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mastercucco · 3 months

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Hateno Boy - Part 2 - Link x Reader

The Calamity is gone, but so is Link’s purpose. He feels completely lost in post-Calamity Hyrule where everyone but him seem to have found their new place.

It certainly doesn’t help his restless nights that you, a young Hylian whom Zelda has hired as the new teacher at Hateno School, are slowly taking up more and more of his headspace with each conversation you two have.

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom Pairing: Link x fem!Reader Raiting: Mature (might go up, might go down, let’s see) Contains: feel-good, slow burn romance; platonic Link/Zelda; Link being an angsty retired hero Chapter Index | Read on Ao3

Chapter 2 - Heromania

Contains: Link is awkward; Everyone is crazy about the Hero, maybe even you Word count: ~2,9k A/N: Yaas, second chapter, let's goooo

The cool night air sneaks in through the open window, barely keeping you awake. Twilight has come and gone, and you can already hear the first calls of the night owls. Your day at the school is stretching unpleasantly late into the evening once again. You’ve been so focused on creating the new curriculum with the Princess – or Zelda, as she has asked you to call her – that you have completely forgotten all your obligations as a teacher.

Now you’re stuck with a cup of tea that went cold hours ago and a stack of short stories written in poor grammar that you promised to read before the end of the week – a promise that seemed perfectly reasonable four days ago. But tonight? Not so much.

You’ve spent a lot of time with Zelda and her knight these past weeks. Zelda is eager to finish the curriculum before fall comes. You still have several moon cycles to go – summer has barely reached Hateno –, but Zelda isn’t one to waste time. She is dedicated to offering the children the best education they can get. You’re in awe of her devotion to the cause – and a little ashamed by your own lack thereof. You are the teacher, after all. You should be twice as passionate as Zelda is, should you not?

You blame your lack of enthusiasm on these late nights: the cold cups of tea and the ever-growing list of tasks and responsibilities that never seem to get any shorter, no matter how many hours of sleep you sacrifice.

You sigh as you pick up the next story from the stack.

THE HERO AND A MONSTER IN A SVAMP

You snort. The ‘Hero of Hyrule’ craze among your students (or ‘heromania’, as you like to call it) is at its peak. You thought you were being clever when assigning them to write a short story about the Hero, hoping it would excite them to complete an otherwise dull assignment. But you were a bit too clever for your own good in the end: your students got so excited to share stories that all of them returned more than one paper. And who were you to kill their excitement just because you had forgotten to do your part in reading them all in time?

You groan, rubbing your face harshly. You can feel the first throbs of a headache knocking behind your other eye. As amusing as some of the stories are (even Zelda thought so after reading one about Link turning into a giant), you’re slowly starting to despise your work, and your students – and the Hero, for that matter.

Another breath of cool air brushes against your neck. You bury your head in your hands. You don’t actually despise your work, not really. It’s just these late nights that you hate.

You hear the door creaking. Shit, you think in a panic and hurriedly tidy up all your scattered papers and pens. You should have expected Zelda to pay you a visit tonight, just like she has every other night so far. As tired as you feel, you don’t need Zelda to see that. Worst case scenario, she might even think you are slacking.

But when you look up, it’s not the Princess standing at the doors, but her Silent Knight.

“Oh, good evening, Link,” you sigh in relief. You glance at the stack of short stories and, as subtle as you can be, flip the first paper upside down before saying, “Please, come in.”

Link, however, does not. He stands awkwardly in the doorway, his expression turning to a frown as he looks around, as if the last person he expected to find inside the school was you, the teacher.

“The Princess isn’t here,” you say after it becomes clear you are not getting a hello from him.

Link looks like a lost puppy, an apt comparison in your mind: he does follow the Princess around like one. The silence between the two of you feels awkward. Even though you have seemingly spent multiple evenings with him, you two have barely even spoken. Everything you know about him, you have heard from either Zelda or the gossipmongers of Hateno.

Or from your students. Most of it from your students.

“I’m sure she will arrive shortly,” you add, giving him an affirming smile. After hearing this, Link finally steps over the threshold and lets the door creak shut behind him.

“I’m sorry,” he says, still looking around, “I thought she would already be here.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” you say, still smiling, hoping to ease the awkward tension still lingering in the air. You continue, “Please, Link, have a seat while you wait. Would you like some tea?”

Link shakes his head and sits down on one of your students’ chairs. It is way too small for him and whines horribly under his weight. The sight of him is amusing, and you struggle to hold back the smile tucking at the corners of your lips. It becomes extremely clear, extremely fast, that Link is trying to look anywhere but into your eyes. You consider asking about his day but decide against it; he’s not the most talkative person in Hyrule, as you’ve come to learn.

“Please, let me know if you need anything,” you politely say before going back to your work. You have barely finished reading the first sentence of The Hero And A Monster In A Svamp when Link suddenly speaks.

“I’m bothering you,” he says.

You glance up from your paper. He is looking down at his hands, a distant look on his face.

“No, not at all,” you lie, “but I do have to ask you to leave after I’m done with these papers.”

“Oh,” Link says, already getting up.

“No, not now,” you quickly say, “but later. You won’t be able to leave once I lock the doors.”

“Oh,” Link says, again, and slowly sits back down. “Right. Okay. Sorry.” He is glancing at the doors with a look of uncertainty.

“And I do prefer the company,” you assure softly. You give him a smile and – for the first time – he returns it. It’s quick but awfully sweet, and you feel your stomach turning.

He looks down at his hands again. “I could make tea,” he says almost absentmindedly and stands up, still avoiding eye contact. “Would you like some?”

Not waiting for your answer, he rushes upstairs to the kitchenette. It’s going to be a long night, you think to yourself and shift your eyes back to your student’s story.

Ones upon a time there was the Hero of Hyrule. One day he saw a monster in a svamp. He takes his Master sword and he kills the svamp monster and he is So fast because he is stronger then the svamp monster. Everyone is happy. Princess Zelda is happy and we had a big party for The Hero. Mom is there and also my brohter and all my friends are there asswell but dad is crying because svamp monster is really my Nana and everyone is sad. The end.

You rub your eyes. A long, long night…

Your second cup of tea has also gone cold by the time you are done reading the stories.

“Thank Hylia,” you mutter as you push the papers inside your bag. The stories are all sweet – though you question the validity of most of them – but no matter how adorable, you’re glad you don’t have to read one more story about the Hero tonight.

You hastily gather your things and blow out your oil lamp before heading to the doors. You nearly scream when Link steps out of the shadowy corner he was sitting in. He has been so quiet for the past hour that you completely forgot he was even there.

“I’m so sorry,” you mutter, your face flushing with embarrassment. He doesn’t say anything, and his eyes are as quiet as his lips. Instead, he opens the door for you. He gives your back a light, assuring push as you walk past him, something you’ve seen him do to Zelda many times before. His gesture seems automatic, you don’t think he even realizes he does it, but your cheeks blush anyway.

“Are you done with your work?” he asks, even though the answer is obvious as you lock the doors.

“Yes,” you still answer. “Hopefully the Princess doesn’t come here looking for us.”

“No. It’s late,” Link simply says. There’s a tone in his voice you can’t quite put your finger on. Is it disappointment? Or bitterness? You don’t know him well enough to say for certain.

“You’re not going to go look for her?” you ask.

Link shakes his head. “I will walk you home,” he says instead, giving your back another gentle push as you start making your way towards the village.

The silence between you two doesn’t feel as awkward outside, where the rustling of leaves and the singsong of night birds fill in the quiet. The night air is brisk, easing the throbbing pain behind your eye. You sigh. You are happy Link offered to walk you home – though, he would’ve walked past East Wind either way. He has an aura of safety around him, something you much appreciate at this hour, even though you know Hateno to be safe even during the night.

To your surprise, Link breaks the silence first, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

You get a little startled when you turn to look at him and find him staring right back at you. You don’t think he has ever made eye contact with you in such a straightforward manner. You know you’re blushing. It’s almost like he is searching for something within your gaze.

And all you can think about is just how blue his eyes are.

“Have we really met before?” Link asks.

You can’t help the hint of pity seeping into your smile. It’s clear that the question has been bothering him for quite some time.

“Yes,” you answer, “yes, we have.”

He looks away, his brow furrowing as if he’s trying to force the memory.

“Our family farm is right outside Hateno,” you try to help him out. “You knocked on our door late at night. It was during a thunderstorm, a bad one. I don’t think we’ve had a storm like that since.”

