#Link (already kissing Ghirahim): damn

[casiavium]

A little bit of murder is good for the soul. These are your words of wisdom for today :)

[kintatsujo]

LoZ AU- The Courage of Running Away Part THIRTY

Previous Post Is HERE

This is the last outline post!  But like I said before I’m probably gonna take a run at NaNo with this story this year because of how thoroughly it got out of hand lmao and probably will keep doing smaller art posts and shit at this point.

And again there’s already ideas for a sequel in the works, although that’ll probably trickle in MUCH more slowly for the time being.

Next week I’m probably going to take a break from Tumblr altogether bc of Real Life Stuff and the fact that this project turned So Big.  Maybe.  Possibly.  Don’t take me at my word lmao

This is a text heavy post and I apologize but there was a lot to cover; each section is separated by headers.

Content warning for mention of hanging used as a metaphor.  

#AU August

#LoZ AU: The Courage of Running Away

Astramorus’s Sentencing 

Astramorus is stripped of his rank within Hylia's Church, although he's allowed to keep his home at the sky commune since he and Catena had shared it since before her death and Zelda isn't cruel. She assigns him a Shiekah escort-and-therapist on Impa's recommendation, someone he's not allowed to leave the Sky Temple Commune without until further notice, and Astramorus tells her it's generally much more generous than he expected even considering the help he'd offered.

Link doesn’t go home with him, at Astramorus's insistence.

"Listen to me, Link," he says, touching Link's face gently. "For all that I'd LIKE to undo the last twelve years of our lives, do it better, you're still healing from everything I did wrong."

"Uncle Seren was-" Link starts.

"Giving me the rope with which to hang myself," Astramorus finishes. "I still took it in hand, son. We both need a little distance to start, you to heal and me to sort my own head."

Link frowns at him. "You need to heal too," he says. "You wouldn't have taken that rope if Mama had been here to stop you."

"Probably not," Astramorus agrees. "But that's why her Majesty is assigning someone to follow me around, isn't it?"

[Image Description: Link throws his arms around Astramorus, to his father’s surprise.  When Astramorus hugs him back, looking like he’s ready to collapse into the hug, Link opens one eye and tells him sternly, “Take CARE of yourself, Father, or we’re gonna have WORDS.”  “Mhm,” Astramorus mumbles. End ID.]

(Hilda, it should be noted, tells Astramorus and Link that they’re both welcome to visit Lorule Castle at any time, trying to hide her eagerness until finally admitting; “You both know what having Serenumbra in your head is like.”  And Astramorus and Link agree with that and promise to meet there in a few months, once they’ve had that time to sort themselves out.)

As for Serenumbra, for now Eltani decides to let him “enjoy” some solitude in the Gerudo City prison while she deliberates more thoroughly on what to do with him.  He did quite a lot, after all.

What to do About Ghirahim

Eltani and Zelda Sr discuss what to do about Ghirahim more privately, with Aldway, Impa, and Vaba (Eltani's oldest advisor) there to offer input.

"You say he froze upon being presented with the mere image of his old master," Aldway says. "I'm not sure I trust that."

"It wasn't like-" Zelda starts, then starts over. "He was like a frightened child, darling." She pauses, reevaluates. "Or like a dog expecting to be beaten."

"Like Link?" Aldway asks mildly.

She shakes her head. "Much worse than even that, my dear."

"Even knowing he's half mortal he has trouble stilling his tongue towards me," Eltani notes. "Faced with his former master, he was struck silent."

Vaba speaks up. "You say that Serenumbra called the thing he summoned a god's nightmare, correct?"

"The boy Link saw a figure he couldn't hope to live up to. Your Majesty saw a figure from history you've tried to avoid being since you were her age. Whose nightmare was Demise? Dinravi didn't know his face, and you tell us Ghirahim stepped in the way. Dinravi only faced a copy of Ghirahim's master because he was reflected from Ghirahim's half human heart."

They decide to let him stay.

What Dinravi Would Like to do About Ghirahim

And in the meantime Dinravi and Ghirahim are having their own discussion somewhere else in the castle, partly because Eltani asked Dinravi to keep Ghirahim away from where they're discussing and partly because of course they are, it's been a lot, the last day and a half or so, between Ghirahim saving Dinravi from assassination and Dinravi punching Nightmare Demise in the face. And finding out that Ghirahim is definitely around half human now, there's also that.

There's a bit of an awkward silence, at first. It's so, so much. Ghirahim is stealing a lot of glances and Dinravi seems to be collecting himself.

And then Dinravi asks: "Can I kiss you?"

Ghirahim stares at him for a moment, eyes wide, mouth small in surprise, bright red, and then he smiles a little and looks away and says "You still don't... my prince, you don't need to ask PERMISSION to do whatever you PLEASE with me."

