locked to zenith

[bakedapple]

[ Link's mental space feels like being outside, so depending on where you are, you might not realize that someone has started Communion with you. Since joining the Zenith, the landscape of Link's mind has gone from idyllic, sunny forests to icy, overcast mountains. A frigid wind blows against your face, carrying the scent of firewood and meat roasting over an open flame. The diminutive Hylian is not sitting by the fire, but standing at the edge of a rocky ledge, his back turned. ]

There's going to be another Oracle soon. I can feel it. The rest of you can feel it too, right? That... pulling feeling.

[ He sighs. ]

If we lose this one, it's over. The Meridian isn't going to go easy on us. I know them... I know how badly they want to win. To them, the stakes couldn't be higher.

So let's talk. About what we're going to be up against, and... well, planning ahead isn't really something we can do, but at least we can warn each other of the dangers that individual Meri pose.

And I... I want to say something, too.

[ He sits down where he stands, his feet hanging off the cliff. There's a sense that he knows this isn't going to go over well, but it's important enough to him to say it anyway. ]

Killing the other guy before they kill you is what war is. That's normal. But Kenos is different. Death doesn't work the way it should here. We don't die permanently. You can neutralize someone threatening you by just dissipating them. There's nothing to gain by destroying their soul after you're no longer in danger.

So, I don't think any of us should shatter anyone ever again.

If you claim someone's Shard, you should protect it. If you feel that you can't do that, give it to someone else.

...I'm not stupid. I know a lot of you aren't gonna agree to this. And the Meris probably won't either. I'm sure they want revenge for what happened to Quetzalcoatl, and those of you who lost the Shards Yima gave you probably aren't feeling very merciful right now either...

But if we don't come to some kinda agreement now, that's going to become normal. Things are gonna get really bad. I don't want that. So... can we talk about it, at least?

Comments

[bakedapple]

[ The hair-ruffle is met with a huffed exhale from Link, like a muffled complaint. Exactly the way a younger sibling would stifle a whine about being treated like a younger sibling, actually. Whoops. ]

...You're really going to try to take her on? [ a beat, as he considers. ] Guns... they're machines that fire small projectiles, right? I've read about them. You have one?

[fursuit]

You bet, Hummingbird. [ nickname reveal so fast, ] I just like a good fight, for one, but if she's a big threat on the opposite side, then she's worth takin' out fast. Plus. She disrespected me. I'm bein' pretty lenient since not many of ya truly know who I am, but if they're an enemy? Well, that's a little different.

[ There's a colder threat there that comes with a sense of danger... But it's quick to pass. Instead, in the space of Communion, Tezcatlipoca manifests himself more completely to demonstrate, and in his hand is a pistol but with what looks like an axe blade on top of it.

...Because it is. Tezcatlipoca loves guns but he also can't aim them for shit. He will not admit this part, though. ]

Yep, this one! I love modern weaponry—So I made sure to etch this custom build right into my soul. Just like my armor you saw, it's with me whenever I want it.

oh my god I love that nickname

[bakedapple]

H... Hummingbird? [ Link wants to object, but Tezca just moves right along, so he has no choice but to move along with him. ]

That's a gun?

[ Huh. He squints at it. It looks kinda... small? Will little pellets fired from this thing really take out a creature that's as big as a horse? ]

...What's the axeblade for?

[ let's start with that, ]

[fursuit]

[ There's a little flicker of excitement, since Tezcatlipoca will gladly explain guns, but. Link's completely reasonable question makes it deflate quickly. You weren't supposed to notice that (extremely obvious thing). ]

Ah, just consider that a backup plan. Things go south, I can just be old-fashioned and use it as an axe.

[ He turns it in his hands so that the long part extended off the barrel now has a clear purpose—It's the handle of the axe when it's wielded that way. ]

Gotta stay versatile, 'specially if I'm in low power mode.

[ It's definitely not. That he can't aim for shit. ]

[bakedapple]

Oh. I see...

[ Knowing nothing about guns, he has no reason to think that it's as silly-looking or impractical as it actually is. Instead, he actually looks a bit impressed. It does sound versatile! ]

Still, you should try not to get close enough to need it. I've killed dozens of Lynels, if not hundreds... Hayame is very similar to them, not just in form but her skillset as well, from what I hear. There's a very particular approach you have to take to hunting them...

I don't know if firing little 'bullets' at her is going to be enough. Arrows definitely aren't enough for Lynels, at least... not unless you've got a lot of arrows stocked.

[fursuit]

You'd be surprised. Advantage of bullets over arrows is that they're goin' way faster. Where you might not have enough power to pierce that kinda hide with an arrow, bullet? No problem. But, yeah, not likely to kill her outright or anything unless you're a sharpshooter.

[ ...He is not. ]

I'll probably have to don my armor when fightin' her, I know... But maybe a bullet'll at least surprise her, considerin' how rare they are here.

[bakedapple]

If anyone can beat her up close, it's got to be you, Tezcatlipoca.

[ Smiling slightly as he says it — and he isn't just kissing his ass or something, either. The real irony here is that Link might be the one person who really could take her out all on his own, being as experienced as he is in killing Lynels. He wouldn't even need any magic or powers to do it either. But Kenos has caused Link to lose faith in his own ability to contribute anything... and Tezca is a god! How could Hayame stand a chance against a god? ]

If we find her, we should try. We'd protect a lot of Zenites by taking care of her early.

[fursuit]

That's my thought too. Even if she ends up retreating, it'll be with plenty of pain to show for it.

[ Since that's his confidence—either she dissipates or she retreats. There's no wholly decisive victory against him. ]

Assumin' it's possible, you wanna be my backup? If I'll be in close quarters, pepperin' her with arrows will keep her nice and distracted.

[bakedapple]

Of course.

[ No hesitation at all. He crosses his arms and nods with determination. ]

You'll see just how good I am with a bow. I might not be much of a Hero anymore, but I can still shoot a rider off their horse from a hundred meters away. Maybe more than that nowadays.

[fursuit]

[ Tezcatlipoca whistles, impressed. ]

That's pretty damn good! I'd like to see it. Any army'd be lucky to have you with sharpshooting like that.

[ Since if it's talk of bows and arrows, his mind goes back to the times of the Empire more than the Ocelomeh. ]

So, what's this about not being a hero anymore, huh? With a bow arm like that, I dunno, sounds pretty badass to me.

[bakedapple]

[ There's a tiny pang of panic, followed by mild regret, as if Link had just dropped a plate and watched it shatter on the floor. Ah. He got too comfortable and said too much. ]

...It's just stuff from my world. That's all. [ answered gently. ]

It's a really long story.

[ He isn't terribly eager to recount his full sob story right after bragging about how great of a shot he is. It's not exactly the kind of thing that's going to inspire others to put their faith in him, Link bitterly thinks to himself. ]

[fursuit]

[ The panic is obvious, and he doesn’t push as a result. His excitement does relax, but it’s just to a comfortable, cool neutral. ]

Yeah, no worries. [ It really isn’t, since he accepts it easily. ] But if you ever feel like sharin’, I’ll listen. Believe it or not, I’m a scribe and a poet, so I like a story. Even a long one.

[ …And he feels his role is to be a listening ear for people to unburden their troubles. That’s more what’s at play here, but it’s more causal to just let it be a case of storytelling. ]

[bakedapple]

[ Tezca smooths the awkward moment over, which immediately allows Link to relax. ]

Maybe... after the Oracle, then. [ He nods, with a sense of gratitude, and his smile returns. ] I'll tell you over another bag of that weed. How about that? I experimented a little with what you gave me, actually... I can tell you about that too.