The pace of Link’s footsteps slows down. His eyes are looking straight forward, but he doesn't seem to be actually looking at anything. You can see he is trying his hardest to remember. It pains you a little to see him struggle.

“It’s not that important, Link,” you comfort him. “It was a long time ago.”

“No,” he almost cuts you off, “I remember the storm. And I remember the farmhouse. The man of the house made me creamy mushroom soup.”

“That would be my father,” you smile, “and my mother offered to stitch your tunic, but you refused. And you refused a warm bath, to her horror.”

Link doesn’t laugh with you. He’s looking at you again, eyes observing you closely. You’re blushing hard. You don’t think even you, yourself, have ever looked at your own face as intensely as he is now. You can see frustration building up behind his eyes.

Finally, he shakes his head. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes and looks the other way. “I’m not trying to be rude on purpose.”

“It’s okay, Link,” you say, lightly touching his arm. “You had a lot going on at the time.”

You remember the night well. The first time you met the Hero of Hyrule was only a few months before the Calamity ended. He knocked on your family home’s door in the middle of the night, soaked from the heavy rain, bruised, and shivering. Your mother offered him a bed in the guest room because she recognized his blue tunic (there were rumors of a Champion awakened from a 100-year slumber), and your father made him food because he felt sorry for the boy.

You, too, felt sorry as you watched him eat his soup and then refuse the dry clothes your father offered him. He looked exhausted and on the verge of tears. He’s just a boy, you thought, your heart aching as you watched him rub his eyes dry while he may have thought no one was looking.

You’re not mad at Link for not remembering, nor do you feel disappointed. You never spoke with him. You never once thought he even noticed you sitting there by the fire, observing him quietly.

He was just a boy, you think, struggling to meet his gaze. You were the same age as him back then, and you believed – still do – eighteen was too young to bear the fate of the entire kingdom on his shoulders.

Hateno sleeps quietly. There are no lights, not even a flicker of a single candle behind the darkened windows. There is no chatter, no laughter, no horse hooves, no buzzing insects. Even the wind seems to be on its tiptoes as it blows through the town, as if to avoid disturbing the sleeping people. The sand beneath your boots sounds awfully loud in the silent night.

“May I ask you something in return?” you quietly speak. There’s been a long stretch of silence between the two of you since your earlier conversation. You can see something is still troubling Link, and you don’t want him to go home feeling saddened by memories you didn’t mean to bring up to the surface.

Link doesn’t say anything but he turns to look at you.

“The question is a bit… silly,” you hesitate. He waits patiently for you to continue.

“Uhm,” you mutter, already feeling stupid even thinking of asking what you’re about to ask. “Did you ever, by chance, fight a swamp monster during your travels? A monster that perhaps turned out to be someone’s grandmother?”

Link blinks. “... I’m sorry?”

“Forget about it,” you say with an uncomfortable laugh, motioning for him to stop staring at you. “The children have a wild imagination sometimes.”

Link thinks for a moment before sternly saying, “I have never killed a grandmother.” But the frown on his face makes it seem that he, himself, is not quite so sure of his own statement.

“It’s just something silly one of my students said,” you explain, “I asked them to write down stories they’ve heard about you.”

“Oh,” he says.

“They adore you,” you feel the need to explain further. “It was just for practice. I think most of them just made things up for the assignment. I doubt you ever turned into a giant during your adventures, or did you?”

Link shakes his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “No, I never did,” he says.

“I don’t understand how they can even come up with stories like that,” you laugh. “Poor Teebo swears he saw you riding a bear once!”

“Oh…”

“And one of the girls says their aunt in Lurelin saw you sailing naked all the way from Eventide.”

“... Oh.”

“Can you believe the imagination of these children?” you chuckle, shaking your head.

Link rubs his neck. “Yeah, wild imagination…” he hesitantly agrees, forcing the most unconvincing laugh you’ve ever heard.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry,” you quickly apologize, “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It was just a silly assignment.”

“No, I don’t mind. I– uh, I did sail to Eventide and back once,” Link admits, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

You give him a sympathetic smile. “Stories change as they get passed on.”

“Yeah…” Link mutters, rubbing his neck again.

You come to a stop as you reach the East Wind. The store’s windows are pitch-black, just like the rest of the village. You hope you won’t disturb Pruce and his family when you sneak in. He has been generous for letting you stay up in their attic basically for free. Sure, your father knows the shopkeeper well, but you still think not many people from Hateno would offer such kindness to other people’s children. It’s not the most comfortable living arrangement for a woman in her twenties, but it is better than living with your parents. Besides, Zelda has promised you a room on the school’s second floor once it gets cleared out from all the junk left behind during building.

“Thank you for walking me back,” you say as you turn to look at Link, “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

“It wasn’t,” Link assures you with a smile so soft it makes your heart flutter. You’re starting to understand why the girls in town act so giddy around him. He does have an endearing smile.

“I’ll see you around,” Link says, still smiling. “Have a good night.”

“You too, Link,” you say, feeling a bit flustered. You don’t quite understand your sudden giddiness, and you wish you could just slap some sense into yourself. You pry your eyes off of him before the butterflies in your stomach get any more restless. You take in a sharp breath when you suddenly feel his hand on your back again, pushing you gently towards the door right before he leaves. You are still certain he has no idea he’s doing it.

The night air feels almost too cold against your warm cheeks. You fumble with your keys for an embarrassingly long time before you get the door open. You can’t understand why suddenly your mind is completely overtaken by the thought of the Princess’ knight giving you such attention. You’ve never felt this starstruck around the Princess, and she, at least, is going to be crowned as the Queen of Hyrule one day.

You curse. There’s no other explanation: it has to be your students’ ‘heromania’ trying to overtake you.

#breath of the wild #botw #link x reader #link x (y/n)#link x you #reader insert #the legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #totk #age of calamity #botw link x reader #totk link x reader #my writing #hateno boy #fics

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sophitia-of-hyrule · 5 months

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Tears of the Kingdom is killing my love for Zelda

BotW promised a bright future, a change to the status quo, only for TotK to throw all of BotW's themes in the trash and go back to the "good old days" of absolute divine right monarchy and sexist writing. Not to mention Ganondorf having zero nuance. Despite his gorgeous design, he's by far the worst Ganondorf personality and motivation-wise. He's such a nothing character. What's the point of giving Ganon his humanoid form back if he barely has more personality than the evil cloud around Hyrule Castle.

Twilight Princess came out almost 20 years ago and it had more active and likable female characters. TotK makes TP look like peak feminism. Why is the latest game in the series so goddamn regressive? Why are we going backwards?

There's barely anything interesting about TotK. It's so shallow and again, incredibly regressive for a game that came out this year.

The more I read interviews and Nintendo statements, the more I realize they don't fucking care. They don't care about giving you a good story that makes sense, or an immersive world, or likable characters. TotK is what happens when you take "gameplay over anything else" to it's extreme.

Sure gameplay is important, but what's the point of playing a game if I'm not immersed into the world? TotK is a huge sandbox, it doesn't feel like a world, it feels like a tech demo. It has the same energy as Yandere Simulator leaving a bunch of weapons right in front of the school gate so the player can go wild. This world doesn't feel alive to me. It's like Nintendo saw people complain about BotW being "empty" and tried to solve that problem by throwing a bunch of shit everywhere with no rhyme or reason.

Sonic Frontiers has it's issues. It really does. It's extremely janky, has some bad level design and the story has a few holes. However, I could feel so much love in the dialogue and the character interactions. It was a love letter to the series and its characters. It felt like a fanfiction, but in a good way. Like a passion project. Sure the game is far, FAR from perfect, but I could tell the people who wrote for it really cared.

I didn't get that feeling playing TotK. It really felt like Nintendo just wanted to flex their new physics engine and stupid fucking building mechanic. They really gave us Zelda Nuts & Bolts and everyone clapped.

What's the point of building shit if the world feels fake and the characters are merely shadows of their former selves? What's the point of making a sequel if you're just going to ignore everything that happened in BotW to "not confuse new players"? What's the point?

I don't fucking care about the building mechanic. That's not why I play Zelda. The story is important to me. The characters are important to me. The worldbuilding is important to me. And Nintendo ignored all of those things.