Dinravi goes quiet. "... Is that how it was with him? Demise?" he asks. His face is gentle and open, nonjudgmental, but Ghirahim sputters.

"Of course it was," he says, "is there a problem with that?"

Dinravi studies him. "Apparently there is," he says. "Because you're shaking."

Ghirahim jolts in horror and stares at his hands, which are indeed trembling, almost as badly as at the sight of Nightmare Demise, and he screams: "DAMN this frail useless human body!!"

Dinravi takes a step backwards, watching him, and says, "Ghirahim." And at getting his attention, he asks, "Does this mean that you came to me, tried to seduce me into conquest... Knowing that might mean you, too?"

Ghirahim stares at him for a breath, vulnerable, then looks away, frowning. "Of course I did," he says.

Dinravi sighs. "Of course you did," he echoes.

"I was FORGED for this," Ghirahim says helplessly. "To serve Master Demise, or the one who inherits from Him. Whatever that might mean."

"Ghirahim," Dinravi says gently. "You're almost half human now. I believed in your choice before, when we were thinking you entirely demon, but... Being human means getting to choose."

Ghirahim is adrift and he looks at the floor, the ceiling, out the window, and finally back at Dinravi, trying to find solid ground.

His voice is small. "Please kiss me?" he asks. Dinravi smiles and steps forward, leaning into him, brushing his lips tenderly with his own. Ghirahim whimpers and surges forward, and Dinravi puts his arms around him and steadies his stance, chuckling, soothing him, kisses him again. Ghirahim gasps as his knees buckle and he slides downward, almost ragdoll as Dinravi catches him again.

"Are you okay?!" Dinravi asks, holding him against his chest.

"I'm fine," Ghirahim whispers, hanging on for dear life. "C-can- Can we take this somewhere your MOM won't stumble on us, or worse one of the BRATS running around the castle? I'm about to become very embarrassing if we keep this up." He gives Dinravi a significant stare, face crimson. "Maybe with a bed?"

Dinravi's eyebrows shoot up. ".... Would you like me to carry you?" he finally asks.

"I think you're going to have to," Ghirahim admits.

We're going to give them some privacy. XD

[Image Description: Dinravi is tilting Ghirahim into a kiss, the sun setting through the window behind them.  Ghirahim’s eyes are open but he’s pliant in Dinravi’s arms, one hand curled against his chest.  Dinravi is smiling, eyes closed and his grip gentle but rather thoroughly in control of the situation.  End ID.]

Back At the Sky Commune

Maurice and the other priests/monks at the Sky Temple Commune had some word of what was going on by the time Astramorus returns, and Maurice has more or less been put in charge now, in recognition of his years of service and care of the commune’s day to day.

He’s a bit annoyed at Astramorus about the whole thing, if he’s honest, which he is, but he also does care about his former superior, and once Astramorus has settled back in and the Sheikah escort is being shown around he approaches him in his quarters, finding him by the window thrown open, chin resting in his hand, looking out of place in the kind of civilian clothing Astramorus has barely worn his entire life.

“So what are you going to do with yourself, Astramorus, once the Queen’s man has decided you’ve moped around here enough?” he asks.  Maurice is kind but he’s also gruff.  Birds don’t tend to care about your word choices, and Maurice spends much more time with pigeons and cuccos and loftwings than with people.

Astramorus shrugs, not turning from the view of the blue sky.  “Honestly Maurice, I was raised by Hylia’s Church.  Mayhap I’ll find something else, but.  Well, it was kind of the Queen to let me keep these quarters for more reasons than memory of my wife.”

Maurice bristles his mustache, and then he says, “You know... she stripped your rank.  There’s nothing about your sentence as I read it that says you can’t start over from the beginning.”

Astramorus finally turns to him, and Maurice is struck by how... well, how much happier the other man looks.  He’s lost nearly everything, and yet it’s like a great millstone’s off his neck.  And Astramorus smiles:

[Image Description: “Maybe,” Astramorus says, smiling against his hand.  He looks relaxed and happy, and maybe like he’s considering it seriously.  The sun shines on him gently.  End ID.]

What Now, Link?

And perhaps at the same time, now that he’s said his goodbyes and everything’s settled down, Marla finds Link sitting on a balcony rail of Hyrule Castle, looking out at Castle Town and looking pretty peaceful himself.

She comes up behind him and folds her arms against the rail, smiling up at him.

“So, Link, we finally got your father to listen to you,” she says, and she’s thinking of that conversation at the Shrine of the Furious God when she says it.  “What now?”

Link shrugs.  “I suppose I’ll stay here for a little while,” he says.  He wants to see Gray recovered, and to spend more time with the Royal Family, and it’d be nice, if he’s honest, to rest a while himself.  “The Queen says my mother’s family are probably still running around the continent somewhere, so I might look for them after that.”  Adventuring runs in the family, apparently, because Zelda Sr. only has some idea of where his grandparents have gotten off to, only some idea of where to find his mother’s younger siblings.

