#the power of understanding shorts

[faroreskiss]

Triforce of Mischief

Summary: Chain sees that you have a particular tattoo and chaos is the only reaction they have, since language barrier is definitely a thing. Time & Twilight freak out. Wind could have spoken sooner.

1.8k words

Read on Ao3

Since this can also be read as a stand alone story, I didn’t include Hylian, or the dialects of the Chain. If you are interested in that, feel free to visit the main story that can serve as a prequel to this short! (Not edited)

Following your departure from the Ordon Spring alongside the other boys, you journeyed toward the Ordon Village. Most of their conversation still didn’t make much sense to you, but at least you learnt a few words here and there on the way, especially from the Smith and the Sailor. 

The midday weather was brisk, even though the sun shone at its peak. You had a similar attire with your travel companions, a relatively long sleeved tunic that sometimes revealed your wrists if you were to raise your arms. Yours had wider arm-cuts, but felt like they weren’t thick enough for this kind of weather. A slight shiver ran through you, which Link fortunately noticed. He paused and offered you his signature cloak, to which you politely refused multiple times (at least you motioned it somehow). His attempt to offer warmth made the fangirl within you scream in delight, but you kept declining. You blushed slightly and finally accepted even though you knew you weren’t that far from your destination, wrapping yourself in the warmth it provided. 

You thanked the Golden Three that you had been on hikes with him on Mt. Lanayru regularly before your involvement with the other Links; otherwise, you did not think you could survive all this hiking. Thinking about having to climb the ladder to the Rancher’s treehouse already made your legs wobble.

Though you could swear that the Ordon Spring waters calmed your nerves and eased your inner storm for a little bit. 

Luckily, you were almost there. The wooden arch that said… something in Hylian (probably ORDON?) took your attention. Oh you were so excited…

[And that’s me,] the Rancher spoke as he pointed towards his treehouse. This was really like the game, nestled in a secluded corner near the entrance of the village. You didn’t understand a word he said, but you could see near the tree there was a brown mare simply grazing around. 

And what a sight she was. You couldn’t help yourself as you whispered “Epona…?” to yourself and walked towards her as if you were in a trance. 

Of course, you didn’t notice the Old Man raising his eyebrow or the Rancher also hearing you. You stopped in your tracks, then watched the Rancher go towards the horse instead, petting it and saying something to it. He made eye contact with you as he was caressing her nose, and motioned you to come over, you guessed. 

“May I?” you asked, and even though the language barrier was still present, the Rancher gave a warm, friendly nod. As you approached Epona, her deep, soulful eyes locked onto yours, and it felt as if she understood the reverence in your gaze. With a gentle, careful touch, you began to run your hand along her sleek, chestnut mane, marveling at the silky texture beneath your fingers.

[Epona] he said, as he gave an apple to her. You just smiled, pretending to hear it for the first time and repeated her name. 

Epona seemed to appreciate the affection, and she leaned into your touch, her powerful frame radiating warmth and serenity. 

As you continued to pet Epona, your sleeves slipped down to your wrists, revealing a set of three small triangles on your skin. The right one was filled in with black. The Rancher and the Old Man both noticed this mark, and although they didn't say anything, they exchanged knowing glances.

When everybody finally settled in Twilight’s cabin, he lit the fireplace. His cabin had an air of rustic charm, filled with a cozy warmth that welcomed all who entered. The walls were made of weathered wood, lending the space a natural, earthy ambiance. The cabin had lanterns that hung from sturdy wooden beams overhead, which you imagined would cast quite the gentle radiance, once lit. 

The Chain kept talking between each other, though you didn’t understand much. Wind was all the way up, lost in his world. For some reason, really interested in Rancher's books.

You took off the cape Wild lent you and gave it back to him, since it started getting quite warm inside. You already had another layer under your long sleeved tunic, so you took the upper layer off as well, now sitting with the others (you secured yourself a chair at least) in a short sleeved shirt. Time and Twilight were still casting glances at you.

“What?” you stretched as you pointed the pointless question towards them. Not that it would change anything…You saw that Sky also managed to get a chair, and he was already kind of looking like he was about to doze off. Maybe you should have followed suit…

[Champion, you are sure Y/N does not have anything to do with the Hero’s Spirit or any sages?] Time asked Wild. He seemed quite perplexed by the question. 

[Or is she part of the royal family perhaps?] Twilight continued.

[Uh, no? Why?] Wild replied.

You just closed your eyes as you listened to them speak. It felt like listening to an audiobook in a language you didn’t understand, as a sleeping aid. Though you had a strange feeling that they were talking about you.

Legend and Hyrule were definitely listening in, though the former pretended as if he couldn’t care less, even though his ears definitely perked up at the mention of the royal family. 

[You mean the mark on her wrist?] Sky chimed in instead, to your surprise. The others seemed surprised that he was way more perceptive than he looked.

[What mark?] Four asked and then Time & Twilight explained the mark they have seen on your wrist.

The volume of the chatter was increasing, slightly annoying you. Wild gently poked your shoulder to see if you were awake, and you opened your eyes. There was no way you could sleep in this noisy environment.

He pointed at your left wrist, gently touching your arm after checking in with you, and motioning you to raise it. The whole room was staring at your Triforce of Courage ink now. 

