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escordvi2024-08-30 10:43 pm
multidisciplinary) wrote in escordvi2024-08-30 10:43 pm
Entry tags:
log ๐ป in the absence of sunshine
Who: Zelda and Darin
Status: Closed
Where: Zelda's apartment on Eltrut
What: (Backdated to August 15) The aftermath of their fight with Ganondorf the previous night.
Warnings: Major injury, probably some PTSD, and other such warnings that come with hurt/comfort threads (edit: now with themes of self sacrifice, self loathing, and some surprise UST ๐ถ๏ธ)
[ These past twenty-four hours have been the longest, slowest hours Zelda has had to wait through in a very long time. After her century sealing Calamity Ganon, the princess has developed patience in spades-- in stark contrast to how she was before the Calamity. But now, that patience seems to have evaporated and she feels just like that girl she once was, standing impatiently for hours in the Goddess's springs straining to hear Her voice. Time passes with agonizing slowness, and each hour that Darin does not wake feels somehow slower than the last.
Zelda has seen firsthand how quickly his injuries heal, no matter how severe. When she rescued him from the ocean after his fight with Garuda, it took less than an hour for his broken bones to heal. So although the severity of the injuries he sustained from their fight with Ganondorf were deeply upsetting to Zelda, she expected him to heal through the worst of them before the following dawn.
But that wasn't the case. When dawn came, not only did his injuries barely look any better, but he hadn't hadn't regained consciousness. Dawn turned to day to afternoon to dusk and to night again and still Darin did not wake.
Throughout those long, long hours, there was nothing Zelda could do but wait. Wait and try to treat his wounds as she would anyone else's. She cleaned and bandaged his injuries as best she could, and at least that helped set her mind slightly at ease. She didn't know why this was taking so long, but she could care for him through that time. Goddess knows she had done so for Link countless times in the past.
But first aid only went as far as normal wounds. It was all but useless for treating Gloom burns. Usually, the cure for Gloom sickness was sunlight; Gloom faded away in the light and a person's vitality returned over time. Zelda had never seen Gloom burns before she and Link found the corpse of the Demon King below Hyrule Castle. She had an idea how to treat them-- a poultice made of sundelions might work like a concentrated salve of sunlight. But there are no sundelions in this world and the process for trying to fish for them through the rift was tricky and time consuming. And even if it wasn't, Zelda couldn't risk leaving Darin alone. If something happened... If she wasn't here...
These are the thoughts that have gone round and round in her mind all day, interspersed among memories of that fight with Ganondorf. Everything he said. Everything he did. How even the combined efforts of Darin, Ranma, and Zelda were barely enough to injure him at all. She couldn't get these thoughts out of her head.
Now it's nighttime again. Zelda has barely eaten and she has staunchly avoided sleep-- not just because Darin is on her bed, but because if something were to happen and she was not here beside him.... Well, she wasn't willing to risk that. But after twenty four sleepless hours, even anxiety isn't strong enough to keep her awake. The princess finally nods off sometime in the middle of the night, sitting in her chair at the bedside and leaning against the edge of the bed, her head against his shoulder so that, if he shifts, the movement will wake her. ]
Status: Closed
Where: Zelda's apartment on Eltrut
What: (Backdated to August 15) The aftermath of their fight with Ganondorf the previous night.
Warnings: Major injury, probably some PTSD, and other such warnings that come with hurt/comfort threads (edit: now with themes of self sacrifice, self loathing, and some surprise UST ๐ถ๏ธ)
[ These past twenty-four hours have been the longest, slowest hours Zelda has had to wait through in a very long time. After her century sealing Calamity Ganon, the princess has developed patience in spades-- in stark contrast to how she was before the Calamity. But now, that patience seems to have evaporated and she feels just like that girl she once was, standing impatiently for hours in the Goddess's springs straining to hear Her voice. Time passes with agonizing slowness, and each hour that Darin does not wake feels somehow slower than the last.