In my opinion TotK's opening and ending (minus the true ending) are fantastic. But everything in between is a bitter disappointment. Nintendo confirmed the depths took very little time to make because they were auto-generated. Hyrule has barely changed except for the fact that Hateno has a bunch of ugly mushrooms everywhere now. Sky islands are few and far between, and are copy-pasted to an absurd degree. Why the fuck did this game take longer to develop than BotW? There's barely anything new. "BUT THE PHYSICS ENGINE IS INCREDIBLE" "BUT YOU CAN BUILD THINGS" Big fucking whoop. I don't care. I don't play Zelda for the fucking physics.

My boyfriend got mad at me when I said it felt like a cash grab but that's genuinely how I feel.

Edit: TotK confirms that Link bought the house in Hateno village, yet everyone in Hateno acts like they've never met him before?? Bolson doesn't even recognize him despite TotK confirming that not only did Link buy the Hateno house, they went to Hudson's wedding together. Bolson should know who Link is. Who wrote this. Who thought this was okay. Why are people praising this game.

#my post #rant #the legend of zelda #tloz #loz #zelda #tears of the kingdom #totk #tears of the kingdom critical #totk critical #tears of the kingdom criticism #totk criticism

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doomed-era · 2 months

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kn….. knocks on your door…… 1. scar stories (gaffen but also anyone else if you want!) and 2. headcanons/canons also for gaffen. views him like watching a rolypoly on the sidewalk

Oh Boy. gaffen has a lot of scars uh more than the average person. while surprisingly pre-calamity gaffen doesn't have that many and the ones he does have are fairly small and ended up getting mostly healed over by the shrine of resurrection. the scars robbie mentions were ones he essentially expected to be there based on how purah said the machine would work, and robbie was mostly referring to one scar on his right side. it was from the guardian that shot him lmao. gaffen probably Eventually learned where it came from but for a few days after he woke up it looked sort of weird? had a thin, sticky blue film over it originally. similar to the blue stuff he ended up coughing up but uh yea

ANYWAY. the scar on gaffens face is from kishu! it was not deliberate; she swiped at him and he got out of the way but not enough to keep his face from getting cut. he has three other scars on his chest from the encounter but they are smaller. as for what encounter other than it was with kishu I am. not saying it is spoilers </#

widget has scars all over the left side of her body. malice uhh basically started eating at her after a certain point. pretty much all of her extremities (hands, feet, ears) got at least nipped at except her right hand. it makes wearing socks and tight pants very uncomfortable and she sometimes puts on magic circlets or brooches (they lower or raise your body temperature in gboh and can numb things if they're powerful enough) to help with any pain. this is sort of why she wears a skirt? it's also bc she likes skirts. she'll also just. pull up her sleeve and start itching the scar on her arm. usually when she thinks no one is looking.

paya has two scars on her chest and one on her back!

ok for headcanons :) I'll do a few I can think of off the top of my head.

-gaffen is a horsegirl bc the twins at dueling peaks say link looks like a horse person and I believe them :]

-gaffen will call himself a traveller and in general doesn't say he's the hero unless he feels challenged or it's directly brought up. (canon link calls himself "just a traveler" to rhodes (guy watching hateno windmills))

-this is more about rhoam's relationship to gaffen, but early in the game after you get off the first sheikah tower rhoam will ask you basically if you want to rescue zelda. you have two options one of which is a blatant "yes" and the other one is (iirc) just "..." SO. uh. if you answer "..." rhoam will comment about seeing "determination in link's eyes." you cant properly say no </3 my friend has also pointed out that link's dialogue options seem decidedly more open and curious on the great plateau! so you can see where I get the whole "rhoam is sort of manipulating link to his own ends" angle I hope. because i'm not going to interpret rhoam as actually thinking link has determination in his eyes thats stupid + reminds me of cutscene-onlyers who think links some kinda stoic badass who only cares about zelda which is a take i despise + rhoam has a legitimate motive for doing what I think he's doing

#golden blood on his hands #asks #glider rambles

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somethingwittyandweird · 5 months

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What's your favorite game you played this year?

You've activated my “review of my year in gaming” trap card! I was already going to make this post in some form or another, you've just given me the perfect launching point. So, the first thing you should know about asking me for favorites: I never give just one. How could I, when it's been such a banger year of games? (Heads up, this one's going to go long.)

I loved Tears of the Kingdom to death, and it took home my most hours played on Switch. It is a shining example of what devs can do with an extra few months to polish a game. There were so many remarkable moments that testified to how much care and ideas the devs were able to put in. I loved how it used the time since the first game to develop familiar places and characters, adding depth (no pun intended) and also making sure every familiar location had some new twist. The story was a much stronger followup to BotW, and I think this overall has my new favorite ending sequence of anything in the series (I'd love to make a full post sometime about how the final Ganondorf battles just keep getting more spectacular with each new title). I am so, so, so, so normal about this incarnation of Princess Zelda.

Also in my favorites this year is Fire Emblem Engage, which hit at just the right time to scratch my strategy itch. As a long time FE fan it’s not a surprise I enjoyed this one- though it lost the political intrigue of its predecessor in favor of a more traditional/tropey story, I still had a lot of fun with all its gimmicks and gameplay innovations. Also it is hands-down the most visually appealing game in the franchise, a title previously held by the series’ GBA entries which are masterworks from the peak era of beautiful sprite art. From the incredible crit animations to the spectacle of super attacks to the battle maps which are so beautifully detailed that the game lets you free roam around them after a battle just to appreciate them better.

I finished the Link’s Awakening remake this year! It was a charming trip back to an older era of Zelda design philosophy and I found it fascinating to compare the ways where the classic puzzles and challenges differ from what the game would be like if it were made today, as well as the places where modern technology allowed for better QoL changes that weren’t in the original. I really enjoyed the music as well, which I find to be a standout among the series still.

Here at the end of the year, I have to give a shout out to Sea of Stars. It has everything you want in an indie darling- very pretty pixel art, very nice music, turn-based battles with timed hits I joke, but Sea of Stars does a great job balancing evoking/paying homage to icons like Chrono Trigger and bringing new gameplay to the JRPG formula. I like its pared-down take on JRPG combat which revamps skills/mana into a much more dynamic resource that’s constantly being spent and regenerated, and I’m a known sucker for character combo attacks which this game has in spades. The later parts of its story are told with a lot of heart, and again I am a known sucker for certain character archetypes. Surprisingly also, I think the movement and exploration is absolutely a standout- not something that’s typically emphasized in the genre. But this game constantly has you hopping across stepping stones, balancing on tightropes, climbing walls and ledges… the emphasis on interesting traversal and verticality is a strength few games like it can boast.

Before my final pick, I’m including a special section for all the games I didn't play myself but watched my friends play and still want to praise: Hi-Fi Rush, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Mario Bros Wonder, Pizza Tower, the Minish Cap Switch rerelease, and more all came out this year and all of them have brought killer music, excellent gameplay, and stunning visuals that I’ve enjoyed to no end. Anyone considering to pick up any of them would find a quality product without a doubt.

With all that said: I think ultimately it has to be Tunic in the end. Underneath its premise of a Zelda/Souls-like adventure game there is a wealth of secrets that goes as far down as you have the courage to delve. It’s a game built to evoke nostalgia for games that you didn’t understand yet, posing as a game that you watched an older sibling play or a game you could only find a poorly-translated foreign copy of. It obscures everything and teaches you its secrets through context, exploration, and discovering in-game pages of the manual (remember manuals?). It’s a game made for lovers of secrets and puzzles, full of hidden paths and trophies that reward inquisitiveness and observation (and taking paper notes). It was when I saw that it not only has a conlang, but that it gives you the hints you need to fully translate it, that I knew I had to get it myself. It spurred me to screenshot every in-game piece of menu text, then spend evenings cross-referencing it to identify phonemes and construct a key.

The rush I got on completing that key is one of two moments I knew this game was absolutely special. The second standout moment is when the game teaches you its hugest secret, and then invites you to prove your mastery of it by presenting you a huge, multi-part puzzle. But, Tunic does the same thing that one of my other all-time favorites, Outer Wilds, does so well: powerups via knowledge, “unlocking” abilities that you always had, you just didn’t know that you did. The pieces to this puzzle are hidden in plain sight; it’s only when the game tells you what you’re looking for that your understanding shifts, everything clicks, and your eyes are opened to the path you have to follow. I don’t say it lightly, but I consider Tunic to be a one-of-a-kind title, and one that delivers completely on its unique vision.

In case that brick of text doesn’t make it clear, I love this game.

I love all of these games.

It's a fine time to be alive.

