#sanidine

[fridurwrites]

Learning to Catch at the End of Everything - Chapter 5 (Catch)

Slate says something. They ignore them. Despite everything, they manage not to scream when Slate's hand grasps their shoulder. Tears roll down their cheeks, and they force themself to their feet, yanking their shoulder out from the shipwright's grip and nearly tripping over the slight lip the elevator platform created. Their throat tightens around a sob, and before Slate can stop them, they send the elevator skyward. They almost make it to the top before the anger and fear push through their resolve, and they let out an agonized yell that half the village hears. At the top, they force themself to walk past the landing struts to get to the lift. Don't think about it. Don't remember it. Focus on your friend. Get to Gabbro. Do what you have to do before you fall apart completely. Only you can do this. For the first time, Hornfels radios Esker and asks them to track the departing ship. Do not let the hatchling out of your sight until they reach a planet, and do not let them leave it without telling us where they're going. Something's wrong with them.

The foundation is gone. Both astronauts are falling, spinning out of control. All they can do is to begin to tumble together, trying to hold on against inevitability.

[karoo-o]

Sanidine

[theoldbone]

Sanidine, Caspar Quarry, Germany, photo by Volker Heck

[blueskittlesart]

i do sincerely want to post new art guys i swear but art school is art schooling again so all i have is like shitty editorial illustration assignments to show for myself rn. like i just spent the last literal five hours working on THIS:

[amiharana]

My thoughts are still plagued with revalink streamers au 🛀😟🪑

THE EMOJISKDJFD i miss streamers au too </3

i'm thinking about the champions coming back for another round of Love or Host with link as the bachelor of the game. at this time, the CSMP is in full force and is gaining popularity at an exponential rate, the champions are now a well-established streaming group, and revali and link are now in their weird bickering/flirting stage where no one really knows if they're being fr and both revali n link are starting to realize they might? have? feelings? for each other? i've decided that for this au, kohga is going to be fulfilling the role of austinshow (this one's for you lucha john---baptist i love u)

if you've never heard of Love or Host before, it's kind of difficult to explain if you've never watched it?? if you have some time to spare, here's a link to a video of quackity's LOH when he participated a couple years back. but basically, it's like a livestreamed dating show where one person is the "bachelor" looking for love and the other contestants are competing to "love" or "host" — "love" meaning they are also looking for love and "date" after the show (it's not serious though, it's just for the drama. they don't actually end up dating if they don't want to lol) whereas "host" refers to looking for fame and wanting to get their stream hosted to get more views or something. idk it's kind of weird but still a fun twist to dating shows.

link gets invited by TheKohgaShow (this shit has me howling i'm sawryy) to be the bachelor for this round of LOH, since he's one of the most popular streamers at the moment. he agrees because why not and tries to get the rest of the champions to apply to be contestants for the game. daruk and urbosa call off because they aren't comfortable with the idea of possibly playing for link's hand romantically given their age gap, but they are livestreaming the show on their own streams and providing commentary, but mipha and zelda are fine with it. except for revali because he's a party pooper :]

"this is ridiculous," he grumbles over their discord call. "why are you going on that show again? wasn't meeting there enough?"

"it would be fun!" link insists. "it would be funny to see how much our dynamic's changed since we all first met on LOH. it's not that serious anyway, bird brain. unless you're scared you'd fall in love with me?"

"shut the fuck up," revali snaps. thank goddess he has his camera off right now because he can feel his cheeks beginning to burn. "the whole event is just... asinine. i didn't even want to be there the first time, and i still don't understand why you would want to go back."

"don't be mean, revali," comes mipha's voice, soft and cheery like a little bell. "it is just a casual event for fun anyway."

"and you could get a leg up over link by choosing host," urbosa muses. "you don't have to choose love, you know—"

"i'd eliminate him before he could try," link snickers.

"shut the fuck up," revali repeats, scrunching his nose up. "the entire format of such a show is just absurd. all dating shows are. none of it is genuine and it's all for drama and views anyway. there are far more productive ideas of substantial quality that could achieve the same goal."

"revali, it's really not that serious," link says, rolling his eyes and sitting back in his chair. his camera is on and revali can't help but follow the movement. "whether you apply or not, i'll be there as the bachelor. just don't get jealous if i do find love there."

daruk guffaws and mipha titters on the other ends of the call, but revali's jaw tightens. he wouldn't actually care if link found love on that stupid show. he wouldn't.

