. they’re proud and wild…like a feral beast. ❞ ❝ no matter what, a fake is a fake, and no matter how much you try to dress it up, the real thing always wins . ❞ ❝ guess what? you got it for free. are you proud of yourself? ❞ ❝ your true face… what kind of face is it? i wonder… the face under the mask… is that your true face? ❞ ❝ you’re the bad guy. and when you’re bad, you just run. ❞ ❝ you’ll come with me, won’t you? ❞ ❝ this is your fate. don’t feel discouraged, even in the darkest of times. ❞ ❝ may we meet again in another life. ❞ ❝ you don’t have to look so sad. ❞ ❝ everything. everything i’ve done up until now…it was all for nothing.. ❞ ❝ i wonder, if you do the right thing, does it really make everyone happy? ❞ ❝ whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. ❞ ❝ those who do not know the danger of wielding power will, before long, be ruled by it. ❞ ❝ your friends… what kind of people are they? do these people think of you as a friend? ❞ ❝ the flow of time is always cruel. ❞ ❝ my bloodline endures the ravages of all the years. it survives. ❞ ❝ the sight of your appalling hair makes my gorge rise. ❞ ❝ we are fine here. we will greet the morning together. ❞ ❝ i really am just a failure. ❞ ❝ it’s dangerous to go alone. take me. ❞ ❝ conquer yourself. ❞ ❝ even though it was only a short time, i feel like i’ve known you forever. ❞ ❝ it’s time for me to make up for my mistakes. ❞ ❝ people are disgusting. my own father and mother are disgusting. you must be disgusting too. ❞ ❝ there are some things in life you can’t change no matter how hard you try. ❞ ❝ thought i chose the thief’s life, but it really chose me. ❞ ❝ i’m not doing anything suspicious. really! ❞ ❝ forgive your friend. ❞ ❝ a man is an animal, too. ❞ ❝ oceans…oceans…oceans as far as the eye can see. ❞ ❝ heroes fade eventually but legends never die. ❞ ❝ please…heal my sorrows. ❞ ❝ i grant my eternal love to you. ❞ ❝ he who wields such power would make a suitable king for this world, don’t you think? ❞ ❝ i always believed you would come…because i know you. ❞ ❝ it is destiny that you and i can’t live in the same world. ❞ ❝ shadow and light are two sides of the same coin. one cannot exist without the other. ❞ ❝ your slumber these past moons must have been restless and full of nightmares. ❞ ❝ your gods have destroyed you. ❞ ❝ your words are kind and your heart is true. ❞ ❝ i believe this is what you call…happiness. ❞ ❝ the mortal blow puts your life on the line. ❞ ❝ your ears will bleed from the sounds of your own screams. ❞ ❝ i consider the time spent with you some of the most special memories i have. ❞ ❝ a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. ❞ ❝ you fight like no man or demon i have ever known. ❞ ❝ the thousand years of raindrops are my tears. ❞ ❝ time passes, people move…like a river’s flow, it never ends. ❞ ❝ it seems shadow has been moved by light. ❞ ❝ the thunder that strikes the earth is my anger. ❞ ❝ to tell you the truth, I’m feeling a bit frustrated, and right now I just need someone to vent to. ❞ ❝ isn’t it petty? little battles like this? ❞ ❝ wait! do not be so hasty. ❞ ❝ a thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days. ❞ ❝ don’t ever forget me. if you do, i’ll never forgive you. ❞ ❝ if it is something that can be stopped, then just try to stop it. ❞ ❝ my hate never perishes. it is born anew in a cycle with no end . ❞ ❝ we’ll be friends forever, won’t we? ❞ ❝ do you have any idea how that made me feel inside? Furious. Outraged. ❞ ❝ i’ve taken all that you had to give… though I did not want it . ❞ ❝ i follow the strongest side. that is all i have ever known. ❞ ❝ he wasn’t talking about strength, like lifting stuff. he was talking about being brave. ❞ ❝ believe in your strengths. ❞
❝ i was shattered. i lost everything. ❞ ❝ i warned you not to take me lightly. ❞ ❝ we’re partners, aren’t we? ❞ ❝ ever since we’ve met, you’ve been disobedient and rude. ❞ ❝ take suffering as your companion, and unease and fear as friends. if you do, darkness will become light. ❞ ❝ it’s a cold world out there. you’ve gotta learn to trust folks. ❞ ❝ as you stand before me now, you’re all desperation and bravado. that is not true bravery. ❞ ❝ you can’t change your past and you can’t change who you were. you can only decide who you’re going to be. ❞ ❝ resentment is a trap of the heart into which everyone falls. ❞ ❝ you don’t look well. are you ill? ❞ ❝ you were born into life with a destiny. you cannot run away from that. ❞ ❝ you carry a smouldering darkness inside you. ❞ ❝ it’s considered impolite not to give your all in a fight. ❞ ❝ at dusk and dawn…it’s easy for all sorts of things to sneak by. ❞ ❝ since that day, so much has changed for me. ❞ ❝ i’m sorry. it’s been hard, huh? ❞ ❝ a true hero must shoulder a heavy responsibility. ❞ ❝ stay calm. move cautiously and remain vigilant. ❞ ❝ one more time. try telling the truth. ❞ ❝ why keep fighting until you’re just a broken wreck? ❞ ❝ if we start a fight, we must be ready to hit back. ❞ ❝ in the end, it’s easier just to be selfish. ❞ ❝ i was lost without you. i was lonely. ❞ ❝ why do i so often taste this sense of loss? ❞ ❝ i think both our journeys are pointing to the same place. ❞ ❝ power does not inhabit a blade without bravery. ❞ ❝ did you hear something? like the cry of a beast… ❞ ❝ what’s wrong? if you’re too weak, then just leave. ❞ ❝ what is strength? is it displays of power mocking the weak? destroying beauty simply to satisfy your greed? ❞ ❝ you get too worked up over things. ❞ ❝ easy for you to say. i’m the one getting beat up. ❞ ❝ i don’t need thanks. i didn’t do it for you. ❞ ❝ depending on your attitude…i might be able to help. ❞ ❝ if you don’t do as i say, i’ll take your arm off. ❞ ❝ as leader, i will not choose the path of pain and death for my people. i must protect them. ❞ ❝ strength isn’t about power…it’s about being brave. ❞ ❝ you have good eyes. the eyes of a proud beast. ❞ ❝ if the need arises, i will not hesitate to pick up a sword and fight. ❞ ❝ i guessed you had a secret past. people can try to hide it, but nature shows through. ❞ ❝ i was lying when i said i’d never held a sword.❞ ❝ there’s no time for sentimentality. ❞ ❝ if someone comes in who knows about your past, i’ll protect you if they try to hurt you. ❞ ❝ is there something strange about me? ❞ ❝ be careful…there have been monsters around here lately. ❞ ❝ choose…surrender or die. ❞ ❝ when i feel uneasy or afraid i just think: ‘this is my mission’. ❞ ❝ don’t take me for nothing more than a fine doll good only for decoration. ❞ ❝ i’m nothing more than dirt. i’m not worth all that effort. ❞ ❝ why do you think we’re any safer here? ❞ ❝ don’t die on me now. ❞ ❝ ha! even you have a good idea sometimes. ❞ ❝ i fought through all kinds of monsters to get here…and i survived. ❞ ❝ i’ve spent so long looking for you! i’m so glad you’re safe. ❞ ❝ people are always hovering over me…and it’s so suffocating! ❞ ❝ some detours lead to unexpected good luck. ❞ ❝ you say whatever you think…i’ve never done that. ❞ ❝ there is no greater joy than helping a friend. ❞ ❝ what do you mean ‘never mind’? ❞ ❝ these days such peaceful travels are rare indeed. ❞ ❝ wildly rushing into danger isn’t courage. ❞ ❝ didn’t you say there’s something you need to do, no matter what it takes? ❞ ❝ i sense unprecedented danger approaching. ❞ ❝ how do you feel now, looking back upon yourself at that time? ❞ ❝ as usual, you’re a wimp. ❞ ❝ resentment is dangerous. it comes in through the slightest crack in your heart. ❞ ❝ i’d go to the ends of the earth for you. ❞ ❝ it really hasn’t been that long, but you’ve grown into a fine man. ❞ ❝ now is the time for us to take back all that was stolen. ❞ ❝ one thing’s certain — those aren’t human. ❞ ❝ what do you fight to protect? answer. ❞ ❝ i wish you wouldn’t do such dangerous things. ❞ ❝ if you got hurt due to my mistakes…i don’t think i could live with that. ❞ ❝ why would you do all that…when we’ve only just met? ❞ ❝ it’s a pretty name. perfect for you. ❞ ❝ once your wounds heal, you’ll need to leave right away. ❞ ❝ the hero on his knees! quite a sight. ❞ ❝ how does it feel to be so strong? quite a rush, isn’t it? ❞ ❝ you’re all puffed up on your own arrogance…drunk on your own pride. ❞ ❝ i once wondered how good you are…now i see you’re really skilled. ❞ ❝ i’m not physically strong like you…but my wits, brains and analysis can be helpful. ❞ ❝ don’t say you can’t accept that this is the end. ❞ ❝ you just want to satisfy your own ambition and lust for power. ❞ ❝ it’ll be all right because we’re together. ❞ ❝ why would you leave me at a time like this? ❞ ❝ for the first time i feel like i’m overflowing with incredible power. ❞ ❝ there’s no time for doubt. you are the chosen one. ❞ ❝ your problem is that you demand absolute perfection. ❞ ❝ there is no easy path. but you can definitely overcome it. ❞ ❝ i’m so very sorry. i broke my promise. i hurt you. ❞ ❝ that’s the spirit. hate me more. only then will this fight be worthwhile. ❞ ❝ i thought you were dead. ❞ ❝ well…? say something. or has my beauty left you speechless? ❞ ❝ i never forgot you. not for one moment. ❞ ❝ sorry for killing the mood. ❞ ❝ light and shadow are two sides of the same coin. one cannot exist without the other. ❞ ❝ if you desire something…then that is my desire too. ❞ ❝ who says i’m afraid of you? ❞ ❝ your weapon is little better than a toy. ❞ ❝ all that awaits you is despair. ❞ ❝ i’ve done the unforgivable. i betrayed you. ❞ ❝ i’m here to repay you for what you’ve done. ❞ ❝ since i’ve met you, we’ve travelled a long way…and a lot has happened. ❞ ❝ are you on a journey of self-discovery? ❞ ❝ that was a great strike. if i was a hair slower, you’d have gutted me. ❞ ❝ when i was young, i wanted to be a hero. ❞ ❝ your struggle is futile. ❞ ❝ as you can see, i know how to fight. ❞ ❝ my hatred toward you will not be satisfied by merely killing you once or twice. ❞ ❝ you’ve been through a lot. ❞ ❝ whose side are you on? light or shadow? ❞ ❝ if you run then we’re done for! fight to survive! ❞ ❝ i’m not strong enough. not good enough. ❞ ❝ i must crush your bones, rip out your organs and relish your lingering cries of pain. ❞ ❝ that was close, huh? ❞ ❝ rest now. you don’t have to fight any more. ❞ ❝ i bear this sword so i can protect my home in times like this. ❞