Oh, right…

“Guys, it’s just a tattoo,” you tried to explain to no avail. 

It is hard to explain things when people literally don’t understand a word you say.

You could see Time & Twilight & Legend & Warriors and Sky comparing their faded Triforce marks on their hands, and Wild & Four looking confused about the whole thing. 

[I mean, I did say I sense some residual magic on her, but that’s definitely not what I was sensing,] Hyrule was saying as he glanced at your tattoo. 

[Members of the royal family don’t randomly get the mark of Triforce on their wrists, not unless they are Zelda at least,] Legend scoffed. Wind seemed to be not paying attention, still busy with Twilight's books upstairs for some reason.

[Well this is certainly odd, I never thought much about the mark, though we had other matters to attend to… But… What is Triforce?] Wild kept questioning, though he seemed to have forgotten that he was still touching your shoulder from the side. You sighed. It was fun at first, but now it was getting quite boring that you didn’t understand anything. Though it wasn’t that hard to guess…

[Yeah I was about to ask the same thing… I just thought that’s the symbol of the royal family or something?] Four added, making the rest of the group look at them in disbelief. Sky seemed especially distraught. 

The bickering continued for a while, and you kept thinking about how to explain this to them. Weren’t these people familiar with the concept of a tattoo? Of course, why you had something like that was another matter, but excuse you for wanting to get a Zelda-themed tattoo and considering the fact that you might end up in Hyrule?

Hmmm, what if I just show them something similar instead, to try to explain?

You sighed, stood up and walked towards Time and Twilight, while the group's curious glances still loomed over you. Right, these two already had some markings that were like tattoos, so you thought it would at least be a good parallel. 

Right after you pointed at your tattoo, you pointed towards the Rancher's face first, specifically to his markings. He had a confused look on his face, which quickly became an expression of horror, which seemed to have spread to some others in the group.

Wait…

[Farore above…]

What in Hylia's name was going on? That sounded grim, along with some others.

Next, you moved to Time, who was already sitting next to him. You mumbled a quick "Sorry…" for invading his personal space as you blushed, hoping he didn't mind. He was as stoic as one could get, you hoped he wouldn't somehow grab your wrist or something. 

You also pointed (almost touched, really) to his marks on his face, before you pulled back and pointed towards your tattoo again. 

"It's just a tattoo, why do you all look so judgemental suddenly?" You almost screamed in protest. You tried to make the motion of drawing the shape by yourself. Even tried pretending as if you have a nail and a hammer, and as if you are drawing on a skin.

I don't think tattoo pens exist here…

Time's eyes widened. The atmosphere in the room was even worse.

[How…?!] he said in shock.

You realized a little bit too late that it wasn't the smartest decision to point at his Wolf markings and Time's Fierce Deity Mask markings and then to yourself.

Because Twilight and Time kept speaking with each other, with Legend and Hyrule chiming in, the others watching you suddenly with suspicion, with Wild going between you and the others almost in a defensive stance. It was getting heated. Oh Gods…

Meanwhile, the Sailor finally decided to come down with a huge grin on his face, earning even more scornful looks from the others. 

Then he started laughing. 

Little rascal.

He knew.

He knew yet he did not step in until the last minute, pretending to browse the books and maps up there instead. 

You sighed almost in relief as you watched him try to explain things to others. At least, you assumed. 

It was quite clear that these were the heroes who held the Triforce of Courage, and not Wisdom. 

How could anybody not think of tattoos and just jump to the worst conclusions instead?!

But you were sure, the Sailor was especially deserving of the Triforce of Courage, since he dared to wait until the last moment instead of coming clean right away.

____________________________

It was only months later you found out what was said, and that there was an agreement to never ever mention the incident again. 

"I knew what it was right away," Wind smirked at you, after he explained what happened on that day. "We have a few people in the crew with some sick ink!"

Sure, you understood that there was some residual magic they sensed on you.

But… Was it really your fault that they immediately thought you could both be associated with twilight magic and Fierce Deity at the same time? Come on, even for this universe, it sounded cuccos. 

"Having that symbol tattooed is quite a choice though," Four gave you side eyes. 

You just shrugged.

Wind could have interfered earlier.

Little shit. If it existed, he would have gotten the Triforce of Mischief instead.

Back to Masterlist / Back to the Power of Understanding

[theskiesthatshimmer]

💥☀️

[childrenofthesun77]

Assuming that the whole 'mahiru is the vessel needed to bring back the count and the 9th servamp will be the servamp of vainglory' theory will be correct, it's interesting how both mahiru and touma can be accused of this sin even if the way it applies to them is opposed.