(once the notification that applications are open drops, revali applies and interviews for a position on the show in the next two hours. he gets it. after he logs off for the night, he realizes that doesn't really know why he ended up applying, but urbosa is going to bully him so bad when she sees him on the show tomorrow.)

the show goes live on kohga's channel the next day at noon, with the final contestant lineup as follows: revali, mipha, zelda, sidon, yunobo, paya, beedle, pikango, regan, and traysi. (in canon, regan is an npc who left lurelin village and who you can save from monster attacks, and traysi is the girl who writes the rumor mill articles left around hyrule). revali scoffs at the roster; if link was really looking for love, this wasn't exactly a group of prime pickings. (sorry to miph n zel. revali loves them as friends even if he won't say it out loud, but he knows they've been seeing each other on the downlow. LOL). when kohga starts the show and has everyone turn on their cameras, all of link, zelda, and mipha's eyes bulge out of their heads when they see revali in the roster. he rolls his eyes at his friends' reactions and tries to keep a straight face. his phone is buzzing with messages, probably from all of the champions in their shared gc, but he keeps his eyes on his computer screen.

i'm too impatient to write out a whole bunch of scenarios of link getting to know everyone and eliminating people and shit, so here's a bullet point list of ideas instead

surprisingly, link goes for zelda's head to bicker with first instead of revali (he didn't think revali would actually apply so now he's nervous), and he threatens to eliminate zelda in the introduction round. they bicker for a full a minute, escalating until kohga has to step in and stop the fight

sidon is absolutely flirting with link and link is flirting back. revali's face grows even more sour as he watches the whole exchange. his phone buzzes again, and this time, he can't help but check his phone. it's a message from urbosa that says, "Hey, Link told you not to get jealous if he finds love on the show." he rolls his eyes and reacts to the message with a thumbs down. whatever.

traysi pisses everyone off right away from how annoying she is. it's going to be a real surprise if link doesn't eliminate her right away.

pikango, regan, and beedle are all smaller streamers that link has interacted with in passing or has collabed with before so they're playing a game of catch-up for the few minutes they talk. something about how casually link talks with them irritates revali. he doesn't know why.

paya is a smaller streamer who voices in the nearly most inaudible voice ever that she's been a big fan of link's content. "awhh, thank you, that's very sweet of you," link says, smiling kindly at her. a vein twitches in revali's temple.

when link finally gets to him, for a moment he stares with wide blue eyes and if revali squints hard enough, a faint pink flush dusting his cheeks. "revali," link says. "fancy seeing you here."

"you should fancy me at every point in the day, no matter where i am," revali replies smoothly. flirting bickering with link is an instinct at this point.

link laughs. "i don't think i want to or ever will," he says, resting his chin on his hand and smiling into the camera.

"well, trust me," revali says, the corner of his lip curling up barely as he sits back in his chair. "by the end of this, you will." shit, where did this bravado suddenly come from?

but link's eyes widen and this time, the pink flush revali thought he was hallucinating makes itself known. kohga makes an "oooooooh" and ends the introduction round, introducing the premise of the next round, but link and revali are still staring at each other, watching each other's webcams.

(later, a clip of zelda rolling her eyes at this moment of time goes viral. she qrts the originating post with "these two are going to make me homophobic.")

LIKE I SAID I'M IMPATIENT I JUST WANNA WRITE THE SCENES I WANT TO SEE so yadda yadda yadda the elimination order goes traysi → regan → pikango → beedle → yunobo → paya until mipha gets eliminated and zelda votes herself out in an act of solidarity, telling revali to win for the honor of the champions LOL. only sidon and revali are left, so kohga alots 10 minutes for each contestant to go on their final "dates" with link and prove that they should be the one that link chooses.

sidon goes first and it's very cute :) he's very gentlemanly and sweet and talking about where he would take link on their first date, and just some sappy shit about how he'll give link the world. link is very enamored with him and his promises <3 leaning on his chin and gazing dreamily at sidon while he talks, sidlinkers are going nuts in the chat

but when it's revali's turn for the "Date", ohoho....... a tension so thick you can almost taste it develops in the call and the stream the moment sidon is taken out of the call and revali comes in and unmutes. link immediately straightens from his leaning posture on the desk and he's on high alert, chewing on his bottom lip and watching as revali settles into the call. revali looks relaxed and nonchalant, the complete opposite of the electricity beginning to fizz throughout link's veins. the timer has already started, but neither of them say anything, just staring at each other in the call.

"are you going to say anything or are we just going to stare at each other for 10 minutes?" revali finally says, the corner of his lip curling up just slightly into a hint of a smile.

link rolls his eyes and scoffs. "i would, if i had anything to say that you deserve to hear," he replies playfully. he resumes his initial position of placing his chin on his hand and leaning into it, smiling into the camera with half-lidded eyes.

"is that so?" revali says, raising an eyebrow. "do you mean to say that i'm leaving you speechless right now?"

link gives revali a look through the camera. "i have plenty to say, thank you very much."