Zelda has seen firsthand how quickly his injuries heal, no matter how severe. When she rescued him from the ocean after his fight with Garuda, it took less than an hour for his broken bones to heal. So although the severity of the injuries he sustained from their fight with Ganondorf were deeply upsetting to Zelda, she expected him to heal through the worst of them before the following dawn.
But that wasn't the case. When dawn came, not only did his injuries barely look any better, but he hadn't hadn't regained consciousness. Dawn turned to day to afternoon to dusk and to night again and still Darin did not wake.
Throughout those long, long hours, there was nothing Zelda could do but wait. Wait and try to treat his wounds as she would anyone else's. She cleaned and bandaged his injuries as best she could, and at least that helped set her mind slightly at ease. She didn't know why this was taking so long, but she could care for him through that time. Goddess knows she had done so for Link countless times in the past.
But first aid only went as far as normal wounds. It was all but useless for treating Gloom burns. Usually, the cure for Gloom sickness was sunlight; Gloom faded away in the light and a person's vitality returned over time. Zelda had never seen Gloom burns before she and Link found the corpse of the Demon King below Hyrule Castle. She had an idea how to treat them-- a poultice made of sundelions might work like a concentrated salve of sunlight. But there are no sundelions in this world and the process for trying to fish for them through the rift was tricky and time consuming. And even if it wasn't, Zelda couldn't risk leaving Darin alone. If something happened... If she wasn't here...
These are the thoughts that have gone round and round in her mind all day, interspersed among memories of that fight with Ganondorf. Everything he said. Everything he did. How even the combined efforts of Darin, Ranma, and Zelda were barely enough to injure him at all. She couldn't get these thoughts out of her head.
Now it's nighttime again. Zelda has barely eaten and she has staunchly avoided sleep-- not just because Darin is on her bed, but because if something were to happen and she was not here beside him.... Well, she wasn't willing to risk that. But after twenty four sleepless hours, even anxiety isn't strong enough to keep her awake. The princess finally nods off sometime in the middle of the night, sitting in her chair at the bedside and leaning against the edge of the bed, her head against his shoulder so that, if he shifts, the movement will wake her. ]
no subject
But Darin's power is a touchy subject (really, many things are touchy subjects with him), and Zelda is careful to pick her battles when it comes to touchy subjects. ]
You are?
no subject
I-I...Yeah. The whole fight with Ganondorf—...
[He pauses. Honesty. They both want honesty from one another.]
No. Even...before that. With Garuda. I couldn't do anything. You saved me twice and...
[He stumbles over his words a little. Normally, he's confident— or at least he projects confidence. Right now? He's never been more scared. Because it means taking a step into a territory he's worried will inevitably destroy everything he's come to love.]
[He shakes his head rigorously to shake the unease away.]
I'm relying on other people to deal with my problems.
[He recites Cid's words to him, verbatim. And just like Link was Zelda's spark, so too does she become his.]
All this time I've been...coasting by. Surviving because I kept my head down because I was afraid of being something more. Because I assumed that 'something more.' Would be bad.
Ganondorf and Dromas are the same. They brandish their power proudly and power without heart is just cruelty— strength for the sake of strength and nothing more...
For a long time I wondered if I was different. Or if I could be. And with you, last night, I figured it out. I found my answer.
[That's when he levels his gaze at her.]
You.
You held back the Calamity for a hundred years and you trained your whole life to do that. What could I accomplish if I stopped hiding?
I know what the difference is between me, Dromas, and Ganondorf.
...I have someo—[ahem]Something to fight for...
[He tilts his head a little to the side as he offers her a sheepish, embarrassed smile.]
...A hero's gotta have good support, right?
no subject
...And that's assuming it doesn't just explode first, because the way Darin is looking at her, she feels like it just might.
There's this... resolution in him. Something Zelda's never really seen before. Not like this, at least. There have been times where he's found his resolve to stay with her after fighting to push her away, just like he did last night, but this is something different. This is something he's found all on his own, without her help...