#i talk a lot tag #skysometric #loz #totk #sea of stars #fire emblem #fe17 #link's awakening #thank you so so much for giving me this space to make this post #sorry-not-sorry about the wall of text jumpscare #i mean everything i said sincerely and honestly still have more to say about some of these #that i'll save for another time #long post

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maybeamiles · 5 months

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Characters that made me realize I was trans

You ever just wanna make a comprehensive list of everyone that gave you gender envy from a young age? Yeah me too.

So here it is! A list of every character that made me realize I was trans, starting from when I was a little kid!

No. 1 - Aravis from The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Okay, weird racism in this book aside, the amount I loved Aravis was probably the first indicator that I was not cisgender. I thought she was so cool for dressing up as a boy and rejecting traditional femininity and being so "not-like-other-girls" (i also had a big not-like-other-girls phase around the time I read this, go figure). Of course, she is cisgender, and seems to fall into a *slightly* more traditional role by the end of the book, but this isn't about C.S. Lewis' gender stuff and more on the fact that I related very heavily to Aravis and the fact that she didn't fit in with other girls, because I also felt the same way.

Her male co-star Shasta also gave me gender envy so between them both it's no wonder 9-year-old me loved this book.

No. 2 - Deryn/Dylan Sharp from Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Once again it's the girl-dressing-up-as-a-boy-to-fuck-with-gender-rules trope! Only this time, Deryn Sharp is actually treated like a man by her male co-star, Alek (up until he figures out that Dylan is actually Deryn, but then he's quite supportive of her gender fuckery). Deryn, like Aravis, doesn't actually feel any gender dysphoria. Her gender fuckery is a means to pursue her passion for air travel via joining the army. This does get fucked up by the last book and she ends up needing to leave the army, but we don't actually see how she presents herself when in non-millitary society so I will headcannon that she remains quite butch.

I thought Deryn was the coolest when I was 13, and even wound up copying her way of saying "barking spiders" for a bit. And her and Alek's romantic relationship was peak goals for me, probably because it begins while Deryn still presents masc.

No. 3/4 - Link, from TLOZ: Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild

So, the Links! Let's talk about the Links!

Twilight was the first male character I remember projecting myself onto. So much so that I did not ship him and midna OR him and Illia (and didn't really like illia's quest), not because they didn't have chemistry but because I am very homosexual and did not like the idea of my self-insert being with a girl. Now, do cis girls project themselves onto male character? Idk but I'm not cis and this is something I did so *shrug*

I've lumped these two together because Zelda was a sort of twofer for me. I played Twilight Princess and then a couple years later played BOTW and began discovering what transgender people were. At the time I ID'd as nonbinary, and my Zelda obsession grew with my understanding of "shit I'm not cis." (I even named myself after a Zelda character for a bit). The links were my first *conscious* experience of gender envy, and hold a special place in my heart for it.

No. 5 - Aether from Genshin Impact

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, is the man, the myth, the legend, Aether Genshin Impact. And there is a STORY behind this guy's inclusion.

See, by the time I started playing genshin, I had long since accepted that I was not a girl. I called myself nonbinary, and thought I was okay with simply "not being a girl" and was fine doing what I saw all the other nonbinary people doing (binders, no testosterone, vaugely masc clothes, etc).

Then I booted up genshin impact, and had to pick between Aether and Lumine. And I still remember the "oh shit" moment I had when I realized that the default I expected to fall into would not make me happy. I had expected myself to pick Lumine, because I had previously thought that I was more comfortable with femininity than masculinity. I realized that I didn't just want "genderless." I wanted masculine. And I had this guy to thank for helping me come to that realization.

Anyways that's not all the characters that gave me gender envy or really even my entire "here's how I knew I was trans" but they are the most influential ones to me.

#transgender #transmasculine #gender envy #the horse and his boy #scott westerfeld #deryn sharp #tloz #twilight princess #breath of the wild #genshin impact #also standard disclaimer for the end that nonbinary people are real and really nonbinary and not just “trans binary in denial”#i was but that doesn't mean others are too and you need to let people come to those sorts of realizations on their own

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sun-aries · 6 months

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Otherworldly (TP Zelink smut)

Hey everyone!

This Zelink smut takes place in my story Broken Mirrors and Their Reflections, chapter 29, in the Twilight Realm. If you haven't read the story, that's okay, it can stand alone. I reworked it so I hope you guys enjoy :)

Leave a request if you like!

In a world with no solid ground, Zelda was his gravity; in the frigid air, she was his warmth and in the shadows, she was his light. Link wasn't exactly sure how he ended up back in the Twilight Realm, but in that moment, it didn't matter. There was nothing but the soft movement of her lips on his and the keen noises laced on her breath.

Much to his reluctance, Zelda drew back, just enough to shed her dress. The thin black cloth slid off her body like dewdrops off a petal, and once it cascaded to her ankles, she stepped out of its ring of fabric. She turned to face him then, and his eyes were immediately drawn to her figure. He sucked a breath through his teeth.

She was beautiful.

Her silhouette was embossed with an ethereal glow, illuminated by the window behind her, where the sky was perpetually heather and the wispy clouds leisurely coasted by. Pale skin was peppered with goosebumps, and he ached to enfold her in his arms and keep her warm. But for a moment, as he took her in, time seemed to tarry.

Her breasts were bare, round and pert, the peaks hardened and flush against the paleness of her skin. Admittedly, his eyes lingered there, taken, before dropping to the dip of her hips, to the black panties concealing her from him and then to her thighs, subtly and yet demurely brushing against one another.

It wasn't clear how long Link marvelled at her, but she waited until his eyes found hers again, and for another moment he could do nothing but swallow. Zelda was a beacon, blinding and beautiful, and he was a moth. He'd chase her forever, knowing that he might get burnt and willing to risk it at every turn.

Slowly, they stepped up to each other, their foreheads falling together as they shared in a breath. While his hands wrapped around her waist, her hands found his neck, her fingers splaying over his jaw line - a tad stubbly from so long in the countryside, searching for her - and her breath trembled as it seeped from her lips.

Moved by the thought, her brows furrowed and she leaned forward to capture his lips again, wanting, needing, and Link responded in kind. Her tongue dipped between the line of his lips and met his, and the silky wetness of the touch made their stomachs leap in unison.

Her hands fell to his waist, tugging blindly and a tad desperately at the white cotton shirt that they'd gotten commissioned for the reception, now yellowed with use, snagged and stained, and tried to pull it free from his pants. It didn't take long for Link to figure out what she was doing, and his breath caught, both delighted and flustered by her eagerness.

Zelda's brow was drawn in concentration, her straight and dark hair pouring over her shoulders and falling around her face. With a small smile curling his lips, his hands came to either side of her face to tuck the strands behind her pointed ears. As he drew back, his hands brushed along her jaw, a delicate, wispy touch that pulled her gaze back to his.

It was a wordless reminder that he was here - that there was no rush, and with a shaky breath, she was able to untuck the stubborn shirt. Careful with his injury, he lifted his arms to get it all the way off and to the floor with her dress. She dragged her hands down the length of his arms, easing them down to his sides, before she coasted to his waistline.

Zelda's hands were soft - softer than his could ever be – and every inch she traced made his stomach curl pleasantly. Far steadier now, she was diligent in loosening the knot, and it allowed her to ease a hand into his trousers. The moment her hand curled around his member, Link exhaled, suddenly realizing that he'd been holding his breath.

He'd spent his entire time apart missing Zelda and worrying about whether she was alive, that he hadn't allowed himself to miss her this way. It wasn't until her hands were on him that he realized how much he needed her.

A small, nearly imperceptible smile flickered on her lips when his hands settled on the small of her back. The touch encouraged her, and she moved to undress him properly; soon the last of his clothes dropped to his ankles. With nothing restricting her, she stroked the length of him in one swift movement, and it sent a shudder down his back.

"Zelda…please." His voice was soft, and their foreheads rolled against one another as he bowed his head. "Let me take you to bed."

The simple request released a swarm of butterflies in her belly. She leaned in, her cheek softly brushing against Link's as she whispered in the hollow of his ear, "Take me then."

With a swift, yet heavy breath, he drew back, eyes meeting her lips before his mouth did. He kissed her over and over, each stroke echoing the last, and she enfolded her arms around his neck, if only to get closer. His hands travelled to her rear, hoisting her up and carrying her to bed without breaking their kiss.