"then say it all," revali says, his smirk growing a little bigger. "or do i make you too nervous to speak?"

"shut up," link responds, squinting. and they continue bickering for another 3 minutes, before kohga steps in to re-navigate the conversation back to the "Date".

"okay, okay, fine, revali where would you take me on our first date?" link says.

"i would take you to the top of a tall building and throw you off," revali replies smoothly.

link slams his head on his desk. "are you ever gonna give me a genuine answer?" he groans.

revali rolls his eyes. "i suppose i could attempt entertaining the subject of the question, just this once," he sniffs. then he sits back and looks up, crossing his arms and humming thoughtfully. "if i ever felt the desire to take you out, it would be an all-day endeavor."

"all day?" link says, tilting his head to the side. his curiosity has been piqued; sidon's first date plan consisted only of a dinner and a late-night walk in the park. "you'd plan the whole day for a first date?"

revali gives him a look. "do you think so lowly of me that you think i'd half-ass our first date?" he says snippily. "perhaps some reminders are in order for you; i actually care for the quality of my work, you know. i'm more than happy to welcome you to my twitch and youtube channels to assist in the rejuvenation of your memory."

link returns revali's look. "just continue."

revali hums and settles back in his seat. "right, well before i was so rudely interrupted," he says, "i would utilize the entire day for our date. we'd start with brunch at the new cafe in lanayru promenade, because goddess knows you are not a person of the early morning."

"i could wake up early if i really wanted to, thank you very much," link grumbles. "but lanayru promenade?"

"you mentioned that you've been wanting to try it in the discord calls..." revali says, voice petering off and he looks away. he actually didn't think about what his plan would be if he took link out on a date. he hasn't! it's not like they'd ever date in the first place! but the words just keep spilling out of him and he can't stop... "but that you haven't had a chance. i think you'll like the hylian mushroom toast. it's just as absurd of a meal as you are."

when revali looks back at the screen, link's eyes are wide and he's staring intently back at him. "yeah?" he says. "and what do you have planned after that?"

"i'd take you to the great plateau museum," revali continues, rather softly. "i heard they're opening up the temple of time ruins to the public again. you said you had been waiting for the opening for a long time, but you weren't able to get tickets because the exclusive opening sold out."

"you remember that?" link says. his eyes are wide, shimmering in surprise. "i only said that in passing and that was months ago..."

"well, unlike you, i actually listen when people talk," revali says, finding his bite again. but now he's nervous; why did he remember that? and why did he bring it up as part of the date? "we'd likely be there for the rest of the afternoon, and for dinner, we'd eat at 'sanidin'."

"mm, that's fancy," link muses. "you have 'sanidin' money?"

revali shrugs. "being a quality streamer and youtuber pays when you actually put the work into it."

"is that supposed to be a read?"

"if the shoe fits, you can wear it, darling."

"oh, shut up—"

"and for the grand finale of the night," revali swiftly cuts link off, "i'd take you to my favorite spot in the city and admire the stars." he says it with a level of finality and the call goes silent, as if link and kohga were waiting with bated breath for revali to continue. but he doesn't.

"and where would that be?" link says quietly, his voice almost a whisper.

revali tries to imagine link with him under the cherry blossom tree at the satori observatory park, the night breeze tousling his golden hair. revali tries to imagine link smiling up at him with that pink flush dusting his freckled cheeks and nose, wide blue eyes sparkling. he tries to imagine wrapping an arm around link's waist to pull him close and— surprisingly, it's not hard to imagine at all.

revali leans back in his seat, the barest trace of a smile across his lips. "that's for me to know and for you to find out, if you choose me," he says.

and link pauses and blinks. "what," he says. "you can't just cut your plan off like that when—" the timer signaling the end of the "Date's" duration rings. link stops mid-sentence, mouth agape as kohga unmutes and calls the time. "no, wait, i— he wasn't done—"

"the ten minutes are over, link! play fair!" kohga cackles. "it's time for you to choose your final contestant — one to keep, and one to eliminate! alright chat, we're going to set up a poll for you to guess who link is going to choose, while link DMs me his choice—"

the chat is going fucking nuts, full of #SIDLINK and #REVALINK, people have already clipped revali's entire date plan and it's going viral on twitter, they're #1 on trending, both of their mentions are blowing up, the champions gc is just full of urbosa and zelda teasing revali, and revali is starting to sweat. what if link doesn't choose him? it would be embarrassing if link didn't and that clip of revali talking about their hypothetical first date was just always held over his head. not that any of this is real anyway. he and link would never date. they wouldn't! he's just in it for the views... right, the views...

"okay, chat, everyone!" kohga announces. "link, it's time to make your final decision! according to the name that link has DM'd me... the one he's carefully spent time with and chosen... the winner of this round of love or host..."