...Or so she assumes, until he levels his gaze with hers and tells her, quite simply and unexpectedly, that she is the one who has inspired him.
Zelda's hand goes to her chest, hovering over the heart which has momentarily stopped beating.
Her.
She is his answer.
Her face is full of disbelief as she listens to him. She has inspired him. She has given him something to fight for. Not the Princess of Hyrule. Not the descendent of the Goddess. Zelda.
This is what she's wanted to give him from the start: faith. Faith in the fact that he is not a monster. Faith in the fact that people can care for him. Faith that his powers are not a curse, but a tool he can use to protect what's dear to him. Faith that he doesn't need to hide, that he can belong.
Zelda is normally good with words, but there are times when Darin says something that leaves her speechless and the only way she can communicate the overwhelming feelings within her is through action.
She surges to her feet and throws her arms around him. Not around his waist, as she has before, but around his neck, yanking him down to her level. She holds him close as tears threaten to well up her in her eyes for the umpteenth time in the last two days. But they're not tears of sorrow; they're joy, joy so strong that her heart cannot contain it. ]
no subject
[Darin's face is already burning up from his admission. Honestly, how corny could he possibly get? All those hero metaphors? As true as they were even he couldn't help with how on-the-nose they were after their conversation about Link.]
[But...his admiration is genuine. She's proved him wrong time and time again in the best ways possible and it's thanks to her that he feels the way he does. It's thanks to her that he sees a path forward.]
[She's given him a purpose.]
[He can't help but wonder if she caught his little gaffe. That he wants to support her. He assumes she's hugging him out of pride rather than anything more personal.]
[So he wraps his arms around her waist and straightens up, taking her with him easily as he spins around slowly.]
Y...Y-You gotta warn a guy before you just throw yourself into his arms...
[His face is burning red. No doubt she can feel the heat next to hers with their cheeks practically touching. But the chiding is gentle and teasing. He'd hold her like this forever if he could.]
People might start to talk...
[Honestly? Let them.]
no subject
He can chastise her all he wants, but it won't stop her from doing this. Being in his arms just feels like the most natural thing in the world. He makes her feel cherished. And maybe it's the height of selfishness, but she wants to keep feeling this way.
She gently scoffs under her breath. ]
Let them talk.
[ Bold words from a princess who usually needs to be concerned about propriety. But after everything that's happened between her and Darin, a few wagging tongues aren't going to convince her to change how she conducts herself with him. He is always encouraging her to give voice to her wants and what she wants is to continue enjoying this closeness they are discovering together. ]
no subject
[But, even so, he doesn't let go. He stops twirling slowly and simply...holds her.]
[He's never been this close to anyone in his life. Even this seems...far more intimate than either of them should allow.]
[When he speaks, she might catch the lilt in his voice— a shy, almost embarrassed quaver that denotes how flustered he's getting.]
I-I guess I should...be ready to take you into my arms at a moments notice then...?
[He's not putting her down. Now it's his turn for his heart to be pounding in his chest. Given their proximity it's astounding she doesn't feel it pounding against hers.]
...Keep talking like that and I might start to talk...
[Because gods the things he could say. In fact, he often does talk about her. To anyone who will listen.]
no subject
Perhaps that would be wise. I did tell you in the forge that I still wanted this.
[ It was after she told him the truth of her identity, when he offered to treat her with the respect (and distance) her station demanded. She forced herself to go against propriety and tell him truthfully that she didn't want him to treat her any differently. That she still wanted to be swept up in his arms like he had just done minutes before.
Zelda chuckles quietly. ] Is that so...? And what is it that you will say of us?
[ It's a tease and a challenge and a curiosity all rolled into one.
Because if anyone is going to say anything about them, it will be the people who were left waiting outside the forge on opening day when Darin abruptly locked the door to have a long conversation with Zelda... and then later walked out together arm in arm. ]
no subject
[Her voice rolls down his spine and almost makes him shiver. A sweet melody that stirs him. It gives him strength and saps that selfsame strength right out of his knees.]