What touma wants is to be acknowledged and to that end he was willing to become the villain who destroyed the world before mahiru and tsurugi managed to change his mind:

Mahiru's way of being vainglorious seems a lot more positive at first because he wants to be a hero who saves others, but it's self-destructive and encourages laziness in others:

But thankfully we see mahiru starting to let go of the need to make other people proud of him and to prioritize making himself proud in his conversation with tsurugi:

and later when mahiru has a meltdown because he fears his uncle might be dead and suggests sacrificing his life to save the world kuro rightfully yells at mahiru for acting hypocritical and not listening to his own advice:

(I want to mention here that I really love how horrified kuro looks as he realizes that mahiru's reckless hero behaviour comes from a very self-destructing place:

because not a lot of manga I know really acknowledge that maybe the way a lot of their protagonists try to be heroic is actually pretty unhealthy and shouldn't be encouraged? Like Sigurd pointed out at the C3 meeting, it's kind of shameful that the children have to save the day)

Which is why I love that mahiru decided to trust kuro to handle tsubaki without him going with him:

He decides to stay back with everyone else, showing that he has learned that he doesn't need to be the one to do everything and can stay back with the others to buy kuro time.

Interestingly we see touma doing something similar. Opposed to his old need to have the whole world acknowledge him he now wishes for everyone to believe he's dead and he's helping to protect the city by creating a huge barrier without making it known that's he the one doing this:

He's helping the protagonists seemingly with no intention of earning acknowledgement for it.

I think in a way it could be cool of servamp to subvert the shouned trope that for the finale battle the only one able to defeat the big bad is the protagonist while everyone else just watches on from the sidelines, not allowed to do anything because this is the protagonist's moment of glory.

What if lily's plan when he put kuro in mahiru's path was that if kuro tried to stop tsubaki at the gate surely his eve would need to be there with him, right? Because of course he needs his eve to fight and then there's also the distance limit. So why not make the vessel you need at that gate for the ritual to work kuro's eve? Then the vessel would be at the place where you need them without you even needing to do something because naturally they would be thinking they are doing the right thing by going with kuro to fight tsubaki together. And surely someone as vainglorious as mahiru would never pass up the opportunity to be the hero who stops tsubaki. It's foolproof!

Unless of course before the ritual the vessel learned to let go of their vainglorious nature, accepted that it's okay to take a step into the background and trust in others. And additionally also found a way to break through the whole forced proximity thing that the servamp and eves had going on.

I don't know, I feel like it would be a neat bow on mahiru's character arc and a unique way to thawrt the antagonists' plans if the creation of the servamp of vainglory failed because the 'it has to be me' guy they wanted to use as the vessel decided against glory and stayed back to let his partner handle things with tsubaki alone because he trusts him. Kuro on the other hand wants to make up for his past regrets and resolve the conflict through communication this time. Learning to trust in himself again by managing to talk tsubaki out of going through with the ritual on his own would be a logical conclusion to kuro's arc.

[sqlmn]

Lightning, water, and fire! Like forever before the plot starts. By the time the plot starts, the lightning and fire deities have been subjected to punishment by the two gods that picked them.

Oh (the fire deity) is first to be punished. They basically decide that since they're going to live for a long time, gotta set some long time goals! And they opt to be the wrath of the gods since most of the other deities are too 'soft' in their opinion. So Oh just. Smites humans. This isn't really a /good/ thing and in their defense mentally, they do it to help Ymber since he's the softest of them all. So their punishment by the gods is to be split in two, effectively halving the power of one into two. (Now they are in a male and a female body and use both male and female pronouns apart since they together make they but apart it feels weird to be they. But prior to the split they use they/them. Also the split bodies go by the names Ohiwe and Ohime.)

Fulj is the second to be punished. She falls in love with a mortal woman and that is a crime according to the gods. Mortals and immortals are not to be together and it will only bring suffering to both sides. So her punishment is her memories of the woman are stripped and her body basically broken to the point she can't remain physical all the time.

Ymber, unfortunately, is the one who blames himself for the discoveries and punishments. If he had only tried to restrain Oh more then maybe they would have chilled out and stopped before being punished. If he had only tried to persuade Fulj to not continue seeing the mortal woman so often perhaps she wouldn't have been punished. So he's just increasing the guilt on his shoulders every day that he remains unpunished since the elder gods have both laid down to rest. They can't enforce their laws anymore and none of the deities are keen on harming one another at this point. They just want to continue existing in peace.

[jrueships]

can you please walk us through the relationship between wemby and jabari the people need to know

i think the most notable thing about vic and Jabari's relationship is that they don't have one, when it would be so beneficial if they did. they're like two soldiers fighting for the opposite sides of a war, too loyal to the cause to stop and think about what could have been if they just lowered their respective weapons aimed by cold hands larger than their own. foils by fate, friends by freedom.

' remember, you will Always be Different. '

' remember, you will Always be Replaceable. '

'Replaceable'

Jabari's dad made it in the NBA, then didn't. He was a big that could shoot, but wasn't a post-up man. Back then, post-up was the desired style. Ironically, now, it's all about shooting. But his dad didn't live in the now, and his career in the US was short-lived, to keep it cordial. Jabari's older brother played basketball throughout his whole life, but stopped after college. Jabari's cousin, Kwame Brown, was drafted 1st overall in the lottery, and became a notorious bust for the Washington wizards.

Basketball is a business. Basketball is fleeting.

It doesn't matter that a big with sharpshooter skills is valued as something so 'prized' in today's nba, not back then, not when it would have mattered for Jabari's dad. Making it is one ballpark in its own, but Staying in it? Can perhaps be an even more painful ordeal when the hoops to accomplish it aren't circus hoops, but a plain hill some just don't have the strength, mentality, or the materials to help climb without distraction or pitfall.