But Zelda noticed his kiss get a bit clumsy when his footsteps stopped, and his hand left her to blindly pat around for something. Her eyes fluttered open in time to find him tugging the sheets free from their tidy fastening. There was a sheepish smile on his face when she looked back at him. "I don't want you to be cold," he admitted.

The surprise in her face was replaced by adoration and she laughed. "You've been keeping me plenty warm." The red on his cheeks grew brighter and Zelda smiled proudly as he laid her down. He wasted no time mounting her, throwing the sheets over them and pressing his lips to hers.

With sweat coating their skin, resiliently built up against the stubborn chill of the room, Zelda's breasts sinfully slid against his chest just as the flat of their tongues met, and it tore a broken moan from his lips. One of his hands curled around her jaw, just over her elegant chin, and the gentle and yet demanding touch made her gasp.

Their eyes met and it was instant: the wave of fire that crashed between them - a red heat bathing their skin and swirling in their cores. Link swore beneath his breath, a sinful promise, holding her gaze before they fell to her lips. "You have no idea how much I need you, Zelda." His voice was husky, as if he'd just woke from a deep slumber, and it lit every nerve in Zelda's body.

"You have me. Wholly, I'm yours." She swallowed, and her own eyes fluttered to his lips. "Do with me what you will."

His jaw set, eyes darkening. In choppy movements, Link's hand moved from her jaw to splay across her neck, then her sternum, while the other landed firmly on the pillow beside her. Their eyes simultaneously followed its journey while Zelda took a deep breath, perhaps deliberately pushing her chest further into his touch.

Obediently, his hand slid between her breasts and his eyes shot back to hers. A breast slid into his open palm, kneading into the soft, warm skin, and when her mouth fell open, so did his. Following his hand's path, he dipped his head to lather her chest with loving kisses.

The warmth of his wet mouth was a stark contrast to the chill in the air, so much so that she imagined steam rising off her skin. His tongue swirled around her firm nipple before he took it into his mouth and suckled. Zelda cried out shockingly loud in the silence, her dark hair mussing as she tossed her head against the pillow. It pulled a needy groan deep from his chest as he clenched the pillowcase in his free hand.

Zelda hadn't even realized how much she needed him between her legs until his hand veered from her breasts and slid the rest of the way down. His fingers ventured into her panties first, sliding down the seam of her body, and he felt her heat before he even touched her wetness.

Having her arousal so palpable, and feeling it for himself, made his member twitch in his pants. With a supressed groan, he dipped his fingers into her before sliding back, diverging, and spreading her wetness to either side of her clit. As the place that brought her most pleasure, he revered it, so desperate to hear her moan and feel her legs quake that he could think of nothing else.

His slick fingers were swift and thorough, rubbing her in circular motions even as Zelda's thighs tightened around his wrists, holding him firm as she grinded into his hand. Link's body rolled with hers, nearly forgetting that he was using his hand rather than his member. Her voice spilled out in moans and cries, her mouth open and eyes shut; with all his senses locked in on her, he drank in every moment of it.

He was desperate to give the orgasm she chased as she rocked into every diligent touch. And then, her body tensed; moments later, her voice drew to a high pitch, and he'd be damned if he didn't know what that meant. "Yes," he breathed against her. "I want to see you – I want to watch you come."

She cried out, her voice echoing off the metallic walls as her hips canted off the mattress. Her legs shook as she held herself still, holding onto the pleasure of her orgasm as if it were tangible. Link's breaths were heavy, his fingers still between her legs, wanting to draw it out as long as he could, even as she spasmed in the throes of it. But it inevitably slipped away from her and she collapsed to the mattress, exhausted.

Link peppered soft kisses over her cheek and neck, and she took a shuddering breath as she tugged on his hair to raise his lips to hers. Open-mouthed, she kissed him, sapped but still searing, and she murmured against him, "All of you." Another kiss, then, "I need all of you."

He inhaled sharply, brows furrowing, and broke apart only to ask, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she begged. "Please…if you do too."

Wild desire swirled in his dark blue eyes and yet they were fixated on her, bearing into her with a ferocity that would always be her undoing. "More than anything." Her hand unfurled from his messy hair to slide to his cheek, and her thumb ran over his bottom lip, swollen and red.

Zelda smiled before reaching for her panties and sliding them down, and the little effort caused Link to come to her aid. When they were off, she was the one to guide his member to her. Her hand alone was enough to make him start, but it was nearly over for him when the tip of him touched her wetness. White flashed behind his eyes, causing his head to spin and forcing him to grab her wrist.

The intensity of his desire took them both by surprise, and though it was slightly embarrassing, Link was quickly soothed by Zelda's comforting touch. Her fingers threaded into his hair, still damp from his bath, as she shared in the intake of his steadying breaths. When the tension subsided, he opened his eyes to find her small smile.

Gradually, he sunk into her, and her pleased sigh was immediate. "Link…"

Her slickness was searing against his member, her tight heat burning hotter than the richest caverns of Death Mountain. Eyes clenched, Link wrung his hands in the pillow on either side of her head and leaned his forehead against hers. His hips moved on their own accord, rocking into her with slow, careful movements – he didn't quite trust himself to go any faster without losing control completely.

Perhaps it was that he'd missed her so, or perhaps all his fear of losing her had manifested into desire now that she was back in his arms, but either way he was insatiable, thirsting for her like he was without a drop of water atop Gerudo's mesas. The bitter cold of the room was nonexistent: there was only heat – slick heat enveloping his member and effervescent embers alit beneath his skin.

She'd felt the same, as though fiery inferno swept the room, threatening to engulf them both in its unrelenting flames. Each measured thrust rammed a spot deep within her, causing stars to flash beneath her eyelids, and she arched her back in a desperate need for more. "Link, please… I need…I need - faster, please."

He was in such a dire need of her that hearing Zelda's plea, fumbling as it fell from her lips, was more than enough encouragement. With sweat dribbling down his temples, he started to pick up speed, each thrust just a tad faster than the last. Her response was immediate: a desperate drag of her sharp nails down his back, and he bit his lip to try and hinder his ravenous groan.

As she arched her back, her soft breasts stuck to the firm wall of his chest, and he delighted in her hardened nipples pressing against him. Link grabbed one of her thighs and raised it higher against his hip – a tad roughly, for which he would later repent - and opened her up more. Zelda whimpered.

"Zelda," he whined, pitiful and desperate, but he couldn't find it in him to very much care in the moment. He leaned down to press a kiss against her lips, only partially able to focus on the movements of his mouth, but she slipped her tongue past his lips, and his hips stuttered as he slid his tongue against hers, tangling and teasing, until he rediscovered his momentum.

Mouth against mouth, hips against hips, their bodies rocked together, causing the mattress to sway and creak beneath them. His head veered off into the crook of her neck, disappearing further into the sheets to smother her with messy kisses.

Meanwhile, his hand moved from her thigh to the curves of her round breast. He breathed in deeply through his nose, drinking in her heat, smelling her familiar milky scent now laced with sweat, and rose his eyes to hers just to see her lashes flutter and her brows curl upwards in pleasure.

"Zelda….Zelda…Zelda." He repeated her name like a mantra, saying it like he'd been saying it for eons.

Her whole body clenched, drawing tight once more. "Link – I think – I will-" He hung on every one of her feverish words, but she paused, her breath hitched on her manners.

"Say it," he urged, and she whimpered. "Tell me, Zelda, please…"

Arching her back, she threw her head back and cried, "I'm coming…!"

He groaned loudly. All at once, all the heat from the room gathered to their bodies and coiled down to where they connected, crashing down like waves of fire. Zelda's passage tightened around his member and Link's sight went white as he bore down in her. Time tarried once more as they came together, their bodies pressed together at every point and coupled in every possible way. There was nothing but one another and their soundless ecstasy.

Link's entire body was trembling, his arms struggling to keep him in place despite his physical strength. As her pleasure abated, Zelda fell like a feather, her body sinking into the mattress, head arcing onto the pillow, and mouth slowly falling shut.

It was then that their eyes met, a wild and yet adoring look in Link's gaze while he panted heavily. Her face softened, looking heavenly and peaceful as her small smile returned. "Come," she said, her dulcet voice drained. Her arms enveloped him, slinking around his shoulders as her hands cradled his head. "Lay with me, love."

Without question, he withdrew from her and collapsed at her side, settling into place as she eased his face to her chest. A soft sigh left his lips as he melted in her embrace. Her comforting scent clung to her soft, dewy skin and it enveloped him, soothing him to sleep more soundly than he had in weeks.