[He wants to rise to that challenge desperately.]
[He pulls her back, just enough that their eyes can meet.]
What would I say?
...The truth.
That Zelda inspires me to be better than I was. That she's beautiful...and kind.
That...she's my hero. And I want to make her happy.
[There's so much more in his heart right now that he can't define— that he can't put into the right words right now.]
[But, as he searches her eyes for a reaction...it's clear that his face is flush. He's nervous but...excited at the same time.]
...What would you say?
[What sort of things would the princess say about him? What does she think? How does she see him when she's in his arms like this...?]
no subject
And it's here that she feels like she sees Darin at his most honest, free of all the labels and expectations he and his world have lumped upon him. She sees this sweet, charming, maddeningly stubborn man who lights up like the sun with such excitement and wonder when something strikes his imagination. She sees his boyish enthusiasm break through the barrier of cynicism and distrust he has erected around himself. It tugs so fiercely at Zelda's heartstrings. ]
What would I say? [ She repeats with feigned thoughtfulness. ] Hmm...
[ Whether Darin can see through her tease or not, she lets show of contemplation stretch out for a few moments. ]
I would say that Darin Altway is absolutely brilliant, that his designs and his meticulousness put the scholars of Hyrule to shame.
[ Her lips twitch upwards mischievously. ] That he is the most maddeningly stubborn man I have ever met.
And that he inspires me to look at the world, and myself, in ways I've never considered before.
... That I've never met anyone like him before.
no subject
[Oh...]
[Darin's heart doesn't just skip a beat. It stops. Zelda is always so polite and proper that seeing her openly tease him like this? It's got his legs turning to jelly all over again. And that slight mischievous smile? Now that he's seen it, Gods, Darin would do anything to see it more.]
[He really can't deny it anymore, can he? At least not to himself.]
[He's really starting to fall for her.]
[He's never held another in his arms like this and for all he cares he'd never want to. This proximity, this warmth. The way Zelda's soft voice just tickles at his senses and makes his blood rush to his ears. He'd spend the rest of his life training if it meant Zelda would playfully speak into his ear more.]
[But the compliments...she really sees him like that? Darin has spent a lifetime watching the eyes of people. Reading their gaze, their intentions. Eyes are a window to the soul and maybe that's why they're one of the things Darin finds most attractive on a person.]
[And Zelda's eyes are, without a doubt, the most beautiful he's ever seen. Wide, expressive, they carry depth of both wisdom and character. And whenever she looks at him he feels like he can take on the world. And when there's fear in them, he'd tear the world down for her.]
[He realizes it's been some time since he's last taken a breath and it's shaky at best. Because what does one say to something like that?]
[His lip similarly quirks up when she calls him stubborn and he can't help but exhale a soft laugh of admission— the world 'guilty' practically implied.]
[But when she ends with the fact she's never met anyone like him before, he finds himself hoping. Hoping that's a good thing.]
[He pulls her in a little closer. So their foreheads touch, as is quickly becoming their preferred method of contact. So he can lose himself in her eyes for another moment.]
[They're close enough that they can feel each other's breath on their lips. It's warm. Kind and electric all at once.]
I've...never met anyone like you before either...
[That warmth intensifies ever so slightly as the gap starts to close. Turning to heat. Sparks.]
[I want her.]
1/2
Her breath stutters on his lips as he adjusts his hold on her, bringing her close enough for their foreheads to meet. Usually, this touch makes Zelda feel lighter, relieved; it's become the way they touch after a fight, the way they show that they understand each other, the proof that they still care for one another.
This time, it doesn't bring Zelda any relief. No, quite the opposite. It makes something spark below her naval, something warm and ... and hungry. Something she felt last night, when she ended up on top of him in her bed and the look of him below her was so intimate and so appealing.