“Sounds like a plan,” Marla says.  She looks out at Hyrule Castle Town for a quiet moment, enjoying the sound of Link breathing.

“Do you think,” she says, “That we could take a few weeks to check back at Windfish Isle?  I have this horrible suspicion that the Mayor has filled Tonbo and my house with fishing nets and I’d like to let him know to find someone else to live there before the walls take on a permanent stink.”

We’re staying with you so we should let them know goes unspoken, but Marla has known for a while she’s tying herself to Link for the rest of his life the same way she’s tied herself to Tonbo for the rest of his life, and the world’s a bit wider than it was when she and Tonbo left with Link, and if Link’s going to be in the wide world, Marla and Tonbo should be too.

And Link knows what she means.  Because family means the people you don’t need so much courage around.

He smiles.  “Yeah,” he says.  “We can do that.”

[Image Description: Link and Marla.  Link is sitting on the balcony rail while Marla is leaning on it.  They’re giving one another fond smiles.  The sun shines on them gently, giving the image a slightly faded look.  End ID.]

[fatefulfaerie]

Skyward Sword please! Something about exhausted and maybe hurt Link missing his Zelda after another dungeon. Thank you!

Determination

Link emerged from the Skyview Temple clutching his arm. He had already felt the blood start to seep through and now, with the rush of battle gone, the pain was less easy to ignore.

“Master,” Fi said, Link hearing the chime behind him. “You are injured and require assistance. Please seek immediate help.”

“I know, Fi,” Link breathed, Fi slipped back into the sword in his back. “I know.”

Link started to pull out bandages to at least suppress the bleeding, hoping he wouldn’t need stitches, because that meant taking extra time in Skyloft that he couldn’t afford with Zelda still not safe.

His shoulder ached from pulling away the goddess sword multiple times from Ghirahim’s strong fingertips, but Link steadily ignored that pain. No matter how much it hurt, if he could move it, he could still use it, and if he could still use it, then the goddesses knew he would until the damned arm fell off.

Even then, his injuries told him he would have to get much stronger if he was going to be facing more danger. And Ghirahim hadn’t even been beaten, just leaving when the fight would no longer lead him to Zelda if Link died.

Link only focused on the laceration on his other arm as he took off his wrist guard, pulling it off with a slight twist. His brown, fingerless glove came next before it was just the white sleeve, tainted with splotches of a scarlet red. With a wince, Link peeled the tight, white sleeve so that it folded and bunched near his elbow. Thankfully, it wasn’t too deep a scratch, Link remembering that he had taken the hit mostly where his chainmail caught it.

Link started to wrap the narrow cloth around and around his arm as he leaned on a nearby column with a sigh. Looking out at the view, the gaping valley, the paths that lead back to the woods, the trees and greenery that matched the blue skies for an idyllic picture, he thought of only one sight prettier.

He could almost imagine her here, just a bit away from him, clothed in her pink dress, her soft, blonde hair billowing in the wind, and her blue eyes shining brighter than the sunlight itself. Link’s head tipped against the column as he slowed the bandaging of his arm to a stop, his eyes softening at just the thought of her.

Her warm smile would welcome him closer for a run to embrace her, a short, exhaustive run where she waited for him nonetheless. Link’s heart ached as he thought upon the scene that only existed in his mind’s eye, his chest burning and heaving as he prayed for her to be safe, to be able to run to her and keep her in his arms until the rest of eternity.

He remembered entering the temple not even an hour ago with hope in his heart, that he would walk out with Zelda’s hand in his, her entirely unscathed, unharmed, and feeling no pain. They would have reunited, that one moment when everything is all at once too fast and too slow, where he won’t know where to touch or hold but only that it’s enough, where he can spin her around and hear her laugh and hear her say his name so that he can say hers.

They would go back home to Skyloft and he would for goddesses sake kiss her with every single ounce of love he felt for her.

Link closed his eyes and bowed his head that she wasn’t here, wasn’t safe, at every corner out of his grasp and slipping through his fingers.

She wasn’t waiting for him anywhere.

“Master Link,” he heard again with a chime. “Your heart rate has raised considerably. May I remind you there is no danger at this time.”

Link didn’t turn his head, continuing to look at the place he imagined Zelda standing. It was empty of her, like it always had been.

“I know there’s no danger, Fi,” Link said. “My heart is quickened by an...irrelevant condition.”

“May I assist in the cure, Master?”

Link gave a slight laugh at her innocence.

“Technically, you already are,” Link said. “The condition is love, and you are helping me seek the object of my affection.”

“I do not understand, Master,” Fi said. “But I see that you do. I will leave you to your mending.”