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kygerbearr · 5 months

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What's the worst game you've ever played?

it is hard to really gauge what the worst game I've ever played was, but there are definitely some games I consider to genuinely be bad. none of them are really all that interesting takes so don't expect much

persona 5 - I really, really dislike this game and genuinely think its game design is bad. visually it's amazing, but they lock game changing mechanics like party switching behind social links that I just had no interest in doing, and no one should be punished that hard for not doing optional content. horrible game design. also the story bored me to tears. the villain is so half-assed and character assassinated in the later half of the game that I felt insulted that they took so much time from me. the only redeeming quality of that game is its aesthetics, soundtrack and some of the characters, otherwise it's mediocre garbage and there are so many better RPGs to play. also persona 3 clears it

genshin impact - I don't hate it because it's anime or because it's gacha and I played it from launch all the way until the second half of inazuma when they released itto, but the way they handle content in that game is horrible. the units they released had horrendous kits overshadowed by whoever was running the meta. the hype for new units was completely gone, and building your team was fucking miserable because you need to gather bugs for 3 hours which also take 48+ real life hours to respawn. also everyone in that game is fucking white and its so annoying and I fucking hate it

the peak of my enjoyment out of genshin impact was liyue as a whole since it was actually a beautiful area with some slight amount of authenticity to traditional chinese culture, language, and topography. but the story of the game is so unbelievably fucking boring, the gameplay is not interesting, the new characters end up sucking and it's just a ridiculously unfun timesink. fuck genshin impact

maplestory - i have nothing to say about it. just trust me

yakuza 3 - holy shit I have never been more unsatisfied with the gameplay and story of a yakuza game. this actually made me want to drop the series entirely because I didn't find it fun or interesting whatsoever, the game is incredibly unbalanced, combat is so clunky and gross, the only saving grace is that okinawa is cool to look at. i didn't do any of the side stories because I just did not enjoy the gameplay, I finished this game and felt exhausted when I was done with it. the yakuza series is deeply deeply worth it, but please play this on the lowest difficulty and just bumrush the story.

tloz: wind waker - one of my hotter takes is that wind waker really isn't that good, admittedly I did play the gamecube version but what the wii u version changed doesn't completely turn it into a good game. my biggest issue with this game is that the overworld is genuinely empty and exploration feels pointless since the only side content you can do has unsatisfying rewards that don't make the game much better. the hint system they use for that game is fucking stupid, dungeon design takes a nosedive after the first 2 dungeons, items you get in dungeons have next to no use outside of those dungeons, and the final sequence being a boss gauntlet is one of the laziest cop-outs for the zelda series. I desperately wanted to like the game, so I played it 1 and a half times and that was enough to tell me that it wasn't that good.

ty the tasmanian tiger - i really wanted to love this game! but the level design got lazy and became a slog trying to collect everything, the boss design was very much not interesting and it just really couldn't hold my attention. I've gone back to this game 3 different times trying to see if I'd change my opinion but I play through half of the game and just end up realizing I don't like it and don't want to play it. it's just kind of sad

paper mario 64 - I won't call it one of the worst games I've played, but it's on this list because I beat the game and realized I didn't have any fun. the combat is really basic and boring, some of the areas are just kind of boring, it just felt really boring. the final battle? boring. there is nothing interesting about this game and I had more fun playing the randomizer than the actual game

tsukihime - this is not a game. this is a visual novel, but it's on the list because I genuinely fucking hate this game. it has the worst most annoying protagonist inner monologue ever, I liked the characters in it because of Melty Blood and ended up hating most of them by the time I finished tsukihime. I WILL be replaying it once the official english version of the remake drops in which case I will type a much longer winded review of it but I don't think anyone who likes tsukihime read it, or if they did and still like it, are not a good person. "just because they like the media doesn't mean they approve of it" cool don't care shiki tohno is a dogshit protagonist and wants to bang his sister bye

thats just scratching the surface and its just off the top of my head, other honorable mentions include final fantasy 15, final fantasy 10, glover, dragon ball z legacy of goku, super metroid (will not elaborate)

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cryiling · 1 year

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this is probably the most delusional I've been but hear me out ok,

imagine modern revalink in the movie all the president's men, with link as bob woodward and revali as carl bernstein 😊 specifically from the movie, not the actual ppl from watergate!!! 😭 idk the actual guys but in the movie idc their dynamic fits revalink perfectly and the potential chemistry should be explored

first of all here's a picture of the two guys

the one with blond hair is woodword (aka link) and the one with brown hair is bernstein (aka revali)

ough revali and link as "rival" reporters at the hyrule post, and there's this emerging mystery/scandal about.. um,, uhh... some guy, idk it doesn't really matter, but they both want to investigate to uncover and report on the truth, but they're sort of competing to be the reporter who works on the story, and revali is critiquing the way link is presenting the facts in his draft while link is just trying to keep to himself and do his job

then their manager zelda is like, "if you're both going to be so obsessed with this case then you should just work on it together. I'm assigning you both to the story"

revali and link are like ???? they do not want to work together (well, link doesn't really care. revali is v pissed.) and things are turbulent at first. they both have different aspects they want the story to focus on, they have different methods for finding + interviewing sources.. it's a mess

but one day link makes a call to someone which ends up giving them a lead in the story, and revali makes a follow up call to confirm their suspicions, and they're so relieved they finally made progress!

from there they're able to collaborate better, they under each other's different strengths in reporting so they divide up the tasks a little more, revali is really good with words so he takes the lead in drafting their articles, while link is able to get more information out of people they talk to, so he spends more time contacting sources and interviewing ppl

there's this one scene in all the president's men where they both go to the library of congress and sort through all the check-out cards from the past several years because they're trying to find evidence to support their suspicions, and they're sitting at one desk in the library, literally leaning right against each other, and I'm like hm that's a little suspicious 📸

so yeah imagine revali and link in that kind of scenario, just sitting so close to each other, no noise except the sound of their breathing and the flipping through catalog cards 🙏 peak homoerotic tension

uh anyways it's actually been a while since I've seen all the president's men, this idea has been sitting in my drafts for a while so I can't really remember all the things I wanted to say about this au, but yeah it was a good idea and idc if my irl friend thought I was delusional for this ✋

#revalink #revali #link #botw #breath of the wild #the legend of zelda #legend of zelda #tloz #loz #it's a good idea ok #maybe I'll elaboration on this more later idk #im very bored rn stuck at the hairdresser girl help !#i just want to go home and keep playing totk 😭#crow's revalinkverse #me being So Normal about this game

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waterspoutskies · 1 year

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@zartophski tagged me in the first line tag game like, five or six weeks ago. And I forgot to do it.

And then @lyrabythelake tagged me three weeks ago and I was like oh! Thank you for the reminder!

And I forgot to do it.

So I'm doing my first line tag game now. Thank you both. <3 But I'm not tagging anyone because you've all already done this.

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway!

Beneath the Skin: When he wakes up, it is cold. (LU. Incomplete, 3 chapters.)

Thoughts Like These: The world stirred below his feet in the spring silence- Not a perfect silence, but a warm one, filled with the quiet pulse of new life and growth. (LU. Complete.)

Piece It All Together: It hadn’t really been his fault, Sky knew that. (LU. Complete.)

Illuminate: He wasn’t sure what to think anymore, not by now, and not with the whole world before him and an impressive amount of pain behind him. (Four Swords. Complete.)

Where We Are: Legend held still where he’d been dumped unceremoniously on the ground this time, willing the nausea and vertigo to recede before he inevitably had to face their new reality while the others slowly gathered themselves and answered Time. (LU. Incomplete. Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 Complete. Please pray for Chapter 2.)

Dancing With My Own Shadow: Shadow is seven when he realizes he is different. (Four Swords, AU. Complete.)

They Say Minish and Heroes Go Hand in Hand: Once upon a time, in a kingdom called Hyrule, peace and prosperity reigned among the land, and the people of the realm were happy. (Minish Cap into LU. Complete.)

Guardian Wars: [Dramatic music] A ragtag crowd just barely fills out the tiny bleachers around a rudimentary polycarbonate and steel beam cage with a few lights plastered up at the ends and corners. (This one, while it has a link, doesn't have the actual story really posted yet, because writing commercials is hard. Sneak peaks for you! LU, AU, not posted.)