Jabari's dad made sure Jabari had this threat forever ingrained in his mind. When he yells at Jabari for misplaced eye contact, for typing the wrong words in a public social media reply, for reacting in a way a camera might misinterpret, it's out of love. Jabari's dad was known for being a hassle to coach back then, maybe because he knew his potential and no one else did because it was too new to the mold. So he makes sure Jabari doesn't follow his same habits. Jabari is polite to authority, simply replies with a 'Yes Sir' or a 'No Ma'am', he holds eye contact, he wakes up hours before he needs to just to jump rope, just to uphold the standards that his family could not. He is Everything his father is and isn't, plus more. When his team wins, he's still talking about his missed freethrows even 8 hours later. Because someone else could have won the game And hit those free throws too . someone from a family that gained success and stayed in that success. Someone who wasn't Just Another Son of a basketball player trying to do what his father couldn't, someone who was Different .

Everyone knew wemby was different. When his literature class was asked to write an essay about your future dreams in life, he wrote a fictional romance about a couple where the woman got in a car accident and was comatosed as a result, but got better in the end. He didn't write about being a great basketball player one day, because his parents don't pressure him to hunker himself into the norm, even though his mother once was and now coaches. If Wemby one day realized this wasn't for him, they would encourage him to leave and follow whatever greater passions propelling him. He's so agile for his size because his dad was an Olympic talent in track and field. He is someone who has hobbies and talents that are considered common alone, but strange combined, because he loves what he has and what he does. He reads every night for one hour before bed not to appear as some pseudointellectual, but because he Genuinely loves it, and when he loves something, he excels at it. He does try to be different, but not out of ego. He just loves to be. He either accomplishes at 200% or zero. It may be 200% in an unexpected direction, but it's His direction and that's what matters. If he somehow does wind up a bust, a possibility he considers without fear but acceptance as potential fate, then he won't go down as yet another failed first pick. He'll fall as he flew, Victor Wembanyama.

' Different '

' Replaceable'

Jabari winces each time he's subbed out, even for a second, even on an injured ankle, he's silently Stubborn, his posture shrunken and his gaze at the ground yet his eyes, big, wobbling, staring up always at the speaker, he's silently scared.

Jabari doesn't Want to be different. He just wants to be what his family couldn't be when it came to fame: irreplaceable . His parents split when he was younger, he tries his hardest to appease them both as to not cause any more issues. The relationship relies on his shoulders more than ever, and he can't fumble it again. He has to be what his dad couldn't so his dad can stay, commenting on commonality or surprises. He wants to support his still working mother, especially after the split. He doesn't Want to be unique, he just wants Security.

Because this can crumble any moment now, it doesn't matter how high your pick was or how bright the future Could Have been or how the game would later shift to your style if you had just somehow Stayed. Why bet on low chances if you know you can't handle the risk. He shakes any college coaches' hands that showed up to his practices, personally thanks them for coming even though he's one of the best in the country so their presence should be a given to him, it's not. When he picks a college, he picks one that guaranteed their faith in him from day One, and didn't require any further prodding to finally say '.. Maybe we'll offer you a position' like Kentucky did, as big and famous as it is, it wasn't Secured . They saw him as a risk at one point, and that's everything he's been trying to avoid when it came to attention, negatively standing out.

Jabari wants to be known as the strong shoulder to the world. He WANTS to be known as That One Guy who can just carry everything, nameless but Good. He just wants to be Good. Please tell him he's good. Please tell him what he's doing is Good. That basing his entire personality around yet another soldier who ultimately fell in battle but fought nonetheless being nameless is Good. Please feel free to give him all your burdens to bear like he's just some mule, an animal, a Tool .. because that means he's Useful, at least. That means he's Good. And if he isn't good, then he's nothing. Because you can always just buy another one anyways. A better one.

'Different'

Although his parents try not to treat Wemby by simplifying his differences into a strictly labeled, simple FUTURE BASKETBALL PRODIGY box at birth, that doesn't mean that can always stop others from doing it. Wemby signed his first autograph at ten years old.

It didn't matter if he was a kid who was so much more than just his basketball future, basketball fans wanted one thing from him and one thing only: Success. People didn't care about his literary skills or his drawing hobbies. The eyes on his alien needed to be smaller 'so your shoe can sell better, trust us, it's still Your drawing.. your weird little .. not money-making hobby, do believe me, Vic, We know what We're doing. You just stick to whatever you do.'

His differences, in the end, are minimalized just to that. He's just Different. That's what everyone says who wouldn't really care to say anything at all if he never hooped as well as they wanted in the first place. The youtube videos of 40 year old men criticizing his 15 year old games didn't Really care if he was just a kid, they just cared in the 'imagine when he reaches peak physicality? imagine the points (money) he'd make for the nba.' His beautiful differences, artistic, soft, unique but oh-so wonderfully common and passionate.. are all dissolved into 'Different', the Base definition.

he's an alien. Someone you can just dump all your poverty franchise worries onto because don't worry, he's Different. Trust me, he'll save your team. 'He's Different. ..am i talking about how he'd effortlessly answer questions in class while also trying to hide the fact that he's playing on his phone by tucking his bony legs awkwardly in his chair and crouching his spine over that it looked almost scary? HELL NO? what does THAT have to do with BASKETBALL?? no, he's just freakishly long, but like. Gifted. Though. ... I don't know, man, he's just DIFFERENT, okay? you can trust me, i'm a sports podcaster, okay? everything i say is gold.'

