melodiesoflife | The Missing Link...

Who: Zelda & OPEN
What: Link is gone. [ooc: Feel free to run into her wherever.]
When: Feb 7th: Return from Chocobo Trip and then onward.
Where: Home (A-16), Hospital & Finally Old observatory.
Warning: Just Tears.

At first everything was normal, Zelda walked into her home with her travel bag slung over her shoulder. She was tired and was looking forward to a bath and a bed but there was something she wanted to do first. With a soft thunk she placed the bag down and then worked to unlace her riding boots. Once they were off she slipped out of her jacket and then pulled off her muddy stockings. She stepped inside and wiggled her toes against the clean floor with a smile.

“Link?” She called his name lightly as she moved through the house, her fingers laced through her hair and began to pull the loose strands of blonde into a tight pony tail. “Link?” Her tone shifted from a light tone to a worried one. She stepped through the house peeking into his room and then hers. She checked the kitchen and then the family room before walking back towards the front of the house. He wasn’t home, except that she had told him the time and date she’d return. Link would be here.

---

Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she pulled on a lose pair of brown work boots, leaving her jacket behind as she bolted from the house. Over and over again she heard like a round in her head.

He can’t be there. He can’t be.

The words repeated again and again becoming an ominous chant in her thoughts as she ran towards the hospital. Everything ached and she felt exhaustion creeping through her limbs as she ran. The cold air bit at her exposed arms and legs but she didn’t care, she couldn’t feel it. The only thing she felt was a sharp twist in her chest as she ran.

He can’t…

She didn’t stop at the hospital steps; she took them two at a time and then raced up to where the heroes were kept. She bolted passed those who guarded the door earning her dark glares from the men who now constantly patrolled the room where the heroes were kept.

Her feet skidded to a halt, her eyes fixed on the familiar crystal shape and she felt her heart tear apart at the sight. He’d wake up again, he had too. Just because he was here now didn’t mean he would be trapped forever. She felt the presence of the others trapped, like Link, in a veneer of stone. She felt herself crumble to the ground as warm tears spilled down her cheeks. She tried to stop them but she had been trying so hard not to cry that everything just spilled out all at once. She cried and cried until there was nothing left inside of her, her soul felt empty and drained. Then she slept, her body reaching its point of exhaustion as she lies at Link’s feet.

---

A few days later Zelda can be found in the Old Observatory. She had refused to go back to the empty house, unwilling to see the home she had created with Link. Kopula began doing more work and calling in a few of his friends insisting that Zelda rest.

Zelda didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts; she wanted to keep moving, to fight of her fears and nightmares with hard grueling work. Her work consisted mostly of physical labor, letting Kopula take care of matters of state using Zelda’s signature. She had washed the floors, cleaned the stables, scrubbed down the kitchen, shook out and washed the bedding and then rearranged a few of the rooms. She was never out of things to do because once something was clean she’d then clean it again.

She didn’t smile, her expression was blank as if content with the mindless tasks that she set herself to. He’d come back and it would be fine. She just had to believe that but losing your best friend, the closest person too you, was hard; even for what might be a short time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Zelda looked almost surprised at Vincent's instance. She nodded her head and let her forced smile fall. She looked over towards her room keeping Opheila held tightly in her arms.

"Let's sit in my room then." There was a small bed, a small chair, a nightstand and a dresser with a mirror. It wasn't large but it was clean and comfortable and they'd have space for the items in Vincent's hands as well as themselves. Zelda didn't want to spend to much time in the large empty rooms she's been spending her days in.

She turned and walked slowly over towards her room. "I'm sorry if I've worried you." She didn't think she could keep a secret from either of them in this state so she didn't even try. She was happy to know that her two friends cared so much, more so considering she barely knew Vincent.

Ophelia wasn't moving, happily moving chrr'ing in Zelda's arms and holding her tightly in turn. Looking around, and then lightly nuzzling Zelda's shoulder. "You don't have to be sorry, kupo." Then more quietly under her breath. "Sheesh you sound like Vincent kupo..."

The box bearing the kettle and tea was placed on the nightstand, and only then did Ophelia untangle herself enough to go and pour cups. Food placed on the nightstand, before Vincent excused himself. Bringing in another chair, then holding out the smaller one for Zelda to sit.

Zelda took a seat before folding her hands in her lap. She felt bad that both Opheila and Vincent were acting more like a host than she was. She simply wasn't used to it. After resting for a moment in her lap her fingers moved to tuck her hair behind her ear. She looked tired but she knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep.

