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Open to All | Communion

[Communion begins and despite the source, it's strained. At least, in a way that perhaps it shouldn't be, especially considering that it involves Midna, who seems like one of the most nonchalant individuals in this world. She hasn't, in truth, addressed much of anything or anyone since the Harbinger incident, her death, her relocation to Highstorm, and that is beginning to bite her in the Twili backside.

Of course, if she were less prideful, she might actually address that. But maybe it all comes across in something about her, or what feels like wavering conviction, an otherwise kind of weakness she wouldn't ever intentionally display.]

Poor Springstar. There couldn't have been a better time for me to get out of there.

[Never mind that the discord a Meridian experiences in opposing atmosphere is a real contender. Perhaps Midna will turn as monstrous as those attacking the city of infinite light, except to her understanding, they aren't real monsters. No. Her discord is already manifesting in its own way.]

That said, surely we're keeping it all under control, no? The lot of us perfectly capable. If these little obstacles we go through for the Oracles don't hinder us, I find it hard to believe that a bit of chaos and murder is going to stop us. Well, those of us eager to throw ourselves into the fray that is.

[...So... people who aren't her?]

I'm sure I'll be making a little visit over there eventually, but that's not why I'm here now. Since I've made Highstorm my darling little home, I'd like to learn a bit more about it. It's beautiful, there are some nice places to eat, but I'm afraid I just don't know the area well enough. And I've been asked if I'll be decorating my home. I don't suppose there's a nice place to go shopping or some decorative ideas. Much as I'd love to fill my place with paintings, I've discerning taste.

I promise if I can get a little self-indulgence out of the way, I'll certainly be more helpful to my fellow Meridians.

[Which she may, or may not be. Either way, she thinks she's doing a great job pretending to be... well. Herself. But she's probably laying it on too thick this time.]

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...Yeah. Okay, I'll come see you when I get back. It's a promise. In the meantime, please promise me you'll take care of yourself. Okay? That includes Discord.

[ And there's a sense that Link is smiling at her, his blue-eyed gaze grateful and admiring. ]

And if I can bring you a souvenir, I will. There's some weird plants out here. Most of them taste really bad, but maybe I'll find a good one and bring it back for you to try.

[ Link's personal love of food leaking into his stunted methods of showing affection... ]

If it weren't for the monsters, you'd probably like it out here. The forest is so thick that it blocks out most of the moonlight and starlight.

[Midna doesn't make promises easily and as such, she isn't jumping on the idea of reflecting the words back to him. Instead, she takes in what she perceives as concern. She hasn't been particularly good at taking care of herself. She shouldn't make a habit of that, lest he'll have to come to her rescue and that's not something she wants. That said, she'll humour him.]

I'll see what I can do about that whole discord thing.

[But the souvenirs thing—]

Any chance you can bring anything that I can grow? I've been given some flowers since I've been here and I actually don't mind taking care of them. They seem to add a little something to my personal space.

[It helps that both types are incredibly befitting of her.]

Perhaps one of these times I'll come with you. If you'd like that. Of course, if you want to keep that space to yourself, I can't blame you. We all want something for ourselves, after all.

[ Something to grow... there's plenty of seeds and nuts to be found in the forest, many of them become a core part of his diet while he's out here. It would be trivially easy to simply pocket a few instead of eating them. Whether they'll grow into flowers, who knows, but perhaps the fun will be in finding out. ]

Yeah, I could do that. Do you like plants? [ ponder. ] There aren't any plants in the Twilight Realm, are there. None that I can remember.

[ Most of what he recalls seeming from That Link's trip there was bright shining stones, and unnerving mechanical hands moving with unknown magic, and the handful of soft friendly Twili who bid them farewell when it was time to leave. ]

I've been building a camp for myself... It's south of the Manor, so it's not so difficult to get to. There isn't much there yet, but when it's ready for visitors, I'll take you to see it.

Hm. Surprisingly, I think I do.

[Provided that's even particularly surprising. Maybe it isn't. The Twilight has its own kind of... things. They have to be able to eat, after all, but like everything else, plants and all other things just aren't the same. Midna would hesitate to call them plants in her realm.

Either way, the ones she's gotten here have interested her. She wouldn't hate to have more.

She's pleased by his explanation and the implied invitation, though she imagines like anything else, it'll take time. Who knows when she'll see him again. Not until he's ready, regardless. Despite not being the most patient person, she can wait as long as she needs to. She'd rather see him marginally happy than the alternatives.]