A celebrity approaches him because he was different than most famous basketball athletes. He was Different. And yet, when he didn't recognize or notice her presence due to Different cultures ( due to Being Genuinely, Detailedly Different ), he was scorned and ushered out of public eye so another possible pr bomb couldn't injure his reputation as a Difference That They Really Would Rather Not Want.

that's what his reading falls into, his old friends, his family, his art, his personality. If it's beyond ball, if it's beyond Business. The world only cares if it's marketable. Sure, some reporters will ask a question outside of sport, but only because it'll be a Different.. funny little nugget of knowledge for fans to laugh at then soon disregard for what Really made him famous. But, Wemby is what he always wanted to be. He's Different. So What if it's not exactly the kind of Different he actually wants, he actually functions on? No one has the time to perform 200% anymore. Slap the label you wanted and call it quits, stop being so High-Maintenanced. That's not marketable.

You're just different. And to some people, that's all you'll ever be. No need to explore it any further. Who knows, your Consumers might find something they won't like. And we can't risk that happening to our greatest circus freak.

i mean. Generational basketball talent .

If there's a press conference going on that somehow includes the two, then Wemby just wants to be sure everyone can hear what he really wants to say, in his own words, not echoing anyone else's, and Jabari just wants to Be in the Room.

His brother stopped playing basketball because his family said he didn't try hard enough. Jabari Can't have that. His whole life revolves Around basketball, around sport. He doesn't WANT to be DIFFERENT if that isn't the soundest option, he just wants to be GREAT. Because GREAT is SUCCESS. Jabari Smith is not success. It's just a retry at it . His father shares the same name.

Wemby's life did not always revolve around basketball, to people, at one point. At one point, Wemby's life was just his life. Now, it seems like only his family think that, and they're from a whole other country. When he comments on videos critiquing his playstyle, he doesn't do so out of anger or questioning, he does so because he genuinely Wants to improve. He Does want to be great. But, he wants to be great in Everything that he finds interesting. He always did. When he likes an author, he reads All their books, not just their most notorious novel. He wants to be transported into other people's worlds so he can learn, so he can change, so he can be Different. Even if he somehow were to lose all of this fame, this Greatness, this job, this opportunity, he will never really lose. Because he's someone who's always taken opportunities to the fullest, so even if they pan out a little differently, that's Fine, really, because he's different. Not in the minimizing, dictionary definition then leave the meaning at that different, but in the butterfly effect. What he once was ten days ago is not exactly the same of what he is now, and it hurts, sometimes, when people fail to see that, or simply don't want to because textbook different is easier to digest than worldly different.

IN SHORT.. theyre foils. i can't Exactly walk u thru their relationship bcs .. there Isn't one.. & that's what's so Interesting about them. That's what makes their relationship, to me. Because if they WERE to be friends, if they somehow in some alternate world WERE to get paired up on the same team... they would be friends. I really think they would be. Not only because their signs are so compatible, or their differences are so stark, but because their similarities would triumph everything beautifully. Maybe. We don't know because they Weren't paired together, we can only speculate. But i think it would be big and beautiful, whatever they would have, it would be Something.

unfortunately, we don't live in an alternate world where they're teammates though ! Double unfortunately, Jabari and Wemby's biggest similarity is their loyalty to the game (a double-edged sword in both their lives from Jabari's silent unhealthy desire to be limited and Wemby's silent desperation not to be) Wemby, in Jabari's eyes, is Indeed a powerful...

Problem.

He's not really a person to him . In all fairness, no one really is when they're involved in the basketball world, not to Jabari, not from the way he's been taught. Everyone's supposed to be Replaceable, a faceless tool in the pocket of good business.

.. except for This freakazoid. Apparently.

APPARENTLY, he's some supposed 'saint'. someone to be feared for being more. APPARENTLY, the reporters just LOVE yapping about him SO much, that Jabari HAS to take the time out of his training just to talk about some guy who doesn't even GO here, yet when they ask him about his opinion on future prospects. WELL, that's ALL wemby IS to Jabari, just another future prospect. Just another problem.

A problem he'll be sure to check off his list.

... okay, so Maybe he's a bit more than a problem.. maybe.. he's just a really persistent problem? yeah, that's it, nothing more. Jabari will work through this. He Always does. That's what he does well, Work.

Wemby wonders if that's all he ever does .

But he doesn't have long before Jabari's marching down the tunnel to beat himself up over all his mistakes other people would never make, and Wemby's being escorted to an interview that other people would never make solely to show how Much he just Stands Out as a soul... in basketball .