"are you going to continue to drag this on?" revali drawls into his mic, but his heart is slamming against his chest. "i think we'd all like to find out who won within this lifetime, you know."

"stop!" kohga whines. "it's for the dramatic effect! you wouldn't understand, this vocal craft of pausing was carefully passed down from my father's mother's father!"

"you are going to become the 'father's mother's father' of your great grandchild by the time we find out who link chose," revali replies wryly. "get on with it, will you?"

"hmph," kohga sniffs. "no appreciation for the arts whatsoever. the winner of this love or host is..." kohga's mic is suddenly full of the sound of paper being shuffled around. "in a strange twist of fate, revali!!!"

revali blinks as kohga screams wildly and sidon smiles good-naturedly, clapping politely. link is smiling but he's averted his gaze away from the camera. revali thinks his face looks a little pink. he wasn't actually expecting to win.

"congratulations on your victory, revali!!!" kohga yells. "however! remember that the contestants had the opportunity to choose either 'love' or 'host' in this game. and sidon chose... love!!!"

sidon tilts his head to the side and smiles again. "i think we would have made an excellent pair if you chose me, link," he says. "i wish only the best for you in the future. thank you for allowing me the opportunity to play with you."

"oh goddess, why did you phrase it like that," link says, turning red and covering his face with his hands. kohga wheezes in the call.

sidon blinks. "what do you mean? i meant playing the game with you."

after sidon is removed the call, it's time for kohga to reveal what revali chose, and now link is the one sweating. he thinks back to the discord call from yesterday, where urbosa said that revali could choose host just to ridicule link. if link knows revali, he knows that revali would take any chance to do so. and why would he choose love anyway? he was probably just bullshitting the whole date idea (which somehow makes link wilt internally; it sounded like a really nice date idea, too...)

"the results are in!" kohga says. "before the show began revali had the chance to choose love or host: love as in looking for a chance to fall in love with link, or host for a chance to get hosted and get those views in! the time has come for us to finally reveal the choice that revali made before the show!"

"it seems to be that i've made a choice before the show started," revali says dryly, and link snickers. "i wonder what the choice was about."

"and revali chose...!" kohga continues, pointedly ignoring revali's comment. there's more papery shuffling behind the mic (why is kohga shuffling papers? both revali and link made their choices over dm), and suddenly a loud, prolonged gasp. "he chose love!!!"

while kohga continues screaming over the mic, link's eyes widen and he blinks. it's revali's turn to not look at the camera, rubbing at the back of his neck. the chat is exploding with messages, "HE CHOSE LOVE???", "get it link lmao", "REVALINK IS REAL".

afaik it's customary for the two people to go on a "date" after the show ends if the contestant chose "love", and by "date" i mean they just sit in a call together and livestream it. idk it's kinda weird KDJHFDKJ but link and revali do exactly that, the livestream gets moved to link's twitch channel and it's just him and revali's cams side by side on a screen, the both of them just silently staring at each other while the chat blows up. neither of them know what to say, fucking losers KJHDFJKD

"so... you chose love?" link finally says breaking the silence. "i didn't expect that from you."

"i had the element of surprise on my side," revali replies. "there's not a better feeling in this world than catching you off guard as much as possible."

link snorts. "you're such a dickhead. i really thought you weren't going to apply for the game."

"call it a change of heart." they're both silent for a couple moments, just staring at each other. the chat is still going a million miles per hour. link's camera quality is so good, revali might be able to count all the freckles on his nose if he really tried.

"were you being for real about your date idea?" link says next. his voice is soft, uncertain, and revali is unnerved by it. link never sounds this vulnerable...

revali waits a beat. "it's real if you want it to be," he answers vaguely.

link's mouth curls up into a smile. "even the dinner at 'sanidin' part?"

revali rolls his eyes. "i told you, caring about the quality of your content pays well. don't doubt me."

and the blond giggles, a sweet sound (that unbeknownst to revali, softens his expression on camera to which revalinkers immediately clip and post onto twitter). "okay. i'd like that, then."

"okay," revali repeats softly. "let me know when you're free, and it's a date."

"it's a date," link echoes, smiling bigger. they're quiet again for a couple moments, link's cheeks turning pink and revali beginning to fidget. "we still on for CSMP tomorrow?"

"of course, we need to build bigger and better spaces for medli and epona. i grabbed some vines from our last trip to the jungle for medli's room, and i think we should add more hay bales to epona's. you're practically starving her, you know."

"i am not!" link says indignantly. "i feed her so many golden apples. how dare you accuse me of starving my child."

they continue bickering for 10 more minutes about their minecraft plans, and then sign off for the night. after link ends his stream, revali sits back in his chair and sighs. what a simply asinine day.