She should ask him to put her down. He is much too close and much too warm. He's bringing all sorts of thoughts to her mind that she shouldn't be having-- thoughts about what his skin would feel like against hers, how the coarse texture of his hands might feel on her body.
What he might taste like...
When he speaks, his tone is lower than it was before. Lower and... inviting. Her body reacts to his voice, a certain discomfort building inside her. Oh, she should not allow herself to get immersed in this feeling. Bad enough that she did last night. And with him here in her apartment, she doesn't have the option to alleviate herself of her needs. She has to get control over herself.
... But she doesn't want to. No, she... she wants him. Still. And that want is swiftly eating her alive.
She parts her lips just slightly, a silent, breathless pant escaping from between them. She leans in towards him, towards the invitation the heat of his breath offers... ]
2/2
... Oh Goddess, that's right-- she hasn't fed him in two days. ]
1/3
[That's not to say that Darin doesn't find people attractive. He has no trouble objectively stating if someone was 'sexy' or 'hot' simply because that his how he perceives them as fact. Some people might find it too bold or inappropriate but to Darin...they're just observations.]
[But all at once all of those repressed urges begin to reach the surface like boiling pitch. Zelda's warmth, like sunshine on his skin. Her reserved voice whispering intimately between them. What would the rest of her feel like? How strongly would she cling to him?]
[How wonderful would her voice sound as it reached a fever pitch? Would she call out his name or breathlessly whisper it into his ear?]
[He could feel the pressure building from his heart as it pumped blood like a piston and he felt his restraint start to recede.]
[He had every intention of buying Zelda a new bed today anyway.]
[His eyes flutter shut and he can almost...feel her lips...]
2/3
[Instead, he snaps his head back and almost throws her across the room but stops at the last second. He settles on holding her out at arms' length instead as his eyes dart around the room in a panic. What the hell was that?! What happened?! Was someone watching them?! Did they see what they almost—]
[... ... ...]
[His eyes fall to her cat.]
[Looking very cranky.]
3/3
O-Oh...Oh um...
[He sets Zelda down lightly onto her feet.]
H...How about I clean up the broken vase and...I think...your cat's hungry...? Maybe...?
[Either that or the cat doesn't like Darin which would somehow be even worse.]
O-Or I could feed him...you...probably want to wash up...it's been a long couple of days...and...
...And yeah...
no subject
Abruptly separated from his warmth, her senses come rushing back to her all at once. Her eyes dart to Darin's, where she finds the same flushed and guilty look as her own, and then promptly dart away. Goddess above, what was that? All she meant to do was tease him a little bit, because his reactions are so cute, and then before she knew it, she was hot like she was last night and leaning in to kiss him.
It's only by some divine miracle that Zelda's legs actually support her when Darin sets her down, because they feel like they're made of jelly.
She listens to him, but she can't bring herself to look at him. She's absolutely appalled at herself. It's one thing that this happened last night-- it had been at least thirty-six hours since Zelda last slept and emotions had been running high all that time. But now that she has eaten and rested, this shouldn't be happening. She usually has much better control over her body's physical urges! This is the second time in two days that she's let herself get all worked up by a friend. ]
Y-Yes, I need to... [ stand in the frigid waters of the Spring of Wisdom for the next six hours and pray until her fervid mind calms down ] ...to wash.
If- If it's not too much trouble to feed Pumpkin, there is shredded chicken in the icebox for him. His bowls are... [ She gestures vaguely at the kitchen cabinets.
Zelda hesitates for a moment, fidgeting her hands in front of her, both reluctant and in a hurry to leave. Oh Goddess, should she say something about what just happened? Apologize? Or should she just say nothing and pretend she wasn't just about to kiss him (and maybe more)?
One more guilty glance up at him... and then hastily averted. ] I- I- I will go, then. Th-thank you for cleaning up.