I hope they find each other in basketball, and out of it as well. I just feel like

Something would Happen

[stromer]

so-called "Free Thinkers" when cole caufield posts on instagram

[scribefindegil]

u ever have a popular text post that you associate so strongly with a specific blorbo that when you see it in edits for other characters, no matter how well it fits, you're just like 'Nah, not for you'

[rawliverandgoronspice]

👀👀👀 just one more scene and I have a first version of the animatic that Can Be Watched* from start to finish**

*(it doesn't mean it's well drawn, a good third of the frames are ms paint level of quality and only a quarter maybe have been rendered --but honestly rendering goes relatively fast, it's more the lineart that is a problem)

**(sssssort of, and I still refuse to elaborate, though I suppose I will have to at some point.......)

[daveyfvckingjacobs]

does anyone want to help me put jack and edwin in a little hamster wheel so I can study them

[faroreskiss]

The Hero, The Guilt and The Chocolate

Summary: Days of peace were still upon you, but you had to ruin it with your thoughts of the previous life you had. Time tries to calm you down, but not in a way one would expect. Oh Nayru, how do you explain a typical office job to someone like Link? Or corporate slavery?

Based on this fic. Can be read stand alone.

Read on Ao3

Ah… Winter was finally here, or was it already leaving? It was proving really difficult to tell with all the portals making you jump from one place to the other. You never thought different times would also mean different seasons.

It was getting… tiring, no, exhausting… mundane, even? You never thought this could happen. Here you were, pretty much risking your life every day you went out, even for a walk, with your favorite heroes, even involved with one or two (or three?) in a situationship way.

You were dealing with magic, learning a language that doesn't even exist where you come from, acting as an interpreter, trying (not) to reveal mysteries of all Links. And now you were saying to yourself that it was getting… boring?

Oh how weird human nature is. 

A few of you were staying in the Forge in Hyrule Town tonight and sleeping on makeshift beds prepared by the Smith’s grandpa. Old Man insisted that you were all fine, that you had bedrolls, to no avail. 

Of course now was one of the calmer times, albeit rare. You took the mug of hot chocolate you prepared in silence in the small kitchenette and looked around the room. You liked the silence of the forge, except the gentle crackling of fire… And of course, the lowkey snore of the Sailor, who somehow managed to roll himself ON the Captain like a ragdoll.

You were pretty sure he was aware, any of them would be. They were all seasoned adventurers who probably had to be vigilant as they slept outside, having a “bunny sleep” as they said where you came from. Instead of rolling him off, the Captain simply let him. A smile cracked near your lips as you turned to look outside.

You watched the snow slowly gather on the hills, covering the ground like cotton candy, the steam coming off the mug fogging the window. Roofs of the small houses and shops in the town were also slowly building a layer of snow on their thatched tops. How long would it last?

You thought of the routine of the people who live in Hyrule Town. A simple life. If not for the current adventure, the Smith would also have a similar one. Wake up in the morning, have breakfast, go to the Forge and work through the orders, spend some time with Zelda, talk to Minish… 

You sighed. Wasn’t it also how your life was when you were in Post Calamity Hyrule? A simple routine, plenty of fresh air, time dedicated to learning. It was boring, but you liked “the boring”. It was such an awkward feeling to miss your previous “life”, even though you had another one before it.

Your “real” life. Where you had to wake up before dawn, get into crowded buses, have coffee as breakfast, sit on a chair a minimum of 8 hours a day, deal with people you’d rather not see, and make ends meet. Spend time with a loved one if you could find the energy. In the end, be so exhausted that you did not really have time for what mattered. 

You sighed. Of course it wasn’t that simple.

“Couldn’t sleep?” the high baritone voice of the blonde gently spoke as he also sat down next to the window. Link.

“Just craved some chocolate,” you replied. It wasn’t exactly the truth, but not a lie either.

He understood and didn’t question it further, he also looked a bit nostalgic, his one open cerulean eye tinted with yearning for something far away.

“Wanna taste?” you offered your mug after you took a sip. So creamy and just sweet enough to not burn your throat.  “It tastes even better than genuine Belgian chocolate,”

He nodded thanks and gladly and took it to his lips. A glint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

“The milk in this…” he trailed off and then took another sip.

You gave him a lopsided smile. Of course, the world of Smithy also had a LonLon Ranch. 

“... is indeed high quality,” you completed his sentence.

He chuckled to himself and returned the smile. 

“Now that the pleasantries are over, what’s on your mind?”

You bit your lip. He never beat around the bush, you didn’t even fight back.

“I mean, aren’t you also a bit worried about the calm before the storm situation we have in our hands? It has been some time since there was a portal or any report of monsters,” you tried to change the subject, you didn’t know to what extent you can bore the Hero of Time.

The Hero of Time.

“I won’t lie and say it doesn’t bother me, but one should take the opportunity given and use it to rest.” he answered cautiously yet unconvinced. 

He knew it wasn’t good to push you too much for answers, as you might spill something that can be about his fate. Even after a few years, it wasn’t clear to the rest of the Chain how much you actually knew about each of them. 

“Link… I don’t want to burden you, it’s just stuff about my old life” you had a distant look in your eyes, thinking about the past. The future. 

“I won’t pry, but know that I will lend an ear if you require it,” he put a hand on your shoulder as he looked into your eyes.

Din damn you, handsome blonde. Of course you would just spill everything. You were willing to do it anyway.

“You would think I’d miss my life and be in agony all the time, but…” Other than the fact that here I am with my favorite boys , you didn’t say out loud, “I do miss home , but also, on the days we have peace like this, I do appreciate the simplicity. I didn’t have that where I came from,” you started.