"feeling okay?" link says. revali almost forgot he was still on the call with link and that he still had his camera on. link's eyes are as wide as they always are, shimmering blue with a look of concern on his face.

"i'm fine," revali says. "love or host was longer than i remember."

link hums. "yeah, i guess." he chews his bottom lip for a moment, then continues in a quiet voice. "did you really mean it? the date?"

revali pauses and blinks. "as i said, it's real if you want it to be." the thought that link might want to back out instead makes his heart sink. "unless you don't want to—?"

"i want to," link says firmly. "i want to go on that date with you. if you want to, too." he adds the last part quietly, shyly, unsure. revali doesn't like it.

"then we'll go through with it," revali says softly. "as long as you want to, then... i wouldn't mind going out with you either."

"okay," link whispers, eyes impossibly wider. "okay. let's do it, for real."

revali snorts. "are you sure this time?"

"yes i am, birdbrain, let's fucking gooo—"

"shut the fuck up," revali replies, but a smile is growing on his face. "i'm logging off. you should too and rest up. you've had quite an interesting day."

"you and me both," link says. "bye revali, have a good night. and... thank you."

"mm, a good night to you as well." link waves at him and revali waves back, letting himself smile a little wider. he disconnects, shuts off his computer, and goes to wash up and get ready for bed.

(as he settles for the night in his bed, the distinct sound of a discord notification pings from his phone. revali grabs his phone and checks the message:

Discord master streamer zero 💯 gn vali :] <3

revali snorts and taps on the notification, beginning to type into the app.

Revali 🪶 Goodnight, Link.

and after a moment's hesitation:

Revali 🪶 ❤️ [😧][🫶][⁉️]

Revali 🪶 Dumbass.

master streamer zero 💯 YOU SENT A HEART IM KDJFDKJDFJKD

Revali 🪶 Goodnight, Link. [🫡][😴][❤️]

revali shakes his head, snorting again, and puts his phone down settling into bed. perhaps today wasn't as asinine as he originally thought it was.)

[hyrule-photos]

central hyrule || sanidin park ruins

[neurodiversenerd]

instead of genders you now have to pick a feldspar to identify as

[theclockworkkidart]

One of those intro pages of the characters in Lotl but it’s Bucci Gang in the LotL AU. Because I haven’t drawn most of them in this AU for over a year. Might do Part 7 next. But I started this one back when I started the other two (La Squadra and all Jojos).

Fugo (Cerussite, the poison is lead), Narancia (Flint), Trish (Poudretteite), Mista (Schorl), Bruno (Cassiterite), Abbacchio (Sanidine), and Giorno (Golden Chrysoberyl with gold alloy legs).

[revali-is-a-narc]

Hyrulean Photography

A semi-overhead shot of the Sanidin Park Ruins.

[annyllel]

This is a nice little touch, to see this recalling a memory scene with the glow of Satori Mountain in view.

[fridurwrites]

Learning to Catch at the End of Everything - Chapter 1 (Eyes Open)

Sanidine is ready to get out into space, and nothing is going to stop them from hopping into their ship and becoming the new best there ever was. They'll solve the mysteries of the Nomai, find their missing idol, and advance Hearthian exploration more than ever before, with the help of the translator that they built with Hal and a brand new ship Slate calls their finest work yet. Their launch day is going so well, until suddenly it isn't. A chance encounter with a new artifact in the museum sends them rocketing to Giant's Deep, seeking out Gabbro right away to talk about what turns out to be a shared experience. It's the first of many shared experiences the pair have, as they come to realize their situation. Faced with the reality that the only person either of them can turn to is the other, they're soon forced to learn what it really means to catch someone when they've got nowhere else to fall. And if they can do that, then maybe, just maybe, they can save the universe... or at least save each other.

I've started posting an Outer Wilds fanfic! I was inspired by countless fanworks I've seen both here and elsewhere, including comics by Elwensa, @awanderingmuse-fandom's Off the Marshmallow Stick and Into The Fire, @incoure-art's The Lonely Astronaut Project, @erosophic's heartbeats, @kc-fics' Anchoring You Before You Float Away, there are so many others and your work is all so amazing.

Titles are hard. For now, I'm going with "Learning to Catch at the End of Everything". I have no idea if I'm getting characterization right, but I'm taking a chance that it's solid enough for the fic to find its footing. Chapter 1 is up now. I hope you fall half as much in love with Sanidine as I did when I started writing them!

[ladyphoenixnine]

[lilimoon-draws]

AU where several hundred years have passed since the defeat of The Calamity, and Queen Mipha decides to visit Sanidin Park.

Following their triumph, the king of Hyrule had statues erected at this site to honor all the Champions, immortalizing them as stone protectors forever watching over the land.