Link felt her momentum go into the sword on his back, but by now he was used to it, barely budging.

He finished bandaging his arm and started to replace his sleeve, his glove, his wrist guard.

Link soon took out the white sailcloth, merely staring at it and clutching his fingers around the edges. He looked at the pattern, sewn by her hand, and with his nose, smelled her flowery scent, a sensation that already filled his heart with love by mere association.

“I’m coming, Zelda,” Link said. “No matter how far you stray, I will always follow.”

[cosmicxxxlight]

all of the mun emoji questions~ ;)

Challenge accepted.

😰 - what is one character you desperately want your muse to interact with

I don’t care if I’ve already answered this, there is another character would love to write with.

On my LOZ blog I'd really like to have Zelda interact with King Rhoam. I hate her dad so much, he was really awful to her, i understand you want to protect your kingdom but that does not mean entirely cold shoulder your daughter who needs emotional support really bad, he was a single struggling dad but that does not justify that---- i have a whole essay about this.... but that's besides the point. I do though always love some angst. Have found a blog for them but they are no longer active, dammit i was so close.

😍 - what is your favorite character you’ve rolplayed as in the past

SUPERNATRUAL LUCIFER!!!!!!  Mark Pellegrino’s version. 

😦 - what has been your worst roleplay experience?

I'm not going to get into specifics but it involves toxic drama and bullying.

😑- what is one character you refuse to roleplay as and why?

Lord Ghirahim from Skyward sword, or so that's what he calls himself because he is so creepy, he licked Link's ear causing him to flinch away just ' DUDE WTF' and a narcissist. Though i do like his theme song though.

I also like how he is Link’s constant foe  not just sitting back behind a line of henchmen, he was out there getting shit done himself.  He has a pet which is basically a  demonic fire spider and that bosses theme is pretty epic and the �� this is your doom’ vibe is A+++     👌👌👌👌 perfect. 

What he says to Link before introducing his pet is kind of funny. 

“   Oh, it’s you. Let me see.... no that’s not it. This is so very embarrassing, but i seem to be at a loss for your name   Not that it matters, really. To tell you the truth, I’m feeling a bit frustrated  and right now   and just need somebody to vent to.    I heard my  underlings had finally captured the spirt maiden, so i rushed over what can i say?  i was excited.  Flustered, even but what did i find when i arrived?  that agent of the goddess she had once again, you see what I’m trying to say is THAT GODDESS SERVING DOG ESCAPED WITH THE GIRL!  i must have the spirit maiden in order to resurrect my master!  I MUST HAVE HER  .... I got a little carried away there didn’t i?  i don’t deal well with the complications to plans I’ve laid out so carefully.  It’s a character flaw of mine  Ah, but something good can still come from this day!  I had bottled up all of this anger smoldering inside of me, and now i can release it.   There is somebody special  i want you to meet . Oh! don’t be shy, i need to vent all of this unhealthy anger and your agony is such a great stress reliever. It won’t take more than a few moments  with my friend before you’re charred to a satisfying crisp.  And let me tell you that will put a spring in my step!”  He is a creepy, sadistic narcissist, i don’t like them but i admit he is one of the best villains in LOZ.  

😙 - what was the first character you ever role played as?

Supernatrual Lucifer.

😤 - what is your role play related pet peeve?

When people just constantly badger you in a sort of passive aggressive way, clearly they want a reply in 0.5 minutes but they are acting like they don't.

😇 - do you consider yourself a good roleplayer?

Hell yeah.

👿 - do you consider yourself a bad roleplayer?

Nope. I'm pretty damn confident about my writing. 

😫 - do you prefer fluff, angst, or smut?

Fluff and angst but no thank you to smut. I'm okay with kissing and all but pants coming off is where i draw the line. I have nothing against smut it's just both my angel muses and my LOZ muses are just not exactly cut out for that sort of thing.

I have tried it before and my favorite experience is when i wrote with on an old blog of mine with Micheal and one time they got really into it and oops incinerated their partner and than another time smashed their partner on accident while doing it like a rock.

😨 - how many roleplay blogs have you had active at once?

I have two blogs but my LOZ blog has been most active but i am trying to slowly make a come back to here and wake my muses up from their 100 year nap--- heh that's a breath of the wild inside joke.

😘 - what characters are you currently writing?

On my angel blog, I'm trying to wake up Micheal at the moment, i have my archangel Revali's little adopted child Leo [ basically the immortalized version of Botw Rev]

On my Legend of Zelda blog i have Link, Zelda and Revali and Mipha and Link's little sister Aryll.

😴 - have you ever given up on a blog and regretted it?

When i deactivated downwillow i sort of regretted it at first but got over it. I did because i had some friend drama on there but despite this there was memories on there that i still felt sentimental about it.