「 ASK MEME : HOW’S MY PORTRAYAL? 」 * send anonymously or not. feedback is appreciated!
SWORD IS SHEATHED ONCE THE THREAT IS GONE. All while he shakes his head and lets the strain of battle fade from his stance before replying ❝ he didn't so much as graze me ❞ and adjusting his clothes as if to emphasize they remained undisturbed by the attack, a subtle action intended to reinforce his words and ease Kenneth’s concerns. Then, regarding his second question, there is only one way that he can explain it ❝ I am a knight who vowed to protect everything they seek to destroy ❞ a duty the hero took all too seriously. Always being where they ordered him to be and sometimes even where he shouldn't if his instincts alerted him of something amiss. Which meant that he always got in the way of their plans.
❝ But ever since I defeated their leader they have attacked more often ❞ something that Link had expected, for it was the most reasonable reaction. A shattered group with nothing left to lose and driven by revenge would lash out with whatever fury they could muster in the hopes of creating a wound on their enemy significant enough to gain the thing they needed the most — time. Time they could use to regain their strength and achieve their long-lost goal while avenging their fallen master in the process. Though Kohga's hand had as much part in his downfall as his own. For he had always been more showman than strategist or fighter. Still, it wasn't as if it mattered in the end. With a quiet exhale, Link gives a final glance around to ensure there's no more unwanted company and starts walking back to Epona.
we just have to be vigilant. keep our wits about us.
hackles raised and eyes sharp, the sense of unease seemed sharp enough to become a taste. link was beside him, alert but far from ruffled, as if outbursts of attacks like the one they had faced, from what had appeared an innocuous vendor of all things too, were nothing beyond his ordinary these days. he supposed that was fateful too : the yiga clan scoundrel had not seemed to possess an interest for anything but the champion, whom he had driven himself into death in an attempt to kill. eyes wide, he stared at the hero with a quizzical look (that was no ordinary hatred either, it was a precious stone honed with use and age, and he would recognise its shape anywhere), pieces of light tugging at the farthest reaches of his memory. ❛❛ i heard the ruckus— are you hurt? ❜❜
without drawing too close, always maintaining some unreachable distance, he lowered his head in an attempt to catch the hero's eye and see if he was injured. link's mare was only a few paces away, shivering. he had found link and slid off his own horse, onto his feat, only seconds before the fight had been concluded. despite it, he huffed down a light laugh : this was the closest he had ever come to understanding link. ❛❛ he really had it out for you. what the hell did you do, that they hate your guts so much? ❜❜
DARKNESS STRETCHING ENDLESSLY AROUND HIM, THAT WAS THE ONLY THING HE SAW; THE ONLY THING KEEPING HIM COMPANY. Until a sliver of light breaks through, telling him that the time had come to awake again. And so Link does. Consciousness slowly returns, and with it, a dull ache that creeps into his head, growing stronger with each passing second until he feels it's about to explode. His vision is also blurry, unfocused, but as his eyes begin to adjust, he sees. . .pink ?
He tries to sit up, yet his body refuses to cooperate, forcing the hero to remain lying down as he takes a careful look around before turning his attention back to @gainscient ❝ What happened ? ❞ the sharp wave of pain he had experienced just a second ago when he tried to move made the cause of it hard to forget — he had been fighting monsters. What came after. . .that was the confusing part. So much, in fact, that he wasn't sure what it was or if it had even been real in the first place. And to make things even stranger, he doesn't remember anyone else being nearby and everything looked different from where he finds himself now ❝ Where am I ? ❞