Once a bustling hub where people from across the kingdom would gather to pay homage and express gratitude to the heroes who saved the world, the park now sits in neglect and disrepair.

Mipha's companions, including her late husband Link, have long faded from the collective memory.

Yet, Mipha refuses to forget. Whenever she can spare a moment from her royal duties, accompanied by a pair of her guards, she makes the pilgrimage.

In the heart of the park, the statues of the Champions stand, each depicted heroically wielding their weapon in a mid-battle pose. It never fails to amuse Mipha that she was immortalized at such a diminutive stature. If they had all lived as long as she, she would tower over them all, perhaps even Daruk.

She lovingly clears away the dust and natural debris from each statue, reminiscing fondly about her time with her fellow Champions, Princess Zelda, and, of course, Link. She lingers a little longer at Link's statue.

Once she's satisfied with her work, she places flowers at the feet of her departed friends, a bouquet for each. Then, she settles onto one of the benches, content to simply soak in the peaceful view—the peace they all fought so valiantly to preserve.

[cobaltbluesu]

a bunch of oc doodles of some people i know + gossan and porphy + arkose out of nowhere

Sanidine (@fridurwrites) - yes its messy its a sketchy thingy

ballad, gospel and sonnet (Eruraima on twitter)

medulla and sigilaria (lyym @ethercrow and goose)

dreika (rakkigaru on twitter) and kyanite (centaura/@centtaura)

also belongs to centaura

fault and hatchling belonging to rakkigaru

ok das it its joever

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

SCIENCE SATURDAY!

All month, I have been teaching y'all bits and pieces about the minerals known as feldspars. They are the most common minerals in earth's crust. Today, we are going to learn some of the basic chemistry behind feldspar crystallization and erosion.

FELDSPAR CHEMISTRY

Feldspars are formed as a precipitate as magmas cool. As a result, there are many different kinds. Below is a phase diagram:

Ignore B, all we care about it the colorful triangle. All right, so we have 3 endmembers: Orthoclase (kspar), Albite (sodium plag), and Anorthite (calcium plag). Then, there are all the minerals in between which have different mixed percentages of sodium, calcium and/or potassium. For example, Bytownite is 70-90% calcium and 30-10% sodium. See why there are so many types?

All right, now magma. Magmas cool at different rates for various reasons I really don't want to go into because I am a paleontologist, not an igneous petrologist and that research I don't feel like doing.

Feldspar structure: feldspars have what is called a "crankshaft" structure. We have a bunch of tetrahedrons linked by shared oxygen molecules and we make these fun hexagons.

Now, the basic chemical formula is (X)AlSi3O8. What we are essentially seeing is an Al 3+ substituted in for an Si 4+ causing a charge imbalance because 3 does not equal 4. This requires additional cations (called coupled substitutions).

EXAMPLE: Al 3+ and Na+ or K+ OR 2Al 3+ and 1 Ca 2+

Where is the aluminum? That depends on the temperature of our magma! High temperatures make the position more random while low temps make it more ordered.

If we look at kspar (geologists are lazy and potassium feldspar is a lot to say) we have a K-Al coupled substitution with three polymorphs controlled by temperature and ordering. If we set up a graph where the y-axis is cooling rate and the x-axis is order, we would see the feldspar Sanidine has the lowest order and the fastest cooling and Microcline has the highest order and the slowest cooling while Orthoclase is somewhere in the middle.

Plagioclase has a complete solid solution between the endmembers Albite and Anorthite as I described earlier. Things to note are temperature (once again) plays an important role. Albite forms in low temp magma (800 degrees Celsius) and Anorthite forms in high temp magmas (1100 degrees Celsius). Yes, I know, 800 is a lot but not as mush as 1100 so deal.

They also contain different amounts of silica (SiO2). Albite is 75% silica while Anorthite only has 50%. Anorthite is also the first felspar mineral to crystallize in cooling magma.

HYDROLYSIS

This is the chemical weathering of feldspars into clays such as illite, kaolinite, and smectite.

(That last one overlooks the dinosaur site I work at).

Due to the high temps that feldspars form at, they are not very stable at the surface. Therefore, they weather extraordinarily easily. Hydrolysis happens when water reacts with feldspar minerals (basic or acidic water works best because IONS). The feldspars are dissolved and then produce new ions in solution (K+, Ca2+, Na+).

Here is an example:

And now you know a little bit about the chemistry of feldspars!

[dilfmansion]

Eclipse ~ Post-TotK Zelink

words: 2k

read on ao3

Nightmares are nothing new to Link.

He’s had them nearly every night since waking up. He doesn’t remember dreaming when he slept then, drifting weightless in that pool of blue fluid, but every time he’s shut his eyes since has been fraught with visions.

