tuesday evening, final week

[poorlovefool]

[Since Link's done this to him before, Eric leaves a note under Link's door asking him to meet up in the library! Because he seems to have reacted badly every time they just surprise him with something.

If he comes, Eric will be in there listening to music. If he doesn't, he guesses he'll have to start looking around. But in any case, he's got the slablet and the glider under the table for now.]

Comments

[champion_link]

[He nods.]

The Woodland Stables... that's actually Pico Pond I'm on the bank of.

[He startles for a moment, staring at the glider, his fingers trembling slightly as he reaches out to touch it.]

I... it was on the plane. Maybe a year ago? I don't know, I lost some time in Reprocessing.

... The ghost of the King of Hyrule gave this to me. Zelda's father... he was a jerk. Making me do all of the shrine puzzles on the Great Plateau...

[There's no real venom in his voice, though.]

[poorlovefool]

Oh, puzzles suck! Why the hell would you combine that with skydiving?

[no venom here either though, he is just very enthusiastically not a fan of having to do puzzles and finding solidarity here.

He'll hand it over though.]

[champion_link]

Oh, no, not at the same time. To get it as a reward.

[He hesitates for a moment before grabbing it and setting it next to him.]

But they taught me how to use the runes on the Sheikah Slate, so it wasn't all that bad. ... Though it did take me a few times being hit by the giant boulder to realize I could stop those, too.

[poorlovefool]

Right, that makes sense. I couldn't understand it at all when I tried to read them.

[wait a minute...]

A... a giant boulder? You must be made of pretty strong stuff, Link.

[that would definitely break his bones, he's pretty sure. This is definitely a reminder of the guy's intimidation factor.]

I, um, didn't know I was giving you back a weapon... D-Do you think you could... I dunno... throw me some kind of bone since I was nice enough to return it?

[an information exchange couldn't hurt their friendship, right?? maybe he knows some kind of secret tricks for eric with all of his otherworldly abomination omniscience]

[champion_link]

I... I'm okay. A lot stronger than I used to be...

... I don't... I don't want to use any kind of weapon on any of you.

[He shudders for a few seconds, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to fight against the tick... tick... tick...]

I... I want to go back. Find my missing memories. I want to see if Zelda is all right. I want to see if the hostages from the plane really were returned. S... someone gave me back the armor that... that Mipha made for me. And when a Zora princess makes armor like that, they're going to give it to the one they want to marry. Mipha never... got a chance to propose properly before... everything...

I want my memories back. I... I want all of them back... even if it hurts. Even if it... makes me go mostly mute again from the stress. I... I need to know my own life.

[poorlovefool]

[...marriage, huh? It looks like the shoe is on the other foot now... the door to Link's heart is open while Eric's is closed. It's so bittersweet, isn't it? He can only laugh weakly at first.]

Wow, I'm jealous!

[but he'll listen to the rest, that they're still not fiances, and all of this determination... he finally understands. Eric nods with each new thing he says. Okay, more of a confused one about the part where he'll go mute, and at the final one Eric feels brave enough to put his hand on his shoulder.]

That's right. Y-You gotta be you. And whoever left that armor, and the rest of us, and me... all of us have your back, Link.

[to show his support he will even pet rub his shoulder in circles that are not really on beat with the ticking, even though it still resounds in Eric's head too.]

[champion_link]

... I can't be seen being too sympathetic... IT watches closely when there are many of you, after all. And if I look like I'm breaking free I''ll be Reprocessed.

[He shudders.]

I think Hiyori might have a harder time... ah... I don't know what you can do to fight IT...

... But I will do what I can. If I can. I don't know if I can.

[poorlovefool]

O-oh. [Eric glances around him, as though he'd be able to detect it if IT was watching from somewhere, but he knows he can't. Nervous for Link, he looks into his face seriously. He did say it watched more closely when there were more people around, but just in case.] Should I stop?

[the shudder makes him want to hug him instead, but you know. definitely don't want to get him reprocessed.]

W-well, you guys researched the fuck out of all of us and all the worlds involved here, right? Maybe you know something we don't that could help... I don't know...

Kyuubey told me about IT's failure. Charles knows how to defeat it, but Arthur can't talk to him again without IT butting in. Do you think there's a way we could stop that from happening at least?

[champion_link]

... Right, his power. I... don't know. I... I'm not the best with the mental stuff... I'm sorry I can't tell you anything useful. I'm not... that smart. I'm just a knight. Even if I'm a Champion, I'm still not... the best with complicated stuff.

[He's the muscle, basically.]

[poorlovefool]

Boy, do I relate there....

[well he didn't tell him to stop so guess what. He's going in for the hug. The world is cold and confusing, but soft boys are still soft, even if Eric looks pretty damn miserable that he can't think of any really good ideas either.]

It's alright. Just keep smiling. We'll take care of it, s-somehow.

[champion_link]

[He blinks in surprise before stiffly leaning against Eric. It's more mechanical than anything else, but he's. Trying.]

Don't you know? Smiling is prohibited by IT.

[...]

... That was a joke.

[poorlovefool]

[THE COLD SHIVER THAT JUST GAVE HIM... That's the kind of line that precedes getting a surprise knife in your back mid-hug. Thank god he told him.]

O-Oh... oh, ha ha ha! Like I'd buy that when you guys had to be so happy-happy. Nice try.

[champion_link]

Maybe I shouldn't joke like that. I made you feel bad...

[poorlovefool]

No, it was funny... just unexpected...

[have some back pats there. But then he'll start to pull back in case it's awkward for the hug to last too long.]

[champion_link]

[He's blushing very faintly.]

... Thank you again, Eric.