[ And with that, Zelda turns and forces herself to walk like normal back to her bedroom, where the washroom is connected. Thank Hylia the water is always cold-- she's never needed it more than right now. ]
no subject
[Darin stares like a complete fool as Zelda scurries away, with her face burning like a crimson beacon. What was that?! What just happened?! Did he just—]
[Was he about to—]
[Darin about faces and marches to the sink where he cranks the cold water to maximum and literally sticks his head under the faucet.]
[Did he almost just kiss Zelda?! Did she try and kiss him?! What the hell was the matter with him?! Yes, he admires her! He admires her more than anything! But all of that because he told he was going to start training? That he wanted to better himself?? To be a better man for...?]
[The cold water practically hisses as his face goes aflame again. Gods, just what did he think he was saying to her?! Of course Zelda would get swept up in that emotional momentum, she's Zelda! But she's also a Princess! A Princess of a kingdom that he has no chance of ever seeing let alone being a part of! He's just a stupid smith! If they had done anything she would have regretted it forever! She was probably just being receptive to his words! Emotions are high! He's practically taking advantage of her vulnerable state! Ugh, he hates himself!]
[He turns the water off and slumps to the ground in front of the sink, his cerulean blue hair matted over his face.]
[But he can't shake the feeling of how nice it would be to be that close to her. To have a shot at being with someone like Zelda. But...she has a knight.]
['His home became our home.']
[He can't be her home but...he can at least make her stay here happy. He just has to remember that no matter what...getting close to him will only break her heart.]
[And he promised to mend it.]
[Darin heaves a sigh now that his hormones have started to settle. He's sopping wet but...at least he's not thinking about Zelda pressed against his body (for now.). Pumpkinpatch pads over and sits in front of Darin expectantly and Darin reaches over to pet him.]
...Thanks, lil' buddy. You protected her from making the biggest mistake she could ever make. I think that's worth a little extra chicken...
[He smiles and hops to his feet, dutifully serving Pumpkinpatch a little extra helping of chicken.]
[When Zelda returns from her shower, she'll find Darin squatting near Pumpkin and making sure he eats. The kitchen is clean, the dishes washed, and he's...well, he's got a towel slung around his bare shoulders. Nothing to worry about.]
no subject
Zelda spends the first half of her shower simply standing in the freezing water. She really almost kissed him right then and there in her living room. Why did she do that? A minute before, he was telling her how she had inspired him to improve himself. He called her his hero.
And what does Zelda do? Throws herself into his arms, teases him, flusters him, and nearly kisses him. Yes, at first it was because she was just so happy and so flattered that she couldn't even think of how to say so-- it was just easier to hug him and let her actions speak for her. That should've been the end of it. This was about him, how proud she was to hear he had found that faith, that purpose, she had been trying to give him all this time. Zelda? Her wants? They could take a backseat for a moment.
But no, apparently they couldn't. Once she was in his arms, she got distracted by his closeness. Her thoughts turned selfish. She felt herself getting hot in his arms and instead of exerting a modicum of self control, she pursued it. She took advantage of the emotional moment and tried to kiss him. It doesn't matter that it was an accident, that she wasn't even thinking about what she was doing. He confided something special to her and all she could think about was his body.
She did this last night too. Instead of focusing on him and his injuries, she let herself get all worked up when he suggested they sleep together. He just meant to share the bed so they would both get a proper night's sleep! But what does Zelda do? She completely misinterprets his words. And worse than that, she was ready to go along with it! If he had actually wanted to make love, she would have agreed. And not only last night! Just now! In her living room! She wanted to kiss him! If things had gone further, she probably would've invited him back to her bedroom!
This is not the first time Zelda has wanted to kiss someone. In fact, that thought has been flitting in and out of her mind for years now. There have been more than a few times where she's considered asking Link to kiss her. And why not? Link is very attractive. She loves him deeply. It would probably feel nice.
But the thought of kissing Link never filled her belly with this unbearable fire like the thought of kissing Darin does. She's never looked at Link and been overwhelmed by the irrational desire to go to bed with him. She's never lost control of herself with Link.