Even now, after all that has happened, after the Calamity and the Upheaval, after losing everything and finding it again, he still can’t seem to shake the worry that follows him into sleep.

The dreams are not the same from one night to the next.

Sometimes it’s about his arm.

The feeling of it rotting away while still attached, the flesh infected with malice and death. The way his nerves fry and his grip on the master sword slips as muscle is worn through and rendered useless.

Sometimes it’s Ganon.

Red hair corded like sinew, eyes so full of calm hatred that Link’s hands start to shake if he looks for too long. His hands wrapped around Link’s head, squeezing like he’s trying to burst his skull.

Zelda sleeps with him now. It had been something silently agreed on when she came to stay in Hateno and just never left. It helps, a little— having her there. He likes waking up to the smell of her hair, the press of her hand to his chest, soft murmurs of assurance as she coaxes him back to sleep. It’s a vast improvement from silence and an empty home. It doesn’t stop the dreams, but they seem easier when she’s there.

Today the nightmare is something new.

It begins with the blood moon. Hung low and bright in the sky, it casts deep shadow across the landscape that seems to twist and writhe everywhere it can find darkness. Link blinks. It feels slow, uncoordinated. He recognizes this place, he thinks. A vague approximation of the ruins of Sanidin Park, slightly distorted and stained red from the light of the moon. 

Link steps into the vision. It feels dull, like tepid water lapping against his skin. Strings of malice seep up from the ground and dissipate. It would almost be beautiful, if he didn’t know what it was. What it could do.

He thinks to look up, drawn by some invisible string to the statue of the horse that sits in the middle of the rotunda. Link’s breath stops in his throat.

Zelda stands there. Barefoot, staring up into the bloody sky. She looks like some homage to the Goddess, clad in robes dyed pink and brown by the light of the moon, 

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

I missed you , Link responds, though he doesn’t remember speaking.

Zelda turns to him slow. Like they’re underwater. 

At the same unhurried pace, Link feels an echo of discomfort at the very fringes of his mind. Something is not right, though he can’t place what. 

The princess picks her steps carefully as she steps towards him. She moves stiffly, like her legs aren’t quite limber enough to carry her. Link frowns. Doesn’t move from where he stands as she approaches.

You are so loyal.

She’s right in front of him, suddenly.

Kneel .

Link does– his legs turn to liquid under him before he can choose to obey. When did she get so close to him?

Do you know why I like you, knight?

He doesn’t like the way she says these things. She speaks to him like he’s a child, but there’s something missing. The words are hollow. Absent of tone. Link swallows down a question– she’s already asked him one, requested an answer. He stays silent for a few beats.

I serve you .

He blinks and Zelda is gone. 

No .

Her voice returns, directly in his right ear, sharp where it should be soft. Link is pushed forward by the force of the word and something he cannot name. He trips over himself to look back at her.

Zelda smiles, the expression dying before it reaches her eyes. 

Silly boy . She rises from her low bow. You’re a fine warrior, but you’re quite dim, aren’t you?

Link’s brow creases, his eyes searching her face. It holds no humor, no sense that she may not be telling the truth. She wears an expression of utter indifference. And Goddess, that hurts .

You would do anything for me, if I asked.

It’s true and Link knows it. Maybe that’s why he falters.

You would kill for me , Zelda continues. Her feet begin to lift off the ground. Black pools flood her eyes in place of vibrant green. You would die for me . You have, before.

Fear crawls into Link like an animal. It begins to gnaw at his bones, make his breath come quick and his hands seize up. He squeezes his eyes shut, praying to the Goddess that that will make this go away, make everything normal again, bring the real Zelda back so that she can laugh and take his hands and tell him kind things.

Link is awarded no such luck.

When he opens his eyes again it’s not to Zelda. It’s to Ganon, looming massive and stifling above him, mirroring the red moon.

You will die again .

Link is ripped from the dream like a bandage from a fresh wound, raw parts of him sticking to its fabric.

He wakes up crying.

The blankets are shoved off as he scrambles to sit up, clawing at his heaving chest, breath catching in his lungs before he can take in enough air. His throat aches and sweat sticks his bangs to his forehead. Streaming in through the window, just as vicious and unwelcoming as it was in his dream, is the light of the blood moon. 

“Link..?”

He responds to the soft call of his name instantly, wild eyes snapping up to find where it came from.

Zelda is standing there at the top of the stairs. She looks almost out of breath, like she had run up them, and pure, soft worry has set creases in the lines of her face.

All Link sees is the Zelda from his dream. Her dead eyes, the way she moved like her limbs were not her own. He hears what she had said to him. How true it had sounded. Like his stupidity was a fact, like all he was good for was following her around like a stray dog and barking only when she commanded it. Link starts to shake his head, his tongue caught.