“I wouldn’t count the risk to life as simplicity, but well…” he raised an eyebrow. 

“I mean overall…” you paused for a second. “You know, the simple life. Wake up, do things, spend time with loved ones, sleep?”

Oh Nayru, how do you explain a typical office job to someone like Link? He might not understand that perhaps, but he can understand “adult” you supposed.

He nodded. “… I miss the ranch and after finally having the simple life I desire, it does make me feel frustrated to be apart from it once again. I miss it too.” 

“Yes but have you ever thought, ‘Damn I am so sick of this I just want some time to myself’ after a day in the ranch?” you were just probing another line of inquiry.

He chuckled the way you phrased it with such passion. “On the days I had to deal with cuccos specifically, I suppose.” 

“So I assume you would spend your whole day in the Ranch, with Malon, have some time with Epona, sometimes go to Castle Town, the forest and such?” 

He was curious to see where this was going. 

“Pretty much, yes. Simple and quiet.” he nodded.

“Admit it, didn’t you get bored of it, ever?” you deadpanned. 

“What? Why?” he looked a bit scandalized by your question, but you pressed on this time.

“Come on Link, be honest now.” you had a grin. He took the mug to his lips again as he rolled his eyes.

“Fine, sometimes it CAN get boring but not in a way you think it is, I love my wife and the ranch,” he protested mockingly as he drank the rest.

“.. But you already knew this, so what’s your point?” he looked back at you.

“Of course I know what you mean. It’s just, it is something you worked hard for in life and you love it, yet even that can feel mundane sometimes, that’s normal,” you held a finger almost to his lips to hush him as he was about to open his mouth again.

“Or you can be so in-love with your partner, but sometimes, as cruel as it can sound, you might need some alone time,” you added.

“Because you know you love them and they know you love them, there is trust,” he replied.

“Precisely, hence also why you can bear the distance a bit better, it is an established love, not taken for granted,” you winked. You could swear there was a bit of pink in his cheeks as he turned his gaze away, but maybe it was because of the hot chocolate.

You signed again.

“Now imagine, that you are still doing something you like but now you absolutely HAVE to do it, and after a day of it you are so exhausted that you can’t do other things you like, at least not as much of it,” you continued.

He was listening intently.

“Every day, almost the same, nothing new, and very limited time to create something new. After studying for almost 20 years… Mind you, I was… or am still one of the privileged ones over there. While studying I didn’t have enough of the material resources to do some of the things I liked but had some time. Then after I finished, I had the material resources but not the time,” 

You spoke in one breath. 

“And I was or am practically expected to keep doing this until I am an old lady, unless I win the lottery of some sorts or go into some other ventures,” 

You guessed this was a good enough explanation for someone in his situation to understand. The word “corporate slavery” came to mind, but it was too early for that.

“...I see,” he replied, sensing you still have more to say.

“And I… have or had, a… uhm, romantic partner…”

He perked up a bit, he suspected it since he overheard your talk with the Champion, but tried not to let it show. He was aware of your involvement with the Champion, and even possibly with the Rancher. 

“...in your world, you mean?”

You grimly nodded.

“I still don’t know if I will ever see them again. And what will happen once I do,” 

You gulped, trying to fight the tears of guilt and shame back. You thought you shattered his image of you. Cheating on your partner. A deep breath.

“Y/N”

You looked back at him, his expression unreadable.

“I can’t know or claim to understand the exact thing you are going through. We all have our burdens. But…”

Oh there it was, the judgment was about to be passed. 

“If they are YOUR partner, they would understand. But only you will be and can be the judge of your own,” 

He wasn’t done. 

“We all know the noble love stories where one waits for the other for a lifetime, I assume they also exist where you come from, yes?”

You nodded, holding back a sniffle.

“That’s all they are, stories, legends.”

So are you , you wanted to tell him.

“Look, Y/N. I would give my life for Malon.”

You never heard him speak like this. 

“But If I were to be thrown off between different worlds and time, with no absolute guarantee that I would find my way back to her…”

You waited patiently.

You could see that it made even his eyes foggy. He kept looking outside the window, touching his own scars without realizing.

“...Time heals all wounds, even if it leaves scars. And scars, they hurt. (Y/N), you were gone for years from your own world with no way back in sight, and then thrown into another adventure,”

He turned back to you again.

“I believe, even I might not be able to stop my heart from fluttering again, if I were to be in your shoes,”

The tears were streaking your cheeks now. The guilt came back to haunt you again.

“But now, what if there is a way for me to get back?” your lips trembled. “How will I face them?”

“A friend once told me that the flow of time is cruel, you can’t prevent it from affecting you, in a good or in a bad way. When the time comes, you might have to face the consequences,” he said, as a matter of fact. It felt cold like the winter air outside.

“To them, I am a lost person for years. But there is always the possibility that if I ever can get back, it will just be as I left it…”  you trailed off.

The Old Man nodded. 

“Don’t forget, time also could be flowing for them too, but knowing you, I’m sure there will be a way to reconcile. Together, or seperate.”

That’s why you liked this Link. He never tried to spoil and calm you with sweet words or false promises. He said what he thought as it was. That was his way of showing he cared.