Goddess, this needs to stop. She's been allowing herself to get far too comfortable with Darin. With the idea of allowing herself to want things. Wanting things is fine and all, but there has to be a line. She can't just allow herself to indulge in her every want. She can't want him like this. She can't give herself to him. Her body should be for her future consort and no one else.
And on top of all that, he is her friend. She respects him, cherishes him. She should not be objectifying him for her own pleasure. He deserves so much better from her.
After ages in the freezing water, Zelda finally feels both clean and under control again. She dresses fresh clothes, a pair of pants and a light summery blouse, and returns to the living room. Her hair is still damp from being towel dried, so she hasn't styled her usual crown of braids yet.
The kitchen, the living room, everything is all cleaned up and Zelda spots Darin crouched near Pumpkinpatch while the cat eats. Zelda knows Pumpkin to be very territorial and have something of an attitude, but he seems to be unbothered by Darin's presence. That's good, at least.
As Zelda approaches, she catches sight of the towel around Darin's shoulders, which leads her eye upward to his ... damp hair? Did he try to wash up in the kitchen sink? ]
I apologize for taking so long. If you would like to wash properly, you are more than welcome to use my washroom.
no subject
[Darin claps his hands onto his cheeks, shocking the color from them and snapping his mindset back to the present. Whatever just happened? Forget it. Move on!]
[He hops to his feet and turns to her more fully.]
...Actually, yeah. I'm sure laying next to me when I was all gross and sweaty last night was terrible. A good wash would really help...
[A thought occurs.]
...Could you...actually do me a favor? My apartment isn't far. Could you head over and grab me a change of clothes...? No sense showering and then getting back into these things...I'd like to go out and replace your bed today.
Pretty sure walking around like this won't be doing me any favors...
no subject
Incredibly... and for none of the reasons that Darin thinks.
Reasons that Zelda is not going to think about either, because she really needs to move past this and stop letting it take over her thoughts. She caught that awkward way Darin looked away from her a moment ago. That means he must have noticed what was happening, how worked up she was getting... a realization that makes her wince inwardly. After everything they've been through together, she really doesn't want to make him uncomfortable around her.
His request to go to his apartment and collect a change of clothes is met with a nod of agreement. She was thinking the same thing, that she doesn't have anything here for him to change into after bathing.
Plus, Zelda would really like to get out of her apartment for a bit. Being outside will surely help her clear her head more. ]
Of course, I don't mind. [ She offers her usual kind smile. ] And please, use whatever you need in my washroom. I apologize if there isn't any warm water. That is a regular problem here.
[ Enjoy smelling like a flower when you're done. All of Zelda's soaps are lightly floral scented.
The trip to Darin's apartment is a short one, but Zelda takes her time walking. Despite the late summer heat, she's glad to be outside, feeling the sun on her skin and breathing in the scent of the sea. The last two days have been so stressful and emotional that having an unhurried moment alone helps Zelda center herself.
Darin's home is just as much of a whirlwind of papers as the last time she saw it, although there are plenty of new designs and notes strewn about that catch her attention. Zelda looks them over, but avoids digging around too much. If there's an order to the madness, the princess doesn't want to disrupt it.
Eventually, Zelda collects the only clothing she can find (does he still not have other clothes, or are they just lost somewhere amidst the mess?) and returns to her apartment. She seems noticeably lighter when she arrives, much of her tension having lessened during her walk. If Darin is still bathing when she returns, she'll leave his clothes in a basket in front of the bedroom door and then sit down at her desk. An idea is starting to take shape in her mind and she wants to get it down onto paper. ]
1/2
[Fortunately, while he only has one other shirt, Darin at least has other essentials. Apparently, he's a fan of prints on his boxers. They range from hammers and anvils to flames and...yes, there's fish. Specifically tropical fish. The man's fashion sense really needs to be addressed. Whatever Zelda decides to grab will certainly be enough...it's probably best not to think on it.]