Into the Lost Woods: Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom, a small village nestled near the edge of an ancient and mysterious woods resided under the rule of a ruling family that was honestly not that great, but at least there were civil services. (LU, AU, not posted.)

They Say It’s Dangerous to Go Alone: Once upon a time, in a fallen kingdom, a Princess Zelda of Hyrule accepted her fate of the story’s end before her legend had even been told. (Legend of Zelda into LU, not posted.)

Ok! That's 10.

Enjoy everyone, ask questions or not, whatever~

#tag game i think?#ask game #Is anybody listening?#You heard? No.#Paloma Writes #am writing #my writing #[OUR] writing #linked universe #linkeduniverse #loz four swords #four swords #Beneath the Skin #GuardianWarsAU #Once Upon LU

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sleeplessadhara · 11 months

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Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Spoilers (my thoughts)

Firstly, I'm so, so happy I was able to play this game without spoiling myself and I went full on blind. I think that made the whole experience more enjoyable and magical for me.

The first minutes of the game I was already hooked, and I wanted to know more, who were the Zonnai? What are they? Were they godly entities, product of Hylia? Were they equal to her?

And then Ganondorf appeared, in his skeletal glory. I wasn't expecting Link to literally lose his arm and to almost die, and It was so unexpected that Zelda went back to the past too.

Gameplay

Gameplay wise, the controls felt mostly like BOTW, although at first I found it kinda tricky remembering the ultrahand controls and stuff, but after a few hours of playing I got used to it.

The difficulty of the enemies isn't SUPER hard, but it took me a few hours to learn again how to fight them without dying constantly (i was very rusty).

Next, I like that like in BOTW, they give you freedom to explore the First Sky Island to find more context, and history behind the Zonnai and Rauru. It was heartwarming to see Rauru observing the golems on their daily jobs, and listen to him while he said how he cherished them, or felt bad for them.

It was as if the golems weren't just plain old useless NPC's, and they had actual depth. I love the golems fr.

I also wanted to add that despite the game letting you roam about at your will, it also gives you lots of clues and tips on where to go next. I never felt lost at all.

Graphics and Visuals

Like BOTW, Tears of The Kingdom is a beautiful game. The scenery, the ambient, the backgrounds, it felt like I was truly walking on a Kingdom that was being rebuilt. The sky islands felt heavenly, but at the same time as if they were once occupied by people. And the Abyss... just wow. I was scared the first time I went down there.

Sound and Music

I'm sorry folks, I'm going to rant so much.

The music used on this game, are so smartly and beautifully crafted, you can't even imagine. From moment 1, it helps you get into the game and story.

I just loved hearing the songs and then, unexpectedly... BOOM. I could hear fragments of songs from other Zelda games. I also love how the songs match perfectly every single place, boss, cutscene, etc.

Not only that, but I think one of my favorite songs was the one that plays when fighting against Colgera. I wasn't expecting such a beautiful and epic music at that moment, and the gasp I let out while I was fighting the thing almost made me die. (I love how the characters advise you to visit first Rito village. It surely was worth it, and it's a direct punch to your heart by nostalgia).

Another song I loved was Sidon's theme. To me, the song felt more soft compared with BOTW, but at the end, it peaks up amazingly. It gave me the vibes that tells the story of how Sidon lost some of his courage in fear of losing his people, and then he regains it when Yona gives him a speech to push him to do the right thing.

Lastly, another thing I loved was how they mixed some of the songs with the music that play when you are near one of the dragons??? In the final battle that killed me, it was amazing.

The Voice Acting was on point too, I loved Sonnia's voice from the very beginning, it was so soft and warm, but when it needed to be, she was sharp and- yeah.

Story and Narrative

I think the story of TOTK is satisfying. I loved how at first we have no clue of what is happening, and as we go collecting the pieces of the puzzle, we can make our own conclusions until the story is explained to us.

I wasn't expecting Zelda to become a dragon, at all.

When I first saw the Light Dragon, I thought it was an addition, maybe related to a side-quest or something. But wow. When the dots connected, pain.

I thought for real that we wouldn't be able to bring back Zelda to her original form, and I cried a lot when I finished the Tears of the Dragon quest. The cutscene was heartbreaking.

When the music stops, and then starts again super loud, with an orchestral/choral version of Zelda's Lullaby, it made me feel that was she doing was something that there was no turning back from. An act of a princess who wanted nothing else than to help her people, but at the same time, being afraid of losing herself to the Draconian power.

She legit felt as if she was in great pain, and the scream she let out when transforming into the Light Dragon... and when she flew to the clouds vanishing while the Sages watched from afar her sacrifice... I lost it.

Anyway, moving on.

I also loved traveling to the different regions, where lots of things changed, and the Newer Sages had also some personality growth through the story.

One thing that disappointed me was that they barely talked about the Four Champions of BOTW. (When I saw that they changed Mipha's statue, I got so mad. Until I saw they made a zone in her memory, then I calmed down).

But, what happened to the Divine Beasts? Did they disappear to thin air? Is there a side-quest that explains what happened to them?? I don't know.

It just felt as if they never existed at all.

Next, I wanted to talk about the Final Boss.

It was really an improvement from BOTW, it felt as if I was truly fighting SOMEONE, when Ganondorf dodged my sword I was surprised. (I think it's not the first time they do this, but anyways, it's a good touch).

It also caught me off guard when he transformed into a dragon too, but at that moment I realized that maybe Zelda could come and help us. Which she did, and I'm so glad it happened.

Maybe the Dragon Ganon was an easy fight, but I don't care, I enjoyed every second of it: Zelda picking me up before I fell to my death, her dodging Ganon's attacks... It just felt right.

One thing I am kinda disappointed about the ending, was that Zelda didn't become the Queen of Hyrule.

On the other hand, I also would have loved to see Zelda return to Hateno Village and reunite with her students.

The students of the school she founded loved Zelda so much. They even made drawings of her!! And she had them displayed on her house and studying room!!!

Conclusion

I loved this game so much, every moment of it felt magical. I fell in love with the new characters, they had so much personality! They felt alive.

I don't think I can stress this enough, but Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece to me. I wish I could erase my memories and play it again for the first time.

This is a long rant that I had to let out of my system, I apologize for that.

#tears of the kingdom #tloz #zelda spoilers #totk thoughts

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the-hyrulecompendium · 1 year

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Old Man

Bio

Race - Hylian Gender - Male Equipment - Woodcutter's Axe (At Cabin), Traveler's Bow (Hunting) Location - Cave by the Shrine of Resurrection, Forest of Spirits*, Old Man's Cabin*, Peak of Mount Hylia*, Top of the Great Plateau Tower*, Base of Great Plateau Tower**, Great Plateau Shrines**

*Appears in these locations after Tower/Shrine is activated **He will disappear from these locations if a reload is triggered

Schedule

Cave by the Shrine of Resurrection - Sits by the fire for the whole day Forest of Spirits - Old Man's Cabin - Peak of Mount Hylia - Stands looking at Hyrule Castle for the whole day Top of the Great Plateau Tower - Stands looking at the Temple of Time for the whole day

Dialogue - Before Great Plateau Tower Activation

Musings

Before talked to: ...

After talked to: Oho ho!

Attacked: Easy there!

At the cave outside the Shrine of Resurrection

Oho ho! Well met, stranger! It's rather unusual to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] Me? I'll spare you my life story. I'm just an old fool who has lived here, alone, for quite some time now. What brings a bright-eyed young man like you to a place like this? [Where are we?] Answering a question with a question. That is fair enough. As I cannot imagine our meeting to be a simple coincidence...I shall tell you. This is the Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule. That temple there... Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Ever since the decline of the kingdom 100 years ago, it has sat abandoned, in a state of decay. Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self... I shall be here for some time. Please let me know if I may be of service. [Bye.] Hmph. Well, do as you like, then. [Bye.] Wait. Where are you rushing off to now? Is speaking with a strange old man truly such an awful use of your time? What brings a bright-eyed young man like you to a place like this? [Where are we?] [Bye.] Hmph. Well, do as you like, then.

Talking to him after ending the initial conversation on the first [Bye.] (and thus a second [Bye.] as well)

Yes? [What is this place?] This is the Great Plateau... <cont> [Bye.] I shall be here for some time. Please let me know if I may be of service. <If Zelda has told Link to go to the tower> Do you not have somewhere to be, young one?

Talking to him after ending the initial conversation on the second [Bye.]

Oho ho! So you fancy yourself the strong silent type, eh? [What is this place?] This is the Great Plateau... <cont> [Bye.]