Zelda moves towards him, slow, careful. She had learned quickly what his nightmares are like, how scared he can be when he wakes up from them. Most nights she is already there next to him, cupping his face in her hands and carding fingers through his long hair and telling him everything is okay. Tonight is different. This is new territory.

“It’s alright,” Zelda is quick to assure, concern creasing her brow as she comes to rest at the side of the bed, kneeling to bring herself closer to Link’s level. “You’re safe, Link, it was only a dream.” She reaches out to him. A hand on his knee, nothing more, but the gesture makes him jump as if he’s been burned. Link recoils, pressing himself into the corner where the bed meets the wall. His breaths begin to come faster, tears spilling down flushed cheeks and fingers trembling where they’ve latched onto a fistfull of the bedsheets.

Zelda’s eyes widen– that had been mistake, evidently. She withdraws her hand, eyes searching Link’s for any sign of what went wrong. What he’s seeing that she’s not. She is a scientist. This is what she does best.

It only takes a few moments for her to notice it. Link is tracking every movement she makes. Every time she blinks. Frantic, hesitant. Assessing what she might do next. Zelda sees it on his face. Slowly, painfully, realization dawns. 

She is a threat.

Zelda ignores the ache in her chest that flares up at that thought. Gingerly, so as not to frighten him more than she already has, she turns around, never raising herself higher than Link’s eye level. She sits with her back to him, a universal act of surrender and trust. Placing the control in his hands. 

“I’m sorry,” she says, soft and level, eyes cast down to the floor, “I didn’t know.”

It doesn't feel like enough. Zelda wants to wrap her arms around Link, press soft kisses to his forehead and show him just how little of a threat to him she is. But now is not the time.

Minutes pass in silence. Eventually Link’s panicked breaths begin to slow, and the light of the blood moon graduates to a softer red as the night passes its peak. 

“It wasn’t you.”

His voice is startling in the quiet. Zelda lifts her head, taking a moment to sit with the words.

“In your dream?”

She doesn’t need an answer to know she’s right. Link has told her about what happened during the Upheaval before, on nights not unlike these. When his hands move feverishly with the weight of words he cannot say. He’s told her about the other Zelda. The figment of malice and deceit that Ganon had seemingly crafted for the sole purpose of destroying Link’s will. Of shredding any hope he had left. It had worked well, if this was any indication.

Zelda moves slowly as she angles herself back towards Link. He’s still backed into the corner like a feral animal, but some of the fear seems to have subsided. Now Link sits there, hand curled in the hair at the back of his neck, miserable and exhausted . Dark circles cast his eyes in shadow, lids only halfway open and lashes wet with clingling tears.

“I know it wasn’t.” Zelda extends a hand again– slower this time, making sure Link sees exactly what she is doing as she places it palm-down on the bed at least a few inches away from him. He watches, makes no change or indication of discomfort. Progress , Zelda thinks. “I’m sorry for frightening you.”

Link shakes his head. He lets his hand fall from his hair, reaching across his lap to let his own hand rest near hers. Not quite touching. 

“I missed you.” 

His voice is so small it hurts. Zelda bridges the gap between them, fingers lacing together in a small promise of assurance, comfort. 

“I will always come back to you.”

That’s all it takes. Link’s face cracks and he looks up, finally meeting her gaze as another round of tears well up in blue eyes. He unfurls himself from his hiding place, stretching out towards Zelda, towards solace.

She meets Link halfway and catches him as he all but falls into her arms. Zelda holds him close against her as she smooths his hair down against the back of his head, chest hitching with ragged sobs. His fingers curl in the back of her tunic. 

They hold each other fast there for far too long to count. Hours, maybe. Until Link breathes steadily again and his fingers loosen in the fabric of her clothes. Zelda only moves when her legs begin to grow numb beneath her. She joins him in their bed then, limbs tangling together as they curl into one another, as close as they can be without taking up residence beneath each others’ skin.

It’s late– early, rather, and they both need rest. Link breathes out against her, long and soft. Gentle. At ease. He reaches out until he finds her hand, calloused fingers cradling hers as he turns it palm-up to face them and begins to write against her skin. The slow drag is warm and familiar. I love you. Zelda smiles, kisses the side of his head.

“I love you,” she returns, a whisper against Link’s temple, and it’s so earnest because it’s true. She would give her life for him in a heartbeat and take care of him until the word ceases to spin. He is the bravest person she has ever met. The strongest, the kindest, the most honest. He is a thousand perfect things, and he will hear every one if it takes her a lifetime to speak them all.

As the last rays of the blood moon fade, and the sky cedes to the dim light of morning, Zelda feels the soft imprint of his smile press against her collarbone.