[On her way out though, as she wanders by his desk, she'll spy a few new designs that he's been working on. He's making more progress on that hookshot grapnel device— he's got some new sketches splayed out around his journal that will likely catch her eye. And likely too will the journal page that's dated the day they went to investigate the Desert Wind.]
[There it is. The reason Darin fought so hard the other night. He may have vastly underestimated Ganondorf's power but his intent reads loud and clear.]
2/2
[Wait, is that conditioner? He doesn't know what it does but he might as well use it too!]
[He's feeling much more like himself when he hears Zelda return. He briefly steps out of the bedroom, towel wrapped around his waist.]
Oh, you found everything! Thanks!
[He offers a chipper smile and returns to the washroom with fresh clothes and minutes later, strolls out looking like a new man. Dressed in clean clothes, a tight, sleeveless shirt, and his hair is looking particularly fluffy. It's amazing what a shower can do for you.]
[He strolls over to Zelda at her desk and leans over her a bit, a curious expression on his face.]
What are you working on?
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And then there were the other things Darin wrote, some that warmed her heart and others that made her worry. 'If he could do one good thing for her,' he wrote... Did he already know, when he wrote this, that he was willing to die to defeat Ganondorf? Was he always planning to sacrifice himself? How can Darin understand her so well and still not realize that what she wants the most is him in her life?
She inspires him, he said. He's going to start training because of her.
Perhaps she should follow his example. He inspires her too, after all. And something he said to her months ago still sticks firmly in her mind. "People need to help people. If you see someone fall through those cracks, you climb down and lift 'em out. ... They're your hands. You hold them out to people you deem need it."
It is high time Zelda did just that.
(And it's probably a good thing this idea is rattling around so loudly in her mind, otherwise the sight of Darin in her bedroom doorway wearing nothing but one of her towels would have caused much worse than just a rush of color to her cheeks.)
By the time he's dressed, Zelda has several sheets of paper filled with hastily scrawled notes. ]
I had an idea, actually. It is still very much just a rough thought and I've barely even started to consider the logistics of it, but... [ She picks up the first page. ] What if there were ships whose purpose was not to patrol the seas or pilfer riches, but to come to the aid of those in need? Forget the armadas and the petty factionalism-- Ships that will sail anywhere to care for the people who need it most, to treat the sick and injured without question.
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...You're talking about relief ships. People who mobilize in times of crisis. War, battles, things like that.
[It's definitely an appealing concept.]
They could move about freely. The Paladins and the Corsairs would likely endorse someone on neutral ground because everyone benefits from it. It's not like they're at war or anything, everyone stands to gain from it.
[He lifts his eyes to her.]
Zelda, that's an amazing idea...! Especially after what happened with Garuda?? I'm sure natives are already wary enough of riftfarers! This could really take a step in the direction of earning their trust!
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[ Ah, so this is a concept that already exists. That will make everything easier, actually; if there are already relief ships elsewhere in this world, perhaps she might be able to use them as a template to develop her own. Despite its extensive shoreline, Hyrule had little in the way of a naval presence when her father was king-- nowadays, there's even less. Anything Zelda knows about ships, she's learned here.
She nods along eagerly with Darin. He understands exactly what she's going for. ]
Yes, that is an excellent point. We are a source of strife and instability in a world that isn't even ours. For as much good as we might do to earn their trust, all it takes is one Garuda to set us back to square one.
And those who need help the most are those who are not aligned with the paladins or the corsairs, people who are simply trying to live their lives quietly. When the paladins and corsairs dispatch aid, they prioritize their own people first, regardless of need. And even then, medicine is expensive. Those who have the greatest need for help are often the most marginalized and thereby incapable of accessing it.
Even if we had been able to rescue Ganondorf's prisoners, he had already infected them with parasites. Without a proper doctor or healer, we wouldn't have been able to do anything for them. If there had been a relief ship available, perhaps the prisoners could have been saved.
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๐