"Thank you."

She felt so much younger somehow with these two being so attentive.

"You don't need to go through so much trouble."

Ophelia brought over a cup of tea, passing it to Zelda with a sad smile. "I haven't really been in love deeply kupo, but I've lost a close friend or two." Moving to pull out the extra red-scarf she'd brought from the bag. "It hurts, kupo, and while I wanted to be alone for a bit" Looping it around the Princess, as it was soft and good to worry one's hands in. "I was glad when my friends also checked on me kupo."

Vincent had listened, while pulling out the food he'd brought. An herbed rice, and some poultry of some kind with some veggies. Two plates brought over, along with flatware. Placed in front of Zelda, and then where his seat would be before going back for a portion for Ophelia, along with two more cups of tea.

Zelda took the tea with a weak smile. She wasn't sure if she'd call what she and Link had love but it was at least something greater like family. A part of her felt like it had been stolen and she desperately wants to fill in the empty space left inside of her.

"Thank you. I am glad. I don't know about my feelings towards Link but I've lost a part of my family." Which hurt.

She looked over at Vincent. "Thank you." The food was more than she expecting and the tea alone began to sooth her stressed nerves.

A nod from the darker-man. No thanks were needed, but he could tell Zelda would've thanked him anyways. Settling, as Ophelia fluttered over and sat next to the other hero while Vincent was opposite her.

"Family doesn't make it any less of a loss kupo." She murmured quietly, and took a sip of her tea, bow paws wrapped around the cup. "I did not know him." Vincent started, taking care with his words--comfort wasn't really his strong suit. "But what I did know of him, gave me the impression he was...earnest. A strong sense of responsibility towards helping others." It was a silent invitation for Zelda to talk about him if she wished.

If she didn't, that was ok. Moogle and Hero were both alright with silence. Or Ophelia was prepared to talk about nonsense or whatever was needed. They were here to help remind Zelda she wasn't alone, and to make sure someone was taking care of her.

Zelda nodded her head. "He was, he was the chosen hero of my world." She smiled wistfully at the memory. "We grew up together, I took for granted that he was here."

She sipped at her tea letting the warmth fill her. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk about Link but she didn't know what to say. She missed him and while she didn't want to forget him she didn't want to linger on that fact either.

"I thought..." She continued without really thinking about what she was saying. "I thought if he was here then it'd be fine."

Ophelia chrr'd in sympathy, then put her tea-cup down. Pulling out the spare red-scarf from where it'd fallen in the bag that had formerly carried the food. Fluttering over and wrapping it around Zelda. "It'll be fine kupo. You're not alone."

Vincent held his cup in his right hand, studying her as Ophelia retook her seat. "Hearing that might not make much difference now. It will matter later though, once the pain has dulled some and comfort is needed." There was no need to state how common her feeling of grief was; people often didn't realize just what they had until they no longer had it.

Zelda's fingers lightly rested on the scarf unsure what to say to the moogle. She was thankful and she wished that the pain might fade quickly but it wasn't that easy. Her watery blue gaze shifted back to Vincent and she nodded.

"Thank you both for coming... I don't know how long I'll be able to entertain..." Her voice softened and she realized that she was beginning to feel drowsy after a day of cleaning and working.

Vincent simply shook his head, negating the statement. Neither he nor Ophelia were here to be entertained. They were hear to remind her that she wasn't alone. To check on her and make sure she was taking care of herself.

Ophelia nodded, paws clutching her own cup of tea. "I have more scarves. They're comforting, which is why I'm lending to you kupo. Keep it as long as you want to."

Zelda looked down at Ophelia and smiled. "Thank you. I'll keep it close." What she had meant to say was that she was becoming tired, more so as the late hour persisted. She had had a full day of work along with sleepless nights. The dark shadows beneath her eyes only seem to deepen.

"I know I'll be able to sleep better tonight." She didn't want to be rude.

Zelda was so very far from rude right then. Even if she had been, they would've understood. Fortunately, Vincent was perceptive, and Ophelia was learning to be so more too. "Ophelia, if you'd pack things away so Zelda can find them in the morning?" Not a hint, but phrased politely as the moogle caught on.

OH! Right--yes. Packing away the food, it would keep enough, and the tea before taking what was left of the pot and placing it in reach for Zelda near the bed. The darker gunslinger himself took his and his moogle's cups, placing them away to take back home. Zelda didn't need to be hostess at all.

The Missing Link...

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.

Old Observatory, evening.

Re: Old Observatory, evening.