Talking to him after having asked [Where are we?]

Yes? How might I be of service to you? [What are you doing?] I'm relaxing by the fireside, of course. Although I'll need to cook myself another baked apple at some point... Simple foods such as apples are fine to eat raw, but roasting them on a fire makes them tastier and more nutritious. [Bye.]

The ones below can be triggered at any time even after Tower activation

Taking the apple

I BEG YOUR PARDON! I do believe that is my baked apple! You can't just go about taking whatever you please! Oho ho! Forgive me-I could not resist pulling your leg. Please help yourself. An apple and an open flame make for a succulent treat. <If you haven't talked to him before> It is a bit strange to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] [Bye.]

Taking the torch

Well then, just help yourself to that torch there. And how, may I ask, are you planning to use it? [As a weapon!] Innovative... However, that is probably best used to light fires. If you need a weapon, you can probably find something better. Many beasts roam the land past this point. You can take my axe with you, if you please. Assuming you can find it. However, do not just swing it around without purpose. You must face your opponents and lock your sights on them! <Lock tutorial> <If you haven't talked to him before> It is a bit strange to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] [Bye.] [To set things on fire!] That is rather...unnerving. Please be cautions with that around any dry grass that might catch fire. You know, there are plenty of monsters in this area. That torch would make a good weapon, if need be. However, do not just swing it around without purpose. You must face your opponents and lock your sights on them! <Lock tutorial> <If you haven't talked to him before> It is a bit strange to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] [Bye.] [It's a secret...] I see. Well then, do as you please. There are plenty of monsters ahead of here, though. Remember that you can use that as a weapon, if need be. However, do not just swing it around without purpose. You must face your opponents and lock your sights on them! <Lock tutorial> <If you haven't talked to him before> It is a bit strange to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] [Bye.]

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sillylildude · 1 month

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Little Fic Update!

If you've been following my Zelda Cartoon fic you may notice it's been a few weeks since my last chapter update (not wholly abnormal for me, but abnormal for this fic in particular). I've been dealing with a little bit of writer's block, and the busyness that this month brings hasn't helped me in dealing with that. Spring break is next week and I hope ("HOPE!" she says with fingers crossed) to get a lot of writing done then.

Chapter 12 is still in development, but in the meantime I did want to share a little snippet of what I wrote tonight as a teaser of sorts (below the cut), since I'm quite proud of it so far.

That's it for now! Just wanted to inform everyone that I have not, in fact, thrown in the towel on this one haha. We're nearing the end of this story, and I am so excited for what's to come. As always, I hope you like it. :)

Teaser for Chapter 12: [currently untitled]

The sun crept lazily over the mountainside, illuminating the jagged, ever-ascending edges of Calatia’s innermost cityscape. Countless square, unimaginative buildings rested one on top of the next, bleeding into one another with seemingly no beginning or end, their predictable structure only interrupted by the occasional cathedral peak or slanted outer stairway. Calatia awoke dreamily, bathed in the warm morning sunlight. Its citizens exited their homes here and there, only to be greeted by over a hundred foreign military men and women with their brilliant red bird-shaped crests splayed over their chests and their gritted, sand-crusted teeth and their dark bags drooping beneath their humorless eyes. And amid the dancing shadows cast by the heedless sun, the subjects of the Hylian military’s pursuit fled south. South, south, south! the Triforce of Wisdom seemed to cry with nary a word. Go south as though your life depends on it, for indeed it does! Run, flee, but remain hidden! Watch out, a guard lies around that corner! Ascend the stairs– no, don’t ascend the stairs, crouch behind this crate and wait; hold your breath; their exhaustion prompts them to listen even more closely. They want this chase over with as much as you. Now, run! Run south! Flee! Onward they wound through the backstreets and alleyways of the ancient city for what felt like hours. No, it could not have been hours. The sun had still not fully crested the Calatian Ridge. Nevertheless, their shadow cover dwindled fast. Zelda’s lungs were set ablaze long ago, her every footstep only fanning the flames within. She could not– would not– allow herself to gasp for air. Link marched forward with quiet restraint. The spring in his step and the quiet of his breath suggested that he brimmed with energy. The uncertainty which flashed behind his eyes with every necessary pause for fear of being discovered suggested otherwise...

More to come soon! I hope!!

#fanfic #loz #silly lil fics by a silly lil dude #zelda cartoon #legend of zelda fanfiction #current wip #wip teaser #a teaser which no one asked for #but a teaser nonetheless lol #I'm just proud of what I got accomplished tonight and wanted to share with the class #Is that so bad

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electro-scorpion-moving · 8 months

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loz story with link and zelda turning out to be the unwitting bad guys, because they’re serving imperialist hyrule with em uniting against hyrule in the end would be peak

#untagged fandom

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thefangirlthatwaited · 1 year

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A Legend of Zelda Story - At Twilight

Link x Original Character

The moment I walk into the door I hear a voice I recognize and when I look up I see Link talking to Telma's group at the back of the bar. Telma sees me staring and shakes her head smiling. I take a breath before walking over to him. Ashei and Telma already knew it was only a matter of time before everyone finds out. As I approach Link turn and smiles at me holding his hand out for me to grab. I joined the group quietly as Link spoke with Auru about what he found in the desert. It was interesting to hear about his journey but it also made me wish I could be with him to experience all this in person. "The Sages taught princess Zelda," Auru explained. "Sages, the same ones that Link met?" Auru nodded his head. "That's amazing!" I hear Link chuckle beside me. "Arbiter is clear now, Auru if you're interested in going back." "Maybe one day. For now, there are other things to tend to." "Like what?" "Snowpeak. Ashei rushed there the other day without another word." This seemed to peak Link's interest. "Snowpeak. That is through Zora's Domain right?"

"Yes." We all answered. "Then that's where I'll head next. Thanks." He pulls us away as we head to a dark corner of the bar. I still see Telma eyeing me but she keeps quiet. "You know if we wanted to talk in private I know of a dozen more places." I laugh as we sit down. "I just want to spend time with you. Is that too much to ask?" I could feel my cheeks burn and I tried to look away but Link reached up and cupped my cheek. "No need to be nervous around me." He adds. "It's hard not to when you say sweet things like that." "Fair enough. Now you know what I've been up to these last few weeks. What about you?" "Well, the first little while I was miserable. I had way too much on my mind and it was bringing me and everyone around me down." "You seem better now." "I am. I spoke to Telma. She knows about theses." I tug at my sleeve to point out my markings and she pointed me in a direction that might have given me a clue." Link leans forward interested. "A clue to what?" "Who my parents really are. Because at this point the two people who raised me for my first two years of life are not them."

"You're sure." I nod taking out a photo I found. "I don't remember much of them. Not even how they looked. But going through the archive and some of Telma's things I found an old portrait of them." I pull the picture in question out of my satchel and slide it over to Link. "Brown and blonde hair with blue and green eyes. That doesn't add up with me now does it?" Link holds the picture up looking between it and me. "You're right. Kids will always look like one or both of their parents. There is nothing here that says they are yours." "Thank you for confirming that." "So what's next for you now?" "I need to trace a timeline from my parent's wedding till they died. Somewhere in there, I came into the picture. My hope in following the path is that I'll find out when and where which will hopefully give me my answer." "And you're doing this alone?" "Me, myself and I. Telma has the bar to run and I don't really have friends."

Link leans closer, taking my hands. "I'll help when I can." "You have Hyrule to tend with. This little goose chase of mine is mine to deal with." "I know. But I might come across something in my travels that will help." That reminded me of the symbol. "Actually you might be able to help me after all. Have you seen this symbol on your travels?" I then hand him my sketch. "Not that I recall. Why?" "On my parent's grave and their death certificates, this is there. I've never noticed it till now." "An eye with a tear." "It's odd, isn't it?" "I'll ask around while I'm out and let you know if I hear or see anything." "Thanks. It will help to have a second set of eyes." "Hey, Fae. I'm gonna need help closing." Telma yells causing me to let out a frustrating sigh. "I guess our time is at an end." "Yeah," I grumble. "When do you leave?" "I'm gonna rest for a few days then head to Zora's Domain." "Can I come?" Link blinks a few times like he was processing my question. "Sorry, you want to come with me?" "I've never been to the Domain before. It sounds interesting."

Full Chapter on Ao3

#legend of zelda #legend of zelda twilight princess #Legend of Zelda Link #loz link

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