caughtinanetwork | First Song

[ The SFC flickers on to introduce a rather worn-out, worn-down looking young man. Well, more worrisome than tired. It's clear when he clears his throat that he's been pulled here at a very bad time, and it shows in the way his shoulders sink and his eyes cast shadows to the device. Confused and unaware of how to properly use it, the young man's eyebrows furrow as he fusses with the device. ]

[ He grunts-- Not so much out of frustration but from feeling so... Rushed. He has no idea where he is, and this change of location has taken him for a ride. ]

--!

[ The sound of static and projection of his mirror image, followed by a small light, signifies that this might be a good way of finding out what to do. Link gasps, and a little gleam of hope flickers in his still-tired eyes. ]

Hello?

[ His eyebrows furrow again and his lips tighten into a line. ]

My name is Link. To anyone who may hear this, I am lost and in need of guidance. [ He sighs. ]

... I have lost my way in helping a very close friend. Her name is Zelda. She is... [ Sort of stuck somewhere and it's a really long story that he'd rather not get into. Too many words in a drawn-out explanation. ]

I have to go back! Could someone please help?

[ Link's expression dies down, wearing a somber expression as his face relaxes. But he looks like a kicked puppy, honestly. ]

Please.

[ He turns the device around a few times, attempting to find the stop button. There's a long moment of him just messing with the device until it finally flicks off. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's kind of silly how her calling him sleepyhead strikes a nerve. Zelda has been gone a long time, and searching for her has been more than tedious and tiring. He's managed to go almost the entire journey without sleep, save for the few times he's passed out from pure exhaustion. It shows in the bags under his eyes and the loss of color to his complexion. ]

[ He chuckles in return. It doesn't matter that he's gone without rest. It was well worth it for this very moment. ]

[ The laugh draws out, weakening as he tilts forward and closes the small distance between them. His forehead plants itself on her shoulder, and his arms stay around her. It's been such a long fight, and an even longer journey. He treasures being called that silly nickname, even if it sort of makes fun of his love for sleep. ]

[ He is tired. But... Zelda. He can't sleep when he's so busy being grateful that he's actually in the same room as her again. ]

[ It's obvious by the way he's clinging to her that he's been worried sick all this time, and can she blame him? If the shoe was on the other foot, she'd have been devastated. She hates that she's put him through all of this... he's endured so much...

Her arms wrap around him to hold him close. She can tell he's exhausted, and he really should sleep, but if he needs this, how can she not oblige? Zelda removes his cap so she can pet his hair, trying to soothe his weariness the best that she can. ]

... Are you alright?

[ He hasn't even thought of where he'll live or what he should do next here. It doesn't matter. The main goal of his arrival has been completed, and now he's just going to go wherever the wind takes him. For now, the wind has him nestled comfortably on Zelda's shoulder. ]

[ Link sighs with content, feeling his muscles relax as Zelda runs her fingers through his hair. This is much closer than they've ever been before, but he's too exhausted to feel embarrassed or nervous. The saying "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" is truer than he could have ever imagined. ]

I am now.

[ The weather's been fairly chilly in Vatheon lately, what with it being winter and all, and so Zelda's dressed in many layers. On top of the Zora tunic (undoubtedly put on by her descendant while she was out), Zelda wears a shawl she knitted recently to fend off the bitter cold. Pulling it from her shoulders, she wraps it around Link. ]

Mm. You should take a nap. I'm serious.

[ She's motherhenned him to death before, but those are probably words he never thought he'd hear from her. ]

Once you're rested, I'll tell you everything you need to know about this place. You can get to know the other Links and Zelda better, too.

[ Being fussed over is something he's always been used to with Zelda, but now seems to be different than before. It's hardly ever been an annoyance, but Link sort of took it for granted. Her verbal fussing became a faraway memory in her absence, and he sort of missed it. Being told to take a nap this very instant is sort of hilarious, though. ]

Mmhmm...

[ But Link isn't really paying much attention now. He's sort of just listening to her talk, basking in it really. Her room is so warm, save for the slight chill seeping through the window. He's concerned about what lies ahead of him in his absence of his time, but if Zelda isn't appearing overly concerned, he shouldn't either. After all, she is the goddess Hylia. She should know better than him. ]

[ Zelda's calming, yet stern voice provides a comfort he's craved for a long time, and it puts a heavy relaxation on his tired bones. His eyes close with a feint smile, forehead still pressed to her shoulder. He nods against her when she urges him to nap, but it's slow and drawn-out. ]

...

[ Zelda should come to find very quickly that Link has gone dead weight on her. His arms drop from their embrace, leaving him leaning against her. A light little snore soon follows-- A telltale sign that he's passed out from exhaustion, yet again, but this time in the arms of his best friend. ]

[ Zelda knows he must have drifted off. She can tell by the way his body goes slack, and when he starts snoring, well. That sort of cinches it. He's heavy when he's deadweight like this, but she somehow manages to maneuver him so he's laying with his back against the bed. She goes about removing his gloves, his boots, takes his shield and the Master Sword, and deposits it all in a corner of her room. Once that's done, she goes back to the bed, pulls her thick comforter over him, and tucks him in.

She can't help but stop and watch him sleep, then. The look on his face is so peaceful- it almost makes her nostalgic. There's a pure innocence on his face there that she hasn't seen in a long, long time, not since their days at the academy, when all they had to worry about was school.

How things have changed. ]

First Song | Video;

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