That didn’t help the pang of guilt that threatened to boil in your stomach, but at least you felt calmer.

He got up and walked to his bedroll to pick up a blanket, and for some reason, still smoking hot mug of chocolate.

“Come, let’s go out a bit.”

You both sat down on the bench in front of the forge, wrapped up together in his blanket. He gave you the mug to keep your hands warm. You put your head on his shoulder. He adjusted the blanket a bit more for the both of you, and gazed into the stars between the clouds.

“Thank you, Link.” 

“I’m sorry I can’t fix things, but I will be here to listen.”

You smiled.

“But Y/N, there is something,”

“Yeah?”

“What is ‘Belguain chocolate’?”

You let out a guffaw.

[icy-warden]

There's a "darker" side to Zevran, one he's open about to the Warden when he asks about death of his marks. He doesn't lie about it, doesn't hide it - even if he easily could.

"As far as enjoying the act of killing itself, why not? There is a certain artistry to the deed, the pleasure of sinking your blade into their flesh and knowing their life is in your hands."

He's aware the Warden can disagree with him but he tells him anyway. But he's a little taken aback (pleasantly) when the Warden agrees with him.

[bumblingbabooshka]

‘tis i, nonbinary transfem tuvok enthusiast and recently i’ve been pondering the dynamic between her and transmasc b’elanna torres…. i love thinking of them having long conversations together about gender and cultural histories and their life paths and mental issues (real)

also tuvok’s quote of “there is nothing wrong in choosing to live” would be such an emotional statement to tell b’elanna who canonically has depression (they just like me fr). anyways these are my thoughts today take care my friend!! <3

I don't personally see Tuvok as being a positive person for B'Elanna to talk to about much of anything personal without like, some sort of change to how they interact with one another since I think he'd both intentionally and unintentionally antagonize her BUT I can absolutely see them looking at each other and feeling the gender envy even before they know what that particular sensation is. Knowing B'Elanna I bet she'd worry she has some kind of weird crush on him hehehe~ Someone starts a group for queer members of the crew to meet but it seems like more of a dating thing and they're all human and no one else is trans so B'Elanna leaves and runs into Tuvok and is like "Oh! I didn't see you in there." because it's common knowledge by this point that Tuvok's trans but Tuvok just does that 'obviously.' look and goes "...No." so B'Elanna leaves her alone but they happen to run into each other next week and the week after and it eventually becomes an unofficial thing and it's a real rollercoaster. It's a real russian roulette of what kind of a time you're gonna have - sometimes it ends in a fight and sometimes it ends in the most insightful realization you'll ever have. Such is life on Voyager... Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful day too~!!

[relevant-url-incoming]

Ri'gastio! I may feel bad about all the killing he does, but he never has. A former slave turned bounty hunter with a deep hatred for pretty much everyone except for pretty women who could kill him, his defining character traits are the desire to piss everyone off and his tendency to kill people he should probably have kept alive. We're talking about a guy who gets along with Skadge.

So Rig's name is not an accurate Chiss name really, and this is both on purpose and because I: do not understand Chiss naming. If you do, please save me. Anyway he's just faking it til he makes it as far as being Chiss goes, having grown up completely separate from that culture as a slave in the Empire. There is one person in the galaxy he completely trusts, or would actually do something nice for with no ulterior motive, and that's his fellow ex-slave Exchei. Of course, he appreciates that she ends up on the Dark Council and therefore he can trust that she'll always have a job for him, but once upon a time they were two fucked up kids relying on each other to get through an awful situation.

After the slave transport ship he was on got hijacked and the slaves released, he decided to set himself up as a bounty hunter for two reasons: killing with impunity sounded like a fun time and a way to get out his anger at the world, and if he got good enough the Empire would rely on him in a way that means he can actually choose to deny them services if he wants to. Secretly desperate to feel like he belongs someplace, instead of actually pursuing a positive relationship he belittles the people he thinks have rejected him or would reject him - the Empire, Mandalorians, the Chiss - and ignores any overtures of friendship. His crew he keeps around because he feels like he has control of them, and that's as close to a family as he feels safe having.

His relationship with Exchei starts to fall apart as she finds people she cares for elsewhere, and after Zakuul comes onto the scene he starts taking jobs for them - they can pay, after all, and to him that's all that matters. This does not make Exchei terribly happy, as she sees them as the Enemy. Though they still occasionally slip into bed together when they meet up and she still will hire him if she needs a bounty hunter, their relationship never recovers from figuring out how fundamental their differences in morality are.

[clotpolesonly]

OCD Declan Lynch is anybody with me on this

[goldensunset]

i feel like i’m the only person on this campus who knows how to bundle up for the cold

[shoechoe]

Ghiaccio's White Album is probably a really convenient Stand to have around with Grateful Dead. I imagine he could keep the rest of the group from aging so it can specifically kill the target while keeping the members of La Squadra safe from harm's way. (I kinda wonder what the Grateful Dead fight would've looked like with Ghiaccio there or what missions would look like with him and Prosciutto paired up instead. There would be no need for the freakout over losing ice cubes and Bruno's group would probably try to use the freezing ability as refuge only for Ghiaccio to go "Ha! No, sucker!" and reverse the effect or just start freezing them to death or something)