I'd like that. I'll make certain I'm not difficult to track down whenever we get to it.

Well, I can always reach you with Communion, right?

[ Which, you know, it's possible to just ignore and refuse to respond... but that would be Midna's choice, not a matter of Link having a hard time contacting her in the first place. ]

Even while I'm gone, you can talk to me any time. I guess all of us having this weird psychic link with each other can be pretty convenient sometimes.

[ And as Link and Midna might come to find out over the course of the next month... that convenience can be very, very important too, during critical times of emergency. But not yet. ]

That you can. If I should feel an aching need for conversation, I will not hesitate to reach out.

[Although that is the question there, isn't it. Whether she feels that need. A little here and there is fine for what it is. Makes her think a little of younger years and days when she and Zelda were separated by realms. Communion is like it in many, many ways.]

Of course, I would expect the same of you.

[Her door, proverbial and literal, is always open for him.]

[ There's an impression of Link nodding in agreement, and if all else was equal, this would probably mark the end of their conversation. But... the situation is not the usual one. Link is stomping through knee-high snow in a hostile dark forest, dodging razor-sharp bramble and the attention of monsters, in the hope of tracking down whatever the Meridian Shard-Bearers are up to in the far north of the Beyond. They made this promise to see each other once Link gets back, but... what if that ends up not happening? What if it ends up being impossible to keep that promise, for either of them?

Link hesitates, and then, closes the walls around their Communion, making it private. ]

...Midna. You trust me, right?

[That she should, in any way, feel that things are more closed off than they usually are—and certainly Midna keeps a fair amount to herself, already heightens preexisting uncertainties. Not necessarily of him. Not necessarily of herself. Simply the sort that remind her she ought to be very aware.]

What a thing to ask me.

[Why is he asking it?]

Have you done something that would make that change? Or perhaps you're planning to.

[ ...He has, hasn't he? He's with the Zenith now. He's given up on saving Hyrule. Midna might say that nothing between them has changed, and Link might yearn with all his heart for it to be true, but how can it be?

He hesitates, and decides to just say what he was going to say without answering her question. ]

If I suddenly contact you and [ tell you to flee. warn you of some kind of catastrophe. reveal to you that I know what the Meris are up to, and give you a chance to tell them. ] ...say something weird, will you promise that you'll believe me?

[...She does not like how heavy this is. Most... emotionally-charged things, she doesn't like. Not because she doesn't have a heart, but because she is not good with these things. It is considerably easier to seem accepting. To be dismissive. To feign ignorance. Confrontation is considerably more difficult and there is a point at which she has come to understand, to realise that Link may not grant her the opportunity for graceful avoidance.

...Nor should he.]

That is quite the expectation to make of your princess. [She reminds him. Midna doesn't make promises. Actively tries to avoid doing so, actually.] Why are you saying all of this to me, now?

[ Midna may be in luck today, because Link is not in a position to be entirely upfront about what he's talking about anyway. What is one to do when you're at war, but there are people on the other side that you still want to protect? As you make moves to strike down the people more loyal to them than you are? ]

Please, just tell me you will. Just tell me you'll listen, even if it doesn't make sense.

I don't appreciate that you aren't willing to tell me more.

[That said—
It's not as if she's been straight forward with him either. Effectively, she might as well be playing both sides, feeling her loyalty tied between those she cares for and an ideal that more strongly aligns with her personal wants.]

However, if that is what you would have of me, then fine. I'll agree to it.

If I can tell you after, I will, I — I just can't say why right now.

[ He sounds guilty as he says it. He knows the way it sounds. But this is as much as he can try to do right now to protect her: hopefully, if he has to warn her of something, they can skip the "what are you talking about?" and "wait, what's going on?" questions and she'll heed his warning without any delay.

Too bad Link isn't going to have a chance to warn her about anything, as it turns out. :') ]

I am not instilled with confidence, Link.

[He's up to something. Again. And it's almost as if he expects her not to question him. Just to eat what he's feeding her and to be satisfied with it.

Well. Perhaps not the last part.

But what else can she do? She cannot force him to see reason. She cannot force him to do anything. And she understands his situation, his personal feelings, his stakes in this world, in his prior one, in any future one, will all be very precarious. How can she, in good faith, coax him in any general direction?

She can't without being a hypocrite.]

Yet I trust we will both do what we feel we must.

[And maybe that is her own cryptic apology for future actions that will potentially pit them against one another.]

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Open to All | Communion

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touching this forever late; i am v sorry

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